Thread: Scorpion alloy boats

Im a small boat user and I appreciate wanting space.
Sub 6m pontoon boats really sacrifice interior space.
Anything sub 6 m is hard riding but that said some are better than others.
My little frypan is the softest riding 4.5m boat I have ever been in, it is also one of the wettest and struggels with 40hp where flatter harder riding boats are well powered with 40hp.

Considering the part of the country you intend to fish and the likelyhood of other fishers near you/going past I would be leaning towards a safe boat capable of big seas (with a competent skipper) second hand if need be rather than a perhaps less capable new boat.

Have plenty of experience in small ramcos and a bit in small maclays. Both are solid boats but at the hard riding end of the scale.

One thing to be aware of is traditional hulls like the ramco/maclay/fryan while they may be "unsinkable" what they dont tell you is that since all their buoyancy is in the floor then if swamped or broached they naturally float upsidedown.....which means you are swimming with all your gear gone.
This is something I am acutely aware of in my wee 4.5fryan......its been in some big seas for a little boat but never far from help if need be.

Maclay now have the "crossover" model, which is the same boat with some foam up under the gunnals. They had to do this to be able to sell the boats in Australia to meet their regs.

"Soft riding" pontoon boats = Senator/Profile Kiwikraft Osprey.....new gen stabicraft might sneak in there.
Frewza definitely worth a look....value for money
Senator great deck space for size and good ride.
Stabi.....its the hilux of the sea, doesnt do anything great or bad but reliable and ridiculous resale....pre arrow pontoons are hard riding AF

It sounds like a Senator 540 with a 90 or 115 4srtroke would suit you perfectly.....unfortunately they hardly ever come up second hand.