Black Watch 26

Like most of the Trade-A-Boat crew, I've covered quite some sea miles in Black Watch boats. My initiation came one woeful day off the Gold Coast when the Seaway looked like a chocolate milkshake only crunchy. But my memory of how well the BW30 handled the torrent remains fresh in my mind, even today. There was no thumping as we maintained a fast clip and scurried out to sea.

Since then, I've conducted various sojourns up and down the East Coast in Black Watch boats. I spent a memorable week fishing aboard a 34-footer called Ymer. As testimony to the longevity of these boats, Ymer is still run as a charterboat in Vanuatu.

I've also enjoyed some short stints buzzing about the islands off Port Stephens and, most recently, running out to sea off Port Hacking.

If there is one thing that can be said about Black Watch boats, it's that the gallant sportsfishers put in a gold medal performance on a wet track. Having confronted more than my fair share of bad seas in Black Watch boats, I say this with gratitude for the boats that have transported me comfortably out to sea and delivered me safely back home again.

The attribute which shines through in Black Watch boats is undoubtedly seaworthiness. The hulls, from that legendary powerboat designer Raymond C Hunt, may be more than two decades old, but they are timeless, archetypal and exemplary examples of the deep-vee hull.

This brings me to the subject of this story, the BW26 is a real goer that can compete with boats half as big again. With 19° of deadrise, the BW26 is the sharpest of all Black Watch hulls. On a foot-by-foot basis, it has the best hull in the range.

No other Black Watch feels quite as smooth running across the sea as this little 26-footer. With a good feel for the boat after three drives from Queensland to Sydney, the BW26 is now something which heads my wanted list. It's a perfect progression from the realms of trailerboats, whether you're a sportsfisher or cruiser u a multi-purpose boat which can appease families and friends, and help you land big fish.

DESIGN QUALITIES
While the early 26s were canyon-runners that had clears around the saloon, a half-tower and were aimed at gamefishing, the new BW26 has evolved into a neat all-rounder capable of fishing fair weather and foul. It's perfect for taking the kids away for a weekend, and has the seaworthiness to cruise to neighbouring ports.

In the interests of improving production efficiencies, Black Watch went back to the drawing board and created a fully-moulded liner some years back for its BW26. It has subsequently improved that liner and honed the finer points of the boat even further.

The latest round of changes include a larger bowrail, moulded bowsprit, better positioned cabin siderails, new internal benchtop colours, non-skid floor in the head, curved front cabin mouldings, soft-touch vinyl headliners, upgraded marine carpet, a high-gloss teak dinette, improved lighting, and rounded windows (which are the same size as the BW40).

The boat comes standard with a 5.7lt V-eight 260hp MerCruiser EFI petrol motor with Bravo II leg. The injection system gives excellent economy and a fast top-end speed, while the leg provides manoeuvrability akin to a twin-screw set-up. Upgraded to a MerCruiser 350 Magnum MPI with 300hp, the test BW26 was even more fun to drive.

Of course, there are Yanmar and Volvo diesel options too.

The bottom line is that the BW26 is not just a boat that can do a bit of everything very well, but is better finished that any other 26ft flybridge boat on the market. With some optional extras such as teak decks and coamings, the little 26-footer is ready for serious work and play.

It's at once a stylish sport and gamefishing machine, a boat which isn't too big to anchor over a reef and fish for snapper, a boat for cruising the coast or taking the family across the bay for a picnic, and a boat for entertaining at night. But above all it's a boat which can get you back home safely should the winds blow and seas grow.

While trying to be all things to all people, the BW26 doesn't surrender ground in any one field. If there is a weakness, it will be the cost of running the single petrol MerCruiser at top revs. Across the course of a typical day's boating you will use around 20lt/hr. Based on that figure, fuel capacity of 450lt will give you 20hr of boating and allow for around 10% in reserve.

The hull is now made with solid glass on the bottom and balsa-cored decks, through-bolted and glassed together, with glass-encapsulated ply stringers and moulded internal and separate bathroom liners. This model had an open rear bulkhead, but there is a lock-up version with door and aft windows should you prefer it.

