Southwind 770 Offshore

Although it's been around for years in the working world, the long boat form has only taken off in the recreational fishing sector relatively recently. Here it's found a market among keen fishos who are fitting them out for everything from record-breaking SWF to good old fashioned bottom-bashing.

Long a proponent of the concept, Southwind has targeted this burgeoning market with some success locally via its UB series. The newest addition to this range (in all but name) is a trailerable (7.70m-plus) centre console that expands on the theme by blending aspects of a conventional long boat with a thoroughly modern (and versatile) sportsboat.

Called the 770 Offshore, the craft is aimed four square at professional sportsfishing and dive charter operators in the local and South Pacific markets. Subsequent fitouts and versions will target long-range sport and gamefishing work. There's even talk of a serious centre-cab version.

As the majority of Australians are coastal dwellers, with ready access to open waters, it stands to reason that a big rig such as the 770 Offshore will have broad appeal. Not only does its optional 2C survey construction deem it suitable for commercial and charter work, its layout takes advantage of our greatest blessings -- superb fishing, great diving and a beautiful coastline to explore.

PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT
Having worked closely with Yamaha on the development of its Southwind UB520 sportsfishing rig, I was particularly keen to get behind the wheel of the 770.

And what better way is there to put a boat through its paces than to use it for what it was built for... Thus with very little arm twisting I found myself heading offshore on the Offshore for a day of fishing with the boys from Southwind and Yamaha Queensland - Stuart Wood, Cliff Arnold and Mick Sheradin. The venue was the (just for once) sunny Gold Coast - an ideal testing ground for just about any boat.

Queensland's reputation for perfect weather has taken a bashing this year with very few good days for us fishermen to head out wide. True to form, we were just a few miles offshore when a sou'westerly kicked in and brought with it near two metres of swell. We weren't heading out wide this day!

Instead we decided to head up the outside of Stradbroke Island where we were offered some protection from the wind. Despite the unfavourable conditions, the 770 presented no problems running with the sea and planing at around 3000rpm.

Yamaha's F100 four-stroke outboards are certainly making a name for themselves and the twin-rig married with the Southwind 770 only serves to reinforce their reputation for quiet, fuss-free operation.

The power to weight ratio of the coupled outboards is well-suited to this rig, with plenty of torque down low and a demonstrated ability to hold a constant speed in the bumpy conditions, without the need to constantly work the throttle.

The hull is rated to carry twin outboards to a total of 260hp and singles to around 250hp.

With the twin four-strokes a comfortable planing speed of around 21kt was achieved at 4000rpm, 27kt at 4500rpm and a top speed of over 38kt at 5900rpm.

As the test progressed the weather turned from bad to worse. Deciding to pull the pin and head back into the calmer water of the Broadwater was our only real option - by this stage the conditions were pretty average.

Nonetheless, such were the manners of the 770 that it was easy to use trim to set the bow up for a hard run into the sea, only slowing right down occasionally for those deep troughs which run close together.

I must admit I was relieved that we were not caught in these conditions in a smaller boat.

The hull of the 770 has a wide-shouldered flare in the bow which throws away a lot of the spray you will encounter in such conditions.

As the driver I was high and dry, with the big screen of the centre console affording me some protection. Like all centre consoles the crew on the windward side of the boat got a drenching. Not surprising considering the appaling conditions.

Of course, yours truly was held responsible for the crew's drenching. I expect to be sought out the next time that Stuart Wood is at the helm of a boat with me aboard!

On our boys' day out we did get the opportunity to throw out a few lures to some very shy longtail tuna. Fishing with four beefy anglers onboard, it was soon apparent just how stable this big offshore rig is when fishing or just moving about.

We trialled four anglers on the one side in the sloppy conditions and although the boat did dip a little, it was not enough to cause concern. Overall, it proved to be an exceptionally stable and roomy platform.

One look at the hull design with its deep 20° deadrise, 2.47m beam and generous reverse chines, and it is little wonder the boat offers such head-sea recovery and stability -- both at rest and on the go.

The boat is built around a moulded longitudinal grid system, and the transom uses a Klegecell closed cell foam core to completely eliminate structural timber.

Southwind undertook some unique testing when developing the 770 including the use of computer modelling and stress measurement to refine the final construction specifications.

The cockpit is deep throughout and is self-draining through scuppers set well clear of the waterline. Long-range travel is well within the scope of the 770 with twin 265lt fueltanks (a single is standard fitment) under the floor.

Coupled with a modest draft and the performance and economy of the F100 outboards, there are few jobs that this boat will not take in its stride -- from long coastal runs to fishing remote river systems or offshore reefs.

Weight distribution is good and would allow for the additional payload of scuba tanks and commercial size loads.

The layout of this first rig off the production line still required some tweaking. Set up as a broad-purpose platform, a number of practical options will see it better equipped for specific purposes such as sports and gamefishing. However, as it stands, if the 770 Offshore was to be used primarily for cargo handling or fishing, the current obstruction-free internal layout is ideal.

One outstanding feature of this boat is the amount of storage onboard, and the centre console is by no means the only large storage area on the boat.

Towards the bow is a two-tiered section with storage hatches below, afforded by the considerable width of the boat this far forward. The hatches form two ascending platforms leading to the foredeck and anchor well which doubles as a casting platform.

The lower platform is a seat with a large general-purpose storage space below, and this is backed by a chain/rope locker. Further storage is found below a seat set in the front of the console, then there is also the console storage space protected by acrylic doors.

Side pockets, with rod and pole racking, run the length of the boat with two large storage boxes at the transom. One of these is insulated and can be plumbed for livebait if required.

I wasn't particularly happy with the length of the rod/gaff storage available nor the positioning of the transom boxes. However, as mentioned, this rig is only the starting point of what will no doubt be a highly customised craft. In all likelihood, the set up of these boxes will be adjusted in production models to allow better access around the transom area.

As it stands the helm station offers abundant mounting space for gauges, switches and flush-mounted electronics, with dual throttles set on top close to the wheel. Radio boxes are suspended below the stainless targa top where they are easy to put your hands on and ensures they're out of the way and kept dry. The T-top also incorporates a six-rod rocket launcher.

Fuel filter/separators are located in hatches inset into the well sides, with a battery switch set up in the starboard sidepocket. Batteries are housed in the console where they are completely protected.

PERSONAL TOUCH
It is hard not to fall for this boat if you are a lover of big open fishing rigs, and if you have ever fitted up any boats of your own.

If you're like me, the old grey matter will be running overtime with an almost endless wishlist of options to give this rig your very own personal touch.

In fact, the only drawback that I found with the 770 is, ironically, one of its biggest attractions - its size. Make no mistake, this is a serious trailerboat - over 8.0m in length (overall) and around 2.9t on the trailer - before you fill those big fuel tanks up...

In other words you're going to need a big 4WD or light truck and a serious trailer to haul it from go to whoa.

Perhaps, I can convince Southwind to part with the 770 and the editor to hand over the keys of the BlueWater Suburban for a week or so.

Not sure where we'll go, but when we get there... Look out!