Hydro Marine Float-Eezee

Ralph Morgan of Brisbane's Hydro Marine is not one to let the grass grow under his feet. Best know for his range of plate aluminium Gull Wing Boats, Morgan is also not averse to tinkering with pre-made alloy product. In fact, his company has a reputation for turning out extensively modified rigs. These rigs are so changed that once rolled out of Hydro's Newstead factory many boaties would have trouble picking their original pedigree.

Indeed, Morgan is one of those engineers from the old school who is always looking for ways to improve products - in this case boats. Whether it's with the aim of building a 'new' boat for a specific group of users or simply giving a tweak here or there to one of Hydro's existing models, Morgan is always on the lookout.

This is the main reason why we see continual improvements in the boats that he makes. Some are just layout adjustments while others are changes to the hull.

For boating enthusiasts, this is a refreshing approach. Despite the fact that Hydro has a proven market for its Gull Wing, the company has not become complacent about its product. Nor is it resting on its laurels and hoping for the best.

Today's market is a tough one so you have to be prepared to try a few things -- some work, some don't. What Hydro has done recently is to introduce a modification that improves the stability of smaller aluminium craft, their ride and lift onto the plane and substantially increases their inherent buoyancy. Called Float-Eezee, it has the added bonus of making the ride a little drier in the process.

According to Hydro Marine, Float-Eezee is ideal for the typical 4-5.5m pressed alloy boat many Aussie boaties and fishos use.

Of course, there are countless manufacturers and models on the market and this modification can be used on a number of them.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The key to the Float-Eezee is the addition of outer sponsons to the rear half of the boat. In fact, they look like the wings on an F1-11 when they are folded back.

These aluminium sponsons are secured to the hull of the boat at chine level and feature several internal braces to ensure the overall strength of the boat.

The sponsons also wrap around the flat transom (no pod) to form duckboards on each side.

At first glance the modification to the hull looks a little odd - it's quite different to what you usually see on your average boat. A closer look reveals that the sponsons are a very professional addition to the structure of the hull, and not just an add-on.

The plate used is 4mm alloy and the workmanship in the welding is first class - some of the best aluminium welding that I've seen in fact.

They are more like flotation tanks than sponsons and are similar in concept to those used by WA manufacturer Challenge Craft Boats (see December issue of Trailer Boat).

When stationary these act as stabilisers and you can walk around the boat with little pitching or rolling evident.

The same principle applies when the boat is up and planing, though then it is only the tail end of the sponsons that are in the water.

At first I thought that a hard turn would see the sponsons dig in - calling into question their safety. However, I can report that this is not the case at all. Rather, they have enough width and length that they level the boat as it turns the corner.

Our testboat was based on a 5.15m Stessl hull and featured twin consoles, each fitted with a screen. There was a walk-through section to a flat-floored bow which was fitted with fold-down seats.

This alloy adaptation of the US-style bowrider seems to be catching on Down Under with several manufacturers offering models of the same ilk. From past experience testing similar aluminium bow riders, they can ride bow-high as the helm is relatively rear-set.

If this is the case with the standard version of this particular boat, it certainly was not with the sponson modification added.

GENERAL PLUSES
For general boating I can see some real pluses and no serious downsides to the changes Hydro has implemented to the design of the hull. I will, however, reserve my final judgement until I've tested one for a few days out on the water in various conditions.

Perhaps the additional lift and stability that the Float-Eezee system generates would see a few more bumps and jars as the extended contact area meets a choppy sea. More testing would determine this one way or the other.

If the preliminary tests are anything to go by, I have to say that the Float-Eezee mods have improved a number of properties of the hull and its ride, and would no doubt do the same to a few other rigs.

There have been other modifications in addition to the Float-Eezee system.

The spray chine from bow back to where the sponson starts has been increased to nearly 75mm in width - a very generous chine indeed.

A full height and full width transom ties in nicely to the sponsons which extend past the transom to act as duckboards.

PLANE SAILING
The testboat was fitted with a 85hp Yamaha CV-series outboard - basically an economy version of the Japanese company's 90hp unit. This was more than adequate for the boat and had no troubles getting us underway.

Top speed was around 67kmh, with a very pleasing low planing speed of just 18kmh. The support and additional planing surface offered by the Float-Eezee system makes this low planing speed possible.

Fishermen will also appreciate the stability at slow trolling speeds.

Most bowrider-style boats feature a helm area built mainly for pleasure boating. This aluminium version caters for the needs of a fishing family, with a few built-in comforts yet plenty of room for fishing.

The forward seating area is not taken up by a big plush lounge. Instead it has a couple of small benchseats that fold in against the forward face of the helm and nav consoles. This set-up gives you a basic seat plus plenty of room to move around and fish, anchor and the like.

In all but glassy conditions, it can be a bit bumpy up in this bow area so additional seating is provided behind the windscreen in the shape of two bucket-style helm seats and another two benchseats that slide along a rail next to the sidepockets. The extra lift by the Float-Eezee system is a real benefit when you have a bit of weight back here.

TROUBLE-FREE ENJOYMENT
As with most of the boats that Hydro Marine builds, you will never be short of storage space. If there is a way of building in a storage area you can rest assured that Hydro Marine has utilised it, thus keeping the decks clear.

Big, sturdy bowrails are fitted here an item often overlooked on other boats. As a regular boatie and keen fisherman himself, Ralph Morgan knows the value of these sorts of fittings.

Indeed, it is ancillary items which Morgan spends much of his design time on - items such as the additional transom grabrails, padded gunwales, deckwash, non-slip steps on the duckboard, clear vision while standing or sitting, and adequate room behind the helm. It's also these things that make Hydro Marine craft so user-friendly. Indeed, making boats a source of trouble-free enjoyment is what Hydro Marine is all about.

Note: Hydro Marine's Float-Eezee system can be fitted to most alloy boats in the 4-5.5m range. The company offers conversions or customers can opt to purchase a new craft already modified.

Hydro Marine now fits Mariner outboards as standard equipment across its range.