Seafarer Venus and V-Sea

For as long as I have been testing boats, Seafarer has always had a reputation for craft that deliver performance and a quality feel.

One of its more outstanding models is the 5.0m V-Sea, first produced in 1971 as a dedicated fishing boat. Avid readers of fishing magazines will probably recall tales of the little V-Seas getting up to all manner of shenanigans in those burgeoning days of small-boat sportsfishing. It's a measure of the success (and performance) of the boat that there are still a number of these early rigs working the offshore grounds as successfully as they did over two decades ago.

In 1993 Seafarer revamped much of its range, changing hulls and deck layouts to improve performance and efficiency along with all new cosmetic and internal fit-outs.

The 5.0m V-Sea was reborn at this time with improvements to the rough water handling of the hull and a change in cosmetics, all of which were well accepted by boaties and fishermen alike.

Much more recently, Seafarer has again updated the V-Sea, producing a craft that features a higher profile cuddy cabin and curved wraparound screen, just like the marque's successful 6.0m Victory. This upgrade generally raised the 'spec' of the boat, in line with Seafarer's position in the marketplace.

At the same time, another craft was born - the Venus. A derivation of the V-Sea, the Venus is a half-cabin version, this time with conventional V-berth cabin bunks and a more family-oriented deck layout.

Given the seakindly nature of the V-Sea's hull, the 'just-so' 5.0m sizing and the general quality of Seafarer's mouldings, even at its debut we tipped that Seafarer was on to a winner with the Venus... and we weren't wrong!

TOP SHELF
A major part of the latest V-Sea/Venus revamp was an upgrading of the dash and deck mouldings. Have a close look at these and you can't help but be impressed by the attention to detail.

The rounded edges and corners, recessed bollards and grabrails are of the kind of quality we've come to expect from Seafarer. In fact, it's only when you step back aboard these craft after sampling some of their more agricultural opposition that you appreciate the professionalism of Seafarer's finish.

The dash itself is particularly large for a boat of this size and offers customised gauges and an angled area below to flush-mount electronics such as a depth-sounder and GPS unit. The same area will of course accommodate bracket-mounted electronic units.

The main dash also features a substantial flat area where bigger units can be fitted and there's sufficient depth back to the windscreen as well.

What I like to see on a dash is that big sturdy grabrail for the passenger. It's all well and good for the skipper, as he or she has the wheel and controls to hang onto, but the poor old co-pilot can get bounced around quite a bit. This is where Seafarer has also done its homework in building seats that not only offer lateral support but are comfortably padded at the same time.

The rear lounge in the Venus adds a touch of luxury and is more than just a padded benchseat. The shape contours around the corners so you can comfortably lean back, snuggle in and relax! There is enough room for three adults to lounge, and a folding benchseat is fitted as standard.

All Seafarer's upholstery is done in-house, which goes a long way to ensuring a constant high standard of workmanship.

In fact, Seafarer prefers to do its own complete factory fit-ups including all the stainless steel work and engine fitting.

Another positive side for the customer is less delay as the finished product is supplied directly to the dealer ready to go.

There is a very good custom facility at the Seafarer factory too, so there's plenty of scope to have your boat optioned to personal preference with a host of goodies.

The in-shop fit-up even goes as far as supplying the 'right' trailer for the boat, aiding efficient launching and retrieval and the correct on-the-road support. Of course, if you choose a Seafarer trailer the hull warranty is extended by four years.

FAMILY FAVOURITE
Enough of the generalities - though derived from the V-Sea, the Venus is in many ways quite a different craft.

The internal cabin of the Venus has a friendly open layout with twin 1.8m V-berths and the standard issue centre insert to make one big bunk. The cushions here are tastefully upholstered, as are the internal sidepockets.

Entry into this area is essentially unrestricted with no bulkhead between the helm area and the cabin.

As the cabin top runs full width to the gunwales, the cabin area must be used to reach the anchor well, so the easy access is a plus. I'm sure Seafarer's excellent in-house service could provide clip-in cabin curtaining if an owner requires it.

There is no shortage of room in the rope locker and a small extended bowsprit makes anchor retrieval easy, keeping the anchor clear of the first class gelcoat finish on the hull.

At the opposite end of the boat you will find corner storage lockers in the transom. Often used as livebait tanks, the internal corners have been rounded to make it a little easier to keep the livebaits alive!

Over the transom, small but adequate duckboards are fitted either side of the outboard pod for dry and wet entry in and out of the boat.

This pod area is where Seafarer has made major changes to its hulls. The flush-mount pod follows the lines of the hull, providing additional performance, buoyancy and handling. So efficient were these new pod arrangements that the whole range now features the flush-mount pod and other manufacturers have followed suit.

When you go for a run in bumpy conditions you soon appreciate the soft ride the Venus/V-Sea hull delivers. It appears the additional weight of the new deck has enhanced how the boat sits in the water.

Those used to back-jarring trips in a bit of chop will enjoy the smoother ride. Aside from this, I noticed how easily the boats slip onto the plane. There is no feeling of being bogged down before you get up and go, or falling back down into a hole when you back off the throttle.

I can't describe driving this rig as anything but effortless. Of course, this ease of handling adds immensely to the joy of boating - particularly for families where everyone gets a kick out of driving.

TRIED AND TRUE
Part of the benefit of the factory pre-rigging option is that Seafarer can test various engines and props on its craft and deliver a package it knows is going to work. No longer is this task left up to the dealer or new owner to complete via trial and error. Proof of this attention to detail is the fact that stainless steel props are fitted to all pre-rigged Seafarers for improved acceleration, performance and efficiency.

Our testboat was powered by a V-four 90hp Evinrude (non-FICHT) outboard, delivering a top speed of just over 40kt. This is more than enough speed for a boat of this size and there was also adequate power to pull a couple of (smaller) skiers up out of the water.

The boat accelerates to its top speed very quickly which is a definite advantage for watertoy enthusiasts. On the opposite end of the scale, slow planing speeds can be maintained as low as 3000rpm. This ensures comfortable travelling in choppy conditions.

This performance is aided by the fact that as mentioned above, transition on and off the plane is seamless - unusual for a boat this size.

While the 90 provides an exciting ride, the average family boatie would probably find a 70hp outboard more than adequate. The larger mill is recommended if you're travelling further afield or if you plan to drag a few people behind. You might want to supplement the standard 80lt underfloor tank, however.

In summary, the layout, finish and performance of the Seafarer Venus and its fishing-friendly brother, the V-Sea, are certainly among the best in the business.

You'd be hard pressed to find a bad word written about these boats... And you certainly won't find it here.