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Haines Hunter 585R
WORDS: WARREN STEPTOE
A runabout with a soft ride, family comforts and fishing space.
Haines Hunter knows how to build serious fishing boats with enough creature comforts to make them good family entertainers as well. This really shows in their 585R. 'R' is for 'runabout', although at 5.8m this boat is big enough to carry its foredeck high enough to provide as much headroom inside as some (so-called) cuddy cabins. Some area sheltered from the weather is important for family boating, even if it's only a kid-sized space. Opting for the portable toilet seen in our test boat is also a good idea for social and family boating. The addition of a simple curtain will enhance basic privacy.
FISHO FRIENDLY
The spacious cockpit appeals to fishing. Typical of Haines Hunter models, the high sides have an upholstered bolster along each side, and 'two storey' side pockets, the lower one with a rod/gaff rack on each side. There's a big livewell in the starboard side of the aft bulkhead, with a corresponding transom door to port.
Between them is a very neatly executed fold-away two seater lounge. Folded, it's out of the way for fishing, and becomes a comfortable seat for two when unfolded. A hatch into the bulkhead itself accesses batteries and any other etceteras hidden away inside.
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There's a generous 180L fish box at the forward end of the cockpit and set below decks between the helm and passenger seats. This can be insulated (as an option) for cold storage. It's long and slim to fit long fish like mackerel and kingfish inside, and would also serve well to stow wakeboards and other long and/or bulky items out of the way.
The seats in our test boat were mounted on frames fitted aftermarket by Logan River Marine in Brisbane's south. Pedestal seats come standard in the 585R.
AT THE WHEEL
A boat like this is quite suited to offshore fishing, which typically involves running some distance across open water, making comfort and safety at the wheel paramount. Haines Hunter has long led the way in this area, so it's no surprise to find a substantial grab bar around the windscreen frame.
I was comfortable standing at the helm with the bucket seat slid back. It sat nicely against the back of my legs and the wheel was set high enough to avoid an awkward driving position. Standing at the wheel, your vision around the boat's periphery is excellent, which it needs to be for bar crossing and docking. Hydraulic steering in the test boat is an option.
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A runabout with a soft ride, family comforts and fishing space.
Haines Hunter knows how to build serious fishing boats with enough creature comforts to make them good family entertainers as well. This really shows in their 585R. 'R' is for 'runabout', although at 5.8m this boat is big enough to carry its foredeck high enough to provide as much headroom inside as some (so-called) cuddy cabins. Some area sheltered from the weather is important for family boating, even if it's only a kid-sized space. Opting for the portable toilet seen in our test boat is also a good idea for social and family boating. The addition of a simple curtain will enhance basic privacy.
FISHO FRIENDLY
The spacious cockpit appeals to fishing. Typical of Haines Hunter models, the high sides have an upholstered bolster along each side, and 'two storey' side pockets, the lower one with a rod/gaff rack on each side. There's a big livewell in the starboard side of the aft bulkhead, with a corresponding transom door to port.
Between them is a very neatly executed fold-away two seater lounge. Folded, it's out of the way for fishing, and becomes a comfortable seat for two when unfolded. A hatch into the bulkhead itself accesses batteries and any other etceteras hidden away inside.
read on below advertisement
There's a generous 180L fish box at the forward end of the cockpit and set below decks between the helm and passenger seats. This can be insulated (as an option) for cold storage. It's long and slim to fit long fish like mackerel and kingfish inside, and would also serve well to stow wakeboards and other long and/or bulky items out of the way.
The seats in our test boat were mounted on frames fitted aftermarket by Logan River Marine in Brisbane's south. Pedestal seats come standard in the 585R.
AT THE WHEEL
A boat like this is quite suited to offshore fishing, which typically involves running some distance across open water, making comfort and safety at the wheel paramount. Haines Hunter has long led the way in this area, so it's no surprise to find a substantial grab bar around the windscreen frame.
I was comfortable standing at the helm with the bucket seat slid back. It sat nicely against the back of my legs and the wheel was set high enough to avoid an awkward driving position. Standing at the wheel, your vision around the boat's periphery is excellent, which it needs to be for bar crossing and docking. Hydraulic steering in the test boat is an option.
next page »
« go back
