2019 Makocraft 630 Island Cab HT review

I have always had a thing for walkaround or centre cabin trailer boats so I was pleased to recently have the opportunity to test Makocraft's new walkaround/centre cabin, the 630 Island Cab.

To my way of thinking the walkaround cabin layout provides the best balance between the outright fishability of a centre console and the cabin protection afforded by a cuddy or half cabin boat.

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Back in the late 1980s I fished extensively out of a 6.1-metre plate alloy walkaround boat called Walkabout. It was a tough, no-nonsense plate alloy fishing platform built by Alufarm Marine in Goolwa, SA. I travelled Australia's east coast, sport fishing out of various locations in this excellent craft, and found it to be absolutely ideal for the task.

When the weather got snotty offshore, or when I was brave – or perhaps dumb enough – to head out in conditions cold enough for my ears, nose and fingertips to start stinging, it was great to be able to shelter behind a cabin structure, topped with a bimini and clear drop-curtains to ward of spray.

Conversely, in sunny, warm conditions, the ability to be able to fish all the way around the perimeter of the boat – just like in a centre console – proved to be a huge bonus.

I recall many occasions when I stood and fought a fish from up in the bow of the boat. Trailer boats don't reverse very well so it makes sense to chase down a runaway game fish whilst standing up at the bow, with the skipper motoring the boat forward in pursuit.

Centre console enthusiasts will argue that a walkaround/centre cabin does not have enough open deck space for some fishing applications. This is probably true, but I have always preferred to sacrifice a little deck space to gain shelter, warmth and protection.

Having noted the above, walk-around and centre cabin layouts do differ. Centre cabs from Cruise Craft, for example, have just a narrow walkway trench around each side of what is virtually a full width, full-size cabin. In contrast, the new Makocraft 630 Island Cab has a compact cabin/shed structure combined with deep side trench walkways so you can move easily from the rear cockpit to the bow.

The Makocraft 630 Island Cab is the flagship of the boat range – at least for now. I would not be surprised to see larger versions of the Island Cab appearing in due course, along with the option to fit dual outboard engines.

Stessl Marine's Tim Stessl has Makocraft 630 Island Cab packages starting from just $62,290 with a Mercury 135hp four-stroke outboard and a Dunbier tandem-axle galvanised steel trailer. This represents quite stunning value for a 6.3-metre plate aluminium boat.

It's not like the Island Cab has been stripped back to the bones to achieve that price point, either. It is a full-featured boat, stacked with features, gear and equipment.

Inside the boat you'll find the centre cabin helm station with dual cabin berths, under-berth storage lockers, folding overhead hardtop (with rocket launcher), wide walkways to each side of the cabin structure, a 4.0mm plate alloy hull bottom, 4.0mm transom and topsides, carpeted plywood cockpit floor, curved windscreen, helm seat boxes topped with swiveling and sliding bucket seats, extra-wide side coamings and cockpit side storage pockets, rear boarding platforms and ladder, carpeted anchor well, transducer brackets, four plastic rod holders, a large dash and fascia, hull flotation to Basic standard, a 250L sub-floor fuel tank, an elevated and enclosed rear battery platform, bilge pump, dual batteries with master switch, and lots more.

Our test boat was fitted with a number of options that lift the drive-away price to $74K. They include an engine upgrade to the more powerful 150hp Mercury four-stroke, along with a Lowrance HDS Live7 fishfinder/GPS; VHF radio; two-tone paint; a sealed, welded self-draining checker plate cockpit floor; a folding rear cockpit lounge; cabin infill cushions; transom door; saltwater deck wash; underfloor kill tank; and a transom bait station incorporating a bait board, live well, rod rack and drink holders.

The centre cabin layout in the Makocraft 630 Island Cab is very well designed. I enthused about this configuration earlier, but what I did not mention is that the centre cabin – or "Island Cab" in the case of this Makocraft – is just about the perfect size to maximise berth and storage space with little compromise elsewhere.

The cabin structure is large and wide enough to incorporate a three-quarter length double berth and to fit two box-mounted bucket chairs at the helm. This is all achieved whilst providing just enough walkway space (340mm) to each side of the cabin console.

With this 340mm of floor-level foot space in each of the side walkways, it is easy to move forward to fish from the bow of the boat, and to raise and lower the anchor.

The open, but decent-sized anchor well is carpeted to dampen any noise should the anchor and chain move about whilst underway.

The side walkway trenches are elevated one step above the rear cockpit floor so that any spray or water coming over the bow drains aft into the self-draining rear cockpit. Despite this step, there is 610mm of freeboard to each side so anglers can stand and fish alongside the cabin structure, leaning securely against the side coaming.

In the rear of the boat the freeboard is higher still, with more than 700mm around the perimeter of the cockpit. The only low point is at the optional transom door, where the distance between the floor to the top of the door is 610mm.

