has three 16.5in G Series Glass Bridge
touch screens networked through a
CP470 processor showing sounder,
navigation, 6ft array 72nm radar, and
FLIR camera. A Fusion stereo sends
music throughout the boat and there’s
also television from a Foxtel satellite
receiver – gotta keep up with the footy.
Finding fish is serious work and 3kW
and 1kW transducers running through
four different frequencies help. It was
cool to see Dean call the only fish we
saw on the sounder in two days and
then have it grab the short corner.
Additional screens carry
comprehensive Caterpillar diagnostics
as well as a CruzPro sea temperature
gauge and chain counter.
A Side Power bow thruster helps
dock the big boat painlessly while
Twin Disc Quick Shift controls get you
into gear and underway like a pro.
Sylvania Marina also added high-
water alarms and additional bilges at
each bulkhead. Extra safety features
include an eight-man self-releasing life
raft on the bow, with a valise-style raft
and a satellite phone in the bridge.
Visually and practically the
custom Black Marlin tower on Haulin
is a standout. It was added to aid
traversing the reefy playgrounds
around Cairns for the heav y-tackle
marlin season. Weighing 320kg – 250kg
is the fibreglass buggy – it follows the
contours of the saloon and flybridge
and conforms perfectly with the sleek
Caribbean lines.
Due to the forward mounting points
being on the hardtop rather thandown on the deck, the extra weight
is transferred aft and gives the bow
a 10-degree lift underway. That was
deliberate as Dean likes the added
load at the back for a better ride in
most conditions with the option to
trim down if needed into a heav y sea.
Surprisingly, he reckons the tower
actually slows sideways motion and
there was certainly no evidence that
the tower adversely affected the feel
of the boat when underway or in the
sloppy conditions we experienced
when trolling.
It seems much higher when you’re
up there but it’s actually about 4.2m
from the floor of the hardtop to the
higher deck but the view doesn’t come
cheap – it was a $70,000 add-on, not
including the electronics package.CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT A tower
of dedication; The best of Raymarine, all
of it; Costs add up on game day; The big
CATs give over 810nm range at 8kts.
OPPOSITE We expect both pelagic fish
and other boats to see the back of this 49.54 tradeaboat.com.au