2022 Bonito 660XT Big Ram review

Overview

Queensland fibreglass trailer boat maker, Bonito Boats Australia, has been in expansion mode in recent times. For some years, this boutique boat builder has produced tiller-steer, centre and side console boats from just two vee-hull sizes: 5.0 and 5.6 metres.

Both are crafted off a New Zealand designed hull that was originally 4.8 metres in length.

Now, Bonito has launched a new offshore trailerable half cabin boat called the 660 Big Ram. There will also be a centre console version of this hull shortly, along with slightly smaller 620 series half cabins and centre consoles.

The new additions will expand the Bonito boat range to 10 models, taking into account the various tiller, side console, centre console and half cabin configurations.

Customers will also be able to customise each of these craft to create their perfect fishing/family boat.

As noted though, the latest addition to the Bonito boat range is the 660 Big Ram half cabin. This craft was originally designed and built by Mallacoota-based specialist performance boat maker, Cootacraft.

One glance at the hull beneath the Bonito 660 Big Ram, and experienced boaters will straight away pick this boat out as something pretty special. The swooping deck line, ultra-fine bow entry shape, and the radical vee-shape aft are characteristic of race boat hulls – and proven offshore classics such as the Formula 233. 

Remarkably, the Bonito 660 Big Ram has a knife-sharp 53 degrees of vee angle at the bow, stretching aft to a transom deadrise of 25 degrees.

Similar to most heavy, super-deep vee monohulls, the big Bonito needs plenty of power. Hull number one, presented for this review, was paired with an ultra-longshaft Yamaha 300hp V6 Offshore motor, although our overbuilt XT model test boat can handle single or dual outboard engines to a combined 450hp.

Bonito Boats Australia has 660 Big Ram package prices starting from about $124k when paired with a Yamaha 250hp ultra-longshaft (30-inch) V6 Offshore outboard engine, and riding on a Ozi dual-axle aluminium trailer with electric hydraulic break-away brakes.

That is a ripper base price for a boat of this size, but it should be taken as a base or starting price as these hulls don't come with a lot of standard kit. This is intentional to keep the price down, and to allow customers to outfit their boats precisely as they want.

Our XT model test boat is subsequently priced much higher at about $175k, but this includes the larger V6 Yamaha 300hp outboard engine, along with a Simrad NSS12 Evo3S display with CZone integration, Simrad auto-pilot and AP44 controller, Icom VHF radio, and a Fusion stereo system.

The test boat also gained a soft-top bimini with stainless steel frame, front and side clears, and aft rocket launcher rod rack; transom bait board; windscreen grab rail; deluxe flip-up bolster helm chairs on stainless steel frames; Savwinch electric drum winch; deck wash; cabin cushions and infills; boarding ladder; underwater LED light; Lenco trim tabs with custom blades; and more.

Interestingly, customers can also choose to have a fibreglass wave breaker shelter above the cabin/deck, instead of the curved glass windscreen.

The Bonito 660 Big Ram is available as a standard version or as a heavy-duty XT performance model.

The latter is overbuilt, heavier, with more fibreglass used in the construction and extra bracing to the transom and keel so the hull can handle outboard engines of up to 450hp.

The standard hull is limited to a maximum of 300hp, though that is not a particular restriction as a Yamaha 300hp motor still yields a top speed of 43 knots.

The Bonito 660 Big Ram XT model is also foam-filled to make it quieter, safer, stiffer, more rigid.

All Bonito models are made without any structural timber. The hand-laid fibreglass hulls are strengthened with no-rot (foam-filled) fibreglass stringers, while Thermo-Lite composite board is used as the core material in the transom, flooring and structural bulkheads.

As well, 316-grade stainless steel hardware, fixtures and fittings are used throughout.

The 660 hull itself is 6.6 metres long, 2.45 metres wide and weights roughly 2750kg on the Spitfire dual-alloy trailer.

As noted earlier, the 660 does not come with a heap of luxury features but it does have some important stuff for anglers such as a large, flow-coated cockpit; forward anchor well; 190mm wide side deck coamings, 740mm of cockpit freeboard (transom), a 360-litre fuel tank (upgradeable to 550 litres); and recessed pop-up stern cleats.

