Stacer Boats have long been established as one of Australia’s favourite boat brands. With a reputation for producing aluminium boats of excellent performance standard that are equally as comfortable, I was excited to see what was new from Stacer at a recent media day held opposite the Stacer factory at the Gold Coast City Marina.

The Stacer Assault Pro is a popular option for sportsfishers, whether they are competing on a tournament circuit or simply enjoying their time on the water with mates. With some cool new standard and optional upgrades, the on-water experience aboard these boats will be greater.

Without doubt, the most noticeable change is the Stacer Sports Side Console that comes as standard in the 459, 489 and 519 models. The team at Stacer received consumer feedback that anglers needed more room to mount bigger sounders and they listened. The smart new console design has enough real estate to house a 10” sonar/GPS screen comfortably.

You will find newly designed Stacer pop-up cleats on the Assault Pro models, which are a great benefit and protect not only little toes when sitting flush but also prevent tangled fishing lines.

There is more than enough storage room up the front of this boat for all of your fishing gear and accessories, as well as an optional rod storage locker.

The 519 Assault Pro now comes standard with 4mm bottoms and the 489 can be beefed up to 4mm for those that are looking for extra strength.

One of the most versatile fishing boats that Stacer produces is the Nomad series. The current Nomad line up (489, 509, 539 and 579) sees two new additions to the family in the form of the 449 and 469 Nomad. With the extended range, customers now have more variety and options to suit every lifestyle and budget.

Just like the Assault Pro, the Nomad series has been improved with Stacer’s new Sports Side Console. A new extra seat spigot located on the front casting deck adds an extra seating position with enough spots to seat four anglers. With other standard features in the Nomad range including carpeted floors, a bimini with storage envelope and rod holders, customers can expect to get bang for their buck.

Stacer’s number one selling boat in their range is the 429 Seaway, so it is no surprise that the Runabout range, which includes the Baymaster and Seaway models, received some tweaking. While not much has changed you will find Stacer’s new Shark carpet to be softer under foot and the dark grey colouring is aesthetically pleasing. You will also find a larger anchor well big enough to mount a drum winch in the Runabout models.

The Ocean Ranger series has been making waves for some time now with bluewater fishing enthusiasts. While both the soft top and hard top models have been popular, Stacer recognised customer demand for smaller hard top models and have launched the 589 Ocean Ranger hard top and the 619 Ocean Ranger hard top models that now offer a more budget friendly option that is still packed with power and strength.

An accessory that is largely overlooked by most boat manufacturers is a set of trim tabs, and it is refreshing to see that Stacer are fitting these as standard across the Stacer Ocean Ranger series. With trim tabs fitted, the Ocean Rangers will make travelling easier and will save on fuel costs.

There are now two options with seating arrangements. The first is the standard Stacer seat box that offers ample amounts of storage below and the second is the newly designed seat frame that includes an icebox that neatly positions below the seat and keeps your lunch, drinks and catch ice cold. The seats have also been upgraded to the Stacer Ocean Pro seats with standard armrests for the ultimate in comfort.

The 619, 679 and 739 Ocean Ranger Hard Tops now all come with hardened glass windscreens that feature sliding side windows, which keeps you both cool and dry.

Stacer have released one of their most fishing focused boats to date in the form of the Sea Ranger series. These hard-core fishing boats have a real sporty looking centre console with a stylish T-Top and tonnes of room for fishing. The hull reaps all the rewards of Stacer’s renowned EVO advanced hull. With a 5mm bottom and 4mm sides, this is a boat built tough to take on the roughest offshore conditions.

You will find two models in the Sea Ranger series – the 619 and the 679. The 619 Sea Ranger is rated to a 200hp outboard with a massive 168L fuel tank, while the 679 will take 225hp and a whopping 215L of fuel. Both models have the option of a second 80L fuel tank for those who want to push further afield.

The Sea Ranger models feature a fully sealed chequer plate front casting platform that contains a huge amount of storage below for tackle, camping equipment and any other precious cargo that may be on board. With all the standard options you’d expect to find on a serious fishing boat such as a berley bucket, cutting board, kill tank, live bait tank and six welded rod holders, this is a boat that will impress the most serious of anglers.

What do you do when you’re torn between a fishing boat and a family water-sports oriented boat? From now on, you go for the Stacer Cross Fire. This, without doubt, is the most versatile boat in the Stacer range to date and caters not only for the die-hard lure casters, but also for the family wanting a fun day on the water.

The Cross Fire features a fully functional casting platform at the front of the boat for a fishing adventure. The beauty of this unique set-up is that you can remove the centre piece of the casting deck and with optional cushions, this can transform the space into a ready-made bow rider complete with sun lounge.

With a sharper bow entry and a deeper V, the Evo Advance Hull performs flawlessly with a smooth, dry ride and plenty of stability at rest.

The Cross Fire comes standard with a single side console, but there is an option of getting a passenger side console, which your first mate will definitely appreciate on a chilly morning out on the water.

While the Cross Fire is packed with standard options such as a bimini cover, four rod holders, VHF radio, and Stacer Elite Pro seats, there are other options available to trick it up even more with a Mega Chopper Cutting Board, berley bucket, ski pole, ski hooks, transom ladder, hydraulic steering, and of course, the essential drink holders.

After having played in and with all of these great boats from Stacer at the media day, it’s great to see that the folk at Stacer are never resting and continue to innovate and improve their Australian made product year in year out. To find out more about any of the Stacer boats mentioned in this article, head to www.stacer.com.au.