SUMMER 2009/2010
The latest edition of Modern Boating magazine is out now! To get your copy delivered to your door, simply click on the link
The latest edition of Modern Boating magazine is out now! To get your copy delivered to your door, simply click on the link
Modern Boating and Big Hat Productions head out for a glorious day on the water to give the Seawind 1160...
Soft rider
This particular southern invention is rapidly spreading north because it's a darn good idea, albeit only for some styles of fishing. But there it is; you can carry a heap of rigged rods in this boat.
Inside the cockpit/fishing area, Evolution has gone to some lengths to ensure your toes go under the sides all the way around.
Awkward helm ergonomics are another of my pet bitches. In this boat, the bimini is mounted high enough to stand up underneath and the helm seat is on a slide so it can be quickly shoved back out of the way to stand at the wheel if necessary. If you're going to use this boat a lot on rough water or for bar crossings, I would suggest fitting a beefy grab bar to reinforce the windscreen frame.
The walkthrough to the bows is high enough to support you while anchoring. The set-up of anchor well, fairlead and low rail is spot-on. A solid cleat is neatly mounted underneath the hatch. Stowage space below the foredeck is accessible either from the helm area or through access ports in the walkthrough.
Deep bucket seats leave you seated in all bar the roughest weather.
FISH, FOOD AND DRINK
Now for another pleasant surprise?when Paul offered me a cold drink, he opened a hatch between the seats to reveal a below decks icebox. In addition to which, a central hatch aft lifts to reveal a fish box, actually a Nally-style tub that can be lifted out for cleaning.
read on below advertisement
An upholstered pad across the aft bulkhead is standard in this boat, as are lockers inside the bulkhead itself to stow batteries and oil bottles away. The bait wells each side of the covering board and workbench are also standard.
A rear lounge, upholstery for the cockpit sides and a tow pole are all optional in the Evolution Sportsfisher model, though they're supplied as standard in the Santa Fe model built over the same hull. In that one, the workstation is optional. A stainless steel berley bucket is optional for either.
The attention to detail and standard of finish throughout the boat is exceptional. I liked little things like the way both seats swivel 180 degrees without catching on anything; every fitting on the boat is through-bolted with nyloc nuts; and every 'glass edge is hand-radiused. Small details? Yes, but good indications of just how well this boat is built, and of the underlying philosophy of perhaps the most exciting new boat on the Australian small boat scene in quite a while.
Five-metre boats?and remember we build some of the best 5m hulls in the world right here in Australia?just don't get any better than this.
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Inside the cockpit/fishing area, Evolution has gone to some lengths to ensure your toes go under the sides all the way around.
Awkward helm ergonomics are another of my pet bitches. In this boat, the bimini is mounted high enough to stand up underneath and the helm seat is on a slide so it can be quickly shoved back out of the way to stand at the wheel if necessary. If you're going to use this boat a lot on rough water or for bar crossings, I would suggest fitting a beefy grab bar to reinforce the windscreen frame.
The walkthrough to the bows is high enough to support you while anchoring. The set-up of anchor well, fairlead and low rail is spot-on. A solid cleat is neatly mounted underneath the hatch. Stowage space below the foredeck is accessible either from the helm area or through access ports in the walkthrough.
Deep bucket seats leave you seated in all bar the roughest weather.
FISH, FOOD AND DRINK
Now for another pleasant surprise?when Paul offered me a cold drink, he opened a hatch between the seats to reveal a below decks icebox. In addition to which, a central hatch aft lifts to reveal a fish box, actually a Nally-style tub that can be lifted out for cleaning.
read on below advertisement
An upholstered pad across the aft bulkhead is standard in this boat, as are lockers inside the bulkhead itself to stow batteries and oil bottles away. The bait wells each side of the covering board and workbench are also standard.
A rear lounge, upholstery for the cockpit sides and a tow pole are all optional in the Evolution Sportsfisher model, though they're supplied as standard in the Santa Fe model built over the same hull. In that one, the workstation is optional. A stainless steel berley bucket is optional for either.
The attention to detail and standard of finish throughout the boat is exceptional. I liked little things like the way both seats swivel 180 degrees without catching on anything; every fitting on the boat is through-bolted with nyloc nuts; and every 'glass edge is hand-radiused. Small details? Yes, but good indications of just how well this boat is built, and of the underlying philosophy of perhaps the most exciting new boat on the Australian small boat scene in quite a while.
Five-metre boats?and remember we build some of the best 5m hulls in the world right here in Australia?just don't get any better than this.
next page »
« go back
