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Hi,
Thought you may be able to use some of the following as feedback on the boat. A few quick pics also attached:
My first ride in a Bar Crusher was during a test run on Sydney Harbour and it was "sloppy", choppy waves going in every direction. A few popular myths were put to bed right there and then because the boat handled better then my previous Haines Signature in those conditions, and when we stopped, I could stand up without hanging on, I thought that'll do me!
I often go offshore through Swansea Channel (Lake Macquarie) and it is often an interesting proposition to come around Moon Island and see what the swell is really doing. On several occasions we've run into a 4+ metre swell in the types of conditions that make it difficult to even turn a boat around. One particular day the oncoming swells were taller then the roof of the boat, so from the driving position you could not even see the top of the next swell. To be honest in any other boat I've owned I would have been in a fair bit of trouble, but the Bar Crusher was superb. The steering gave me the exact responsiveness I needed and the ability to accelerate and turn quickly without losing any control was exceptional. Then the test was managing our way back through these swells without the typical 'nose down' issue of some boats - again the Bar Crusher was superb, I didn't feel unsafe at any stage.
Another frightening experience was a day last May at Port Stephens, after fishing all day out amongst the islands we headed back into Port Stephens to be hit by a swell coming in from the West and a big Southerly that sprang up from nowhere. Not only were we in 4-5m seas, but they were coming from behind and from our port side as well. It was like a really big washing machine. We certainly had some challenges that day, as we would have had in any boat, but once again I was absolutely amazed at how the 560C handled it (along with a bit of good driving!), we got home safely again.
I researched 30+ different boats before buying the 560C, with a key focus on fishing but a requirement for large deck space (but still a cabin style boat), big anchor hatch, stability at rest and a few other key criteria.
After 4 months and a lot of disappointments, I went to Melbourne and visited the factory to meet the Bar Crusher team. No other boat compared based on my criteria and 'value for money'.
I honestly haven't looked back and everyone that comes out on the boat with me is amazed at the deck space and overall design and practicality of the boat.
Things I like best:
- comes on single axle trailer and tows easily
- huge deck space for a boat this size
- non feedback steering
- under floor kill tank
- roof (easy to put up and down)
- lots of handrails/places to hold on to
- anchor setup
- big hatch
- berley pot (works a charm)
- stability at rest
- handles like (or better then some) fibreglass boats in both calm and choppy conditions
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Jeff
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7th November 2007
