2020 Sea Jay 670 Trojan HT review

Sea Jay Boats has produced pressed and plate alloy boat for many years. This Bundaberg, Queensland-based boat maker has two separate lines - standard production models and a separate series of semi-custom plate alloy boats. The latter are sold directly from the factory, with boat sizes starting at 6.7 metres.

Sea Jay's standard, or regular, production models are all available via Sea Jay's nationwide dealer network. Most are made from pressed aluminium and have carpeted timber floors.

At the top of this standard line-up, however, are two full plate alloy boats, the 630 and 670 Trojans.

These craft are available with or without an overhead hardtop, and with sealed, checker-plate alloy cockpits, external keels and heavy-duty 5083-grade plate alloy hull bottoms and topsides.

The Trojans are similar in design, layout and build to the super-tough, factory-direct plate boat models but with fewer standard features to keep the price down.

For this review we were able to source the flagship model in the standard boat range, the big Sea Jay 670 Trojan HT, complete with a Mercury 200hp V6 four-stroke outboard engine and a Redco aluminium dual-axle skid trailer.

Sea Jay's Gold Coast dealer, Nitro Marine, has Sea Jay 670 Trojan HT boat packages starting from $99,000 when rigged with the entry-sized Mercury 175hp V6 four-stroke in the extra-longshaft (25-inch) configuration.

The price also gets you the dual-axle alloy trailer, an inshore safety gear pack, along with boat and trailer registrations.

The Sea Jay 670 Trojan HT might not have quite as many bells and whistles as the factory-direct models, but it is well equipped nevertheless.

Families will appreciate the enclosed cabin with twin-berth accommodation (cushions optional), along with the sheltered helm station with deluxe seating.

Anglers will be more than pleased with the included self-draining 3mm sealed alloy cockpit, the transom live bait tank, built-in rod holders, high freeboard, dual batteries, kill tank, hardtop rocket launcher and more.

Among the other notable standard features you'll find a dive door, boarding platforms with swing-down ladder, hardtop radio box, toughened glass windscreen and opening side windows, foam flotation to Basic standard, bilge pump, plate-style trim tabs, and more.

Our test boat was upgraded with a 200hp Mercury V6 four-stroke outboard engine along with a Garmin multifunction display, Stressfree electric winch, berth cushions, painted topsides, a GME VHF radio, half-size rear lounge, and a raw water deck wash.

The price? Drive-away on the included Redco aluminium trailer, the test boat package represents great value at $112,890.

The 670 Trojan uses a version of Sea Jay's Samurai variable deadrise hull. Stand-outs of the build include 5mm 5083 marine grade alloy for the hull and transom, 4mm for the topsides and 3mm for the internal checker-plate cockpit floor.

The hull has a 19-degree transom vee angle sharpening to a fine entry at the bow. A pair of planing strakes provide lift and deflect spray away from the high topsides.

A full-length keel cap or extrusion provides strength and abrasion resistance.

The Sea Jay 670 Trojan HT has a noticeable sheer to the deckline, the topsides rising from amidships and running forward to the bow roller on the forepeak.

The high bows shed water in rough weather, and give the boat a tough, formidable appearance.

The Sea Jay 670 Trojan HT has a 6.65-metre waterline, an overall length of 6.9 metres, and a wide beam of 2.48 metres.

Reverse chines combine with the hull width to provide exceptional stability at rest and smooth, quick hole-shots.

With the included hardtop, the Sea Jay 670 Trojan HT's hull weighs around 1195kg, and about 2000kg dry as tested with the Mercury 200hp outboard and dual-axle trailer.

Design and layout

The Sea Jay Trojan has classic plate alloy hull lines and a traditional, but practical cabin structure topped by a full-height deck-to-hardtop three-piece toughened glass windscreen with surrounding side windows.

This full-shelter configuration is great for trailerboat gamefishing, particularly in cooler, wetter, rougher fishing locations.

That said, the opening side windows provide excellent ventilation and airflow to the cabin so I would be equally at home operating this impressive trailer boat from any Australia port.

There's full standing headroom beneath the hardtop, a broad dash under the windscreen, and a large fascia panel at the helm with space for engine instrumentation and two medium-size flush-fitted electronics displays.

Our test boat was rigged with a single Garmin GPSMAP 1222xsv Plus multifunction display.

The steering wheel sits below with the throttle lever nicely place alongside. Surrounding switch and trim tab buttons are easy to reach.

The skipper has an unfettered view from the helm and the storage box-mounted helm chair is comfortable and supportive.

The helm chair swivels and slides fore and aft, while the accompanying passenger chair only swivels. Both chairs have flip-up front bolsters.

