Mirage 1750L

Budding trailerboater Warwick Holmes works as an engineer in the space industry, which means he travels a lot. It also says something that he chose a local brand of bowrider, ahead of the 10 or more other brands he considered imported from America.

Holmes cites several reasons for choosing the Mirage 1750L. To begin with, he was impressed by the engineering coincidentally, the proprietor of Mirage Sports Boats worked as an engineer for Qantas if not by the company's receptiveness to his ideas.

Unlike pop-out US production boats, Mirage will customise the finish, fit-out and engine set-up of your boat. That is to say, you can get some individuality in a bowrider that is still built to US standards.

Also influencing his decision was after-sales support. Mirage provides the first shakedown service for free; thereafter the company reminds you about regular servicing and a proper maintenance schedule.

Unlike overseas companies, Mirage has all the parts for its boats on hand. In the case of the roaming Holmes, Mirage has assisted with the right procedures for long-term storage of his engine.

Together, these are the compelling reasons that swayed Holmes. He placed his order with Sydney-based Mirage Sports Boats before flying out for another overseas space-industry tour.

WISH LISTS
Exactly what Holmes wanted was a bowrider that he could slot into the garage below his city apartment, one easy to manoeuvre on the trailer, tow to the waterfront and launch by himself. He wanted the curvaceous styling of the moment, the aforementioned benefits and after-sales service in case something went awry.

Holmes says he was met by gasps of astonishment when he mentioned this to some agents of imported bowriders. But it's not an exaggeration to say he was taken aback by the willingness of Mirage.

"As a customer I've been extremely happy with Mirage," Holmes says, assuring me he is not getting any kickbacks. "It's just that the local company delivered more than I expected. "The boat ended up cheaper than any imported boat I looked at ... and it's so great to see an Australian-made product this good," he adds.

QUALITY NO MIRAGE
From afar, the Mirage 1750L bowrider looks like your archetypal modern American bowrider. As the proprietor of Mirage Sports Boats, Andrew Pink, explains: "The boat is about 95% there as far as matching the imports for frills."

In performance, Pink claims his boats are better. As for the bottom line, they are attractively priced. All of which has me sounding almost as convinced as Holmes is about his stylish 1750L.

A smart-looking social boat capable of skiing, touring and a spot of fishing, the 1750L is exactly the kind of rig more people should be driving. Like a cafe-racer, it can go places in comfort and convenience; its range cut short only by the 100lt fuel supply.

Modelled off an American bowrider called the Caravel, the boat was improved by deepening the deadrise to 19°. Along with a useful amount of height in the bow, the boat can ship four adults... no water on places such as windswept Botany Bay.

Pink favours a bit more deadrise and deep-vee than the Yanks do in their lake boats. He also builds a 20-footer with 20° of vee and a 21ft hotshot sportsboat with a sharp 22°.

On the 1750L, there was a subtle, rounded planing plank and reverse chines for lift. Plus, plenty of strength is built in. The hull, which is made in the same factory as Lewis boats on the NSW Central Coast, has fibreglass-encapsulated Oregon-wood stringers, biaxial and triaxial rovings, and extra gelcoat (your choice of colour) for good measures.

Other signs of integrity can be found in the imported American Nautilex vinyl upholstery it's thicker than most the fibreglass and plastic seat shells, the armour-plate glass windscreen, the quality Easy Tow trailer, and the engine fit-up.

Having done his homework, Holmes discovered that a sterndrive-driven bowrider is a better boat/motor combo. This is an irrefutable fact with a sterndrive, you get a nice big aft lounge, better handling, less noise, more stability and so on.

A few little extras were ordered as well: a black sports wheel instead of the usual woodgrain model, a bowroller and conventional cleats, bigger port and starboard navigation lights, a blue flash on the wall-to-wall upholstery, and an in-dash compass about covers it.

LUXURIES IN LAYOUT
The hull doesn't disappoint up close: the upholstery is beautifully stitched, the styling flashes and graphics are smart, while there are plenty of features built in. Note the details the centre section of the walk-through windscreen, which offers no distortion when driving, rests on a rubber stopper, while the carpet-lined cockpit includes a large underfloor ski locker.

