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Here are a list of reviews of our CSB Huntsman product range: Huntsman
Crusader
Another Canterbury Winner
Reprinted From New Zealand Propeller Magazine
BY BARRY THOMPSON
The Crusader has been designed to be the new flagship of the company and takes its place alongside the very popular series 6000. In fact, if you put the two boats side by side you immediately see a significant difference in not only size, but also external styling and hull shape.
The Crusader is longer, higher in the sides and provides more useable internal volume. It simply looks like a much bigger boat than the Series 6000. And it is! There is more flare in the bow, height in the cabin, a higher windscreen, space in the cockpit and the deck coamings are far higher than those of the Series 6000. Whilst the hull is scaled on the basic 5.5m Dorado hull, it took CSB's Geoff Robinson and Shane Grace, with plenty of input from the whole CSB team, three years on design and meticulous plug and mould making to arrive at the final product. But then why not! As the Dorado has proven an outstanding success for CSB since it was first released, they have sensibly made use of the the fact it has a great hull and the result is a 'new' stretched version that already comes with a proven pedigree.
This is not simply a case of 'elastic plans', as there is a different strake pattern from the smaller Dorado to compensate for the extra weight carried forward. The Dorado's strakes follow the chine line. The Crusader's run parallel along the length of the boat before cutting up into the chine. This has been done to help keep the boat dry and give the hull more forward lift.
Refined Layout
In achieving
the ultimate layout for the Crusader, the design team at CSB Huntsman talked to a lot of Series 6000 owners.
Geoff Robinson, co-owner of CSB Huntsman Boats, said that they felt it was important to get the customer feedback and find out what they liked or disliked about their boat. Comments were made regarding the lack of the the need for side decks, more height in the cabin and a wider access forward to the cabin and deck.
Like all CSB boats there are plenty of seating options, it just depends on what you want. I liked the standard package of an adjustable pedestal helm seat on a Softrider base, deluxe king/queen and a 3/4-rear bench seat aft. This gives you dedicated seating for five and leaves you lots of cockpit space. Even with twin back-to-backs forward you'll still find plenty of workable area in the cockpit. Removing the two rear bins, which form the base for the bench seat, can further enhance this. The adjustable helm seat also means you can place the seat exactly where you want it, be it for driving seated or standing. With most back-to-backs, there is only one position and that doesn't suit everyone.
Storage in the Crusader is good both above and below the cockpit sole with a wet locker forward of the 150-litre stainless steel fuel tank large enough for dive bottles, wake boards or water-skis. If you want a 200-litre long-range fuel tank then the locker is shorter accordingly. When the Crusader becomes available with a stern-drive option, the locker area will all but disappear due to the repositioning of the fuel tank and the extra space taken up by the inboard engine.
Side trays provide storage for rods in individual rod racks, or you can fit a rocket launcher or more rod holders if you like your fighting sticks out for all to see. There are also shorter upper storage trays either side forward for the likes of the cellphone, wallet, keys and handheld VHF. A small glove box on the passenger side provides yet another dry area for gear.
There is huge storage in the fully moulded bins that form the base of the back-to-backs as well as the rear bench seat. Twin lockers in the transom area keep the battery and oil tank off the floor, or you can use the space as another dry locker. The internal volumes of the lockers are much greater than those on the Series 6000 and provide enough space for not only twin batteries and an oil tank, but still leave space for a gas bottle and extra gear.
So much space is provided under the portofino stern and transom area that tote tanks and tackle boxes are hardly noticed and there's still room for at least a couple of fish bins. Any water in the cockpit drains to a deep sump and bilge pump.
Although this is in no way a serious fishing boat, the design caters well for fishing with wide flat side decks,
dedicated fish board with rod holders and deep toe rails either side of the cockpit. You can also fit a small gas barbecue on top of the bait board and the boat can be plumbed with either a full freshwater or saltwater pressure system.
If you are into diving or swimming from the Crusader, then a drop-down ladder helps with access onto a large rear platform and a walkthrough transom that also includes a drop-in acrylic door.
With no side decks forward the internal cabin beam and area around the helm has been taken out to maximum and the extra space has been concentrated in the cockpit area. Although the actual cockpit internal width aft is much the same as the Series 6000 there is a noticeable difference forward. The Crusader is 100mm wider overall than the Series 6000 and internally there is an extra 250mm forward without the intrusion of the side decks.
The helm position is such that your right arm doesn't rub on the side of the Taylor Windscreen extrusion and the gap between the foward seats and the moulded steps to the foredeck is a lot wider. If you need to go forward, there is an excellent arrangement with steps built into the sliding cabin door and an opening screen. However, a fully automatic anchoring system operated from the helm eliminates any need to even leave the cockpit.
