2021 Quintrex 481 Hornet review

We sampled the first of the new boats out of the Gold Coast factory, the Quintrex 481 Hornet fitted with a Mercury 115hp four-stroke outboard engine.

Along with several other Quintrex boat lines, the renowned Hornet tiller-steer and side console open fishing boats have been given a makeover for 2021.

The latest boats have new hulls, extra features, and new deck layouts with more storage and fishing space.

Side console models have a larger fascia to accommodate bigger flush-fitted electronics displays, while all models have a redesigned transom/outboard well with a Maxi bracket on either side, Quintrex's in-house system for adding or removing boarding ladders and burley buckets and the like.

After discussions with dealers, Quintrex has also streamlined the range and dropped several models; there are now eight models across five different hull sizes.

The Hornet Trophy boats are now the entry models, available in 420 and 440 hull sizes and with a tiller-steer helm configuration.

Quintrex's side console Hornets are available in three sizes; 450, 481, and 510. Each boat size is available as a standard, modestly appointed "Hornet" model, as well as a deluxe outfitted "Hornet Pro" model.

For this review, we have secured one of the standard models, the new Quintrex 481 Hornet paired with the maximum-power Mercury 115hp four-stroke outboard engine.

The standard Quintrex Hornets don't have quite as many features as the Pro models, but they still come out of the factory with lots of good gear.

Key features include a carpeted front casting deck with multiple storage compartments and anchor well; stern casting deck with battery locker and plumbed live well; 270mm wide, fully-welded side decks; three pedestal seats with four floor-sockets; a compact roto-moulded plastic side console helm station with glovebox and cup holders; bow trolling motor plate; boarding platforms with ladder; and dual transducer brackets.

For the record, the deluxe Hornet Pro models gain hydraulic steering, a burley bucket, VHF radio, casting deck lean seat, lockable rod storage, audio system with speakers, and deluxe Bass Sport pedestal seats.

Having noted the above, customers can upgrade the standard Hornet with the above options and many others.

Our test boat, for example, was optioned with hydraulic steering, a sports steering wheel, the deluxe Bass Sport seats, a Lowrance Elite 9FS fishfinder/GPS, as well as LED switches and lighting.

With the above extras, and fitted with the Mercury 115hp four-stroke outboard engine, a single-axle aluminium trailer, registrations and safety gear, our test boat is priced at $46,493 at Brisbane's Karee Marine.

If you don't want to pick and choose individual options for your new Hornet, Quintrex has three different "boat bundles" available which group some of the most popular options into a bundle or pack.

Tick the box for the Comfort bundle, for example, and your new Hornet gains the lean-seat, deluxe pedestal seat upgrade, and an audio system.

With the Fishing bundle, you get the burley bucket, VHF radio, lean-seat, and LED cockpit lights and switches.

The Captain bundle upgrades the standard mechanical steering to hydraulic steering with a tilt-adjustable sports steering wheel.

Each of the new Hornet models is now fitted with the Quintrex Apex hull. This ground-breaking vee hull design was introduced in 2017 beneath the Frontier fishing boats and Freestyler bowriders.

Adopting the flared bottom, concave-shaped Apex hull brings the latest Hornet models closer in design and specification to the larger Frontier fishing rigs, although the Frontiers have quite a different interior layout.

The Frontier models, for example, have a deep, full-height aft cockpit to make them safer for rough water coastal fishing applications.

The Hornets have a similar recessed centre cockpit area, but the aft cockpit/transom is configured into an elevated fishing platform for lure and fly casting in sheltered waters.

The larger size Quintrex Hornets are certainly capable of coastal offshore work, but the interior layout makes them better suited to inshore fishing applications such a bays, harbours, lakes and impoundments.

With regard to construction, the Quintrex Hornets are all made using 4mm pressed alloy for the hull and transom, 3mm for the topsides.

An internal keel is supported by transom corner and engine mount gussets, along with cross-ribs at regular intervals along the length of the hull to boost strength and rigidity.

The anchor well, live bait tank, and several of the storage compartments feature strong, durable, drop-in roto-moulded plastic bins.

Plywood hatch lids have stainless steel hinges/hardware and are carpeted front and back to fight off mould and moisture.

The Quintrex 481 Hornet has a traditional bass/barra V-nose boat interior layout with bow and stern fishing decks, a deep central cockpit area, and a side console helm station.

