FG Boats Custom 9.7m Bill Plug Design

Introducing the FG Boats 'Black Boat", proudly presented by Swan Marine.

This isn't your average plate boat. This is a fully custom, one-of-a-kind FG Boats hardtop cruiser, finished in 2025 in WA by a seasoned aluminium boat builder with over 30 years of hands-on experience building high-end commercial and private vessels. It's not just built - it's crafted, and it shows. Every inch of this boat has been designed, refined, and finished with precision. It's a passion project, and it's bloody obvious the moment you step aboard.

Built on a tried-and-tested 8.8m (measure length) Bill Plug 20-degree hull, this rig has offshore pedigree. Everything from the gunnels up has been designed and fabricated in-house by FG Boats, whose resume includes time at Stabicraft in NZ, followed by decades of work in top-tier yards around the world before setting up shop in WA. These blokes really know how to build a boat, and it shows.

At 9.7m overall with a 2.7m beam, "Black Boat" is built like a tank. She's got 8mm bottom plates chines and transom, 5mm sides and frames, 4mm decks and cabin, and ¾ length planing strakes for better lift and fuel efficiency. It's powered by a single 400HP Mercury Verado with active trim and a stainless prop, with only sea trial hours on the clock. With 580L of fuel and 150L of fresh water, it's got serious range and economy, backed by the ride comfort of the 8mm hull.

This boat's been set up by a fisho who knows what works. Whether you're chasing marlin, deep dropping, or bottom bouncing, the onboard fishing setup is well layed out and thought through by a professional. It includes side-mount Bell Marine outriggers, twin 30A electric reel outlets, a massive under-deck kill tank, live well, a total of 15 rocket launchers, twin side pockets and storage everywhere you look. Twin 2kW transducers will let you find fish in the shallows or at bottom of the Mariana Trench and the bait station is a fisho's wet dream. With a full-width routed cutting board, built in live-bait tank, twin Plano tackle drawers and dive tank holders neatly tucked into the transom behind, it's obvious it's been designed by someone who's spent hours refining the setup.

Inside, it's all class. There's a full-size V-berth, electric toilet, diamond stitched vinyl trim, custom powder-coated storage, dimmable lighting and enough head room to stand up comfortably. The galley is better than most caravans with a stainless pie warmer, Dometic fridge draw, corrian benchtops, 10L 12/240V hot water system, additional slide-out bench top with integrated chopping board, constant flow fresh water supply and a stainless gas BBQ mounted on a custom rod holder tray.

The electronics fit-out is quite honestly nothing short of a work of art. The bridge includes a Simrad NSS12 evo3 plotter, Furuno FCV295 sounder with Markfish linkbox, Simrad NAC-1 autopilot, recessed adjustable helm and binnacle mount throttle. With all that gear, it's a good thing she's got the twin Roca wipers wish freshwater washers to help keep your eyes on the water. The JL Audio sound system will crank all day with a well-considered speaker and sub arrangement to keep the party going without deafening the skipper. The lighting setup is impeccably integrated with LED strips, underwater lights, colour-change rock lights, courtesy lights, twin forward-facing light bars, and dimmable cabin lights to have everything covered. This all powered by a large AGM house bank, Projecta DC-DC charger and a 400W slim-line solar panel on the roof.

Finished in Awlgrip gloss black with light grey topsides and fully faired and coved, the paintwork was outsourced to a company that typically only paints superyachts. Under foot, it's decked out in Marine Deck 2000 cork flooring throughout and has also been corked on the gunnel tops which adds to both her protection and presentation. The trim work is next level; diamond-stitched seating, gunnel bolsters and head linings, vinyl-covered dashtop and cabin panels with flush-mount stainless fittings, it's all been thought through. There's nothing you can pick out. No shortcuts. No rough edges. Every detail has been planned, considered, and executed to perfection. If you tried to spec this build yourself, you wouldn't get close to the level of detail that's gone into it.

"Black Boat" comes on a custom-built dual-axle 4.5t FG Boats aluminium trailer with boat catch, electric brakes, and a 70mm hitch.

This is a genuine one-of-a-kind vessel. There's nothing else like it, and it's ready to hit the water now. Whether you're chasing fish, going remote exploring or just want to own something that turns heads at the ramp, "Black Boat" delivers.

Contact Mike at Swan Marine on 0431 936 469 at mike@swanmarine. Com. Au or visit our website www. Swanmarine. Com. Au to arrange an inspection or for more information.