Stabicraft 1850 Fisher with Yamaha 115hp

It’s been a little while since we did this test. In the meantime, the YouTube review video’s racked up nearly 50,000 views. The Stabicraft 1850 is right in the hitting zone for a lot of Aussie boaties – it’s small enough to tow on a single-axled trailer but it’s big enough to get well offshore and tackle some of your bucket-list species.

As such, it’s also at the more affordable end of the Stabicraft scale. These quality-built New Zealand boats have gained quite a cult following, with some of their larger rigs turning heads wherever they go. As tested, this rig came in it at $69,996, however packages can start at around $60,000.

We caught up with Northside Marine’s Mark Golden and Yamaha’s Will Lee on the test morning. It was a mirror-calm Moreton Bay – conditions which we dread because of the bashing we get from keyboard warriors. It lets us make a great video, but not distil an opinion about rough water performance.

You can see the Stabicraft hull working as designed here. The reverse chines on the pontoons direct the spray back downwards. We loved the functionality and the ease of stowing the shade top.

There is access to the anchor well from the cabin.

Checkerplate floors are super easy to keep clean and dry in minutes. Many keen anglers prefer this to carpet.

The Stabicraft like their multi-function rear stations. Bait on top of a livewell and batteries underneath. Their inherent stability allows them to design like this.

The rear fold-down seating is fairly Spartan but also easy to clean.

Stabicraft offer excellent stability at rest, thanks to their pontoon system that makes the craft very safe as well.

There’s plenty of room for a windlass in the anchor well, but don’t expect to use this as an accessible fishing platform.

The helm is simple and effective. And we love a helm that can flush mount your electronics. Let’s face it, anyone that buys this boat will fit a decent sized sounder/GPS.

Clever underseat storage options can be customised by the buyer. The test model had an esky and some tackle storage options chosen.

Clever underseat storage options can be customised by the buyer. The test model had an esky and some tackle storage options chosen.

At 18 and a half feet, this rig is small enough to tow easily on a single-axle trailer but large enough to target big fish in open water.

We loved the functionality of the shade top as well. It was in exactly the right place to get the job done.

A couple of comfortable helm seats and an open cabin is all that an angler needs to get into the fish.

Personally, I’d order a twin axle trailer for this rig, but the single keeps the price down and lets you manoeuvre it into tight garaging spots.

Stabicraft definitely don’t bank into turns like other hulls can. The waterline beam counters a lot of the roll.

“Stabicraft boats are inherently the most stable and safest rigs we sell,” said Mark when asked about Stabi’s unique pontoon and floatation system. If you’re unfamiliar with it, check out the images of the hull: sealed, welded sections surround the gunwales and offer 1570L of buoyancy in this model.

“And because of this, we find that it’s a very easy boat for beginner boaters to handle in quite rough conditions,” he continued.

Essentially, you’ll hit your limits before this boat does.

The 1850 we tested was fitted with a Yamaha F115 4-stroke outboard and keeps it simple. Minimal paint and a clean layout mean that it’ll be easy to maintain with the garden hose.

At optimum cruising speed, this rig delivered 2.5km/L economy at 33km/h and 3,500rpm, giving a range of nearly 300km on a tank of fuel. Wide open, she hit 64km/h at 5,700rpm and the economy dropped to 1.5km/L.

Personally, I’d probably like a lick of paint on the checkerplate floor, especially in more northern climates where the reflection from the sun can be problematic. There are not many creature comforts in this boat, and that’s because it’s designed as a serious fishing boat for those wanting to increase their range further than their local inshore waters.

Above the head though, the canopy is excellent. It offers shade in all the right places, especially while driving the boat and then it’s a matter of pulling out two pins to fold the whole thing over and into the hull of the boat. Very handy if you want to fit it into a carport.

Driving a Stabicraft is reasonably unique, they don’t bank into corners like differently designed hulls but they do jump up and out of the hole pretty easily. I have the feeling that you could add plenty of people and camping gear and you’d have no problems.

The test rig was supplied on a single axle trailer, but I’d prefer a twin for a boat of this size. Fewer things to go wrong on the road when you’re not pushing the limits of the gear.

Unique Stabicraft design includes a rear console/work station that features a cutting board on top of a live bait tank and then a battery tray underneath. I’ve seen this in a few Stabicraft over the years and the concept works well and owners love it.

For more information, contact Northside Marine www.northsidemarine.com.au and make sure you Like ‘Northside Marine – your boating partners for life’ on Facebook for updates.

Specifications:
Length: 5.69m
Beam: 2.30m
Fuel: 150L
Rec HP: 90
Max HP: 140
Capacity: 6 persons

Performance:
RPM km/h km/L
1000 7 3.5
2000 12 2.2
3000 25 2.4
3500 33 2.5
4000 39 2.3
5000 52 1.8
5700 64 1.5