Australian icon Haines Hunter, never resting on its laurels, has produced yet another new hard top model which is sure to be a winner with West Aussie offshore fishers, as BARRY WISEMAN reports.

A FEW years ago, I had the opportunity to catch up with the man at the helm of Haines Hunter, managing director John Haber, who walked me through their 8000-square metre premises at Derrimut in suburban Melbourne in Victoria.

His message then was, “We can always do better.”

The research and development team, designers, and the production crew on the factory floor, come together regularly to discuss daily production methods and what can be improved to produce the best product possible going out the factory doors.

There’s no way you could not be impressed with the dedication of the workforce.

I was free to talk to the production staff, tasked with preparing the moulds in readiness for the application of the gelcoat, woven roving, core matt, and the matrix stringer system which is encased in fibreglass and then resin.

While the hull was being constructed in one section, not far away the upper deck of the various models from open boats to enclosed cabin vessels was underway.

Further into the tour, the two halves come together and the fit-out guys do their thing before each hull is tested before it is ready to be shipped out.

Most notable was the pride each employee had in their work and taking my first look at the latest Haines Hunter 625 Offshore Hard Top mounted on its Easytow Alloy trailer at the Woodman Point boat ramp, I could appreciate the professionalism that has gone into producing this new model.

The earlier 625 is a soft top and having proven an exceedingly popular size among anglers and family boaters, the R&D team got together to produce the HT version.

This vessel can fish six people, or the family can get away for a weekend stay with the twin bunks up front which convert to a double bed.

There was no toilet fitted to the review vessel, but that can easily be fixed if required.

If you’re looking for something a little larger, the Haines Hunter 675 Offshore HT is also a winner with bluewater fishers and divers.

The design and features are much the same, it just made good sense to produce the goods for those people seeking a vessel measuring just over six metres, either for ease of handling or storage.

The 625 Offshore HT provides greater protection from the summer and winter elements than its soft-top sibling.

And for those trips to northern waters, removing the clears opens the helm to heaps of ventilation and the breeze on those hot days.

The same applies to the cabin.

The review boat had an open step-down entry to the cabin; however, a door can be fitted to fully enclose that forward section.

The cabin is roomy and has plenty of head room due to the bulbous roof design that aids the aerodynamics of the fast-moving vessel on the water, plus enables rapid water removal in rough weather.

Our vessel had a gelcoat finish to the interior of the cabin, but carpet lining is an option.

This is a safe and secure area for toddlers when they tire during a day’s fishing or family outing.

With natural lighting due to the port and starboard windows, plus the open doorway, you have quick and easy vision of what they are up to.

Behind the cabin is the roomy helm, with a spacious dash in front of the skipper and a large lockable glove box, plus recessed ledge for your sunnies, etc.

This ergonomically designed dashboard can accommodate more electronics if required above the cabin entrance.

However, the review vessel had it all with the Simrad NSS16 Evo3S sitting squarely in front of the steering wheel.

The 16-inch model filled the shining white gelcoat dash nicely, leaving room above for the Vessel View 403 engine monitoring digital monitor plugged into the Mercury 225hp XL EFI four-stroke on the transom.

The rounded top of the helm binnacle was finished with a tinted carbon fibre awning, protecting the instrument monitors from the sunlight.

On the right was the usual Haines Hunter switch panel, plus the controls for the Zipwake Series S Dynamic Trim-Control system for the 300mm interceptor trim-tabs on the transom.

This state-of-the art motion controller is fully automatic and is designed to enhance the boat’s performance, comfort and safety when accelerating, plus fuel economy.

“The Zipwake automatic interceptors eliminate the uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous pitch and roll out of driving the vessel, particularly for those new to boating,” explained Isaac Quigley from Aquasports Marine, who was at the helm.

“They work automatically to get the vessel on the plane and adjust to the sea conditions, minimising wave resistance particularly when turning or in a running sea.

“Of course, more experienced boaters may want to operate the trim tabs manually and that can be done too.

