Quintrex 500 Hornet Trophy

When it comes to stability they really shine and their very low profile in relation to the water they are floating on make them an excellent catch and release boat; a practice that many who buy this type of boat advocate.

So it came as no surprise to learn that the hull on the 500 Trophy has remained unchanged. However, a good deal of revamping has been undertaken inside to bring it up to speed with market competition.

They are a deluxe rod locker, bow electric motor mount and the motor, a bimini and its envelope and a live well in the front casting platform. Also the reviewed boat was wrapped with Quintrex’s ‘Adrenaline Wrap’. Take these options out of the equation and you are left with a purchase price of $39,560.

The forward casting deck sits below the gunwale line providing some security so that anglers don’t inadvertently walk off the edge. It is flat and carpeted with no protruding parts to interfere with bare feet or for fly fishing lines to tangle in.

An electric motor fitted to the boat has its own engine mount and while running off the battery stored in the transom bulkhead, there are options to have another two batteries placed in purpose-built compartments in the aft end of this casting platform. They are situated each side of the live bait tank which has a ventilated separating board to keep individual anglers' live fish separated till measured and then released.

The anchor well is under another hatch in this deck and all of the compartments including the live fish well feature roto-moulded inserts as liners. A yaw locking plate is situated at the bow point along with a split cleat for tying off.

Another raised casting platform is situated aft and it features another plumbed fish or bait tank central to larger compartments. One of those hosts the cranking battery while the other may be used for safety gear or tackle boxes.

This area is also uncluttered as is the cockpit deck. The two swivel seats may be moved around to various seat post sockets in the cockpit or the fore and aft decks to suit anglers as they fish or cruise.

The console is open at the front allowing stretched legs to pass under. A Lowrance Mark-5X depth sounder was mounted on the top of the dash behind the Perspex screen which incorporated a grab rail. Anglers buying this style of boat generally fit up some pretty serious electronics and often more than one unit. It is not uncommon to see one facing forward for the foredeck angler and another for the angler on the rear casting platform. And then others near their feet on either platform as well. Considering this, a forward-sloping rail and screen might lend itself to easier fitment of larger units with up to eight or ten inch screens.

A small Perspex lidded compartment will keep personal items free from moisture and the steering was mechanical non return style with a 4:1 ratio.

We were particularly impressed with the functionality of the lock-up tackle storage that could handle a number of full-length rigged rods and be secured with a padlock on a hasp and staple. Tackle security is always a problem when staying overnight or leaving the boat unattended for any period and this inclusion will alleviate much of that anxiety. It was nicely contoured to match the profile of the surrounding gunwales and was robust in its construction.

The bottomsides of the hull consists of 4mm aluminium plate while the topsides are 3mm with 4mm being used in the construction of the transom.

Impressive was the effort and materials put into building the casting platform substructures and those that surround the live fish and bait tanks which, when full, produce substantial weight. Little wonder when looking at the general build quality that the manufacturer quotes a boat only weight of 460 kg.

This should be kept in mind when deciding on horsepower for this boat after taking into account the payload weight of gear and anglers. At the end of the day though, more weight generally means a softer ride in boats and that is the case with this one.

These boats exhibit a very flat attitude when turning hard at speed. With a broad area of the forefoot of the hull contacting the water, you can expect a ride somewhere in between a punt style boat and a deep V; which is typical in this style of boat. The sharp protruding Millennium hull does pierce short chop to soften the ride somewhat. A few bumps along the way are a small price to pay for a boat with excellent fishing stability.

If you are a tournament angler or just a serious sports fisher looking for the best in stability with lots of trimmings to help with the task you really need to look at the 500 Hornet Trophy. It is not the cheapest small tournament boat on the block but then there are a lot of options available to make the decision easier. And, it has been tested by time.