OUT OF THE MOULD
The BW26, with either petrol or optional diesel inboard with sterndrive leg, has an engine box (it lifts effortlessly on a gas strut and has excellent sound insulation) which stands just 10cm or so above the cockpit. This compares most favourably with its opposition, another 26-footer that, while boasting twin engine installation, has big engine boxes that impinge on vital cockpit space.

The BW26Es self-draining cockpit works well at sea and feels safe thanks to (optional) teak-topped and padded coamings that hit just above knee-level on the lower thighs. The hinged engine box lid and floor are covered in a good grade of non-skid, and there are two underfloor hatches for storing fish and bait, each fitted with quality catches and stainless steel piano hinges.

A boarding platform is fitted to the transom.

With cut-outs to allow water to pass through the platform, it doesn't act like a bib and drag the boat under when you reverse into the sea. There is an aft transom light, solid rubrails, big-boat hawsepipes leading to internal cleats, heavy-duty skin fittings and plenty of room for a good spread of rodholders.

The fuel tank lies mid-cockpit, but the factory can mount a reinforced plate so you can add a gamefishing chair if that's what you want. Personally, I'd forego the chair and savour the cockpit space.

A terrific moulded amenities centre to port includes a sink and storage. A 20lt hot-water system runs off a heat-exchanger to the handheld shower and sink mixer.

At the starboard side of the half-bulkhead is a sizeable icebox with 5cm-thick foam insulation that will keep ice for two days at least. It has an overboard drain and can be set-up with a full-blown fridge unit or turned into a livebait tank. (IEd prefer to mount an aftermarket tank on the boarding platform.)

Sufficient rails, including a grabrail around the cabin sides and moulded toerails on deck, grant access to the foredeck. A custom stainless bowrail provides security. There are springer cleats, a water filler to port, fuel to starboard, huge anchorlocker (no dead eye), Muir windlass and a big stainless steel rubbing plate on the bowsprit.

A cute little ladder leads up five steps to the bridge, which looks and feels well-proportioned. Its profile - even with clears fitted - keeps the centre of gravity low.

A benchseat which can take up to three adults comes standard, but the optional swivel seats on the test BW26 are superior. You can drive, feet up on the dash, or troll side-on, feet up on the bridge moulding, just as you do in a much bigger boat.

The skipper gets a full-width moulded console with a sports steering wheel, dash areas for engine gauges, and room for bracket-mounting serious electronics alongside. There is a small recess alongside the dash that can be used as an impromptu aft-facing seat when trolling at sea. You can also sit atop on the flybridge floor with your feet on the ladder - a popular position.

Other bridge features include a storage locker, carpeted floor and an excellent powder-coated framework (optional) for the bimini top. The view forward and aft, plus alongside, is unobstructed.

With clears fitted, the BW26 becomes an all-weather boat that, thanks to a Bravo II leg, won't pose a problem to berth.

INTERIOR GLOSS
The open-plan saloon works equally well at anchor as it does while pottering about at sea. The fully-moulded interior is surprisingly spacious and livable for weekends away. You step down as you step inside, and thereby avoid hitting your melon. Headroom is 1.9m in the main saloon.

There is a useful amount of moulded Granicoat benchtop space in the galley to starboard. It has a stainless sink with (optional) hot and cold water, a small (optional) 12/240V fridge, a stove with gas cartridge, and storage space. It's practical for preparing lunches and quick meals. A microwave would be a handy addition, however.

Opposite is a small high-gloss teak dinette flanked by benchseats that can sit four people at a pinch. The aft-facing benchseat affords a good view back down through the cockpit. Crew will find this a useful vantage point while trolling. The table converts to a 1.8m-long double bed. A storage recess for personals, such as sunscreen, is nearby, and there are deep holds under the benchseats.

Everyone will like the fact that the BW26 has a fully-enclosed head with a manual loo (this one had the optional electric version), holding tank, and handheld or wall-hung shower rose. The 136lt water tank is adequate. There is no ventilation, so an extractor fan is worth considering.

The best interior feature is the big double berth in the bow. It's actually as big or bigger than the same space found on the BW34.

Like a rumpus room, you can kick back and do nothing much at all, lie across the bed and read under the lights, while a couple can sleep very comfortably. There is also an opening deck hatch.

