Smartwave

4200
Kiwi-made Smartwave skin so there’s no such thing as fading The Smartwave range covers a riding without being too deep drafted. in overall on a 1.93m beam width and
delivers a smarter way colour, or need to repaint. You simple number of models from the small This means it can slip into shallow 58cm hull depth.
buy, use and forget about it. car-topper style SW 2400 to the SW waters but still handle choppy waters Hull form is a mix of traditional
of fishing with its no-fuss, So why aren’t more boat builders 3500, the SW4200 which we are out on the bay. variable Vee bottom and a gull-wing. It’s
no worries, super strong, using this wonder material? Good testing here. All are produced in the Built to handle the harsh a nice combination and gives you an
poly-plastic hull. question because we’ve had this Smartwave factory in New Zealand and environments of New Zealand, the effective 16.5 degree transom deadrise,
technology around for at least four exported worldwide to destinations as Smartwave boats can take a real which is a bit higher than most tinnies.
Test report James Hill, decades. However, the problem is the far away as the UK and Europe. They hammering beyond what you’d expect Combined with moderate freeboard
photos by Baitbox. set-up cost for just one boat mould were recently introduced to Australia of an alloy or fibreglass boat. With and plenty of bow flare this makes the
is super expensive, and dedicated to and have being enjoying a growing a thick outer and inner skin with Smartwave ride well in choppy waters
just one design. They need massive riding in the water and feels much following here especially amongst bay solid foam cavity the Smartwave and track nicely running down-sea.

I
f you think tinnies are pretty fuss-free production run-ons to be business more stable than most tinnies. And fishermen and water commuters. are noticeably quieter on the water The hull comes easy to the plane
then you haven’t checked out the viable so they tend to be restricted Smartwave are naturally buoyant to the Recently I had the pleasure of underway. With high stability they feel due to the roll-over ‘gull-wing’ chines
Smartwave! These polyethylene to small dinghies, canoes or paddle point they really are ‘unsinkable’ and sampling my first Smartwave through very safe. and at same time be able to slip over
boats really are the ‘smart way’ to travel boards. therefore very safe. NSW dealer Hunts Marine of Sydney, The SW4200 is the latest model sand shoals at high tide because of the
if you have no time for maintenance Early models of polyethylene boats Kiwi fishos love the Smartwave This is currently the top-selling model and we recently tested her on Botany moderate draft.
and just want fuss-free, fun boat fishing. were also pretty heavy and prone because the foam-cored poly plastic and it’s not hard to see when you see Bay with NSW agent, Hunts Marine This is the base version with tiller
We’ve seen poly-plastic boats before to degraded, or deform in sunlight. hull is warmer on the butt in their chilly the roomy interior and capacity to carry of Sydney. steer motor, front and rear thwart seats
but this Kiwi model takes the concept to However, all these issues have been climate. My guess is they’ll be equally five adults! Fitted with an electric tiller Evinrude and removable esky seat/fish box in the
new heights with an attractive, practical, addressed in the modern Smartwave, popular in the cold climes of Tasmania Powered by a single Evinrude 40hp 40hp ETEC and trailer, this boat sells middle. However, there’s also a centre
semi gull-wing design that rides which has the latest polyethylene or our Snowy Mountain lakes! ETEC with electric start/tilt/trim this is for $15,390, however, Hunts Marine console model as well with motor cable
beautifully and delivers brilliant stability. technology plus a foam-cored between And Smartwave are super tough. a really nice rig for running around the also sells it with a 30hp Suzuki 2-stroke loom tubes already fitted.
Best of all, the Smartwave gives you the inner and outer skins. Knocks and scratches just don’t bother bay and doing a bit of bottom bashing, and trailer for just $9890 if you want a With its flat internal floor and
lots of room to fish or just have fun with The Smartwave 4200 tested here these polyethylene boats and they can or lure casting. cheaper package. moulded conduits this is a very clean
the family. weights 220kg which is comparable to literally be driven onto a concrete ramp The interior is also flexible enough to looking craft. The moulded interior is
These boats feature a tough, durable a conventional fibreglass hull and not without a bother. You will get scratches suit family and general fun boating on Design: The SW4200 was only enhanced by a carpeted floor insert
construction that’s UV stable and will much more than equivalent of alloy on the surface but these can be sand estuaries and lakes. introduced to the Australian market last and stylish two-tone swab cushions
therefore stand up to decades of Aussie boat of about 190kg. On the positive papered out – if you are bothered about The hull features a developed Vee summer. It’s a nice size boat for the that snap down and have pull-straps.
sun. The colour is right through the side the Smartwave is softer, quieter the cosmetics. that is semi-gull-wing and therefore soft recreational fisho as it measures 4.3m The whole boat is designed for easy

