Offshore fishing boat enhances its family appeal

The Australian built, French designed Arvor 20 is well known as an offshore fishing boat with its distinctive enclosed pilothouse, but the dual helm increases its appeal as an inshore pleasure boat.

Managing director of John Crawford Marine, Matthew Hodson, said the dual helm allowed the driver to sit on the rear deck with family and friends, and use a tiller arm attached to the rudder to steer and control speed with a dual binnacle.

"This option is great for cruising inshore or for trolling outside," Hodson said, adding that more than 130 Avor 20s had been sold Australia-wide.

The Arvor 20 trailerboat is the little sister to the trailerable Arvor 230 and the non-trailerable Arvor 250.

The Limited Edition Arvor 20 features a unique deep burgundy hull and trim in keeping with Queensland's team colours.

"All previous Avor 20s have been white and blue but this rich burgundy colour looks striking on the water and highlights the unique, clean lines of the Arvor 20," said Hodson.

"Standard features include shaft drive, five-cylinder Nanni 85hp turbo diesel power plant with hydraulic gearbox, self draining decks, walkaround cabin, safety glass windscreens, dual batteries and VHF radio.

"But this is the first of the A20s to feature a foam filled grid system in the hull for added safety and stiffness.

"This package also features the latest Navman electronics with the Trackfish 6507 colour GPS/sounder," he said.

Hodson said the Arvor hull was conceived to tackle the notorious North Sea but is equally at home in Australian waters, with high topsides, a wide, deep cockpit and roomy pilothouse, and a 140lt fuel tank for extended cruising.

The Arvor 20 interior has a chemical toilet, double vee-berth for overnighting and protected helm station.

The exterior features a roomy deck with large scuppers in the stern, removable upholstered rear lounge and stern corner seating, carpeted swim platform and cockpit in new burgundy/grey marine colours.

Hodson said the semidisplacement style underbody ensured there is no planing hump to breach, and the hull lifted progressively and accelerated flat and fast.

"This is ideal when setting the hull speed to suit prevailing sea conditions, crossing bars or trolling," said Hodson.

"Arvors are proven sea boats that are solidly built, economical to run and maintain, yet fast in a sea.

"The A20 uses approximately 10lt/h of diesel cruising at 18kts which is extremely good performance for a 6.1m vessel with a displacement of 1330kg," he said.