There are two longitudinal grab rails under the hardtop, along with a grab handle on the dash to port, beneath a decent-size glovebox with a SoPac hatch.

A full bulkhead separates the twin-berth forward cabin from the helm station, but with an open doorway. I would consider adding a door to the entry so the cabin could be locked-up - although this would make entry and egress more difficult.

The cabin layout is unremarkable, yet practical. A 1.88m long berth stretches the length of each side, beneath an overhead ventilation/access hatch. Berth cushions are optional.

The appearance of the cabin is boosted by carpet lining to the ceiling and a paint-fleck finish to the cabin sides.

Storage lockers are below each berth, and an infill board/cushion is available to reconfigure the two single berths into a decent-size double.

Our test boat did not have a toilet, but there is the option to fit one.

Access to the large anchor well on the forepeak is via a cabin hatch, or by climbing up and around the cabin sides. We did not have to do either as our test boat was fitted with a helm-operated Stressfree electric winch.

The self-draining cockpit in the Sea Jay 670 Trojan HT is more than big enough for sport and game fishing. It measures 2.97 metres from the cabin bulkhead to the transom wall, with 1.85 metres of space aft of the seat boxes. It is also wide at 2.03 metres.

Full-length above-floor side storage pockets flank the cockpit, beneath 275mm super-wide side coamings.

Overhead, the hardtop rocket launcher can hold eight rods, while six in-deck rod holders will prove a good starting point for anglers. You will want to add more rod holders, but the included versions are well placed.

There is ample storage space in the boat, and not just underneath the forward vee berth. You'll find a storage locker and shelf inside the port side helm seat box, whilst its opposite number is rigged to accept a series of (optional) Plano terminal tackle trays.

The cockpit can house a second rack of tackle trays built into the port side transom wall.

The cockpit is deep and safe, with around 780mm of freeboard all around the perimeter, except at the transom where you'll find the starboard side entry/dive door.

The batteries are elevated under the transom, and the modest-size live bait tank is conveniently built into the port side transom wall.

A bench seat/lounge drops down from the transom wall to seat two people comfortably whilst the boat is underway.

Over the transom is an optional alloy bait board with more rod storage.

A large, self-filling underfloor kill tank between the helm chairs will keep your catch nice and fresh.

The Sea Jay 670 Trojan HT is fitted with three large, welded bollards, one at the front and two on the transom coamings. All are well placed for securing the boat to a jetty, but the rear bollards are properly exposed and may snag fishing lines.

The Sea Jay 670 Trojan HT's moderate vee Samurai hull is an excellent all-rounder. The hull is easily driven, efficient, and well mannered. The boat is stable, comfortable and dry at speed when presented with wind chop or ocean swell.

The Sea Jay 670 Trojan HT is easy to drive, manoeuvrable and sporty enough through the turns for the boat to be used for social tow sports.

The hull grips the water well through figure-eight turns, and there is just the right amount of propeller slip/ventilation from the Mercury V6 outboard engine to keep the crew from being thrown about.

In a following sea the Sea Jay 670 Trojan HT is equally adept, surfing easily and safely out of wave troughs, spray pushing out to each side of the boat.

Our test boat was paired with a 200hp Mercury V6 four-stroke outboard engine, but you could easily get away with a single 175hp outboard engine.

On the water our test boat proved to be quite agile, accelerating smartly from a idle, up through the rev range to a top speed of 38.2 knots at 5800 rpm.

Best cruise was 22.5 knots at 3500rpm for a fuel burn of 22.3L/h.

Performance

Range on 95% of the 270L fuel supply at 3500rpm: 258.8nm

The Sea Jay 670 Trojan HT is a terrific trailerable sport fishing platform, and an excellent craft overall. The interior fit-out may be a little utilitarian for family boating and cruising, but you could easily bunk down overnight in this rig's spacious and semi-enclosed cabin.

The Sea Jay 670 Trojan HT is a fishing rig first and foremost, and it is nicely outfitted for this role. Add a pair of outriggers and this boat is ready to head out in pursuit of everything from mackerel to marlin.

Priced from: $99,000 including a Mercury 175hp four-stroke extra-longshaft (25”) outboard, tandem axle Redco aluminium trailer with skid bearers and electric brakes, inshore safety gear pack, and 12 months boat and trailer registrations.

Price as tested: $112,890. As above but with an engine upgrade to the Mercury 200hp outboard with Smartcraft digital gauges, a Garmin GPSMAP 1222xsv Plus multi-function display, Stressfree electric winch, berth cushions and infill, painted topsides, a GME VHF radio, half-size rear lounge, and a raw water deck wash.

Supplied by: www.nitromarine.com.au