A boat is an integral aspect of running a successful fishing media company. It’s essentially a second office that we use to create all our content, test tackle, use as a camera platform to shoot other boats and – of course – film our Hooked Up Video series. As we cover all aspects of fishing on our various media platforms, it’s always been a challenge finding the right boat to handle a variety of fishing styles. We started off back in 2014 with a Haines Hunter 525 Prowler, which was a good little centre console and a jack of all trades – but master of none. After a few years of getting wet, cold, sunburnt and short on space, we moved on to a Haines Hunter 595 Offshore cuddy cab. Targeting snapper, gummies, whiting and tuna was awesome, we had shade via a Targa, safe places to stow expensive camera gear and we were dry, but we weren’t covering the estuaries, lakes and rivers. So, we then looked for a crossover vessel and went back to a centre console with a Sportsman Masters 207, which we ran for four years. It was an amazing boat, and I loved it. It was big, lots of dry storage, was a master of the lakes, estuaries and inshore lure fishing but wasn’t great to baitfish out of, wasn’t ideal offshore and you still had those same issues of getting wet, cold, sunburnt and the little things like trying to see your phone screen in full sun was almost impossible. We then moved on to a Sportsman Reef 19, and its layout made it a better bait fishing boat but we still had all the same issues of a centre console. As the captain and business owner I therefore accepted the inevitable – that I would have to run two boats, a cuddy cabin and an open boat. No more compromising; it was something I always knew I’d have to do.
Edencraft
Once I decided this was the road I wanted to go down, I knew the cuddy cabin was the first boat I would organise as it would require the most work. My main parameters were that it had to have a water line of 6m (not a total length of 6m), an amazing ride and a great layout for fishing. That 6-6.5m size was big enough to handle everything we’d need to do in it, and it isn’t too big for fishing solo or for driveway storage. I’m sure many anglers view these requirements in the same way, hence why it’s such a popular size around the country.
At the 2023 Melbourne Boat Show Hooked Up ran its live Rig Rundown activation, which was a huge success. We had ten hotted-up boats with awesome fit-outs on display and I got to interview the owners and crawl over each boat. I also spent as much time as I could exploring various boats at the show.
At the Rig Rundown stage, one of the boats was Ben Francis’ Edencraft 6m Offshore – which you can’t miss as it’s bright yellow and laid out really well. It kept catching my attention.
I have always been a fan of the Edencraft 6m; several friends own older models built by previous Edencraft owners, and I have been in many Haines Hunter 19R boats, which is this vessel’s heritage. I have also been in the Bass Strait 6m and a few other different variations of the original 19. They were all great boats, but I was never over the moon about the helm and basic layout of these boats, as they were a bit dated for how I wanted to set a boat up. I was also a little dubious about the aesthetics and performance of various pods that were used. However, if anyone asked my advice on a 6m cuddy cab, this was always the boat I recommended if it was in their budget. They’re not cheap to buy – new or second-hand – but there isn’t a lot that compares when it comes to ride.
I checked out a lot of boats and stands at the show, but two things stood out for me. The first was Ben’s Edencraft. After spending a lot of time sitting in it and exploring it, it had the perfect layout and it fitted me. Freeboard height, helm height, dash space, side pockets, and the build and construction were clearly exceptional. I loved the moulded glass floor, as opposed to many of the other similar boats I looked at that featured flow-coated floors that never seemed properly flat and suffered from messy caulking.
The 6m really stood out in its build and finish and the big standout when comparing it with other boats was how big the cockpit was relative to the size of the boat. It had the same amount of functional fishing space (6m squared) as boats that were longer and higher. In recent times Edencraft has made intelligent changes to the interior, the helm, side pockets, stern, cabin door and the integrated pod that are well thought-out and close to perfect within the parameters of this boat – they have found the balance. The second stand-out feature was the Edencraft stand at the show: it looked amazing, the boats stood out and everyone working on the stand seemed genuinely happy and enthused. When it comes to purchasing anything these days I take the culture of the company and the people into account as seriously as I take the product, as they go hand in hand. Before the boat show I met Josie Maher, the General Manager of Edencraft at a Mercury event at Sea World. Josie was really cool; humble, extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the brand, which made it easy to go up to say G’day at the Boat Show. I explained my situation and how much I liked the 6m and it just happened they had one in production as as a stock boat, and if I wanted one in white (which I did) I could take that or wait six months for the next build slot. It was a 15-minute conversation, and we pretty much had the deal done.
