Saltwater Flyrodders

Im currently in negotiations with the minister of war and finance regarding a boat...assuming I can find what I want that will fit in my shed which is 5.8m long.
Have any of you guys had any experience with the panga style boats such as the southwind/Goodwin etc in the shorter lengths such as 5m and under? What are the main disadvantages and advantages of them? I understand they are generally good boats and don't require much HP to get up and going, they also tend to have very little draft. But whats their stability like at rest? Do the shorter boats in these lengths make good fly platforms? I know I could get a good tinnie about 4m that should fit in the shed, but was hoping to keep away from aluminum due to hull slap, also would love something with a slightly more efficient hull that didn't need a big engine to get up and away.

Have had a look at the X Country boats in open 4.1 and 4.3 specs, dam nice but expensive, but maybe their lower HP requirements may offset their expensive hull cost.

Are there any other fiberglass/composite sub 4.3m open hulls that people could suggest?

Rick

I've fished out of a couple of south winds and what you have said is spot on. At rest, they tend to roll a little due to the narrow width. How good they are as a fly platform depends on how the boat has been setup. If you can find one at a decent price, it's not hard to refit to suit your purposes.

Tony thanks for the reply. This little boat a Goodwin which I believe is based off the Southwind hull is only 4.2 so it will fit in the shed. Id imagine with a nice bow mount electric it would make an awesome river bream boat, with some inshore Cockburn work in good weather possible. But would there be much I could do to improve the stability at rest?

But if there are mods that can be done to improve a fiberglass boat whether in lay out or stability for flyfishing Ive no idea as I'm pretty inexperienced with boats outside of the old 12ft punt I used to zip around in the Bega River estuary with as a kid....im a total noob.

Something I'm trying to reconcile....if the river is limited to a blanket 5 knots and you can't take the boat out in most conditions to even inshore grounds...might as well get a Hobie right?

Definitely go a fibreglass boat just better all around haha. Also which ever way u go there is always a trade off less dead rise at the back of the boat better stability and not as great in chop or swell. More dead rise better in swell and cutting into chop but may roll over a bit more. Im sure if there is a picture of my boat in my build of the dead rise at the back. If not ill take one and put it up here. Mine goes great in chop and swell but does roll a bit if u are both on one side. Down here in albany i run through a lot of swell or chop getting to and from places. I guess u just gotta figure out what u fish most and what u want the boat to do and go from there. If u can only get a 4.3 or 4.5 m boat than go something more beam width which will help to be stable. Hope some of that helps. And u can always add things to fit out fibreglass boats much more easily than an ali boat.

The panga-style boats are the ones I really like the look of myself. They are designed to be sturdy ocean going boats for the Pacific Islanders to get around in, like the ute of the sea. (I'm no boat expert though, so take my words at your peril ... )

My main concern is that the bow is quite high, perhaps making the installation of a bow-mount leccy a little problematic. There must be a way around it and maybe it's not such a problem with the shorter boats like the one you have your eye on.

Cheers,
Graeme

Thanks guys...yeah this is a bit of a learning curve. Ive just put myself through a crash course in boat materials, so I do like the idea of a fiberglass hull for the efficiency. Have gone off the x country type of thing as the forums indicate they float about like a cork and get smashed in the chop due to lack of mass.

The problem with the little Goodwin is the lack of beam and high free board as you guys have stated, reckon she would go ok in the wind swell and chop we get here off the metro coast but yeah....bet she would roll about at rest a little...not so good for fly casting But would be awesome in the river with a bow mount If I could get one to fit.

Have also been looking at the Smart Wave poly boats they are like a modernized Polycraft, lighter and more efficient hulls etc, but still extremely stable at rest apparently. They do a 3.5 and 4.2m which could be worth a look. Still good river boats with reasonably shallow draft, but capable inshore in some chop. The only down side over a tinnie with these boats that I can see is the slightly larger HP requirements.

My current thinking is: - If just fishing the Swan Canning river system with their speed restrictions with occasional inshore just get a Hobie PA 14. If Im planning to get out side a bit more and fish inshore metro. Good little stable 14 FGlass/ poly boat would be the go.

At the moment im leaning towards having the versatility, so a boat it is.

do u have a picture of the goodwin u have been looking at ??

Another one for freeboard when u are in a little swell its so nice to be able to lean on the sides of the boat and not lean on ur shins but at least about ur knee thigh and more, makes fishing much more comfortable. But than again if ur just in the river and only going out inshore close on the right days than it would work. Are u looking at a open boat or console ??

Go for something as big as your shed and budget can accommodate Rick. River fishing is great, and days when you can't get out, it's a good option. If you get something around 4.5 meters, they're very capable little boats which will open up your options greatly with inshore fishing. Used to regularly take my 4.4 meter Stacer out to Rottnest in the right conditions.
There will always be days where you get caught out by the wind and find yourself miles from the boat ramp. Driving to the conditions and understanding how your boat handles will get you home safely.
Tiller steer in boats this size gives you the most fishing room. Great if budget is a consideration. Side consoles are an option too. I feel that centre consoles in anything under 4.5 meters take up too much valuable fishing space.
More freeboard will be better on those rough days. The drawback is windage.
The smaller southwind that I fished out of was around 5 meters, so don't know how a smaller one would handle. is there any chance of a test ride on a day with moderate winds?
Don't discount Ali boats in this size. Will open up a lot more options.

Mat not sure of how to post pics on the forum, but if you google 4.2M Goodwin Longboat you will get a few examples. The top 4 pics google gives back are the 4.2m I think, the 3rd pic is the one I've seen for sale. There's not much free board on these things...be worried she'd tip me into the drink if not careful.

Tony thanks for the input, yeah if I can get a 4.5m meter or so boat, ill dam well try and make it fit haha. Yep ally is still a consideration, only reason im looking at other materials is to try and get a quiet boat for poking about in shallow waters, and also nicer ride in the chop. But then again the choice in ally boats is insane and there does appear to be some good value out there. Reckon I could stretch out the boats on trailer length a little if I get a trailer with a fold away hitch, they are easy enough to sort out right?

Im flying blind with all this as Ive got limited experience with boating over here, you blokes are invaluable as sounding boards.

Tonys advice is bang on, think i found that goodwin on gumtree. looks fun and customisable haha, but yes very short free board and not
being able to see the rear hard to tell how stable it would be and how it would go in chop and swell. Be awesome if u could test run it. The front didn't look like it went up that much so i reckon u could figure out how to mount a bow mount on there.

But yeh i would go as big as ur shed/finance allows u will be more happy. My 4.8s trailer was too long for our normal double garage with the hydrofoil on the engine haha. So i cut about half a foot off the front of the trailer and its fine. But it may have been slighty extended before hand. Definitely a lot of ali boats around, ill put my 1 cent in. I had a ali dingy was only 13 foot went good but into chop boy oh boy did u need a chiro prac after haha. was low free board i could only stand in pretty much flat water to a little chop.

Going from that to my fibreglass boat i made to what i wanted is the best thing i could have ever done. Believe me if i had the money to buy something that i could fill up turn key and go do that, a project like that is no easy feet but can be done. I know down south here we are always running in swell and chop to and from besides the estuarys. So i wanted something that would handle the seas and finding a cheap runabout and converting was perfect for me. Now i have the boat and works exactly the way i want it and performs to what i need it to do.

I reckon if u could try and test drive a few boats and see what u think and what u want with lay out. Tony said definitely get the most fishing space with a tiller steer. But it is really nice having a steering wheel and not being right at the back of the boat. Who knows i should stop rambling and go ty some flys haha.