QUINTREX 610 FISHABOUT – REVIEW

The new Quintrex 610 Fishabout Cuddy Cabin boosts Quintrex Fishabout range to eight affordable fishing boats with real ability
The Quintrex Fishabout series has been expanded with two new models – the 570 runabout and 610 cuddy cabin. The latter, the flagship of the range is a tough, big volume boat with a huge rear cockpit and proven Quintrex Blade flared bottom hull. Rigged with the maximum power Evinrude E-TEC 200hp two-stroke outboard this family fishing boat is stunningly fast to suit a range of tow sports and fishing activities.

 

QUINTREX 610 FISHABOUT OVERVIEW

– Quintrex adds cuddy cabin flagship to Fishabout runabout range
Earlier this year, Quintrex added two new models to the top end of its Fishabout runabout range. They included the 570 runabout and 610 cuddy cabin. There are now eight models to choose from, ranging from 4.3 to 6.1m in length. All but the new flagship model have a traditional forward windscreen, forward helm runabout configuration.

The new 610 Fishabout is a cuddy cabin, although it is arguably best described as a “shelter” cabin. While the deck is raised, there is not a whole lot of headroom underneath, and the cabin has short side bench seats rather then cabin berths.

The layout is quite clever though. The elevated cab/deck provides an excellent seating and storage area that is quite easy to access. The raised cab also lifts the height of the helm and windscreen so that the skipper can comfortably stand and drive the boat whilst remaining sheltered from the weather.

QUINTREX 610 FISHABOUT PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

– Great value base package with plenty of options to customise
The Fishabouts are the entry or base models in the vast Quintrex boat range. They don’t have all of the included gear of the similar configuration Lazeabout models, for example, but having a base level fit-out drops the package price to within range of more people. The boat can then be outfitted as time and funds permit.

Having made the above observation, there are loads of options for the Fishabout model so you don’t have to stick with the bare-as-bones entry model. When ordering your new boat you will be able to cast you eye down the enormous list of options and then pick and choose only the gear you want. With the Fishabouts, you don’t end up paying for stuff you don’t need.

The cost savings are evident in the BMT package pricing. With a 150hp Evinrude E-TEC G2 on the transom you can nab a 610 Fishabout package for around $56k.

The 175 Evinrude E-TEC is not the entry size outboard either. You can expect 40-42 knot performance with heaps of low-down grunt with this boat/engine combination.

The point I am making is that you can save more dollars by dropping the size of the outboard further.

What do you get for your money? Well, it might be an entry model, but the 610 Fishabout still comes with some good gear — including the elevated cabin/helm with centre opening; curved windscreen; cabin storage bench seats; glove box; deluxe pedestal helm chairs; a large, deep, carpet-over-plywood rear cockpit; cockpit side pockets; folding, padded rear bench seat; short bow and stern rails; bow cleat and stern bollards; a couple of rod holders and drink holders; hydraulic steering; dual bilge pumps; and an elevated rear battery platform.

Our test boat was rigged with some of the many available options which lift the package price to $64,150. The upgrades included a larger, 200hp Evinrude E-TEC G2 extra-longshaft (25”) DFI two-stroke outboard, overhead Bimini with envelope, Lowrance Elite-9Ti GPS/fish finder, deluxe seats, maxi-bracket transom, in-deck live bait tank, transom door, and a boarding ladder.

QUINTREX 610 FISHABOUT INTERIOR LAYOUT

– Big volume interior with a large cockpit, cabin shelter and storage space
The Fishabout’s interior layout and design is simple but practical. As noted the cabin is short and quite compact. There is not a lot of headroom but you can sit on the wide, carpet covered bench seats which are 1.48m long.

At this size they are far too short for adults, but small children should be able to stretch out for a nap comfortably enough, especially if you purchase the optional vinyl upholstered cushions.

Safety gear storage bins are located beneath the seats, while wide, flat platforms encircle the cabin interior, above each bench seat. These platforms don’t appear to be all that useful at first glance, but if you secured some mesh netting to the outside of each platform and stretched it to the ceiling you would create two additional storage areas.

The 610 Fishabout can be optioned with an electric anchor winch, operated from the helm, but should you prefer to save your money and drop the anchor manually, you’ll find the clear forward cabin hatch provides easy access to the bow and the deep, open anchor well.

At a pinch you could also climb out through the windscreen as the centre pane of the nicely curved windscreen opens out to provide ventilation and to open up the standing space before the dash and helm area.

Sticking with the clean, simple, practical theme, the layout of the helm, dash and fascia is unremarkable but functional. The steering wheel and side-mount throttle are nicely positioned and there is space for engine instruments and switch panels on the fascia.

There is provision for electronics displays to be bracket-mounted on the dash above the steering wheel… or over on the port side in front of the passenger seat, above the lockable glove box.

The helm and forward passenger/co-pilot chairs are comfortable, hip and back supporting bucket chairs mounted on pedestals. The helm chair swivels, slides forward and aft, and has a front bolster cushion which flips up to provide extra standing room space.

