Savage 485C

Then there are just as many experienced boaters who were at that same intersection many years ago and progressed their way up through various boats of and who are now in their twilight years looking to get into something easier to handle but with the necessary attributes to which they have become accustomed. It’s an age thing; downsize the house now that the family have grown up and downsize the boat to suit the new retirement unit driveway.

This, the 485C might just fill the bill for both the novice and the retiring expert and the bank accounts of both will remain relatively unscathed should they make that decision.

The steering on this boat is mechanical non feed-back type and while hydraulic steering does not appear on the options list that is something that should be contemplated by those looking for a helm that is easy on the arms. Although the torque experienced at the helm when underway and manoeuvring is acceptable, there is no substitute for quality hydraulics.

Being a ‘bare bones’ boat there is plenty of scope for add-ons and accessories.

Seated inside there is height sufficient for a person of average stature to sit without banging their head on the roof and the leg well is roomy also. This leg well extends out from the helm bulkhead, rebated into the cockpit deck a short way so entry and exit is undertaken with less stooping. One adult could nap in here with the use of an infill over the leg well.

The cushions and upholstery on the face of the cabin side pockets are removable for laundry purposes, being held in position with Velcro and the hard bases on the berth cushions serve as the lids covering stowage bins moulded into the deck liner in the cabin.

The anchor well is accessed via the opening hatch in the roof of the cabin. A 175cm 80kg person can insert themselves through this hatch but if you are larger than that you might have to rethink your anchoring system. Perhaps a smaller crew member or electric anchor winch might be the answer. Installation of the latter most likely would entail aftermarket strengthening of the mounting position.

All is not lost though. The trusty old milk crate in the cockpit with a painter rope from the cockpit grab rail to a pre determined bowline loop on the anchor rope and the anchor is deployed and retrieved into the cockpit. And with this system you can be overweight and not worry about traversing around the outside of the cabin to get to the ground tackle.

The instrumentation supplied with the 75hp Evinrude ETEC sits across a brow above a flat vacant panel behind the helm wheel. At a squeeze, electronic cabinets with a 10 inch screen will fit flush mounted though as with its big brother the 655C, the wheel will overshadow the view of the screen. Should one opt for hydraulic steering on this boat they can also opt for a tilt helm which would shift the wheel out of the way.

The grab rail in front of the passenger seat reaches half way across the helm bulkhead and a lip in the topside liner retains any small items stashed behind the windscreen. This screen is heavy-duty Perspex consisting of one piece across the front which is wrapped around the ends and a short screen each side.

The two seats are swivel bucket style with height adjustment and adding to the comfort for the skipper, a foot well is moulded into the bulkhead in front of the seat.

The cockpit provides a good fishing area for a couple of anglers who may use the under-deck compartment that has room at the end of the aluminium fuel tank  to store fish or other wet gear. This area may be rinsed out at the end of the day and drained into the bilge.

The area under the transom is open and the bilge pump is installed in a well here. The plumbing to and from the tank and engine looms protrude out of this well and might be on the receiving end of some damage should something heavy be sliding around the deck in rough seas and find its way under the overhang of the bulkhead. A short fence of sorts would barricade the well from such an event.

Typical pockets on each side of the cockpit have plenty of foot access underneath and marine carpet on the deck and soft lining on the inside of the cockpit walls finishes the area neatly.

The transom bulkhead has two seats rebated in the mould in each aft corner and their cushions are removable allowing these areas to be used to stow fishing gear such as buckets and boxes. They allow the body to nestle in and remain secure when using the handrails nearby when manoeuvring at speed.

At the stern a fold-up stainless steel ladder has high rails as part of its profile, to assist one aboard as well as a hand rail attached to the outside of the bulkhead.

Typically a boat with a sharp deadrise has a tendency to bob at anchor but the 485C settles deep in the water with the chines taking a good bight of the surface so stability at rest is excellent.

Hidden under the deck is a hollow fibreglass matrix system of stringers and cross members which like in its sister ships, the 585C, 645C and 655C is glued to the hull and to its top surface the deck is adhered. The hull displayed plenty of rigidity so all must be well below decks!

The 75hp ETEC was a good match for this boat and the maximum recommended 90 would only be required if you were regularly carrying heavy payloads or the five adults that this boat is rated for.

It gave us a cruise speed of 20 knots at 3500rpm and WOT of 4700rpm put 30 knots on the GPS.

The WOT RPM might well be tweaked with a change of propeller but in reality those buying this type of boat won’t be looking to break any speed records; it is more suited to other aspects of fishing and boating.

Manoeuvrability was excellent (remember those tight turns) and it proved to be a nippy little boat throughout the throttle range with no bad habits that we could detect.

What you see is what you get with this little Savage; a good honest boat at a bargain price.