Comments on Ocean Fishing in a Quintrex Hornet 4m Dinghy with an Eclipse Hull

Hi ... I'm thinking about purchasing a 4m Quintrex Hornet dinghy with an Eclipse Hull and 30hp motor.  I expect to mainly use the boat for trolling close to the shore off south west coast of WA.  Any comments regarding your experiences with this type of boat and hull would be welcome.  Thanks :)


Posts: 908

Date Joined: 06/05/12

The trophy hull is more

Mon, 2013-06-03 18:45

The trophy hull is more suited for tropical waters IMO, I would go a more traditional style hull, if you had one already I think it would be fine but If given the choice i would chose something else. Just a standard V hull.

Bruce's picture

Posts: 527

Date Joined: 11/04/12

 For what you're planning on

Mon, 2013-06-03 18:55

 For what you're planning on doing I'd just stick with a (deep) V hull quintrex or something else. The eclipse hull is more of a punt style boat and would slap alot and give a harsh ride in anything but flat conditions. More of a river boat. A deep V hull would ride better into the chop, just need a bit of weight at the bow so it can punch through the waves. Any aluminium 4m with a 30hp would be quick!

Good luck :)

hilly9's picture

Posts: 282

Date Joined: 13/10/12

my old man is about to sell a

Mon, 2013-06-03 19:06

my old man is about to sell a quintrex 450 fishseeker, milleniuem hull 40hp 4str honda

Buz's picture

Posts: 1555

Date Joined: 28/08/07

Just recently had some

Mon, 2013-06-03 20:17

Just recently had some experience in a 435 Hornet Trophy for the first time doing open water fishing up around Gero. What I found was in calm conditions, or big rolling swells but not choppy, it was a beautiful tinnie to fish in and drive!!!'

Once a bit of chop(.5m) started getting up it still rode really beautiful, and with the shape of the hull even deflecting any spray coming onboard.
My old Bermuda 410 Salmon was bad for spray into a heading sea. Sometimes ended up drenched being on the tiller! Hahahaha

BUT the one thing I really, really didn't like with the Hornet, was the fact the bow and sides(gunwales) was so low to the water. So low infact beach launching even with tiny waves/surge was very, very problematic. Even when going right up to shallow reefs breaking with white water throwing lures for Tailor it was very unnerving with the weight of someone on the front casting decking almost putting the nose underwater on some of the steeper chop/waves.

My mate who owns the boat regulary fishes off Mindaire and Two Rocks beyond the 3-mile, though he picks the best days to head beyond otherwise sticking inside the reef.

Personnally myself I think I would love it if only the gunwales were higher(about 10cm more) and the bow rose up on a bit more of an angle than the sides. But in calm-slight choppy conditions it was very very nice, no banging at all! But then again probably a lot of boats would be like that in those conditions.

Just my opinion though after only 3 days fishing in it, so not a real expert on them not actually owning one.