After attending many boat shows and after growing tired of our 12” alloy dingy, we collectively decided as a family to upgrade to a larger fibreglass trailerboat. The Seafarer product stood out year after year at the boat show, and we soon became aware that the Seafarer name had a revered reputation all other manufacturers respected. When talking with other Seafarer owners, the common response was that they would never buy anything else. We often sat on the break-walls watching boats crossing coastal bars, and inevitably, you would see a Seafarer V-Sea, Viking or Victory crossing the bar and heading wide out to sea. After looking at everything on the market, we decided on a legendary 5.0Mtr Seafarer runabout.

From the first day we took delivery, nothing went wrong. Everything worked as it should, nothing broke and year after year, the boat still looked as good as they day we picked it up. At the time of buying Lindsay Fry took us through the factory, showed us every part of the production process and the quality and level of raw material that went into every boat. Not only that, but Seafarer kept in touch after buying the boat to make sure we were enjoying it and getting the most out of it.

The more you own a Seafarer, the more you respect the thought and attention to detail that has gone into the design and construction of these boats. Everywhere you look, solid stainless steel rails, cleats, steps and hinges are fitted. Non-slip surfaces are where you need them, and the anchor hardware is oversize, and storage aplenty. Around the windscreen, you find a very solid stainless steel rail. The importance of this alone, when crossing a bar, cannot be underestimated. Upholstery is the best quality and nowhere do you see second-rate workmanship – even in the presentation of wiring, under-floor fittings, engine harnesses and fuel tank fittings. The boats plane effortlessly, run efficiently at all speeds and have incredible down-hill handling, even when pushed hard. The hulls ride predictably, quietly and without banging, rattling or requiring a lot of power. In rough conditions, the extra weight and ‘solid’ construction really comes into its own.  

During our years of owning larger trailer-boats, we still enjoyed having a smaller dingy to explore the shallow creeks and estuaries. Up until only recently, the smallest boat in the Seafarer range was 5.0Mtrs.

In order to overcome this problem, and knowing the Seafarer product so well, we acquired a classic Seafarer – built in the 1960’s. This classic hull had everything we wanted and the character of a classic, and with some perseverance we had it restored to its former glory. It has served as a brilliant crabbing and estuary fishing boat ever since, attracting plenty of admiration on the water.  

For Australian waterways, the Seafarer product fits the bill. These boats have been built on a pedigree that features some of Australia’s all-time classic hulls, built by a company with a reputation for honest, bulletproof boats. Every time we venture out, we have the peace of mind that we have a predictable, over-engineered hull underneath us that will get us home even when the conditions deteriorate. Having had over a decade of ownership experience and hundreds of hours in many different Seafarer models, these boats are the genuine article. When you are out at sea and exposed to the elements, you cannot put a price on quality, offshore prowess and reliability – all traits of the Seafarer range.
 

The Cornish Family