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propellerBOAT TEST

The Bluefin range goes from acuddy model of around 5m, up to a7.69m hardtop, which has just

been released. While the Scorpion andBluefin names are owned by the samepeople, the boats of the two brandshave totally different handling charac-teristics, hull design and features.Bluefins are targeted more towards thefishing market. Where a lot of manu-facturers are promoting the overnightand weekend capabilities of their boats,the company is paying more attention

Bluefin 620 Hardtop

Freddy Foote

Winning Bluey

The Bluefin620 HT is apracticalfishing boat.

Bluefin is the sister brand to Scorpion,and both are manufactured andmarketed by Sportcraft Boats throughtheir branches in Morrinsville andTauranga. Freddy Foote went to asunny Tauranga and tested one of thesmaller Bluefin hardtops, the 620.

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to the fishing and diving aspects of theboats, making sure there is plenty ofroom for such pursuits.“Generally our buyers of a Bluefin areguys who are looking for a well pricedboat that will do what they want it todo without being over the top. Theywant a nice solid boat, strong andpractical for their application, but theydon’t want to spend a whole heap ofdollars either,” says Glenn Haack ofSportcraft Boats.“We have tried to make the Bluefinwhat we call a user friendly boat,where it is easy to use, and has thefeatures that people need.”Sales of the Bluefin range have been goodto date, and this year Sportcraft Boatswants to push the brand even more.

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Left: TheMercurypushed the620 to 41.0mph.

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Top: Inside thehardtop thereis plenty ofheadroom andit keeps youwell protectedfrom theelements.

Right: Plentyof storage inthe sidepockets.

Fisher FriendlyThe overall layout is one that is tidy,practical and well finished. Forward inwhat is a very small cabin, space wasminimal. Storage was availableunderneath the squabs and in sideshelves, and access to the anchor wellis via the deck hatch. However, I’d beinclined to install a helm operatedwinch. The cabin was fully lined withcarpet and gave it a warm feel, and twoadults could sit in there if need be, butreally, how much time do you actuallyspend in there? Practically zero, so it’san ideal place for gear storage.The helm area was finished well, withthe carpeting from the cabin carryingon through, and really giving the wholearea a nice look. The dash had plenty ofroom for gauges and additionalelectronics if need be, and above thedash there was even more room thatwould allow you to fix mount variousinstruments on brackets. The benefit ofthis is that if your boat isn’t storedentirely securely you are able to removethe units when not in use.A light is fitted to the roof of the helm– ideal for night-time fishing.On the boat tested, the seatingarrangement was made up of twin fix-

mounted pedestal seats with storagespace underneath. This is only one ofmany seating options available; youcould opt for a king/queen set-up if youdesire.Additional seating is available in the aftcorners, but with three of us out on theboat on test day, we all mainly stood,utilising the hand rails above on theroof. I would have liked to have seenmore handrails, perhaps one forward ofthe passenger seat, and one mountedonto each side of the cockpit. The hardtop was nicely finished and isfitted with a rocket launcher foradditional rod storage. The roof sectionoverhangs the windscreen slightlywhich aesthetically looks quite good,and does provide a little bit of extra sunprotection. Water collected on the roof,is caught and passes down through twointernal pipes and drains over the side;a deflection plate is mounted on eachside, sending the water over thegunwales and not into the cockpit.The cockpit area was ideally set up forfishing. There is plenty of room for atleast four to fish comfortably. Four rodholders were positioned in the topdecks, two on each side, and additionalrod storage is available by using the

extra long side pockets, that would beable to accommodate gaffs, boat hooks,oars and dive bottles – pretty muchmost things really.The tread plate floor is fully sealed andthis is where the boat gets its buoyancyfrom. A larger built-in fuel tank can beinstalled aft, where it is bolted to thefloor. Our test boat was fitted with totetanks, which were easily storedunderneath the aft shelf.Also aft, a bait board is fitted, and onthe transom itself there was space to fita burley pot if you wanted to.A fairly basic boarding ladder is fitted,and if you’re a diver you would be ableto up-spec this if you wantedsomething a little bit better. Boardingthe boat would be easy, as there is areasonably sized boarding platformthat is a feature of all Bluefins, and ahandrail is within easy reach as well.

