Quintrex 300 Wanderer: Car Topper Review

The entry model in the Quintrex Wanderer range, the 3.0m square-bow, flat-bottomed punt offers more interior space and stability at rest than comparable V-nosed punts. Rated for short-shaft outboards to 6hp, the 300 Wanderer is perfect as a tender and for enclosed waters and car-topper fishing.

OVERVIEW
- Square bow punt or V-nose boat?
Flat-bottomed, square bowed, rectangular alloy punts have been around since Adam was a boy, but have long been out of favour as boaters have gravitated toward the V-nose style of tinny, developed to provide a more stream-lined, more comfortable and drier ride in choppy water. In light of this, is there still a place in the market for the venerable square-bow punt?

We think so — at least in the smaller car-topper sizes. So does Quintrex, Australia’s largest manufacturer of aluminium boats. In the latest Quintrex Wanderer punt there are two V-nose boats in 3.2 and 3.6m sizes. You can read our Quintrex 320 and 360 Wanderer reviews here.
). But the entry 300 series model is a classic river punt with a square bow, light weight construction, and flat, albeit ribbed-hull bottom.

For tender and smooth water car-topper fishing applications, there are plenty of reasons to choose the traditional punt over a V-nose boat or rounded bow dinghy. Flat bottomed boats are the most stable at rest, require the least amount of power (and therefore are the most economical) and there is often a lot more interior storage and standing space for the boat’s given size — due the rectangular shape of the bow.

So, having established there are very real benefits to owning a square-bow punt, let’s take a closer look at one of the best models on the market, the Quintrex 300 Wanderer powered by a 6hp Evinrude four-stroke outboard.

CAR TOPPING
- Roof racks and boat loaders for single-handed operation
Fittingly, the Quintrex 300 Wanderer arrived for our test on the roof rack of a 4WD ute and was quickly unloaded by two people. The boat weighs just 46kg so it is relatively easy to man-handle on and off a roof-rack, although older, frailer people might still want to consider investing in a boat-loader-type roof rack.

Specialist boat-loading systems (from companies like Rhino Roof Racks, Tinnie Tosser, Boat Hoist, Custom Boat Loader, Mozzi Boat Loader) make it simple for retirees, disabled, and single people to safely load and unload a fair-sized car topper — generally up to around 100kg in weight.

Some boat-loader systems can fit family-sized cars, too, though most are designed for 4WD vehicles which have a much greater roof area and are rated to carry the weightier car-topper models.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Get out on the water for just $3k
Aside from a canoe or kayak, buying an entry-model car-topper tinny package is about the cheapest way to go boating — cheaper than most inflatable boats. as well as many of the folding and portable boats now hitting the market.

Consider that the boat-only price for the Quintrex 300 Wanderer is just $1200. Add a 3.5hp short shaft Evinrude four-stroke outboard, inshore safety gear back and 12 months boat registration, and you can get out on the water in a Wanderer package for just $2690.

If, as we would recommend, you opt for more performance and fit the maximum 6hp Evinrude outboard, then the package price increases to $3195, but that is still pretty decent value and a veritable bargain compared to the cost of a similarly-powered inflatable boat or kit-style portable boat.

Standard features in the 300 Wanderer include two up-sized and foam-filled seat thwarts, flat, horizontally shaped, and perfectly positioned carry handles on all four corners, reinforced rowlock blocks, single towing eye at the bow, and a proper screw-in bung instead of the simple rubber stoppers used by some rival brands.

CONSTRUCTION
- Light but durable Australian-made tinny
To ensure a hull weight of less than 50kg, the 300 Wanderer has light weight pressed aluminium construction with 1.2mm alloy used for the hull bottom, transom and topsides.

There are no internal ribs between the gunwale and the floor as the fully welded foredeck and two foam-filled seat thwarts are used as structural members to stiffen the hull.

The thwarts are riveted to the internal topsides to save weight, but they also have a bracing plate/bracket between the seat top (on each side) and the gunnel.