The first Crusader was fitted with a VDO instrument cluster, with Lowrance X9 fishfinder and Lowrance Globalmap 2400 below on large flat areas especially designed to handle flush mounted electronics. If you prefer bracket-mounted units then there is limited space available. The VDO cluster is only an option and again the helm has been designed to handle a traditional instrument arrangement and control package. The leading edge of the dash is cut-away and gives you the feeling of walking into it. This is repeated on the passanger side also and both forward seats have footrests below on the bulkheads and handily placed drink holders and handrails.
Space To Move
If you step from a Series 6000
and straight into a Crusader you immediately appreciate the extra volume that the cabin area offers. The layout is very similar with the traditional side berths and central infill to form a double, wide side trays and an overhead opening hatch. Traditionally Huntsman use a fibreglass moulded hatch but in this case have gone for a weaver safety glass an aluminium extrusion hatch. Sitting headroom is excellent and the test boat came with an optional Porta pottie under the central forward squab.
The sliding door provides the necessary privacy and it's also a great place to keep your gear secure should you have to be away from the boat. If you plan to use the Crusader for overnighting, then it would be a good inclusion in your list. The berths are almost 2m long and the squabs reasonably comfortable.
Mirror Smooth
Test day varied from mirror smooth waters within
Lyttleton Harbour to a 15-20 knot breeze and low ocean swell off New Brighton beach. The calm water gave me a good opportunity to run the Crusader at wide-open throttle and play with the trim settings. With no trim indicator it was all by feel. In contrast to the Series 6000, which runs quite flat, the Crusader can be trimmed high with the water peeling off about midway down the hull.
For the test the boat was set up with a Yamaha 150 HPDI and we did have a little trouble getting the propping right. Prior to the test, the boat had run 47mph @ 5000 rpm swinging a 19" 3 blade Yamaha propeller. As this was probably about 500 rpm down on what was expected the 19" was swapped for a 17" to achieve the higher rpm. But while it increased the rpm to 5200, it lowered the top speed to 45 mph. Ideally the engine should run 5500 rpm in light load trim, so some more work is needed in getting the correct engine height and prop combination.
With the throttle just slipped into gear, the lowest trolling speed was 3.5 mph @ 600 rpm and at 2500 rpm @ 16 mph that the boat got onto the plane. It rises up very smoothly and tends to stay very flat during the transition stage. I found 4000 rpm @ 34 mph was a comfortable cruising speed in the choppy water, but in the calm it was WOT all the way!
When we did leave the calm waters of the inner harbour there was still little rough water further offshore to test the big Crusader 21 degree hull. I drove down past Taylor's Mistake, Sumner and past the New Brighton Pier, but this wasn't going to be a day of testing sea conditions. Heading straight into a 0.5m swell the Crusader ran level with about 1/2 trim at 4500 rpm and the bow sections really did the work of pushing the water and spray aside. We took no spray on the deck or on the side of the screen. Running back into the harbour it was much the same and I found I was nudging forward all the time, until it would go no further. At 45 mph, the Crusader provided a great ride in a short following sea, but I would really like to try this boat in some big swells.
The Crusader has come at the right time for CSB Huntsman who really needed a bigger boat than the Series 6000 to boost their line-up and compete against a growing market. It has already been compared by some potential buyers to the Buccaneer 635XS, Tristram 661 and Haines Hunter SF650.
The Crusader is both stylish and well conceived, with a hull shape that should not cause any concern to even a novice driver. The layout caters for a broad base of users, from divers and fishermen to family cruising and even overnighting. CSB Huntsman have been very successful with their designs to date and I am quite confident that with the Crusader they have again produced another winner.
Boat test is available from CSB Huntsman Boats or New
Zealand Propeller Magazine.
Back
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Series 6000 Review
Made In New Zealand Article
Reprinted From New Zealand Propeller Magazine Oct/Nov '96
BY BARRY THOMPSON What
better rejection than to be queried so much so about the true heritage of your
boat that you have to emblazon a patriotic kiwi made decal in full view. When
Geoff Robinson unveiled his new Huntsman 6000 at the New Zealand Boat Show earlier
this year he found it unbelievable that show patrons passed it up as just another
glitzy American import. Hell. the nearest this boat had come to an ocean crossing
was Cook Strait, and that was on its way to the show from its home in Christchurch,
However not everyone was so confused and it certainly didn't take long before
the crowds started to realise that here was a boat that was genuine, all Kiwi,
from the keel to the cabin. Designed, built and rigged in Christchurch, the Huntsman
6000 is a very refreshing change in a sea of traditional cabin runabouts from
local manufacturers. The boat is beautifully appointed with moulded side
lockers, a well designed facia and walk through transom. Built by Canterbury Superior
Boats, the Huntsman 6000 is unquestionably pitched directly at the American imports
when it comes to style, layout and looks. But what it does have is the local influence
when you're talking usability, practicality and handling. I was fortunate
to have a couple of days with the Huntsman 6000, during a recent trip to the South
Island. Day one was spent cruising around Akaroa Harbour with the following day
over the hill on Lyttelton Harbour. Right from the start the Huntsman 6000 attracts
attention and as we prepared the boat for launch ing in the very picturesque Akaroa
village, you couldn't help but be impressed by the number of enquiries. comments
and looks the boat attracted. We were in Akaroa on two missions. The first, to
act as a patrol boat for the marathon powerboat race and the second to test the
Huntsman 6000. The mirror smooth harbour didn't do much to upset the perfect
ride as the Huntsman zipped across at around 45mph @ 5600rpm. The Johnson 130
had plenty of low downpower to get the boat on top quickly and effortlessly, and
cruising in the mid range (4000-4500rpm) it was a dream to handle, But what I
wanted was something more akin to the sort of water a boat like this should handle.
