fbpx
MINI FLYBRIDGE CRUISER

MINI FLYBRIDGE CRUISER

Julian McGarry couldn’t afford to buy a flybridge cruiser, so he built his own mini version.   When Julian McGarry’s mate sold his flybridge cruiser, Julian lost his regular ride. Heartbroken, he couldn’t see the value in owning his own moored boat, so he took...
BOATS OF THE FUTURE

BOATS OF THE FUTURE

The Captain catches up with respected boat designer Paul Bury, the man behind the computer behind many of the boats you drool over at the ramp. WHO IS PAUL BURY? Paul is the principal of Bury Design and has worked in the industry for over 20 years. Before starting...
EPIC SWORDFISH BATTLES IN BASS STRAIT

EPIC SWORDFISH BATTLES IN BASS STRAIT

The Captain’s crew are on the hunt for the enigmatic swordfish — charging out past the fire-breathing oil rigs of Bass Strait aboard a Bass Strait Offshore 30, which has a certain synchronicity to it if you give a rat’s about such things. This rig has a huge...
FULL METAL JACKET

FULL METAL JACKET

Dan Brauman has been a soldier with the Australian Defence Force for the past 20 years. When he’s not running sorties to Timor, he’s skippering his Sailfish S8 with his crew, aka the Cuzzy Bros. We infiltrated Dan’s posse at Port Fairy, three hours out of Melbourne on...
NO BUDGIES FOR THIS SMUGGLER

NO BUDGIES FOR THIS SMUGGLER

Not so long ago, a boat builder of repute reached out to The Captain, saying,  “If you blokes come across a good performing hull, between 20ft and 23ft long, give me a call. I want to replicate something with a sweet, soft ride, big internal capacity and...
ROLLING BY THE RIVER

ROLLING BY THE RIVER

The dreaded trailer failure can mess up your fishing trip and-much, much worse- your boat. Yet such a devastating towing trauma can be prevented with just a little forethought. Roll with me on this one… ROLLIN’ BY THE RIVER It’s a dark, moonless night and you’re...

10 WAYS TO JUSTIFY A NEW BOAT TO THE MISSUS…

You need a new boat more than world peace — but not at the cost of war breaking out on the domestic front. Never fear the Captain is here… ATTENTION DADS: So you want a new 20ft (6m) fishing rig, but the missus says no. There are only two options: a. Divorce, or...
BLACK RUSSIAN

BLACK RUSSIAN

The Captain gets an invite into the Cootacraft factory in Mallacoota, Victoria. It comes directly from the owner/builder known as Mark ” The mad Russian”. He’s also a hunter and expert marksman. What could possibly go wrong?  The name Cootacraft...
DICKEY SEMIFLY 32

DICKEY SEMIFLY 32

They’re young, smart and cool, and they represent a new breed of saltwater stylists. They’re the builders – and the owners – of a new wave of floating fortresses. Dickey Boats fits the bill on both fronts. The blue-water highway used to be ruled by dudes with beards...
GRADY-WHITE CANYON 376

GRADY-WHITE CANYON 376

The biggest, baddest console The Captain has ever tested in Australia! The Grady-White Canyon 376 is a bona fide heavyweight of centre consoles. It’s the biggest hull in the Grady-White range, tipping the scales at almost six tonne (without engines). The beam is wider...
STABICRAFT 1850 FRONTIER

STABICRAFT 1850 FRONTIER

A lot of people ask why we started The Captain. We usually tell them it’s because “We’re really passionate about fishing and boating” or “We love telling interesting stories about legends of the sea”. Now both those points might be true, but they’re not the real...
HAINES SIGNATURE 788SF

HAINES SIGNATURE 788SF

The Captain puffs out his chest and steps aboard the biggest console the Signature factory has ever built, powered by the largest motor Suzuki has ever built; two, in fact.    We’re still not sure why John Haines built the 788SF. It’s the biggest console ever...
H: CRAFT SKIFF

H: CRAFT SKIFF

Earlier this year, the image of a strange craft popped up on The Captain’s newsfeed. It was narrow like an SUP, agile and fast like a PWC, yet kitted out for serious fishing. This thing stuck out like a pink Cosmopolitan cocktail among The Captain’s usual rum-fuelled...
GAMEFISHING ONE PERCENTERS

GAMEFISHING ONE PERCENTERS

Joel Ryan caught more fish last year than most of us could dream about catching in a lifetime. His 2017 hit list includes jumbo bluefin off Sydney, double digits of marlin and swordfish, and he’s even put Tait Missen, his good mate’s son, onto an Aussie junior record...
DAVEY’S BIG DAY OUT

DAVEY’S BIG DAY OUT

Davey Marine go the extra mile (about 50 miles, in fact)   Davey Marine just went next-level with its customer service. Their blue-chip customers were invited down to Refuge Cove for a fully catered weekend of swell jumping and horsepower thumping. The rigs that...
PORN IN THE USA

