Quintrex 2013 New Product Launch

Quintrex, Australia’s most popular aluminium boat manufacturer announced a raft of changes to its trailerable models last week (April 17-18) at a media conference on the Gold Coast.

Several new models were also launched -- including a new series of entry-level half cabins and two new additions to its Hornet series of fishing boats.

During a briefing to assembled journalists, Quintrex National Account Manager, Cameron Wood, stressed the importance of the upgrades and improvements being made to most models.

"The changes to the 2013 Quintrex range are the most significant since the introduction of the Millennium hull back in 1999," he said.

Among the many changes to the Quintrex range is the re-introduction of some classic name-plates. The Fishabout, Lazeabout and Cruiseabout names associated with classic Quintrex runabouts from the 1970s are being recalled for the 2013/14 Quintrex line-up.

Specifically, the current entry-level Escape runabouts will be re-badged as Fishabouts. The best selling Coast Runner runabouts will now be known as Lazeabouts. Outboard-powered bowriders, formerly known as Freedom Sports, will now be called Cruiseabouts.

With tweaks to the hull bottom, a revised stem angle and new concave pressings for a deeper vee up forward, the Blade hull (as it will now be called) is said to offer improvements in handling, ride and efficiency.

The new Blade hulls also have a fresh new look with clean, smooth topsides which make it easier to fit a custom graphic vinyl wrap. The single pressing in the topsides (for added strength) also suits a two-tone paint finish.

Those early four-stroke motors were heavy for sure, and they did upset the handling and performance of many small boats of that era. Today, however, four-strokes are very nearly as light as competitor two-stroke outboards. There is no longer any real need for big, space-gobbling transoms.

Recognising this fact, the Quintrex design team has gone back to the drawing board and re-designed the transoms on most models. The new Quintrex outboard wells are smaller, more compact and have increased the amount of interior cockpit move-about space by a substantial 180mm.

The new transoms also incorporate improved engine-cable guides and faster flowing cockpit self-draining outlets.

With the lounge tucked away, anglers can stand right up against the padded rear coaming bolster and fish over the stern of the boat. There’s a comfortable 600mm of freeboard in most models too -- so you feel safe and secure leaning up against the transom wall.

The Hornet fishing boat range has been boosted with a new 420 Hornet Trophy, a deluxe outfitted bream and bass tiller-steer boat equipped with bow and stern casting decks, flat floors, and a live-bait tank.

At the top of the Hornet range is a new 500 side console model that is similarly well equipped. The most noticeable feature of this new rig is the distinctive new “pickle-fork” bow shape which creates more usable foredeck space and facilitates the fitting of a bow-mount electric trolling motor.

The Quintrex cabin boat range has been enlarged with a new entry-level series called the Sea Spirits. These back-to-basics models will compliment the regular Ocean Spirit (formerly Spirit) cuddy cabins and the recently-introduced Trident offshore fishing cabin boats.

Sea Spirit models will be available in 5.1, 5.3 and 5.7m lengths. The two larger-size models (and all other Quintrex models 5.3m and above) will have 4mm bottom sheets.

During the new product launch, Quintrex unveiled the first of the Sea Spirits, a 5.3m boat that packages up for a bit over $40k with a 115hp Evinrude E-Tec outboard and Quintrex alloy trailer. That’s good value for a versatile 17 footer. Look out for a full test of this new boat and several other new Quintrex models in coming months.

Each year, Quintrex has improved its trailers to make them more functional and easier to use. For this year Quintrex has developed a range of aluminium trailers with a full drive-on ability. Re-designed cradles at the base of the trailer make it possible to approach the trailer from virtually any angle and the trailer will 'catch' and self-centre the boat for a fast, easy retrieval.

The trailers are also designed so that each hull sits lower down in the trailer for easier launching and reduced drag when towing on the highway.

The trailers have three pre-drilled axle positions, rolled I-Beam chassis rails, heavy duty posts and skids that are fixed, not bolted.