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The Haines Hunter 545R is a compact bowrider built in moulded fibreglass by Haines Hunter of Australia, a builder trading since 1959. On our measurements it works out at roughly 17 ft 11 in (5.45 m) of hull with a beam near 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m), which places it squarely in the trailerable family bowrider class: one vehicle, one trailer, one afternoon of prep, and the boat is in the water. Australia's most respected fibreglass hull, now offered in true bowrider layouts.
Layout is classic bowrider and that is the whole point of the boat. Twin lounges run forward of the windscreen with a walk-through to the anchor well, the helm and companion seats sit amidships behind a wrap screen, and a full-width lounge spans the transom for sunbathing and socialising. Around 9 people fit aboard comfortably in sheltered water. Cushions lift out, backrests fold and filler pads convert the cockpit from a conversation pit into one long sun bed in a couple of minutes.
Underway the 545R behaves the way a well-sorted compact bowrider should. It comes onto the plane early, holds a low tow speed without wallowing and tracks flat through a hard turn instead of skating out. In short chop you slow down and let the hull do the work, and it stays surprisingly dry for the size.
Power is a 110-165 hp petrol stern drive package, and that suits both the hull and the way these boats are used. A stern drive keeps the transom clean and the engine low in the hull, which lowers the centre of gravity and gives that quiet, torquey feel off the mark that skiers appreciate.
Watersports are well covered. A tow point is standard on almost every boat in this class, and Haines Hunter owners regularly add a pylon or a folding tower for wakeboarding. A modest stern drive package pulls a slalom skier out of the water cleanly and tows children on an inflatable biscuit all day without protest. Skis, ropes and vests live in the under-floor and under-seat lockers so nothing sits underfoot while the boat is loaded.
Anglers do well out of the 545R. The bow converts to a casting deck once the cushions are stowed, there is room to swing a rod without hitting the screen, and lockers swallow tackle, nets and a cooler. It is not a dedicated fishing boat, but it catches fish and it still takes the family out the next morning — which is the entire argument for owning a bowrider.
Build and finish sit where you would expect for a luxury boat from Australia. Haines Hunter hulls are the benchmark for offshore ride quality in Australia, and the brand's reputation was built on serious deep-V designs that handle open ocean far better than their length suggests. In recent years Haines Hunter has brought that hull engineering to family-focused layouts, with bowrider and sports models such as the 545R, 585R and the SF and SS ranges offering forward seating, convertible cushions, walk-through screens and premium fit-out on top of a genuinely offshore-capable bottom. Deadrise is high, entries are fine and the boats stay dry and planted when conditions turn — the reason so many owners keep buying the brand for decades. Build quality is excellent, prices are firmly premium, and resale is among the strongest of any boat brand in Australia, with well-kept older hulls still fetching remarkable money. For families who want bowrider comfort and sociability without giving up the ability to cross a bar or fish wide, Haines Hunter is the aspirational choice.
Options worth having on the 545R are the practical ones: a bimini for shade, a decent bow and cockpit cover so the upholstery survives being stored outside, an upgraded sounder if you fish, and a stereo package that can be heard over the engine. On fibreglass, a ceramic coat or a good polish once a season keeps the gelcoat looking new and protects resale.
As a used buy, check the same things you would on any bowrider in this size band: transom firmness, stringer and floor soundness, hours and service history on the engine, steering and trim function, and the state of the upholstery seams, which are the first thing to fail on a boat that lives uncovered. Boats from this builder hold their money well, so a tidy example will not be cheap, and that is usually a sign you are buying the right one.
Our price guide for the 545R is US$61,000 - US$80,000 new, which moves with engine choice, trailer, tower and how recently the boat was refreshed. Judged as a whole, it does what people buy a bowrider for: cruise, tow, swim, fish and entertain in one boat, without asking the family to compromise on any of them. Haines Hunter has been refining that formula since 1959, and the 545R is a straightforward, well-judged expression of it.
The world's best selling bowrider size, Light, simple and easy to tow.
US$38,000 - US$52,000 new
The refined mainstream benchmark: quiet, dry, and beautifully finished for the money.
US$72,000 - US$95,000 new
A premium 25-foot bowrider renowned for its deep seating, convertible lounges, refined ride and exceptional finish.
US$155,000 - US$210,000 new
Featured Boat of the Week
This week we are putting the Bayliner Bayliner DX2000 in the spotlight, and it earns the spot. At 20 ft 2 in (6.16 m) long on a 8 ft (2.44 m) beam, this is a bowrider that reads the water well and still feels roomy enough for a full day out. A 20-foot deck-boat-width bowrider with outboard power and a huge social cockpit. Power comes from 115-150 hp mercury fourstroke outboard through a outboard package, and the fibreglass hull keeps the ride settled when the afternoon breeze puts a chop on the surface.
Seating is rated for 8 people, so there is space for family, friends, towels, eskies and the tow rope without anyone climbing over gear. Owners tend to buy it for family, water ski, leisure — which is exactly where it shines. Fuel is 30 us gal (114 l), and on the second-hand and new market you should expect to land somewhere around US$42,000 - US$58,000 new depending on hours, trailer and options.
Our full deep dive covers the layout in detail: bow lounge comfort, helm ergonomics, the rear entertaining area, storage that actually swallows a weekend, plus standard features, popular options and honest notes on where the boat compromises. If the Bayliner DX2000 is on your shortlist, start there — and check back next week, because the featured boat changes every week as we complete more full model reviews.
Featured Bowrider Article
On the Water
Bowriders are among the easiest boats to learn on. They plane readily, turn predictably and respond well to trim. Most beginner difficulty happens at the ramp and the dock rather than out on the water, so those are the skills worth practising first. Prepare away from the ramp: fit the drain plug, remove tie-downs, load gear, connect the battery, raise the drive or outboard and lower the cover. Then back down in one steady movement, keeping the tow vehicle's rear wheels out of the water where possible. Float the boat off with a bow line held, start the engine only once the drive is deep enough for cooling water, then move clear of the ramp before sorting anything else out. Ramp courtesy is simple: everything you can do in the car park, do in the car park. To plane, trim the drive fully down, apply throttle firmly, and hold it as the bow rises and then settles. Once the boat levels out, ease the throttle back to cruise and trim the drive up gradually. You will feel the boat lighten, the rpm rise slightly and the speed increase for the same throttle. Too much trim makes the bow bounce or the prop ventilate; too little…
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