2019 Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat review

The Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat is the smallest of five Masters series models designed for bay and flats fishing. Larger models include the Masters 227, 248, 267OE and the range-topping 267 Bay Boat.

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Each of the Masters Bay Boats has a broad, low-profile moderate vee hull with a smooth, uncluttered interior interrupted only by the centre console helm station positioned amidships.

For lure casting and fly fishing the Masters models are ideal because you can stand up high (to spot fish) on the elevated bow and stern casting platforms, and the wide coamings encircling the boats are smooth, with nothing to snag your fishing line.

The Masters 207 Bay Boat is one of Sportsman's most popular models, introduced soon after this expanding boat maker was established back in 2012. The boat has received a range of tweaks and upgrades since then, but the inherent design remains largely unchanged – a good thing because the interior layout is ideal for a mix of serious fishing and family day boating.

Northside Marine has Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat packages starting from $79,979 with a Yamaha 115hp four-stroke outboard engine, a Redco dual-axle alloy trailer with mechanical brakes, 12 months registrations and an inshore safety pack.

Similar to the Sportsman Open 232 we tested last year, the Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat is brimming with good gear and standard features – more than you'll find in many rival boats.

Some of the key features include hydraulic-tilt steering, interior lighting, elevated fibreglass bow and stern casting decks with gas-strut assist hatch lids, three (yes three) separate live wells, dual batteries, two enclosed rod lockers, helm console with storage and provision for the included Garmin GPSMap 942xs MFD9 (with thru-hull transducer), deluxe dual-width leaning post, folding rear bench seat, pull-up cleats, provision for an electric trolling motor, USB and 12-volt charging plugs, dual batteries with switching, and more.

The Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat is so well-appointed that our test boat gained only a few options, none of which are really necessary. They included a foam rubber helm foot pad, a light blue-coloured hull (instead of standard white), raw-water washdown, shipping cover, and tackle drawers added to the leaning post.

A big upgrade to the test boat was the fitting of Yamaha's larger 150hp in-line four-cylinder, four-stroke extra-longshaft outboard engine in place of the 115hp model. With the more powerful outboard engine, the Masters 207 package price rises to $89,990.

The Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat has a smooth, low-sided hull with a fine entry at the bow, stretching aft to a vee angle at the transom of just 15 degrees. This modest vee shape combines with two lifting/planing strakes, a low centre of gravity, and pronounced chines to provide excellent stability.

At rest, the Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat is solid as a rock. It sits level with minimal side-to-side rocking, making it ideal as a fishing platform. Given this boat's elevated, exposed casting decks and low cockpit freeboard (360mm at the transom), having a solid, relatively stiff hull is essential in helping anglers to keep their balance and footing while fishing.

Sportsman boats are also very well made, crafted using the latest 3D design and CAD/CAM construction techniques with the extensive use of composites and other lightweight materials (no wood) to save weight and increase strength.

Sportsman's "SportTech" hulls are all foam-filled to Level flotation standard, while the underfloor structure has the fibreglass stringers incorporated into one single, full-length mould that is then chemically bonded to the inside of the hull.

All Sportsman models come with a 10-year limited hull warranty.

The Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat is essentially one large, uncluttered fishing platform, big enough for four or five anglers to fish comfortably. That said, the Masters Bay Boats are considered to be the more family-orientated of Sportsman's inshore boat range. Die-hard US anglers generally gravitate toward the even more fisherman-friendly Tournament models.

The difference between the Tournament and Masters boats is that the latter has features to appeal to family boaters so they make for better crossover boats.

At the bow, for example, the huge casting deck can convert into a seating/lounge area with the addition of optional clip-on cushions, though none were fitted to our test boat.

The stern has a flip-up two-seater bench seat to compliment the helm leaning post chairs, and a cushioned seat in front of the centre console.

If you fit the optional front cushions, there is ample seating in the Sportsman Master 207 Bay Boat, enough to accommodate the boat's maximum load capacity of seven adults.

The Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat also has lots of storage space, by virtue of the inclusion of multiple live wells, kill tanks and rod lockers – all of which can be used for general storage when not being used for fishing.

Beneath the big casting deck are five storage lockers. Each one has sturdy hatch lids that are gelcoat-finished front and back and fitted with waterproof rubber gaskets. Three of them also have gas strut supports so the hatch lids will stay open.

The two outside casting deck compartments are designed as lockable rod boxes and stretch almost the full length of the casting deck. There's also a fish box in the centre of the deck, an anchor well in the bow, and a general storage box beneath the casting deck step.

