Wait! 2014? What happened to 2013? Well, we
got lazy. No, despite the workload we do love
running AGB. The truth is, someone smarter
than us pointed out that it happens right at the
end of the year and the boats celebrated are the
best boats for sale in the coming year, so why
name it after the year that’s just past?
So 2013 never happened, but what did
happen was a shock – to us, to you and to the
people involved. We had a tie. The fi breglass
boats couldn’t be separated, so we ended up
giving two boats the nod.
Based on the beautiful Gold Coast, using Wave
Break Island as HQ, the team got lucky with
the weather and the boats, pulling off a slightly
sunburnt but successful AGB. And because wewere in the holiday capital of the east coast,
then-editor Angelo San Giorgio threw six alloy
tubs alongside the fi ve ’glass rigs to make sure
we didn’t slack off.
On the Cruise Craft, Bear found the right mix
to keep everyone happy: “As a family boat or as a
fi shing boat – it’s all there”, while on the Whittley
SL24, Kiwi judge Matthew Jones couldn’t go past
the quality: “I really like the versatility, the fi nish
and the comfort.”
But the magic little Crestliner pulled a
major Houdini, wowing with its quiet ride and
outrageous ability to pile on speed and keep
it on, even in slop. As Angelo commented:
“We took it right up to a rapid 83kmh with no
diffi culty at all.” Little beauty? You bet.2014
98 trade aboat.com.au
The Crestliner 1850 Superhawk was the second imported aluminium
fishing boat to take the crown and it shocked a few, even us, but at the
end of the day, its unreal ride, great finish and top-class fit-out won out.FISHING-ALLOY
WINNER