Arvor 675 Sportsfish

OVERVIEW
- Popular single-diesel engine cabin cruisers with a strong following
Mention Arvor and most boaters think of jaunty little cabin cruisers with fetching European lines. Hundreds of these little white fibreglass boats have called our marinas, moorings and waterfronts home in the past 15 years or so. You can even hire and drive Arvors in places like Sydney Harbour and try before you buy.

Trolling our Review section, we have eight previous tests of Arvor boats ranging from the original 20 footer in July 1999 to the new up-spec’d Weekender in 2012. You can read our comprehensive Arvor tests here.

For their owners, these diesel shaft-drive craft represent an affordable, reliable and frugal solution to today’s boating needs. Testimony comes from the fact you will find plenty of Arvors serving as commuter craft to boat-only-accessible waterfronts in places like, say, Pittwater. Low-maintenance and reliability are key attributes.

When they do come onto the market, second-hand Arvors are sought-after. At the time of writing, we had just five boats listed for sale in our classifieds starting at $45K for a 2002-model 20 footer and ranging up to $110K and more for the later models.

Old or new, the Arvors are timeless designs. Their cabin or wheelhouse offers weather protection, while the cockpit lets you partake in outdoor pursuits like fishing. Add a simple 12V bow thruster and you gain ease of docking in these single-engine shaft-driven boats, too.

But now there’s something new…

ARVOR BOATS BY BRUNSWICK
- Outboards and IP add to the rebranded Quicksilvers
Now owned by multinational marine giant Brunswick Corporation, Arvors are actually rebadged Quicksilver boats made in Europe. The boat tested here is a 675 Pilothouse rebadged an Arvor 675 Sportsfish by its Australian importer. The idea is to keep trading on the goodwill established by Arvor over more than a decade. Fair enough.

As Brunswick is a multinational marine giant, there is now a lot of IP that the brand can share between its brands and boatbuilding yards in Europe and America. This begins with building boats for Mercury’s four-stroke outboards, which Brunswick also owns. The old Arvors landed here mainly had Nanni diesel engines.

Outboard engines are a boating success story in the past few years, with new-generation four-strokes offering more grunt, bigger gearboxes, extra torque and better all-round performance than before. The more Mercury outboards that Brunswick sells the better. Arvor/Quicksilver is another transom to fill.

But this 675 Sportsfish has some real advantages with outboard over inboard power. Indeed, it’s our view would-be Arvor boat owners should consider the outboard solution for a number of very compelling reasons.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- About $100K for a trailerable rig and less on a mooring
The long-time local Arvor importer added a windlass for push-button anchoring, curtains for privacy while swinging on the hook, a 12V fridge, pressurised freshwater supply and portable butane stove to the standard boat. A toilet (full flush with OB discharge available) might be worth considering.

The $84,150 Arvor as tested needed just electronics and tackle and, should you want to tow the 2.5-tonne rig, another $11,000 for a dual-axle trailer with sensor brakes. So you’re looking at about $100K-$110K on road ready to hit the highway and fish away.

On road, you will need a permit due to the boat’s 2.54m beam. Tellingly, we were told, the first two Arvor Sportsfish sold here were enjoying a life in the water, such are the benefits of a lock-up cabin and tiltable outboard leg.

THE CABIN AND COCKPIT
- Confronting lines but practical application
The Sportsfish range, called the Pilothouse range by Quicksilver, spans five models including the 555, 605, 675, 755 and new 905 flagship (rendering at this point in time). All are outboard powered with distinctive lines.

Indeed, the confronting part of this boat is its styling.

The asymmetrical cabin structure has been pushed way forward to maximise its space and that of the cockpit fishing area, while retaining a walkaround (widest path to starboard) that’s always been a part of Arvor’s appeal. As such, the (armour-plate) windscreen is vertical, giving wheelhouse or cabin lines that are blocky on an otherwise quite modern and curvaceous hull.

It’s a look we’re unfamiliar with, but one that certainly competes with the avant-garde cabin cruisers from European competitors like Jeanneau and Beneteau. If you can get past the look, there’s a pretty decent boat behind the veil.

Key fishing features include bow-to-stern walkaround and self-draining decks, which are what you want on a moored boat (plus you get twin bilge pumps and twin batteries for good measure, too); four rod holders and rod storage for six outfits; a bait-prep station with integrated cutting board; a seriously large plumbed live well; infloor fish-storage tanks with pump outs; and a raw-water wash down.

The flexible cockpit with terrific flip-out lounge seating and removable table provides an après fishing lunch setting. Add a Euro-style awning for shade and perhaps a rail-mounted portable barbecue. There is a walk-through transom with swim step and ladder, too.