In short, the BW26 has a very accommodating interior with contemporary and easy-clean moulded surfaces. Teak trim adds a sense of tradition, nice white headliners create a sense of space, and there are sufficient amenities to satisfy fishwives as well as eager crew. The separate head is a selling point.

SEA TRIALS
The BW26 feels like a stiff boat at sea, and it has an inherently sweet-running attitude. The bow rides just clear of the water and re-enters only when it's challenged by a wave. It feels smooth running into a headsea, and it doesn't buck when coming back home.

However, the deep-vee hull does have a tendency to lean into crosswinds. The boat is trim sensitive when crew move around and you fall into a hole when beam-on. Trim tabs are supplied, though an application of throttle seems to get the boat back on an even keel.

I chalked up some enjoyable sea miles on the BW26. In the past, I tackled a chancy bar off the Gold Coast before powering offshore and scooting across rolling swells brushed by a 15kt sea breeze. This time, off Sydney, I ran offshore into beautifully flat seas, thinking of nothing more than heading to the Continental Shelf 20 miles away, putting the lures over the side and snagging a marlin.

Instead I ran along a coast fronted by high sandstone cliffs and simply marvelled at the ride. The view from the bridge was engaging, with headlands and sweeping beaches dotted all the way to Wollongong, where we could easily have pulled in for the night. Top speed was around 32kt and cruise was 24kt.

The MerCruisers have proven themselves reliable motors, and when you stop to consider most professional trawlers have just one motor, there shouldn't be any concerns. With the Bravo II sterndrive, I could jack the boat any which way I wanted in reverse.

I put on quite some display charging back at perhaps 8kt and running down an imaginary marlin. At the same time, I also felt supremely confident had I been asked to put the boat back in its marina pen. It's a snap to drive.

The BW26 is not just another 26-footer. It's a giant killer capable of running with the big boys, with seaworthiness that belies its size. It's a stayer with excellent wet track form, a great first gameboat, and a chic cruiser with sufficient amenities to assuage families as well as anglers.

Highs
Big-boat ability in an supremely seaworthy hull, with sufficient amenities to comfortably carry the family on weekends away. Manoeuvrability about the marina makes the BW26 an ideal boat for first-time cruiser buyers. Build quality is excellent.

Lows
Just one motor, and the permanently immersed sterndrive leg will require regular maintenance. Compared with some hulls, the deep-vee BW26 is trim sensitive, can rock around a bit at rest.

Like most of the Trade-A-Boat crew, I've covered quite some sea miles in Black Watch boats. My initiation came one woeful day off the Gold Coast when the Seaway looked like a chocolate milkshake only crunchy. But my memory of how well the BW30 handled the torrent remains fresh in my mind, even today. There was no thumping as we maintained a fast clip and scurried out to sea.

Since then, I've conducted various sojourns up and down the East Coast in Black Watch boats. I spent a memorable week fishing aboard a 34-footer called Ymer. As testimony to the longevity of these boats, Ymer is still run as a charterboat in Vanuatu.

I've also enjoyed some short stints buzzing about the islands off Port Stephens and, most recently, running out to sea off Port Hacking.

If there is one thing that can be said about Black Watch boats, it's that the gallant sportsfishers put in a gold medal performance on a wet track. Having confronted more than my fair share of bad seas in Black Watch boats, I say this with gratitude for the boats that have transported me comfortably out to sea and delivered me safely back home again.

The attribute which shines through in Black Watch boats is undoubtedly seaworthiness. The hulls, from that legendary powerboat designer Raymond C Hunt, may be more than two decades old, but they are timeless, archetypal and exemplary examples of the deep-vee hull.

This brings me to the subject of this story, the BW26 is a real goer that can compete with boats half as big again. With 19° of deadrise, the BW26 is the sharpest of all Black Watch hulls. On a foot-by-foot basis, it has the best hull in the range.

No other Black Watch feels quite as smooth running across the sea as this little 26-footer. With a good feel for the boat after three drives from Queensland to Sydney, the BW26 is now something which heads my wanted list. It's a perfect progression from the realms of trailerboats, whether you're a sportsfisher or cruiser u a multi-purpose boat which can appease families and friends, and help you land big fish.

