Allison Bayrunner 5

Here at Trailer Boat we get to drive a lot of different boats of various proportions. Some are flash outfits that would have the most hardened sport fisho green with envy; then there are boats you dream of spending quality time in, soaking up some rays on a white, sandy beach with an esky of coldies not too far away.

Others are bare-bones boats that cater specifically for anglers who have been there and done that and are now happy to concentrate on catching a feed in relative comfort. And between these poles are boats that fulfil the needs of the first-time boat buyer: something easily handled, economical to run, enjoyable to drive and comfortable enough to spend a bit of time in.

The Allison Bayrunner 5 is just that, with few of the fancy bells and whistles that send the price skyward. I found a boat that is perfect for the average mum-and-dad angling couple looking for something that's not going to turn their vertebrae into fine powder when traversing choppy stretches of water.

The design is the time-proven, traditional open runabout configuration with a high, tinted windscreen that sweeps back along the gunwales to prevent wind-blown spray from irritating the passengers. A canvas canopy, which is snapped on and off the screen with press-studs, did a good job of keeping the sun off us during the test.

If you're a bit of an impatient angler and like changing spots regularly, undoing the canopy to gain access to the anchor well in the bow could be a pest. A zip door in the canopy to allow a hand through to release the studs would be a handy addition, although the harsh, salty environment tends to take its toll on press studs over time.

An anchor retrieval system such as the Anka Yanka would get around the need to release the canopy and open the windscreen to get to the ground tackle. (Check out my column for more on this technique). Or you could discover the joys of drift fishing. At least the anchor well is large enough to hold a hundred metres of 12mm rope, some chain and a decent-sized anchor.

NO FRILLS
Dashboard layout is a standard affair with stowage for personal items in a glovebox on the passenger side, and there was heaps of room to install a sounder and GPS on top of the dash - although I'd relocate the switch panel closer to the steering wheel hub and reshuffle the gauges to make room for a compass.

The dash, although basic, was tidy, functional and quite well finished, however we did notice a rattling noise coming from underneath. Much of this was coming from the mechanical steering cable drive and from the flexing of the dash module, which I think might benefit from a little more bracing.

The cockpit of the Bayrunner is open and unobstructed and the deck is free from hatches. Sidepockets run down each side of the cockpit, and there's room for batteries and oil bottles where the sidepockets terminate at the stern.

Any water that might find its way aboard drains into a bunged compartment behind the fuel tank. The rear lounge backrest forms part of the transom bulkhead and the seat section can be dropped down - but when folded down, the lounge compromises access to the transom. A reduction in the depth of this seat would allow you to tuck your feet under the lounge when you're landing a fish over the back.

The spacious cockpit has room for three anglers, and there are two bait tanks in the transom quarters should you need to keep some poddy mullet alive for a flathead or the bream-fishing session.

The outboard pod is not flush with the planning surfaces of this boat, which did not affect its performance noticeably. The boarding platforms either side were very large and would make climbing on and off a whole lot easier. Broad, 100mm reversed chines contribute to this boat's great stability when dead in the water.

SILKY SMOOTH
Our test was conducted on a mirror-calm Bribie Island passage in Queensland, which didn't allow me to see how the little Allison handled a good blow. But big boat wakes did provide some indication of how the runabout reacted to messy water. The sharp entry of the forefoot smoothed turbulent water and helped the boat land gently.

Good-quality seats also contributed to the soft ride.

With the Johnson tucked right in, the boat could be thrown into tight turns at full speed without cavitation. Climbing out of the hole was effortless - although not particularly rapid - and trimmed out for top speed, the boat ran out to about 50kmh.

The 50hp twin-cylinder Johnson provided enough power for two adults with the bare minimum of gear aboard. Loaded up with tackle, fuel and three burger-loving fishos, more grunt would be necessary. The Bayrunner is rated for two-stroke engines to 70hp, which would improve performance dramatically.

This boat really impressed me with its soft ride. Add to that a good deal of stability and a big cockpit for setting up a couple of camp chairs to fish from, and you've got a good little boat for river and lake work. If you're considering downsizing or want to retire to a life of sunny days spent drowning a bait, the Bayrunner could be just the boat for you.