Oceanworx Axcess 5.3CC 2024 Review

The first of the semi-custom-built plate boats is the Axcess 5.3-metre centre console. We tested this high-end fishing rig paired with a 115hp Mercury ProXS four-stroke outboard.

Overview

In just two years or so, Oceanworx has established itself as a premium manufacturer of pressed and plate alloy boats.

Headquartered in Sydney, Oceanworx already has a sizeable boat range with a dozen or so pressed alloy boats on offer, along with several semi-custom high-tensile plate alloy boats designed for serious fishing.

The pressed alloy boats, which are suitable for everything from family day cruising to fishing, start at 4.3 metres and run through to a twin-console hybrid bowrider model called the 5.2FX.

We've recently reviewed one of the mid-sized pressed alloy centre consoles, the budget-friendly Oceanworx Squadron 4.8CC, but for this review we’ve gone for a high-end, full-featured, semi-custom fishing boat called the Oceanworx Axcess 5.3CC.

One of just four heavy-duty plate alloy Oceanworx models, the Axcess 5.3CC is an excellent fishing allrounder as it is small enough to fish inland lakes and dams, yet large, soft and seaworthy enough to fish coastal offshore waters.

Oceanworx founders Derek and Samson Rodway supplied the Axcess 5.3CC for this review, the test boat powered by a 115hp Mercury ProXS outboard engine and riding on a Dunbier Loader series galvanised steel trailer.

The Axcess 5.3CC is also available in a side console model called the Airier 5.3SC, and as a slightly smaller 4.8-metre boat.

The Oceanworx Axcess 5.3 is a heavy-duty, full-featured, high-end fishing trailer boat with an appropriately high price. This is not a boat for beginners, but for anglers and boaters who want a premium, quality product with all the bells and whistles.

As you would expect then, the Axcess 5.3 comes with a great deal of standard kit and a superb interior fishing layout.

I won’t list all of the standard stuff as the list is extensive. However, stand-outs include the heavy-duty plate alloy construction; checker-plate internal allow floor with bow casting deck and transverse kill tank/fish keeper well; painted side sheets and side decks; bow trolling motor plate; boarding steps and ladder; choice of two centre console units; welded alloy rod holders and cleats; dual transom live bait tanks; auto bilge pump; and a Simrad GO9 multifunction fishfinder and chartplotter.

With all the above kit (and more) the Axcess 5.3CC is priced from $83,990 when paired with an entry-sized 90hp Mercury extra-longshaft (25-inch) outboard engine and a braked single axle Dunbier galvanised steel trailer.

Our test boat was optioned with several cool features and accessories which lifted the sail-away price to $111,990.

This extra kit included a larger 115hp Mercury ProXS outboard engine; an upgrade to the Simrad NSS16 Evo3S with 1kW through-hull active 3in1 transducer; removable bait board; two-tone paint; U-Dek flooring and side coamings; Motorguide Xi5 Pinpoint 24V 80lb thrust electric trolling motor with remote; Roswell stereo; under-gunwale LED lighting; bow side pockets; console rod-rack; and a trailer upgrade to Dunbier Loader Pro with alloy wheels.

The Oceanworx Squadron 5.3CC has a centreline hull length of 5.3 metres and an overall length of 5.65 metres once you add the boarding platform and small bowsprit.

The Axcess has a maximum beam of 2.31 metres and a usable internal width/space of 2.0 metres.

The Axcess is a super-heavy duty boat, made using a complex matrix of underfloor welded stringers and transverse bulkheads, then surrounded by 4.0mm thick plate alloy topsides and topped with a 4.0mm welded alloy floor.

The smooth, strake-free plate alloy hull is also made using 4.0mm alloy – just like the heavily reinforced transom that is rated to carry an extra-longshaft outboard of up to 115hp.

The hull bottom has been carefully designed to provide a soft head-sea ride but with ample stability at rest.

To cleave through wave chop and ocean swell, the forefoot up at the bow has a sharp cutting angle of 45 degrees.

This fine cutting edge moderates to an eventual 17 degrees of vee angle at the transom.

Boosting stability and hole shot acceleration are pronounced chines that are noticeably wide and reverse-angled at the stern of the boat.

The Access 5.3CC has a dry hull weight of about 600kg and a highway towing weight of about 1250kg.

The Axcess 5.3CC is a versatile open fishing boat with a two-person centre console positioned slightly forward of amidships, behind a raised front deck.

The 1.34-metre-long by 1.85-metre-wide elevated front casting platform suits inshore fishers and lure/fly fishermen, while the 680mm to 700mm deep, high freeboard aft cockpit with toe/foot rail support is great for security and offshore fishing in lumpy seas.

Similar to the rest of the interior flooring and cockpit, the front deck is made from 3.0mm welded alloy, optioned with soft-feel U-Dek flooring throughout our test boat.

Our test rig also had U-Dek foam rubber applied to the 160mm-wide side deck coamings (increasing to 200mm in future models) for a premium aesthetic.

Beneath the front deck, the Axcess 5.3CC has dry storage space for safety gear, along with a wide, transverse kill tank that can be plumbed for use as a live catch/keeper well.

