B
ig, bold and confident, ready
to pillage and plunder. This
is state-of-the-art weaponry
matched to long-range,
high-speed assault power. It
makes no apology for its narrow focus- GunRunner has one purpose, offshore
gamefishing, and does justice to its
brand’s namesakes, the vikings. She’s a
seafarer devoted to glory.
And she is glorious in her livery,
bold and powerful, with a confident
attitude. She’s suited to long runs to
wide offshore grounds, and bringing
the warriors home safely with their
pelagic bounty. The hull’s capable of
conquering the worst channel crossing
thanks to a pair of 600hp inline
six-cylinder C18 ACERT Caterpillar
engines. She flew us to the Car Park, a
popular marlin hot-spot on the edge
of the continental shelf and some
50-odd km from the D’Albora marina,
at a fast offshore cruise around 28kt
at 1950rpm. That’s damn quick for a
big and weighty hull, but then Scott
opened her up and we trounced the
armada at a scarcely believable 33kt.
I asked Scott, the owner, why he
settled on a Viking. His reply was
simple: “The sea-handling capabilities,
the speed, the layout and the finish.
Whilst she’s got all of the attractions
of a high-class cruiser, she really is a
devoted fishing package!”
Attractions include accommodation
for six, with the master stateroom’s
double island bed and two further
bedrooms fitted with pairs of bunks.
The saloon is large and beautiful,
well suited to a swanky party at the
marina, or a more intimate dinner, but
the large Sony LCD TV facing the rear
deck and fully integrated Bose sound
system indicate there’s more afoot than
initially meets the eye.
The rear deck is huge and equipped
for gamefishing devotees. There are
large livebait and kill tanks under the
teak floor, wide coamings and a rear
door, but no marlin board to get in the
way when that big thrashing marlin
erupts at the transom.
The flybridge is classic. While the
ladder is steep you get used to it quickly
and there’s plenty of seating up front
and to the side. A pair of pedestal helm
chairs to the rear allow 360-degree
vision, including a full view of the deck
antics. The helm is wide and largely
uncluttered, but it’s here that the real
technology begins.
The boat you want is easier to find tradeboats.com.au^65