Surtees 650 Game Fisher: Fishing Boat Review

Plate-aluminium boats are omnipresent, but the Surtees from NZ have more ingenuity than most. With a water-ballasted hull, hardtop for weather protection, plenty of hardcore fishing features, and a 175hp Yamaha on the tail,

OVERVIEW
- A great plate boat full of fishing potential and unique features
Surtees are the original water-ballasted plate-aluminium boats. They were developed and tested off the Whakatane Coast on the North Island of New Zealand in the Bay of Plenty.

The river bar at the local Kiwi proving ground is notorious. While not quite as confronting, we had a stiff southerly to contend with when we launched from Nudgee Creek boat ramp in Brisbane and headed into the fray and wind-swept Moreton Bay.

The local lore here is that 20 knots of wind will produce 1m+ chop and swell. The official forecast, saved on my phone, said 20-25 knots by midday and 1.5m seas.

This is what we endured from whoa to go, making for a good test of the 650 Game Fisher across more than 60km or 30-odd nautical miles of broken water.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Surtees, Yamaha and Northside Marine
The combination of Surtees, Yamaha and Northside Marine ensured our 650 Game Fisher was well set-up.

This boating scribe has tested boats with this Brisbane dealer for more than 30 years and embarked on many a Moreton Island run going right back to the Sportfish plate-alloy-boat days.

The other important thing here is the Yamaha engine tie-in. The Brisbane-based Yamaha team takes its sea trials and the published Performance Bulletins seriously. It had already done the prop testing.

With these big three players — Surtees, Yamaha and Northside — we were thrown the keys of race-ready rig that didn't disappoint.

The base price for the 650 Game Fisher with Yamaha F175XA on Redco ‘Surtees Special’ trailer with a Garmin GPSMAP 7410 touch display and chart is $84,696.

Our loaded test boat was a $106,018 drive-away rig with a lot of serious fishing kit.

The options included painted hull, walk-through transom with live-bait tank, canvas hardtop extension, bunk infill, flip-down rear bench seat, tubular rubber floor matting, Axis helm seat upgrade, Garmin autopilot ($3400), Lone Star anchor winch, excellent Esky with seat cushion, transom bait station, berley pot, cockpit rod racks, dual batteries, wash-down and pump, trim tabs and more.

In the five-boat Game Fisher range, Surtees has nailed its popular 650. This is a big boat with plenty of beam, rather than a stretched smaller model like some others in this size range.

There’s enough of a hardtop and enclosure along the helm sides for full weather protection; a decent cabin with infill for taking a kip or, if you’re keen, sleeping over so you’re first to the grounds (and think camping holidays around Fraser); plus a long uncluttered cockpit for game, sport and reef fishing.

When powering offshore with your fishing mates, there’s room for four to stand and hold rails within the general protection of the helm and hardtop. On the flat days, and when family boating, the twin helm buckets and optional flip-down transom lounge offer comfortable seating underway.

Within the big cockpit, we also liked the walkthrough transom with portside live bait tank, the central bait station with seven-drawer tackle box, the Esky with padded top under the co-pilot seat, and that foldaway bench seat with tubular floor matting underfoot.

There were extra rod holders, a washdown, and LED lights. The dual batteries for cranking and deep-cycle duties let you operate all your accessories at idle or while drift fishing.

The cabin has seated headroom and dry storage, with a simple zip curtain for privacy and furry front-runner lining. There’s the mandatory escape hatch, but with the Lone Star winch taking care of anchoring you won’t be passing through too often.

For your electronics, a dedicated flat dash platform lets you bracket-mount decent MFD screens, while the Yamaha digital Command Link gauge removes the clutter of analogue gauges and reports back with important info like engine data, fuel flow and range to go, etc.

Trim tabs, the big-ticket autopilot and VHF, plus handy USB chargers round out the useful helm station. Perhaps a big dash facia to accommodate flush-mounted 9in-12in screens would be an asset.

Flip-up bolsters on the seats help create more standing room at the helm, which is pretty much what I spent most of the day driving at 20-plus knots, while vision was very good.

At Moreton Island, when unloading the odd cast and paid out line on a trolling lure. The boat felt like a nice fishing platform. There’s good support from the gunwales, despite the low-profile hull that might suggest otherwise.

With rod storage for eight outfits in the overhead launcher, eight on deck in the clip-in racks, and three more on the cutting board, you can arm this boat to suit just about any fishing application.

Full marks for full-length side pockets, the decent live bait tank, and underfloor storage. But the padded deck Esky is the place for your fish and bait. Hopefully, we would score something.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Technical boats with a lot of design thought
Under CEO Andrew Dyck’s guidance, Surtees has been on the ascendency in recent years, jumping from about 400 to 500 boats annually, with a factory expansion, plasma cutters and spray booths, plus a 50-plus workforce on the go.

As part of the six-model Game Fisher range — which includes the 610, the new 700 we tested alongside, the 750 and 850 — this 650 is an easy tow and simple single-handed launch.

On its Redco trailer, the rig weighs about 1950kg. With a 2.39m beam, it’s straight down the highway to the fishway.

On the water, the 5mm alloy hull with 4mm sides and 20 degrees of deep-vee deadrise slices the waves, while the spray-deflection chines are super effective and even a tad noisy at times. There are underfloor buoyancy chambers, plus a 300lt or 300kg water ballast chamber.

At rest, the central hull chamber floods with water and the boat sits down deep with its chines well submerged for improved stability. Advance the throttles, it empties, and you’re up and away.

If you want to punch ugly headseas, you can lock in the water ballast and drive this boat harder still. We didn’t need to run the boat with its ballast, instead using the trim tabs to go pretty hard in any case.

