2019 Fusion 19 Centre Console review

The Fusion 19CC is one of the boat-builder’s most popular models and sits roughly in the middle of the Fusion boat range. There is also a Fusion 15, 17, and 21 currently available, along with a 25-foot model on the drawing board.

In addition to its vee monohulls, Fusion also has a lone powered catamaran model called the VT7. This unusual looking cat has a low profile hull with knife-sharp sponsons and a wide beam for maximum deck space. The VT7 will be available to order locally, but not carried as a stock model.

All Fusion models have a centre console configuration, spacious self-draining decks, 316 grade stainless steel fittings and fixtures, no-rot fibreglass composite construction, and enough underfloor foam buoyancy flotation foam to ensure they are unsinkable.

Except for the entry-level 15, all Fusion models are available with a single extra-longshaft (25-inch) outboard, or with dual-longshaft (20-inch) outboard engines.

The Fusion 19CC presented by Stessl Marine for our review was rigged with a single Evinrude E-Tec G2 150hp DFI two-stroke outboard.

Package pricing for the Fusion 19 Centre Console starts from $65,500 when the boat is paired with a Mercury 90hp four-stroke outboard and a tandem-axle alloy drive on/off braked trailer.

Given the test boat was rigged with a 150hp outboard, you might think the boat may be a little underdone with the much smaller 90hp Mercury, but we hear this package will still achieve a top speed of 33-35 knots. This I can believe as the test boat topped 44 knots with the larger engine.

Included in the standard boat package is a Mercury VesselView digital display, hydraulic steering, stainless steel propeller, five-year hull warranty, dual-width centre console with a bench helm seat box, moulded bow seating/storage area, live bait tank and storage box aft, four RailBlaza Starport mounts (or four flush-fitted stainless steel rod holders), 12 months’ registrations and a inshore safety gear pack.

Our test boat was optioned with a fair bit of extra gear, lifting the drive-away package price substantially to $81,500.

The upgrade to the larger Evinrude 150hp engine accounts for much of that increase, but our test boat also gained coloured hull topsides, a stainless steel framed fibreglass T-top, black powder coating to rails and fittings, a removable casting platform infill board, removable bow seat and sunbed cushions, transom ski-bar/rod holder rail, a live bait well aeration system, saltwater deck wash, and a 150-litre underfloor fuel tank.

One of the key internal features for anglers is the moulded bow seating area. Buy the optional infill board and removable seat cushions, and it can be reconfigured a number of ways.

The standard layout has a V-shaped moulded seating area. Add the bow and two side cushions and you have a comfortable seating area for at least four people.

Inserting the heavy-duty fibreglass infill board between the bow’s side seats creates a very sturdy casting deck and fishing platform. Fit the optional infill cushion with the other three cushions and this space is repurposed as a large sunbed.

The only criticism is that the infill board is fiddly and time-consuming to remove. We expect future models will have a quick-release system so that the forward layout can change at will.

We'd also like to see hinges on the front of the infill board so the back end of it can lift up to provide access to the large underfloor storage area – the way it is currently configured means the infill board must be removed to gain access.

Unlike many smaller sized, US-built bay and flats boats, the Fusion has a decent sized anchor well on the foredeck, complete with anchor hatch, bow roller and bollard.

Importantly for anglers, there is also space on the foredeck to mount an electric trolling motor.

The Fusion 19 is not short of storage areas at the bow. As well as the sub-floor compartment, there are two safety gear lockers under the moulded bow side seats, another compartment under the front console bench seat, and a waterproof gear locker built into the front of the helm console.

The dual-width helm console is situated slightly forward of amidships, making for a nicely balanced boat on a fore and aft axis.

The steering wheel and throttle are offset to port to provide space for the first mate to stand comfortably alongside the skipper.

There is space surrounding the controls for the switch panel and radio head units, whilst the flat-panel fascia overhead caters for two mid-size multifunction electronics displays.

There is nothing particularly notable about the console design, but the layout works very well and everything is where it should be for ease of use.

There is a waterproof glove box for keys, wallets and phones. A separate compartment below the engine controls houses the engine battery and doubles as an extra storage locker.

Overhead, the optional stainless steel-framed (and powder-coated) fibreglass T-top provides sun shelter, and should keep the helm dry in drizzling rain.

The helm seat is a simple dual-width seat/storage box to match the width of the centre console. It has a reversible backrest so you can sit and face aft to fish over the stern.

The seat box compartment in our test boat was sealed and insulated for use as an icebox. There is also the option to have the box open at the back to fit a removable cooler box. For convenience, I'd probably opt for the latter.

