2019 Flipper 700 DC review

The Flipper range of Nordic fibreglass boats are family-friendly units with an emphasis on ease of use and practicality. It’s split between the Day Cruiser (open cockpit), Sport Top (all-weather leisure boat with a sliding roof) and Sport Console (dual centre console) models.

The boat we’re testing here is the Flipper 700 DC, a sharp-looking cuddy cabin built for entertaining with plenty of style, and basic 2+2 accommodation suitable for stretching a day on the water into an overnight trip.

At almost 7.2 metres long and capable of carrying up to seven people in comfort, the Flipper 700 DC is the mid-range model in the sports cruiser’s line-up, sandwiched between the entry-level 6.7-metre Flipper 650 DC and the flagship 8.1-metre Flipper 800 DC.

It is designed for use on coastal waters, large rivers and lakes.

This boat was meant to be in Australia in time to go on display at the 2019 Sydney International Boat Show, but missed bump-in by a matter of days after an unexpected transport delay.

Sydney-based Chapman Marine Group has the Flipper 700 DC priced from $116,000 on the water including a 150hp Mercury Verado outboard engine fitted with hydraulic steering.

These are boats that aim to get you out on the water and ready for adventure straight off the showroom floor.

Standard equipment includes stainless steel rails and fittings; a fender basket; tough offshore seats; a windscreen wiper on the starboard side of the wrap-around windscreen; Mercury’s SmartCraft instrumentation; a cockpit table; twin USB charging sockets; sunbed cushions; courtesy lights; teak laminate in the cockpit, on the bow and on the swim platform; a large bimini covering the cockpit; and a manual bilge pump.

The bimini comes with the option of a full set of clears that converts the cockpit into an all-weather space.

In terms of accommodation, the 2.2-metre-long vee berth includes cushions; room for a chemical toilet; and a cabin ventilator.

The Flipper 700 DC sits on top of a vacuum-formed laminated hull that is part of sweeping changes recently made to the brand’s manufacturing process aimed at increasing rigidity and creating more interior volume.

Flipper’s owner introduced a stepped hulls under the transom of the boats in the mid-1970s to help with top-end speed. However, the introduction of more powerful outboard engines has seen it move away from the design.

Instead, the Flipper range uses a deeper vee at the stern, as well as lifting strakes to help the boats rise up on the plane. We're told Flipper Boats still uses a stepped hull, but attempts to contact the Finnish boatbuilder haven't yet yielded any answers.

The outboard engine on the Flipper 700 DC is mounted quite low on a pod sandwiched in between the transom steps and swim decks extending to either side. The way it is formed leaves enough foot space to walk across the back of the transom.

Up front the bow rails don’t meet at the prow, making it easy to use a ladder once you nose up onto a beach.

At 2.48 metres wide and weighing in around 1500kg with the outboard engine attached, the Flipper 700 DC is narrow and light enough to tow behind a larger family car.

The Flipper 700 DC’s finish oozes European class, with materials and colours blended together superbly. The teak flooring adds an element of sophistication, with expertly worked fibreglass and a dark dashboard offsetting the natural timbers and white gelcoat used elsewhere.

I can’t praise the design of the Flipper 700DC enough. The way the boat’s designers have made sure the bimini folds away below the rear seat is excellent. Infill cushions have a space where they can be secured under the port side of the rear lounge instead of simply being thrown in the cabin up front. Even the purpose-built space used for stowing fenders makes a feature out of them.

The cabin is well laid out, with space for a chemical toilet located under the cushions. Despite its low headroom, the 2.2m-long vee berth appears spacious and comfortable enough to lay down the kids, get out of the sun, or even bed down for a night.

The helm’s dual-width bench seat is borrowed from much larger boats, yet doesn’t look out of place here. Two up it is a little tight, but if you’re alone there’s so much space.

The helm seat is well padded, and both sides of it have a bolster to provide standing room for a better view over the bow. The windscreen, lined on its trailing edge with a rail, is low.

The standard-looking helm is well-appointed, and features a 9.0-inch Simrad GO touchscreen – there’s room for up to a 16-inch flush-mounted unit – showing all the engine diagnostics as well as a chartplotter and sounder. To the left is the switch panel and down on the right is the throttle and Mercury’s Active Trim unit. All are within easy reach, either seated or standing.

