only if size really matters and every
inch really does count in offshore
conditions, especially with a big
crew.
Surtees invented the “Razor Tech
Hull”. They call it part of their SiQ
short for “Surtees Intelligence”.
They say, “Some manufacturers
will tell you that boat building
hasn’t changed much through the
passage of time. However, with
modern materials and technology,
overlaid with new ideas, Surtees has
enhanced time-honoured ways to
develop what is arguably the safest,
best performing range of fishing
boats on the water”.
Surtees have developed a great
HIGHS
- A fishing and offshore weapon
- Build quality
- Overall layout
- Sensible options
- Huge deck
- Enclosed cabin
LOWS
- No sync function on the Honda’s (third
world problem!) - No kill tank
combination of old and new ideas
that have redefined the traditionally
hard riding characteristics of alloy,
but incorporating the ancient
nautical principle of ballast has
enabled them to modify the ride and
improve the stability of their deep-V
technology.
This is a tough boat forged of
the proud kiwi tradesmen and
women of the foothills surrounding
W hakatane. Their lines are sharper
than many competitors, yet jump
on board and head straight out to
sea and the big Surtees greets you
with the comforts and familiarity
that feels like home. There’s a place
for everything and everything in its
place.STEALTH FISHING
We stopped briefly to fill the live bait
tank with slimies and small kahawai.
The tank is conveniently located in
the transom under the rear door and
forms both a doubles as a step, and
at times, a seat. The inbuilt stability
was immediately obvious with the
large payload of shifting weight
shuffling to prepare tackle for our
fishing adventure. The entire deck
space, checker plate floor, rod holder
positioning, bait board, freeboard,
combing width, raised electrical andplumbing compartment, accessible
bilge, storage and seating layout has
evolved to piscatorial perfection
assisting your fishing adventure
unimpeded. W hen you are travelling
you can fold down an extended rear
seat, however, we didn’t bother.
We headed eastward along the coast
for perhaps twenty five miles to a
mussel farm, with the Raymarine
Multifunction unit and its 1kW
transducer not only showing the way
but giving a clear indication of what
lay below, and the radar displaying
what was around us. It was a
comfortable trip made even softer
and quieter by the 6mm plate alloy
hull. Three of us took up positions
in the fully lockable cabin with its
rear French doors, whilst the other
two travelled securely on the rear
upholstered storage cabinets behind
the cabin bulkhead.
We found some kahawai “boil
ups” and all easily cast lures to the
marauding greenbacks. I fought an
extended battle with a striped tuna
(skippy in NZ) that I managed to
jag in its side. We then sounded into
the coastal reef and shallower water
where we put down the Lone Star
anchor winch to start berleying for
snapper and hopefully kings. The
action didn’t take long to start andtradeboats.com.au 79Surtees 750HT Game Fisher