Trade-A-Boat – April 2018

obviously very strongly built. It has
compartmentalised floatation and
provides a safe and secure attitude
on the water with exceptional
stability.
At its stem, the Snubby features a
fine, flared entry running back with
a series of strakes and reverse chines
to a moderate vee incorporating an
intricate concave feature either side
of the keel that gives enormous lift,
tracking and maximised stability.
The result is a soft dry ride (I’ll have
to take Starlo’s word on that as we
had mirror-calm conditions) and a
solid, seaworthy platform with very
shallow draft for flats fishing. There’s
a saying on the NSW south coast that
if you are fishing in over one metre of
water then you’re casting too deep!
Steve tells me that perhaps 80 per
cent of his local fishing exploits are
chasing bream, flathead, estuary
perch and whiting on the flats
and the Snubby fits the bill almost
perfectly.
Steve was first convinced of the
Snubby 500 when fishing the long
open reaches of Hervey Bay with
guide Mark Bargenquast. Fishing
Hervey Bay often requires running
long stretches in windswept chop to
find the highly productive shallows
where all manner of fighting beasties
forage. In design terms it is very hard
to get the right blend of ride and
stability but the Snubby achieves it
very well. At only 1.9m beam it seems
and sounds a little narrow, but feels

just right when you are actually in

the boat. I guess to me it’s a little

reminiscent of many island longboat

designs. It is seaworthy enough for

limited offshore adventures, but not

the primary purpose. The fibreglass

compound deadens the sound,

softens the ride, is cool in summer

and warm in winter.

The basic layout sees a large

casting platform forward with plenty

of storage underneath. The rear has

further platforms, with access to the

batteries and beautifully assembled

wiring and switch gear accessed

from hatches in the front of the

bulkhead. There’s a large non-skid

deck area between the platforms

with an optional self-draining

system that feeds back to a unique

sump/engine well arrangement.

There’s a fully plumbed livewell

under the rear as well, yet instead of

draining overboard it also feeds to

the sump. This system needs just a

little more thought in my book, but

it’s a simple fix.

OLD IS NEW AGAIN

Beige boats were very common

throughout the 1970s with off-

white decks to reduce glare, often

with coloured hulls. Not only does

Starlo’s beige colour scheme help

the passengers’ vision but it reduces

the underwater reflection which I

guess may startle nervous estuary

species feeding on the flats. I was

tradeboats.com.au 125

Beastmaster Snubby Pro 500