Allison 6.2 SDD

The name Allison is synonymous with boats built to cater for the serious angler. Allison provides anglers with roomy boats that offer lightweight but strong, fuel efficient platforms without many of the frills inherited when purchasing today's fibreglass boats.

Among the plethora of boats currently available, the Allison 6.2 SDD caught our attention. Powered by MerCruiser's new 120hp 1.7lt diesel sterndrive, this is a unique package, and one that should appeal to those more interested in economy than speed. We recently tested the new diesel-powered 6.2 and found it wouldn't tarnish Allison's well-earned reputation.

The 6.2's theme is the same as old Allison models: simplicity of design combined with workability.

Starting forward, we found a stainless steel bowroller with captive pin on a short bowsprit. A split-bollard also with captive pin is mounted aft of the massive anchorwell. Easily capable of storing a few hundred metres of rope and ground tackle, the hatch is held closed by a link lock-style stainless steel catch. A fingerhole makes for easy opening, and a rope feed capable of accepting 8mm chain is featured on the front edge of the hatch.

A square hatch with four locking points and a pair of tension-adjustable rams provides the only access onto the foredeck. The foredeck is smooth-finished and drops sharply over the edges to the buffer strip covering the join between hull and top moulding. A squat stainless steel bowrail runs along both sides from the bowroller to just forward of the windscreen.

A large aperture provides access to the cabin. The V-berth is typical in size and would sleep two average-sized adults at a bit of a squeeze. Storage is available under both sides of the V-berth and its front. These storage compartments are bunged and drainable to the bilge, as is the large footwell.

A single fluorescent light and padded sidepockets are featured inside the cabin along with a fibreglass shell that shrouds electrical wiring behind the helm.

The helm area is open and uncluttered. The windscreen is one-piece Perspex without a centre strut, providing an uninhibited view forward. A wraparound grabrail provides ample strength to support the screen, and it's fixed back onto the fibreglass shell.

The dashboard space in front of the passenger is flat and open, with a lip running along its extremities to prevent objects sliding off. The dash layout in front of the skipper features monitoring gauges for the MerCruiser sterndrive, with enough room left to flush mount a medium-sized sounder, GPS or substantial combination unit.

Steering is hydraulic Teleflex Sea Star and engine controls are MerCruiser.

Seating consists of swivel bucketseats mounted on longitudinally-positioned fibreglass boxes; the helmseat featuring a sliding track for forward and aft adjustment.

The rearmost sections of these boxes are rebated, with cushions providing seating for another two passengers. These cushions lift up to reveal storage space inside.

Two footrests mounted on the bulkhead in front of both passenger and skipper featured lift-up lids, giving more storage space for small items such as sunblock, spares and spanners.

The forward cockpit is sheltered by a stainless steel-framed canvas-covered bimini, with a rocket launcher fixed across the back of the frame.

Storage pockets run from the forward bulkhead along the length of each side of the cockpit. Below the transom bulkhead, the pockets have a small end wall, then dip down to provide battery-holding trays each side of the engine cover. These trays are high enough off the floor to tuck bare toes under when fishing from the corners of the cockpit.

The engine box is rebated at the front to provide further seating, and is upholstered, but not soundproofed. The aft ends of the engine cover stop well short of the transom to allow air to draw in and around the running engine. There is enough space between the engine box and the battery trays to install engine oil bottles should one opt for a two-stroke outboard.

When compared with the 4.3lt V-six MerCruiser petrol engine installed in Trailer Boat's Mustang, the 1.7lt diesel's noise levels were high, especially when the power unit was below cruise revs of 3800-4000rpm.

Most of the noise problem could be rectified by installing the extremely effective soundproofing available for marine use, and off-set baffling in the gap between the engine box and transom.

Stainless handrails on the inside corner of the coamings are rebated to surface level. Rodholders installed in the top of the coaming have rubber inserts and caps.

Installed in the aft corner coamings are livebait tanks of around 35lt each. A short boarding platform sits off the transom on each side of the engine, the platform on the port side sporting a foldable and telescopic stainless steel ladder.

Fishing room is good and the cockpit of the Allison would handle three or four anglers without a problem. The floor is uncluttered and features a gutter as part of the floor moulding. The gutter runs down each side and across the transom, trapping any rubbish that might be washed across the floor.

The Allison's stability while dead in the water is exceptional. Reverse chines aid this, helping the boat onto the plane and keeping it there with minimal power output. With two adults in the 90kg range and one over 120kg walking about the cockpit, rocking and rolling was surprisingly minimal. Getting onto the plane was not a problem either.

The hydraulic steering was a little on the heavy side when climbing out of the hole, but this relaxed to a comfortable level when on the plane with the sterndrive trimmed up.

At Wide Open Throttle we reached 4400rpm and our GPS recorded a top speed of 52kmh. At 3000rpm we reached an economical cruise of 30.2kmh.

Hard cornering and throwing the helm hard from port to starboard provided no surprises. The Allison remained solid in the water and responsive at the helm with no cavitation. With little wind on the test day, spray entering the cockpit was not an issue, and water thrown off the bow went wide and flat.

The Allison is a no-frills base boat with a solid foundation that allows it to be transformed into a personal treasure. With heaps of room for add-on equipment, and the ability to carry it, this boat is a viable proposition as a long-term investment in a fishing platform.