2019 Sea Jay 550 Vision review

Bundaberg's Sea Jay Boats is a long-standing, respected trailer boat builder with an enormous range of aluminium boats and a large, Australia-wide dealer network.

A quick count on the Sea Jay Boats website reveals that this under-rated boat builder has more than 100 products on offer; in the pressed alloy range alone there are about 85 models. Most of these pressed alloy boats are sub 4.5m open vee-bow tinnies, punts and barra boats, but in the larger boat sizes there more console boats than any other configuration.

Anglers can choose from side, centre and rear console Sea Jay fishing models with various levels of fit-out and standard inclusions.

Our pick of Sea Jay's console models for a mix of impoundment, bay and offshore fishing is the 550 Vision centre console. This tough, durable, nicely appointed open boat is the subject of this review.

The Sea Jay 550 Vision is a great size for an all-rounder - not too big, not too small. This model is easy to handle on the launch ramp, light enough to haul behind a family car or SUV, yet safe and seaworthy enough to fish a dozen or so miles offshore.

The Sea Jay 550 Vision is rated for outboards between 90hp and 150hp. Entry packages with the smaller engine are available from the Gold Coast's Nitro Marine for around $43,000. The price includes a Mercury 90hp extra-longshaft (25-inch) four-stroke outboard and a Sea Jay (made by Dunbier) tandem-axle trailer with mechanical brakes.

The standard 550 Vision is pretty much as you see it in the photos, but without the folding alloy T-top and rocket launcher.

Everything else is standard, including hydraulic steering, a centre console helm station with short windshield and grab rail, a removable icebox/helm seat, carpeted plywood floor and casting deck, electric trolling motor plate, plumbed transom live bait tank, underfloor flotation (to Basic Standard) transom door and boarding ladder, and non-slip paint to the stern boarding platforms.

Our test boat was upgraded with a more powerful Mercury 115hp four-stroke engine for a bit more performance. With the folding alloy T-top with six-rod rocket launcher, the driveaway package price lifts to $53K. This is a respectable price for a mid-size trailerable centre console fishing boat, although our test package was still to be fitted with electronics gear.

The 550 Vision uses Sea Jay's Samurai hull, a moderate 16-degree vee hull with pressed alloy internal construction (with 14 floor ribs) combined with a 4mm, 5083 marine grade alloy hull (and transom) with 3mm topsides.

The hull bottom has a sharp entry for wave cutting, combined with a single welded planing strake at the bow, running aft to amidships. There's also a pronounced, reinforced keel running the length of the hull and wide, slightly reversed chines aft to provide excellent lateral stability.

There are two pressings in the topsides, but the hull sides are otherwise smooth. A noticeable sheer in the deck line improves the appearance of the boat, and heightens the bow to help suppress spray while underway.

The hull is wide for a 5.5m boat, measuring 2.47m across the beam amidships. The extra width, compared with some rival brands, makes the boat quite a bit bigger, and more spacious than it appears at first glance.

The Sea Jay "Ultimate Edge" transom supports a single extra-longshaft outboard engine and features integrated boarding platforms finished in non-slip paint instead of the regular checker-plate alloy commonly used.

With the optional alloy T-top fitted the 550 Vision weighs 708kg, and about 1500kg as tested with the Mercury 115hp outboard and tandem-axle trailer.

The 550 Vision is designed as a fishing boat with a wide rear cockpit, bow casting platform and full 360-degree fishing around the perimeter of the boat. There's ample freeboard throughout so the boat is safe to use inshore and offshore in rough weather.

The Vision does not have a lot of standard seating, just the single removable Icey-Tek poly plastic icebox with cushioned lid that doubles as a helm and co-pilot bench seat.

Family boaters might consider adding either a full-width folding bench that fits across the transom wall or the slightly shorter, three-quarter width version.

As befitting a fishing boat, the bow in the Vision centre console has an uncluttered, elevated casting deck with a carpeted plywood floor and a large in-deck storage compartment. The false floor beneath it makes this a dry storage compartment suitable for stowing safety gear bags and life jackets.

Fishermen will appreciate the 500mm of freeboard up in the bow as it allows you to stand and fish from the bow with relative security, braced up against the coamings.

Extra bow features include low-set rails, port side trolling motor plate, a deep, open anchor well, bowsprit and a hefty cross bollard.

The helm console is located forward of amidships, hard up against the casting deck. It is relatively compact to allow for 480mm of walkway space to each side.