Up in the bow, you will find three useful seats and storage below. There is a central hold that can accommodate a plough anchor, chain and rope (Holmes also has a stern anchor with bungy cord for parking at beaches); a large hatch for holding hardware; and a XOS lined icebox with overboard drain.

Notably, the 1750L has deck mouldings with lots of pretty curves and raked lines. It's been shaped to maximise internal volume, especially around the helm area. Hip-hugging bucket seats are used for skipper and mate.

These seats are fully adjustable on slides, can swivel aft for ski-observing or picnics afloat, while offering plenty of legroom. There are handy map pockets in the back of the seats. Ahead of the co-pilot is a lockable glovebox and through-bolted stainless grabrail that's better than the flimsy plastic grabrails provided on some imported boats.

The skipper is treated to smart dash with walnut facia, gold-rimmed Faria gauges, switch panel to port and Clarion marine stereo, plus a tilt-adjustable steering wheel. All the gauges are in plain view when driving, the seat can be set up to suit most body shapes, while the throttle falls comfortably to hand. I couldn't fault the steering set-up.

KICKING BACK
The application of marine vinyl on high-wear areas alongside the swivel seats, for example is applied with knowledge, accents and swirls. The sidepockets in the cockpit have small openings, but considering the amount of storage in the boat, that doesn't seem to matter.

The big aft lounge lifts up to reveal space for lifejackets, spare ropes, buckets and more. There is plenty of room around the MerCruiser engines for hardware, a tool box and additional anchoring gear. Another integral part of the hull, the boarding platform has smart engine vents, handholds, a swim ladder, tread step and mooring cleats.

The optional canvas on the 1750L is a canopy that clips to the windscreen for lifesaving shade during those long, hot summer days afloat. There is also a protective cover over the open bow. The alloy tubing on the bimini appears to be thicker than normal, though you will need to take care of the press studs.

There were drinkholders here and there and, as far as I could see, the only thing missing was a handrail either side of the aft lounge. This became apparent after I put the 1750L with four adults through its paces on Botany Bay. It wouldn't be drawing too long a bow to say, driving the 1750L is a little like handling a jetboat.

TOUR OF DUTY
Despite its handy size, the 5.3m hull can effectively carry a large passenger load. Over-sized Bennett trim tabs come standard, allowing you to compensate for poorly distributed loading. Using the tabs, the boat will plane down to around eight knots about 10kt with four aboard and exhibit only a short transition to planing speed.

Using a 4.3lt V-six 190hp MerCruiser petrol motor with Alpha One sterndrive leg the standard package is just-a-boat with a four-cylinder 135hp engine we cruised down the Georges River with the gauges showing 40mph (65kmh) and 3200rpm.

Two-up the 1750L turns in 55-56mph (90kmh), claims Pink. With four aboard, I clocked 50mph (81kmh) at 4300rpm according to the Faria gauges. Word is a 23-inch prop is best for cruising, a 19-inch prop perfect for skiing, while the 21-inch prop we were spinning is the best all-rounder.

Faithful to its sporty lines, the boat turns on a coin and the prop is reluctant to let go. This is why I'd add grabrails for the passengers perched on the rear lounge.

The performance also lends itself to skiing and wakeboarding.

Having toured the Harbour and the Hawkesbury River, Holmes was interested to see what Botany Bay had to offer. We contemplated racing the 747s alongside the third runway, noticed the glorious oil refinery billowing at Kurnell, and settled for a remote setting near the white-sand beach at Towra.

We were back at the ramp just a few hours of meeting up. But I don't doubt the Mirage 1750L can entertain two couples or a family all day long. I'd go so far as to say, it's one of the most promising local trailerboats to arrive on the scene in a good while.

More than an aberration, Mirage plans to turn the tide on the flood of imported bowriders. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to see that $35,000 is money well spent on this proudly Australian-made trailerboat package.