Reviews
BIA Feature August 2002
My almost neighbour Terry Walmsley is one of Cairns’ most fanatical fishermen, he’s notorious for pounding his way out to the reef in atrocious conditions, filling up the esky and pounding back home again. A woosy boatie like Yours Truly waits for calm weather, but if Terry’s not workin’ he’s fishin’ in anything under a Strong Wind Warning. That kind of punishment is as hard on fibreglass hulls as it is on human lumbar vertebrae, and earlier this year Terry’s long suffering custom mini longboat started to show some worrying cracks.
Once Terry had lifted the floor it became obvious that the damage was beyond repair, so it was time to look for a new boat. Finances didn’t stretch to a new motor as well, so the boat had to be small enough to fit Terry’s 70hp Evinrude, but big enough to handle those regular offshore trips in adverse conditions.
Locally manufactured Hooker Dory’s have been well known and respected in commercial fishing circles for some years now, but recently Hooker principal John Margetts has introduced a range of models aimed at the recreational market.
After looking at a couple of other options Terry settled on the Hooker “Fisherman”, a 5 metre semi-longboat style hull with a self-draining deck, essential for his “pushing the envelope” style of boating. Terry has set the boat up as a centre console, probably the best small boat configuration for rough water.
But what’s so special about Hooker Dory’s?
Apart from the “commercial quality” standard of construction, Hooker hulls contain no timber or plywood. Tough, lightweight Nycell is used to form the transom & the stringers are 100% polyfoam, these synthetic materials will not rot when exposed to moisture.
Klegecell is another new construction material that’s even tougher in use than it is to spell, the floors or cockpit soles of Hooker Dories are now formed on sheets of this incredible stuff. Unlike traditional glassed plywood a Klegecell based floor cannot rot and represents a big weight saving as well.
Obviously a lighter, stronger hull gives better performance and fuel economy with a given size of motor. Years of local experience means that John has designed a range of boats ideal for Far North conditions, with 3 sizes from 5 to 6 metres and around dozen models to choose from there’s a Hooker to make most fishos happy.
Terry certainly seems to be happy with the new boat, and whether he’s baitcasting for barras at Hinchinbrook or spinning the offshore wrecks for Spaniards he’s catching plenty of fish with it. We’ve just got to arrange things so that I get a trip!
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