We found it out at the heads and the further we got out the bigger the swell.
Although the wind was only just lifting the tops off the waves, there was a very
confused sea state and ideal to test the seakeeping and handling of the hull.
Heading directly into it, the hull was soft on re-entry and took little trimming
to get it nicely balanced as you skipped from swell to swell. We didn't take a
hint of water on the deck and the hull has a real solid feel about it. It's a
quiet hull that has more of a whump sound when it lands. In the cross chop it
was predictable and didn’t do too much wrong. It loved the big following
sea. with the full bodied bow shape holding up in the swells and leaving a wide
spray pattern away from the boat. The wide chines provided excellent stability
at rest and during hard fast turns the hull stays level and doesn't slip away
from under you. It literally digs in light and goes around as hard as you wish
to turn it. Naturally in conditions like that you need to stand to drive
and although the helm seat is fully adjustable, it didn't quite go back far enough
for my liking. As for the screen it was just at the right height for me, offering
excellent protection when seated and yet out of the way when I was standing behind
the helm. As a passenger in the forward back to back seat I also found the seat
a little high and possibly too far forward as I had to wedge my knees under the
forward parcel tray everytime I used the footrest. Again nothing that a
little adjustment couldn’t fix. If I have to be critical, about the worst
thing I found with the Huntsman 6000 was the position of the throttle control,
Now this may only be a problem with the boat tested but when seated, the throttle
was in the way of my right arm. When standing to drive it was great and just the
right height for my reach. We spent quite a few hours back in the calm waters
whilst we waited and then watched the off shore marathon. As our services weren't
needed I had the opportunity to talk to Robinson about the thinking behind the
Huntsman 6000. For his part, the boat was an amalgam of ideas based on the very
latest Kiwi boats and the best of the American imports. He felt that if he was
going to design and build just another 6m cabin boat along traditional Kiwi lines,
then, as one of the lesser known brand names in the market he wouldn't obtain
the desired impact on quality and diversification he was seeking. With the
Series 6000, the vision was to have something totally different from everyone
else. yet without sacrificing the things that Kiwi's want in a boat and yet still
incorporating the latest trends and ideas from overseas. Full Headroom The Huntsman
6000 is a good marriage of all those ideas and whilst it may not appeal to the
super serious fisherman, it does have it's place right across the boating gambit.
In fact there is now a stripped out, no carpet, no frills fisherman version available.
The layout is basically a large full cabin, big cockpit and a practical stern
area that is designed to cater for all tastes. Interestingly from the outside
the cabin top may appear low as the profile of the deck-line stays low to the
bow and could he mistaken for a large runabout. However once inside you'll find
sitting headroom right through to the front squab. Storage is available
under the full length berths (with in-fill to make double berth) in forward lockers
and wide side trays/There's no hint of grp inside with fabric lining throughout.
You also have enough space under the centre squab for a fully plumbed head or
portable toilet. Access is available to the anchor locker area through the large
deck hatch, and under the flush mounted anchor hatch there is a deep self draining
anchor locker with hidden bollard. This area is very much Kiwi influenced. With
the cabin door closed, natural light comes in via the over head hatch and twin
side ports which give the Huntsman Series 6000 a distinctive appearance, The Huntsman
Series 6000 has a full bulk-head which, whilst not being as popular today as it
used to be, has been treated in a very unique (for New Zealand) way. Replacing
the traditional teak louvered doors is a sliding door that incorporates steps
for easy access to the foredeck. Its a real feature of the boat and works well,
Simply open the centre panel in the glass screen and you can walk forward over
the antiskid patterned deck. The split bow-rail makes getting off a lot easier
and Robinson is now looking at somehow fitting a retractable ladder for entry
off beaches, The side decks are wide enough for access forward and the Huntsman
Series 6000 comes with internally moulded footrests either side of the cockpit
to assist your passage forward. Piece de resistance As for the cockpit, well that
has to have the nicest upholstery I have ever seen on a Kiwi boat. From the colour
mix to the gloss sheen, the upholstery is the piece-de-resistance of the boat.
