Back in '77 when a 7m cabin boat cost you $30,000 key start, the biggest Fyran was 4.2m, the Smuggler Reefrunner was the undisputed bluewater boat of the day and Fi Glass were offering 12 different models, a new name appeared in the pages of the boating magazines.
Built in a small shed on the outskirts of Hamilton, the Buccaneer 4.7m cabin boat - the only model the company built at that time - received instant media interest and before long it was being compared alongside other established brands such as Bonito, Cresta Craft, Condor Craft, Glasskraft, Haines Hunter, Marlborough, Plylite, Steadecraft and Vistacraft.
Today many of those names are gone and only found in the used boats for sale colums, but for Buccaneer it was the beginning of a new era. Today, Buccaneer Boats are arguably the largest manufacturer of fibreglass trailerboats in the country and with 16 models covering runabouts, bowriders, cabin, cuddy and walkaround styles, they are the undisputed leader when it comes to model options.
When I tested the Buccaneer 4.7 with a Mercury 70 back in 1977 I wrote
"A new boat for the season, the Buccaneer is an exceptionally well finished cabin boat that would appeal to the family man. Its immaculate finish inside is evident. Performance of the Buccaneer is excellent and it's a very easily pushed hull with good handling characteristics. It's one of the nicest little cabin boats on the market"
Twenty one years later I find myself using virtually the same words to describe the recently remodelled Billfisher 720 (previously sold under the Billfisher 237 name). It may be a lot bigger and a lot more expensive and it's certainly a different style, but when it comes to the important attributes of finish, handling, performance and construction, I can easily relate it back to the original 470.
Ironically when I tested the 470 for the now defunct Nautical News magazine I had along Greg Fenwick of International Marine, one of the local Auckland dealers for Buccaneer and Gerry Gerrand, the designer and builder.
Gerrand has never liked a simple test and when he first spoke to me about taking a fresh look at the new Billfisher 720, there was talk of gamefishing 50 miles off Raglan, a circumnavigation of the Barrier and even a trip to the Three Kings. In the end we both settled on an overnighter at Mayor Island.
The added interest was the fact that the boat was set up especially for the test with twin Yamaha 100hp 4 strokes, courtesy of Greg Fenwick of Moller Yamaha, the local distributor of Yamaha outboards. The F100 is based on an in-line four cylinder engine that features a double overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder with direct drive valve train. Combined with a carb per cylinder and microcomputer ignition system, the F100 produces excellent low-end torque with a punchy mid range and weighs in at 162 kgs. Quite a lot of time was spent in setting the boat up to get the maximum advantages of the 4 stroke technology.
The boat was also had been equipped with the very latest Raytheon combinaion GPS/Plotterand radar, Ratheon Fishfinder plus a Raychart autopilot and Yamaha multifunctional digital instruments with a fuel management gauge. In short, the boat was loaded!
As I have never been to Mayor Island, I was keen and with an Oliver 4300 along as mothership, it looked like shaping up to be a great trip. However things never quite work out as you plan and after leaving the tranquil waters of the Tauranga Harbour we were met head-on by huge seas through the entrance at Mount Maunganui. Thoughts of Mayor Island were quickly reconsidered.
Although both boats would have quite safely covered the 26 miles to Mayor, it was certainly going to be a hard and slow trip and due to the strong easterly, once we got there our boating would be very restrictive anyway.
A team meeting through the VHF had us turn to starboard and head for the shelter of Motiti Island, some 16 miles south. Punching straight into a very sloppy sea with swells I estimated around 3m (the Oliver was disappearing in the troughs), the Billfisher 720 was right at home. Okay, so it wasn't easy, but then even those aboard the mothership were not finding it a cakewalk!
Coming back the next day it was a little different, whilst the sea state hadn't altered, the Billfisher 720 loved the huge swells and with the twin Yamaha's on 3800 rpm @ 25mph, it was a fun trip home. When we stopped to see what the boat would sit like in such conditions, I was impressed with the stability and the fact we could troll comfortably at 7mph.
If ever a boat was going to bury its bow, it was on this trip, but despite a few rather deep dips into the backs of the swells, we took nothing more than spray over the front.
The Yamaha 4 strokes responded well and kept a constant rpm range, despite the surfing and climbing on the journey home. Earlier, in the lee of the island I had run the boat in calm water and found the Yamaha 100s to be very responsive, quick to accelerate and very quiet. Flat out at 6000 rpm, the Billfisher 720 topped around 43 mph. Most comfortable cruise seemed to be about 4000 rpm @ 26 mph. At this the Yamaha fuel gauge was indicating somewhere around 30 litres per hour total for the two engines.
With one engine trimmed up, the boat will get up onto the plan easily and idle at 2 mph @ 800 rpm. The slowest with both engines running is 3.5 mph @ 800 rpm. Interestingly at 7.5 mph @ 2000 rpm, the two engines average 9 lph and with only one in operation, 2700 rpm is required to achieve the same speed and the fuel consumption increases to around 11.5 lph.

