Report from David

Specification:
Length 15ft
Beam 6' 3"
Weight 400Kg
Engine 40hp Evinrude 2 stroke
Country of manufacture: UK

More details on full specification can be found at http://www.seahog.co.uk/Hunter.htm

I bought this boat second hand last October and have been improving and adding things during the past twelve months. The boat did not come with a cover so this was one of the first things I purchased and has made it easier to keep the boat clean and able to trail the boat with fishing gear inside without the chance of anyone stealing from inside the boat whilst at traffic lights. These things do happen so I am told!

I had to replace the steering wheel as the original one had a bad crack in it. I have also added navigation lights a second battery system and additional two fuel tanks. It came with an electric bilge pump, which I have made a bracket to hold it in position. It also has keel band and had two beaching bands one on each side, these I have removed and made good the hull to improve the handling. Apart from general tidying up the boat I have not done much.

It can take three people with their fishing gear quite easily but it is far more comfortable with only two. It gets up on the plane from about 10kts and the fastest I have had it is about 24kts. I have been out in various sea conditions up to a force 4/5 which it coped with very well but at much reduced speed. The hull does slap a bit when at anchor in a chop but this happens to most semi-cathedral hull boats but this design is supposed to be more stable when at anchor.
The cabin/cuddy whilst a bit low for me, I am over 6' 2", can hold all the usual bits and pieces in the dry. As there is no access to the front of the boat through the cuddy you have to use a lazy line to anchor, attaching the main anchor warp from the side of the boat. To lift the anchor I now use the Alderney ring method, which is to attach a large buoy and allow it to slip along the anchor rope and lift the anchor up. You then just have to retrieve the rope without too much effort, extreme care is needed to make sure you do not get the rope caught up in the prop!
There are many of these boats out there to choose from and I would suggest they make a good first boat to get use to all the ways of boat fishing, they are easy to launch and tow as well.

The trailer is one area that I have changed, it did have all rubber keel rollers on it but some of these had got worn and did not turn too well. I have since replaced all but two of these rollers for nylon versions, which has made a world of difference to launching and retrieving the boat. Check out Crayside Marine web site for these nylon rollers.

David's boat

Equipment fitted:
Eagle AccuNav II GPS
Eagle Ultra Clasic Fish finder
NASA Stingray 5600 VHF Radio

Check out the reports on the above equpment on the other pages

Disclaimer: Everything written in these reports are based on personal experience and the individual's opinion only. I have tried my best to present the facts correctly, but I/we take no responsibility for any mistakes or omissions.