Sea Fox 199CC Pro Series Centre Console

We recently reviewed Sea Fox’s 226CC which very much impressed us. To get that job done, a camera boat was brought into the equation in the form of the slightly smaller model 199CC. Originally tagged the 206CC in 2011, a change to the model range of Sea Fox has seen it re-labelled.

At six metres LOA it is in the towing domain of a large six-cylinder vehicle; further enhancing its favour amongst the budget conscious.

And if longevity of its hull life is a worry to you, you should check out Sea Fox’s limited lifetime hull warranty and its five-year warranty against hull blistering. The latter should appease the concerns of those dubious about composite-cored fibreglass lay-ups which is the type of construction used in the hulls sides of Sea Fox boats. We took particular note of this boat’s sides as it has been on a floating dock in South East Queensland’s searing sun for a couple of years and yet it showed no sign of any blemish.

The deluxe console with the portable toilet inside comes standard while the 45-litre freshwater tank for wash down is on the option list along with the Jensen AM/FM/CD and MP3 adapter with four marine-quality speakers. The T-top and frame is optional as well as the attached spreader lights and the Garmin 441S combination depth sounder/chart plotter. The Windlass anchor system and roller along with the deluxe bow cushions finalise the options that take the boat as reviewed to a retail price of $58,130. This does not include a trailer which for this model may be supplied in alloy for $5,300.

Hinged hatches under the cushioning here allow access to dry stowage below.

In the bow, the anchor locker is located under a wing hatch and the electric anchor winch sits snug behind the bow roller attached to a removable base plate that covers the balance of the hatch. This setup augers well for maintenance to the winch should it be required at a later date; simply unbolt the plate and remove the entire system.

Further passenger seating is available in front of the console and in the aft corners of the rear cockpit, the latter in the form of a single cushion fully rebated into the transom.

The backrests wrap around the rebate and are a permanent fixture unlike the base which may be removed so an anglers can stand and fish in each corner, closer to the stern. It would have been good to see a toe-under recess in the cockpit liner here but its angle would make one-piece moulding of the liner difficult. In any case, the padded backrest provides some lower thigh support and keeps the legs out from the liner when working in this area.

Removal of the seat bases allows easier access to the large, aerated livebait tank in the port corner and the stowage bin opposite. Both of those standard features sit below the level of the coamings which is advantageous when handling slippery livebaits as they inevitably get dropped and would otherwise jettison over the side.

Each of these aft fishing stations has three flush-mounted rod holders and a hand rail mid transom, while ergonomically difficult to use for those that might be seated here, it's ideal for attaching fishing rod safety lanyards.

Cranking batteries are tucked away inside the the stern of the boat and accessed behind a vertical flush-mounted hatch, and another smaller one nearby hosts the freshwater deck-wash plumbing.

Handy for the family is the portable toilet secreted in the console and accessed via a small hatch in the side. A person of large proportions may have to wait till back on the hard though, as the door size is more suited to a person of demure build or children.

As we found it, it was a good place to store all manner of items including beach gear and any seats and cushions that were removed to make way for serious fishing.

The helm station was full of instrumentation and electronics with the wheel set to port of centre and mounted on a multi-position hub.

While a Garmin chart plotter/depth sounder combination unit of around seven inches was flush mounted, there was enough room to gimbal-mount a large screen cabinet on top of the dash which is flat and sheltered behind the acrylic wind deflector.

The twin seats were plush in design with a swinging backrests so one or both occupants can look aft when fishing while remaining under the shelter of the canvas bimini top that is laced into a sturdy tubular alloy frame.

The hull is infused with closed-cell foam flotation which greatly reduces ambient noise levels from water slap.

As with other Sea Fox centre-console boats the bottom sides are solid, consisting of seven layers of fibreglass while the sides are constructed from composite foam core and fibreglass for strength and weight reduction.

The 199CC features a slight Carolina style hull though not as aggressive in the flare as seen on its bigger brother in the 226CC. The high shoulders in the forequarter give it an air of seaworthiness which no doubt it would have offshore.

Initially, the Honda 135 hp felt like it need to be upgraded to a higher horsepower. However, once out of the hole, the WOT speed of around 68 km/h indicated that a re-prop might be the better option; definitely the cheaper way to go. Hole shot was not snappy at all but it got out and once on the plane, the Honda had adequate acceleration throughout the throttle range.

Its manoeuvrability was good and tight turns at speed failed to drag the Honda backwards performance-wise; it retained enough torque to operate as it should and could spin around at speed with planing trim on the engine without excessive aeration at the propeller.

With the distributor pricing this boat with a 115hp four-stroke Mercury Verado we would be keen to ride in this hull after it has had a refit to experience the comparison.

At six metres, this boat has got enough bulk in the right places to make it a coastal and offshore fishing proposition and for the price it is damn good value no matter which way you look at it.

Water: 45 litres
Fuel: 193 litres
People Day: Seven