2022 Stejcraft Monaco 610 Fisherman review

Overview

Stejcraft's cuddy cabin models include the Islander 580 DLX, Islander 580 Fisherman, Monaco 610 DLX, Monaco 610 Fisherman, and the flagship Monaco 640 DLX. 

The three DLX "Deluxe" models are outfitted expressly for family boating, social tow sports and bay cruising. 

The two Fisherman models are crossover boats with features and amenities suited to both coastal fishing and family boating.

The Monaco 580 and 610 Fisherman models are pretty similar in layout and design, but the larger size of the 610 model makes it just that little bit more capable, more suitable for offshore boating and fishing. 

The Monaco 610 is a tad wider and heavier than the 580l, but it can still be towed easily behind a full-size SUV or a dual cab ute as it weighs less than 2000kg (dry) on a dual-axle braked trailer. 

The Monaco 610 is rated for outboard engines of between 150hp and 200hp. We tested this delightful cuddy/half cabin with Mercury's smooth, quiet, powerful V6 200hp outboard engine bolted to the transom. 

Price and equipment

Stejcraft has Monaco 610 package prices starting from $76,990 when paired with a 135hp Mercury four-stroke extra-longshaft (25-inch) outboard engine and a dual-axle Dunbier galvanised steel trailer.

The above price is for the DLX version of the Monaco 610. Our Fisherman test boat gains a few extra standard features such as the deluxe transom bait board and H0 foam rubber flooring throughout. This increases the Fisherman's entry price to $79,990. 

Other standard features include deluxe bucket helm chairs mounted over alloy framed bases with a pair of lounge seat boxes; transom door; boarding platforms with ladder; chemical toilet; Bluetooth stereo; cabin ceiling lining; bunk infill cushions; four stainless steel rod holders; LED lighting, navigation lights; auto bilge pump; rear pull-up cleats; boat and trailer registrations; navigation lights, inshore safety gear pack; and more. 

Our test boat gained the larger 200hp Mercury V6 four-stroke outboard engine with hydraulic steering upgrade and SmartCraft engine gauges, along with an upgraded Dunbier trailer; black hull and deck with blue accent graphics package; Lowrance Elite FS9 multifunction display; Lowrance VHF radio; electric anchor winch with plough anchor and chain rode; aluminium folding Targa bimini with rod rack, front and side clears and rear shade extension; 12-volt and USB sockets; transom shower with 60-litre freshwater tank; and plumbing to the live bait tank.

The options live the cruise-away package price to $107,490. 

Hull and engineering

The Stejcraft Monaco 610 Fisherman has a centre-line length bang on 20 feet, or 6.1 metres. Add the rear boarding platforms and moulded bowsprit and the overall length extends out to 6.4 metres.

Presented on a deluxe-model Dunbier trailer with alloy wheels, the Monaco package has quite a presence. It's bigger than it looks too, although the black gelcoat combines with the modern cabin shape and optional graphics package to streamline the appearance of the boat.

Get up close and personal, however, and the wide 2.45-metre beam and high cabin structure become apparent; the Monaco is an impressive, capable-looking boat from any angle.

The hull is nicely proportioned with a fine, raked entry shape at the bow stretching aft to a transom deadrise angle of 21 degrees. 

Lifting strakes on each side of the keel stiffen the boat laterally and increase buoyancy/running surface aft to plane the hull quickly. 

That said, with the maximum-power 200hp Mercury on the transom of our test boat, speed to plane was never going to be an issue. 

similar to all modern Stejcrafts, the Monaco is made without timber in the construction so there is nothing to rot. Fibreglass and fibreglass composite materials are used throughout for strength and durability. 

Similarly, quality fabrics and flooring materials are made in-house, while fittings and fixtures are made using 316-grade stainless steel. 

Design and layout

The Stejcraft Monaco 610 has a typical Aussie cuddy cab layout with a half-width bulkhead separating the forward vee berth cabin from the helm station and the aft cockpit. 

The sizing for both — cabin and cockpit — is ideal in the Monaco. There is just enough space forward to accommodate 1.8-metre-long individual berths, whilst the 1.7-metre-long by 2.02-metre-wide cockpit (measured aft of the helm seat boxes) provides sufficient open deck space for two or three anglers to move about. 

There's also plenty of cockpit freeboard, ranging from a low of 750mm at the transom to a high of around 775mm above the full-length, elevated side storage pockets. 

Jam your feet under the side pockets, and you can lean up against the Monaco's extra-high side coamings to fish safely and securely in rough weather.

Recessed stainless steel grab rails give you something to hang on to as well while keeping the top decks clear and snag-free for fishing. 

The same goes for the pull-up stern cleats. 

Back up at the bow, family boaters will be impressed with the size of the cabin. There is ample headroom above full-length berths that convert into one large double bed with the addition of two infill boards over the companionway. 

The cabin berths are flanked by short upholstered side pockets, while overhead the ceiling is attractively lined with charcoal-toned carpet. 

Beneath the port side berth are two safety gear storage lockers. 

On the starboard side there is just the single storage locker because the under-berth space behind the helm station bulkhead is set aside for the included removable chemical toilet. 

The head fits snugly in this location, which offers a higher degree of privacy than if it were situated in the more common spot up in the cabin forepeak. 

Locating the toilet to the starboard also opens up the space in the forward part of the cabin. This extra room makes it easy to open the front hatch and to stand safely in the entryway for docking or anchoring the boat at sea. 