The console is not quite wide enough for two people to shelter completely behind it, but it does offer some protection from wind and spray.

The plain white alloy fascia is large enough for a mid-size electronics display, switch panel and engine instrumentation. There's also a handy storage shelf underneath and a flat surface on top, beneath the tinted acrylic windshield, for a compass or a bracket-mounted fish finder.

In the test boat there was a radio box beneath the hardtop/T-top to house the optional 27MHz GME radio. As noted, there is also a rod rack on the trailing edge of the hardtop and the whole structure folds down for garaging.

Similar to most other Australian alloy boat makers, Sea Jay is persisting with locating the steering wheel and throttle on the starboard side of the console. I suspect that most old-school Aussie anglers still prefer it this way, even though having the controls on the port side makes it easier for two people to stand side-by-side when the boat is underway.

Aft of the helm console and the removable icebox/helm seat, there is uncluttered deck space back to the 650mm high transom wall.

I was hoping there would be a kill tank under the cockpit floor, but this feature is an option. There is a floor hatch near the transom wall, but this is used to access the bilge area underneath.

In general, the cockpit is very well designed for fishing, although I would definitely add a coaming bolster across the transom wall to provide thigh support and more comfort to fish over the stern.

The bolster padding is needed because the transom wall is completely vertical, without any toe rails or space to plant your feet when facing aft.

Behind the transom wall there is a compartment to access the steering gear and filters, and a second compartment for the battery, which is enclosed in plastic battery box.

Other features include a medium-size plumbed live bait tank on the port side, transom door to starboard, elevated side storage pockets, 195mm wide side coamings, six plastic coaming rod holders, and two very sturdy looking corner cross bollards.

The Sea Jay Samurai hull is the result of years of development and fine-tuning, and this is reflected in the 550 Vision's excellent handling and performance.

The entry shape of the hull at the bow is sharp, but the angle of the stem is gradual, relaxed enough so that the boat can surf safely out of wave troughs in a following sea.

At the same time, the fine vee shape at the bow helps to smooth out the ride in heavy chop and moderate offshore seas.

The trick to getting the most out of the Sea Jay hull is to trim it to the conditions. The hull is well balanced and very responsive. With a deft touch of the power trim button you can tuck the nose down to run into the chop. Conversely, in calm conditions the boat likes to run trimmed out, skipping smoothly and efficiently atop the water surface.

The 550 Vision accepts single, extra-longshaft outboard engines up to 150hp or 230kg in weight. That said, you would only consider the maximum power outboard engine for regular heavy load applications. Otherwise, a 90hp to 115hp outboard engine should prove sufficient.

We would make the stretch to the 115hp motor if possible as it provides that little bit extra grunt. Our test boat engine proved strong throughout its rev range, accelerating the Sea Jay to a top speed of 35.1 knots at 5900rpm.

The hull/engine combination is quite frugal, too, burning just 8.9L/h at 3000rpm.

Performance

Range on 95% of the 175L fuel supply at 3000rpm: 241.0nm

The Sea Jay 550 Vision is an excellent trailerable fishing all-rounder for two to four anglers. It is small enough to chase bream, bass, and barra inshore, yet big and safe enough to sport fish a dozen or so miles offshore.

In the 550 model size, the Vision is also simple to launch and retrieve, tows easily behind medium-size vehuicles, and performs admirably on the water. This terrific inshore/offshore fishing boat is also good value at $43K for the starter package.

Specifications
Model: Sea Jay 550 Vision
Length overall: 5.6m
Hull length: 5.5m
Beam: 2.45m
Depth: 1.3 mm
Deadrise: 16 degrees
Hull weight: 707kg (inc. T-top)
Weight on trailer: 1500kg (est)
Bottom and transom alloy: 4.0mm
Topsides alloy: 3.0mm
Maximum power: 150hp
Maximum motor weight: 230kg
Engine as tested: Mercury 115hp four-stroke
Fuel capacity: 175L
Flotation standard: Basic
Passengers: Six

Priced from: $43,000 including a Mercury 90hp four-stroke extra-longshaft (25-inch) outboard with analogue gauges, tandem axle Sea Jay galvanised steel trailer with mechanical brakes, inshore safety gear pack, and 12 months Queensland boat and trailer registrations.

Price as tested: $52,990. As above but with an engine upgrade to the Mercury 115hp outboard with Smartcraft digital gauges, and the alloy framed T-top with rocket launcher.

Supplied by: Nitro Marine