Spotlight: Quintrex 430 Fishabout

The 4.57-metre length overall Quintrex 430 Fishabout is a package aimed at young families stepping into boating for the first time.

Rather than espousing bluewater ambitions, the Quintrex 430 Fishabout is designed to explore enclosed, well-protected waters that are safe for families, especially those with younger children.

What makes it a good family boat? First of all, the pressed aluminium Quintrex 430 Fishabout is light, meaning even when it is sitting on a trailer it can easily be towed by the average family car. 

At 2.14 metres across, the beam of the boat means it can easily slip into a normal-sized garage at home.

It also has a 55-litre underfloor fuel tank – unusual in this sized boat that would normally have a portable tote tank that tucks into the transom. That places the fuel well away from children, while the big tank capacity gives plenty of capacity for long days on the water.

Standard features on the Quintrex 430 Fishabout include a locking glovebox, a splashproof box for the battery, storage pockets down each side of the boat, comfy seats that slide fore and aft for the skipper and first mate, a rear bench for the other three people the boat can carry, and a lean-through dash with folding windscreen panel that provides easy access to the anchor well in the bow.

Other features include bow and stern rails, a boarding ladder, a painted hull, a bow roller, a ski pole holder that also doubles as a bait board mount, LED running lights and a cleat on the forepeak.

Quintrex has greatly simplified the buying process by creating a series of packages that bundle together the most requested optional equipment. These include the Captain’s Bundle of steering wheel and an upgrade from mechanical steering to more comfortable hydraulic steering, a Comfort Bundle with a bimini and clears and upgraded seats throughout, and a Fishing Bundle with berley bucket, cockpit lights, ski pole and cutting board, and a marine radio.

For those who like a few more comforts, options such as an electric anchor winch, bimini, windscreen grab handle, audio system, fishfinder and even travel covers are available.

The boat is available with outboard engines up to 60hp – if you plan on filling all the seats on the boat, asking for the maximum-rated outboard engine will be a clever move – and sitting on a single-axle trailer. 

Prices on boatsales start from around $30,000 for a basic Quintrex 430 Fishabout package to around $40,000 for a fully kitted-out boat.

Specifications
Model: Quintrex 430 Fishabout
Length: 4.57m
Beam: 2.14m
Alloy: 3.0mm (bottom/topsides/transom)
Weight: 407kg (hull only)
Engine: 60hp (max) longshaft
Engine weight: 128kg
Fuel: 55L
Passengers: 5