The rear cockpit in the Fusion is neatly designed for bay, harbour and coastal fishing, with occasional forays offshore in good weather. The hull is more than capable of fishing wide offshore waters, but there is not a lot of freeboard at the stern of this boat so I would be hesitant about heading too far offshore in suspect weather.

That said, the cockpit is self-draining and the South Africans like their transoms low so that when they do cop a wave over the bow, the accompanying large amount of water can quickly shed out the stern, over the Fusion’s low 210mm transom wall.

Given the low cockpit freeboard, the aft ski pole/rod holder rail is necessary as it doubles as a handrail – although it also may make it more difficult to fish directly over the stern.

The side coamings are relatively narrow but we believe you can order the boat with four included flush-fitted stainless steel rod holders, or four RailBlaza Starport bases to which you can fit plastic rod holders, fish finder mounts, and more.

General cockpit features include a large underfloor kill tank/ski locker, a portside transom corner live bait tank, and a similar-size locker opposite for general storage.

If you decide against ordering the optional 150-litre underfloor fuel tank, the sub-floor kill tank is reconfigured to take two portable plastic fuel tanks.

Our test boat was also rigged with the optional raw-water deck wash and a starboard-side boarding step and ladder.

The Fusion 19 has an interesting and very well designed hull. The transom vee is modest at 18 degrees, but it is a lot sharper up at the bow to cut through wave chop with surprising ease.

It also has what I would term reverse (or convex) angled flare (as opposed to concave-angled Carolina-style flare) to combine with the hefty chines to keep the hull dry.

During our test in quite lumpy offshore seas we barely took a drop of water over the bow – you know you're in a dry open boat when your sunglasses stay dry. The hull was also very nicely balanced and soft-riding.

Coming back in through the Gold Coast Seaway the Fusion also proved well-mannered, surfing easily and safely down the waves. I can see now why these Fusion hulls are so well regarded in their home country.

At rest the Fusion is also quite stable, the pronounced reversed chines countering the sharp vee angle at the keel to stiffen the boat on a lateral basis.

The hull also has a reverse hook, or a slight downward angle at the transom, which acts kind of like a built-in trim tab to improve hole-shot and provide extra stern lift so the boat is quicker to plane.

Not that we were likely to have any planing or stern buoyancy issues with our test boat. With the powerful Evinrude E-Tec G2 150hp outboard on the transom the test rig is swift, agile and manoeuvrable, blasting the hull out of the hole and on to a top speed of 44.3 knots.

The entry Fusion 19 package comes with a Mercury 90hp four-stroke, a level of power that should be good for around 33 knots. Best power I reckon would probably be a single 115hp-130hp outboard, or perhaps even a pair of 60hp outboards for added long-range reliability.

Performance

Maximum range on 95% of the optional 150-litre fuel supply: 178.5nm @ 3500rpm

The Fusion 19 Centre Console is a welcome addition to our local market. Centre consoles boats are very popular at present, yet there are relatively few boats comparable to the Fusion 19.

There are rival models that are good only for sheltered water applications, others for offshore use. The Fusion 19 can do both because it has a bay skiff-like interior layout, combined with an offshore capable hull bottom. In light of this versatility, we expect the Fusion 19 to prove popular with anglers once the good word gets about.

Model: Fusion 19 Centre Console
Length overall: 5.97m
Beam: 2.4m
Draft: 350mm
Deadrise: 18 degrees
Hull weight: 800kg
Weight on trailer: 1600kg (est)
Maximum power: Single 200hp (25-inch) or dual 70hp (20-inch)
Engine as tested: Evinrude E-Tec G2 150hp four-stroke
Fuel capacity: Portables (150-litre sub-floor tank optional)
Flotation standard: Basic
Maximum passengers: Six

Priced from: $65,500 including a Mercury 90hp four-stroke extra-longshaft (25-inch) outboard with Mercury VesselView gauge, hydraulic steering, stainless steel propeller, drive on/off tandem-axle galvanised steel braked trailer, white hull, 12 months' boat and trailer registrations, and an inshore safety gear pack.

Price as tested: $81,500 including an Evinrude E-TEC G2 150hp DFI two-stroke (or Mercury 150hp four-stroke) extra-longshaft (25-inch) outboard, Evinrude I-Command digital display (or Mercury VesselView with Mercury 150hp outboard), hydraulic steering, S/S propeller, drive on/off tandem-axle galvanised steel braked trailer, coloured hull topsides, S/S framed fibreglass T-top, black powder-coating to rails and fittings, removable casting platform infill, forward seat and sunbed cushions, transom step and telescopic S/S ladder, transom ski-bar/rod holder rail, live bait well aeration system, saltwater deck wash, 150-litre underfloor fuel tank, 12 months' boat and trailer registrations, and an inshore safety gear pack.

Supplied by: Stessl Marine