Arizona Pickle Fork 565

As far as trailerboats are concerned, I've long believed that for true performance outboards are the only way to go. And while we've tested some pretty hot alternative combinations of late, Arizona's Pickle Fork 565 Custom reinforces that belief! And then some...

Consider the fact that in stock standard form, with a Merc 200 bolted directly on the transom and no jacking plate, this craft does a genuine 127kmh (78.9mph on a hand-held radar gun!) and can accelerate to 110kmh in about 150m from a standing start.

In fact, when flooring the throttle, the hull planes so quickly the engine trim should be set out a little to avoid burying the bow, as the hull literally jumps on the plane. Even when doing 80kmh, flooring the throttle still throws you back in your seat!

Yet the testboat could trickle around at 40-60kmh with the engine barely ticking over. For example, spinning a 25-inch Laser II prop and pushing a total of about 730kg with two adults onboard, the Merc planed us at just 1800 revs - just off the carbed engine's idle circuit. By 2000rpm we were doing almost 40kmh with just a low grumble from the engine.

The wake was surprisingly low, so wakeboarders will be disappointed as there's no sharp edge. Mind you, there's performance enough to endear this craft to many.

MIDDLE MANAGER
Indeed, where the Pickle Fork 565 and 200 Merc combination really scores is with its midrange performance. At 4000rpm we averaged 77kmh, around the same speed that many inboard skiboats can manage at Wide Open Throttle (WOT).

The reason for this excellent performance is the hull's long planing surface and the way it traps air between the centre hull and longer sponsons flanking it. These have gently curved entries down from the rounded bows. Each sponson has an inner side ridge and an outer sub-chine, or knuckle, to reduce spray being blown inboard over the relatively slab-sided topsides. Combined with the air being forced between the centre hull and sponsons, this complex array of chines helps the hull simply lift out of the hole.

Once up, it rides on a cushion of air in the tunnel between each sponson and the centre hull. Additionally, a vee section in the centre hull finishes a metre or so ahead of the transom in a flat planing plank.

Cleverly, the tunnels incorporate a slight deadrise up from the centre hull to the inner edge of each sponson. As hull speed increases, two steps either side of the centre hull, plus one on each inner side of the sponsons, create the lift and reduce drag.

At speeds above around 110kmh, with the engine trimmed well out, the 565 rides on the flat plank and directional stability (tracking) is increased by the inner sponson faces which act as keels.

Unlike monos, the more air you have passing between the centre hull and sponsons, the faster you go. But I found it is not at the expense of ride comfort. On our test day the chop was limited to around 10cm but upwind or downwind made no difference to the ride, even at 100kmh plus!

STABLE PLATFORM
Stability at speeds up to 110kmh is excellent with none of the twitchiness of monos. Only above this speed with just the driver aboard and the hull running on just its planing plank does the 565 require constant steering corrections.

At speeds of around 50kmh, with the motor trimmed in, the hull will turn on its own length and flat, unlike some monohulls. At higher speeds and through wider turns there's some hull bank, though it is not as noticeable as on a mono.

The last high performance boat I tested was a Bullet 1750 Tunnel Deck powered by a Yammie 150 with counter-rotating props. So after having sampled torque-free steering due to these props, I expected the single-prop Merc to be a handful. Not so, as the non-feedback hydraulic steering eliminated any torque-steer, regardless of trim angle, out to 110kmh.

Another brilliant touch was the steering column-mounted trim/tilt lever, which allowed both hands to be kept on the wheel while trimming in or out with your right index finger.

I reckon all high performance skiboats should have foot throttles and the system in the 565 worked perfectly with the column trim switch. The left-foot accelerator pedal allows your left leg to stretch out comfortably and allows you to briefly half turn left to talk to both observer and passengers without taking your foot off the pedal.

Starting the engine is by the normal side-mounted remote box with fast idle lever. Once warmed up, the engine is put in forward gear and the throttle controlled by the foot pedal. Reversing requires a little practice as the foot pedal must be released, the hand shift moved to reverse, then the pedal depressed again for some throttle. Really no more complex than an automatic car but with the controls on opposite sides!

LEVEL-HEADED
Just as stability underway is brilliant, so it is at rest. Three adults can stand to one side of the cockpit, and when I stepped down from a jetty to the cockpit coaming it hardly noticed my 108kg bulk. This level of stability is important as two adults can help a tired skier over the topsides without having to balance the boat.

Because of the hull design the 565 has a roomy cockpit for its length. The standard layout has a driver's and aft-facing observer's seat - which hug you securely at all speeds - plus a three-person lounge aft.

There's a completely flat carpeted floor running from the bows to the lounge and plenty of room for skis and safety gear in the sponsons, leaving the cockpit floor uncluttered.

No windscreen is fitted but the excellent seating position for adults to 182cm ensures that even up to 110kmh windflow is around the driver's head and not over it, preventing sunnies being wrenched from your face.

A forward-folding panel in the rear lounge provides access to the fuel tank, battery and oil tank (if fitted). The testboat had a 40lt stainless steel fuel tank, but larger ones can be fitted, either one in each sponson or under the cockpit floor.

I couldn't fault the standard of mouldings, gelcoat finish and upholstery and in my opinion, the all-up price complete with reconditioned Merc 200 and a second-hand tandem axle trailer was terrific value for money.

Of course, the question owners of inboard skiboats will be asking is what about fuel consumption? Well, in 45 minutes of performance testing and normal cruising we consumed a mere 15lt!

When it comes to having your cake and eating it too, then perhaps you just have to use a Pickle Fork.