VIDEOS

The Hull Stayed, Everything Above It Changed

When Bar Crusher redesigned the 670HT, the approach was simple. The hull already performed beautifully, smooth in every direction of travel and stable at rest, so there was no reason to touch it. Instead, what Fishing Monthly describes as one of the biggest upgrades in Bar Crusher’s history focused on everything from the hull up: a new roof, cabin, dash layout, top decks, bow rails and bowsprit.

What “True Hard Top” Actually Means

One point made clearly in this test: “hard top” can mean very different things from boat to boat. By Bar Crusher’s definition, a true hard top is fully enclosed with glass. On the 670HT, that’s a toughened safety glass windscreen with a 360° view from the helm. It’s worth understanding when you compare boats that all claim the same feature but deliver very different weather protection.

Dash Redesign, Driven by Customer Feedback

The new dash responds directly to what owners asked for: a more vertical mounting angle, so the sounder and GPS can be seen from anywhere in the boat, including from the baitboard at the back. When you’re drifting over kingfish, a reef or a wreck, being able to check the sounder without leaving your position, so you know exactly when to drop a jig, makes a real difference.

A Hard Top That Actually Drains

The redesigned hard top also fixes a practical annoyance: water running down the back of the boat. A new spoiler and rocket launcher design improve drainage, and the roof is now painted to match the hull for a more cohesive look. Up front, an upgraded overhead radio console fits almost any combination of radio and stereo gear.

Game Lock Coaming: The 45-Degree Detail

One deliberately small change stands out: a 45-degree bend on the inside of the gunwale, Bar Crusher’s Game Lock coaming. It makes leaning on the top decks, or locking into the gimbal while fighting a fish, noticeably softer on the thighs. It’s a comfort detail with a real functional payoff in a long fight.

Small Details, Real Difference

The grab rails have increased to 32mm in diameter, simply because they fit the hand better, look more in proportion with the boat and give it a tougher appearance. As Fishing Monthly notes, this is the kind of detail that separates boats in real-world testing: not headline features, but lots of small, considered choices.

Power, Trailer and Solo Launch and Retrieve

This test boat ran a 200hp Suzuki four-stroke, described as the most popular combination on this hull. It balances power and economy in a lightweight package, well within the 670HT’s 175–250hp rating. As with the rest of the range, it sits on a custom-built trailer with Bar Catch, so one person can launch and retrieve solo, from the compact end of the range right up to the largest models.

Rough-Water Driving Technique

Testing happened in rough conditions, with 1–2 metres of chop at the Patterson River entrance and out in the bay. The Waveslicer hull is designed to track straight and resist broaching in side-on seas. The tips from the test:

• Run as much trim as conditions allow, so the hull does its job and the bow stays lifted.
• Hold a confident, steady speed instead of backing off nervously.
• Use the bolster seats, whose flip-up centre section is designed to brace the driver in: feet spread, a little give in the knees, one hand on the wheel and one on the throttle.
• Vary your speed slightly as the boat goes up and over each wave.

For more, see our guide to trim tabs on deep-V hulls, or read how the 730HT handled a similar rough-water test.

Want the 670HT fully gamefishing-ready from the factory? See the 670HT Shelf Raider, or build and quote your own.