“The trim tabs take the guess work out of boating.”

For this exercise, we decided to leave the setting on ‘auto’ and the Haines Hunter 625 Offshore Hard Top headed side on with the stiff breeze that was swinging from the north-east to the north-west, whipping up a sharp chop across Cockburn Sound.

We were at the peak of the spring tides at the end of April and the ocean had a hint of angriness about it, prior to a front coming in from the Southern Ocean.

A sign our extended Perth summer was ending.

Sliding the Mercury into gear was so smooth and we were quickly on the plane.

At 3600rpm we were sitting on 15 knots.

A slight adjustment of the throttle and we reached a comfortable cruising speed of 20 knots, burning 21 litres of fuel per hour.

Tight figure-eight turns were a breeze, aided by the spinner knob on the steering wheel.

The sharp entry, full-length strakes and 21-degree deadrise made this a solid and comfortable rig on the water.

Coming to a standstill and with three blokes on the one side, the reverse chines did their job.

The vessel listed slightly and then stopped going further to port.

During earlier sea trials, this vessel topped 43 knots, with two people on board and 40 litres of fuel in the 270-litre tank below deck.

Very impressive.

“You could fit a 200hp motor if you wanted to save a few dollars, but most people are happy to spend that little extra and go for the 225hp,” said Isaac.

“We’ve gone for the Mercury engine with the fly-by-wire full digital controls, however being a dual agency for Mercury and Yamaha brands, we can fit whatever the customer prefers.”

On the left of the dash there’s a moulded cool drink holder, plus the up/down toggle switch and separate circuit breaker panel for the Viper anchor winch on the bowsprit.

We didn’t play with the anchor mechanism this day as we were more than distracted by what was on the big Simrad screen in front.

Heaps of bait balls, plus some very decent arches on the sonar screen.

The schools of pink snapper were already gathering in the Sound ahead of their breeding season.

There were two transducers fitted to this 625 Offshore HT – the Xsonic Airmar SS175L 1kw and the Xsonic Airmar SS60 600w.

Together, they have you covered for shallow and deep-water action, high-speed running and our 16-inch screen this day gave us a good look what was beneath the keel.

During high-speed runs and slow trolling, we had perfect coverage of the contours below.

The rear cockpit is roomy and with the portable rear lounge folded and stored in the cabin, you could fish six people.

Across the transom was a deluxe bait station fitted with rod holders and sinker wells, including a large cutting board which is hinged to reveal a deep sink for defrosting bait or washing the hands.

Either side of the cutting board there are wells, either for spare hooks or lures.

On the port and starboard sides on the transom, live bait tanks with viewing windows have been built into the deck mould.

One is fully plumbed to keep the live bait fresh in circulated water, while the port side tank is more for storage.

However, that too can be plumbed.

Below deck and between the deluxe Haines Hunter armchair seats there’s a huge insulated kill tank to store your large spanish mackerel and other species in an ice slurry.

Removing the bung allows this storage facility to be hosed out to clean, the wastewater going into the bilge.

Alternatively, if you’re heading north on a long road trip to your favourite destination, it’s very handy to store supplies, keeping the centre of gravity low during towing.

The gunwales have your standard rod holders, plus recessed grab rails both sides to avoid line and rope tangles.

There’s excellent rod and tackle storage in the roomy side pockets, with dedicated rod racks and bungee cord tie downs.

Behind the pocket on the port side, there’s a locker to suit a set of tackle drawers.

On the starboard side, a similar locker houses the switches for the twin batteries.

Access to all the onboard plumbing and batteries is through the twin large lockers located under the transom bait station.

The fuel filter is also in unobstructed view and easy to inspect for water in the fuel.

Same with the pump for the deck wash.

No scrambling on your knees to make regular and necessary maintenance checks – good thinking Haines Hunter.

The self-draining deck on the review boat had the non-skid gelcoat finish.

The scuppers drain out the back.

Aluminium strips are already in place around the edges if owners prefer to go with marine carpet or the EVA foam decking.

