W
hen your sunglasses
are forced back into
your eye sockets,
your nostrils start
to flap and every
physical motion is a calculated event
then you know you’re passing that
magical 50kts space/time continuum
that launches you into the world
of total exhilaration. This was once
the realm of a race boat driver and
mostly associated with jacking plates,
outrigger steering, foot throttles and
ballast, and not what you expect
from the new Signature Boats 788SF
offshore-style centre console.
Yet there’s no doubt of this boat’s
heritage. This is the latest offering
from the original Haines family DNA,
a lineage that dates back to the heady
offshore race days of the 1960s and the
introduction of fibreglass as a miracle
new boatbuilding material. The Haines
family boatbuilding tradition has now
entered its third generation yet still
reflecting the old John Haines Snr
premise that if you are going to build
a boat then you may as well make it a
good-looking one.
The old man’s blood flows thick
and salty in his sons John Jnr and
Greg Haines, but the all-new 788SF is
unashamedly John Jnr’s love child. The
big centre console is certainly reflective
of some famous American creations
but contains plenty of good old Aussie
innovation. Yet most importantly the
big rig is legally trailerable without wide
load restrictions with its maximum
beam of 2.5m.
The Haines boys developed the
Signature Variable Deadrise Hull
(SVDH) some 30 years ago and their
commitment to the design has never
been stronger. One may expect that this
long and relatively narrow hull may well
suffer from stability issues but I was
pleasantly surprised as we loaded fiveeager invitees on board all inspecting
every nook and cranny with barely a
hint of list.
Aesthetically this sleek hull looks
terrific, in fact sexy! It has tremendous
fishing appeal but its attraction doesn’t
just finish there. This is a comfortable
boat that will also host a harbourside
party with its large convertible
U-shaped lounge and plug-in table up
in the bow. There’s removable backrests,
storage under the seat for a portable ice
box and it’s all beautifully trimmed in
premium marine vinyl and made safe
and secure with a lowline wraparound
stainless rail and a recessed bow fitting
and well for the winch.
The centre console unit features a
forward-facing seat and a side-opening
toilet complete with a porta potti and
small vanity. It’s compact but more than
adequate, and the gals will love it!
Overhead is a fibreglass T-top but the
underside moulding wasn’t finished72 trade aboat.com.au