Through the whole process of the build, it was an amazing experience. Josie and factory manager Patty Eastman not only accommodated every request I made with ease and exceptional communication, but they delivered on everything flawlessly. The final product is exceptional in its build and attention to detail. Nothing was too hard, nothing took too long and there was nothing they didn’t have an answer for. They are genuinely great people and amazing to work with. I can’t recommend them highly enough if you’re thinking about buying an Edencraft.
They fitted the trailer of my choice, which is a Savage Trailers Pro Series, and they fitted the engine, a Mercury Verado 300. They handled all the stainless work, including rocket launcher and snapper racks, and executed it all flawlessly.
I took the boat to Marine Tech in Chelsea Heights (south-east of Melbourne) for electronics fit-out, which isn’t something Edencraft usually allows as they don’t sell hulls, they sell turnkey packages. I’ve seen their work and it’s exceptional, but as this was a highly customised boat and we were on a deadline, and I had already committed to Marine Tech doing the work, Edencraft made an exception and allowed me to have the fit-out done elsewhere.
After the fit-out was complete, I took the boat back to Edencraft where Patty and Sales Manager Harry Foullas conducted the most comprehensive Pre-Delivery I’ve ever experienced. They checked over everything in meticulous detail, and ensured they fixed up any minor details they found.
I have now put 40 hours on the boat in two months and this purchase was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The boat is the best sub-8m fishing boat I’ve ever been in. They have taken everything that was great about the 19R and significantly improved it with a better layout, bigger fuel capacity (300l), higher freeboard and integrated pod, but have done it in a way that has improved the ride and improved stability. It would have to be the most stable boat with a 22-degree deadrise that exists. It really is the ultimate goal in any fishing boat – a soft, fast, dry and predictable ride getting out to your destination and then a stable platform with a great fishing layout once you’re there, and Edencraft has achieved it.
With the 300 Verado, the boat reaches speeds of 93km/h at wide open throttle and at these high speeds the boat is as sure footed as it is at 60km/h. It’s an easy and fun boat to drive. There is never any negative porpoising, broaching, hull slapping, banging or chine walking. Even when running across a quartering sea in rough days on Port Phillip Bay, it doesn’t get pushed around. It has the perfect balance of weight, weight distribution and deep vee. Are there softer boats out there? Yes, but none that are this stable and those softer boats would only be of benefit in big seas at high speeds. It’s still a very soft riding boat that would rival 99 per cent of boats in this size class. This is a fishing boat first and foremost.
The only negative I can really find, and it doesn’t bother me, is the small cabin and the small entry. It’s a low-profile cabin with a small door that you need to bend down and crawl into. Cabins are just storage cupboards for me, I don’t sleep in them, so if you’re looking for a big and easily accessible cabin, this isn’t the boat for you. This cabin remains completely dry without any hatches on the deck, providing true and functional dry storage. Also, the low-profile deck not only adds to the classic aggressive lines of the boat, but by not having a bulbous deck to increase cabin head room, it helps the boat’s exceptional performance.Learn more about the Edencraft range here: https: edencraft.com.au
Verado
While I have spent only 40 hours with this engine, I am truly in love with it. First off, it looks amazing and anyone who denies aesthetics play a part in engine choice either has no style or they’re lying. But more important is the performance – it’s a true powerhouse that provides highly responsive control of this hull and it’s a big reason why the ride is so good. Most people who come in the boat comment that it’s like a race car – they go together beautifully. It’s ridiculously quiet for a 4.6-litre V8, and at idle if you haven’t switched into Sports Mode for a gruntier V8 sound, you wouldn’t even know it’s on. At speed the sound is amazing – it sounds powerful but never loud or annoying. The Advanced MidSection (AMS) on Verado engines greatly reduces noise and vibration, which all adds to an amazing experience in this boat.
I opted for Mercury’s power steering, which greatly helps the ride and performance experience as everything is smoother and more responsive, and coupled with fly-by-wire controls there is nothing clunky or mechanical-feeling. I also installed Mercury’s tilt helm, which ensures I always have a comfortable driving experience whether I’m sitting or standing.
