THE STACER 435SF Barra Elite Sports features the revolutionary EVO hull design, which carries a variable deadrise deep vee from the nose to the stern. The vee rolls into down-turned chines at the stern to create a unique hull shape that produced fantastic performance on the short, sharp chop in Trinity Inlet.

A concave vee at the nose is carried through to the stern, with the outside edge gradually rolled down into the chine to almost create a tunnel effect, without totally trapping the water. As the speed increases, less of the chine is in contact with the water and it rides on the vee for the front two thirds with the down-turned chine providing excellent stability at the back.

At rest, the EVO hull also provides fantastic stability by having the outside 15cm of the bottom almost dead flat with the water. Add to this a beamy fisho-friendly layout, and Stacer have created an inspiring calm water fishing platform.

Another impressive feature of the package was the all new 50hp Johnson four-stroke, which was super-quiet and really got the Stacer up and running.

The two-level front casting platform has a small anchor well, lined with PVC for protection and noise reduction, with a large storage hatch at the back. The anchoring system is finished off with a cross bollard on the front side of the anchor well, with the rope feeding straight over the nose and contained by the low profile bow rail. Because of the hull shape there is no chance that the gear stored in the front hatch will get wet from bilge water.

The rear casting platform is split into two sections by a narrow engine well, which still leaves a heap of standing area each side of the motor. The port side has the battery in the outside compartment, to help balance the side console, and a good sized fully plumbed live bait tank towards the midline. The starboard side has a large storage compartment with a slide-off lid.

The low profile side console is functional without being obtrusive, with a small perspex screen to protect the electronics. Instrumentation is made up of speedo, fuel gauge, compass, trim meter and tacho, with an Eagle Fish Easy 2, a Lowrance Globalmap 100 handheld GPS and a GME 27 meg radio. There is also plenty of leg room or usable storage space under the console.

The whole unit is fully set up as a ready-to-fish rig, straight off the showroom floor. There is nothing left to do other than custom fit a few more rod holders if desired.

The Barra Elite comes standard with two comfortable padded pivoting bucket seats, with five seat positions. Two different helm slots offer a choice of distance from the console, with another beside the helm. A fourth sleeve is to starboard, just behind the forward casting platform and a fifth in the middle of the platform. Low profile grab rails, level with the console, offer security for the helmsman and passengers.

We put the Stacer through its paces in the Cairns Inlet in a brisk breeze running into a rising tide, which creates a nasty short, sharp chop. The EVO hull certainly grabbed my attention, and TJ was equally as impressed as it ate the conditions, handling the chop better and better as we went faster. At the top end the Stacer slipped across the top of the chop, and there was no banging at any speed or angle to the swell. The Barra Elite turned beautifully, with the Johnson four-stroke holding its revs for an incredible length of time as I kept turning inside our own wake.

The 50hp Johnson four-stroke produced some impressive stats, with 4000rpm producing 30km/h (19mph, 16 knots), 4500rpm reaching 37km/h (23mph, 20 knots), 5000rpm hitting 40km/h (25mph, 22 knots), 5500rpm providing 45km/h (28mph, 24 knots) and topped out at 6200rpm doing 54km/h (34mph, 29 knots).

Johnson is well and truly back in the market, with the backing of the massive Bombardier corporation. Bombardier employs over 80,000 people worldwide, with interests varying from aircraft manufacturing to rail transportation and the production of a wide range of recreational vehicles.

The 50hp four-stroke Johnson certainly produced the goods, and was impressive for its quietness at idle (the telltale hitting the water was louder than the motor), pick-up, torque and seemingly endless top-end revs. This motor comes with electronic fuel injection for added fuel economy, and the environmental advantages of a four-stroke engine.

The ride and handling of the Barra Elite were sensational. The boat sat nice and flat in the turns and there was no sign of bucking or cavitating, no matter how hard or how fast we pushed it. Both TJ and I came away with big smiles on our faces!

At a surprisingly economical price, the Stacer 435 SF Barra Elite Sports will certainly find plenty of fans in the estuary and impoundment brigade, and I wouldn't think twice about taking it offshore on a good day.

Test boat package price $20,500 BMT. For more information contact Sharplift Marine & Leisure, in Cairns, on (07) 4033 1344.

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SPECIFICATIONS

Length (Bow - Transom) - 4.35m

Beam - 1.95m

Depth - 0.9m

Boat Length on trailer (motor down) - 5.6m

Bottom/sides - 3mm

Topsides - 1.6m

Weight (boat only) - 295kg

Max hp – 50

Max transom weight - 95kg

No. of people - 4

1) The new 50hp Johnson four-stroke certainly got the Stacer Barra Elite Sports up and going.

2) TJ, from Sharplift in Cairns, was all smiles after his first run in the new Stacer.

3) The Barra Elite Sports comes with all the electronics fitted ready to fish.

4) The Stacer has the perfect layout for the estuary and impoundment fisho.

5) The EVO hull keeps the water trapped underneath for longer, thus creating lift.

6) The transom cutaway shows the difference between the EVO hull and a standard hull profile.