The thwarts are further reinforced by sturdy looking gussets welded between the bottom of each thwart and the internal keel.

The rowlock blocks are similarly constructed. Each block is welded to a bracket/plate, which is in turn riveted to the box-section gunwale and the internal hull side. This set-up is stronger than simply welding a rowlock block straight to the gunwale as the stress and loads transferred through to the rowlock blocks, while rowing are then spread evenly across the wide aluminum supporting plates.

At the transom, the 300 Wanderer has a T-shaped transom bracing structure with supporting floor gusset. The combination looks more than strong enough to handle the maximum rated engine weight of 28kg and power rating of 6hp.

ON THE WATER
- More power rather than less
The 300 Wander is rated to carry two adults, safety and fishing gear (208kg maximum load) and for an outboard engine up to 6hp.

With the two adults on board you will need at least 4hp to get the boat up on plane. In light of this you are probably best served with a 5hp or 6hp outboard engine so you have sufficient grunt to plane easily - rather than with difficulty.

Our test boat was packaged with a surprisingly torquey single-cylinder, manual start tiller-steer 6hp Evinrude four-stroke outboard in the short shaft (15in) configuration.

The 6hp Evinrude was easy to use, started promptly whether hot or cold, and the front-mount gear shift made it easy to move from forward through to reverse gear, which helps with low speed jockeying off the beach or boat ramp.

The little Evinrude felt strong from idle through to wide open throttle, pushing the 300 Wanderer to a top speed of 15 knots, which is plenty for a small, flat-bottomed river punt.

We did not encounter much chop during our test, but this square bow, flat bottomed boat will bounce you about in choppy conditions. But this is to be expected given the type of boat, and shape of the hull.

We also expected excellent stability at rest and underway and we were not disappointed, as the boat felt stable and surefooted with two adults and associated gear onboard.

Through slalom manoeuvres and high speed turns the Wanderer felt agile and zippy, safe, easy to drive and plain good fun.

VERDICT
- An excellent tender or entry smooth water fishing rig — or both
With its excellent stability, spacious interior and competitive price, the Quintrex 300 Wanderer has obvious application as a tender to larger craft. But it should not be discounted as an entry car-topper fishing boat, particularly for small lakes, rivers and impoundments.

It doesn’t have quite the ride of a V-nose boat, but it is more easily driven (so needs less power), very stable at rest (when compared with other types of alloy boats) and spacious — the rectangular shape provides you with more fishing and storage space up in the bow than with a traditional dinghy or V-nose boat.

Whether you are looking for a tender, or a smooth water fishing boat, you should consider the 300 Wanderer. This baby Quinnie is a ripper little boat.

LIKES
>> Budget price
>> Light-weight but durable construction
>> Stability and interior space
>> Large size, screw-in bung
>> Carry handle placement
>> Wide, foam-filled thwarts

NOT SO MUCH
>> Bouncy ride in choppy water (to be expected with hull shape)

Specifications: Quintrex 300 Wanderer
Price as tested: $3195 including Evinrude 6hp short shaft (15in) four-stroke manual start, tiller-steer outboard, 12 months boat registration and an inshore safety gear pack.

Priced from: $2690 including Evinrude 3.5hp short shaft (15in) four-stroke manual start, tiller-steer outboard, 12 months boat registration and an inshore safety gear pack. Hull only price: $1200.

Length overall: 3.07m
Hull length: 2.97m
Beam: 1.30m
Depth: 0.45m
Hull weight: 46kg
Flotation standard: Basic
Bottom & topsides alloy: 1.2mm
Transom alloy: 1.2mm
Maximum power: 6hp
Maximum engine weight: 28kg
Maximum load: 208kg
Engine as tested: Evinrude 6hp four-stroke tiller
Fuel: Portables
Maximum persons: Two

Supplied by:
Surf Coast Marine
Phone: (07) 5563 7733
Email: info@surfcoastmarine.com.au
Website: www.surfcoastmarine.com.au.