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cleaning after a day’s fishing – and
that’s what we want to hear these days
when we’re all so busy!
The SW4200 comes with grab rails,
rod holders and even a pair of drink
holders. It’s a simple but clean layout
that also gives you a large enough
for’ard seat to double as a casting
platform, whilst the flat floor also suits IS YOUR
EPIRB
modern, fast paced lure-fishing.
Whilst poly construction is something
we don’t see every day, it’s quite
sophisticated and allows boats to be
built in large numbers without a lot of DUE TO BE
REPL ACED?
labour involved.
Basically, liquid material goes
into a dedicated metal mould using
a rotational process. The result is a test so they meet the internationally ideal for light trailer work especially in
strong, single-piece hull with no joins accepted CE certification standards. off ramp and beach launches.
that can leak! The hull material is With a hull a weight of 220kg you I might mention that polyethylene
naturally buoyant but the craft becomes are looking at a loaded trail weight boats have a great reputation for not
even stronger and more unsinkable with of about 550kg-620kg with a single fouling up as easily as other craft and
a foam core added. So, the Smartwave axle unbraked trailer. This keeps the this is good news if want to leave the
would float even if cut in half! Smartwave within the tow limits of small boat in the water for any length of time.
All new Smartwave models are put cars like the Mazda 3 (900kg).
through stringent testing procedures Admittedly it’s getting a bit heavy and Performance: Back in autumn we
including a drop, float and destruction big for roof-topping however it will be took the Smartwave for a spin on the
quiet waters of Botany Bay. Fist up
I was impressed by the interesting
shape of the SW4200 and its extended
landing steps either side of the motor
that provides extra buoyancy as well as
faster acceleration onto the plane.
Noticeably, the boat came very
quickly and easily onto the plane
and ran along quietly and smoothly.
Immediately you notice the superb
quietness of the hull through the
water and it sure enhances your
enjoyment. Whether this also makes
the Smartwave a better stealth fishing
machine I don’t know. However, I
always believe if a boat is quieter Prepare for the extreme
through the water you must be
improving your chances!
Underway it was hard to fault the
It goes without saying the Smartwave is a very stable
craft for stand-up fishing. We tested this by having me and
with GME, because your
handling of this Kiwi interloper. She ran
smoothly through turns and cut back
John Hunt standing right at the sides. Our combined weight
only produced a moderate heel confirming this is a pretty life could depend on it
over boat wash real easy. The extra sure-footed craft.
weight seems to dampen the bumps So, I reckon the SW4200 is going to be a great craft for Digital EPIRBs have been around for quite some time now, and many
and make for a pretty comfortable ride. those times you want to go for a fish on your own. It’s small
So that’s all good. enough for easy one-person handling and has the safety are about to reach their expiration date. So next time you’re out
I’ve heard that back-wash was a and stability to keep you out of trouble. However, note that on your boat, double check the expiration date of your
problem on the smaller SW3500 model under current laws in most states you will be required to EPIRB. If it has expired, or is approaching expiration, contact your local
but I didn’t experience that with this wear a life-jacket when out there on your own as this model
bigger SW4200 model. It’s a great all is under 4.8m length. Authorised GME Dealer and discuss options for replacement, including
round craft and running a long-shaft I really love the idea of a hull that doesn’t require painting updating to the latest GPS equipped model from GME. With a GPS
motor means you get less splash back and, for that matter worry about chips and scratches. This equipped EPIRB, you will be located faster, and rescue authorities will
at the transom. means you can go fishing without worrying about getting her
Some might think the Smartwave too close to the mangroves, or the rocks. You don’t have to be able to reach you sooner. It could save your life.
isn’t knocking out the speeds you worry about fenders either so it’s all pretty fuss-free.
would expect from 40hp but the trade Colour options on the Smartwave vary from off-white
off of smoothness and stability really (pictured), light blue, dark blue, red, grey and green.
makes any speed loss worth it. You might go for the grey or green for stealth fishing but
A console model would be great personally, I love the off-white because it looks good.
but I personally like the tiller-steering Overall, we found the Smartwave quite comfortable in
model because it follows the KISS small bay chop and certainly it seems quite a safe boat for
principle and really maximises interior operation in typical estuary fishing situations we have on the
1300 463 463 gme.net.au

M355D
room for fishing. It’s also the cheaper east coast. The carpeted floor is a great feature and a nice
option, especially when it comes time touch in what is otherwise a plastic boat.
to repower.

