Fibreglass Alternative

The Age

Friday July 23, 1993

CHRISTOPHER de FRAGA

BERMUDA Sportsboats is part of the Marine Power group which is probably better known for its Mercury and Mariner outboard engine ranges and its range of Quicksilver products.

These include inflatable boats and the new Bermuda Sportboat range will sit on top of the Quicksilver range.

The first of the Bermuda Sportsboats is the Fishaway 455 Open, a fibreglass boat in one of the most popular size categories in the Australian market.

Aluminium dominates the construction material of boats in the Australian market's small-boat section. These aluminium boats tend to be rather creased in construction, the creases stiffening the hull panels.

The new Bermuda boat has a flat floor which runs the full length and beam of the cockpit. There is a central thwart as you might expect for use as a seat. At the transom are moulded quarter seats.

A useful point about the Bermuda model is that space under the quarter seats and the thwart can be used for storage. There is also a storage locker in the bow.

The hull is rated to carry five people and there is still room for some extra fishing or camping gear.

The quite tall, 50-centimetre-high transom requires the use of a longshaft outboard engine of up to 30 kW power. Half that is sufficient for reasonably swift performance.

The hull has a 200 kilogram mass, low enough for reasonable handling ashore and towing by a four-cylinder car. Bermuda boats claim the mass of its 455 Open is the same as that of an aluminium boat of a similar length.

The hull has a 4.55-metre length and a 2.04-metre beam. Its design includes a more flared bow shape than usual for a boat of this size which promises a slightly drier ride to fishing spots. At the transom, the deadrise is greater than that of an aluminium boat; this offers occupants a smoother ride through a chop. The Vee under the hull also helps the boat by providing a little extra grip when turning.

Probably best of all for fishermen is the quieter ambient noise level of a fibreglass boat compared with that of an alumninium craft when the boat is at anchor.

Marine Power says its Bermuda 455 hull can be topped either with the open-plan runabout or two alternatives.

One has a midlevel casting platform for dedicated fishermen and the other has a centre console.