Savage 435 Piranha SC
While the 435 Piranha Side Console seems to be as basic as one could get, looks are only skin deep.- The hull performs well on the water with the most basic of engine set ups
- The rod locker height in relation to the underside of the portside coamings prevented the hatch top being hinged; rather it had to be removed to access contents. A redesign here would allow it to be hinged.
- The intermediate cross member in the windscreen frame is not necessary and might impede some skippers' vision, depending on their seated height.
At the lower end of the market there are a number of entry-level boats that come into the affordable range and the 435 Piranha SC from Savage is certyainly one of these.
It doesn’t have any bells and whistles and importantly it is missing the large price tag, but what surprised us is how well it handled. For someone looking for affordable basics in boating, they need look no further.
It has a serviceable side console and a pair of gunwale-mounted rod holders and that is about the extent of the equipment fitted. Down the track through there are a number of factory options available for an aftermarket dress up.
They have been tried and tested to the maximum in a host of different parts of this country and survive to this day because of a no-frills design in their V-bottom.
The 435 is built on one of those hulls and features a covered foredeck in which a rotaform insert serves as an anchor well. The well is relatively shallow and this writer has a preference for that type of well to be hatched to prevent rope blowing out at speed and perhaps an anchor jumping loose when traversing rough conditions. No doubt this alteration could be achieved with ease, after purchase, so if going down that path, flush mounting the insert to make the foredeck another casting platform and totally flat loading deck might add some extra user friendliness to your new boat.
Aft of the covered foredeck, the front casting platform sits about 200mm lower than the surrounding coamings. It and the rest of the decks on board are carpeted marine ply.
Here, a forward hatch hinges open to access the 24-litre tote fuel tank that sits snug against a post that supports the centre of the deck, preventing it from marching back into the rest of the compartment.
Another hatch to the rear opens from the platform bulkhead forward, allowing access to safety and other gear stowage.
A rod locker is situated on the port side and has its top flush with and fascia between, the forward and aft raised platform bulkheads.
The lid for the rod locker must be fully removed to access the contents. It is a pity we can’t get a redesign on this aspect of the Piranha to allow it to be hinged, but due to its height in relation to the coaming above, there is a physical clash as is. The rod locker is very roomy though and there is enough area against the ribs inside to allow mounting of rod racks; though such additions greatly reduce the number of rods and other gear.
The console is mounted starboard side and is a basic shell with an open front and a short tinted acrylic windscreen. A sturdy grab rail surrounds the windscreen and an intermediate cross member above the top edge of the acrylic might impede vision for some skippers, depending on their seated height. The console strength would not be compromised should it be left out of the equation during manufacture.
Three seating positions are available in the lower deck and a fourth via a tube welded to the front of the rear casting platform; the latter utilised should this boat be operated with a tiller-control outboard motor.
The rear casting platform has a central hatch that opens toward the stern, in which the cranking battery is strapped down. The bilge pump and the pump that's plumbed into the livebait tank line are accessible here as well.
In the starboard aft corner of the casting deck, a large panel is removable to access a huge void in which more gear could be stowed and a second fuel tank comes to mind as being one of its occupants as well.
In the port-side corner, a rotomold insert is found beneath two hatches. The rear hatch is a hinged nylon cutting board that gives access to the livebait tank and a small hatch forward of that opens to a compartment that will take two standard-sized tackle tray boxes. Apparently there is another tray that recesses in the cavity over the battery in the centre hatch but it was not on board to look at.
Typical of the Savage range these days, the coamings are fully rolled for extra strength and their finish is superb.
The Vortex produces the typical two-stroke ambient noise levels that we tend to forget about when around four-stroke outboards for much of the time but it was no more excessive than any of the other brands on the market at the moment. And there was also the usual amount of shake of the power head at idle which disappeared under some throttle.
There was no tachometer fitted to the boat but at WOT we registered 50 km/h on the gps and the Vortex imparted excellent hole-shot and acceleration to the hull.
As we mentioned before there are no bells and whistles on the Piranha but there is nothing stopping you adding your own. Even with a tight budget there should be room to move to achieve that with this boat.
Mechanical/equipment: 4.3/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.3/5.0
On the water Performance: 4.5/5.0
Value for money: 4.8/5.0
X-factor: 4.1/5.0
LOA: 4.4m
Beam: 1.87m
Depth: 0.90m
Weight: 280kg boat only
Engine: Vortex two-stroke long-shaft electric start
Fuel: 24-litre tote tank
People Day: Four
6 Dominions Road, Ashmore Qld 4214
Telephone (07) 5539 6477
Email: service@getwetboating.com.au
Website: www.getwetboating.com.au
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