Due to the very substantial construction below deck, the flooring is as solid as a rock, with no flexing and no obvious rattles.

For me and my aging body though, the crème de la crème of the Haines Hunter 625 Offshore Hard Top was the side door to starboard.

Fantastic when alongside at the jetty, in the driveway at home, bringing in that monster from the deep, or getting back onboard after gathering abalone on that offshore reef.

Some models sporting this feature have a hinged door, but this vessel had the lift-out version instead.

The argument being it is less compromised in strength, plus less leaking through its seals.

The door is a solid thing, using the built-in and recessed stainless starboard side grab rail to remove and replace it.

Also, there’s no intrusion within the cockpit when opened.

There is no transom door on the 625 Offshore HT because there is the side access.

The transom is reserved for the fishing activities or picnics on that family boating day to Rottnest Island.

Ice and drinks can go in kill tanks and food in the ice box or boxes that slide into the stainless seat pedestal frames.

Rather than having fibreglass seat boxes, these days manufacturers are choosing to go for the steel frames that screw into the deck supports.

They have securing strap loops to keep ice boxes or portable fridge/freezers firmly in place.

The larger units can also double as dickie seats with the addition of an upholstered cushion.

Great for taking the weight off the feet while dangling a line over the side.

Plus, come time to wash the boat down they can be removed.

Of course, the main attraction of this latest product from Haines Hunter is the hard top.

It’s a work of art.

Solid, beefy, chrome steel supports port and starboard, plus heavy-duty side rails leading to a pair of tough forward supports from the cabin roof to the front lip of an aerodynamic, streamlined, moulded fibreglass roof.

The sides curve down towards the ocean to aid water run-off, as well as throwing shade into the interior.

The grab rails along the sides form the framework for the targa, designed to carry up to 11 rods.

No need to be swapping rigs when you can carry dedicated rods to suit specific targets.

The radio aerials and anchor light fittings are also part of the rooftop steel work.

The highly polished interior roofline is produced in the mould, complete with four audio speaker locations, two up front and two at the rear, along with dedicated cutouts overhead for marine radios and accessways for wiring to GPS antennas and the like.

The ventilation hatch in the roof is tinted to help reduce the heat at the helm when the clears are attached.

The plastic removable clears can be made locally if required, however on the review boat they were made back in the factory in Victoria and fitted the hard top pipework snugly.

The finish on the Haines Hunter 625 Offshore Hard Top is high spec and the Mercury 225hp four-stroke engine was faultless, plus the aluminium I-beam tandem-axle trailer is manufactured by Easytow and promises longevity in salt water.

Every model vessel coming out of the Haines Hunter factory has a custom-made trailer to suit the hull.

This popular size, with full cabin protection, should prove a winner for west coast conditions.

NUTS & BOLTS

MODEL:Haines Hunter 625 Offshore Hard Top
LENGTH: 6.25m (6.4m overall)
BEAM: 2.4m
OVERALL HEIGHT: 3.2m
FUEL: 270 litres
HP: Mercury 225hp XL EFI four-stroke with Vessel View 403 DTS 
WEIGHT: 1150kg (hull only)
MANUFACTURER: Haines Hunter; Derrimut, Victoria.
AGENT: Aquasports Marine; 189 Bannister Road, Canning Vale, WA 6155; www.aquasportsmarine.com.au; (08) 9250 3339.
PRICING: 209,376 as tested. From $194,990.

PROS & CONS

PROS

• The hard top and side boarding/dive door are the crème de la crème.
• At 6.25m in length, it’s a popular choice both on and off the water.
• Strong, solid pipework supporting the streamlined fibreglass hard top.
• Roomy cabin interior for overnights, plus safe area for children.
• Deep sided and spacious cockpit to fish up to six people.
• Very high standard of finish and excellent choice of engine to suit.
• Customised alloy trailer.

CONS

• It’s a major investment, but one that will bring many years of service and countless hours of enjoyment.