2022 Revival R640 HT X-Series review

Melbourne-based Revival was founded in 2008 by well-known boatbuilder, Sam Catanese – who also established Stejcraft about 50 years earlier – as a line of trailerable fibreglass boats.

From the outset, the ethos for Revival was to build value-focussed family fishing and lifestyle boats, but with the offshore chops to chase kingfish and tuna.

Today, Revival offers a range of nine boats from 5.2 metres to 6.4 metres, with design options including a runabout, X-Runner bowrider, cuddy cab and cabin cruiser.

Buyers can also several different packages – base model SportZ, fishing-friendly Offshore, cruising optimised WeekEnder or range-topping X-Series – that optimise the fit-out of the boats for their owners’ needs.

The larger boats in the range also come with the option of a soft or hardtop.

The boat tested here, the Revival R640 HT X-Series, comes with all the fruit and sits at the top of the range.

It is a boat that Midway Marine manager Warwick Rann says can be used for fishing one weekend, and taking the family away on the next.

West Australian Revival dealer, Rockingham-based Midway Marine, offers the Revival 640 Offshore in hardtop form from $132,000.

This includes a white hull (coloured gelcoat is extra), a 200hp Mercury four-stroke outboard engine, hydraulic steering, the hardtop with front and side clears and stainless-steel rocket launcher, and all sitting on a dual-axle Dunbier electro-hydraulic braked trailer.

Other standard equipment includes a plumbed live bait tank, underfloor kill or storage tank, automatic bilge pump, LED lighting, a portable toilet that fits neatly in the cabin, cabin bunk infill that transforms the two bunks into a comfortable double bed, rear fold-down bench seat, and carpeted flooring.

All the other X-Series features are designed to make life easier and give the Revival R640 HT a more upmarket feel.

These include a coloured gelcoat, premium JL audio system, twin front seat frames built over iceboxes, rubber flooring, powered anchor winch, fibreglass bait board, and a rear lounge seat upgrade with storage and deluxe upholstery.

The Revival R640 HT X-Series also comes standard with a Simrad NSS16 Evo3 with 600W and 1kW transducer, taking the cost of our test boat to $152,000.

The Revival R640 HT X-Series features a fine entry to cut through chop and swell and provide a soft ride, with a flared bow that’s designed to throw water sideways, keeping everyone on board as dry as possible.

The beamy hull – at 2.48 metres it just slips inside the maximum trailerable width – features a sharp 21-degree deadrise and reversed chines to help with at-rest stability.

The biggest difference between the standard boat and the X-Series we tested is the additional 200kg of reinforcing added to the hull to allow for the bigger 250hp outboard engine – the normal maximum-rated engine is 225hp.

Most of the extra reinforcing is added to the keel, but the transom also gains two more supports.

The boat is built to weigh up to 2500kg when fully optioned, making it an ideal package to comfortably tow behind a large family car or trade ute even when loaded with all the day's add-ons. The boat comes equipped with a 200-litre under-floor fuel tank.

Revival’s boats come with a 10-year unlimited sea miles warranty, which it says is the best in the business.

At 6.4 metres, the Revival R640 HT X-Series is a big boat. You get an immediate sense of its size when you step into the cockpit.

The cockpit has plenty of room for three people to stand side-by-side, and the deep freeboard means the coaming is thigh-high, providing good support and comfort via padded upholstery covering the side pockets.

There is also a small vertical gap between the lockers and floor so you can get your feet under to stand nice and close to the side.

Two transom-mounted lounge seats come with storage buckets underneath, and can be either pushed under the transom to give unfettered access to the bait board or rods while trolling or moved completely out of the way.

The front seats swivel aft to face the transom seats to create a very sociable space.

The two under-seat iceboxes that slide in beneath the passenger and helm seats eliminate the need to bring any extra chilled storage for those necessary supplies for a good day on the water.

Speaking of storage, this boat comes with plenty, both in the cockpit and the cabin.

The main feature in the Revival R640 HT X-Series’s helm is a Simrad NSS16 evo3 multifunction screen that creates a very clean-looking and easy-to-use dash that can be set up how you like.

All the important things, such as the throttle for the 250hp Mercury outboard engine, fall easily to hand, and the adjustable captain’s chair-style helm seat with a flip-up bolster allows you to sit and use the moulded fibreglass footrest or stand to drive with equal comfort.