The Bonito 660XT Big Ram can also be built in category 2C Survey for commercial applications.

The Bonito 660 Big Ram is a trailerable sports fishing boat with an enclosed forward cabin, a high, but sleek deck super-structure, combined with a spacious aft cockpit.

The cabin is big enough to be called a half cabin rather than a cuddy. The two individual berths are well over full length at 2.4 metres.

Fitting the optional infill boards and cushions in place converts this space into a large double bed.

There is ample headroom above each cloth upholstered berth to sit in the cabin, although it does not really have a central companionway to place your feet. This space is used for storage, as there are no storage lockers beneath the side berths.

Sub-berth storage compartments were dropped in favour of fitting sealed flotation chambers to meet commercial Survey requirements.

You can option the boat with full length cabin side storage pockets overhead for stowing everything from clothing to safety gear.

The cabin ceiling and surrounds are quite plain/spartan compared to some rival craft, as a basic flow-coat fleck finish is used instead of carpet or vinyl.

Crew members can move forward to the front deck and anchor well via an acrylic hatch in the cabin forepeak, or by climbing around the cabin externally.

The anchor well itself is decent in size, and can accommodate the optional electric drum winch fitted to the test boat.

A full bulkhead with optional acrylic cabin door separates the front cabin from the helm station. The dash and fascia overhead is traditional but practical in design.

Fronting the skipper is a stainless steel steering wheel beneath an angled fascia that is suitable for switches, engine gauges, trim tab buttons, and a couple of radio head units.

This fascia is not large enough to accept both engine gauges and an electronics display, so the fish finder/GPS must be mounted on a bracket overhead where it can be viewed and operated easily.

Over on the port side, the front passenger has a large storage space/glove box built into the dash, below a pair of cup holders.

The dash grab rail and the optional wraparound windscreen grab rail are excellent inclusions.

Our test boat was optioned with excellent bucket chairs with height adjustment, flip-up front bolsters, and fore and aft sliding bases so they can be positioned for maximum driving comfort.

The standard helm chairs come on pedestal bases, but the test boat had the seats secured to stainless steel frames, beneath which you can stow an optional icebox.

Overhead, the optional soft top bimini is well supported with a strong, rattle-free stainless steel frame and aft rocket launcher rod rack.

From the helm, the view forward through the three-piece windscreen is excellent while seated, but I did find that the frame/bar at the top of the windscreen sat at an inconvenient height for me when standing up. I had to peer over the top of the screen, or slouch slightly for better sightlines forward.

I am 179cm tall. Shorter and taller skippers may not have this issue.

Anglers will appreciate the size and shape of the aft cockpit. Behind the helm chair frames the rear deck stretches 2.08 metres back to the 740mm full-height transom wall.

The cockpit is not self-draining, as this would require lifting the floor higher with the potential then of upsetting stability. Instead, there is a sump/water catchment beneath the transom with a large automatic bilge pump.

Full length, elevated side storage pockets flank the cockpit, beneath 190mm wide side coamings that are great for flush-fitting rod holders.

Four heavy duty stainless steel deck rod holders are included, and there is ample space for extras and for outrigger bases.

Built into the transom are two small bait wells. Both can be rigged for live bait, but I would prefer a single, larger live well.

Our test boat was optioned with two batteries, both nicely secured on platforms beneath the transom, behind Sopac hatches.

Other features on note include the optional bait board, deck wash, and boarding ladder.

Standard boats also come with two 450-litre underfloor kill tanks for fish storage, but our test rig was upgraded with the optional 550-litre capacity fuel tank instead.

I noted earlier than big deep vee hulls like the Bonito 660 Big Ram need plenty of power. Well, you can option the XT model with single or dual outboard enginess to 450hp, although the boat does not need that much grunt.

Moreover, I'd be wary of fitting a massive, heavy outboard engines (or big power twins) on the transom for fear of upsetting the balance of the boat at rest and underway.

