Which Quintrex boat should I buy?

Quintrex dominates boat sales in Australia, which should come as no surprise given our obsession with fishing.

Quintrex is Australia’s best-selling boat brand. For the best part of a century, this pioneering trailer boat manufacturer has produced dozens of classic models from entry-level car-topper tinnies to coastal and offshore fishing rigs.

But what are the most popular, most in-demand Quintrex models? Here is a snapshot guide to the five most popular Quintrex models that people are hunting for right here on boatsales.

1. Quintrex Renegade

The Quintrex Renegade is one of the most popular boats in the current Quintrex line-up and the most searched-for Quintrex model on boatsales. This popularity might be because the Renegade range now encompasses three different configurations after it was launched some years ago as a specific side-console open fishing boat.

In today’s Quintrex Renegade range, there are tiller-steer open boats between 4.2 and 4.6 metres in length, side-console boats between 4.2 and 5.7 metres, and a full series of centre-console fishing models between 4.4 and 5.7 metres.

Each of these three configurations comes in standard and Pro designations, the latter Pro models being outfitted with additional gear and equipment.

All told, there are now 28 different Quintrex Renegade models to choose from across six model lengths.

Each of the Renegade open boats is fitted with the variable-deadrise Quintrex Blade pressed-aluminium hull bottom, and topped with smooth, ‘plate-look’ topsides and a conventional outboard well instead of a pod.

Renegades in the 4.4- to 4.9-metre size range are perfect for bay, impoundment, and coastal boating applications, whilst the largest Renegades are more than seaworthy enough to fish offshore.

Find your own Quintrex Renegade right here on boatsales.

2. Quintrex Fishabout

The original, flared-bow Quintrex Fishabout 14 (pictured, below) launched in the mid-1960s and proved to be a big seller for the then-emerging Quintrex brand.

The Fishabout is the original forward-steer, front windscreen runabout. Early models were outfitted with a just pair of cross-thwart seats (sometimes with plastic helm chairs on top), a fixed, deck-mounted windscreen, and no floor.

Despite being dropped from the Quintrex range for a decade or so during the early 2000s (re-emerging in 2013), the Fishabout has been an integral Quintrex model.

As noted, the first Fishabout launched with a single 4.3-metre (14ft) model, followed soon after by a 4.9-metre (16ft) boat. The larger model was not as successful or good. It really did not offer much more than a smaller boat, other than a bit more space.

Today, there are six different-sized Quintrex Fishabout models available in the standard and the higher specification Pro series.

Specific model sizes include 430, 450, 481, 500, 520 and 540.

Each model has a stylish, centre-opening curved windscreen mounted on a slightly raised front deck to create an elevated driving position for improved sightlines forward.

Behind a pair of swivelling pedestal helm chairs the carpeted plywood cockpit floor stretches back to a full-height transom, complete with a folding, removable padded bench seat.

Each of the Fishabout models suits a slightly different purpose. The smaller 430 and 450 Fishabouts are great for newcomers and downsizers, while the larger boats are more capable and more seaworthy to suit coastal offshore applications.

Find your own Quintrex Fishabout right here on boatsales.

3. Quintrex Busta

For more than a decade, the Quintrex 420 Busta has been the go-to Quintrex model for budget boaters. This classic tiller-steer open boat (like the Dory model before it) is the quintessential vee-bottom open alloy tinnie.

The Busta continues to be a very popular model, being sharply priced, yet better equipped than many of its rivals.

Early Busta models have two cross-thwart seats combined with a short carpeted casting platform, a front foredeck with bow rails and plastic anchor well, carpeted fuel tank racks, and cockpit side pockets.

In the latest models, the front alloy seat thwart has been swapped out for a full-size elevated casting deck and storage locker with a false floor.

There’s also the option now for a larger 440 series model, in addition to the original 4.2-metre boat. Both boats have similar wide-beam, high-sided, variable-deadrise Quintrex Blade hulls.

The two boats are built to handle bay chop and nearshore coastal waters with heavy-duty 3.0mm hull bottoms, topsides, and transoms.

Early models have clinker-panelled pressed-alloy topsides (as pictured, above), while the latest boats have the smooth, plate-look topsides to match the rest of the 2023 Quintrex line-up.

For maximum value for money in the Quintrex range, the Busta models are hard to beat.

Find your own Quintrex Busta right here on boatsales.

4. Quintrex Explorer

For more than two decades, small boat anglers have been using Quintrex Explorer V-nose barra boats to fish Australia’s myriad estuaries, impoundments, and backwaters.

The Explorer is another classic Quintrex model, more popular on boatsales than the more fancied, more expensive Hornet bass/barra boats.

Quintrex Explorers were simple, two-thwart, low-sided barra boats at launch, but the range quickly expanded to include models with flat floors, casting decks, pedestal seats, live fish wells – the works.

The Explorers were also ripe for customising; enthusiast (but budget-conscious) anglers outfitted base models with homemade rod racks, live bait tanks, bait cutting boards, and more.

The Quintrex Explorers continue to be very popular, the range now including everything from lightweight 3.5 to 3.7 metre-long car-toppers through to heavy-duty Explorer Pro and Trophy models up to a length of 4.4 metres with pickle-fork bows and outfitted for competition fishing.

Outback Explorer models come with substantially higher topsides and more freeboard than the standard models, plus more seating and storage space up forward due to the wider, forked bow configuration as opposed to the more rounded shape of the regular models.

All models are designed for tiller-steer outboards, albeit with an option for a side console on the largest, flat-floor models.

For smooth-water boating, fishing, and car topping, the Quintrex Explorers are ideal, rivalled only by the Quintrex Hornets and traditional Quintrex tinnies.

Find your own Quintrex Explorer right here on boatsales.

5. Quintrex Trident

At the recent 2023 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, I recall pulling up at the Surf Coast Marine stand to admire a 6.1-metre Quintrex Trident half cabin.

The 610 Trident is the smallest of the plate-alloy Quintrex Trident half-cabin models, but I was very impressed with the size and stature of the boat, along with the versatile interior layout and full-featured fit-out.

I was even more impressed when I took in the sticker price of just $89,975 sail away. That’s exceptional value for an offshore-capable 6.0-metre fishing rig.

Yes, this was a discounted boat show promo price, but great value, nevertheless. No wonder the Tridents are so popular on boatsales, and with anglers and families Australia-wide.

The Quintrex Tridents have been available for almost 10 years now, but they have been steadily upgraded and continually developed.

In the current Trident line-up, there are 610, 650, and 690 series models available.

Standard boats have a half cabin topped with a windscreen and overhead bimini.

For maximum weather protection – for wide offshore fishing and family overnighting – these same-size boats can be ordered with a solid aluminium hardtop with a full-height windshield and a semi-enclosed wheelhouse.

All models feature the Quintrex variable-deadrise, heavy-duty Blade hull, a welded, self-draining tread-plate alloy floor, a vee-berth front cabin, and a stack of fishing features and accessories.

Find your own Quintrex Trident right here on boatsales.

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