Other bow features include stainless steel cup holders and grab rails, and pop-up cleats at the bow and amidships.

To keep the bow clean and snag-free for anglers, there is no bow roller.

As noted earlier, the Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat has three live wells. The two primary live wells are located under the moulded rear casting deck in the stern, to either side of the folding bench seat. The third is a 38-litre well/tank situated in front of the console, beneath a cushioned seat.

All three live wells have a fish/bait-friendly sky blue finish and overboard drains. The two rear live wells hold 76 litres. A high-speed water pick-up/scoop feeds raw water into one of the live wells when the boat is underway.

The centre console helm station is located slightly forward of amidships. Similar to most modern centre console craft, the Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat has the tilt-adjust steering wheel, and throttle controls offset to the port side to allow the co-pilot to stand comfortably alongside the skipper.

The console is compact but functional. There is a short windshield on top framed in a handy stainless steel grab rail. There is flat dash space for an optional compass and a blacked-out fascia panel for the switching and the included Garmin GPSMap 942xs flush-fitted electronics display.

The helm console also has a glove box, an open glove compartment, cup holders, a foam-padded footrest, and a door on the front of the console to access the wiring, batteries and master switch.

The dual-width leaning post in our test boat is standard, but for the addition of a series of tackle storage trays underneath that are accessed from the rear.

The alloy-framed leaning post is otherwise simple in design but practical. There's a single backrest for the two seats and flip-up front bolsters that allow you to drive the boat comfortably while seated or standing.

Sportsman boats are powered exclusively by Yamaha outboards. The entry engine is the 115hp, 1.8-litre in-line four-cylinder four-stroke outboard engine that is good for a top speed of 34.7 knots. Upgrade to the larger capacity 150hp or 150hp VMAX outboard engine, and your top speed rises to more than 43 knots.

Our test boat was rigged with the standard Yamaha 150hp outboard engine and it proved to be very responsive throughout the rev range. Gun the throttle and there is more than enough power to throw you back in your seat.

With the big 150hp Yamaha on the transom, the Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat will easily pull a skier or wakeboarder, and the hull handles exceptionally well, carving up tight turns and figure-eight manoeuvres with ease.

You won't need the full-beans Yamaha 150hp outboard for most social fishing applications, but it certainly makes the boat good fun to drive. Competition anglers will also want the more powerful outboard for high-speed runs to distant fishing grounds.

The hull beneath the Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat is cleverly designed. The vee angle at the transom is relatively modest at 15 degrees, yet the hull smooths over choppy water remarkably well. The solid construction and in-hull foam flotation also dampen hull slap for a quieter ride, with almost no vibration felt at the helm.

As noted earlier, at rest and underway the Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat is also very stable, safe and well balanced. Trim tabs are available as an option, but they are not needed.

Performance

Range on 95% of the 242L fuel supply at 3500rpm: 278.5nm

The Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat is ideal for sheltered water fishing and family boating. At a glance, the centre console layout doesn't look to be family-friendly but add the optional front seat cushions to the casting deck and you have a seven-seater bay runabout with ample performance for social tow sports.

Leave the cushions in the garage and the Sportsman is superbly equipped (remember, three live wells!) to fish the bays, harbours and impoundments for bream, bass, barra, and more. Despite its low topsides, I'd happily fish this boat a dozen miles offshore, too.

The Sportsman Masters 207 Bay Boat is also very well finished and appointed straight from the factory, missing only the optional overhead T-top to configure it for Australian weather conditions. It's not cheap at around $90K (as tested), but the Sportsman is a quality boat with an excellent hull and a versatile interior layout.

Specifications
Model: Sportsman Masters 207
Hull length: 6.1m
Beam: 2.4m
Deadrise: 15 degrees
Draft: 305mm
Hull weight: 907kg
Weight on trailer: 1650kg (est)
Maximum power: 150hp
Engine as tested: Yamaha 150hp four-stroke
Fuel: 242L
Water: 49L
Live wells: 2x76L, 1x38L
Passengers: 7

Priced from: $79,979 including a Yamaha 115hp extra-longshaft (25-inch) four-stroke outboard with tilt-hydraulic steering; dual-axle Redco alloy trailer with mechanical brakes; inshore safety gear pack; and 12 months boat and trailer registrations.

Price as tested: $89,990. As above but with an engine upgrade to the Yamaha 150hp four-stroke outboard and the addition of a blue gelcoat hull colour; helm-foot pad; raw-water washdown; shipping cover, leaning post tackle storage and a sand anchor kit.

Supplied by: Northside Marine