Everybody Loves A Tinnie
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday August 16, 1991
Few boats have enjoyed such long-lasting popularity in NSW waters as the aluminium runabout.
Fishermen, particularly, are dedicated fans of the "tinnie" as small aluminium craft are affectionately known.
From car toppers to seven-metre boats, thousands of aluminium craft are sold annually.
In fact, the big three makers, Quintrex, Stacer Alloy Craft and Savage Alumacraft, would between them account for a huge percentage of new boat sales around Australia.
Although known far and wide as fishing boats, it would be a mistake to assume that tinnies are good only for keen anglers.
The fact is, that depending on power and fitout, aluminium runabouts make great all-rounders, doing duty not only as fishboats, but as ski boats, picnic boats or anything else that involves being out on the water having a good time.
So what can an aluminium boat offer over a similar fibreglass rig?
Let's look at the advantages of being a "tinnie skipper". First, there's its light weight to consider, often up to half that of a comparable fibreglass boat.
This leads to two distinct points in its favour: you won't require a V8 or four-wheel-drive vehicle to access the majority of boat ramps, nor vast quantities of horsepower to make a tinnie get up and go. Both are major considerations as far as economy is concerned.
Second, the tinnie does not require the often time-consuming maintenance demanded by a fibreglass boat. No cut and polish required, just a bucket of water, a dash of detergent and a hose. Hose off the detergent, flush the outboard and your tinnie is ready to go on its next outing.
Peter Hunt, of Hunts Marine, Blakehurst, recently offered a new Quintrex Kingfish for test, a neat 5.2 metre runabout which fell easily into the all-rounder category.
Easily launched and retrieved with its Coaster trailer, the Kingfish proved easy to drive, tracked effortlessly and showed good stability under way and at rest.
Although rated to a maximum 100hp, our test boat sported an Evinrude engine of only 70hp, and quite frankly, even for all-round use including a touch of water skiing, I don't see any reason to go for a larger engine.
The 70hp Evinrude is a loop-charged, three-cylinder engine of 920cc capacity (56.1cuin). Our test boat sported the electric start, 20in shaft model, which tips the scales around 112kg (245lb) and has a full-throttle operating range of 5,000 to 6,000 rpm.
It seemed perfectly suited to the Kingfish, bringing the 345kg (760lb) hull instantly to the plane and into a correct running attitude.
A feature of the boat's performance was its ability to hold the plane, even as low as 250rpm, and maintain reasonable speed with three people aboard.
We took the engine to wide open throttle, and the Kingfish swept across the choppy waters of Kogarah Bay, the typical flare of the Quintrex bow keeping spray down and providing a remarkably dry ride.
The boat proved responsive to trim and it was noticeable when the wind lifted the hull and boosted engine revolutions and top end speed when the engine was jacked out.
Accommodation aboard is for four to five adults, with driver and companion seats forward and a full-width seat aft with stowage below.
The cockpit is uncluttered and extremely spacious for a 5.2 metre boat, just the way a fisherman demands, but practical for the boating family in general.
A five-piece windscreen, the centre panel opening to allow a skipper to reach forward and handle the ground tackle, gives adequate protection from the elements, aided by a neat, well-fitted canopy with an opening panel should the skipper wish to stand while driving.
The all-round finish of the boat is to the high standard the industry has come to expect from the Gold Coast-based manufacturing plant of Quintrex Australia.
The hull is built without rivets or screws, so that its finish is smooth and sleek, with unobtrusive welds, built-in foam buoyancy, solid bow rail and side rails.
Several features of the boat are worthy of praise. The transom pod carrying the Evinrude carried out its task superbly, and on the port side another bracket comes as standard equipment for installing a small auxiliary.
A built-in fuel tank, complete with deck filler, filter and fuel gauge, well-placed rod holders and a fully carpeted cockpit sole all added to the Kingfish's class.
Sure, I could think of "add ons" that would make this a better boat. Unfortunately, such inclusions would show up in the price.
The Hunts Marine team has shown in no uncertain manner that one does not need to be a millionaire to live like one.
Change out of "twenty grand" for a complete boat is pretty rare these days, but $19,499 will have you skippering the Quintrex Kingfish.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length overall: 5.2m.
Beam: 2.10m
Draft: 1.05m.
Aluminium: Hull bottom, 3mm thickness, hull sides 1.6mm.
Further information: Hunts Marine, (02)5461324.
© 1991 Sydney Morning Herald
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