The material is an imported pearl coloured fabric and in our boat we had beige
accents with green piping. Credit goes to Doug Giles of Giles Upholstery for coming
up with something that whilst still basic in its format is a cut above the rest
in its presentation. And yes, you can clean the dried blood and left over mullet
bait off it easily. The back to back seats have a split level storage arrangement
with access from under the squabs or by lifting up the entire seat base for access
to the lower area, The other side there's a Manta sliding helm seat and
both sides come with cedarwood footrests. The wide side pockets (22" deep)
are big enough to get a kneeboard in and there's another three moulded lockers
in the cockpit to compliment the storage areas. Add the lockable glovebox in front
of the passenger seat, the central cockpit storage locker (large enough for water
skis)and the two removable fish bins (Velcro attachment) and you have a boat that
doesn't lack for places to put things. If you're not a fisho, then the deep
bait tank aft, doubles as an ice chest for your cold drinks. A spare tote tank
and extra storage is also available under the portofino stern area. Special areas
are set aside behind the aft back rests and off the cockpit sole for the battery
and the oil reservoir. The reservoir has the added feature of being deck filled-
Great! The facia is also something different and portrays the American influence
that is obvious throughout the interior. Options are available to fit either flush
mounted or recessed gauges and there's still some space left to fit a few electronics.
However if you are a serious fisho you may be disappointed in the available area
to mount your GPS, plotter, radar and large colour sounder. However to be fair,
there is a real push these days towards handheld units so it may not be a problem. There
is also provision in the dash for a flush mounted fish tinder. Overall the cockpit
is designed to be used by everyone. With the seating placement you have accommodation
for six and with the rear fish bins removed an open cockpit for fishing. The wide
boarding platform and fold-down ladder will appeal to divers and water-skiers
and those with a flair for style will love the up-market trim and finish. They've
got it all well covered. Construction of the Huntsman 6000 is conventional
grp.with traditional lay-ups. Canterbury Superior Boats pride themselves in quality
construction and their attention to detail is obvious from the first passing look
at the boat. The Huntsman 6000 is an obvious family style boat and the reaction
since the release at the New Zealand Boat Show has been outstanding. Personally,
I liked the Huntsman Series 6000, not only for its styling and finish, but also
for the fact that it is a fresh new approach by a local manufacturer who isn't
afraid to take the imports head-on. There has obviously been a lot of time spent
on designing every aspect of the boat and those behind it should feel proud of
their achievement. If the new models are anything like the Series 6000 this small,
but growing South Island manufacturer could have a big future. Back
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Huntsman
Dorado
By the NZ Propeller team. (Barry Thompson & Doug Dukeson)
What
makes a boat manufacturer change something that is so successful? Just when sales
of the CSB Huntsman 5.5 Dorado were breaking all records, the company did major
surgery to the existing hull mould, rebadged the boat and went back to the market
with a new product But how new is the 'new' Dorado? We recently took delivery
of the latest model for our 1999 camera boat and, although at first glance the
changes are not obvious, once you have ridden in the boat you can appreciate the
differences. The story of our new photo boat goes way back to September
last year when we tested the Dorado 5.5 on an adventure trip to White Island.
We were very impressed with the boats handling and ride, especially in the rough
30-mile trip offshore. On our return to Whakatane, designer and manufacturer of
the Huntsman Dorado, Geoff Robinson suggested the magazine should look at using
one of his boats as its next photo boat. It was very opportune as we were just
completing our term with a Fyran 600 and were looking for a replacement for the
'98- 99 season. After some discussion a package was worked out and in February
98 we took delivery of a 5.5 Dorado complete with a Yamaha 130 Saltwater Series.
However, before we had even emptied a couple of tote tanks, a call from Geoff
told us he had made major modifications to the underwater sections of the hull
and wanted the magazine to be seen in the latest model. Considering how impressed
we were with the existing boat that came as quite a shock, but, hey, we were keen
to be seen in the latest model and, if Geoff reckoned it out performed the previous
hull, we weren't going to argue. An advert in the Herald saw the 5.5 sold
within two days and by August we had the new Dorado, this time updated from the
130hp Yamaha to a Yamaha 150 Pro V Max.-Although the initial tests with the Johnson
90 had shown the boat to be well matched to the moderate horsepower, we were keen
to see just a little more power on the transom. The 90hp delivered a top speed
of 45.5mph and, although the Yamaha 130 saw that jump to just on 50 mph, we felt
that the boat could easily handle more. So when the time came to decide on the
outboard for the Dorado, we looked at even more horsepower. Moller Yamaha,
the importers of Yamaha outboards, came up with a TRP Pro VMax 150, which runs
twin surface-drive propellers. Initial tests on fresh water saw a top speed of
57.7 mph @ 5400 rpm on an engine with less than an hour's running time. A little
more testing and hard out on the saltwater we achieved just under 60 mph on the
GPS. With a jack- up plate on the transom we could get the engine spinning closer
to 6000 rpm and see a top speed of around 64 mph. But who really wants to do that
sort of speed in a family cabin boat! The new and improved Dorado handles
the extra power easily and with the Seastar hydraulic steering is effort- less
to drive and very controllable. If you are planning to install this sort
of power on a boat this size, hydraulic steering is a must con- sider option.