Where's the difference?
The big difference between the previous Billfisher 237 and the 720 starts with a complete new deck mould. Obvious at a glance is the perspex screen now replaced with a toughened glass Taylor screen, the restyled side windows, and the rounder cabin top. From the gunnel up in fact the lines of the 720 look a lot softer. There are also a number of new mouldings, such as the helm footrest and passenger storage shelve.
The extra 75mm height of the forward raised cockpit sole has meant the quarter berth in the cabin is more practical and the transom has also been changed with more rounded gunnel lines and the step through height has increased. All the hatch mouldings have been changed allowing for a smoother looking edge. All the catches have been upgraded.
There has also been a few changes to the cockpit hatches to improve the draining capabilities and although the width of the bulwarks are the same, the height of the aft step is raised to help expel deck water over the side rather than straight into the cockpit. A 'big greenie' over the front will still end up in the self-draining cockpit but would be quickly released through the scuppers in the transom. Both the cabin layout and the hull have not been altered.
The changes were made as part of a programmed upgrade of all models that Buccaneer process continually. Gerrand was keen to see the glass screen on the Billfisher and felt that if he had to make alterations to the deck, it was the right time to make improvements to minor areas and release the boat under its new livery.

Practical Layout
The cockpit layout has been designed with plenty of storage areas, which for the fisherman and divers are huge areas for tackle and gear and as a weekender hold a lot of provisions. Underfloor bins can be plumbed up for live bait or as a kill tank and behind the extra large capacity underfloor 345 litre fuel tank there's even more space for a whole heap of gear.
Rods are either kept in the rocket launcher and rod holders or in specially designed areas under the side decks. Strategically placed at the right height, thickly padded side panels and plenty of room for your feet under the coaming make working a big fish that much easier.
Standard seating is twin pedestal seats forward and a removable double aft bin seat. There is the option of king/queen back to backs, but to date no one has asked for them.
The Billfisher 720 has a split level cockpit sole, which not only allows more space in the rear of the cabin, but also stops the water entering the cockpit and has the bonus of giving you a little more height when driving or looking ahead for a 'boil up'.
The driving position is suited to both standing or seated and the very well equipped fascia on our test boat gives some indication as to just how much stuff you can bolt on. Centre stage was the matched pairing of Raytheon L750 Fishfinder and Pathfinder RL70 radar/gps/plotter, surrounded by all the necessary instrumentation, switches and trim indicators.
Buccaneer offer the Billfisher 720 with or without a solid fibreglass targa top and clears as well as a fold down canvas bimini top. If you are looking at doing a lot of offshore boating, I can highly recommend the solid targa and clears and now with the glass screen you can also install a windscreen wiper. The Targa is also strong enough to climb on if you really want some extra fish spotting height.
There has been no noticeable changes to the cabin which still features a large V berth that converts to a double and a third berth slipped down the starboard side. There are storage lockers under the squabs and in the wide side trays, plus under the raised cockpit sole. A fully plumbed head under the forward squab is an option, but a two-burner grill in the compact galley is standard. You could also fit a small microwave run through an inverter. With the 50-litre fresh water tank and manual sink pump you've got a really nice weekender with all the mod cons.
The cabin can be made secure thanks to a set of lockable teak doors and a small overhead hatch lets in extra light and ventilation. Being a walk-around design, all your anchoring is carried out from the foredeck, where a Muir winch and deep anchor locker take care of the business.
Conclusion
The Billfisher 720 is more than just a serious fishing and dive boat. It's a versatile blue water family cruiser that has the ability to handle any function. Naturally, the first call will be to fishos, but with the weekender package you have more than just a day boat.
The twin 4-stroke package has a number of benefits, especially in relationship to sterndrives. They make the whole rig lighter, therefore easy to tow, launch and retrieve, have the safety and reliability of twin engines and are more economical to run. The upside for the sterndrive option is they are probably easier to fish from.
The walkaround design may not appeal to everyone that is until you have experienced the Billfisher 720. Without loosing too much cabin space, the end result is a far more practical and very sensible layout, that gives you better overall use of space and means more areas aboard are workable. The closest analogy is runabouts v bowriders, where again the big difference is useable area.
This was one time that I can honestly say we gave the boat a serious test in conditions that you wouldn't be out in unless you had no choice. On all aspects the Billfisher 720 and the twin 4 stroke Yamaha 100s never failed and did what was asked of them. Together the two were an excellent match and are highly recommended for anyone contemplating a lot of offshore trolling.
I doubt I'll be writing a similar story in another 21 years, but if I do, I look forward to it being on a Buccaneer. Maybe I'll even make Mayor Island!

Buccaneer 720 Billfisher
Hull
Model Billfisher 720
Designer Gerry Gerrand
Material grp
Type walk-around
LOA 7.50m
LOH 7.20m
Beam 2.45m
Deadrise at Transom 21 degrees
Engine Capacity 150 hp -
Power Options Outboard or sterndrive
Fuel Capacity 345 litres
Manufacturer
Buccaneer Pleasure Craft Ltd, PO Box 10433 Te Rapa, Hamilton
Ph 07 849 7129, Fax 07 849 7389