Quintrex 440F Explorer Trophy

OVERVIEW
- Recent redesign of iconic fishing boat includes ‘pickle fork’ bow
The Quintrex Explorer range is without doubt the company’s most popular with examples found on all water around the country. From the rivers of the Top End, to the bays and impoundments of Queensland and NSW. On top of cars and on trailers, in backyards, boatsheds and garages, you’ll find Explorers.

Recently, Quintrex redesigned the range. Called the Explorer Fighter Series it comprises the much loved 390F Explorer as well as the 420F Explorer. The more upmarket Explorer Trophy range comprises the 400F Explorer Trophy, the 420F Explorer Trophy, and the range-topping 440F Explorer Trophy which is the subject of this test.

While the standard Explorers get bench seats front and rear, the Explorer Trophys get casting platforms, pedestal seats with five seating positions, carpet, rod holders, heaps of storage and more.

The main design change to the Explorer range is the redesign of the bow which now sports a ‘pickle-fork’ design which increases volume forward and adds to the dry ride as well as stability.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Ready to fish
The packaged price of $18,990 gets you the standard features of carpeted decks, front and rear casting platform, two rod holders and two pedestal seats.

The boat comes virtually ready to fish and according to Quintrex’s Cameron Wood, the boat can be upgraded with equipment from the vast Quintrex options list to suit your fishing style or the area where you fish.

The price quoted includes a 40hp Evinrude E-TEC, trailer, safety gear and registration.

INTERNAL LAYOUT
- Plenty of storage hatches and increased bow area
Those with fins and scales on their mind will quickly pick up on the fact that a practical fisho has had considerable input into the layout of the 440.

The Evinrude E-TEC 40hp outboard was fitted with an extra-long tiller arm giving the skipper maximum leverage to reduce torque on an untrimmed leg and the helm seat was mounted at a point suiting the engine's throttle control. That in itself is one of the most important fit-up aspects to alleviate strain on the skipper’s arms and shoulders; after all, we need to be able to fish comfortably when arriving at the hot spot.

The other four seat-pole spigots are appropriately placed around the inner of the boat and the foredeck to allow the occupants to trim the list out of the boat when fishing and underway.

The rear casting deck is ample for two anglers to work the beams back to back and the majority of it was carpeted, save for the hatch over the live-bait tank which was manufactured from nylon board.

Obviously, this is designed for bait cutting and rigging but once wet or covered in fish slime it will become slippery underfoot and not conducive to good stability when standing on it. The other reason it is made from nylon is most likely to prevent any warping once the underside is saturated by the contents of the live-bait tank, which can occur with timber hatches.

A practical fisho will cover this with carpet and hinge a nylon board to the side of the deck and lay it back against the hull when not required. The tank itself is constructed of seamless rotoform which has proved itself over time as a robust material from which to make all manner of accessories for marine use.

The central carpeted hatch covers the battery and its isolator switch and that battery is mounted low down in the hull reducing the centre of gravity which adds to stability of the hull.

Under the starboard aft casting-deck hatch a 20-litre tote tank is housed. Those covering serious distances to fishing zones will want to look at the optional 40-litre underfloor tank, and then carry a spare 20-litre jerry can in this compartment. With 40 horses working hard you may need it for longer fishing forays such as up in the far north.

Welded to the aft casting platform, there’s a seat spigot to accept a more aft skipper’s seat should a shorter tiller arm be used on whatever outboard motor is fitted.

Between the fore and aft casting platforms on the port side on our test boat, there was a handy rod locker. Its lockable hatch opened from the bottom and did not fold completely back so we had to crouch low to see under to secure or remove rods in the retainers fitted. We would have liked to have seen this hatch open in the opposite direction to increase the ease of access. Either way, considering the price of good tackle these days, this inclusion will be appreciated by most anglers.

The forward casting deck is an expanse of clutter-free carpeted deck with five hinged hatches. The two aft on the sides open forward and have raised floors to keep safety gear and other equipment out of a wet bilge.

The one in the aft centre is a large live-fish tank fitted with rubber seals. The tank extends in all four directions below the lip of the deck and this will, to some extent, reverse surging water and prevent slop coming out onto the surrounding casting deck.

The most forward hatches wing outwards and have a rotoform liner which will save a lot of hull damage and ambient noise from ground tackle bouncing around.

Looking from above, the design of the bow profile gives the perception of twin hulls but this shape has been used to increase the beam in the forequarters and it has done it well. Aside from that, the added contour would no doubt strengthen the bow section and allow for electric motor mounting on either port or starboard corner.

ON THE WATER
- A manoeuvrable and smooth handler
When we hit the throttle on the ETEC we could tell we were in a nicely balanced package. It was nippy enough on the throttle but those wanting to carry any sort of payload, big people or run around with the live-bait tank full, may want to maximise to the recommended 50hp.

Handling was smooth and effortless also and nothing beats a long tiller arm when working the creeks and snags.

Manoeuvrability was also up to expectations with no disappointment in that department. Hard turns at speed were very direct with no skip or slip and general smoothness of ride was quite good.

You can expect around 27 knots at full throttle with this rig. However, there wasn't any hard fuel data on hand at the time of writing, but we recommend you follow our tester's advice in respect of range. After all, Huckstepp has a long history of barra fishing on boats like this in the Top End, where long runs upriver and across big bays are par for the course.

VERDICT
- Not much more needed
In a nutshell, this is a nice package. As soon as we jumped into this boat we were immediately thinking ‘fishing’!

The Quiintrex 449 Trophy has a great design and layout making it a comfortable platform for lakes, rivers and coastal estuaries. Minimum upgrading would be required to get this boat in amongst serious fishing.

NOT SO MUCH
>> Would prefer rod locker with hatch opening down
>> If long ranging we’d be looking for more fuel storage

RATINGS
Overall: 4.6/5.0
Mechanical: 4.7/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
Value for money: 4.5/5.0
Performance: 4.7/5.0
X-factor:4.5/5.0

Specifications:
Priced from: $18,990
Length overall: 4.53m
Hull length: 4.52m
Beam: 2.05m
Depth: 0.91m
Hull weight: 350kg
Bottom sides: 3.0mm
Topsides: 2.0mm

Supplied by:
Surf Coast Marine
50-54 Brisbane Road Labrador Qld
Telephone: (07) 5563 7733
Website: www.surfcoastmarine.com.au