Bonito vs Galeforce vs Hooker

[Pond123]

Hi All, I am in the market for a new 5m CC. I have previously owned a 5.5M Galeforce (2010 model). It was a great boat and did everything I wanted it to. The fit out was slightly agricultural though and some things were not perfect - the rod lockers in the gunwhales rattled, the boat always had quite a lot of water in the bilge after every trip (it was a self draining deck and I could never find the ingress point), the fuel gauge did not work etc etc. These were minor points though and I loved the boat.

My question is, how do Galeforce, Hooker and Bonito compare? I think Galeys and Bonitos are the same hull - although the Bonito appears to be a bit longer. Is the hooker humm much different? And how does the build quality compare? I know Galeforce have new owners now and more advanced manufacturing processes - has anyone compared recent builds from these three manufacturers?

I live in VIC so kinda hoping for the QLD posse to chime in with local knowledge

[Noelm]

Can't say I know a lot about any of those brands, but, they are look kind of similar in intended use, maybe tending to appeal to the newer boater perhaps.

[Dignity]

I have a mate with the Bonito 5m CC and the build quality is very good. A leak developed in the fuel tank after about 2 years and Bonito replaced it no questions asked. Apparently they had had several replacements and very quickly changed supplier after that. They had to rip the floor up and replace it to do so but you wouldn't know even looking for where they did it. Sorry I know nothing of Galeforce nor Hooker.

[blacklab]

pppppppppppp

[Greg P]

Bonito has a new owner - seems to be going well, same with Galeforce and the quality of the Galeys has stepped up. Join the owners Facebook group for each and you can get some info directly from guys who have them or recently been through the process. I had a 5.5 galey - was a good boat. I am watching the new 6.6m Bonito build (old Cootacraft Big Ram mould) with interest.

[scottar]

Neighbour had a Galeforce until someone else needed it more than he did. Happy in general but wet and low sided in comparison to the US import he has now. Wayne Kampe was always a big proponent of Galeforce boats. Boss at work has a 5.5 centre console Bonito.........that he is going to have to refit because it sunk a few weeks ago while hanging off the back of a mothership. He has always had issues with the scuppers which coupled with a fit up "mistake" (IMO) and no bilge pump led to the sinking. It now has water within the stringer moldings that is going to require surgery to extract. Never had much to do with Hookers apart from oogling at boat shows but they are a similar style of "commercial" build from what I have seen.

[Kev_McC]

I’ve been looking into the same and to be honest, I’m sure I’d be happy with any of them for what I do which is 80% Barra/thread fin and the rest inshore and offshore. Have spent a fair bit of time in a Galey and less in the other two. They all seem to perform and none of them would have lasted this long if they were not decent hulls. Quality wise, you don’t hear from Hooker owners that have had any significant issues with the hull. They don’t come up for sale very often, and they don’t last long when they do.

Good advice above about joining the owners groups on FB a as this is where you’ll find discussions about things that need fixing and quirks of the boats, and you’ll definitely notice some trends. I also learned a lot from talking to a local fibreglassing business that specialises in repairs and refits.

A mate has a Pioneer 186 and it’s a fair step up from any of them. If I could find the same rig with a bit more freeboard (I have kids) then it would be hard to beat. They’re big and heavy compared to the Aus hulls and need the max horsepower, but the fish ability and build quality is unreal.

I’ve never been in one but the newish O’Brien 5.8 looks the goods and would be where I’d start if I could afford it. Again you’ll find more on FB than on the web.
The other serious contender is the Haines 543SF in a centre console.