There are little things about the Mercury that make fishing and boating more enjoyable. A 115amp alternator keeps an extensive light and electronic package fully charged. Mercury’s Troll Control feature is excellent for controlling speeds as it lets you digitally set your RPM via your MFD or Vessel View when trolling, allowing you to achieve slower speeds than are achievable via the binnacle. Mercury integrates perfectly with the Simrad system equipped on the boat and one great feature is a dimmer switch for the Simrad units, so if you’re driving and the sun goes down or up you can easily adjust it without taking your hand off the binnacle. When you’ve turned the screen brightness all the way down at night, and when you jump back in the boat the next day, you’re not scrambling to find the brightness dial on a black screen. It’s all very well thought-out and intelligent.
Electronics
Now when it comes to the electronics and fit out, this isn’t so much a review of the products I’ve used and installed or the service providers, but more a recommendation. We can’t have anything fail on our boats when we’re out doing shoots, as we have significant costs in time, cameramen, videographers, crew and clients with us, so anything that goes wrong is more than just an inconvenience – it’s costly. While we may just be going fishing, we’re also running a business. I’ve put together six boats over the past 14 years and stripped and reinstalled all new electronics on the same boat a few times. My time in the fishing and boating industry has afforded me the experiences to know who the best people are in the business. I was therefore able to assemble a bit of dream team when it came to putting all the pieces of this boat together, so read on as I take you through the full Rig Rundown.
Marine Tech
The whole fit-out of the boat was done by Marine Tech in Chelsea Heights, Victoria. I delivered them the Edencraft hull with engine hung on the transom, plus the plumbing installed as well as the stainless; aside from that, it was a bare boat, with not even a steering wheel. Marine Tech exceeded all my expectations with the fit-out – it was better than I imagined. The team, with owner Johnny Stav at the helm, are true master marine technicians. Their attention to detail and meticulous approach to all aspects of the fit-out, wiring and installation was well above industry standard. When it comes to boat fit-outs, few businesses are exceptional at it. It requires multiple skills, patience and intelligence to do it at a high level. The ability to cleanly and precisely cut fibreglass is one such skill. The Edencraft is extremely thick everywhere, from the dash through to the floor, and Johnny did an amazing job of cutting everything perfectly. Many installers will just use the sounder to cover up crooked cut lines, but Johnny ensured it was all precise. Their engine fit-up knowledge is also first-class, so they knew every aspect of the Mercury and how it would connect with the Simrad system and batteries for optimal performance.
They used only the finest materials such as marine tinned wiring, and great care was taken in ensuring all wiring was not only efficient electronically but aesthetically it was neat, hidden and matched the beautiful aesthetic of the Edencraft. They have an extremely clean and well organised workshop and use only the finest tools. Marine Tech is without doubt in the upper echelon of marine outfitters and technicians in Victoria. The team were an absolute pleasure to work with and I can’t recommend them highly enough for anyone wanting a small job done or a complete fit-out like I had. You can find them at www.marine-tech.com.au or call them on 0405 610 634.
Moose Marine
When it came to choosing what was going on the boat, I designed it all with Anthony ‘Moose’ Cooke of Moose Marine who is also based in Chelsea Heights. Moose is an outfitter and a retailer, and his product knowledge is exceptional. He’s an industry leader when it comes to boat electronics and marine products and is always a few steps ahead of everyone with what’s new in the marine world. Essentially, Moose acted as an interior designer and sourced most of the products for me. He is so much fun to work with as he’s always full of great ideas and instantly knows what will work and what can and can’t be done.