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Power: The Smartwave SW4200 is self-draining moulded anchor well. You with the additional esky/seat in the If you the esky/kill box out there’s a clear open floor
rated for single, long-shaft motors of also get nice polished grab rails bow middle of the boat you have enough for space of 2.4m length and 1.5m wide which is more
30-50hp and certainly gave us quite and stern plus moulded boarding steps most purposes. than enough for two anglers lure fishing, or three or four
nice speed results with an Evinrude at the transom. What the boat is missing over hand-lining.
40hp ETEC. The cushion seats at the bow and the tinnie equivalent is side stowage There seems to be no provision for navigation lights but
We found this bigger motor not only stern thwarts are recessed into the pockets plus an over-hang side deck. I’m sure these could be added at the dealer level depending
gave us the better overall performance deck line and cover moulded storage But frankly you don’t miss these on whether you needed them at all. In fact, the latest
but has the convenience of an electric bins. There’s not a lot of stowage but features with so much flat floor space. battery-operated navigation lights might be sufficient if you
start plus tilt and trim. The latter is a were only very occasionally doing night and early morning
huge benefit in getting the best out of sessions.
the boat and to my way of thinking well BOAT TEST ANALYSIS
worth paying the extra dollars. Verdict: The Smartwave SW 4200 is a great entry
Performance figures with the 40hp Boat supplied with Evinrude 40hp ETEC with trim/tilt, single axle trailer, tie-downs, deluxe level craft for anyone looking to get on the water fairly
ETEC were as follows: seat cushions, two rod holders, gunwale grab handles, cable conduit tube, under seat inexpensively this summer. I guess the craft with
stowage compartments, drink holders and inshore safety gear. Price $15,390 from Hunts sophisticated Evinrude ETEC is starting to fall a little
3500rpm 16 knots Marine Sydney ph 02 9546 1324. beyond the price point for some battler-fishos but it’s really
4500rpm 24 knots still pretty good value.
5500rpm 26 knots SPECIFICATION CHART If you are trying to keep the cost down I’d be looking
at matching the SW4200 with a cheaper 30hp or 40hp
These are pretty good all round speeds Brand Smartwave Brooker Quintrex Polycraft Savage two-stroke and getting on the water under the $10,000 mark
for a boat this size being used on close Model SW4200 410Adventurer 420Topender 410Challenger 435Piranha including a sounder and some portable nav lights.
coastal and estuary waters. We were Whilst pricier than the tinnie equivalent the Smartwave
carrying a moderate load of two people Material polyplastic fibreglass fibreglass polyplastic alloy SW4200 is a boat that will deliver the value long term. It’s
and a heavy safety pack so they are Style open console open open open the sort of craft you buy for life and keep in the family. Buy
pretty realistic speeds. Length 4.3m 4.2m 4.2m 4.1m 4.3m it now, keep it with the on-site caravan and you’ll have
Would you want to go faster? decades of fun with the family.
Perhaps you might in situations of Beam 1.9m 1.8m 1.8m 1.8m 1.8m Hopefully we’ll be looking at the smaller SW3500 at
remote fishing with long stretches of Rated power 50hp 40hp 40hp 50hp 40hp some stage and the bigger SW4800 that has been a real hit
water to reach your destination. In that Power as tested Evinrude40 Yamaha30 Yamaha30 Yamaha40 Vortex40 as a fishing runabout in her home country.
case I’d definitely go for the 50hp size
motor but otherwise stick to the 40hp or Hull weight 220kg 210kg 197kg 295kg 295kg
30hp motor package. Fuel capacity portable portable portable portable 50L
The boat doesn’t have an in-built
fuel tank and so comes standard with STAR RATING
a portable 25-lite tank that fits into a
dedicated space moulded into the rear Finish Helm Set-up
seat thwart. In most cases this provides
sufficient range for daily outings, Fitout Fishability
however, if you were exploring further
afield you’d take a spare 22-litre tank. Ride Safety Features
Deck layout: In all respects the Dryness Value for Money
Smartwave is set up nicely for inshore
boating and fishing. It comes standard *Data ESTIMATED by the TBF team when accurate information is unavailable. Maximum star rating 5 stars.
with a bow roller, bow cleat and

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