The weight difference on the transom seems to have made little difference (90hp
V4 / 145kg, 130hpV4/167kg and 150hpV6/ 190 kg) to the handling of the boat in
most conditions. Big difference in the new boat is the acceleration, which we
put down to the extra power, twin prop set-up and of course the new hull qualities.
In our initial 'rough water' trip to White Island, the 5.5 Dorado just ate the
big swells and ran flat with little trim needed to keep the bow up off the tops
of the 1.5m to 3m swells. The new Dorado with the extra power tends to ride just
as clean, but you have the ability to trim harder and faster. Again, not too much
trim and a steady and ready hand on the throttle is essential if you are planning
a high speed run in rough water. The TRP doesn't like to be overtrimmed and with
the hydraulic steering you can not feel any steering torque. Too far out and you
lose power, risk chine-walk and a slower top end speed. The idea is to keep
both propellers biting the water equally, with the secret being to trim till it
feels right. Once you get the feel of it, you'll love it and if you thought the
'old' 5.5 was good, then the 'new' Dorado is far superior. From the outside you
can't really see a difference between the two models. The changes are virtually
all under the water - where it matters. Geoff Robinson explained that the
reason for such a dramatic change came about because the company had to build
another mould anyway in order to keep up with the huge demand for Dorados. And,
as Geoff said “If you are going to spend money on another mould it makes
sense to try to improve the boats performance and looks." In the event, we
altered the hull from a 19° vee to a 20.5° vee. We also created a finer
lead-in at the bow and removed the inside planing strake. We basically blue printed
the rest of the hull, though we made a slight modification to the transom angle
and moulded in the bowsprit. We also increased the size of the top panel on the
side of the hull and rounded it off so that it matched the curves and modern look
of the deck. "Needless to say, we were overwhelmed by the new boat's performance
when we found that we had achieved everything we had set out to do and more. The
first sea trials were held in very rough conditions and we were surprised to find
out how smooth and dry the ride was. It was also pleasing to discover that we
hadn't lost any boat speed and stability was at least as good as with the original
hull." Layout Changes
So what of the rest of the boat, how
has it changed? Very little. In fact hardly at all. The layout of our photo boat
is almost identical to the previous 5.5 Dorado we tested (October/November 1997),
although we went for the twin forward swivel seals, rather than a single helm
pedestal and passenger back-to-back. There are a number of seating options available;
it depends on what suits your needs. We like the two singles for the extra space
in the cockpit for photo taking and of course for fishing and diving trips. Twin
aft jump seats give us seating for four. The helm is adequate to handle the usual
array of instruments, plus a BEP switch panel, JVC remote CD/stereo panel, and
a bracket mounted Eagle Magna III fishfinder. We still don't like the position
of the throttles and plan to change that as soon as possible. The Dorado has a
great screen which deflects the wind and any spray that comes aboard. Because
the Softrider seats are four way adjustable you have no problem setting them to
suit your driving position, Seated or standing they can be altered to suit almost
any driver. The shape of the side screen has been altered with less inward
angle, something we commented on during the first Huntsman 5.5 Dorado test. The
cockpit offers storage in all the usual spots such as under the sole in a 1.76m
locker which is long enough for skis, rods and dive gear. There are also split
level side shelves, the shorter upper ones suited to the likes of keys, cellphone
and sunglasses. As in the previous 5.5, the rear seat bases double as storage
bins and behind them is access to the battery, oil tank, fuel filter and bilge
pump. The ski pole is also a great handhold for your rear seat passengers should
you decide to give the Dorado a quick run. We plan a lot of wakeboarding
and skiing this summer, so the ski pole is certainly going to be well used, although
we have had to have the pole extended 150mm due to the height of the engine. Being
a CPC boat it comes fitted with a battery cut-off switch, bilge pump, navigation
lights and a five-year structural hull warranty. The fully lined cabin with its
high profile deckline has not changed. Nor has any of the deckline. There
is space beneath with sitting headroom for three/ four adults and the berths are
long enough to lay low for a snooze. An infill makes it all into a very cosy double
berth and if you are serious about overnighting then there is also space to fit
a small toilet. A simple clip on vinyl curtain in the opening to the cockpit affords
privacy. The shape of the bow eliminates some of the under squab storage,
which in this case is used for buoyancy, but there is still plenty in the wide
side trays and a forward locker. You can carry out all your anchoring without
leaving the security of the large forward hatch. We fitted a low profile Maxwell
VC500 winch which is hidden under the anchor locker hatch and operated by a footpad
in the cabin. CSB Huntsman are currently building around 120 boats annually;
the majority now the new Dorado. To really appreciate the difference between the
5.5 and Dorado you need to step from one to the other on the water. With the 5.5
proving so popular, the new Dorado is assured of success. Back
to top >
CSB
Huntsman La Plata
The all new Huntsman La Plata was conceived by CSB Huntsman as an affordable entry level cabin boat for both first time boat buyers and those wanting a boat that was smaller and easily handled.
