Trade-A-Boat — February 2018

Caribbean 49

facts & figures

PRICED FROM

$1,064,000 w. Cummins QSM11 715hp

OPTIONS FITTED

Custom tower, electronics, teak cockpit,

tender, life rafts, more.

PRICE AS TESTED

APPROX $1,380,000

GENERAL

MATERIAL GRP

TYPE Flybridge Cruiser

LENGTH 14.77m

BEAM 4.88m

WEIGHT 20,500kg

DEADRISE 22°

CAPACITIES

PEOPLE 9 (NIGHT) 25 (DAY)

FUEL 2700lt (3200lt on later versions)

WATER 900lt

ENGINE

MAKE/MODEL TYPE 2 x Cat C12

RATED HP 2 x 700

DISPLACEMENT 12lt

WEIGHT 1124kg

PROPELLER Austral five-blade

MANUFACTURED BY

INTERNATIONAL MARINE

SUPPLIED BY

SYLVANIA MARINA

25 Harrow St, Sylvania 2224

PHONE (02) 9522 7430

EMAIL [email protected]

WEB http://www.caribbeanboats.com.au

Dean’s ideal speed and normal

travelling pace is around 26kts, raising

the burn to 160lt/h but improving

range over slow cruise to 394nm. Even

at a flat-stick 32kts, drinking 228lt/h,

she has a useful range of 341nm. The

later model’s 3200lt tank would take

you even further.

For the Shootout the crew kept to

a tested formula of keeping things

simple and ensuring all the gear was

properly maintained and presented.

The boat runs New Zealand-made

Bonze lures. Usually three are

deployed at a time, plus teasers,

and though we ran five for a while,

Dean says that makes things too

complicated and risks cut-offs. The

Reelax Maxi poles have been extended

six feet and the motorised Maxell

teaser reels are run from upstairs.

WHAT’S IT COST?

The base price of 49 with a Cummins

engine is $1.064million, rising to

$1.134m with the Cats, including

the Quick Shift gearboxes. I asked

Nathan from Sylvania Marina the

replacement cost of the boat as tested;

he did some quick mental arithmetic

and said his best estimate would be

around an extra $250K – there’s a lot in

electronics and the tower isn’t cheap.

All boaties know that the purchase

price is only the beginning of the story

and in a weak moment Dean laid out

some of his running costs for us:

Six weeks in Port Stephens for the

Shootout and Interclub was $3500 for

docking fees;

Insurance is $6000;

Life raft service – $1000 every two

years;

Engine maintenance up to $5000

every 200 hours (twice per year);

$5000 for anti-foul and Prop Speed

every year;

Cosmetics – $4000 annually.

If you need a loan to buy one, add

interest, and if you don’t have your

own mooring then marina fees apply.

A typical day’s fishing uses 450lt of

diesel, so 30 days of fishing would

add close to $18,000 – that’s without

travelling to and from events.

THE WRAP

Fitting the boat out for tournament

fishing doesn’t mean the Hoyes don’t

also enjoy family time on board.

Caribbeans are competent cruisers

and great weekend getaways, and the

49 has loads of room for entertaining.

The price of entry to big-boat fishing

isn’t for everyone and for those with

the wherewithal, the choices are

diverse but if you want the security

and proven ride of a well-built

Australian boat, the Caribbean 49 is

a wise decision. Set up like Haulin

it’s a sensational ride and immensely

enjoyable even if the fish don’t play.

56 tradeaboat.com.au

Caribbean 49HT