Quintrex 370E Explorer Pro 2024 review

The Quintrex 350E and 370E Explorer Pro vee-nose boats were added to the Quintrex fleet of small tinnies and open tiller-steer boats in mid-2023.

The two boats have more features and higher topsides than the standard Explorer models, and they are fitted with the Eclipse hull, hence the “E” in the model name. They are aimed at buyers seeking a little more protection out on the water, with the high sides allowing users to stay out in a wider range of weather.

At a glance, the two new Explorers appear identical, yet the two differ slightly in length, beam and hull weight.

The 370E Explorer Pro is the longer of the two boats, but it is also slightly wider at 1.79 metres across the beam against 1.67 metres for the smaller boat.

Both are still broader than the low-sided standard vee-nose Explorers, which are 1.48 metres wide for the 350 model and 1.5 metres across the beam for the 370 series boat.

Whilst the two new Explorers are welcome additions to the Quintrex small tinnie range, the larger 370E Explorer Pro has broader appeal, so we were pleased when Quintrex let us jump aboard the bigger boat for this review.

The Quintrex 370E Explorer Pro we received for testing was paired with the maximum-rated powerplant, a 25hp Mercury 25hp longshaft (20-inch) outboard engine with electric start, and power trim and tilt.

The Mercury was also fitted with a multifunction tiller handle that is adjustable for left- or right-handed operation. It works well and has the gear shift lever conveniently mounted halfway down the tiller arm.

That being said, I did find the Mercury tiller to be a bit too long to comfortably use in a boat as small as the Quintrex 370E Explorer Pro.

Paired with a single-axle Quintrex aluminium trailer without brakes (not required), the test boat package is priced at $15,584 from Tweed Coast Marine.

This price includes the optional white hull and interior paint, as well as safety gear and registrations.

By way of comparison, the same boat rigged as an entry package with a manual-start, manual-tilt 20hp Mercury outboard engine would be priced at $12,989. That’s unpainted and with the Quintrex trailer.

Internally, the Quintrex 370E Explorer Pro has a similar suite of features to rival models including gunwale rowlock blocks; transom transducer bracket; horizontal grab/carry handles on all corners; two large, foam-filled bench thwart seats; a flat foredeck; solid transom corners; anchor/storage shelf; double-towing eye; and a large plastic drain bung.

Unusually for a boat of this size, the Quintrex 370E Explorer also has a lockable glove box recessed into the front thwart. This is a handy addition as it will allow you to secure your car/boat keys, mobile phone and more should you need to leave the boat parked up and unattended on a beach or boat ramp.

The Quintrex 370E Explorer Pro has an overall length of 3.75 metres, a maximum beam of 1.79 metres, and a hull weight of 98kg.

Rigged with the 25hp Mercury electric start outboard engine, battery and Quintrex trailer, the 370E Explorer Pro package should weigh around 400kg to 440kg.

This diminutive package can easily be towed behind a small vehicle and stowed at home in a garage or carport.

With regard to construction, the 370E Explorer is well made and durable, albeit assembled with lightweight 1.6mm pressed aluminium sheeting to keep the weight down so that car-topping is an option.

Reinforcing the 1.6mm topsides and the hull bottom is an internal keel, along with seven welded internal cross-ribs, four of which extend up from the chine to the gunwale.

The 1.6mm alloy transom has a vee-shaped internal welded structure, supported by two diagonal struts and gussets to support the weight and thrust of a single outboard engine to a maximum of 25hp and/or a maximum weight of 90kg.

Further strength and rigidity is provided by transom corner and foredeck gussets, as well as the two big cross thwart seats welded to the cross members.

The seat thwarts are filled with sufficient foam buoyancy to meet Australia’s Basic flotation standard.

The hull has a typical vee-nose shape with an upswept chine, a fine entry shape at the bow for wave cutting, and a flat bottom shape aft to maximise stability at rest and hole-shot performance.

The topsides are taller/higher than many rival vee-nose boats, but perhaps not as high as you would find on a rounded-bow, vee-bottom dinghy/style boat in this size range.