While many manufacturers keep introducing bigger models, Canterbury based CSB (Canterbury Superior Boats) Huntsman has gone right back to the basics.
The 4.85m La Plata – which translates to Little Dolphin in Spanish – follows the company’s ultra successful Dorado – which is Dolphin in Spanish – and bears more than a passing likeness. “I was so pleased with the design of the Dorado and got so much feedback from owners as to its great ride and handling that I felt it was a perfect place to start, albeit with something smaller”, said designer Geoff Robinson. From about mid-point along the keel and up to the chines, the bow and underwater sections are the same as the 5.5m Dorado. Down aft the main difference is the inclusion of a ski plank that was done so that the boat would get up on the plane more easily when towing a tube or kneeboard, with only moderate horsepower on the transom.
The foredeck and transom areas are styled the same as the Dorado and the interior layout is very much the same as the bigger boat, but on a smaller scale. Obvious changes are to the boarding platforms which are smaller to increase the workable cockpit space and the foredeck is higher to give extra headroom in the cabin. There’s 600mm difference in overall length, but both boats have the same 2.15m beam and 20-degree deadrise at the transom. “Basically the La Plata is a short Dorado, it’s that simple”, said Geoff. When the La Plata was released at the New Zealand Boat Show in June, the acceptance by the public according to Geoff was nothing startling, but in recent months interest has grown to such a point that the build programme is booked up ‘til after Christmas, with dealers preparing for a pre-summer surge.
Compact Dorado
When you compare the layout of the Dorado and that of the new La Plata there are lots of similarities, starting with the treatment of the forward area.
The anchor locker is the same as in the Dorado, which with a full-width bulkhead and deep cavity below, allows for the inclusion of an anchor winch. Winch and bollard are also hidden under the side-opening hatch. Anchoring chores can be carried out by standing in the deck hatch. I did, however, find the deck hatch a little on the narrow side for someone of my build. Being moulded Perspex the hatch does have the advantage of letting extra light into the cabin.
The La Plata cuddy cabin is surprisingly roomy, with sitting headroom for a couple of adults and loads of space to stow you gear. The La Plata has a noticeably ‘bullish’ appearance, which was done on purpose to get maximum cabin height and cockpit freeboard.
The interior has a gear shelf either side, but there’s no storage under the two squabs as this area between the inner liner and the hull is used for polyurethane foam-filled buoyancy. Standard layout in the cockpit is twin swivelling and fully adjustable plastic injection moulded seats with dome cushions. While back-to-backs are available as an option, I feel they would encroach too much into the cockpit space. A combination of a back-to-back to port and a single pedestal skipper seat would be a nice alternative. In standard form there is still seating for four, with removable jump seats either side of the engine as well.
The cockpit layout is very conventional with long side trays to handle the rods and skis. There is a shorter upper shelf on the port side for items such as the car keys, cellphone and handheld VHF. The large fully moulded underfloor storage locker is an option and is long enough to stow rods, skis or a wakeboard and great for any wet weather gear. It can be replaced with an 80-litre stainless steel fuel tank, but you lose the storage.
There’s plenty of room under the rear seats and aft deck for tote tanks, battery, and oil tank and as it will be a CPC boat it comes standard with bilge pump and battery isolating switch. One of the few options on the test boat, #1 from the new La Plata moulds, was a ski pole. Rod racks, boarding ladder, internal handles, bow rail and cabin infill are all options.
While Geoff admits that the fittings and standard appointments are built to a price - $15,500 for the standard boat – there has been no compromise on quality of construction and finish. The target was to keep the overall finished boat price under $30,000 and that has certainly been achieved. CSB Huntsman offers a 5-year structural hull warranty on all its boats.
Although not part of the make-up of the first La Plata, CSB Huntsman plan to have a full GRP inner liner for the boat, which will include everything from the bunk bases through to the Transom.