DESIGN QUALITIES
While the early 26s were canyon-runners that had clears around the saloon, a half-tower and were aimed at gamefishing, the new BW26 has evolved into a neat all-rounder capable of fishing fair weather and foul. It's perfect for taking the kids away for a weekend, and has the seaworthiness to cruise to neighbouring ports.

In the interests of improving production efficiencies, Black Watch went back to the drawing board and created a fully-moulded liner some years back for its BW26. It has subsequently improved that liner and honed the finer points of the boat even further.

The latest round of changes include a larger bowrail, moulded bowsprit, better positioned cabin siderails, new internal benchtop colours, non-skid floor in the head, curved front cabin mouldings, soft-touch vinyl headliners, upgraded marine carpet, a high-gloss teak dinette, improved lighting, and rounded windows (which are the same size as the BW40).

The boat comes standard with a 5.7lt V-eight 260hp MerCruiser EFI petrol motor with Bravo II leg. The injection system gives excellent economy and a fast top-end speed, while the leg provides manoeuvrability akin to a twin-screw set-up. Upgraded to a MerCruiser 350 Magnum MPI with 300hp, the test BW26 was even more fun to drive.

Of course, there are Yanmar and Volvo diesel options too.

The bottom line is that the BW26 is not just a boat that can do a bit of everything very well, but is better finished that any other 26ft flybridge boat on the market. With some optional extras such as teak decks and coamings, the little 26-footer is ready for serious work and play.

It's at once a stylish sport and gamefishing machine, a boat which isn't too big to anchor over a reef and fish for snapper, a boat for cruising the coast or taking the family across the bay for a picnic, and a boat for entertaining at night. But above all it's a boat which can get you back home safely should the winds blow and seas grow.

While trying to be all things to all people, the BW26 doesn't surrender ground in any one field. If there is a weakness, it will be the cost of running the single petrol MerCruiser at top revs. Across the course of a typical day's boating you will use around 20lt/hr. Based on that figure, fuel capacity of 450lt will give you 20hr of boating and allow for around 10% in reserve.

The hull is now made with solid glass on the bottom and balsa-cored decks, through-bolted and glassed together, with glass-encapsulated ply stringers and moulded internal and separate bathroom liners. This model had an open rear bulkhead, but there is a lock-up version with door and aft windows should you prefer it.

OUT OF THE MOULD
The BW26, with either petrol or optional diesel inboard with sterndrive leg, has an engine box (it lifts effortlessly on a gas strut and has excellent sound insulation) which stands just 10cm or so above the cockpit. This compares most favourably with its opposition, another 26-footer that, while boasting twin engine installation, has big engine boxes that impinge on vital cockpit space.

The BW26Es self-draining cockpit works well at sea and feels safe thanks to (optional) teak-topped and padded coamings that hit just above knee-level on the lower thighs. The hinged engine box lid and floor are covered in a good grade of non-skid, and there are two underfloor hatches for storing fish and bait, each fitted with quality catches and stainless steel piano hinges.

A boarding platform is fitted to the transom.

With cut-outs to allow water to pass through the platform, it doesn't act like a bib and drag the boat under when you reverse into the sea. There is an aft transom light, solid rubrails, big-boat hawsepipes leading to internal cleats, heavy-duty skin fittings and plenty of room for a good spread of rodholders.

The fuel tank lies mid-cockpit, but the factory can mount a reinforced plate so you can add a gamefishing chair if that's what you want. Personally, I'd forego the chair and savour the cockpit space.

A terrific moulded amenities centre to port includes a sink and storage. A 20lt hot-water system runs off a heat-exchanger to the handheld shower and sink mixer.

At the starboard side of the half-bulkhead is a sizeable icebox with 5cm-thick foam insulation that will keep ice for two days at least. It has an overboard drain and can be set-up with a full-blown fridge unit or turned into a livebait tank. (IEd prefer to mount an aftermarket tank on the boarding platform.)

Sufficient rails, including a grabrail around the cabin sides and moulded toerails on deck, grant access to the foredeck. A custom stainless bowrail provides security. There are springer cleats, a water filler to port, fuel to starboard, huge anchorlocker (no dead eye), Muir windlass and a big stainless steel rubbing plate on the bowsprit.

A cute little ladder leads up five steps to the bridge, which looks and feels well-proportioned. Its profile - even with clears fitted - keeps the centre of gravity low.

