Anglapro Sniper 444 PRO with Yamaha T60 4-stroke

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

We love it at Fishing Monthly magazines when we get to test a boat and also interview the owner of that boat at the same time. It’s different from a dealer stock boat because you get to talk to the person who loved the boat, bought the boat and made all of the decisions when it came to fitting it out.

In this case it was former Fishing Monthly staff member Rob Gaden Jr who dragged his pride and joy down to the ramp for us. It’s an Anglapro Sniper 444 PRO added to the boat. boat is amazing. With the underfloor fuel tank and at a decent cruising speed of 33km/h at 4000rpm, this rig delivers 4.1km/L burned. That’s a near 200km theoretical range. Even if you want to drive around at wide open throttle you get 53km/h and 2.7 km/L. It’s a cheap boat to run.

Main: The little, big boat! Rupe’s Anglapro has a 200km theoretical range at 50c per kilometre! Above: One of the decision points - does it fit in the garage? Yes (just).

Others include some splash guards around the front chines, a concealed Yamaha side mount control, welded cupholders and, of course, a suite of electronics to suit his purpose.

What does Rupe like

the boat? His rod storage options. He needs to put in something to keep the rods out of harm’s way and well organised. It is a small modification to make on a great looking rig.

If you are looking at a rig like this, somewhere in the mid to high $30,000 mark will get you the boat motor and trailer package.

with a Yamaha 60 hp 4-stroke on the back. The motor is a T (not an F) model, which means that it’s fitted with a larger gearbox that opens up the range of propellers that this boat can use – including the soft-changing Yamaha SDS props.

Obviously, Rupe (Rob’s nickname) loves his fishing and boating in more enclosed waters, chasing any fresh or salt water predators that he can get to eat his lures.

He also has a young family, so the platform had to be suitable for his wife and his three daughters.

“To me, this boat is a great all-rounder,” Rupe said, “and it is so cheap to run I am more worried about the fuel going off then running out of fuel.”

This boat has the optional 50 L underfloor fuel tank, instead of the standard 25L remote tank. It’s one of the several options that Rupe has

Rupe went for the Humminbird/Minn Kota ecosystem because it was available and in stock at the time he put the boat together. We all remember the times only a few years ago when stock was really hard to get. If Garmin rather than Humminbird gear was available, that’s the way he would’ve gone.

It was also fairly important that the boat fit in Rupe’s garage.

“It only makes it by a couple of inches and you have to have the steering at full lock, but it does make it in,” Rupe said. He was also quite adamant that he loved his boat more than his old four-wheel-drive. The old fourby got to live on the street.

The range on this small about the boat? He likes the amount of space that you get with the side console, and the storage that you get under the raised front casting deck. He likes the power of the T series Yamaha and he likes the dryness of the rig, especially on the rougher days in southern Moreton Bay.

What did I not like about own as many lures as

Set your own price limit for electronics.

Rupe was lucky enough to have an Anglapro/Yamaha dealer right near his house, but you can check their website on www.anglapro. com.au for your local dealer. You can also scan the QR code hereabouts to see the video version of this boat test and the boat in action.

Top: A moderate transom vee delivers the best combination of stability and water cutting ability.

Above: Transom transducer mounting blocks are a great way to protect the integrity of the hull.

There’s plenty of console to get behind, but we think that Rupe needs to work on a better rod storage solution.

Top: The helm is pretty standard for a tinny like this. There’s a receptacle for the keys and phones as well as ample space for gauge and sounder mounting.

Above: Not many 444s would leave the factory without a bow mount electric bracket. They’re nearly a mandatory accessory nowadays.

Comfortable seats are a must, and there are a couple of mounting options to optimise comfort and weight distribution.

Top Left: Elevated front casting decks provide great underfloor storage options.

Top Right: There are two schools of thought with an open front anchor well. Some people love them and some say they’re a waste of casting deck.

Bottom Left: The underfloor storage will hold plenty of gear, but it isn’t dry in a rainstorm. Bottom Right: There’s plenty of side pocket space for your gaffs. Rupe loves a good gaff shot.

Top Left: A full-height splash well will give Rupe the confidence to duck offshore on a calm day.

Top Right: Access to the battery and bilge is through the rear hatch.

Bottom Left: There’s a neat live bait tank in the rear corner.

Bottom

You can isolate your cranking battery without having to get in the boat.