Less bang and less onboard H²0, plus improved performance and handling and increased cockpit space and storage…that pretty well sums up the Stacer story for 2010.
It was quite clear at the recent Gold Coast launch of the latest Stacer boats for 2010 that the focus would be on keeping the costs down for the consumer whilst not compromising on quality, finish and performance.
There were plenty of boats to run around in and take photos of and I personally enjoyed the opportunity to see where this major Australian boat brand was heading with its impressive array of cartoppers and small-to-largish trailer boats. Unbelievably, there are 65 different models in the Stacer range.
Most of the boats we were shown on the day featured the new EVO Advance Hull which really does represent a radical change in hull design compared to previous models. Design changes have been made both to the bow and the stern to four boats in the Nomad range, six Runabout models, all eight Bowriders, as well as the four Stacer Cabin boats.
The most-significant design change in the EVO hull is what you might describe as a bow made more pointy. Some of the bluntness has been removed form the bow entry curve and the bow itself has been made considerably narrower. The result, of course, is a much sharper entry and a considerably-deeper V.
If you know anything about boats, you’ll immediately recognise that a hull thus changed must provide a smoother, and drier, ride. It’s cutting the water with a sharper blade and a narrower V, so it simply has to ride over/through choppy waters more comfortably than before; and with less bluntness up front to push water forward, how could it possibly not be drier.
But the trade-off I was interested in exploring was whether designing for a better, drier ride would lead to a reduction in the stability of the EVO Advance Design hull.
I must have jumped into seven or eight boats on the day, and I can tell you that stability was not even one poofteenth of an issue. As far as water ingress is concerned, in the breezy conditions of the Seaway, I certainly didn’t get wet. Yep, whoever came up with this design is one clever little boat builder.
The transom modifications are certainly practical. It’s about giving more bang for your bucks. Basically, the EVO Advance Transom design incorporates a narrowing of the transom from inside the cockpit to provide more internal space to move about in. It also provides easier access to the bilge and over the stern…again, very clever.
I have no doubt that most, if not all, of these new Stacer boats with their EVO Advance Design hulls will find significant appeal within their respective market sectors. Everyone wants an aluminium boat that doesn’t bang and doesn’t drown them with spray. Stacer has certainly moved positively towards achieving that winning formula.