Savage 175B Bowrider

In that mix there can be a number of ingredients, a few of which are looks and finish, as well as competitive pricing. Well, the Savage 175B passes the taste test in all three of those fields.

As reviewed, it has a relatively small dollar value for a ‘ready to have fun’ package with lots of standard features.

The taught canvas bimini, built on a sturdy frame, is a standard feature and will be welcomed by those putting in long days on the water during summer.

The bow rider section also comes standard with a tonneau cover to keep the sun and dust off the upholstery and the entire boat is fitted for travel with a full cover; also a standard feature.

Inboard-powered boats should have a bilge blower fitted for safety reasons, dissipating fuel fumes before the ignition is turned on. That fitted to the 175B is standard in the deal along with Johnson’s Ultima bilge pump.

Drink can holders are recessed around the boat within easy reach of seating positions and they come in the price too.

Pop-up stainless steel cleats have been installed in each side gunwale and two in the bow section. Recessing flush with the surround top section they will not impede passage over the bow which has been purposely designed slightly downturned at the bow so occupants may climb in and out while the boat is nosed into the beach.

Those wanting to board from the transom may do so via the telescopic fold-down ladder fitted to the starboard side of the swim out platform.

Underneath the seat bases is found stowage for items as required.

The carpet on the deck here and in the cockpit is held in place with press studs and is easily unclipped for removal out of the boat to rid it of sand and other debris carted aboard on wet feet.

Access to the bow section is via an opening windscreen over a companionway between the helm and the passenger side bulkhead.

This windscreen wraps around with style and is constructed from heavy-duty perspex. With the opening section of the centre of the screen closed, there is no hatch to cover the gap below; something that might be wanting in winter time. The tonneau cover installed over the bow pit will keep at bay a lot of that cold air rushing through when on the plane.

The helm and passenger seats are a comfortable wrap-around style and swivel easily to allow easy access into or past them when moving from the forward to the rear of the boat.

When seated here, both skipper and passenger will have plenty of leg room under the bulkhead.

The helm and instruments are set at comfortable height with the latter installed in a rotaform mould. This insert matches that on the passenger side which forms the glove compartment in which a Fusion CD/MP3/AM/FM radio head is installed.

The angle of the helm wheel may also be changed to one of five different settings.

A hatch in the deck between the two seats opens to reveal a long locker for stowage of wet gear. Its internal length was not sufficient to accept a standard single ski but narrow wake boards might get a ride in here when not on the water. In any case, it is an ideal spot for wet gear such as vests and ropes.

The rear lounge has a grab handle on the upholstered cockpit liner for each end. It backs up against the front of the engine box which is accessed by lifting the sun lounge up, it being hinged at the aft end.

The level of access to the front and sides of the motor for maintenance is excellent and should you need to get serious in this compartment, the partitions may be unscrewed from the bilge.

As mentioned earlier the finish on the gelcoat of this hull is excellent with no blemishes and lots of sheen.

The hull under the floor is constructed with timber stringers with waterproof ply used for the transom and deck and then glassed over.
 

It performed fine with two people aboard but the hole-shot was not neck jarring by any means. Once on the plane though it accelerated quickly to WOT of 4,900rpm at which stage the speedometer was reading 62km/h after conversion from mph. At this speed, fuel consumption is reputed to be 45.2lph which equates to 1.38km per litre.

If you knock the throttle back to a cruise of 3000rpm and about 35km/h the fuel consumption will be in the vicinity of 16.7lph giving a range of 2.1km to the litre .

The torque available at any stage of the throttle when on the plane was excellent and provided the leg was tucked in for tight turns at speed there was no aeration at the propeller.

Trimmed back out for high speed, the steering was very direct and easy at the helm. The weakest of the family will have no problems handling this boat for all manner of water sports.

Hard high-speed turns had the hull laying well over into the corners making for a comfortable ride for all and sundry alleviating a lot of inertia during those manoeuvres.

There are a lot of nice things about Savage’s 175B Bowrider; not the least of which is the price!