I knew I’d be using this boat in the dark quite a lot so the first thing we worked out was lighting. Moose has a huge range of lighting products with an interactive light wall in his showroom where you can test out many lights. He is a Hella Marine dealer and recommended we largely use this brand as it has products to cover most of what I needed. He was confident in their German manufacturing and durability and I’m glad I went ahead with Hella – so far I’ve been extremely impressed with the products. We installed Hella Apelo A2 underwater lights in RGB. On my past three boats I’ve used Ocean LED, and they never let me down but they’re expensive. For less than the price of two Ocean LED lights I could get four Hella Apelo A2 lights, so it was an easy choice. While each Apelo A2 puts out 3000 lumens, I went with four as my philosophy on underwater lights is if you’re going to do it, do it properly and make it ultra-bright. The beauty of the RGB is I can switch to white for ultra-bright or use more subtle tones such as green, blue and purple. They definitely attract bait and they are awesome for when I’m reversing into my dark driveway at night or putting on tie downs at dark ramps, and they ensure your boat can be seen by passing ships and other vessels. I added Hella Sea Hawk XL floodlights on the rocket launcher that switch between blue and white, which have been perfect on some recent night-time gummy sessions. When on white they are 750 lumens and I love the fact I can swivel them when I want more direct light over the water. They light up the whole cockpit and out into the water and I can switch them to a milder blue, which still provides great visibility but gives your eyes a nice rest from the ultra-bright white.
I placed a Hella LED strip lamp on the roof as you open the door. This has a switch on it so as soon as you open the door, you can switch a light on by hand rather than hitting a switch at the helm. This strip lamp switches between red and white. We also installed red COB LED strip lights from Oz Marine Tech in the cabin roof so you can have full vision in the cabin without it being too harsh. We also used white COB lights in the cabin shelves and side pockets so it’s easy to find anything. For me it’s the perfect lighting system that gives you full vison in a dark cabin without any lights blinding you.
Hella doesn’t do COB lights or strip lights so Moose suggested a new brand he brings in called Shadow-Caster. The Shadow-Caster RGB light strips are housed in a thick silicone tubing that acts as a diffuser and makes them highly durable. We put these under the toe holds where they can be knocked by larger feet tucking right in, so this design is tough and a very effective lighting solution for the floor of the cockpit. They are bright and run the full length of the cockpit, giving me full vision into the bilge area. Shadow-Caster also makes an excellent RGB controller that we installed to control the RGB function on the Hella Apelo underwater lights. It’s a simple control box and rocker switch system that makes it easy to cycle through modes and colours. We used a Fusion RGB controller for the strip lights. This is controlled via a remote I keep in the glovebox, which isn’t ideal but does work very well. As I don’t really need to change the floor light colour very often it works well for me, and I have become quite partial to purple – it’s easy on the eyes at night and looks cool. Get in contact with Moose Marine here: Moose Marine
Simrad
One of the biggest aspects of the boat fit-out was the sonar/navigation system – I went everything Simrad and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I kept my sonar/nav system simple and effective with a Simrad NSS Evo3 16in and 12in networked and running to an SS175HW through-hull transducer. I have had an Evo3 running to this same transducer on my past two boats and it’s exceptional. This is the first time I have purely just run Simrad and I couldn’t be happier. The sonar readings are exceptional, even at speed, and whether I’m marking lone snapper on barren Port Phillip Bay bottom, looking for weedy ground or marking kingfish in extremely fast current, it does it with clear and precise readings. Its colour erase function is excellent and allows me to find fish with ease. It doesn’t take long for someone new to this unit to decipher the difference between pinkies and big snapper, and even marks squid clearly. The navigation unit is fast and responsive and thanks to the Simrad Precision 9 compass, it delivers heading accuracy of +2 degrees. In layman’s terms this means that on my GPS the boat icon in relation to my position is extremely accurate, so it knows if the boat is going forwards or backwards and it makes anchoring on marks easier, and getting on top of fish far more precise, which leads to better captures. I highly recommend the Precision 9 compass to any angler, it’s a game changer.
The Precision 9 Compass is quite large but can be mounted in the cabin and still provide outstanding connectivity. It’s part of Simrad’s autopilot system, which I also installed. This is a great feature that allows me some hands-free and precise control while under way, so it’s great for long runs. I also installed a Simrad HALO20+ radar. Radar is a great safety feature to monitor locations of other boats on a busy bay when driving at night or in fog. With its long-range coverage, I can see if a boat is sitting on a reef or mark I want to fish before I bother running out to it, saving me time and fuel. I’ve never had autopilot or radar before but they are two very luxurious and useful features that I am loving.
