AMM 7800 Tournament

Leading plate-aluminium boat manufacturer, Australian Master Marine launched its latest Tournament series model earlier this year. We have been itching to test this innovative, custom-outfitted craft since its debut and finally managed to snaffle it for a three-hour run out of the Gold Coast’s Broadwater.

OVERVIEW
- AMM builds the ultimate display and test boat
Australian Master Marine, or AMM, is a Brisbane-based manufacturer of high-quality plate aluminum craft. The company, headed by brothers Barton and Matthew Thomas, concentrates on building high-end custom-built craft for discerning, cashed-up customers.

AMM says it does have a semi-production range with its Tournament and Weekender models, but there is always a degree of customisation as no two customers ever want exactly the same thing.

To showcase its boats, and to push the limits in design, manufacturing and technology, each year AMM builds a full custom craft to display at boat shows and to highlight just what is possible in modern boat design. No expense is spared and the display boats are always loaded with the best gear, marine electronics and engines.

This year, AMM’s Barton Thomas decided to build a craft for his own personal use, one that employed the latest in design technology, and one that was custom designed and outfitted for his twin passions, weekend cruising and offshore sport fishing.

Can you fish and cruise from a single boat package without compromise? Having now tested the new craft, we believe you can. The new AMM 7800 Tournament is a very special boat, one that is loaded with features and equipment, and equally well suited to long-range cruising as full-day offshore sport fishing.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- No expense spared with this custom cruiser
AMM has gone all-out with the design, fit-out and finish of its custom 7800 Tournament. No expense was spared in the effort to create the perfect trailerable cruiser/fisher.

The exterior paint job alone was $4500, while the sound-proofed, hand-stitched cabin interior cost an eye-watering $8000!

Then there are the electronics, battery systems, solar panels, fridge/freezer system, generator, composite construction materials, multiple fuel tanks – and more.

The inclusion of all of this great gear and equipment is intended to show just what can be achieved in trailerable custom cruiser, regardless of cost.

There is no question that the custom AMM 7800 is one very special boat, but you will need a sizeable bank balance to afford it. If you want to order a similar specification craft, expect to fork out between $200K and $225K – depending on final options and equipment levels.

This is a substantial premium over a standard 7800 Tournament which starts at $119,990 with a single 250hp Yamaha four-stroke outboard and custom heavy duty galvanised steel AMM trailer with electric/hydraulic break-away brakes.

The standard boat is not lacking in features either. It is equally well built and comes with the hardtop (slightly shorter in length), curved windscreen with toughened-glass sliding windows, dual batteries, cloth-covered forward vee berth, traditional helm layout with two Reelax chairs on swivel/sliding bases 240-litre fuel tank, saltwater deck wash, plumbed live-bait tank, boarding platform and ladder, self-draining 3mm welded alloy cockpit floor, six rod holders welded into the 210mm wide side decks, bait board with rod holders, deluxe paint from the chine-up – and more. For the full inventory check the AMM website.

While the standard 7800 Tournament is very well equipped, the amount of extra gear onboard Barton’s custom test and display boat takes the fitout to a whole different level.

We have listed most of the included equipment at the bottom of this report, but some of the key items include the sound insulated, deluxe upholstered forward cabin, enclosed shower/head cubicle with full standing headroom, composite galley with bench space and storage, a 110-litre fridge/freezer running off two batteries and topped up by two 160-watt roof-mounted solar panels, a separate house battery, and an additional starting battery for each of the two Yamaha F200G outboards.

There’s also a Yamaha inverter generator (for those cloudy weekends when the solar panels may not supply enough juice to keep the batteries fully charged), along with a 180-litre hot/cold fresh-water system, fresh-water sink, gas BBQ, full camping/storm covers (not shown) and Hella LED lighting throughout. There’s even external blue LEDs for mood lighting at anchor and white LEDs for luring baitfish.

With regard to electronics, the custom AMM is fitted with a Garmin GPS-Map 7012 touch-screen GPS chart plotter/fish finder, high-end Fusion stereo system and a GME VHF radio.

CONSTRUCTION
- No shortcuts – built like the proverbial out-house
Heavy duty aptly describes the build and construction of the custom AMM Tournament 7800al though it is made no differently from regular Tournament models.

The hull and transom is made from 6mm high-tensile plate aluminium while the smooth topsides are constructed of 4mm aluminium.

Underfloor 4mm alloy frames and longitudinal stringers strengthen and stiffen the hull bottom, while 8mm alloy frames brace the transom so it can accept a big, ultra-longshaft (30”) single outboard or twins up to 400hp in extra-longshaft (25”) configuration.

Above the waterline the self-draining cockpit floor is made from 3mm alloy, as is the three-quarter length alloy hardtop.

A 240-litre underfloor fuel tank is standard, but it is upgradeable to 800 litres. The test rig was endowed with three 250-litre fuel tanks – for a total of 750 litres.

