Savage Centurion 4.8m Cuddy Cabin

These days boat buyers often get a lot more for their dollar than they did only a few years ago. The Savage Centurion 4.8m Cuddy Cabin is a perfect example. Built out of Whittley Marine Industries' plant in Melbourne, a factory synonymous with quality, this boat represents fantastic value for those looking to buy a solid multifunctional 'glass hull at a base price of around 23 grand.

This hull has a beam of 2.14m and a deadrise of 14°, which is quite shallow compared to other hulls. A shallow deadrise offers advantages in certain situations and disadvantages in others. Extremely good stability at rest is one advantage. A swifter holeshot requiring less horsepower is another. However, buyers looking for a boat to traverse constantly rough water at speed might consider buying a deeper vee'd hull.

GIVE ME SHELTER
To provide more internal headroom, the front of the cabin roof is quite bulbous. The roof slopes sharply down to the bow, which sports a lockable roller in front of a bollard and rebate in the brow of the cabin roof, allowing chain and rope to coil behind it.

Inside the cabin a large sloping tray holds the rope and chain, and is drained through the hull. While this tray encroaches on the normal forward section of the V-berth, there is still enough room for a child to sit while an adult can comfortably sit on either bunk.

The cabin footwell is bunged and drained via the bilge. It's slightly shallower than comparable boats in relation to the berth height. Padded facias on the cabin sidepockets make comfy backrests when kicking back on the bunks.

Access to the forward deck is via the cabin roof through a hatch. The forward edge of the aperture has a divot in it for the anchor rope to feed back down inside onto the tray - and this would no doubt allow some water to enter the cabin during bad weather when the hatch is closed. Most of it, though, would fall into the tray and drain externally. In all, the arrangement for setting and weighing anchor is effective.

GOTTA DASH
The dash is nicely finished and provides a good handhold for a passenger standing between the skipper and copilot when underway. Both helm bucket seats swivel, with the helm seat featuring forward and backward adjustment.

Dash layout is neat and there is enough room above the brow of the instrument panel to accommodate two small GPS or fishfinding instruments. The test boat was fitted with Eagle's new Cuda 168, which operated well at all speeds.

The Morse mechanical steering fitted to the boat was easy on the arm muscles when the 75hp Mercury was set at the optimum trim. Manoeuvring at speed was effortless, especially during hard and fast turns. To achieve such a good non-slip effect in high-G turns, the prominent keel line must certainly be gripping hard. This boat is very manoeuvrable in tight situations.

ROOM WITH A VIEW
The high cabin walls drop sharply to the cockpit coamings. Nylon scuff plates are fitted on each side and these would make a neat place to prepare some cut baits. Another recess on the inner edge of the coaming in the aft quarters provides a comfortable elbow rest with a nicely contoured handhold for passengers sitting against the transom bulkhead. The protruding structure of the killtank on the forward end of the enginewell provides shoulder support and stops passengers from being flung around in their seats.

This killtank could easily be plumbed for use as a livebait tank or simply used to store gear. It also drains overboard. With the aft corner seat bases removed, anglers can comfortably stand right up against the transom with the nylon lid of the killtank serving as a neat cutting board. The coamings are high enough to inspire a feeling of security in rough conditions.

A recess in the floor under the transom coaming holds two 25lt fuel tanks and Cunningham's Marine also manufactures a 70lt alloy tank as an optional extra that fits snugly in this niche. A stainless steel ladder with nylon treads provides easy access over the transom and into the cockpit.

LOTS OF GRUNT
Our test day was perfect for waterskiing, with flat-as-a-pancake conditions, but unfortunately there was not enough chop on the water to test this boat to its limits. However, when we pushed it hard over our own wake, we failed to raise spray onto the screen.

At 5600rpm the speedometer was showing 36mph or just under 60kmh. The Mercury 75hp two-stroke was surprisingly powerful, with enough punch out of the hole to make you wonder why you would spend the extra dollars to fit the maximum recommended 90hp engine. The average family looking to enjoy some fishing and cruising on a budget won't need the extra horses, but it might be handy if you plan on towing more than one skier.

On the model tested, a letter from the manufacturer indicated it would provide insurance coverage for engines up to 115hp. However, installing such a large engine would require modifications to the hydraulic tilt to prevent the engine cowl contacting parts of the enginewell. But with 115hp bolted onto the transom, this boat would really boogie!

The Centurion doesn't pretend to be a luxurious runabout. It's marketed as an entry-level boat that will tow a skier, fish a few mates or cruise a family of four. It will do any one of these things comfortably, and with a few additional touches in the accessories department, the Centurion could be tricked up as a great little inshore fishing platform.

A big four-cylinder car will comfortably tow it, and getting the boat in and out of the water at the ramp is easy. The reasonable interior comforts and the attractive, flowing lines of its fibreglass hull set this boat apart from the average. If a boat's looks, handling and price are a priority for you, take a closer look at the Savage Centurion.