The standard 630 Island Cab comes with a carpeted plywood floor. Our test boat had the optional fully welded, self-draining alloy floor with a checker-plate finish. Both end up the same size with an overall length of 2.82 metres from the cabin aft to the transom wall. Behind the helm chair boxes the cockpit is 1.9 metres long and 2.25 metres wide.

As noted earlier, the transverse underfloor kill tank, starboard side transom door, bait station and folding three-quarter width lounge seat are options.

The lounge bench is easily removed to boost cockpit space and allow anglers to stand up against the well-padded coaming bolster/seat backrest to fish over the stern.

Behind the folding lounge is an elevated shelf for batteries, oil tanks, filters, and more. The shelf is enclosed for protection, but can be easily accessed via two large Sopac hatches.

Elevated side storage pockets stretch the length of the cockpit, beneath 245mm ultra-wide side coamings.

There's more storage space forward in three large under-berth lockers, in a sub-floor compartment (with false floor) beneath the helm, and inside the helm seat boxes.

The helm station itself is simple but practical in design. There is flat dash space for fitting bracket-mounted electronics gear, along with a large fascia above the steering wheel for flush mounting engine instruments and a large fishfinder/GPS display or two.

There's also a dash handrail, drink holders, and a side shelf on the passenger side.

Standing at the helm, the skipper has an excellent view of the surroundings and through the curved, tinted windscreen.

When seated, the bucket helm chairs are comfortable to perch on, but the driving position would be improved by a footrest.

Both chairs swivel and slide fore and aft so they can move back to make space to stand at the helm. Seated or standing, the steering wheel and throttle are well located.

The Makocraft 630 Island Cab is a fine-looking and well-proportioned boat. The smooth topsides and raised sheer line combine nicely with the well-rounded cabin structure and curved windscreen to give the boat a sleek, modern, streamlined appearance.

The plate alloy hull has a modest 18 degrees of deadrise at the transom, but the vee angle is much sharper up at the bow, with the finely angled stem designed to cleave through wave chop to soften the ride.

Underway, the Makocraft 630 Island Cab performs very well. Pin the nose down to present the finely drawn entry shape to the waves and the boat cruises comfortably, softly and safely.

In moderate offshore sea conditions, I found the Island Cab to also be dry, well balanced and quiet, thanks partly to the foam flotation in the hull.

At speed, I did observe some slight movement/shake in the hardtop (due to it being a folding, bolt-on structure) but otherwise the boat felt solid and rattle-free.

With the Mercury 150hp four-stroke outboard mounted on the extra-longshaft (25-inch) transom, the Makocraft 630 Island Cab proved to be quick and agile, accelerating to a top speed of 36.3 knots.

You can fit a larger 175hp outboard to this boat, but really it is not required. I would expect the performance to remain strong with the 150hp motor even when loaded with three or four anglers, full fuel, fishing gear, and more.

If you are likely to fish two-up and with a lightly laden boat you could easily drop back to a 130-135hp outboard to save a few dollars.

Performance

Range on 95% of the 250L fuel supply at 4000rpm: 239.4nm

Verdict

With a starting package price of $62,290, the Makocraft 630 Island Cabin is a proper bargain. Consider that rival fibreglass and alloy boats in this size range can cost almost double this amount.

With the options fitted the drive-away price of our test boat rises to $74K, but that's still excellent value for what is a full-featured, safe, seaworthy craft with an excellent fishing layout and durable plate alloy construction.

Specifications
Model: Makocraft 630 Island Cab HT
Length overall: 6.4m
Hull length: 6.3m
Beam: 2.5m
Deadrise: 18 Degrees
Depth: 1.7m
Hull weight: 940kg
Weight on trailer: 1900kg (est)
Bottom and transom alloy: 4.0mm
Topsides alloy: 4.0mm
Maximum power: 175hp
Engine as tested: Mercury 150hp four-stroke
Fuel capacity: 250L
Flotation standard: Basic
Maximum persons: 7

Priced from: $62,290 including a Mercury 135hp extra-longshaft (25") four-stroke outboard; Dunbier tandem-axle galvanised steel braked trailer; inshore safety gear pack for six people; and 12 months Queensland boat and trailer registrations.

Price as tested: $74,000 including a Mercury 150hp extra-longshaft (25-inch) four-stroke outboard; Dunbier tandem-axle galvanised steel braked trailer; Lowrance HDS Live7 fishfinder/GPS; VHF radio; two-tone paint; sealed, welded self-draining checker plate cockpit floor; folding rear cockpit lounge; cabin infill cushions; transom door; saltwater deck wash; underfloor kill tank; transom bait station (incorporating a bait board, live well, rod rack and drink holders); inshore safety gear pack for six people; and 12 months Queensland boat and trailer registrations.

Supplied by: Stessl Marine