The Quintrex 370E Explorer Pro is a conventional tiller-steer vee-nose open boat with a full-width cross seat thwart at the bow and the stern to seat up to three adults.

You can easily fit four people, but the boat is legally rated to three people, which I think is about right.

Between the two cross thwarts is 1.4 metres of floor space, although this floor is part of the hull with cross ribs and longitudinal floor channels making it difficult to move about without holding onto the side decks.

The painted floor is also very slippery when wet. For me, it would be a no-brainer to fit the optional half- or low-carpeted plywood floor. The minor expense will be more than compensated for by the convenience of being able to move about the interior freely.

A flat floor also gives you somewhere to put stuff without it tipping over or sliding back and forth.

A low, half floor shouldn’t upset the stability of the boat either, because the false floor will sit just above the internal cross ribs.

There will also still be plenty of freeboard between a false floor and the gunwale.

With the heightened topsides the internal freeboard is up at around 500mm for the standard boat.

Moving forward, the Quintrex 370E Explorer Pro has a decent-sized anchor compartment up at the bow, beneath a welded foredeck.

There is ample space for an appropriately sized anchor and rode, but it will clatter about on the bare alloy. I’d be adding some carpet or foam rubber internally here to prevent damage and dampen any noise from the anchor bouncing about when underway.

As noted, hull paint was the only option fitted to the test boat. Other available options include the aforementioned low cockpit floor; a bow cleat; bow and side rails; a fuel tank rack; transom corner rod holders; a bimini with envelope; and a vinyl hull wrap.

The Quiontrex 370E Explorer Pro is equipped with the Quintrex Eclipse hull, a bottom shape that is ideal for sheltered water boating and fishing.

The Eclipse hull has a sharp entry at the bow to cut through short bay chop, combined with pronounced spray chines and a mild deadrise angle aft to maximise stability.

The new, higher topsides also provide more security when moving about inside the boat, and when running underway in choppy water.

At speed, I found the test boat to be smooth, stable and predictable, although with a small boat such as the Explorer Pro you do need to spread the weight about onboard to achieve a good balance, particularly when paired with the maximum-size 25hp outboard engine.

To that point, whilst the 25hp Mercury delivered plenty of power, I believe the hull would perform better with a smaller, lighter outboard engine.

With less weight on the transom, the Quintrex 370E Explorer Pro would plane faster, and be easier to control at wide-open throttle.

If you expected to regularly load up the Quintrex 370E Explorer Pro with two/three adults and a heap of gear, then I can see why you might consider the maximum-rated outboard engine.

But I’d consider fitting Mercury’s smaller 20hp engine, or even the 15hp, if I was buying the Quintrex 370E Explorer Pro. It would save a minimum of 15kg in weight and improve overall handling with minimal loss of performance.

For the record, flat-out with two adults onboard, and paired with the 25hp Mercury outboard engine, we recorded a maximum test boat speed of 23.2 knots.

The Quintrex 370E Explorer Pro is a welcome addition to the Quintrex small boat range, giving customers more choice and a greater variety of models to cater for every imaginable boating/fishing/tender application.

The 370E Explorer Pro is a terrific boat too; the interior is basic, but it works and it is easy to customise and upgrade.

As a bay, harbour, estuary fishing rig and general fun runabout, the 370E Explorer Pro is an excellent boat. But I’d keep the weight off the transom (and save a few dollars) by fitting a lighter-weight manual-start 20hp outboard engine.

Price from: $12,989 for an unpainted boat with a 20hp Mercury longshaft (20-inch) manual-start outboard engine; a Quintrex single-axle aluminium trailer (no brakes); inshore safety gear pack; and 12 months hull and trailer registrations

Price as tested: $15,585. As above but with a painted hull and a 25hp Mercury longshaft (20-inch) outboard engine with electric start and power tilt with accompanying rigging, battery and battery box

Supplied by: www.tweedcoastmarine.com.au