The anchor well is suitably sized for the Monaco and contains the tie-off cleat inside to keep the top deck clear. 

Our test boat was fitted with an optional electric drum winch so the plough anchor mounted on the bowsprit could be deployed at the press of a button back at the helm. 

The cockpit floor in the Stejcraft is flush and flat from the forward cabin to the aft transom wall; there is no annoying step or recess alongside the helm station. 

At the helm the wide dash and contemporary fascia panel is well arrayed before the skipper. 

There was flat panel space in our test boat for an optional Lowrance Elite FS9 multifunction display, but you will struggle to fit anything larger. 

A row of rocker switches is situated beneath the electronics display, while engine gauges are located on a special raised panel to starboard. 

The skipper has an excellent view from the helm while seated or standing and gripping the sports steering wheel and nicely positioned side-mount throttle lever. 

Like the included HO rubber flooring used throughout our test rig, the entire dash, instrument panel and surrounds were finished in black gelcoat with charcoal and black side panel and seating upholstery. 

The excellent armrest-equipped helm chairs are mounted above alloy frames. Each chair swivels and slides and there is a flip-up front bolster so you can adjust the seat perfectly to suit a seated or driving position.

Our test boat came with the removable and moveable seat/storage boxes situated beneath the helm chairs. When you are not fishing, these boxes can re-position up against the transom wall to create an aft bench seat, or configure into an L-shape against one transom corner with provision nearby to install an optional pedestal cocktail table.

The optional soft top bimini cover overhead is well designed and comes with drop curtains on three sides and a zip-out section in the front curtain for ventilation.

Our test rig also had a five-rod rocket launcher rod rack and a cockpit shade extension, although you need to retract the shade extension to access the overhead rod rack. 

In the cockpit, anglers will be impressed with the height of the transom wall along with the excellent H0 foam rubber used to cushion the inside coamings and surrounds. I see this as a practical alternative to coaming bolster padding. 

Other cockpit features include the bait board/rocket launcher, a smallish live bait tank on the transom to port, starboard side transom door, boarding platforms and starboard side boarding ladder, a pair of flush-fitted stainless steel rod holders, horizontal coaming rod racks, and a bilge recess under the transom.

The batteries were located on trays on the floor under the transom. They are secure and easy to access in that location, but I believe they should be elevated and sheltered inside a battery box or enclosed locker.  

On the water

The Monaco 610 Fishermen is a sporty handling boat capable of carving sharp turns and high-speed manoeuvres with ease and safety. These attributes will serve family boaters and anglers well as the hull is good for social tow sports, and for taming choppy offshore waters. 

With the maximum-power 200hp Mercury outboard engine on the transom, the Monaco has a good turn of speed. It powers smartly onto the plane from displacement speeds before accelerating hard to a top speed of nearly 42 knots. 

There's instant power on tap from anywhere in the rev range. Gun the throttle and this boat/engine combination rockets forward, gaining serious momentum from 3500rpm through to a wide-open throttle in this boat of 5400rpm. 

Through the chop the Monaco's deep-vee hull works well, smoothing out the ride with the engine drive leg set just below mid-trim.

Turn about and run before the sea with the bow trimmed up, and the Monaco surfs easily and safely out of wave troughs. 

The Monaco is well-balanced fore and aft so the hull responds immediately to changes in trim angle, allowing skippers to quickly set or change the trim to suit prevailing sea conditions and wind direction. 

Performance

Range on 95% of the 130L fuel supply at 3000rpm: 147.0nm

Verdict

The Stejcraft Monaco 610 Fishermen is an excellent fishing/family cross-over boat. There are more single-purpose, fishing-only cuddy cabs on the market, but the Monaco has the handling, ride, features and fit-out to serve you well in the dual roles of family fun boat/overnighter, and coastal offshore fishing boat. 

With the Stejcraft Monaco 610 Fisherman you get a lot of boat (and stacks of great features) for your money. The starting sticker price of around $80K is a whole lot less than the base/entry models from many local and overseas rival brands. 

Specifications
Model: Stejcraft Monaco 610 Fisherman
Length overall: 6.4m 
Beam: 2.45m
Draft: 500mm (drive up)
Deadrise: 21 degrees
Hull weight: 920kg
Weight on trailer: 1850kg (dry, est)
Maximum power: 200hp
Engine as tested: Mercury 200hp V6 four-stroke 
Fuel: 130L 
Passengers: 8 @ 80kg

Priced from: $79,990 Fisherman model with a Mercury 135hp four-stroke extra-longshaft (25") outboard engine and a tandem axle Dunbier galvanised steel trailer with 12 months boat and trailer registrations, and an inshore safety gear kit. 

Price as tested: $107,490 including a Mercury V6 200hp four-stroke outboard with hydraulic steering upgrade and SmartCraft engine gauges; upgraded Dunbier trailer; black coloured hull and deck with blue accent graphics package; Lowrance Elite FS9 multi-function display; Lowrance VHF radio; electric anchor winch with plough anchor and chain rode; aluminium folding targa bimini with rod rack, front and side clears and rear shade extension; 12 volt and USB sockets; transom shower with 60L freshwater tank; plumbing to the live bait tank; 12 months boat and trailer registrations; inshore safety gear pack.

Supplied by: Stejcraft Boats