That said, the Hornet's squared-off, pickle-forked bow shape has resulted in a particularly large and wide front casting deck.

Rival boats with a pointier nose generally have a front deck that tapers sharply into the stem of the boat, limiting the amount of standing/foot space.

The squarer bow also allows for more storage; the 481 Hornet has one large transverse storage locker with a false, carpeted floor and accessed via three hatches.

Further forward, but still beneath the casting platform, is the plastic bin insert for the anchor and rode.

Surrounding features include the super-wide welded side coamings, bow rails, navigation lights, bow roller, and a floor/deck socket to accept one of the three included pedestal chairs.

To keep the front deck clear, clean, and snag-free, there's also a pop-up stainless steel cleat to tie off your deck-line or anchor rope instead of a welded bollard.

As noted earlier, there is extra storage space aft with two large compartments beneath the rear deck, on either side of the central live bait tank.

The live bait tank is reasonable in size, but competition anglers will want to option the boat with the much bigger casting deck live fish well.

The roto-moulded plastic side console in the 481 Hornet is the same unit Quintrex fits to many of its side console boats including the Hornets, Frontiers and Top Enders.

The console is compact in size, durable in construction, and comes with a tinted windshield, a glove box/storage compartment, two cup holders, and a large fascia panel to accept a decent sized (12-inch) electronics display.

There's an option for a surrounding grab rail, but it was not fitted to our test rig.

Seated in the lift-out pedestal helm chair, the skipper feels right at home, although I would have preferred the chair to be a tad closer to the steering wheel. On the plus side, the extra space makes it possible to steer the boat while standing up.

The surrounding, recessed cockpit area is about 2.0 metres long; big enough to accommodate the three included pedestal chairs.

Other features of note include a pair of plastic rod holders, carpet upholstered side deck panels, and a high-set port side gunwale side pocket. The latter is elevated so customers can retrofit an optional port side horizontal rod locker beneath it.

The Quintrex Apex hull wowed journalists (including this writer) when it made its debut a few years ago beneath the Quintrex Frontier and Freestyler models. The hull proved to be remarkably soft riding, dry and stable.

Re-engineered this year for the smaller Hornet models, the Apex hull is just as impressive. It is a terrific design, as the flared, finely angled entry shape cuts cleanly through waves, while the reverse angle chines (which extend right through to the bow of the boat) suppress and dampen wind-blown spray.

Underway, few comparable boats can match the Quintrex 481 Hornet for ride comfort into the waves. This is the forte of this hull. Some rivals can best these Hornets for stability and overall handling, but most fall well short when it comes to ride comfort.

The Apex hull is relatively easy to push across the water, too. You can get by with a 75hp outboard engine on the transom of the Quintrex 481 Hornet, or you can dial it up and fit the maximum power 115hp option.

With a Mercury 115hp four-stroke outboard engine on the transom our test boat had plenty of poke, accelerating powerfully from idle and up through the mid-range, before topping out at 41 knots at 6000rpm.

The Quintrex 481 Hornet cruises comfortably at around 17.8 knots in mild conditions but runs most economically at a slightly reduced speed of 14.6 knots where the engine burns 14.1L/h for a maximum range on 95 per cent of the boat's 80-litre fuel capacity of 95.9 nautical miles.

Performance

Range on 95% of the 80L fuel supply at 3000rpm: 97.3nm

With significant upgrades now completed for the full range of Quintrex Hornet models, I expect these renowned craft to be even more popular with keen inshore anglers.

There are not as many Hornet models on offer as before, but the remaining models are excellent boats, eminently fit for the purpose of chasing bass, barra, bream — and many other species — from our coastal waterways and inland impoundments.

Of the three model sizes now available, the 481 would be my pick as well. I reckon this is the Goldilocks model — not too big, not too small, but just right.

Priced from: $42,860 including a 100hp Mercury longshaft (20-inch) four-stroke outboard engine, a Quintrex single-axle alloy trailer, 12 months Queensland registrations, and a smooth water safety gear pack.

Price as tested: $46,493 as above but with a 115hp Mercury longshaft (20-inch) four-stroke outboard engine, hydraulic steering, Volante sports steering wheel, Lowrance Elite 9FS fishfinder/GPS, LED lighting and switches, an upgrade to Bass Sport pedestal seats.

Supplied by: Karee Marine