The hydraulic steering is fitted to the helm via a rubber-lined stainless steel steering wheel fitted with a knob so you can easily swing the motor from lock to lock for tight docking manoeuvres.

The side of the helm is padded and contains a handy pocket for small items such as mobile phones. The full-length padded side pockets also extend into this space.

The cabin, which is fitted with 1800mm long bunks, features long tinted windows letting in natural light and comes with an infill that transforms the vee berth into a very comfortable double bunk.

The Revival R640 HT X-Series also has a portable toilet that sits neatly under the starboard bunk, with a privacy screen that zips into place to protect your dignity.

A large hatch provides access to the bow, although the hardtop is fitted with handrails if you wish to access the forward section via the narrow side deck framed in a low stainless steel bow rail.

The Revival R640 HT X-Series is based on a boat that is designed specifically for bluewater use. It was disappointing, then, that Perth turned on a brilliant calm and sunny day for our test after an unseasonably wet and cold start to spring.

A slight swell was running, but nothing that was going to test a boat that prides itself on being a strong offshore performer.

What I did learn was how planted the Revival R640 HT X-Series felt on the water. Even at its top speed of a tick less than 50 knots it remained stable and calm.

Throwing the Revival R640 HT X-Series into a tight turn did little to unsettle its composure, though I must confess this was done at a much more sensible 30 knots.

While the outboard engine upgrade brings extra mumbo, the 250hp V8 Mercury does like to drink. The downside to this is range, so if you want to run wider offshore, maybe it's better to step down to a lower-performance engine that is more economical.

It was surprisingly calm at the helm with the hardtop and clears blocking almost all wind and noise – sitting in the front seats it was easy to carry on a conversation without the need to raise voices.

The front clears come with separate hatches that allow airflow while on the move, or a cross-breeze while at anchor.

We tested the boat with three people on board, and there only were a few times when the third person needed to move slightly to one side or the other to keep the boat flat. This is something that could easily be rectified with trim tabs.

Performance

Maximum cruising range calculated on 95 per cent of the 200-litre fuel capacity: 138nm@4000rpm

I’m yet to find such a thing as a boat that will suit all needs; there is always going to be a compromise.

The Revival R640 HT X-Series is a boat that is marketed as equal parts mini-game fisher and family cruiser, and while there are still some compromises, it does a pretty good job of fulfilling both roles.

It is big enough to be used for overnight trips, although if you are planning on using it regularly for overnight stays, adding a freshwater tank and optional shower would be a must.

The hardtop and clears will ensure you are always protected from the wind, both at anchor and on the journey, and the deluxe upholstery adds a touch of class, as well as ensuring all hard surfaces and edges have a “softer” touch. The inclusion of a portable toilet makes it more attractive to families.

Likewise, it is well equipped for all types of fishing, but it is no workhorse. For starters, I would even be putting a more hardwearing surface on the fibreglass cutting board so I did not spoil its aesthetics with nicks and scratches.

Whether it is a weekend of fishing or relaxing in a secluded bay it will be a comfortable, dry trip. The extra mojo from the higher-rated 250hp outboard engine will provide outstanding performance.

Specifications
Model: Revival R640 HT X-Series
Length: 6.4m
Beam: 2.48m
Deadrise: 21deg
Weight: 1500kg (hull only)
Engines: 150hp (min)/225hp (max)/250hp (X-Series)
Engine as tested: Mercury 250hp V8 four-stroke
Fuel: 200L
Flotation: Standard
Passengers: Eight

Priced from: $132,000 including a Mercury 200hp four-stroke outboard with a hardtop and white hull sitting on a Dunbier dual-axle trailer.

Price as tested: $152,000 including the X-Series package that adds features including a more powerful 250hp Mercury engine. It also comes with coloured gelcoat sides, lower hull and top deck; Simrad NSS16 Evo3 with 600W transducer; JL audio system; 2x iceboxes below the front seats; front and side clears; rubber flooring; electric anchor winch; fibreglass bait board with sinker cups/cupholders; LED lighting; rear lounge seat upgrade; stainless steel rocket launcher; and deluxe upholstery. The X-Series also adds 200kg of reinforcement down the keel and in the transom to cater for the more powerful outboard engine.

Supplied by: Midway Marine