Edgetracker or Hornet????

[NIZ]

I have been tossing it up between the 435 hornet trophy aswell as the edgetracker tournament and am still unsure which would suit me best.

I will be fishing the estuaries 9 times out of 10 but would still like to venture out in moreton bay on a calm day. As I'm reletively new to boats would any of you guys be able to help me choose which one would suit best?

Also what are the benfits of having a side console? I originally was going for a tiller 60hp on the stessl and 50hp on the hornet but am thinking of reconsidering to a side console. Do people find that the console gets in the way? or do the benefits out way the cons?

thx for your help guys as I'm new to all this boat stuff so bear with me.

[Bear]

Speaking from experience, I prefer the Stessl for ride and slow speed handling. We tested a new 435 Edgie that is owned by one of the BM users, Mullet. Drop him a PM if you want to know a little more.

HTH.

[blunt]

I would go the edgetracker.
They have softer ride, better casting deck lay out and seem to have a dryer ride then hornets.A 50 hp would be max 435 hornet could handle ,but the edgetracker is pretty sweet with the 60hp on the back .
I own a 435 hornet but have been out with people who own 435 edgetrackers and i think they are a better boat.

Niz i live in brisbane and brought my boat for estuarys. 1.5 years latter i find myself fishing moreton bay more then i do estuarys.
After you get a few 1kg+ bream off the shallow rubble that covers the small islands of the bay and couple of 5kg + snapper off the broken reefs that surround the islands you will be hooked on fishing the bay aswell

Cheers

Troy

[Muzz]

I have a 435 Hornet, but I have never been in an Edgie. So I can not judge. Mine does have a side console though and I find it has heaps of room. Able to fish three people quite easily. Have just returned from flats fishing in Walpole.It gets pretty rough sometimes and the Hornet handled the chop their quite easily, with three people. I have a 50 on the back.
If I was you I would see if you can get a ride in both boats and then make up your own mind.
cheers muzz

[Muzz]

A couple of pics for ya.

[Muzz]

fuel tank, motor & live bait tank.

[NIZ]

thx for the replies guys

Thats a sweet ride you got there Muzz. If you don't mind me asking how much did the whole lot set you back and what options did you get with it?

blunt, so how do you find fishing in the bay with a 435? Do you feel safe and how far do you venture out?

I've had heaps of mixed responses in regards to the ride quality of both boats, some say the hornet handles the chop better but others such as yourself say the edgie is better.

I think I'm going to have go out in both and then make up my mind. Are dealers willing to take prospective buyers out for a test run like cars?

[Muzz]

Options I had were:
115 litre livewell, I plumbed myself.
Boarding platform on rear.
Electric motor mount on front.
Side console with gauges.
Upgraded motor to a 50hp oil injected. electric trim and tilt.
Bilge pump.
Lowrance X-51 sounder.
and last but not least mean Black paint job.
Will pm you with price.
Here is a picture of livewell.
Cheers Muzz.

[Nath_18]

I don’t own either of these boats but If I was to vote I would vote Edgy tracker hands down for pure cosmetic reasons at the moment.

Another thing that’s made Stessl so big in the past few years is the price difference between the two. Stessl being more cheaper but you get the same quality (if not better) as a more expensive boat.

Either way If I had the money to throw around I wouldn’t be fussed with either boat but my vote goes to Stessl Edge Trackers

cheers, Nathan

[blunt]

Niz a 435 handles the bay well in good conditions.I have taken my boat as far out as the rous channel, tanglooma etc many times on good days (10knts or less) and it handled it fine .
I do alot of fishing at Mud and St Helena Island, i launch from cabbage tree creek at sandgate. The run out is pretty good if the winds are 10-15knts , genrally depends on the wind direction.
There is alot of great fishing around the bay islands and you dont have to travel miles to get onto some great fish.

Cheers
Troy

[Golden Monk]

Hey NIZ,

Here is a similar poll I did http://www.breammaster.com/forum/sho...threadid=6966, ended buying an 435 tourney edgetracker..

The post may assist you also in helping your decision.

[Traveller]

Well I use a Stessl ProTournament 475... and I've been in a few Hornets as well.... certainly the Stessl won hands down in rough weather and in stability at rest............ One thing though the vinyl stickers on the Stessl does bubble up and the storage compartment lids curl a bit when you have a lot of hot/cold temperature variation......because they don't use an aluminum reinforced marine ply.. and the Hornet Trophy does......

[Bream Addict]

mate ive been in both and they both have a great ride origanally i was a hornet man but from wat ive heard from a few guys in the know the stessls are the way to go, they are also a bit cheaper

[newbie]

Hey NIZ,

As a bloke who regularly fishes moreton bay and the esturies i would recommend you consider an "all round" deeper veed hull as opposed to the two shallower veed hull options mentioned. There are far too many fishing options in QLD imo and a shallow veed hull like the quinnies or edgies limit what one can do. Those boats mentioned are great for the estuaries but when the bay chops up let me tell you it aint pretty.

With your budget ... have alook at the BLUEFIN range of plate side console boats. Their new phantom model is one sic fishing machine and bluefin in general represent far better value for money with more fishing flexibility IMO. Went down your road a yr or two ago and ended up buying two rigs both 2nd hand .. It is hard to find a good balance.

check out this fine example of an all rounder owned by a fellow QLD
http://www.breammaster.com/forum/sho...ghlight=haines

And on the tiller debate. A side console is by far more confortable when travelling long distances but takes up fishing room in a boat. I personally would go with a console...

And like blunty said the bay has sooo many options. He failed to mention how it fishes for pelaegics :O Feel free to PM me if your after anymore advice.

Hope that helps.

[Doc_Hollywood]

JUst my opinion, but having owned both a quinnie and currently an edgetracker. Have to say i like the edgetracker better. Saying that though, i have set the tracker up how i want it not some preconcieved boat builders idea which is always a compromise, budget versus use-ability.

The 435 is only rated to 40hp though with the tournament (what i ordered but didnt get) rated to 60 because of the hull thickness. Because of all the welding to strenghten my boat we talked to stessl who said it would be ok to put a 60 on it, and because i had welded already my warranty was voided anyways.
The only problem being that on average a 60 4 stroke is around 20kgs heavier than a 50hp. Off the back of the boat this equates to around 100kgs in the middle, as a result it was very unbalanced and porpoised alot until it was at speed. Put the 50 on and no problems scoots around like a go-cart.

When it comes to tiller steer over console, its not a space issue its a financial one. IMO why go tiller when you can afford console. It doesnt take up more space. I regularly fish over, sit on, brace against, put my foot on, and do whatever, over my two consoles. I dont think anyone who has fished in the bat boat has been left wanting for fishing space, and it makes for a moree comfortable and dry ride when getting around.