Caribbean Belmont

The most striking thing about Caribbean's latest model Belmont is how much this lovely little boat has changed its 'dress'.

The boat's last makeover in 1995 left the hull pretty much the same, except it was extended 230mm to put it into the 5m class.

This time around the deck is much the same, except it's been raised a little. The motor has a traditional stern mount - not a pod, and the rear quarter seats are now either moulded plastic or removable and padded.

Little things sure, but they all add value to what has been traditionally one of Caribbean's best sellers.

Caribbean regards the boat as a family fun machine. Either a first boat purchase or a graduation craft for, say, stepping up from a smaller, perhaps aluminium boat.

Consequently, the company equips the Belmont accordingly. As such boat buyers can order it bare or get as many options as they want, or rather, can afford.

I can readily imagine a whole family going out in the Belmont for a day's waterskiing and barbecue lunch. Coming home with wet gear, dripping wetsuits, spilled twisties and heaps of sand everywhere, dad would not be too concerned, because this is just what this boat is built for - durability, at the hands of the real testers of boats (and tackle)... The kids and their friends!

To the pointy end, McDuff.

EASY PRACTICAL DESIGN
The boat starts with one of those marvellous Caribbean anchor-mount bowsprits which really work.

It's easy to get through the walk-through screen as the centre panel folds back, and the deck hatch opens long and wide, right to the bow bollard.

The anchor well is built into the bow and is accessed through the main hatch.

Therefore while you are standing in the bow retrieving the anchor rope, you can feed it into the well, in front of your knees quite easily.

There is enough room beneath the deck for a couple of storage bins either side of the walkway and in front of the skipper's footrest.

The three-piece reinforced windscreen is very strong, unlike some boats with this configuration, and has supporting rods bolted to the dash on each side of the walkway. No slip, slop, slap here.

Beneath the raised deck are two parcel trays - a clever and practical design feature.

The driver sits on a pedestal skipper's chair while a back-to-back seat arrangement is featured on the left. This was a handy arrangement for either a forward looking passenger or a rearwards looking skiing observer.

Storage areas under the seat and between the two squabs added to the practicality of the set-up.

The driver's position is quite good although the fuel gauge and the top half of the speedometer (55mph-plus!) are hidden behind the soft-grip steering wheel. Not that it matters. If this boat was doing such speeds, you'd have better things to do than peering at the speedo!

Access to the fuse panel and the radio was okay even though it was fitted to the lower left of the steering wheel.

Back in the cockpit, fare is traditional with carpeted floor and two rear quarter removable padded seats - an option to standard moulded plastic items.

An extra, a ladder on the port side, would be essential for skiing.

The battery was mounted beneath the engine well.

The gunwales incorporate recessed grabrails and are non-slip all round. Coamings are padded with grey vinyl.

The fuel filler was high on the port rear quarter, feeding an underfloor 110lt tank which is also new on this model of the Belmont.

Long side pockets and rod racks are carpeted with upholstered side panels. The testboat was fitted with four rodholders, a canopy and tonneau cover.

PERFORMANCE
The four-stroke Honda 90 fitted in the Belmont pushed the boat along very well (factory recommended is anything from 60-150hp).

The trailer was a Mackay Multilink single axle, full roller, with over-ride disk brakes.

Performance, given the boat's humble aims was quite dazzling. Indeed, the Belmont just refused to slip in tight, fast figure of eights, and the Honda hung on to everything we threw at it.

In a straight line the boat tracked beautifully and the non-hydraulic steering was easy to handle except in the tightest turns.

In a light boat with two-up, 70kmh-plus was easy to achieve. Again, we were not towing a skier but the torque of the four-stroke Honda was very impressive.

If this boat lasts as long as some of its predecessors which you still see in Australian waters, it will be a damn good buy.