For most recreational applications, I believe 300hp is plenty. With the Yamaha 300hp V6 Offshore motor mounted on the double-wide transom, the test boat pulls a top speed of 43 knots with middle fuel and two adults onboard.

In full fishing trim, with three or four people onboard, you will lose three or four knots of top speed, but the boat does have ample power and performance through the mid range, and it is mid-range grunt you need most offshore.

That said, it was good fun to blast along the Surfers Paradise foreshore in the Big Ram at close to full throttle. Ripping along the surf line at 40 knots, just outside the breakers was properly exhilarating!

As you would expect from such a deep vee hull shape, the Bonito 660 Big Ram is wonderfully soft riding, particularly at speed. It loves to run bow high with the hull skipping across the tops of waves, getting plenty air.

At more modest speeds this boat is also very capable, though you do need to use the optional trim tabs for best performance and hull balance.

The tabs also help with lateral trim. Deep vee hulls are generally sensitive to wind gusts, side currents and weight distribution. The Big Ram is no different. With this boat you need to know how to drive it, and to use the trim tabs correctly.

At speed the Bonito 660 Big Ram can be sensitive to the conditions, but at rest and at displacement trolling speeds I found the hull to be rock solid and stable.

Performance

REVS    SPEED                          FUEL USE         RANGE

1000    4.0kt (7.4km/h)           5.2L/h              401.9nm

1500    5.7kt (10.5km/h)         8.6L/h              346.3nm

2000    6.4kt (11.9km/h)         13.7L/h            244.1nm

2500    9.6kt (17.8km/h)         19.5L/h            257.2nm

3000    12.4kt (22.9km/h)       24.5L/h            264.4nm

3500    19.7kt (36.4km/h)       30.8L/h            334.2nm

4000    27.3kt (50.5km/h)       43.1L/h            330.9nm

4500    31.3kt (57.9km/h)       52.0L/h            314.5nm

5000    35.6kt (65.9km/h)       66.6L/h            279.3nm

5500    39.0kt (72.1km/h)       88.7L/h            229.7nm

6000    43.5kt (80.5km/h)       101.5L/h          223.9nm

Range on 95% of the optional 550L fuel supply: 334.2nm at 3500rpm

The Bonito 660XT Big Ram is an excellent boat for experienced boaters and anglers. This big, super deep-vee trailer boat delivers epic performance and a wonderfully soft ride. It is also strong, stable at rest, and well built.

The Big Ram does not have much in the way of standard features, but the starting price is low and there are plenty of options and accessories available to spruce it up.

I see the Big Ram as a blank canvas, from which you can create the ultimate masterpiece. With the right options and gear, there is the potential here for a first class offshore fishing rig.

Specifications
Model: Bonito 660XT Big Ram
Length overall: 6.6m
Beam: 2.45m
Deadrise: 25deg
Hull weight: 1200kg (dry)
Weight on trailer: 2750kg (est)
Maximum power: 450hp (single or twins) XT model
Engine as tested: Yamaha 300hp V6 Offshore four-stroke
Fuel: 550L (360L standard.)
Passengers: 7

Priced from: About $124,000 with a Yamaha 250hp V6 Offshore ultra-longshaft (30-inch) four-stroke outboard with Hydrive hydraulic steering, and an Ozi dual-axle aluminium trailer with electric-hydraulic break-away brakes.

Price as tested: About $175,000. As above but with a larger 300hp Yamaha V6 Offshore four-stroke outboard with Hydrive hydraulic steering; upgraded Spitfire aluminium trailer with spare wheel; Simrad NSS12 Evo3S display with CZone integration, Simrad auto-pilot and AP44 controller; Icom VHF radio; Fusion stereo; a soft-top bimini with stainless steel frame, front and side clears, and aft rocket launcher rod rack; transom bait board; windscreen grab rail; deluxe flip-up bolster helm chairs on stainless steel frames; Savwinch electric drum winch; raw water deck wash; cabin cushions and infills; cabin side pockets; boarding ladder; underwater LED light; base electronics package; Lenco trim tabs with custom blades; plumbing to live well; upgraded 550L fuel tank.

Supplied by: www.bonitoboats.com.au