BIG SISTER
TEXT BY BARRY THOMPSON
First impression of the 1550 Frontier is a 1450 Frontier that has grown up. While the dimensions are larger, the layout is very similar. Quite simply you get the same boat but with more space.
The 1550 is available in three versions; Base, Sportfish and Profish. The difference between the three is down to numerous options. The Base model (boat only) retails for $30850, the Sportfish, $33750 and the Profish for $52400.
So why the difference? Extra features on the Sportfish are an electric trolling motor mount, seat upgrade, bait board on a pole, deck wash, and external coaming handrails.
When you upgrade to the Profish you get all that plus a drum winch, removable forward casting platform, 60-litre underfloor fuel tank, coaming lights, live bait tank, upgraded bait station, raised bow rail, and UDec flooring.
The hull is the same as used for the very popular 1550 Fisher but without the cabin and is available only with a side console. From the console aft, the 1550 Frontier and 1550 Fisher are almost identical. Due to the forward styling, the sheerline is higher in the Frontier.
I have owned a similar size side console boat now for a number of years and just love it. They are great when fishing on your own or with a mate. Access everywhere is easy and they make a perfect fishing platform, whether using baits, lures or soft baits.
Stabicraft has been building console boats for years and they certainly have it right when it comes to the layout and utilising the available space. Internal beam is 1.92m, with the wide 300mm flat side decks taking the overall beam to just over 2m.
The bow section of the 1550 has been well conceived and makes great use of the space. The large foredeck lid conceals a deep anchor locker that is capable of handling a drum winch for an extra $4745 (std in the Profish). The lower deck area is split between another storage area and the place to fit your trolling motor battery, plus a removable casting platform. With this eliminated you open up a whole lot more workable floor area in the forward part of the boat. If you are big into your soft baiting then it’s great, but if not, if it was me, I would leave it out.
There are four rod holders forward plus three in each coaming. Extra rod storage is available in the port side tray under the 300mm wide side decks. Being the top of the range Profish version, the boat was covered with UDec flooring that comes complete with a fish measure.
Stabicraft offer two variants of the side console, designed to suit different size MFDs. You have the choice of flush mounting up to a 12” MFD or as was meant to be in our test boat a bracket mounted Garmin 16”. However, we had to run our test without the MFD as the bracket to mount it to the top of the helm had not arrived. The rest of the dash has enough space for switches and instruments required for a boat this size. The single swivelling helm seat can be optioned in all models with a 70-litre split lid cool bin complete with cushion top. This also can be stowed out of the way under the helm seat.
There is no storage under the sole, as it is all part of the positive buoyancy aspect of the 1550 which makes it virtually unsinkable. In the Profish you do have the addition of a 60-litre fuel tank built in, while the other models rely on tote tanks.
BUSY TRANSOM
While our boat came with the bait board mounted on a storage box, you have the option of a pole mount or nothing at all. Both bait board options are removeable so you can replace with a ski pole when you want to tow the kids on their watertoys.
The Profish comes with a live bait tank with glass front set into the port side, with a storage shelf alongside for the battery and a little extra gear. Swim platforms either side are an addition to the previous 1550 and great plus for divers. There is also a specialist dive ladder to port.
PERFORMANCE
The 1550 Frontier comes with individually sealed air and water-tight aluminium chambers that wrap right around the hull. For a boat to be filled with water and remain level on the surface is an incomparable safety feature. They also provide extra stability and help dissipate the water from the cockpit.
While we were unable to record any fuel figures we were able to check out the various speeds at revs. Flat out, the 1550 Frontier touched 32 knots @ 5500 rpm. The Mercury 74 4S was fitted with a four blade 15” Spitfire propeller and it was the perfect match. Acceleration from holeshot was impressive and I almost lost Craig Archer from Gulfland Marine over the transom when I thumped the throttle down. Should have been hanging on!
At 4000 rpm the boat had a sweet cruise around 23 knots and at 4500 rpm, 27 knots. I liked the way the boat was so predictable and in the hard turns it ran reasonably level. You still need to remember this is still a small boat at 4.80m, so it will have its limitations. However, on the calm water off Gulf Harbour it was a pleasure to drive. Great protection behind the screen, with the controls easily to hand and had the MFD been in place I am sure it would be mounted at a good eye level.
NEW RELEASE
The others being the 2050 Supercab and the 1850 Supercab. Around two years ago Stabicraft discontinued the 1550 Frontier and due to Covid and supply issues, it has taken this long to present the replacement model. But the wait has certainly been worth it and if sales are anything to go by, it is certain to be another outstanding success for Stabicraft, New Zealand’s largest boat builder.
- Make: Stabicraft
- Model: 1550 Frontier
- Year Launched: 2022
- Priced From: $NZ56,000
- Price As Tested: $NZ90,000
- Type: Side Console
- Construction: Aluminium 4mm/3mm
- LOA: 4.80m
- Beam External: 2.01m
- Beam Internal: 1.35m
- Deadrise: 15deg
- Height On Trailer: 1.92m
- Trailerable Weight: 550kg (dry)
- Test Power: Mercury 75
- Test Speed: 32 knots
- Power Options: Single outboard
- Power Range: 50-75hp
- Propeller: 15” Spitfire 4bld
- Flooring: UDec
- MFD: Garmin 8165
- Drum winch: Maxwell Tasman Fuel Capacity: 60 litre (optional)
- Trailer: DMW
RPM V SPEED
3000 rpm 15 knots
3500 rpm 20 knots
4000 rpm 23 knots
4500 rpm 27 knots
5000 rpm 30 knots
5500 rpm 32 knots
