Quintrex 570 Fishabout: Review

With the Quintrex 570 Fishabout, the classic forward windscreen Aussie runabout is alive and well. This versatile bay fisher and family bay cruiser is a leader in this category, competitively priced, nicely finished and with a level of ride, handling and performance to rival anything on the market. With an Evinrude 150hp G2 E-TEC on the transom, this rig is fast and fun.

OVERVIEW
- Traditional Quinnie runabouts remain popular with family boaters
Quintrex has debuted a number of new models this year, ranging from inshore Stealth Hornet tournament fishing boats, through to the stunning new Apex-hull-equipped Frontier bay fishing boats and Freestyler high-performance family bowriders.

The latter have deservedly received most of the media attention to date. However, Quintrex has also upgraded many of its forward windscreen runabouts. These are the traditional and most popular models that have been the mainstay of the brand since its inception.

In addition to making upgrades in key areas, Quintrex has also added several new runabout models. In the entry Fishabout range there has been two new entries — the big 610 flagship model we tested some weeks back, as well as a slightly smaller, yet no less effective model called the 570 Fishabout.

The 570 Fishabout looks relatively compact at first glance, but a closer inspection reveals a substantial sized boat with a huge rear cockpit. It is a versatile looking boat, easily capable of taking the family out cruising on the bay, or a few mates out to fish the offshore reefs.

As we discovered after a recent sea trial, the 570 Fishabout can also serve as a social ski and towboat. Our test boat package was rigged with the maximum power 150hp Evinrude G2 HO E-TEC outboard and it was brutally fast, easily capable of pulling skier or three.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- $46k packages with an alloy trailer and Evinrude E-TEC power
The Fishabout models are the entry runabouts in the Quintrex range. Accordingly the boats don't come with all the bells and whistles of the high-end series boats, but this does keep a lid on pricing. Apart from that, you can customise and up-spec your Fishabout from the long list of options.

Package pricing for the 570 Fishabout starts at around $46k with an Evinrude 115hp E-TEC longshaft (20in) DFI two-stroke outboard. For this price Queensland dealer Caloundra Marine includes a great quality tandem axle alloy Quintrex trailer along with boat and trailer registrations and an inshore safety gear pack for four people.

The Fishabouts are the base models in the Quintrex range but they still have plenty of neat features, including a centre-opening, walk-through windscreen (with grab rail) and foredeck, open anchor well, low-set bow and stern rails, roto-moulded plastic helm and passenger console inserts (with glove box to port), deluxe bucket helm chairs, a pair of drink holders and rod holders, a carpet-over-plywood cockpit floor, elevated side pockets and rear transom shelves, stern cleats, external boarding platforms, and a full width, drop-down rear bench seat with padded coaming backrest.

Our test boat was not far off standard. Additions included an overhead bimini with envelope retainer, hydraulic steering, and the bright blue two-tone paint.

The rig was also optioned with the maximum power outboard in the form of an Evinrude 150hp HO G2 E-TEC DFI two-stroke longshaft (20in) outboard. The drive-away price with registrations and safety packs comes in at $52,650. Now that's a great price for a very smart looking and capable family boat/coastal fishing rig.

INTERIOR LAYOUT
- Large rear deck, compact helm with walk-through windscreen access
With its bright-blue warpaint, elegant curved windscreen and matching blue-and-grey coloured Evinrude E-TEC outboard engine, our test boat was certainly a smart looking rig.

The Quintrex Blade hull looks well proportioned too in the 5.7m hull length. It has a low profile, stream-lined appearance and yet there is ample freeboard in the cockpit with a minimum of 610mm between the floor and the gunwale.

There is also a great deal of open deck space. The distance from the helm aft to the transom is 3.0m x 1.93m across. There is 2.5m of space behind the two deluxe bucket helm chairs.

There is so much room in fact that we would be tempted to fit a removable centre cockpit ice/fish storage box which could double as an additional seat. Even with a centre box there will be ample space to move about the cockpit and to cater for three or four anglers.