There’s also a live bait/storage tank in each of the transom corners, one of which is plumbed ready to take live yakkas and slimies.

Cleverly, Oceanworx has incorporated side storage pockets beneath the bow coamings as well as low-set side storage pockets aft that stretch the length of the cockpit.

Other bow features include a port side trolling motor plate and optional Motorguide electric trolling motor, a decent-sized anchor well that you can have with a lid, sturdy welded bow rails, a bollard and a bow roller.

Notice the hull colour? Oceanworx boats are anything but floating whitegoods, and come painted accordingly.

With the Axcess 5.3CC, customers have a choice of single or dual-width centre console helm stations. Our test rig was fitted with the latter, with the steering wheel and throttle control offset to the port side.

I like this configuration as it allows two people to comfortably sit or stand whilst underway.

The included two-person bench seat is comfortable and wide enough for two, although I would opt to change the fixed backrest for a reversible version so you can turn it around and sit facing aft to watch the fishing action.

Other seat options are also available.

You can also add a windscreen/shield to the top of the centre console, although you don’t really need one.

The dual-width centre console can accommodate a pair of flush-fitted electronic displays or one huge 16.0-inch display such as the Simrad NSS16 Evo3s fitted to our test boat.

Other helm features include handy side grab rails, cup holders, overhead storage recess, gear/storage shelf, a full-width footrest, and an optional front vertical rod rack.

The Oceanworx Axcess 5.3CC is available with or without an elevated rear casting deck. Inshore anglers might prefer bow and stern elevated deck but for offshore applications I like the full-depth cockpit extending back to the transom as tested.

There is only about 800mm of cockpit deck space behind the helm bench seat to move about, but that’s enough for a couple of anglers to fish over the stern or retrieve lures.

As noted there are bait/storage wells on each transom corner, one of which is plumbed for live bait.

Battery storage compartments are located beneath the corner bait bins, whilst a centre door opens under the outboard splash well to access the bilge, filters and fuel lines.

Overhead there is an optional bait board with a welded alloy rod rack.

The cockpit is not self-draining as raising the floor in this relatively small model would have the potential to upset the boat’s excellent stability.

On the water

The interior layout and design on the Axcess 5.3CC is excellent, but this terrific open boat shines even brighter on the water in the rough stuff.

The sharp-vee’d bow entry shape cuts easily through wind chop and ocean swell, delivering a soft and stable ride.

At speed the hull also has this positive tendency to lift up out of the water so that the ride feels elevated and cushioned.

Importantly, the Axcess also handles well in a following and beam sea.

At first glance, I was unsure whether the finely drawn, and unusually vertical stem shape would work when running downhill, but it does; the hull surfs easily down the waves, shedding water out to each side when the bow compresses into a wave trough.

With the maximum-power 115hp Mercury ProXS outboard engine on the transom, the test boat was quick to plane and generally pretty fast and responsive all the way through to wide-open throttle.

In the smooth waters of the Tweed River, we achieved a top speed in the test boat of 35.1 knots at 6000rpm with the engine running a 15-inch pitch Mercury Spitfire four-blade prop.

Apparently, the boat will gain a knot or two with a 16-inch three-blade Vengeance propeller.

Either way, the test boat was plenty fast enough for recreational fishing/boating applications.

Performance

Range on 95% of the 110L fuel supply: 136nm at 3500rpm

As you may have gathered, I was mighty impressed with the Oceanworks Axcess 5.3CC. This is a very special boat; one that has been finely crafted and purpose-built for fishing.

If you can have only one boat to cover a range of fishing activities, this might be the one.

The Oceanworx Axcess 5.3CC is light, compact and rugged enough to fish tree-stump-filled impoundments and tough enough to tow up north to chase barra in croc-infested rivers and estuaries.

Equally, however, the Axcess is more than capable of running a dozen miles (or more) out to sea in pursuit of light tackle sport and game fish.

Specifications
Model: Oceanworx Axcess 5.3CC
Length overall: 5.6m
Hull length: 5.3m
Beam: 2.31m
Deadrise: 17 degrees
Hull weight: 600kg (est)
Towing weight: 1250kg (est)
Alloy: 4.0mm (topside/bottom/transom), 3.0mm (floor)
Engine: 90hp (min)/115hp (max)
Engine as tested: 155hp Mercury ProXS (25-inch)
Fuel: 110L
Passengers: 6

Priced from: $83,990 including a 90hp Mercury extra-longshaft (20-inch) outboard engine with hydraulic steering, and a braked Dunbier Centreline galvanised steel single-axle trailer.

Price as tested: $111,990. As above but with a 115hp Mercury ProXS outboard engine with hydraulic steering; Simrad NSS16 Evo3S display with 1kW through-hull, active 3in1 transducer; removable bait board; two-tone paint; U-Dek flooring and side coamings; Motorguide Xi5 Pinpoint 24V 80lb thrust electric trolling motor with remote; Roswell stereo; under-gunwale LED lighting; bow side pockets; console rod-rack; trailer upgrade to Dunbier Loader Pro with alloy wheels.

Supplied by: Oceanworx