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The Haines Hunter 585R is a mid-size bowrider built in moulded fibreglass by Haines Hunter of Australia, a builder trading since 1959. On our measurements it works out at roughly 19 ft 2 in (5.85 m) of hull with a beam near 8 ft 3 in (2.52 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 10 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.
The ride is what most owners talk about first. Deadrise through the forward sections knocks the top off bay chop, the running surface aft keeps the boat stable at rest, and the hull sits level when six people crowd one side to watch a skier. Inside the bay it feels planted and predictable, which is exactly what a family boat needs.
Power is a 130-195 hp four-stroke outboard package, and that suits both the hull and the way these boats are used. Keeping the machinery outside the hull frees up stern storage, simplifies servicing and removes the bellows and gimbal wear items that punish neglected stern drive boats. It also lifts the swim platform clear of the exhaust.
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 healthy outboard 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 585R. 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 585R 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 585R is US$71,000 - US$94,000 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 585R 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
Ownership
Shade is the single upgrade that most extends a day on a bowrider. Without it, the crew rotates through the only shadow on board and everyone is finished by early afternoon; with it, the boat becomes a floating verandah and you stay out until the light goes. Bowriders have three broad shade families — the centre bimini, tower and hard-top shade, and the convertible bow shade over the front lounge — and most well-set-up boats end up with two of them. The standard bimini is a folding fabric top on stainless or aluminium bows, mounted amidships so it shades the helm and the passenger seat, and usually part of the rear lounge as well. It is the cheapest, lightest and most universal option, it folds flat into a boot when you want open sky, and it can be raised or dropped by one person in under a minute. Choose acrylic canvas over cheaper polyester if you can: it holds colour, resists mildew and lasts far longer in strong sun. Look at the geometry rather than just the size — a three-bow top gives a shorter shaded footprint than a four-bow, and a top mounted too low will interfere with the windscreen or force taller passengers…
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