While all these features are amazing, the best part of the Simrad system is how simple it is to use and how reliable and fast it is. The units turn on quickly, it’s easy to enter a new mark, organise marks, sound fish and control any other functions – it’s extremely intuitive. You can learn more about Simrad here: Simrad
Sionyx Nightwave
I also installed a SIONYX Nightwave night vision camera. It’s very lightweight when compared with thermal cameras and a compact unit, which was a big part of my decision. I already have the radar on the rocket launcher, so I didn’t want to add much more weight up top. It offers full colour night vision as opposed to thermal vision and needs only starlight to operate.
We tested it out on a new moon and it’s excellent for running at night and monitoring for obstacles and debris. It connects to the Simrad unit via HDMI and is a better way of navigating through marinas and harbours than blasting a light bar, which is distracting to other boats. It’s an effective and relatively affordable option for anglers such as myself who do a lot of night driving. I also installed a Simrad VHF, which aesthetically looks great and is efficient and easy to use. You can learn more about Syonix here: Syonix
Oz Marine Tech Switches
Oz Marine Tech (OMT) is a company based in Rowville, Victoria, run by Ibrahim Bayri. The man is a true genius and expert craftsman when it comes to switching systems for boats. He makes stylish and effective customised push-button switch panels and he can do almost anything. They have a CNC routing machine to custom-cut the panels out of multiple material choices as well as laser cutting engraving to label all switches on the panel. He has multiple switches to choose from with LED colour options and he can label all panels with LED backlighting. My panel is made from 6mm Dura Matte which doesn’t reflect light, doesn’t scratch or show swirls from oil on your hands. It has bevelled edges and is back bolted so there are no visible screws.
It features a back-lit Edencraft logo and I can turn the LED backing lights off or dim them with a touch-sensitive switch. This is the third switch panel I’ve had from Oz Marine Tech and they have never let me down. I can’t recommend Ibrahim and the team Oz Marine Tech highly enough, as they are a pleasure to work with, extremely professional and their work is flawless. This is a very stylish aspect of the boat, and more importantly extremely functional in any light conditions for both captain and crew. You can reach Oz Marine Tech at www.ozmarinetech.com.au or on (03) 9056 9199. They can make panels up and deliver them anywhere in Australia.
Anchoring
When it came to an electric anchor winch I went with Edencraft’s recommendation, which is Stress Free – and my experience has been exactly that. All I’ve mainly done fishing-wise so far is anchor-based fishing, with lots of whiting and gummy sessions in hard-running currents in Western Port and Port Philip Bay. The winch has been faultless, it’s extremely powerful, quiet and does its job every time. You can reach Stress Free at www.stressfree.com.au.
I paired it with an Anchor Right SARCA Excel, and it’s the best anchor I’ve ever owned. It holds first time, every time. I’ve anchored in areas where most people struggle to hold and it’s been outstanding. The combination of Stress Free and the SARCA Excel provides me with confidence no matter where I’m anchoring. You can reach Anchor Right at: anchorright.com.au
Savage Trailers
The final aspect of the whole package – and one of the most important – is the trailer. I opted for a Savage Trailer – the seventh I’ve owned. Ben and the team at Savage make exceptional trailers that are custom-built for each boat. I opted for an aluminium dual-axle Pro Series trailer with carpeted bunks. It’s a joy to tow on the road and driving the boat on and off with the bunk system is easy in even the most trying conditions. The bunks protect the hull from any possible damage or marks. If you’re new to boating or nervous about driving your boat on and off, you cannot get an easier, safer or better system than this. I’m often the last boat to get to the ramp but the first one out, and yes, that has a bit to do with experience, but the ease of the trailer makes a big difference in speed and efficiency.
I’ve never had anything fail on me on any of my Savage Trailers over the past 14 years and I use them often and over long distances on Victoria’s very average roads. Ben customised the wrap down the I-beam on my trailer in white and black to match the aesthetic on the boat, and custom wraps and decals are an option for all customers. It looks amazing and its performance is faultless. You can bet in touch with Savage Trailers at www.savagetrailers.com.au or call on (03) 9708 2970.
To Conclude
While I understand not everyone can afford to put a package together like this (it has taken me years of saving and hard work to do so), I do hope that the companies and products I’ve used have given you some great ideas of what you can add to your existing boat or new model to create a better and safer fishing platform for your fishing adventures.
