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Fishing | Boating | Exploring
4.28m Sea Jay Bay Seeker Parked

Sea Jay 4.28m Bay Seeker – Reviewed

Excited for Summer? Well, if you are in the market for a quality new boat, but you are on a tight budget. It is time to get super excited !! Introducing the 4.28 Bay Seeker from Sea Jay. This runabout is sure to turn a few heads. Especially for people who are budget conscious and who are looking for a balanced boating option. Suitable for both fishing and family days out.

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Introducing the Sea Jay 4.28m Bay Seeker

Set The Scene

Built upon Sea Jay’s ever popular adrenalin hull, the performance of the 4.28 Bay Seeker is impressive. Offering great stability and the ability to handle those choppy conditions which can sometimes turn a great days fishing or family day out on the water into a wet ride home.

The 4.28 Bay Seeker’s adrenalin hull has 3mm bottoms and 2.5mm sides and is built with 8 floor ribs providing the strength by which Sea Jay boats are renown. Once you cast your eye over the quality of the welds on this boat or any Sea Jay boat for that matter. You quickly come to appreciate the level of workmanship that goes into Sea Jay boats.

The Sea Jay 4.28 Bay Seeker has loads of space
Plenty of Room in This Tidy Package

Plenty Of Room

The Bay Seeker’s hull is comfortably beamy at 2.08m, but it is the design of the famous adrenaline hull which will grab people’s attention. The adrenaline hull provides a slightly deeper V which in turn provides for sharper entry into the water. Allowing the Bay Seeker to slice through choppy water with ease and provides good control while turning. The adrenaline hull design also provides a slightly wider beam which in turn provides extra stability.

The 4.28 Bay Seeker comes standard with a host of features. Including 2 fully upholstered bucket swivel seats and 2 corner transom seats. There is a split windscreen with centre opening which allows for simple access to the anchor well and bollard tie off point.

There are 4 rod holders, 2 side pockets a glove box with 2 drink holders and the list goes on and on. As per usual I am going to gloss over the tech and specs of this boat and instead concentrate upon the practical aspects of the 4.28 Bay Seeker.

However, before I get into the practical aspects of this boat, if you are into your techs and specs. Then you are best visiting http://www.seajayboats.com.au/ to find these.

The Sea Jay 4.28m Bay Seeker on the move
Rated to 50hp which pushed the Bay Seeker along nicely.

On Water

The Sea Jay 4.28 Bay Seeker is rated to a maximum of 50hp and on testing day we had a shiny new model Honda BF50 fitted. The BF50 had no problems in lifting the Bay Seeker out of the hole and getting it onto the plane. Cornering, figure eights and tight turns at speed all feel a little different in a forward driving position when compared to a more centrally positioned side or centre console.

In truth it does take a bit of getting used to and weight distribution is very important. On testing day, besides having two people sitting in the forward driving and passenger positions, conservatively 200kg. We had no extra weight in the boat, this meant that the boat felt slightly uneven when negotiating tight corners and we really had to ease up on the throttle while turning to keep the ride smooth.

However, once one of us moved closer to the transom to balance the weight more evenly this problem was removed. For everyday use, with a more even load such as more fuel, fishing tackle and an esky etc sitting towards the transom I am confident that this issue would be sufficiently mitigated.

Sea Jay 4.28m Bay Seeker with lots of open deck space
Loads of space for an esky and fishing gear.
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The Ride

While we had relatively calm conditions on testing day. We did manage to drive the Bay Seeker hard through the wake of other boats to see how dry and smooth the ride was. No matter how hard I tried I could not get enough water to splash up and into the boat to warrant mentioning it. The adrenaline hull sliced through the wake providing as gentle a ride as you would expect from an aluminium boat of this size. Whatever spray did kick up, was blocked by the windscreen ensuring both the driver and passenger enjoyed a dry ride.

It is also important to note, just who this boat is aimed at. Here in Hervey Bay, whenever I head out for a session of fishing, I always pass a few anchored runabouts sitting close to the harbour with rods set. Bait fishing for whiting, bream or flathead across the shallow flats while a couple of our older generation sit side by side. Undoubtedly debating the problems with millennials or maybe just the performance of the Australian cricket team.

forward view from the sea jay 4.28m bay seeker
Simple, functional and comfortable.
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The above statement is probably a bit generalist, but in my mind the 4.28 Bay Seeker screams relaxed, gentle boating from point A to point B. Along with enough comfort and room to just sit back and talk while you sink a bait hoping for dinner to jump on your line.

I can also see in my mind a family who does not head out boating every weekend. But, just occasionally, pulling up to their favourite white sandy beach, hoping out, and letting the kids run. Hassle free and with plenty of room to carry all the necessities for keeping the family comfortable.

rear seating and functional stowage for the sea jay 4.28m bay seeker
Folding rear seats make easy access to those important items.

Standout Feature

More than occasionally as I cruise past these same anchored up runabouts, I have noticed an elderly gentleman, laying down having a quiet nap across the floor. Now, I am not suggesting that you simply buy this boat so that you have a suitable place to hide from your other half and take a nap. But rather I would like to highlight the generous amount of deck space offered with the 4.28 Bay Seeker.

I come in a shy over 180cm and had no problem lying down on the deck. So, for either the elderly gentlemen seeking a suitable place for a nap or probably from a more practical approach. Those seeking a boat with plenty of room to carry gear. The Bay Seeker certainly ticks that box. For items which require more protection from the elements, there is undercover storage available forward and under the driver’s console.

the sea jay 4.28m bay seeker sitting pretty on the trailer
Sleek with nice lines both in and out of the water.

Stability

The stability offered by the Bay Seeker, care of the adrenaline hull is certainly a standout feature. When I consider boat stability, I automatically think of it from a safety perspective. As a father of two young boys I am acutely aware of the challenges of keeping kids safe while boating. Having two boys rush from one side of the boat to the other to see something exciting. Or, having to negotiate unexpected waves and swell side on while driving a boat can be nerve racking. The Bay Seekers adrenaline hull provides great stability which will help alleviate some of those nerves.

My Final Thoughts

My final thoughts on the 4.28 Bay Seeker from Sea Jay. This is not a boat for thrill seekers. It is not going to break high speed records, yet it has enough grunt to tow a tube for a little family fun. Nor is it built to head offshore to tackle beasts of the deep. Instead it is better suited to chasing bread and butter species in a bay or estuary. The 4.28 Bay Seeker from Sea Jay is exactly what it says it is. A tough, well-built runabout, designed for seeking family adventure or dinner within your local bay, river or estuary.

And the best thing is, you won’t need a second mortgage to afford it.

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