QUINTREX 530 TOP ENDER CC: Fishing Boat Review

Very few aluminium-boat manufacturers could lay claim to the fact that one of their models is still coming off the production line 23 years since inception. That's the Top Ender and when it comes to long-serving, proven fishing rigs, these boats are hard to beat. But with a sweet Yamaha 115hp four stroke, this centre console fishing rig has some refinement, good manners and deportment, too.

OVERVIEW
- Built for the Top End and still going strong
Back in the ‘90’s when this scribe was running fishing charters in the Northern Territory there was little choice when it came to trailerboats under five metres. In fact, there were very few trailers under boats back then, with most of them being punt boats measuring the old 12 feet and lashed on roof racks with Telecom rope.

Outboards were typically 9.9hp and if you had a 15hp you were the top gun! Motors lying on an old tyre casing in the back of the ute were typical of the carriage of the day.

Around that time, Quintrex was building a head of steam in a burgeoning industry and could see an opportunity for a Vee-bottom hull to take some of the glory away from Savage’s Jabiru, which was making inroads into the last fishing frontiers.

The rest is now history, as the Top Ender went on to win the hearts of many a Top End fisho. This remains the case today, some 23 years later, in what you can only say is testimony to the enduring qualities of this fishing boat.

Over those two-plus decades, there there have been 111 (no, that is not a typo) variations of the Top Ender, with 21 models still coming off the production line. So take a bow Quintrex.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Under $50k for a big fishing rig
Hitting the water at a respectable $48,590 as a standard package, the Quintrex 530 Top Ender offers a lot of goodies to cater for general fishing interests before branching out into specific angling disciplines.

Meantime, the Quintrex alloy trailer will be welcomed by all and sundry and especially so by those who have watched the decline in the quality of the galvanising finishes to steel trailers over the past decade; in most cases, they just aren’t what they used to be.
Of course, Yamaha’s F115B with stainless steel prop is an especially attractive part of the package, being an engine with a great reputation throughout some extreme fishing and guiding operations.

A pair of Yamaha’s multi-function gauges were fitted to the console and DNA Anti-Theft numbering was also marked on the outboard just in case.

The esky seat system was aptly shaded by an extended (in length) bimini designed for the hotter tropics, so shade is cast well forward over the front seating positions.

A marine battery and isolation switch, VHF radio and transom boarding ladder, navigation lights and bilge pump all come in the basic test deal, which is pretty much ready to fish.

LAYOUT AND APPLICATION
- Lots of fishing space and storage is the name of the game
The high, expansive forward casting deck on this hull is a far cry from the situation of old, where you were slipping around in thongs on sweaty, muddy bare-ribbed alloy hulls in the steamy tropics.

These days it is marine carpet over flush-mounted hatches hiding a swag of stowage space below, so that gear gets out of sight and out of mind rather than cluttering the decks.

That stowed gear sits on a raised floor keeping it out of any bilge water that might be sloshing about. But care will still have to be taken to prevent water ingress under the hatches, which are not totally weather proof.

A hatch just aft of the open anchor well housed a secure battery box ready for a second battery should you decide to go quietly under electric ‘trolling’ and manoeuvring motor. The port bow corner of the hull is crafted with the electric-motor mounting plate forming part of the gunwale.
Stepping down off the forward casting deck, one can access the kill tank in the deck immediately aft of the bulkhead. It is a Rotaform-plastic insert with drainage to the bilge, but it should hold a sizeable catch if you have had a good day.

The centre console is a moulded plastic affair with a spray-proof hatch on top in which to put your car keys, mobile phone and other stuff (but once again it is not 100 per cent water proof).

The instrument panel of the console is quite large and will easily flush fit a 12in screened electronic unit.

The helm wheel, connected to hydraulic steering, is offset to port, putting the skipper over the centreline of the boat. This offset positioning might not appear to be anything special, but believe us when we say it really helps keep the hull on an even keel.

There is room under the console to put tackle boxes and other gear as well stowage in side pockets, which are wide but positioned completely under the coamings.

At the transom, where there are scuppers to clear deck water, you find the isolation switch for the battery and the fuel filter, plus a bit of handy storage space. The live bait well is back down here, too. I also noticed the deck to be flexible under foot in this corner of the boat.

Out on the transom, the Maxi Bracket that holds the boarding ladder will also support a berley bucket if you are into bait fishing.

A handy and practical bait rigging station sits at a comfortable height on a pole mount in the centre of the transom. If it gets in the way of casting, lift it out and leave it home.

ONE THE WATER
- A V-hull well proven over time
There’s bee more than enough opportunity to iron out any wrinkles in this boating platform and that was achieved many years ago. After more than two decades, the Top Enders work.

The steering on this rig is as good as it gets and is effortless under hand, while the Blade Hull can cut chop nicely. The flare above the keel line at the bow will also keep you reasonably dry in the aft positions, provided there is no strong breeze over the forequarters. Nothing new here; that’s life with a centre console.

Unless you are carrying a big payload of gear or overweight crew, the 115hp will keep you happy. It was a nice match, with plenty of torque for fast hole-shot and quiet cruising throughout the throttle range.

 At 2000rpm we had a fast troll speed of seven knots and another 1000rpm had us on the plane at 18 knots using 10lt/hr. At 4000rpm, we were running at 27 knots for 16.7lt/hr and 5000rpm saw fuel consumption at 27lt/hr for 34 knots. WOT was 5800rpm and we were clipping 40 knots with fuel burn in the mid-40lt/hr.

VERDICT
- A Dinky-Di Aussie fishing platform
Over the years there has been constant R&D with this hull but ostensibly not a lot has needed to be changed. Rather, things have been ‘tweaked’.

The introduction of the Blade Hull was part of that evolution and wider coamings became fashionable in later years. The use of Rotaform polyethylene has reduced weight and cost and helped in part to keep corrosion at bay.

True honest boating probably doesn’t get any better than this.

LIKES
>> Good stability
>> Top power match to hull
>> Plenty of stowage area under deck

NOT SO MUCH
>> Waterproof storage under hatches would be nice. Drying gear each time you go out is a pain.
>>Flexible deck under foot in port aft corner

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

Specifications: Quintrex Top Ender 530 Centre Console
Priced from: $48,590
Length overall: 5.52m
Beam: 2.23
Hull weight: 610kg
Bottom sides: 4.0mm
Topsides: 3.0mm
Maximum Recommended Power: 135hp
Maximum Engine Weight: 206kg
Engine as tested: Yamaha F115B
Fuel:  95lt under deck
Maximum person: 5
Supplied by:
Brisbane Yamaha
Telephone: (07) 3888 1727
Website: brisbaneyamaha.com.au
Facebook: facebook.com/BrisbaneYamaha