Tested | Stabicraft 1450 Frontier Profish with Yamaha 50HP 4 stroke

There’s something about Stabicraft boats that people just love. We’ve tested a few over the years - right up to the head-turning 2250 Centra Cab that’s broken all sorts of house-records for KZbin views on the test video. If you’re unaware, we do video tests for all of the boat tests we publish in the magazine - they’re available on our KZbin channel or by scanning the QR code above.
This time, however, it’s from the smaller end of the range. It’s a new model, the 1450, which is 4.42m long and comes in versions from a basic, unpainted tiller-steer right through to the decked out model we’re testing for Brisbane dealer, Northside Marine.
Northside Marine import the hull from New Zealand and then add a locally built trailer, and a Yamaha outboard. In this case, a 50HP model, which is the largest size rated for this hull.
Like all Stabicraft boats, it features their life-ring construction. This is nearly 1000L of air sealed inside the aluminium pontoons. It acts to make the boat positively buoyant if it is ever submerged and the reverse chines created help to smooth the ride and deflect spray. It’s always handy to know that if you ever get into trouble, the hull is basically unsinkable.
Northside’s Mark Golden reckons that this hull is incredibly popular.
“It’s because you can get into a hull that you can take offshore on a good day and do it in safety. You can do it in this hull without having to buy a six metre boat,” he said.
Overall, though, this is a hull that will be able to do anything from crabbing up the creeks to chasing pelagics and to it ridiculously economically.
It’s kind of strange to have a boat of this size fitted with remote fuel tanks, but when you consider that you get nearly 100km out of a tank, then you realise that you don’t need a hundred litres of fuel to get the job done.
Best economy was at 4000rpm, where the Yamaha returned 3.9km/L economy at 31km/h. Wide open throttle yielded inferior economy (2.5km/L) but a top speed of 50km/L at 5,900 rpm. It was running an 11” Yamaha aluminium propeller.
Out on the bay, the boat rode flat. And that’s not just because it was a glass-calm overcast day. It turns flat - there’s no banking into corners like you may be used to in your current boat. And in tight turns, the 15° of transom deadrise helps it hold on.
Internally, my initial impressions was that it’s not spacious - that’s the other side of the life-ring equation. The beam of this hull is 1.89m that decreases to 1.35m internally. The upside, though, is that all of that space is 100% usable. You never feel uncomfortable in this boat. It keeps you inside the chine lines and the gunwales are high enough for this to be easily fished in in a sea.
Move up to the front casting deck and you’ll find it’s a workable size without being huge. The whole deck is covered in a foam flooring material that makes it very pleasant underfoot, and I assume, easy to keep clean.
There’s a very solid electric motor bracket that welded (not just screwed on) and a tray for the accompanying battery up the front as well. Juggling people around inside the boat on the test day and we came to the conclusion that the extra weight up front will actually help the ride.
In the cockpit, there’s a small side console that holds a bracket mounted sounder, helm and a gauge or two. Sitting behind it, you feel that you’re not right behind it, but it matters little - it’s an easy boat to drive.
Passengers will sit on the front deck or deck extentions looking backwards or on the padded ice box that’s movable around the floor.
There’s some decent shelves each side, however true, dry storage is limited.
As tested, this kitted-our rig came in at $46,995 with plenty of options boxes ticked, but I suggest you call the team at Northside Marine to get them to quote you on your ideal rig and options. Packages for the 1450 hull start at around $27,500.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length 4.42m
Beam 1.89m
Dry tow weight 720kg
Max HP 50
Max engine weight 165kg
Transom Deadrise 15°
Hull/sides 3mm
Pomtoon volume 960L
Capacity 6 persons
PERFORMANCE
RPM Speed (km/h) Economy (km/L)
700 4 4.8
1000 6 3.3
2000 9 2.5
3000 12 1.9
3500 24 3.5
4000 31 3.9
4500 38 3.5
5000 42 3.4
5900 50 2.5

[@mmmbass6068]

Nice boat with big pluses and big minuses - one of which is the price.

[@jonno9891]

For once something is more expensive in Australia than in New Zealand. 27k for the explorer! Ouch!