A benchseat which can take up to three adults comes standard, but the optional swivel seats on the test BW26 are superior. You can drive, feet up on the dash, or troll side-on, feet up on the bridge moulding, just as you do in a much bigger boat.

The skipper gets a full-width moulded console with a sports steering wheel, dash areas for engine gauges, and room for bracket-mounting serious electronics alongside. There is a small recess alongside the dash that can be used as an impromptu aft-facing seat when trolling at sea. You can also sit atop on the flybridge floor with your feet on the ladder - a popular position.

Other bridge features include a storage locker, carpeted floor and an excellent powder-coated framework (optional) for the bimini top. The view forward and aft, plus alongside, is unobstructed.

With clears fitted, the BW26 becomes an all-weather boat that, thanks to a Bravo II leg, won't pose a problem to berth.

INTERIOR GLOSS
The open-plan saloon works equally well at anchor as it does while pottering about at sea. The fully-moulded interior is surprisingly spacious and livable for weekends away. You step down as you step inside, and thereby avoid hitting your melon. Headroom is 1.9m in the main saloon.

There is a useful amount of moulded Granicoat benchtop space in the galley to starboard. It has a stainless sink with (optional) hot and cold water, a small (optional) 12/240V fridge, a stove with gas cartridge, and storage space. It's practical for preparing lunches and quick meals. A microwave would be a handy addition, however.

Opposite is a small high-gloss teak dinette flanked by benchseats that can sit four people at a pinch. The aft-facing benchseat affords a good view back down through the cockpit. Crew will find this a useful vantage point while trolling. The table converts to a 1.8m-long double bed. A storage recess for personals, such as sunscreen, is nearby, and there are deep holds under the benchseats.

Everyone will like the fact that the BW26 has a fully-enclosed head with a manual loo (this one had the optional electric version), holding tank, and handheld or wall-hung shower rose. The 136lt water tank is adequate. There is no ventilation, so an extractor fan is worth considering.

The best interior feature is the big double berth in the bow. It's actually as big or bigger than the same space found on the BW34.

Like a rumpus room, you can kick back and do nothing much at all, lie across the bed and read under the lights, while a couple can sleep very comfortably. There is also an opening deck hatch.

In short, the BW26 has a very accommodating interior with contemporary and easy-clean moulded surfaces. Teak trim adds a sense of tradition, nice white headliners create a sense of space, and there are sufficient amenities to satisfy fishwives as well as eager crew. The separate head is a selling point.

SEA TRIALS
The BW26 feels like a stiff boat at sea, and it has an inherently sweet-running attitude. The bow rides just clear of the water and re-enters only when it's challenged by a wave. It feels smooth running into a headsea, and it doesn't buck when coming back home.

However, the deep-vee hull does have a tendency to lean into crosswinds. The boat is trim sensitive when crew move around and you fall into a hole when beam-on. Trim tabs are supplied, though an application of throttle seems to get the boat back on an even keel.

I chalked up some enjoyable sea miles on the BW26. In the past, I tackled a chancy bar off the Gold Coast before powering offshore and scooting across rolling swells brushed by a 15kt sea breeze. This time, off Sydney, I ran offshore into beautifully flat seas, thinking of nothing more than heading to the Continental Shelf 20 miles away, putting the lures over the side and snagging a marlin.

Instead I ran along a coast fronted by high sandstone cliffs and simply marvelled at the ride. The view from the bridge was engaging, with headlands and sweeping beaches dotted all the way to Wollongong, where we could easily have pulled in for the night. Top speed was around 32kt and cruise was 24kt.

The MerCruisers have proven themselves reliable motors, and when you stop to consider most professional trawlers have just one motor, there shouldn't be any concerns. With the Bravo II sterndrive, I could jack the boat any which way I wanted in reverse.

I put on quite some display charging back at perhaps 8kt and running down an imaginary marlin. At the same time, I also felt supremely confident had I been asked to put the boat back in its marina pen. It's a snap to drive.

The BW26 is not just another 26-footer. It's a giant killer capable of running with the big boys, with seaworthiness that belies its size. It's a stayer with excellent wet track form, a great first gameboat, and a chic cruiser with sufficient amenities to assuage families as well as anglers.

HIGHS

LOWS