The up-sized rear cockpit is flanked by full length, elevated side storage pockets with super-wide side coamings overhead. The coamings/gunwales are easily broad enough to fit additional rod holders, downrigger plates, etc.

The Fishabout does not have a standard live bait tank, but there is provision for an optional bait tank to be installed in the port side transom corner. This space was vacant in the test rig.

Beneath the transom coaming there is a battery shelf to starboard, open storage space to port. There is additional storage space forward beneath the helm and passenger consoles. Both are useful for stowing safety gear, clothing and the like.

The full-width rear bench seat we mentioned earlier is comfortable enough for three adults as it is nicely padded and there is a padded backrest.

The bench folds down but does not sit flush against the transom in the folded position, so it may get in the way when fishing over the stern. We would be tempted to remove the bench seat completely for serious offshore fishing trips.

The dual deluxe helm chairs forward are also very comfortable, nicely padded and supportive. The skipper's chair is also well positioned in relation to the sports steering wheel and side-mounted throttle, so the boat is easy to drive.

With the centre-opening windscreen and walkway through to the foredeck there is excellent access to the open anchor well and for boarding from the bow. The trade-off for this excellent access is a reduction in dash space. That said there is provision for standard engine gauges in the angled fascia and enough flat dash space for a bracket-mounted electronics display alongside.

There is space for a flush-fitted radio and the switch panel to either side and beneath the steering wheel.

On the passenger side the console/dash insert has a lockable glovebox with tinted perspex cover and an open storage compartment.

Other features include the safety gear storage compartments under the twin consoles, two cup holders alongside the passenger chair, and the optional bimini top overhead.

ON THE WATER
- Proven Blade hull provides a smooth, stable ride with excellent performance
The Quintrex Blade hull is an evolution of the famed Millennium hull which debuted back in 1999. Over the years, Quintrex has fine-tuned and perfected this hull and it shows out on the water. It is not only very stable at rest, but it carves up bay chop with ease.

In heavy weather you drop the nose of a Blade hull down into the chop and it will part the waves nicely, the flare in the topsides pushing spray out to sides simultaneously.

The Blade hull handles pretty well, too. We gave the 570 Fishabout a fair workout and the hull proved well mannered and predictable through slalom turns, and during following and beam sea runs.

The Blade hull can also handle plenty of grunt. Our test boat was fitted with one of the brand new Evinrude E-TEC G2 150hp outboards and it proved exceptionally quick, topping out at around 41 knots.

From idle through to wide open throttle there was no let up in the power delivery either. The smooth running Evinrude simply blasts off from a stand-still with incredible thrust and throttle response.

The test boat was rigged by Quintrex with the maximum power engine to demonstrate the capabilities of both the boat and the engine... and they certainly delivered. That said, the 570 Fishabout does not need 150hp. A 115 hp engine should be ample for most applications and still yield a top speed in the 32-35 knot range.

VERDICT
- A terrific new Quintrex runabout for coastal fishing and boating
The 2017 Quintrex boat range is enormous with a huge variety of hull sizes, types and configurations — and yet the garden variety, traditional forward windscreen alloy runabouts continue to dominate the sales charts.

But then I guess this should be expected. This style of boat is inexpensive, safe, reliable and versatile. You can certainly do most things with the 570 Fishabout.

You can fish coastal waters for reef and sportfish, hit the impoundments for bass and barra, or take the kids out on the bay tubing or wake boarding.

You can do it all in a classic Quinnie Fishabout!

LIKES
>> Competitive pricing
>> Time proven Blade hull shape
>> Epic performance from Evinrude E-TEC
>> Comfortable, dry, stable ride
>> Durable construction, low maintenance
>> Large rear cockpit with ample freeboard
>> Walk-through windscreen and foredeck
>> Windscreen grab rail

NOT SO MUCH
>> Limited dash space
>> Bench seat doesn't fold flush with transom

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.68/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.5/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water performance: 4.7/5.0
Value for money: 4.9/5.0
X-factor: 4.5/5.0

Supplied by:
Caloundra Marine
Phone: (07) 5491 1944
Email: steve@caloundramarine.com.au
More at Caloundra Marine.