PORN IN THE USA

The Captain’s phone rang earlier this year. It was John Haines Junior, boss man of Suzuki Australia and heir to the Haines Signature fortune. In his polite but matter-of-fact manner he asked, “what are you guys doing in June?” “Let me check my calendar, John,” I...
TUG OFF

TUG OFF

The Captain tugs hard over his tow machines. Here are his top 10 adventure rigs.   Did you just drop more than $200K for your deep-vee machine built with 37 layers of ‘glass in the transom and fitted with hardtop, commercial-grade sounder, radar, pie warmer,...
ALLOY SHOOTOUT

ALLOY SHOOTOUT

Four pumping plate rigs fight it out bow to bow in the captain’s alloy shootout at Jervis bay.  The only good thing that comes in tin is beer, right? Some among the glass-lovin’ class still beat that drum on Facebook forums. Their opinion is probably based on...
FOUR- STROKE FANDANGO

FOUR- STROKE FANDANGO

Honda Marine used this year’s Melbourne International Boat Show to take the worldwide wraps off a posse of new outboards – the BF75, BF80, BF90 and BF100. With their sleek silver styling and swept-back “crouching” appearance, they look the business and have the...
PART 3) FUEL TANK FOR THE PROJECT BOAT

PART 3) FUEL TANK FOR THE PROJECT BOAT

The Captain goes in search of a fuel tank for the Nub Tub, their custom Haines Hunter 445F project boat. In the backblocks of Williamstown they find a man of steel, Kane McQuarrie from McQuarrie Fabrications. Picking a fuel tank is harder than picking a good rum. For...
INSANE INSTALLS- BARRA BATTLES

INSANE INSTALLS- BARRA BATTLES

The Captain’s crew heads to the Daly River in the Northern Territory to rendezvous with Paul Williams, the proud owner of a GS Marine prototype centre console fitted with a Lowrance and Simrad combo – and a massive Merc donk hanging out the back. Ah, the fishing...
STABICRAFT 1550 FISHER

STABICRAFT 1550 FISHER

Ever since the Battle of the Big Vee, Matt Webb, owner of the Edencraft 233 Formula, has been nagging The Captain because he wants a 15ft boat for his 17-yearold son, Tom. Tom loves his diving and fishing, so Matt wanted something safe and indestructible, but also...
800HP AL DHAEN CONSOLE

800HP AL DHAEN CONSOLE

  Grahma Harris won a bridge-to-bridge in record time, Caressing the helm of a 1000HP Connelly. These days he mooches around the Hawksbury in a 800HP Al Dhaen. Yep, We had to meet this bloke…         The Captain’s crew are belting around...
HOW TO PICK UP GIRLS! (WITH A BOAT)

HOW TO PICK UP GIRLS! (WITH A BOAT)

Just how much sex appeal do boats have? We laid down the challenge to Jack Murphy, recently single and ready to mingle. With nothing more than his bristling beard, a cup of charm and a Whittley SL25 hard top, We set him loose among a flock of amorous young females....
SIGNATURE 495F

SIGNATURE 495F

You may have noticed a secret new project stashed between the pages of the Builders’ Survey in the previous issue of The Captain. It was the fourth generation of the Haines Signature 495F hull – and it’s just been released to the public. The new hull features an extra...
EVINRUDE LAUNCH NEW G2 PLATFORMS

EVINRUDE LAUNCH NEW G2 PLATFORMS

Evinrude launch 150, 150 H.O., 175 and 200HP G2 E-TECs In March, a muster of new Evinrude G2 E-TEC outboards hit the water. This follows the release of the first G2s back in 2014 with the 200H.0. -300HP range. The new outboards consist of a 150HP, 150 H.O., 175HP and...
HAINES SIGNATURE 543SF

HAINES SIGNATURE 543SF

Within the next couple of months, The Captain is planning a trip to Seventeen Seventy, a fishing mecca six hours north of Brisbane. He put out the call for a ride and surface slayer Mathew Scholz answered. Armed with a sparkling new Haines Signature 543SF, Matt’s rig...
BOAT REG. WITH NATHAN NICHOLS

BOAT REG. WITH NATHAN NICHOLS

Boating fails  – Nathan Nichols, director of Cruise Craft, on the inconvenient truth of boating regulations. The rumours are true. I took the opportunity to launch into a very passionate discussion at a recent product launch. In my view, The Captain – which...
HAINES SIGNATURE 495F

HAINES SIGNATURE 495F

You may have noticed a secret new project stashed between the pages of the Builders’ Survey in the previous issue of The Captain. It was the fourth generation of the Haines Signature 495F hull – and it’s just been released to the public. The new hull features an extra...