Raider 4.1 Cuddy

A small boat's attributes are not purely determined by its list of accessories - intangible qualities are also an integral part of the equation.

Enter Raider Marine - a division of Precision Pattern Making & Fibreglass Pty Ltd. Based at Yamanto (Qld), the company manufactures fibreglass trimmings for heavy road transport and commercial-size sewerage systems. It's a far cry from boatbuilding, but for Managing Director Ian Nobbs, who has for many years been involved with ANSA and recreational fishing and boating, it's deemed commercial reality.

Over the years Nobbs has had a string of boats - more recently some 'temperamental' catamarans. But the catalyst for Raider's birth was going keel-up on a bar crossing while negotiating a moderate wave. Nobbs' logic, "there just has to be a better small boat." So he built one.

Nobbs set out to produce a catamaran that was (a) small enough to be towed by the family car, (b) wouldn't require ownership of a petrol station to operate, and (c) affordable for the budget-restricted boater. A tall order!

A CAKEWALK...
From this recipe Nobbs has possibly baked the award-winning cake. The Raider 4.1 Cuddy satisfies those 'wants' and is capable of performing above its recommended applications. And there is no shortage of quality in the mouldings or fittings on this boat.

Sitting on its drive-on/drive-off trailer at the ramp, it's hard to imagine the Raider at just 4.1m. To put things into context, many dinghies are longer. It's only when you sit in the skipper's seat that the 4.1's diminutive dimensions are realised.

The Raider has high gunwales and its cuddy-cabin drops from the windscreen immediately down to the square edge of the bow. Access to the anchor bollard and roller is via a tinted screen that sits flush on the sloping front wall of the cabin. Ground tackle is stored inside the cabin in a fibreglass box located on the port-side of the cabin. The tie-off bollard is on the bow and excess rope is stored inside. The hatch has double lock-down positions, allowing the rope to pass through while still having the hatch secured.

The cabin occupies minimal space on the floor plan. If the safety gear was removed, a single bunk would fit inside at a squeeze. There's ample room inside for all of the safety gear and a couple of swags for those wishing to overnight. Access to the cabin is via tinted soft 'clears', with press studs to the bulkhead.

Mercury instrumentation was fitted to the testboat and the helm also featured hydraulic steering mounted on the vertical section of the bulkhead. The instrumentation occupies only one-third of the dash area and with the screen placed well forward, ample space for bulky gimbal-mounted electronics is available. A stainless steel grabrail is fixed to the top of the dash for the passenger. The screen has an aluminium frame with a centre rib.

THE STRONG OF...
This set-up is by no means the strongest I have seen (yes, everything has a price). A stronger set-up is an option, and a full wraparound handrail was on the drawing board at the time of writing.

Fuel filler caps occupy the coaming on the gunwale immediately behind the end of each cuddy sidewall. A stainless steel rail runs from this point to the transom of the vessel where a rodholder with rubber bung is installed.

Seating consists of two fold-back, plastic-based swivel chairs mounted on very sturdy fibreglass boxes. These boxes are rectangular, with the aft section rebated and holding a cushioned hatch which provides two extra seats. Under the helm chair is an insulated icebox of around 60lt capacity and under the passenger is drainable storage space.

Overhead, a stainless steel framed collapsible bimini provides shelter for those at the forward end of the cockpit. It features a six-pot rocket launcher and two aerial base mounting plates.

For a boat of this size, the deck space in the cockpit is quite remarkable.

A sidepocket runs along each side of the cockpit from the cabin bulkhead aft to a raised box fixed to the hull. The base of this box is elevated from the floor so that feet easily fit under both pockets and boxes. The boxes are slightly proud of the pockets and the faces of both have flush-mounted hatches, each hiding a battery.

The transom bulkhead is spartan except for two drainage holes for the deck. These exit through the transom and have solid teflon balls sitting in cages to prevent seawater entering the cockpit via the scuppers.

A stylish baitboard was under construction that will have a livebait tank below. It will be centrally mounted on the top of this bulkhead. This unit removes easily. It will have drain and overflow holes aft and plumbing will come from an external pump, up inside one of the support legs.

Astern, two 40hp Mariner four-stroke outboards were fitted to bolt-on flotation pods. The lowest point of these pods is around 75mm higher than each hull. This positioning would account for less drag in the water on the plane but offers extra stability when trolling or at rest. A fold-up stainless steel ladder is attached to the stainless steel handrail that surrounds the cockpit. It folds down between the two outboards. Solas 14-inch stainless steel propellers were fitted, along with a foil on each cavitation plate. Manufactured by Raider Marine, these foils are flat and come standard with the engines supplied. An option is for a single 70hp-plus motor mounted mid-transom.

Three fully-sealed flotation chambers run up each side of the boat. The fueltank in each hull is fully 'foamed' in, within its respective bulkhead, to prevent any movement and subsequent wear and tear from vibration.

The hydraulic ram was NFB (non-feedback) for a tandem catamaran, with a drag link to each motor. It is hidden under a mantle shroud that extended from one pod to the other. Each of these engines feeds from their own 75lt fueltank.

HEAVY WEATHER...
When you really want to put a testboat through its paces the weather will be calm, and when you want to go fishing it will be as rough as guts... Murphy's Law. And old Murphy didn't disappoint! The bay to the bottom of Bribie Island and beyond was glassed out. Our camera boat, a 5.5m Shark Cat, churned up the smooth water so that we could get a feel for the Raider.

With two people aboard and a full complement of fuel, the Raider pulled just over 50kmh according to the dashboard speedometer. It had ample power to get out of the hole and another large adult would not have had a dramatic effect on its take-off performance.

Those with cat experience would be aware of their tendency to lean outwards on cornering rather than bank inwards, which can be a little disconcerting for newcomers to multihulls but is normal and something to which you'll quickly adjust. This allows you to enjoy other benefits gleaned from running this type of boat (eg. extra stability). After all, less rocking and rolling makes for better fishing and fun. Another plus for a twin-engine cat is that you have an oversized auxiliary should one let you down. And then there is the bulk cockpit room we all crave. However, all these 'pluses' come at a price - the extra cost to purchase two reasonably sized outboards rather than one large auxiliary. It will cost slightly more but the pluses may tip the balance in favour of a catamaran-style hull.

ODD ONE OUT
The novice boater may feel odd steering from a point seemingly over the top of the bow. Although well forward of the longitudinal centre of balance (the point on a planing hull where it rocks on the surface forward to aft) the ride in the Raider was very soft. Running over large wakes the hull either cut through the chop or went over the top, landing gently. There was no slamming or banging from hard landings. From the helm position spray could be seen forward of the tunnel, but little came over the bow.

Hard cornering at speed was easily undertaken, with no cavitation until we got into really tight full-locks, where a little was noticeable. But it didn't pose any problems at the wrong time, such as needing power during a bar crossing with big 'greenies' looming over you.

The only disappointing aspect of the entire day was the becalmed weather. It was clear this cat could handle a fair bit of rough stuff and it felt like it was just waiting to do so. However, its performance could lull one into a false sense of security. The Raider is not touted as being an offshore boat, rather one that is capable of rough estuary and coastal work and a stable fishing platform for serious anglers and families. And it's small enough for impoundments and rivers. It would be remiss of the manufacturer and Trailer Boat to promote the Raider as being anything else. Having said that, it is the biggest 'little' boat I've driven for quite a long time!