The port side of the console has a small washbasin under the windscreen, and a storage drawer below. Behind it, the passenger seat has a flipping backrest that converts the forward-facing seat into an aft-facing sun lounge. From here, the lounge wraps around the cockpit along the transom with another teak walkway in the starboard corner of the transom leading to the swim decks on either side of the outboard engine pod. The open look of the port side lounge, which uses stainless legs rather than fibreglass, is impressive.

Access to the bow is via a swing door in the middle of the windscreen, and a series of steps built in alongside the cabin’s sliding, lockable door.

The bow has a beautiful teak walkway accentuated by two dark inlays either side, providing good access to the anchor hatch. The stainless work at the bow and throughout the boat is all class.

A removable teak table is mounted in the middle of the cockpit. Seat cushions are stowed under the port side of the lounge.

The seat backing onto the transom also provides storage space for the removable anchor light and ski pole.

Uniquely the Flipper 700 DC sold here include inserts that turn the aft lounge into a full-beam double bed, increasing accommodation from the 2+1 sold in Europe to 2+2 for the Australian market.

To either side of the outboard engine are twin swim decks. The port side also contains a small storage recess, and a pull-out hand shower.

Strapped to the back of our Flipper 700 DC is a 225hp Mercury V6 outboard engine. It is more than enough engine for this boat; we wound it up to 40 knots at 5000rpm on test, burning through 66.0L/h of fuel. Drop the cruising speed to around 26 knots at 3730 rpm, and fuel burn drops to 30.5L/h. Stepping up to the maximum-rated 300hp isn’t really on the radar unless you like outright speed.

Equipped with the 225hp, the 188-litre underfloor fuel tank will provide a useable range of about 150nm on 95 per cent capacity – more than enough for a day out boating.

Performance

Maximum range based on 95% fuel reserve: 152Nm

On test, the Flipper 700 DC’s hull easily sliced through the Sydney Harbour chop created by the melange of ferries, charter boats and yachts plying it. The Flipper 700 DC is fitted with joystick-controlled trim tabs and Mercury’s active trim system, allowing skippers to even out the ride.

The hull grips the water really well, but narrow chines allow it to lean in through a turn much more than I would have expected. You can still pile on the power mid-turn, but first-time owners will have to get used to the angle. That said, it is potentially much better than a flat-sitting boat that will have you fighting G-forces all the way through the turn.

The hull is also low to the water, which probably exacerbates the lean. We also experienced small amounts of spray coming over the bow, but this may have been because the boat was not trimmed properly to push the bow down.

European boats have made their mark on the Australian boating scene, and the sharp-looking, well finished and generously equipped Flipper represents excellent value for money. I personally love the thoughtful design and usable space; it’s a boat that owners can use to ski, entertain, relax or even sleep aboard.

Specifications
Model: Flipper 700 DC
Length: 7.17m
Beam: 2.48m
Draft: 0.75m
Deadrise: N/A
Weight: 1300kg (dry, est)
Power: 135hp (min)/300hp (max)
Engine as tested: 225hp Mercury V6 four-stroke
Fuel: 188L
Water: 47L
Passengers: 7

Priced from: $116,000 including 3x12V outlets; 2xUSB outlets; manual bilge pump; bimini; cabin lights; cockpit and console cushions; sunbed; fender basket; fire extinguisher; hydraulic steering; 2x console cup holders; offshore seats; stainless steel rails and fittings; Mercury SmartCraft instrument panel; teak cockpit table; teak laminate for the cockpit, bow and swim platforms; bow cabin ventilator; windscreen wiper; 150hp Mercury four-cylinder four-stroke outboard engine

Price as tested: $134,000 including transom shower system; Mercury active trim tabs; extended teak lining; water ski pole; 30L Dometic fridge; hand basin; Fusion Black Box audio system; dual batteries; cockpit cover; 9.0-inch SimradGO 12; and a Mercury 225 XL DTS V6 four-stroke outboard engine

Supplied by: Chapman Marine Group