Safe and Secure
The La Plata has the same bow section as the Dorado which is a proven hull with a fine entry, has a variable deadrise running surface and 20” transom height. In a short choppy sea, with the 90hp Yamaha two-stroke trimmed to the max and the boat pulling 42mph, the La Plata had an annoying noise resonance from the slapping on the strakes, However, I was able to totally eliminate it by simply trimming the engine in and the only compromise was less than 1.5mph drop-off in speed. To be fair, our test boat had not yet been injected with its foam filled buoyancy, which from experience does a whole lot to quieten any hull.
The ski plank appeared to work well and the boat is quick to plane and handled well in the light sea conditions. It’s a small boat all round so not recommended for offshore boating and if you do get caught out in some rough stuff then it’s just a matter of driving accordingly. With a 2.15m beam and 20 degree transom deadrise, the La Plata is a little tender at rest, but not excessively so and underway can be easily balanced with engine and people trim. It’s a boat that will handle plenty of engine trim and interestingly having either one or two people aboard made no difference to the top end speed.
In tight turns with the engine trimmed to ¾ and the throttle at 5000 rpm @ 38.5 mph the La Plata gripped like a slick tyre on a dry track. Impressive for a small boat!
Going out to Endeavour Inlet, we encountered a short swell with just the hint of a few whitecaps, so it must have been blowing about 15-20 knots. We cruised through the rain and occasional hailstorm at around 4500 rpm. Anything more would have been uncomfortable and if I had had a family aboard I would probably have dropped it back to 3500-4000 rpm for a more comfortable ride.
The La Plata is an easy and safe boat to drive and didn’t do anything unpredictable. The high bow profile means it cuts through the choppy water well, with no spray coming through onto the screen. It’s also a good looking boat on the water.
I drove most of the time seated as every time I stood and looked over the screen I was either barraged with hail or rain and given what felt like a sub zero blast of Marlborough air. The driving opposition is fine when sitting down and there is good protection from the low profile screen. The optional canopy and clears were being fitted after the boat test – just my luck! I liked the fact the driver and passenger seat were fully adjustable, and the passenger was provided with a handrail.
Overall, the latest addition to the CSB Huntsman range is a great little boat that is certain to become as popular as the Dorado. Built as a replacement for the ageing Huntsman Executive, which was retired last year, the La Plata certainly lives up to its name as the ‘baby’ of its bigger sister.
CSB Huntsman now has a family of five in its range, from the 4.8m La Plata through to the 7m Crusader. There is talk of another addition next year, which is going to probably be somewhere in the 6m – 7m size range and then also look for a hardtop version of the Crusader.
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Sport Review
From BOAT1NGWORLD • JULY 1995 SPORT
ON
There's a growing interest in mid-sized runabouts that offer value for
money in a neat, tidy package. Barry Thompson found a nice new example at the
recent Boat Show. Because so many boats today share the same features and
characteristics, we sometimes tend to overemphasise things like cockpit size,
seating arrangements or transom design and don't give enough consideration to
quality of finish, style or performance. Walking around the recent New Zealand
Boat Show it was very evident that a lot of the pre-purchase considerations were
more about the colour of the graphics or whether you could overnight in a 5m boat
with a family of four and a small dog. There were those, however, astute
or experienced enough to ask the real questions such as how the boat is built,
what sort of guarantees are offered, or how it performs in rough water. Boat show
specials are something else, but today, with the options that are available, it's
a case of try before you buy. Value for money is important, and if you couple
that with some good common sense and your real needs in a boat, then the buying
decision may be a little clearer. With all the trailer boats at the show, you
may very well have missed a bullish looking runabout that, although lacking glitzy
livery, had its own appeal and identity. With their first foray into the very
competitive family runabout market, Christchurch based Canterbury Superior Boats
have come up trumps with their Huntsman 525 Sport, an offshoot of the very successful
Huntsman 525 cabin that shares an identical hull. It is unashamedly a family
runabout that takes on the task of being everything to everyone. Ski, dive, fish,
cruise or picnic, the Hunstman 525 Sport has the versatility to handle it all.
It's designed to be capable of handling the rougher water in moderate comfort
and the nature of the full-bodied styling offers a safe, dry ride in most conditions. Standard
features on the Huntsman 525 Sport include bilge pump, marine carpet, back-to-back
seats, rod holders, live bait rank, rear fish bins, customary deck hardware and
steering. There are optional seating layouts with twin back-to-backs or twin swivel
single seats or in the case of the test boat- a combination of a single helm and
twin back-to-back opposites. Canterbury Superior Boats are relatively new
players in the industry, starting just over three years ago as a part-time operation.
Soon after the release of the Huntsman 525 cabin in late 1993, the
orders started
to pour in and when subcontractors couldn't keep up with demand, company owner
Geoff Robinson decided it was time to turn his hobby into a full-time profession.
