08/08/2026
Number 5 – Seafarer Vagabond (Fry-era)
Anyone who has followed me for a length of time knows my deep love for all things Lindsey Fry-era Seafarers, and that I consider him one of the most important figures in changing how things were done in the land down under.
I’ve written before about these boats, so if you want more tech detail you might want to scroll back aways and read them too. This frees me up to be as gushy as I want without fear.
The Vagabond (and Victory, but more on that later) in my opinion was a groundbreaker for GRP boat design in Aus. Instead of using an American design, these hulls were a whole new kettle of fish, and Australia’s own first muscle boats. The Vagabond comes in at 5 and is pipped by its smaller sister due a few quirks but is no less a boat for it.
First, the build. These things were built seriously tough and with an eye for detail that at the time was unmatched. They still are barely matched. Although I’ve never been lucky enough to meet the man personally, I do know some people that worked for him during this period, and by all accounts that build quality was driven by a man who was determined to make the best at any cost. In workmanship, he succeeded ridiculously.
These things are tanks, and remain the best fishing platform I’ve ever owned. The double-chine design and weight hold the hull incredibly steady at rest. The fishing room is like a soccer field.
Straight up, they are not the softest riding boat out there, whether running twins as designed or a single. Not to say they are bad, but that’s not the secret trick of the hull. That trick is to be able to run utterly flat-out in less than perfect conditions, and never for a second worry about the strength and integrity of the hull, nor the safety. They are amazingly predictable, and beam on one of the very best.
I said they were a muscle boat, and the muscle they carry is pretty fu***ng impressive. All of the balance and buoyancy of the hull is in the stern with the centre of buoyancy being a third of the way forward from the stern. Those double or stepped chines work brilliantly running the nose a little high, keeping the tracking and movement of the hull without surprises.
Originally designed for twin 2-strokes, I’ve found across the many I’ve worked on and the one I owned that sticking to the twin setup allows the hull to perform at its best. The torque vector and balance from twins allows this hull to be what it is, which is a heavy, ‘f**k you I’m going flat out and the seastate be damned’ hull. A single works ok, it just doesn’t show the true potential this hull has.
It must be mentioned about the annoying habit of picking up a bow full of water and flicking it back at you through the clears in a following sea at trolling speeds. Not dangerous, but a touch irritating. They all do it. It’s the downside of have a steeply shear bow rather than a more traditional fine entry. You can’t avoid it, so give a shrug and accept that it’s worth it for what the hull can do otherwise. Running at speed downsea, there are few finer hulls than this.
The muscle in the water is a big contributor to this as well as it is so sternward, but it’s that muscle that allows you to do ridiculous things downsea and in a beam sea. They are not a delicate dancer like their little sister; they are a bulldozer in the best sense of the word. Throw them around like a toy, and you will be rewarded with a huge smile.
They were built to do it, so do it.
Remember in this review I’m talking about the Fry-era boats, not the current build. Save your money, by a Fry boat instead of a new one and put that extra cash into good electronics, good toys and fuel. You won’t need to budget a transom rebuild – there is so much glass in these things the little bit of ply is superfluous. Out of all I’ve worked on, I’ve not yet found one in need of a new transom.
Told you they were build properly.
A true legend of Australian boating, and a testament to what can be achieved when the builder takes the attention to detail to ridiculous lengths. I fu***ng love them.
