Key West 15m

What course of action would you expect a crayboat skipper to adopt on retirement? Go to the top of the class those who said: Buy a boat. You see, that's exactly what West Australian Jeff Morrell did when he got sick (and tired) of pulling pots for a living.

Obviously the cray business was kind to Jeff, as he could have purchased virtually any boat he desired but opted for a 15m New KeyWest.

If you view the opening photo and think, gee that hull is familiar, your belief is vindicated. But don't wrack your brain any longer, it's a Precision 45 hull which has received a facelift from well-known WA designer and boatbuilder, Trevor Rumble.

The Precision hull has popped out of the moulds under various guises, and the latest version is the 15m New KeyWest.

A reason for the hull's popularity, especially in the West, is its exceptional seaworthiness. And this was a major factor in Jeff's ultimate decision. After all, no-one appreciates an unnecessary pounding at sea.

GO FOR THE DOCTOR
Perth boatbuilders are conscious that the Fremantle doctor - a strong, cool, southwesterly wind which blows after a hot day - can be relentless, so it's not surprising that some of the best seaboats built in Australia emanate from the West.

Rottnest Island, however, acts as a sanctuary for Perth boaties seeking respite from the winds. The island also provided a spectacular backdrop for our testday photos. Little wonder it's such a popular anchorage for WA boaties.

We stepped aboard a couple of 15m KeyWests while in Fremantle and although externally they looked identical, internal configurations were totally different. Indeed, New KeyWest allows for considerable internal customisation, which ensures you get precisely the boat you want. The hull has nothing to prove (it's already a winner), so internal and mechanical specifications are obviously what differentiates one KeyWest from another.

Hailing from a commercial fishing background, Jeff has gone with a simple but practical and functional layout. This boat is designed for family outings and entertaining, however, a few small cockpit alterations would soon transform it into a serious gamefishing vessel.

As it is, the huge teak-laid cockpit is an ideal entertaining area with sink and storage on the starboard side and an enormous icebox to port. The teak is cleverly continued into the saloon where you'll find an aft galley to port and a lower helmstation to starboard. This is an unorthodox configuration, but we found it very functional. It means the skipper, chef, etc, are never far from the action in the cockpit.

The galley featured all the mod cons including sink, fridge, convection microwave and lovely Corian benchtops.

SIGHTS OF THE TOWN
The lower helm was quite a sight with a full electronics suite of commercial grade units. Highlights included a JMC V138 sounder and a PC-based chartplotter. (Somehow, I think Jeff may have transferred some of this gear out of his last crayboat.)

Forward of both the galley and the lower helm are large L-shaped lounges, with the wide beam providing ample room in between.

At the forward end of the saloon is an entertainment unit with CD player, TV and VCR.

Stepping down from the saloon to the companionway you find a laundry and second bathroom to port. Toilet, washbasin and duomatic washer/dryer are all features of this cabin.

The midships cabin to starboard is the master stateroom which features a double berth, sideboard, cupboards, venetian blinds and an overhead ventilation hatch. The master cabin has an adjacent ensuite which is absolutely enormous. Features include a shower stall, toilet, vanity, three cabinets and a tiled floor.

The forward cabin itself features a transverse double berth and two overhead bunks. There is storage aplenty in this cabin with two cupboards, two drawers, a large hanging locker with internal drawers, and four small cabinets above the bunks. There is also a TV/VCR and overhead ventilation hatch.

LADDER OF SUCCESS
Access to the flybridge is via the cockpit and one of the best flybridge ladders I have seen. Heavy-duty stainless pipe with large oval teak treads not only look good but provides safe access to the flybridge.

The flybridge featured a moulded hardtop with tinted clears. Comfortable helm and passenger pedestal seating was provided, as were two lounges for additional passengers.

The helm console appeared a little sparse compared with the lower station, suggesting that Jeff prefers to drive from downstairs. The console featured Morse single-lever controls, JMC V620 sounder and Chartlink LCD plotter.

The 'doctor' was well and truly blowing by the time we had finished our photoshoot and the New KeyWest lived up to its reputation as an exceptionally seaworthy boat.

The testboat was fitted with twin 700hp Fiats which provided amazing acceleration for a boat of this size and a top speed of 32kt.

Optimum cruise revs were around 1600rpm at which time we were doing 21.5kt and burning a very economical 40lt/hr per engine... Remember this is a 15-metre boat.

The 15m New KeyWest provided no surprises in the seaworthiness department, but I was pleasantly surprised by its acceleration and economy.

With the ability to customise the interior, the sky's the limit with this boat. Regardless of its utilisation - entertainer or serious gamefisher - the 15m New KeyWest provides a great base to build on.