Savage 445 Raptor Pro: Fishing Boat Review

Savage’s latest Raptor range of tiller-steer open V-nose boats are proving popular with sheltered-water anglers around the country – and none more so than the subject of this review, the range topping 445 Raptor Pro. Coupled with an Evinrude ETEC 40hp DFI two-stroke outboard, the Raptor Pro is an excellent fishing machine.

OVERVIEW
- New Raptors reinvigorate Savage small boat range
Earlier this year, leading aluminium-boat manufacturer Savage launched a new range of V-nose boats to replace the retiring and long-standing Jabiru family. The new craft are similar in concept and design, but now have more interior space (thanks to a more rounded bow shape) and a revised hull for an improved ride in choppy water.

At this stage, the Raptors are available in five sizes and with standard Raptor and Raptor Pro models. All are designed to accept a tiller-steer outboard engine, though there is a side console option for the larger Raptor Pros.

The regular Raptors are pretty basic two-seat thwart pressed alloy tinnies and are available in 355 (car topper) 395 and 425 model sizes. We recently tested the mid-sized model and you can read that Savage 395 Raptor review here.

The much better equipped deluxe Raptor Pro models are also available in three sizes, but the boats are bigger, starting at 405 and including 425 and 445 series models.

The Raptor Pros all have carpeted bow and stern casting decks, a flat centre floor section, wide side coamings, and deep storage lockers.

The flagship of the range is the Raptor 445 Pro. This ripper little estuary and bay fishing boat is the subject of this review.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Excellent base package price
Savage is targeting the budget-conscious angler with the Raptor range and this is reflected in the excellent package price. With a Savage single-axle aluminium trailer and electric start, tiller-steer Evinrude 40hp ETEC outboard, the 445 Pro can be yours for less than $20k.

This price buys you an excellent sheltered water fishing package, complete with the aforementioned bow and stern casting decks and flat centre floor area.

The Raptor Pro does not have as much standard kit as some competitor models, but it has the essentials — and everything else you might want is available as an option. You can easily customise the boat to suit your specific requirements.

Standard features in the base package include the super wide side coamings, two flush-fitted plastic rod holders, short bow and stern rails, two removable pedestals helm seats (with five in-floor seat positions), bow cleat, single anchor locker at the bow with roto-moulded plastic insert, stern handles (sorry no cleats), rear fuel tank locker and storage bin, transducer bracket, and a large, full width casting platform storage locker with a carpeted false-floor.

The latter can be accessed via three deck hatches which have carpeted plywood lids and stainless steel hinges. Carpet has been applied to both sides of the hatch lids for a neater finish and to protect the timber from rot and mould.

From the base package you can option the Raptor Pro with plenty of gear. Tournament anglers will be certain to order the boat with the rear casting deck live bait tank as a minimum – but may also want the large roto-moulded live fish well which drops into the bow casting deck beneath the centre hatch.

Other options anglers might want to consider includes the 70 litre underfloor fuel tank, transom step and rail, electric trolling motor plate on the bow, battery tray in casting platform, a second roto-moulded plastic anchor/storage well at the bow, full length side rails, and a vinyl hull wrap.

The test rig was fitted with just two options: the electric trolling motor plate with battery box and the second roto-moulded bow storage bin. These additions lift the price of the test boat package to $20,176 from Townsville’s Angus Smith Marine.

INTERIOR LAYOUT
- Tried and true
With the new Raptor Pro’s Savage has stuck with a time-tested interior layout which has bow and stern casting decks or platforms, separated by a recessed centre cockpit floor area. This design works pretty well, especially when there is at least knee-height freeboard in the middle section, as there is in the Raptor Pro.

This knee-height freeboard allows anglers to fish choppy bay waters from the lower cockpit floor area with a reasonable degree of safety, while the elevated decks are great for smooth water lure and fly casting, etc.

The bow platform in V-nosed boats is invariably larger than the stern platform and that is the case with the Raptor Pro, which has a forward deck measuring 1.23m long with a maximum width of 1.6m.