INTERIOR LAYOUT
- One man’s boat
 AMM’s Barton Thomas may have designed his latest AMM Tournament to suit his specific custom requirements, but the interior layout and design will have general appeal to both cruising boaters and dedicated offshore sport fishermen.

Starting at the pointy end, the forward cabin area is conventional to the extent that it has a large vee berth with ample side and underberth storage. However in many craft you’ll find a toilet situated under the centre berth cushion, often added as a bit of an after-thought. In the custom AMM there is an enclosed shower/toilet cubicle with full standing headroom, vanity and storage lockers.

Opposite, on the port side is a galley area with bench-top and storage cupboards/drawers made from a composite material to keep down weight. We would have liked a bit more bench space for food preparation, but this would have forced a compromise elsewhere.

The forward cabin is several steps down from the saloon area or bridge deck so there is plenty of headroom and the cabin area feels quite spacious.

The berths are arrayed in the time honoured vee shape and each berth is over 2.0m long with a maximum width of 750mm.

The two single berths convert into a very large double berth with the addition of two infill pieces.

There is loads of storage space under the berths and in the two-level upholstered side pockets, while overhead a clear acrylic ventilation hatch supplies light and fresh air.

The ventilation hatch works well for its intended purpose, though we would have preferred a larger hatch – one that could be used to climb up through to the foredeck.

It is by no means difficult to reach the bow by climbing around the cabin sides and hardtop, but access to the foredeck from the cabin would be useful in inclement weather.

Having made the above comment, we should note that the test rig was fitted with a Stress Free anchor winch – so you don’t need to go forward to raise or lower the anchor.

Moving above decks, the helm and saloon is elevated above the rear cockpit yet there is still a lot of headroom beneath the extended hardtop.

The reinforced, curved glass windscreen and surrounding sliding windows provided great visibility through 180 degrees from the helm position.

The dash is wide and has ample space for bracket-mounted electronics, despite the recess to one side for the sliding, lockable cabin door.

Ahead of the skipper, the fascia is equally large and was flushed-fitted with a 12-inch Garmin GPS touch screen chart plotter/fish finder.

Radios were located overhead, under the hardtop, with ventilation hatches close by.

The sports steering wheel, switch panel and binnacle mounted twin throttles were well located – though we felt the deluxe Reelax helm chair was positioned a tad too high.

The helm chair was mounted on a swiveling and sliding seat base – above an elaborate storage box set-up. Made from a composite material to reduce weight, this storage box has multiple compartments and a rear bi-fold lid which opens up to reveal the BBQ.

The sister storage compartment on the port side has a similar set-up but with a sink with hot and cold running fresh water. Both the sink and BBQ are accessed from the rear cockpit and the bi-fold lids lock in the open position with a stainless steel spring hatch/lid support.

The 110-litre fridge/freezer is situated further forward, under a cushioned bench seat opposite the helm. The bench seat runs fore and aft – which means the co-pilot must sit sideways, facing the skipper. This layout may not be suitable if your crew prefer to face forward while underway.

There were plenty of underfloor and side storage areas in the test rig. The Yamaha inverter generator and three of the five onboard batteries were secured in a deep locker under the saloon floor. Alongside it there is a second, shallower storage area.

The sealed, self-draining aluminum rear cockpit is not as big as some dedicated sport fishing boats in this size range, but at 1.6m long x 2.32m wide, we believe there is sufficient space for three anglers. You might not fit a game chair, but for stand-up tackle fishing, there is room enough.

The broad, 240mm wide side coamings have padded bolsters so you can lean very comfortably up against the topsides – which are 710mm above the floor.

The starting batteries are contained in a locker behind the transom wall, alongside a second locker to access the bilge, various pumps, tubing, ball valves, etc.

The AMM custom does not have a rear bench seat as this would consume too much cockpit space. Instead, there is a fold down, cushioned seat-squab beneath both the sink and BBQ compartments.

Fishing features include a large live bait/fish well in the centre of the transom, beneath a bait board with multiple rod holders.

The boat is also fitted with Relax Reef 450 outriggers mounted to the cabin sides, twin underfloor kill tanks, storage for eight rods up top off the hardtop and six rod holders welded into the side decks.

Other general features include elevated side pockets, port side transom door, boarding platform and ladder, and recessed stern cleats.

ON THE WATER
- Big power for big performance with twin Yamaha F200G four-strokes
Two of Yamaha’s finest four-stroke outboard motors graced the transom of the test rig. The Yamaha F200G has been heralded as a ground breaking engine by most experts, and it lives up to its reputation with excellent performance, ultra-low emissions and smooth, whisper quite operation.

The digitally-controlled Yamaha F200G is a lightweight motor and this makes it ideal for dual-engine applications – so it was an easy decision for Barton and the AMM team to fit two of them to their latest display rig.

Four hundred horsepower is the maximum for the 7800 Tournament and judging by the test boat’s excellent performance, you certainly would not need any more power.

