This month Peter Webster tests the popular Seafarer 5.0 V-Sea/Suzuki 90 combo. Chris Wyeth takes a plate boat to Fraser Island. In this special two part series Chris analyses the “right stuff” for the blokes - preparation, tyres, 4WD’s getting there, sand driving, beach launching and fishing. Next month Amanda will share the girls’ view. F&B’s extensive Field Test on the Yamaha 2 stroke tiller steer outboard complete with our very detailed and independent fuel data. We introduce new State News Columns from Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. Sally’s Galley gives some beaut’ recipe tips on snapper. John and Annie Sullivan continue their journey Gold Coast to Kimberley stopping off at Darwin. We list all the outboards models as at May 2008, complete with their prices, emission ratings and weights! We look at the Stacer’s new 2008-9 range of boats (small aluminium dinghies to offshore fishing boats). We watch the building of John & Di’s  6.1 metre plate boat - they chose this boat as they wish to have a cuppa tea at sea and an on road camper that is still easy to tow. A review of the Sea Time 2800 fibreglass sportsfisherman and much more..

The eagerly awaited fourth edition of Plate Alloy Boats of Australia (Book 4) is now on sale throughout Australia.
This spectacular,  260 page, ‘square back‘ publication is once again based on completely new material.
Published by the F&B team again, the new book has more than 40 pages of production plate alloy boats, features nearly 20 pages of the latest designs from Australia’s foremost naval  architects,   a very special 32 page aluminium boatbuilding supplement by Brian Poole - and a special section explaining, step by step,  how easy it is to build your own new 5.8m bluewater sportsfisherman, complete with all the costs you need to know. 

Australia’s biggest recreational boating research centre. Hundreds of articles including boat tests, engine tests, seamanship & boat handling features - and they are all free to download, 24/7/365