Mustang 2250 Blue Water

Mustang's 2250 Blue Water model has been around for some time, and TrailerBoat had its predecessor, the 2150, as a project boat some years back. The 2250 model has had a number of small revamps topside since then, in keeping with the trends as they evolve.

SHARP HULL
The 2250 hull is based on the old 2150, with just some lengthening of the hull and reworking of the chines to offset spray. The new hull retains the sharp entry at the water line that allows the rig to punch through big chop and swell without jarring the driver and passengers. The serious offshore fisher will appreciate being able to troll comfortably at 10kmh with the lure spread working out the back. This is where the Mustang settles into its comfort zone.

The sharp-entry cutting edge does allow some water to slip up the forequarters of the hull and generate some spray in very steep oncoming chop, but the clears keep the cockpit reasonably dry, and a bit of mist is a small compromise for that gentle ride, trolling or on the plane.

At the sharp end, the Mustang features an anchor winch and a plough anchor that sits in a deep rebate in the bowsprit, which holds the ground tackle securely under normal running conditions.

This area can be reached either via the walkaround decks, or through the large cabin roof hatch, but the whole point of winches is that you don’t have to go to the bow in the first place, just push a button.

CABIN AND HELM
Inside the cabin is a vee-shaped lounge with a dining table. The table can be removed and fitted on the rear deck for outside dining, or lowered in the cabin to become the infill to convert the lounge to a double berth. Shallow stowage is located below the cushions.

A stainless-steel sink is located on the port side against the cabin bulkhead, and there is a bench for food preparation on the opposite side of the companionway. A 50lt isotherm fridge is under the bench. Forward of this, a portapotti is secreted under bi-fold hatches. There is storage space in wide sidepockets and a smart mirror on the forward bulkhead.

A sliding door is lockable and quite sturdy, making the cabin area as safe as can be for tackle stowage on trips away. At the helm station, solid grabrails surround a wraparound, hardened-glass windscreen. All stainless-steel fittings on the Mustang are high quality and exceptionally well manufactured.

In particular, the sturdy canopy top is a work of art. It can fold back in the cockpit to reduce wind resistance (and so fuel costs) when towing long distances. Mounting plates for outriggers, a radar dome and a GPS antenna are standard on the canopy.

The dash is spacious enough to hold a medium-sized GPS/depth sounder, or a small unit might tuck in behind the windscreen. An 11in screen might struggle for a position here though.

The stainless-steel-framed helm seat sits above an icebox big enough to hold good-sized garfish baits. The icebox has retaining ties and is easily removed for cleaning. This is a clever alternative to a permanent fixture - take it from me, cleaning a built-in bait box invariably results in dirty water draining into the cockpit, and you are constantly chasing smells or putting up with slippery decks.

The passenger seat sits atop a fibreglass storage locker and a second removable icebox. The seat can fold forward, and there is room to install a butane cooker if you wanted to. A fold-out seat with a strut is fitted at the rear of the module.

COCKPIT FISHABILITY
The 2250 features a beamy work area, and ample sidepockets to store the essentials. The pockets have alloy deck treads on the lips so an eager angler can stand on them without slipping. There are more treads on the deck under the sidepockets, and space where feet can easily fit. A rear lounge collapses and the toes fit snug under it when standing to fish from the transom.

Mustang has manufactured a bait preparation station for the serious angler. It has two nylon-cutting surfaces and a couple of safety-minded knife slots. A moulded slop tray drains to the engine well. The station is mounted on stainless-steel posts and is removable.

The starboard side of the transom bulkhead features a large, plumbed, livebait well. A transom boot opens to a large-volume storage area great for holding ropes, fenders and wet and sand gear. I like the positioning, which allows any sand and seaweed to be hosed outside of the boat rather than into the cockpit. A 190lt killtank in the deck doubles as another wet gear stowage area.

The deck is self-draining via small sumps in each aft corner of the cockpit. I doubt these sumps could shift the same volume of water as standardised alloy scuppers could. They will, however, keep the deck free from water until a large wave intrudes into the cockpit - if that occurs, the deck will take a some time to drain.

PERFORMANCE
This hull has a good rear planing area and it was difficult to detect it dropping off the plane. Cruising at 4000rpm the Yamaha V-Max pushed us along at 24kt and creeping to 4200rpm we realised 26kt as per the Yamaha instrumentation.

Wound out to full throttle the engine revved to 5700rpm with a dial speed of 38kt. Holeshot was very good and you could pull a couple of skiers or tubes with no trouble at all.

Handling was effortless with Sea Star hydraulic steering. Manoeuvring in choppy 75cm swell was easy, even at speed and during hard turns.

Drifting for snapper is a stable pastime in the back of the Mustang and going home with a following sea will have you tracking straight with no broaching.

 The Mustang 2250 Blue Water is setting its sights on those anglers who take their fishing seriously, be it offshore on the marlin grounds or inshore for long nights on the snapper. Comfort aplenty will make wiling away those hours, wherever they may be spent, even more pleasurable.

HIGHS

LOWS