After which, the 675 Sportsfish is still very much a cabin cruiser with seating for four around a small dinette and a double bunk with infill for two, if you want to bed down. The toilet upgrade might appeal, as indeed will the fridge and stove on the test boat.

THE OUTBOARD SOLUTION
- Less maintenance than an inboard
On this Arvor 675 Sportsfish, you can flush the outboard’s cooling system with ease simply by connecting a hose and away you go. As the leg and prop tilt clear of the water, there is no growth on running gear like shafts, props and rudders to worry about either.

So you derive even better reliability and ease of maintenance than a shaft-drive (although servicing costs of the outboard are probably higher). And if you keep this boat in the water, you can probably careen it yourself, replace anodes and stretch the antifouling.

Furthermore, the Arvor 675 Sportsfish not only shares some of the intellectual property and DNA from other boat brands in the Brunswick stable, it also appears to be built way better. There are smart mouldings, beefed up stainless-steel deck gear, bigger-capacity tanks and a more solid feel than in Arvors of yore.

It also seems like Brunswick has made a decision to go for a more substantial build than the competing high-volume French rigs. Certainly there are less screwheads and more big through-deck bolts on the beefed-up deck fittings. And things like the live-bait tank have proper volume rather than being a token aquarium for tadpoles.

ON THE ROAD AND WATER
- No rocket ship but good efficiency
Rated for a wide range of Mercury FourStroke outboards, from the new 100hp to the 200hp Verado, the 675 we tested proved more than capable with the latest single-overhead-cam, four-cylinder 150hp Mercury that’s been some three years on our market now.

The supplied performance data was consistent with our tests out through Sydney Heads, returning 22 knots cruise at 4300rpm for 29 litres per hour and 254nm cruising range from the 200-litre fuel tank. Top speed was 32-33 knots at 5700rpm spinning a 15x15in three blader.

As the helm is located well forward, there is a heightened degree of pitching on this boat. After all, you are well ahead of the pitch axis. But you can reduce that with some negative trim and little less throttle.

While the hull displaces a fair degree of spray, you are pretty much forward of that and in a dry cabin anyway. The boat comes with both hydraulic steering and a windscreen wiper, while the dash has been designed to fit 7in GPS chartplotters/sounders with bracket mounting options for bigger screens we ascertain.

VERDICT
- A superior Arvor for fishing
As we floated around off Manly, the Sportsfish seemed accommodating of a family of four or a couple of keen anglers for the weekend and those autumn/winter night-fishing expeditions. But it was as we headed seawards from Sydney Heads that the boat held even greater promise.

There was spray flying, thankfully not in our direction, as we cruised east at 20-odd knots. The outboard seemed to be doing it easy. At rest, the boatproved stable and surefooted and the deep freeboard and padded coamings will add to your fishing and family comfort.

As the cabin is taken well forward, the cockpit maximises space. Yet with all that upright glass and the clean-running four-stroke outboard it isn’t stuffy. We didn’t have even a whiff of mal de mer. The opening roof hatch and sliding side windows are welcome additions.

Although it’s not for everyone, and if you are inclined to troll all day the cabin enclosure might be annoying, the layout certainly endears the boat to snapper fishers in southern states and those who like to fish reefs at anchor. There is also the option of a second cockpit helm station with repeater 7in chartplotter. Now that might get tropical fishers thinking!

But one thing is certain. With the 150hp Mercury FourStroke outboard and the fishing kit, this new-generation ‘Arvor’ 675 Sportsfish is a far more effective fishing-boat than the old inboard models. You would really have to be hellbent on diesel power to pay that premium.

Because 70 per cent of Australians cite fishing as their motive for buying a boat, this rig should hook plenty. The FourStroke is quieter and cleaner running than a diesel donk, too. Arvor is still offering diesel inboard boats, mind you. But even these boats have the new upright lines and look. So we better get used to it.

LIKES
>> Outboard power means less maintenance
>> Build and finish improvements over older Arvors
>> Serious fishing features and big live bait tank
>> Abundant storage including cockpit lazarette
>> Weather protected wheelhouse

NOT SO MUCH
>> Unconventional looks and cabin styling
>> Helm is a long way forward over hull entry
>> Wheelhouse-only enclosed helm in summer
>> Not the best bilge access via screw-off hatch in engine splashwell

Specifications:
Price as Tested: $84,150 rig as tested with Mercury 150hp FourStroke outboard, without trailer and electronics
Length Overall: 6.55m
Length of hull: 6.30m
Beam Maximum: 2.54m
Height: 2.79m
Deadrise: 17 degrees
Draft: 0.81m maximum
Dry Weight: 1585kg (hull only)
Fuel: 200 litres
Water: 32 litres
CE Design Category: C
Maximum Number of People: Seven
Maximum Power: 200hp
OB Shaft Length: XL
More at www.arvor.com.au.