We achieved a top speed of 41 knots and there was always loads of power on tap from any point in the rev range. This went a long way to making a big, heavy boat feel more like a sports runabout than an 8.0m offshore cruiser.

Having tested the 7800 series hull previously, we knew to expect an excellent ride, great stability and responsive handling – and we were not disappointed. The deep vee hull has a very fine entry and a 20-degree vee at the transom. Combine these features with the wide chines and you have a very soft-riding, dry, and stable platform.

The AMM test rig was fitted with trim tabs, but with the twin Yamahas fitted, tabs were not really necessary. You can alter the trim of each engine to adjust the boat for different sea conditions and to counter the 'wind-list' that is common with enclosed cabin, deep vee monohulls.

VERDICT
- When nothing but the best will do
AMM’s Barton and Matthew Thomas have been building plate alloy boats for a long time – and it shows. Barton’s custom 7800 Tournament is a world class product, with world class standards of design, construction, fitout and performance.

Yes, as tested, the 7800 carries a high price tag but keep in mind that the test rig has been built to showcase what can be achieved, virtually regardless of cost. If you don’t need all of the bells and whistles, then the 7800 Tournament becomes much more affordable with a starting price of $120K.

LIKES
>> Soft riding and stable
>> Versatile layout – cruise or fish
>> Heavy duty full plate alloy construction
>> Weather-proof helm
>> Enclosed head/shower compartment
>> Clever pop-out sink and BBQ cupboards
>> Great trailer
>> Quality fittings, materials and workmanship throughout

NOT SO MUCH
>> Big ticket price
>> Smallish cabin hatch prohibits internal access to foredeck
>> Helm seat a tad high
>> Co-pilot must sit sideways above fridge/freezer
>> Easy to bump and turn on the light switch on when entering the cabin

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.76/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.9/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water Performance: 4.8/5.0
Value for money: 4.6/5.0
X-factor: 4.7/5.0

PERFORMANCE
7.7kts (14km/h) @ 1500rpm
9.0kts (17km/h) @ 2000rpm
11.8kts (22km/h) @ 2500rpm
16.8kts (31km/h) @ 3000rpm
22.5kts (42km/h) @ 3500rpm
26.9kts (50km/h) @ 4000rpm
24.3kts (45km/h) @ 4500rpm
31.0kts (57km/h) @ 5000rpm
37.9kts (70km/h) @ 5500rpm
41.4kts (77km/h) @ 6000rpm (WOT)

Specifications:
Standard Boat Price: From $119,990 including a single Yamaha 250hp ultra-longshaft (30”) four-stroke outboard, custom AMM heavy duty tandem axle trailer with electric/hydraulic break-away brakes, and AMM’s deluxe fit-out package. Refer AMM website for list of inclusions on Tournament models.

Price as tested: Approx. $225,000. Contact AMM for custom quote.
Includes twin Yamaha F200G digitally controlled, extra-longshaft (25”) four-stroke outboards, custom made AMM trailer, three x 250-litre underfloor fuel tanks, a custom made 110-litre fridge/freezer, Garmin GPS Map 7012 touch-screen chart plotter/fish finder, GME VHF radio, Fusion stereo with speakers, composite galley structure, enclosed head compartment with shower, three-quarter length hardtop with two ventilation hatches and camp covers with insect screens, fully lined and insulated vee berth with sound proofing, ventilation hatch and sliding door to lock-up vee berth, Stress Free - Free Fall 50 series anchor winch including 160m upgraded double spliced braid, rope and chain, two 160W solar panels linking to a total of five batteries (two start, two deep cycle fridge freezer/hot water and one house battery), 40-amp battery charger, BEP battery management panel, Yamaha EF2000IS inverter generator, Reelax Pacific helm chair, Reelax Reef 450 outriggers, S/S BBQ and sink, plumbed live bait/fish well and bait board with rod holders, underwater LED lighting (four x blue, one x white) dual cockpit kill tanks, full Hella LED lighting including LED navigation lights, blue LED courtesy lighting in vee berth, cabin steps and transom, under gunnel LED lighting, LED reading lights, rear deck floodlights, red/white light, and QL trim tabs.

Length overall: 8.1m
Centreline length: 7.8m
Beam: 2.5m
Dry weight (incl. engine) Approx. 3100kg
Towing weight: Approx. 3800kg (can be reduced to 3500 to meet vehicle towing restrictions)
Deadrise: 20 degrees
Bottom & transom alloy: 6mm
Topside alloy: 4mm
Cockpit floor alloy: 3mm
Roof thickness: 3mm
Maximum power: 400hp
Engines as tested: Twin Yamaha 200hp four-stroke outboards
Fuel: 750 litres (240 litres standard)
Freshwater: 180 litres
Maximum Persons: Eight

Supplied by:
Australian Master Marine
234 Leitchs Road
Brendale QLD 4500
Phone: (07) 3889 7380.
Website: www.australianmastermarine.com.au
Email: info@australianmastermarine.com.au