As we head out of our 25th year of publishing Pacific PowerBoat magazine, I thought it would be appropriate to comment on how trailer boats have (or have not) changed over the past 2 1/2 decades. While technology has rolled on at a massive rate, essentially the basis of all our trailer boats today are not a whole different than they were.
Yes, they are more stylish, and have layouts that are better conceived for the end user, but you might be surprised to learn that some of those models from 1996 are still available new today. Boats, unlike cars don’t get totally taken off the market. While you can still buy a BMW M3 or Golf GTI, they are nothing, both technically and visually, like their namesakes from the past. They just retain the same badge.
Boats however tend to be given ‘facelifts’, but essentially what’s under the water stays much the same. Making new moulds is an expensive business so manufacturers tend to get as much life out of each hull mould as they can. Altering a mould is also an expensive exercise, so often they will use the same hull but give the model a new lease of life with an ungraded deck and cabin styling. Now there is nothing wrong with that, and it makes perfect sense, as there are many hulls from the 1990s that are the equal in ride and handling as the latest offerings today.
Construction methods have changed and boats are a built a stronger and lighter with new materials, and engines are more powerful.
Take for example the Smuggler 6.3, first launched in the mid 1980’s as the Reefrunner and later build under various model names by different owners, until Dave and Pauline Pringle brought the moulds in 2002 Prior to their ownership the hull remained unchanged with the unequalled 27.5 deg ultra deep vee making this the best riding trailer boat in the country.
However, when the Pringles took charge of the Smuggler brand they could see that with a few hull changes and a new deck and layout the Smuggler 6.3 would even better.
“We knew we had a great boat, but it was tired and need a freshen up. At the same time we wanted to modernise the boat and make some subtle changes to the hull, without deviating from the integrity of the design.” says Dave.
So was born the Smuggler Stealth range with extended transom and pontoon side pods. The rough water performance was a jump up and the stability, especially at rest improved. Overall, I would have to say that the boat still has no equal when it comes to real rough water handling and that’s from a hull that was first conceived close to 40 years ago.
