First drive: Yellowfin YF-70, YF-76 Extended Cabin plate alloy boats

Yellowfin plate alloy trailer boats need little introduction to seasoned offshore anglers. Established in 1984, Yellowfin boats have long been regarded as the ultimate Australian-made production plate alloy trailer boats.

In recent years, under the ownership of Canadian multinational corporation BRP, the Yellowfin brand has flourished, with the boat range expanding to nearly 30 boats across five model sizes from 5.8 metres to 7.6 metres in length, and available through a nationwide dealer network.

Importantly, Yellowfin boats are still made in Australia, so when you buy one of these tough trailer boats you know you are supporting the local marine industry.

But should you buy one? That’s what we are here to discover. But the short answer is yes – the new Yellowfin boats are smoother-riding, stronger, better equipped, nicely finished, and very good value.

Joining the Yellowfin range are the YF-70 and YF-76 Extended Cabin models.

These semi-enclosed hardtop cabin boats replace the 7000 Southerner and 7600 Southerner models.

At a glance, the new boats don’t look much different to their predecessors. However, both models have revised, strengthened 6.0mm plate alloy hull bottoms, more standard features and upgraded interiors.

Each hull now has an extended pair of running strakes to provide more lift and stability underway, while the Yellowfin Inter-Lok Core box section stringer/rib sub-floor construction has been beefed up to add strength and weight.

The combined hull changes improve the ride, stability and strength of the new boats in rough water.

A key change for the two new boats above decks is the standard fitment of U-Dek foam rubber flooring to the floors, side deck panels, and coaming tops, instead of treadplate alloy or carpet.

U-Dek looks great, feels grippy underfoot and cool to the touch under harsh sunlight. It also improves the aesthetic of the interior for a more upmarket ambience.

The Yellowfin YF-70 and YF-76 Extended Cabin have higher, wider cabins and wheelhouses than their predecessors to provide owners with up to 45 per cent more interior space with almost no change to the huge rear self-draining cockpits.

The extra width is gained by extending the cabin structure out and further across the side deck coamings. You do lose foot space around the outside of the cabins, but the space gained inside the boat is worth the compromise.

The front cabin deck hatches are also larger to make it easier to clamber out to the foredeck for anchoring or docking.

Inside the wheelhouse of each of the new boats, which are largely identical, the helm and dash areas have received a makeover.

Original Southerner models had a wide, open portside cabin entryway topped with a flat dash and a small instrument panel above the steering wheel. This layout needed to be upgraded as there was insufficient space for today’s modern (and large) multifunction displays.

The new models are quite different. The cabin entryway is moved to the centre of the boat and there is an optional, lockable roller door available to seal off the forward vee-berth cabin.

Above the cabin entryway is an angled fascia panel that stretches the full width of the wheelhouse. This allows for flush-fitting several large electronic displays (such as a 16.0-inch and a 19.0-inch multifunction display side-by-side) as well as the switch panel, wireless phone charging mounts and other instrumentation.

There’s also space overhead, beneath the hardtop, to flush-fit radio head units.

Yellowfin has also fitted a large glovebox on the panel in front of the co-pilot, along with recessed footrests, multiple handrails, and a new Plastimo compass mounted dead-centre on the dash top.

In keeping with the more luxurious interior, the Yellowfin YF-70 and YF-76 Extended Cabin models have new, more comfortable, substantially better helm chairs complete with flip-up front bolsters and rotating armrests.

Fit the optional Fishing Edition package and the standard pedestal bases are replaced with new ride-cushioning suspension seat bases from Scandinavia.

Both seat types are mounted on larger seat boxes that incorporate aft-facing padded seat squabs for additional passengers.

There’s also an option for still larger seat boxes that can be fitted with a port side pull-out 75-litre icebox and a starboard side upright fridge.

Other changes/upgrades include a redesigned (included) bait board and transom live bait tank; extra wheelhouse grab rails; port side bow trolling motor plate now standard; starboard side windscreen wiper; and the addition of a new hull colour called Deep Ocean Blue.

There is no underfloor kill tank or storage locker, so pack a fish bag or tick the box for the optional Fishing Edition package.

Yellowfin has introduced a new Fishing Edition package option for the Yellowfin YF-70 and YF-76 Extended Cabin models.

The features and kit contained within the package can be optioned individually, but Yellowfin has grouped these popular options for buyer convenience.

In addition to unique Fishing Edition hull graphics with yellow striping, buyers gain a deluxe bait station (with tackle drawers); raw-water deck wash; the aforementioned dual suspension helm seats; an Icey Tek 75.0-litre pull-out cooler; Yellowfin fish bag; underwater lighting; Garmin 215i AIS VHF radio; side coaming cushions; dual windscreen wipers; dual wireless phone chargers; special-edition Steel Grey coloured U-Dek flooring and trim; and Exploding Fish rod holders.

The latter are Australian-designed flush-fit stainless steel rod holders that can rotate 360 degrees to suit different fishing applications. They replace the regular standard flush-mount coaming rod holders.

Yellowfin boats have been sold with accompanying Yellowfin-branded heavy-duty dual-axle aluminium trailers for many years. They have also been upgraded.

New features include the change from blue-coloured rollers to black, a much larger front bow roller, new design alloy wheels, and a larger, heavy-duty jockey wheel.

Other features include I-beam alloy construction; a drive-on roller system with a mix of keel rollers; Teflon/nylon skids and side multi-rollers; auto-catch and release latch; an Alko IQ7 electric hydraulic break-away braking system; load-sharing suspension with galvanised leaf springs and axles; waterproof lights; spare wheel and carrier; and black aluminium mudguards with mud flaps and Yellowfin “YF” graphics.

The brake lines, calipers and brake pistons are also now made from stainless steel to add longevity.

During the media launch on the Gold Coast, we were able to take the Yellowfin YF-70 and YF-76 Extended Cabins for a run offshore.

The two boats were rigged with single Mercury outboard engines with power outputs of 225hp and 300hp respectively.

Whilst substantially different in length, the two boats share a similar hull bottom and bow entry shape, a 2.4-metre maximum beam, and a 20-degree transom deadrise angle.

The two boats also share 6.0mm hull bottoms and transoms with 4.0mm topsides.

Of course, the Yellowfin YF-76 is longer and weightier than the Yellowfin YF-70, so it naturally has the edge over the smaller boat package for ride comfort and offshore capability.

Mind you, I would be happy with either boat as both are smooth-riding, fast, stable and well-balanced.

Smooth hydraulic steering makes the boats easy to drive, while the included Zip-Wake auto trim tabs keep the hulls on an even keel, regardless of the sea conditions.

Look for a full test on the Yellowfin YF-76 Extended Cabin in coming weeks, but for now, rest assured that these new Yellowfins are mighty fine models, equipped with a welcome and worthwhile suite of upgrades and improvements.

Contact your local Yellowfin boat dealer for detailed pricing, availability, features and options.

Model: Yellowfin YF-76
Length: 7.48m
Beam: 2.4m
Alloy: 6.0mm (bottom, sides, transom)/4.0mm (topsides)
Weight: 1457kg
Engine: 300hp (max)/275kg (max)
Fuel: 380L
Passengers: 7