Now, 12 months later, the company has exceeded its sales predictions and although
most of those have been in the South Island, predominantly Canterbury, Invercargill
and Dunedin, the North Island is the market the company is looking to for its
future growth. Results from the New Zealand Boat Show will indicate whether the
North Islanders are ready to accept this Southern marque. Having tested
the cabin version, I was keen to see how different the runabout was. I had to
give the Southerners top marks for finish, presentation and detailing. If you
hope to compete against the established names you have to be that much smarter
and that little extra attention to detail can make all the difference. The
hull, designed by Robinson, has a semi-ski plank. Although on the earlier boars
this ran right through to the transom, problems with cavitation necessitated some
modifications and the plank has since been shortened to finish around 900mm from
the transom and flattens out to 100mm wide at the trailing edge. The 19 degree
hull measures 2.15m beam on the water-line and 5.4m long. There are two strakes
per side, the outside one running all the way to the transom and the inner terminating
900mm earlier. A 50mm chine flat improves stability at rest. With engine
options from 70 to l40hp, the Johnson 115 Eagle on the test boat was a nice match
and still kept the price of the boat as tested at under $31,000. Flat-out and
over-revving to 6500rpm, with a 17" alloy prop (a 19" SST would have
been a better choice), the stock speedo nudged 53mph. I had heard talk of 60mph
but it must have been downhill with a strong wind. Geoff's own boat with a Yamaha
140 is good for around 65mph. Yep, it's an easy hull to push. From idle
to 5000rpm, the boat rockets onto the plane and with your finger on the trim button
you can get it flying on the plank in the calm water. In the choppy water on Auckland
harbour, the hull was a little noisy, although comfortable enough considering
the seas. In a side sea it was totally responsive and didn't want to track off
on its own. At 4000rpm the Huntsman 525 Sport is good for 30mph and 5000rpm
around 40mph. I was impressed with the raw power of the 115, especially when you
rap the throttle down between 3000 and 5000rpm, literally tossing you back in
the seat as the boat accelerates. Skiers will love it, as it has no hesitation
getting on the plane and reaches the ski range of 4000-5000 rpm very quickly. Construction
is multi-layer 6oz chop strand matt and 18 oz roving. It has eight sealed buoyancy
chambers under the sole and pops out of the mould at under 300kg. All-up towing
weight with a V4 outboard is around 930 kg. Canterbury Superior Boats dresses
the 525 in a variety of colour options, with a fully lined interior that accentuates
the spaciousness of the layout. It's hard to do a lot different to a boat
when it's production built, bur somehow every manufacturer comes up with their
own innovative ideas. On the Huntsman 525 Sport it has to be the long forward
anchor access hatch that is supported by an hydraulic stay. It's the first time
I have seen this system used on a small runabout. It works well and supports the
hatch securely when you need to handle the anchoring chores. It's simple and effective
and allows you to open up the area so you're not pinched for space. The foredeck
area of the 525 is well used with a massive anchor locker, storage areas under
both sides and even a dry storage under the moulded step. The Huntsman 525 is
basically two moulds with all the forard arrangement incorporated in the deck
mould. The large, curved, three-piece screen is firmly mounted into the
deck and, although at first glance I felt it looked a little high, it is in proportion
to the overall bullish style of the boat. Seated, you look through it without
being obstructed by the alloy extrusion around the top, although heading into
the rain during our test on Auckland Harbour I could still feel the wet beads
pelting into my head. Fix the optional day canopy in place and you'd be
okay. With the back to back seating option, sitting on the backrest or semi-kneeling
to drive looking over the screen is no hassle. With the single swivelling
seat it's not so easy- In fact it's uncomfortable. Personally, I like the fact
that I can adjust the helm seat to the most comfortable driving position. Like
most runabout cockpits, the accent is on seating, but there is a feeling of space
about the boat- There are storage areas provided in full-length side trays (long
enough for rods) as well as an underfloor compartment that's great for skis and
dive gear. A sealed chamber aft separates an optional 65 litre underfloor fuel
tank and there's enough room under the stern area for tote tanks, battery, oil
reservoir and bilge pump. Fish bin seats also provide extra storage and if you
find they take up too much space when you're fishing, lift them out and leave
them at home. An integrated swim platform incorporates a live bait tank
that drains to the outside of the boat, an optional pump is available. There's
a moulded fuel filler recess in the engine well and a neatly tucked away stainless
boarding ladder on the port side. The Huntsman 525 Sport isn't unique, but it
is well up there with the best of the mid-range runabouts. It's as good as it
looks and is a credit to the dedication of the company that built it. Taking on
the named brands is never easy, but the Huntsman 525 Sport has done it well.
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