The Seafarer V-Sea 4.74 is the highest selling fibreglass production boat ever designed and built in Australia.
It was the first design that a young Lindsay Fry sketched in a notepad as a teenager at Miami High, before taking over the running of the family business — Fibreglass Products (QLD), “Seafarer” — upon his father Doug’s untimely passing.
Literally thousands of Seafarer V-Sea 4.74 units were produced, with the model assuming legend status as a boat that would punch far above its weight, if ever there was one.
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
|---|---|
| Designer(s) | Doug Fry & Lindsay Fry |
| Builder(s) | Seafarer Fibreglass Boats |
| Years in Production | 1969 to 1993 |
| Length | 15’ 6” / 4.74m |
| Beam (max) | 81” / 2.06m |
| Hull deadrise | 19 degrees |
| Weight | 750 lbs / 340kg; MK3 420kg |
| Construction | Fibreglass |
| Max Power | 115 hp outboard (later 90hp) |
| Load capacity | 6 Adults |
| Transom height | 20” |
HISTORY
It is hard to believe that a 15 and a half footer could become regarded as a “bluewater gamefishing boat”; but such were the fish and conditions she conquered, the Seafarer V-Sea thoroughly earned that reputation.
Despite its small stature, the combination of the V-Sea’s scooped nose design offering forward protection, together with a stable, dry, soft-riding and seaworthy v-hull, enabled thousands of Australian’s to go offshore fishing, safely.
Constructed in a shed behind Queensland’s Mermaid Beach, many who went boating in the 70s, 80s and 90s, had an experience with a V-Sea. They were taken far further afield than even their creator had intended… and have been the platform of many remarkable “giant-killing” adventures .
While a highly regarded 5.0m followed, the V-Sea 4.74 spanned a production run of some 23 years. She was based upon one of the last hulls designed by fibreglass pioneer and founder Doug Fry (in the form of the half cabin 15ft Venus). The V-Sea marked the baton change between Doug Fry’s lifetime of knowledge, and the starting point for Lindsay.
Lindsay Fry was only sixteen when he conceived the innovative new style of ‘cuddy cabin’. At the same time, he adhered to proven, ‘keep it simple’ principles. Lindsay went on to run Seafarer successfully for the next 38 years, retiring in 2007 — in the process earning himself a reputation as one of Australia’s finest trailer-boat builders.
The “scoop nose” became a distinctive trade mark of a number of Seafarer models that followed — providing enhanced protection from the elements and security crossing bars, while not compromising on the cockpit space of a traditional runabout configuration. While a “greenie” rolling up and over the scoop nose was not unheard of, the design worked very well.
The fundamentals of the hull are what make it special. Like all Seafarer hulls, the V-Sea is surefooted in swell, and predictable at the wheel. A fun boat to drive, it offers plenty of lift, agility and handling that engenders confidence. While not designed to be a super-fast hull, as Lindsay Fry comments, even in terrible conditions,
it could sit on the plane and just slosh through.
Lindsay Fry
It could nonetheless be sprightly with moderate power. This is an efficient and buoyant hull that runs well with a single 70hp outboard. It needs no more than 90hp to achieve its best. Occasionally it was fitted with small twins.
The V-Sea sits at 4.7 metres long by 2.1 metres wide, with a 19 degree transom deadrise. Internally, it offered excellent cockpit room for its size (55 sq feet) and was easy to tow, manoeuvrable and relatively lightweight.
MK2 and 3 versions followed, where there was experimentation with small pod extensions — a theme that would revolutionise the seafarer range in the 90s. A centre console model was also produced.
Something can be said for a good, safe hull design, with low maintenance, good build quality, and an economical price point for Australian fisherman in this size range — which may explain why used examples of the V-Sea remain hot property.
Despite the simple packaging, the boats were well finished for their era, and this was testament to the fact that the Fry family were early pioneers of the use of fibreglass in boat building in Australia, had access to the best suppliers and mastery of the right techniques.
The V-Sea has held up well, and still resides in great numbers in sheds around the coastline of Australia. An Aussie trailer-boating classic!
Words by Andy Cornish & Nick Cornish.