For the skipper the helm position is excellent. We found it more comfortable than in some craft costing double the price. With the helm chair in the forward position you can sit right back in the seat with full back support, and still comfortably reach the steering wheel and throttle.

In the rear cockpit of standard Fishabout models there is additional seating in the form of a full width, folding bench seat. Our test rig was optioned with a starboard side transom door and three-quarter width folding seat.

Both the full width seat and three-quarter width bench can be removed for serious fishing trips. They do fold-down to the floor, but they don’t sit flush with the transom and may still get in the road when fishing over the stern.

Behind the rear bench seat there is an elevated battery platform, while full-length elevated side-storage pockets flank the cockpit — which is more than big enough for three or four anglers at 2.78m long overall, and 173m aft of the helm chairs.

Other features include the optional, and modest sized transom corner live-bait tank, 275mm wide side coamings, big stern bollards, welded stern rails, bilge access compartments, and external transom boarding platforms with optional ladder.

ON THE WATER
– Soft ride with stunning power and performance from Evinrude E-TEC G2
The Quintrex Blade hull is an evolution of the original 1999 Quintrex Millennium hull, fine-turned over the years to deliver a comfortable, dry ride with excellent stability. The design is now well proven and it works well underneath the 610 Fishabout.

We tested the Fishabout alongside its big brother in the Quintrex range, the Yellowfin 7600, and it performed admirably in rough conditions against the much bigger boat. We found it comfortable, very dry, stable, responsive to trim and well balanced.

As noted earlier, the Fishabout was also very fast, achieving a top speed of 47 knots with the big V6 225hp Evinrude E-TEC G2 on the transom. Unsurprisingly it was brutal quick from a standing start and very snappy, punchy through the middle rpm range.

Given the stunning speed and performance of the test boat with the maximum power outboard, we believe you could easily throttle back to a 130hp-150hp engine. The latter would probably give you the best price to performance ratio, as the test boat would likely still run to a mid-30-knot top speed.

Just for the fun of it we blasted around the bay for a bit at full throttle before easing the Evinrude back down to find the most economical cruise speed. Throttling back to 3000rpm yielded a speed of 22.5 knots, a fuel burn of 20.0l/ph and a maximum range on the standard (and rather small) 120lt fuel tank of 128.25nm.

VERDICT

–  A terrific family fishing cuddy with excellent handling and performance, and BMT pricing from just $56k
The 610 Fishabout is a big, bold looking alloy trailerboat with excellent handling and performance, a large fishing cockpit, and a compact shelter cuddy layout.

This flagship Fishabout is also cleverly sized and packaged so it can be towed behind a regular 4WD vehicle, large SUV, or even a family wagon — and without the need for a costly break-away trailer braking system.

On the road, on the ramp, and on the water, the new Quintrex 610 Fishabout is an impressive looking boat, a solid performer and a bargain buy.

LIKES

>> Budget priced offshore sport fishing boat
>> Blistering speed from Evinrude E-TEC 225hp
>> Large, deep cockpit
>> Soft and dry Quintrex Blade hull
>> Finger-tip smooth power steering
>> Shelter cuddy layout
>> Excellent helm position

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.70/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.5/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water performance: 4.7/5.0
Value for money: 4.9/5.0
X-factor: 4.6/5.0

PERFORMANCE – SPEED
4.0kts (7.4km/h) @ 1000rpm
6.2kts (11.5km/h) @ 1500rpm
8.6kts (15.9km/h) @ 2000rpm
15.7kts (29.0km/h) @ 2500rpm
22.5kts (41.6km/h) @ 3000rpm
27.9kts (51.6km/h) @ 3500rpm
32.6kts (60.3km/h) @ 4000rpm
36.6kts (67.7km/h) @ 4500rpm
41.0kts (75.8km/h) @ 5000rpm
44.7kts (82.7km/h) @ 5500rpm
47.1kts (87.1km/h) @ 5700rpm (WOT)

PERFORMANCE – ECONOMY
2.6 l/ph @ 1000rpm
5.6 l/ph @ 1500rpm
10.8 l/ph @ 2000rpm
14.3 l/ph @ 2500rpm
20.0 l/ph @ 3000rpm
26.9 l/ph @ 3500rpm
36.6 l/ph @ 4000rpm
44.8 l/ph @ 4500rpm
56.4 l/ph @ 5000rpm
66.1 l/ph @ 5500rpm
70.2 l/ph @ 5700rpm (WOT)

MAXIMUM RANGE ON 95% OF 120l FUEL TANK: 128.25nm @ 3000rpm

Specifications: Quintrex 610 Fishabout
Length overall: 6.2m
Hull length: 5.93m
Beam: 2.46m
Depth: 1.34m
Hull weight: 788kg
Towing weight: Approx 1480kg
Deadrise: 16 degrees
Bottom alloy: 5.0mm
Transom alloy: 3.0mm
Topside alloy: 3.0mm
Maximum power: 200hp
Maximum engine weight: 295kg
Engine as tested: Evinrude 200hp E-TEC G2 two-stroke outboard
Fuel: 120 litres
Maximum Persons: Seven