Soft RiderI liked the driving position, it was quitecomfortable to stand and drive, whichis what I tend to do in most boats ifpossible. The throttle control was wellpositioned, and I had a clear view outthrough the windscreen and the sidewindows.We did some speed runs on Tauranga’sinner harbour and in the flat conditionsmanaged to get a top speed of 41.0mph@ 5200rpm, powered by a Mercury115hp two-stroke.This is the standard engine package forthe 620, and is what most of them aresold with. I felt this engine was aperfect match for the boat andprovided plenty of speed andperformance. Perhaps if you are intogame fishing and you wanted to savesome money on your fuel bill, theneither a direct-injected two-stroke ora four-stroke would be a good option.Glenn told me that the game fish wereright in close this season, and he hadlanded a good 114kg marlin in asimilar boat only a few weekspreviously.Venturing out into the outer harbourpast Mt Maunganui, there was a gentleswell rolling through, which the 620handled with ease. I took the boat in anumber of directions, such as runninginto a following sea, oncoming,quartering and crossing, and it handledit all very well. Some might say that trimtabs are a must on a hardtop, which in alot of cases is quite true, particularly insmaller models. However, the boatwasn’t really doing anything that wouldmake me want to install some.The ride was soft and hull noise veryquiet, with no rattling or banging feltthrough the boat as we came off thewaves. A little bit of spray was takenonto the windscreen, mainly whippedup by the direction of the wind and the

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Top: The builtin boardingplatformcomes with aboardingladder.

Left: Plenty ofroom aft tostore totetanks.

Bluefin 620Hardtop

direction we were travelling.Engine noise heard at the helm wasfairly minimal; three of us were able totalk to each other without excessiveshouting.In the conditions we experiencedaround Mt Maunganui, I found that likemost boats the 620 worked well ataround 30mph giving a comfortableride for all aboard.The Bluefin 620 Hardtop certainly doesprovide an excellent way to get out onthe water for someone with a limitedbudget. Look at the price – $41,750 astested. Packages start from $39,750,and the boat comes with pretty mucheverything that you would need to getout on the water with a few mates, orthe family to go fishing.It’s an easily handled boat as well, it

can be launched single-handed or withtwo people, and with its towing weightof around 1200kg, it’s also a boat thatis easily towed by a large family sedan.Value for money, it’s a hard package toowalk away from.Destinations will also not be limited.For boating in the Bay of Plenty, Mayorand Motiti Islands are well within reachand it is a boat I would also becomfortable taking even further out ifneed be.The Base One fishing tournamentstarted on the morning I arrived inTauranga, with hot fishing actionreported out at Mayor and MotitiIslands, I was wishing I had brought myfishing gear with me. However, Glennsays there is always next time, an offerI will be taking him up on!

Model: Bluefin 620 Hardtop

Price as Tested: $41,750Designer: Bluefin BoatsMaterial: AluminiumType: HardtopLOA: 6.20mLOH: 5.80mBeam: 2.23Deadrise: 17 degreesHull Configuration: MonohullTrailerable Weight: 1200kgHeight on Trailer: 2.75Engine Capacity: 90-115Power Options: OutboardFuel Capacity: Optional 80L Performance800 rpm 3.0mph1000rpm 4.5mph1500rpm 5.5mph2000rpm 7.0mph2500rpm 9.0mph3000rpm 20.0mph3500rpm 24.5mph4000rpm 28.0mph4500rpm 30.5mph5000rpm 34.0mph5200rpm 41.0mphSpeeds recorded on a Lowrance GPS and rounded off to the nearest 1/2mphNotable Standard EquipmentBaitboard, boarding ladder, rodholders, hardtop light, side pocketrod storage, Navman VHF, NavmanFishfinder, lined cabin.Notable Options on test BoatPainted hull, hardtop paintEngineMake: MercuryModel: 115 ELPTOHorsepower: 115Cyl. Type: In-line 4Max rpm: 5250Propeller: 20” Laser IIRetail Price: $13,969TrailerMake: SportlineModel: Multi rollerBraked: NoRollers: YesStd Equipment: Wind up jockey

wheelRetail Price: $3750Manufacturer: Bluefin BoatsBoat Supplied by:Sportcraft Boats LtdTauranga Ph 07 928 7193Email: sportcraftboats@clear.net.nzMorrinsville Ph 07 889 7193Email: sportcraftboats@xtra.co.nz

FOR OTHER QUOTES

Go to our calculatorwww.getaboat.co.nz

Or call0800 GET A BOAT(0800 438 226)

Normal Toyota Financial Services lending criteria apply.Interest rates are subject to change without notice.

own a

BluefinEXAMPLE BASED ON

Purchase Price incl GST $41,750

Deposit $9,000

Balloon $8,300

Monthly Payment $600

Term 60 mths

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