Quintrex 510 Lazeabout

The new models stretch from 4.8m through to 6.5m and will be called Lazeabouts -- a name many older, experienced boaters will be familiar with.

The original and now classic Quintrex Lazeabout 4.5m was launched in 1978 and remained in regular production until the mid 1990s. The Lazeabout, in its various forms, has proven to be one of Australia’s best selling runabouts.

In light of the high regard in which the Lazeabout name is still held among experienced boaters, Quintrex decided its new runabout range should wear the Lazeabout badge.

The first of the new Lazeabouts to be built is the subject of this test report, the mid-sized 510 model.

Another change that is readily apparent is the fitting of a spacer or 'raised top deck' between the aluminum foredeck and the windscreen. This spacer or collar is made from a super-tough composite plastic material and is designed to elevate the base of the windscreen so there is more height and space at the dash for engines gauges and electronics.

To that end, the UV stabilised polyethylene plastic dash module has been re-designed with the engine gauges neatly offset to provide space for a fish finder or a sounder/gps combination unit. There’s also a pad for a marine radio and switch panel.

Opposite, on the port side is a glove box with one open shelf and one enclosed shelf for stowing your phone, charts, hats, etc.

As noted, the first of the new Lazeabouts off the production line is the 510. There will also be 481, 490, 530, 570, 610, and 650 models.

The 510 or 5.1m model is probably the most versatile of the lot -- in the sense that it’s small enough to handle at the boat ramp, yet has the capacity to run a few miles offshore.

The 510 Lazeabout is a deluxe model boat and very well equipped. Everything you can see in the accompanying photos is standard on the Lazeabout -- with the exception of the bimini top and the two-coloured hull.

On the standard inventory list you will find the excellent new folding rear lounge, deluxe helm chairs, moulded polyethylene cockpit side storage modules, luggage netting under the helm consoles, walk-through windscreen, full cockpit carpet, rear cockpit scupper drains, and underfloor roto-moulded storage lockers/fish boxes.

You also get drink holders, two rod holders, a bilge pump, 95-litre underfloor fuel tank, Level Flotation, a Lowrance Mark 5X fish finder, GME GX600 VHF radio, sport steering wheel with non-feedback mechanical steering, and a rear boarding platform with ladder.

As you might expect, with all of this standard kit the price for the Lazeabout is a tad more than some competitor models -- but it does boast a lot of equipment and a premium brand engine.

Packaged with a 90hp Evinrude E-Tec, Quintrex single axle aluminium braked trailer, registrations and safety gear, the Lazeabout is priced from $38,880 at Brisbane’s Springwood Marine. Add another thousand dollars for the bimini and two-tone colour hull.

The standard Lazeabout comes with a lot of gear, but there are plenty of additional options to dress the boat up still further. They include, but are not limited to a custom vinyl hull wrap, upgraded electronics, various bimini/canopy upgrades, ski pole, storm covers, hydraulic steering, auxiliary outboard bracket, transom door plus fishing options such as a cutting board, live bait tank, rod racks, etc.

The small area up in the bow, forward of the windscreen, will also be a good spot to fish from -- whether casting lures or bottom bouncing on the drift.

The curved and centre-opening windscreen is a good looking unit, and is just the right height above the deck for a seated helmsman. From the comfortable deluxe skipper’s chair you can see forward clearly and the three-spoke sports steering wheel and side-mount throttle is within an easy reach.

The deluxe seats have front bolsters which swivel up so you can perch up higher on the seat to see over the windscreen for close-quarter manoeuvring.

As a whole the dash and helm area is well designed and functional -- though I was disappointed by the absence of a grab handle or rail for either the skipper or forward passenger.

There are no helm side pockets in the Lazeabout as this area beside each of the forward chairs is panelled-off and filled with foam to help the boat achieve its Level Floatation standard.

Side pockets are included in the rear cockpit, incorporated into the moulded side panel inserts which stretch virtually the full length of the cockpits side.

Quintrex has been working and upgrading the design of these cockpit panels for a number of years now and they now look to be well sorted. Very early versions did not even have side pockets. The current design has side pockets, a drink holder, provision for stereo speakers, and vinyl padded arm rests.

Extra storage space is found underfloor in two big roto-moulded storage bins. Logically you would use one as a fish box, the other for general storage.

The cockpit in the 510 Lazeabout is about 180mm longer than in the similar sized Coast Runner model from last year. This is due to a new, more compact, more efficient outboard well and transom design.

Overall cockpit length is 2.95m x 1.63m wide. Behind the helm chairs there is about 1.9m of space back to the transom.

The side coamings are super wide at 250mm, and the minimum cockpit freeboard is a satisfactory 610mm in the transom corners.

One of the best features of the new Lazeabout is the folding rear lounge. The new design allows the front bench part of the lounge to folded down so that it sits flush against the transom wall. This is great for anglers as you can now stand comfortably right up against the transom wall to fish over the stern.

Behind the bench seat there is access to the battery master switch and fuel filter on the starboard side, while the battery itself is located on central platform above the bilge compartment.

The Millennium hull was noted for its very soft ride when running into choppy water. The new Blade hull retains the excellent headsea ride and performance, but the low and high speed handling is improved and the hull works better a following sea.

This was evident during our test of the 510 Lazeabout. Working the hull over the wakes of some big cruisers we found the Blade hull recovers very well when you intentionally try and bury it in a wave trough -- better than past models. The hull is also dry and comfortable underway, and stable at rest.

The Evinrude 90hp E-Tec pushed the Lazeabout to a top speed of 31 knots with three adults onboard -- which is about perfect for this size and class of boat. More power would be unnecessary, unless you intended to go water skiing regularly.

Keep in mind the 510 Lazeabout (and most big Quinnies) has positive or Level Flotation – which means the boat is designed to float upright and level when submerged. Most other brands will have flotation to a 'Basic' standard which may keep the boat afloat, but not necessarily in an upright position.

Safety aside, the Lazeabout is simply an excellent runabout. It looks good, handles and rides well and it is light and compact enough on a trailer to tow easily behind a family car and to store at home in the garage.

Priced from: $38,880 with Evinrude E-Tec 90hp
Length overall: 5.52m
Hull length: 5.10m
Beam: 2.23m
Depth: 1.04mmm
Deadrise: Variable
Hull weight: 510kg
Towing weight: Approx. 935kg
Bottom alloy: 3mm
Topside alloy: 2mm
Maximum power: 100hp
Maximum engine weight: 203kg
Engine as tested: Evinrude E-Tec 90hp
Fuel: 95 litres
Maximum Persons: Five (Level Flotation)