Cox Craft Rum Runner II

Cox Craft has been manufacturing boats since the 1980s. In its formative years Cox Craft built small hulls around 13-14ft, which were soon followed by a series called Rum Runner. Initial production of the Rum Runner involved boats up to 6.4m called Pantera (a half-cabin craft) and Mutineer (the same hull but more of an open fishing boat).

However, a buy-out of Cox Craft by Myles O'Mahoney 18 months ago has injected new blood into a hull design that was well-proven as a seagoing fishing boat, but which was in jeopardy due to its archaic nature (in terms of 'cosmetics').

Over the next couple of years readers will see a number of revamps to the Rum Runner II series. Indeed, plans are on the drawing board for a bowrider version which will offer a seating facility deeply set below the top deck line with the accent on safety, especially for children aboard.

OPTICAL ILLUSION
The boats tested measured 5.4m from the bow to the end of the transom pod. Viewing the Rum Runner II side-on gives the impression of it being a shorter hull. This is due to the increased hull depth this vessel has below the coamings in the forward half of its mass compared with many other makes of the same length. Its height above the waterline makes it a seagoing proposition for small boaters wanting to push the envelope and head offshore. This factor, coupled with a more perpendicular bowline (that cuts through waves rather than slams over the top of them) plus higher freeboard in the cockpit, adds to a boat which has much to offer at a reasonable price.

The foredeck of the Rum Runner is rounded, with the anchor access hatch from the cabin flush-mounted in the deck. The hatch is large and placed well forward of the wraparound windscreen which sweeps back to the coamings of the high-sided cockpit. The lines of the foredeck forward of the screen are sleek and similar to a shortened version of a Scarab hull.

The anchor compartment provides ample storage for the required length of rope and chain and a 10lb Danforth anchor. A stainless steel open sleeve on the forward lip of the compartment opening allowed the rope to slip through with no damage to the surrounding gelcoat. Forward of the compartment a split, quick-release, stainless steel bollard was mounted.

Stainless steel bowrails come from near the back end of the windscreen and roll around the short bowsprit to offer it protection from bumps on the side. The windscreen had a slight tint with an aluminium frame and internal stainless steel handrail running its top length, offering increased strength and security grabrails for those up front.

An interesting planing board sits on the keel line of the Rum Runner II. This planing board starts at a point below the helm and runs aft, flaring as it goes before tapering back to a point where it ceases around 600mm from the rear end of the pod. The purpose of this style of planing board is to allow the vessel to ride on it when on calm water at speed, but when negotiating rough conditions the board will rise above and fall below the water surface and therefore eliminate much of the slamming and hard landings associated with wide, flat, planing boards in choppy conditions.

The hull behind this tapered board is rounded, consisting of a 20° deadrise with no prominent keel line. The lack of a prominent keel line so close to the engine leg allows water to slip under it during tight turns, whereas a normal sharp point of a keel line or broad planing board would generate turbulence, which cavitates the following propeller.

FALSE SCEPTICISM
We were a little sceptical on its effectiveness but during hard, fast, full-lock turns, the Rum Runner hung in tight with no excessive side slippage and no engine cavitation, even in chop generated off our own wake. You can really notice the difference with this hull in such situations.

The outboard sits on a pod with short mounting boards either side. The portside mounting board sports a fold-down stainless steel boarding ladder.

The helm features a dash which is practically laid out. We had three boats to drive on the testday that varied only in the accessories and engine types. Instrumentation was therefore different on each, with all three units fitted with Lowrance X65 or X85 sounders. Their transducers were mounted to shoot through the hull, aft, in a recessed bilge and were visible once the collapsible rear seat was lifted up. Also located in the aft section under the coaming were the bilge pump, battery and oil bottle, if you required one, as well as isolator switches.

There is a bulkhead in front of both skipper and passenger, with the passenger having a small flat table top recessed into the dash, along with two drinkholders close by. A carpeted foot support is on each bulkhead.

Seating for the skipper and passenger is on adjustable, pedestal seats.

The cutaway in the bulkhead provided easy access into the cabin, which had ample headroom for a person up to 190cm.

Steering on the boats tested was hydraulic Skipper Hi-Drive, which performed well during the test.

During the test, the focus was on two out of the three boats. The first, fitted with a 130hp Yamaha two-stroke motor, peaked at 5400rpm with a dash speedometer reading of just under 70kmh.

The second boat was fitted with a 90hp Honda four-stroke motor that pulled 5500rpm with a top speed of 58kmh.

Pushing the boat through chop and waves coming through the Southport Seaway, it showed it was capable of handling choppy conditions. Running in all directions through the bar, the Rum Runner felt steady and safe and displayed no vices.

The Rum Runner II is priced from $28,500 with a single-axle trailer and 90hp Yamaha two-stroke motor.

This trailerboat is effortlessly towed by the family six-cylinder sedan and will easily fish a family of four.

Its stability and sea-keeping characteristics make it a boat the serious offshore angler with a not-so-serious budget should consider. Its protective cockpit area will make the kids feel safe in bumpy and big seas and definitely put mum and dad's mind at ease should you be out in such unfavourable conditions.

Any dealers interested in the Rum Runner II should ring Myles O'Mahoney, tel (0407) 628 965 or fax (07) 5520 4992, as he is interested in expanding his network Australia-wide.