Baysport 640 Deluxe: Review

The hull is laid up with a foam-filled hollow glass stringer system that puts paid to any potential rot from wet timbers while also offering rigidity and a certain amount of buoyancy.

This hull differs from the majority in that the keel line is tunnelled in a taper from zero about two-thirds of the hull length forward of the stern ending with a width of 36cm at the aft end. This concept has been around for a few years in various forms and its purpose is to increase surface area without expanding on the maximum given beam. More surface means more planning area which results in a more effortless hole-shot and slower planing speeds. Fuel economy (and you) is the winner all round.

Glancing over the lines of the 640 one conjures up images of the deep blue and curved horizons. Yes, this one is built for the serious offshore fisher and boater and those with larger than average families that just need the room to move. It should keep all of those satisfied; especially those that are budget conscious.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Terrific value and good standard features list
Even more eye catching than its smart lines and quality finish is the retail price for this rig. The price on this rig was just $67,990 and no, that’s not for the base model. That price included the Raymarine 7” GPS/sounder combination unit, Fusion stereo and Stress Free drum winch.

Power for the test boat was handled by a smooth-running 150hp Yamaha four-stroke.

Hydraulic steering is standard as is the stainless steel targa fitted with a sliding shade that protrudes out over the cockpit. Throw in the clears, VHF radio, bait-rigging station, folding lounge, plumbed live-bait tank, rebated tackle drawers in coamings, pressure washer hose and safety gear and we have to pause to catch our breath! Is there anything not included? It appears not; this rig is ready to roll, off the trailer and out over that blue horizon.

INTERNAL LAYOUT
- Thoughtful layout with plenty of storage
The 640 Deluxe boasts a full body length pair of bunks in the cabin and a half infill over the leg-well which would cover an optional portable toilet.

With the infill removed there is ample room and head height for four adults to sit out of the weather if need be. Upholstered bunk cushions are removable and expose good stowage compartments and the cushions are retained in place with a high foot rest in front of both passenger and helm seat.

Access to the bow is possible through the hatch in the cabin roof and you can stand with the torso clear to easily work ground tackle. Though with such a a practical winch as the Stress Free, you needn't bother. History tells us that these winches are not only stress free but trouble free as well.

The helm chair is the usual swivel item with fore-and-aft slide function mounted on a fibreglass box with two compartments. It was good to see the manufacturer had built a floor in the lower compartment to keep deck wash and seepage away from the contents; something many don’t worry about.

Passenger seating is mounted on a stainless steel ‘hoop’ and interestingly its uprights can be unbolted and reset at a height to cater for items such as an esky or tackle box that might need to be stowed inside. A retaining strap will hold any item firm against a front rail.

The stainless steel fabrication of the canopy looks of high quality and a six rod rack is fitted across its aft end. For those trying to avoid the results of too much sun, a pull-out awning slides from under the canopy to further shade those standing and leaning against the seat backs. If you're worried about wind drag and long-hauling on the highway or you don’t have enough height under trees or the carport, worry not. The targa can be collapsed back into the cockpit to reduce the height profile.

Out into the cockpit we find ample side pockets that are deep enough to hold large tackle trays, and there is also plenty of room between the top of the fascia and the bottom of the coaming to stow rigged rods.

At the transom, a half-height walk-through door gives access out onto the boarding platform where a telescopic stainless steel ladder is folded into a rebate. The door is about a quarter of the width of the internal bulkhead and the remainder has a padded back rest across to the starboard coaming. The rear lounge folds down allowing toes to tuck under when standing and leaning against the backrest when fishing. Swung up and out of the way gives access the batteries mounted each side of the bilge.

The isolator switch is mounted high up and plumbing from the back of the exposed fuel tank is easily accessed. There is nothing stopping gear sliding on the deck back into that plumbing so a short wall in the form of aluminium angle screwed to the deck would save some possible damage.

A plumbed live-bait well is located under a hatch in the starboard corner of the transom, and mid-transom is a removable bait-rigging station with cutting board mounted on two stainless steel posts.

The high-pressure deck wash is mounted next to the transom door and the hose retracts back into the moulding nice and neatly.

ON THE WATER
- Smooth and easily driven
We really didn’t have the type of sea to put this hull through its paces and even insane driving by the other boats accompanying us in an attempt to put up wash and wake was pointless. Smooth as silk would be the best description of the ride.

Steering was effortless and those weak in the arms and shoulders won’t have a problem throwing 6.4 metres of Baysport around. Taking advantage of the glass-off, we took the boat to full throttle and 40 knots at which point it was running at 5500 rpm and burning 60lph.

Cooling its heels back to 5000rpm and 40.3lph was giving us 33 knots and its comfortable cruise speed of 23 knots was realised at 4000rpm and we were burning 27lph. Finding its planing spot was difficult as there was no defined hole-shot evident but it was shedding clean water off the transom at seven knots and 2000rpm when using 7.1lph. This led us to think that there could be some economical pelagic trolling happing with this rig...

The 150hp Yamaha lived up to its reputation; clean, quiet and vibration free with plenty of punch to compliment this boats already impeccable manners. A good match we thought.

VERDICT
- The value equation
Does value for money get any better than this? Probably not; it’s a big boat with lots of room, is well appointed with practical gear and performs impeccably and all this with a budget price tag. You can’t ask for more than that.

RATINGS
Overall:  4.8/5.0
Mechanical: 4.8/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.9/5.0
On water performance: 4.9/5.0
Value for money: 4.9/5.0
X-factor: 4.6/5.0
Performance: 4.8/5.0

Specifications:
Priced from: $64,990
Options fitted: Raymarine electronics, Fusion stereo, Stress Free anchor winch
Price as tested $67,990
Hull length: 6.4m?
Beam: 2.48m?
Hull weight: 1100kg
Deadrise: 21 degrees
Towing weight: 1900kg?
Maximum power: 175hp
Minimum power: 115hp?
Maximum engine weight: 250kg?
Engine as tested: Yamaha F150 four stroke?
Fuel: 170 litres
Maximum persons: Seven

Supplied by:
Brisbane Yamaha
Telephone (07) 3888 1727
Email: online@brisbaneyamaha.com.au
Website: www.brisbaneyamaha.com.au
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