hornet vs. top ender

[flathead_fred]

im looking at the new quinnie hornets and top enders and they both seem the same but one has the eclipse hull and the other has a mellenium hull. im at the 435 topender and liking what i see as its small enough to chase fish in the estuaries and the mellenium hull means i can chase a few mackos and tuna in the bay, and still make it out to some of the western reefs on a good day. what are your thoughts guys?

[Bear]

Personally, I love the 4.25 Stessl Edge Tracker. I have the 3.85 at the moment and hope to upgrade inthe not too distant future. Mine has a 30hp Honda electric start. What a dream.

[Bear]

I should point out, so I don't offend people, that they are my sponsor for the ABT series. I went after them as I like the boats.

Thanks.

[flathead_fred]

yeah its nice, but i need something which can handle the chop of moreton bay, thats all. if i wanted a pure bream/bass boat i would probably go for something just like that.

[jimi]

I'd go for the topender if you are going to be spending any time in the bay. It gets pretty lumpy in there at times. I remember plenty of times in my dads old 16ft tinnie, travelling between Tangalooma and Manly, when we had to hang on for grim death.

The topender gives you higher sides (very important in choppy conditions) and a deeper v that is carried all the way back. It's still a tinny though so you are going to get bounced around if it's rough.

The main downside with V-hull styles for bream fishing is that they are more wind affected (due to having higher sides), making them harder to control under electric power in a stiff breeze. They will also probably be less stable at rest than a hornet, but I doubt it will be too bad for a 435 size or above.

All boats are a comprimise. If you are going to do bay work, I'd comprimise on the bream/stillwater side rather than on your safety in bad conditions.

Cheers
James.

[Bear]

The Edge hull is not that different to the Hornet. I would think they have a very simlar performance.

[flathead_fred]

yeah you are right bear, i guess though i would only take it onto the bay in excellent conditions in the wee hours of the morning, its just that i want the luxury of versitility. i mean who can turn down a feed of sweetlip or squire , breamin isnt everthing and i cant have a fleet of specialized craft , oh if only we were made of money. oh well thanks for the advice bear.

catcha lata

[Bear]

I envy the variety you have the Fred. Would love to head over some time and see how the other half live.

Good luck with the boat hunting and make sure you get lots of pics

[flathead_fred]

yeah i guess we do take foe granted the area. when youve got one of the most expansive estuaries in australia ( the broadwater and jumpinpin area) fantastic beach fishing on moreton and the straddies (as well as fraser not to far north, and a bay which harbours numerous pelagics like mackeral, tuna, kingfish cobia, more sharks than you can count and many varieties of reef dweelers. its a beautiful place to be. carried on a bit there but its a great place to live

[madaff]

Fred I would go the the Topender in your situation as it will offer you far greater safety in choppy seas. I have a 435 Hornet it is fantastic, possibly the best boat I have ever owned. However I really enjoy going outside chasing Bonito and anything else that will take a fly. On a good day I have had my Hornet out 6nm so far. But the thought of our Fremantle doctor (anything up to 25 knot south wester) we could find ourselves in the poo!

While the stability of the Topender is not as good as the Hornet the more free board the better. If you plan to use it offshore more than in, I would make sure that the bungs are the largest there is and that you can screw them in from the inside of the boat. Definatly fit the best quality bilge pump also. May as well go for a 1500gph job and be done with it. Saftey should be paramount.

[LakeConjolaFish]

Bear,

How do you find having the electric on the transom ?

A lot of people reckon that if its not bow mounted its not worth having.

Mine is transom mounted and I like it But I must admit that I have never been in a boat with a bow mount. Maybe its a case of what you dont know you dont miss

[Ravin]

I have a 445 Wildfisher & its fantastic for breaming. It goes offshore on good days no problems. Its just one of those things you can't have the best of both worlds.

[Bear]

Hi LCF,
The transom mount was only for while I wait for a bow mount. The worst point about it is that it's not hands free. On a windy day that means you have to constantly adjust the direction by hand which I found very annoying. As soon as my bow mount arrives, the transom mount goes.

Big difference in price though.

[LakeConjolaFish]

Looks like to stop stress, anxiety, depression, pharmacutical drugs, envy, hate and ill will to my fellow humans that I can NEVER go in a boat with a bow mount electric.

Thats the only way that I will be able to stay happy with my transom mount.

Therapy awaits me

[Bear]

It's better than no electric at all.