Cleverly, Savage has been able to enlarge the forward casting deck by moving the anchor well from the traditional position up on the alloy foredeck back to the port side of the casting deck.

The casting deck/platform is elevated 405mm above the 2.16m long centre floor area.

The rear casting deck is a similar height above the main cockpit floor and is about half the length of the forward deck.

A fuel tank pad (for the outboard’s 25 litre portable tank) is situated under the rear platform on the port side, while there is a general storage locker opposite.

The outboard engine’s starting battery is boxed on a platform under the centre of the rear casting deck. This is also the access point for servicing the plumbing, wiring, filters, bilge pump, etc.

One final feature worth a mention is the small storage shelf under the coaming in the port side transom corner. This shallow shelf looks to be a secure and sufficiently sheltered location to stow your car keys, wallet, mobile phone, etc.

ON THE WATER
- Traditional V-nose boat design
Aluminium V-nose open boats are not generally known for the being particularly comfortable riding in choppy water, yet the new Savage Raptors do a pretty good job of softening out the bumps; the ride proving comfortable enough during our recent test of the 445 Raptor Pro.

More importantly, the test rig was also very stable and this is pretty much a pre-requisite for an aluminium V-nose open boat. This style of low profile open boat is designed for fishing smooth water rivers and estuaries and must have sufficient stability at rest to counter two of two or three hefty blokes stomping about the interior.

Underway the Raptor Pro was equally stable, very solid and pretty easy to handle. Larger size tiller-steer outboard engines like the 40hp Evinrude fitted to the test rig do take a bit of getting use to, but if you have run small tiller outboards as a kid then you’ll have no problems.

If not, then you can option the 445 Pro with a side console helm with steering wheel and remote controls. It will certainly be easier running the Raptor with a steering wheel and lever-arm throttle, but significant savings are to be had if you stick with the tiller model, with electric start and power trim and tilt as tested.

The Raptor 445 Pro is rated for a single longshaft outboard up to 50hp, but we found the 40hp ETEC to be more than powerful enough for most applications. The Evinrude accelerated strongly through the rpm range and pulled a top speed of 26.4 knots.

 VERDICT
- An excellent, garage-sized smooth water sport fisher
The Savage Raptor Pro is a solid performing sheltered water fishing boat with just the right amount of included features and equipment for the price.

The boat should fit comfortably in your garage, can be towed behind just about anything with four wheels, and is large enough to fish choppy bays and impoundments, as well as smooth water rivers and estuaries.

With such versatility we expect the 445 Raptor to be a strong seller.

LIKES
>> Good performance
>> Bay and estuary fishing versatility
>> Spacious interior
>> Flat, carpeted fishing decks

NOT SO MUCH
>> No stern cleats

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.6/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.6/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water Performance: 4.5/5.0
Value for money: 4.7/5.0
X-factor: 4.4/5.0

Specifications: Savage Raptor 445 Pro
Price as Tested: $20,176 including Evinrude ETEC 40hp longshaft (20”) DFI two-stroke outboard with electric start, power trim and tilt, Savage single axle (unbraked) aluminium trailer, electric trolling motor plate with battery box, a second roto-moulded storage bin at the bow, boat and trailer registrations, sand anchor kit and a smooth water safety gear package for four adults.
Priced From: $19,919 - as above but without the trolling motor plate or additional storage bin.
Length Overall: 4.48m
Hull Length: 4.43m
Beam: 2.04m
Depth: 0.85m
Hull Weight: 310kg
Flotation Standard: Basic
Towing Weight: Approx 730kg
Bottom & Transom alloy: 3.0mm
Topsides Alloy: 2.0mm
Maximum Power: 50hp
Maximum Engine Weight: 120kg
Engine as Tested: Evinrude ETEC 40hp DFI two-stroke
Fuel: Portables
Maximum persons: Four

Supplied by:
Angus Smith Marine
Phone: (07) 4771 4046.
Email: angsmith@bigpond.net.au
Website: www.angussmithmarine.com.au.

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