Mustang Half Cab Cruiser - Good Rotto Boat ?

[Smudgerooni]

Hi,

I have recently moved to Western Australia and I am looking to get into a little coastal fishing but want a runabout with the capability of sailing to Rotto Island for the weekend with the loved one and maybe a trip up the Swan River in Perth anf the Murray River further South

I have found a Mustang 5.2 Meter Half Cabin Crusier with a 85hp outboard - is this vessel up to the job as a starter boat? it seems to be consistent in size, shape and type with the Chivers Thunderbird Half cabin Cruisers which most seem to advertise as a "Good Rotto Boat"

A picture of the vessel attaced to the post

Thanks

Smudgerooni

[Marinheiro]

while people have gone to Rottnest and back in just about anything that floats, any boat under 6-7m has a very uncomfortable trip home when the "doctor" is blowing 20kts plus in the afternoons.
Go over there for a day trip on the ferry or someones bigger boat and leave mid afternoon and see how the smaller boats are bouncing around. Most cannot even keep up with the ferries when running in their wakes

[Smudgerooni]

Hi Marinheiro,

Thanks for the heads up and I will probably give the ferry option a go, I can imagine the "Gentle Caress" the Freemantle Doctor provides its unwary day trippers ! but surely some serious horse power on the back should counter the wind speed or is it the swells caused by the Doctor you refer to.

Cheers

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Smudgerooni.

[Marinheiro]

Hi Smudgerooni, yes it is the waves, remembering that you are travelling over quite a shallow area close to the Stragglers reefs. The area around the windmills (the 2 channel markers 6 NM out from Freo) used to be referred to as the washing machine" due to the choppy seas. I used to run a 10m launch there and cruising home at 15kts I would have fizz boats following behind me, even tho on flat water they could do more than twice my speed.
The Mustang would be OK closer into the shore but not really a Rotto boat especially with the better half on board (you would only do the trip once!)

[Smudgerooni]

Hi GordMay

Thanks for the Welcome

Hi Marinheiro,

Thought so and definately wouldnt want to put "Her Indoors" off being outdoors and aboard as it's taken me long enough to talk her into it in the first place !

I might just buy it for river cruising, close shore sea fishing and it might pull a biscuit for a bit of fun then use it as an excuse to spend more $'s on something bigger while "I Gain Experience" ...... now there's a plan

Thanks and happy sailing

[downunder]

Mustang should do the job no trouble. Go for it at right price.

Was one of the closest competitors to Haines V16/17R/C's in their day.

Not as good as the Haines but then those model Haines hulls will still compare with anything on the market today.