[@Rexy888]

Yea ridiculous alright boats are getting to dear for the average person

[@mudjerry]

what do these boats draft? river capable?

[@jono999s]

Love my 1550 fisher yes at 65k aud not cheap , but super stable and with 75 merc flys . You get what you pay for ,in my case my misses did .

[@georger3239]

Does the 65k include the engine bud? Hope to get a Stabi one day.

[@jono999s]

@@georger3239 Hi You get for this spec at 65k 75 merc Live bait tank Bait board Rocket rack and sun shades and full front and side clears Garmin 95 utd sv Pro fish seats 70 ltr ice tec cooler Lorne star winch gx1 And anchor ⚓ It's a small but I love it

[@estebaninchebell9276]

@@jono999s where did you get yours from mate?

[@jono999s]

@@estebaninchebell9276 the wife paid for it

[@floridaoutdooradventures8981]

Do you sell them in the USA?

[@floridaoutdooradventures8981]

Can you power it with a bigger engine?

[@scottypersia5715]

Regarding that footing you used to climb onto the boat from the trailer, 4:40 was that the same safety rating and design as the esky for a seat?

[@kevinkrotzer2758]

Gas tank in floor or two on sides 🤔

[@denrizza]

I would like to see a bass fishing model. IF it is worth it to you.

[@ia6980]

Cant decide, stabi 1450 or Jetski seadoo trophy fisher.......any thoughts anyone? greatly appreciate

[@jiggyfishing5890]

the 1450 will hold its value longer and can take a mate out ...

[@Multisteer-India]

👌👌

[@truenoae8668]

not bad for someone dat pretty small dat boat suits me

[@zzbky9093]

Most aluminium boats are unsinkable, but does not mean it’s not unflippable. They will stay afloat once flipped. $50k with tote tanks, highway robbery

[@chrisoh6627]

Yep got my 420 Renegade for 20k F50 alloy trailer etc. I've done 2000km in total offshore and no cracks!

[@johnalloytoy]

I don't understand those bags fastened vertical for the scuppers

[@gutmincer2]

nice boat but sorry way too over priced

[@superwag634]

The horseshoe is good for stability. But it’s also good for stability upside down if a breaker catches you side on and flips yoy. If you cop a large breaker and water enters your boat, the self draining deck doesn’t work as the whole boat sits low in the water. The point is, open boats are never as safe as decked boats. But these are as good as a small open boat gets. Don’t stray too far from land 😅

[@TidesofAdventure]

46k and not even a built in fuel tank, that's a bit rude

[@TidesofAdventure]

@@antoncarmoducchi6057 why wouldn't you? Comes standard on most boats that size, 70L underfloor in my boat and gives me around 250km range

[@ME-qq2dc]

It is really inaccurate to claim the pontoons give it the stability. Yes they are stable due to the chines the underwater shape of the pontoons create, but the enclosed, foam filled or not pontoons only add reserve positive floatation. The fact the pontoons are sealed do not make it more stable.

[@FishingMonthly]

You are correct.

[@today347]

You try pushing a fully inflated car tyre tube under the water...

[@ME-qq2dc]

@@today347 Really. That's your argument. I said they give reserve positive bouyancy so your point agrees with me. The pontoons give bouyancy but the underwater shape that they produce i.e the large chines are what give stability. Not the fact they are sealed. If you cut big holes in the pontoons from the inside of the boat stability would not change but if flooded the bouyancy certainly would be.

[@today347]

@@ME-qq2dc oh my your very upset arnt you. I have a quintrex, so when you stand against the side it slips down. In a downward motion into the water. It compounds when my two teenage boys also come to the side. I now have this particular boat and because of the positive boyancey it doesn't slip as much under the water equalling more stability.. It's funny you know so much. Do you have one???? . This is the reason we brought one and it works amazingly for us. If you have one comment.. If you don't then shut ya trap. ..

[@today347]

@@ME-qq2dc I understand that reverse chines help so much with stability.. But science is science when you have an outer ring of stability and positive stability .. It makes for more stability at rest. Tell me I'm wrong...