Seafarer Viking and Ventura

To many, a 5.5m boat is considered the perfect length. While big enough to accommodate a few beefy anglers for an offshore fishing trip, or mum and the kids on a relaxing day out, it is still small and economical enough to be launched, retrieved and used single-handed.

Even on glassy calm days, too many boats are left in the garage because their owners aren't confident enough to launch and retrieve them one-up. Or they need to invite half the footy team along to afford the fuel for the day!

This should not be the case with a 5.5m boat. New and improved trailers make launching a breeze and fuel efficiency of the modern day outboard is outstanding.

One boat manufacturer that has been meeting the demand for high quality fibreglass trailerboats since 1957 is Seafarer. The Queensland builder now has 14 models in its range from 5-6.8m, with cabin configurations and interior layouts to suit just about any form of powerboating. In addition, the huge list of optional extras offered by Seafarer enables each boat to be all but custom-built during manufacture.

A versatile size, 5.5m boats have been part of the Seafarer stable for many years. Two of the most popular of these are the Viking sportsfisherman and Ventura half-cabin.

The Viking, first released in 1979, has earned a reputation as one of the finest bluewater trailerboats ever built, and while it's had a facelift or two over the past two decades, it's reputation remains intact. In fact, when a secondhand Viking enters a dealer's yard, it is usually snapped up before the for sale sign even has time to dry.

The Ventura is also an important member of Seafarer's 5.5m family. Built on the Viking's tried and proven hull, the Ventura sees the cuddy replaced by a sleek half cabin. Several other refinements make the Ventura more appealing to the social and family boatie.

FISHERMEN'S VALHALLA
Seafarer has been marketing the Viking as a fishing boat since it's inception, so it's no surprise to see it appointed with features that would keep even the keenest of anglers happy. Being a keen angler himself, Seafarer managing director, Lindsay Fry, has applied his knowledge and years of customer feedback to make the Viking very fisherman-friendly.

The testboat was fitted with an Evinrude 115hp FICHT outboard. The V-four powerplant matched the Viking nicely and the new FICHT engines certainly are a pleasure to use without the smoke and noise usually associated with standard two-stroke outboards.

Cruising up the Nerang River, the Viking felt very comfortable sitting on 5000 revs. At those revs with full trim we were sitting on 54kmh via the GPS. Around 45kmh is probably a more suitable cruise speed which would bring the revs down to a more economical level. Pedal to the metal saw us pull 5800 revs and 65kmh.

The FICHT engines are reportedly very economical and across a duty cycle. Indeed comparisons show at least a 25% reduction in fuel consumption opposed to standard two-strokes.

After the obligatory photo shoot we blasted offshore through the Southport Seaway to an uncharacteristically kind South Pacific Ocean. The Viking's deep-V hull sliced through the ocean swells and although conditions were very favourable, it gave me a feeling of solidity and integrity with each landing. Tight turns were performed with ease, although I reckon hydraulic steering wouldn't go astray.

Even with full trim, the Viking turned precisely with little or no cavitation.

Manoeuvrability was good with the boat turning in its own length. I backed up hard into the prevailing swell and did manage to get some splashing over the transom and into the cockpit.

In any case, I wouldn't recommend this as standard practice. If the boat was to be used for sportsfishing and chasing a fish was necessary, then it would be much better to have the angler stand on one side of the boat and drive forward on the fish rather than back up.

The standard fuel tank on the Viking carries 130lt. If long-range or overnight trips are on the agenda I would recommend the optional 160lt tank.

Like all Seafarers the finish on the Viking is excellent and the fittings first-class. Standard features include a moulded bowsprit with roller and cross bollard, self-draining anchor well with lockable hatch, wraparound windscreen with heavy-duty aluminium frame and stainless steel grabrail. Also included are cabin bunks with cushions and storage below, two pedestal bucket seats, recessed stainless steel grabrails and cleats, stainless steel rodholders, rear livebait well and more.

The testboat was fitted with a number of optional extras including, Lowrance X65 sounder with 20° through-hull transducer, Lowrance Global Nav 310 GPS, stainless steel bowrail, padded cockpit coamings, split rear bench seat, bimini with fold down stainless steel targa and rocket launcher, stainless steel propeller and a few other extras. As mentioned, Seafarer's list of optional extras is as long as your arm, which makes customising your new boat prior to delivery a breeze.

NOTHING VENTURED...
Built on the same hull as the Viking, the Ventura we tested was also fitted with a 115hp Evinrude FICHT outboard.

Subsequently, the performance of the two boats was almost identical. Though I managed to pull and an extra knot from the Ventura at top speed, due to the fact that the Viking was fitted with a bimini which pulled it up just a tad.

As the Ventura is designed more for social and family boating than fishing, there are a few creature comforts onboard which were omitted from the Viking's set-up.

My favourite option by far was the helm and passenger seats, fitted with suspension. Now anyone who has driven a small boat offshore knows that you might as well not have seats as you very rarely get to sit down. However with the suspension seats it was like landing on a cushion of air as we jumped cruisers' wakes at full speed. The seats can also be adjusted up and down and fore and aft.

Another option which made life somewhat easier on the Ventura was the installation of hydraulic steering. Tight turns were a one-finger operation with the hydraulics on the job.

Although normally choosing to fit Lowrance electronics, Fry is giving Hummingbird a whirl on the test Ventura and has flush-mounted a NS25 sonar GPS chartplotter with a 20° shoot-through transducer.

The Ventura looks almost too nice to take fishing with the cockpit fully carpeted and featuring a deluxe wraparound lounge, padded cockpit coamings, and upholstered sidepockets.

The large access area to the cabin should prevent a few bumped heads - an occupational hazard when testing half-cabins. Once inside you'll find a pleasantly upholstered V-berth with fill-in cushion, cabin windows and a very large forward hatch to access the bowsprit and anchor locker. There is provision between the V-berths to install a Porta Potty if required. The testboat was also fitted with a false bulkhead which incorporated a zip-up door, providing privacy in the cabin if needed. The false bulkhead can be conveniently rolled up or removed when not required.

The Ventura is a beautifully appointed boat and goes a long way towards making pleasure boating what it is meant to be - a pleasure!

TRAILERBOAT BENCHMARK
As if designing top quality fibreglass boats wasn't enough, Fry decided he could design a better trailer and he's done just that. Seafarer has teamed up with Tinka Trailers to produce a trailer that is specifically designed for each Seafarer boat.

Christened the Seafarer Tinka Classic, classic is exactly what they are. Watching the Seafarer boys launch and retrieve the Viking and Ventura in a matter of seconds, put my faith back in trailerboating.

The trailers are available in both single axle and tandem designs and feature fully adjustable polyethylene rollers, a heavy-duty galvanised steel chassis, checkerplate mud guards, powder-coated alloy wheels, bearing buddies and waterproof trailer lights.

Seafarer is so confident in its new trailer design, it has extended the purchase warranty on every new Seafarer boat sold with a Classic trailer to five years.

This attention to detail is typical of Seafarer's commitment to the Aussie trailerboat market. Combined with excellent workmanship and design skills, I reckon we'll be using this company's trailerboats as benchmarks for some years to come...