While plenty of spray is pushed around, most of it is well outboard. As the hardtop creates an enclosed wheelhouse, you remain dry in all conditions including hard rain.

As touched on, vision is excellent, there are plenty of handholds, and you do feel safe aboard. After a day-long test, often beam-on to the sea, the 2000gph bilge pump was called on to send about 5lt of ambient water back overboard.

Access to the batteries, bilge and fuel filter are nice and direct under the flip-up rear lounge, while hydraulic steering adds to the ease of helming this boat.

The checker-plate floor welded to the hull and fully welded stringers with an alloy grid system combine to create a stiff boat with no rattles either.

There wasn’t a lot left wanting here except some fuel in the 200lt tank, the tackle that was now aboard, and a determination to reach Moreton Island, whose sandhills were calling like semaphores in the distance.

ON THE WATER
- A solid Moreton Bay test over a full and blustery day
The alarm rang at 4am in Sydney, I arrived at Brisbane Airport by 8am, we left the Nudgee Creek ramp by 10am and returned about 4pm. As luck would have it, the 20 knot southerly hit hard as we slipped the boats off their Redco trailers and fired-up the Yamaha outboards for this proper test or two.

The 650 Game Fisher is rated down to a 115hp, and a 150hp would work well for a saving of about $2800, but the lightweight 2.8L in-line four-cylinder 175hp Yamaha on test is the best. While it’s the maximum horsepower, it’s not over-gunned... or under-gunned and stressed.

The cruising groove is right in the 3500rpm sweet spot.

Spinning a 14.5in x 15in pitch three-blade stainless steel Reliance prop, with half fuel and two crew in calm conditions, gives 20-21 knots for a range of 185nm from 95 per cent of 200lt full fuel load. In modern terms, that’s 1.82km/lt, which is good going.

We cruised at exactly this setting, not due to the performance figures suggesting we do so, but due to our intuition and comfort. The 650 Game Fisher felt smooth and reassuring at 20 knots in the 20-25 knot winds. It’s also good to know the boat will scoot along and plane right down to 10 knots and a bit above 2500rpm if you have to punch complete rubbish.

Having made it to Moreton Bay, we ranged up the inside of the wind-blown lee shore and tried drifting for a while. The big cockpit and water-ballasted hull was appreciated when casting in the chop, not only to shore-up stability but to slow the drift rate a bit, too.  Still, you will need a sea anchor or drogue when drift fishing in wind in this style of alloy boat.

While the 300lt or 300kg of water ballast in the chamber can be retained via a flap to create a heavier boat when punching head seas, the fine entry of the deep-vee hull with trim tabs does a great job without the ballast. As we said above, the hardtop meant we didn’t cop a drop even while chomping it. There must have been Rain-X on the safety-glass windscreen because the spray just beaded away.

I kicked it back to 3000-3200pm for 15-17 knots soon after we turned for home, before adding some trim tab and going harder again. From idle, the 650 hull just glides up to planing speed, performs well through the rev range, and with the tabs you can keep it on a perfectly even keel in strong crosswinds, as we now had in deteriorating conditions.

On flat water, top speed is 36-37 knots, according to the official data. I’m not sure that we got there on the test day, but I did go hard with Nudgee Creek in sight, almost catching the 700 Game Fisher with 200hp Yamaha, and fairly flying at 28-30 knots at 4500-5000rpm fast cruise, which took some driving in the conditions.

Thankfully, the 650 Game Fisher just doesn't get offline — yee-ha! — and as testimony to the build quality there wasn’t anything rattling, not a hint of a windscreen leak, and the boat remained tidy. My iPhone was fully charged on the jack at the helm and completely dry. Mission accomplished. Tome for coffee.

Arriving back at the ramp some 12 hours after rolling out of bed, I felt pretty good. The Surtees have a certain motion brought about by their fine wave-carving bow. There’s a bit of stop-start, but there’s no pounding like you get on so many plate boats. It’s a much better ride and the 650 made an ordinary day enjoyable. I felt this way the next day, too.

VERDICT
- A premium plate boat and commensurate experience
Gone are the days when plate-fishing boats were rough and uncomfortable. This 650 Game Fisher looks and feels great on the water. It’s hard to argue with the combination of a deep-vee hull for hard running and water-ballast for stability when fishing.

In respect of workmanship, the Kiwis know how to make a plate boat and the finish will solicit family approval. There’s room in the cabin and on deck for trailerboat camping trips, comfort for a bay cruise, and no worries should it blow up.

But on the 650 Game Fisher we’re thinking long days chasing southern bluefin on the troll or snapper on the hook, running out to the Barrier Reef for reds, or cruising the Canyons for blue marlin. We’d most definitely follow the fish in this boat.

A plate boat of this size isn’t a handful for quick solo trips, towing long distances with the crew, refuelling and maintaining at the end of the weekend, and operating without undue burden. It’s just a sensible size for trailerboat fishing.

As the 650 Game Fisher slid up the trailer at the ramp, the Quick Hitch went “click,” and the diesel dual-cab idled away from the ramp with a clatter, I realised we’d lucked out on the fish. But I’d caught something else – an appreciation for these standout Surtees plate boats.

HIGHS
>> Terrific build quality, fit and finish
>> Serious fishing features and fit out
>> No plate-boat pounding
>> Added stability for water ballast
>> Full weather protection from the hardtop
>> Yamaha 175hp is the perfect match of power and performance

NOT SO MUCH
>> Not self draining (but a big bilge pump and top access all the same)
>> Low bow profile at trolling and displacement speeds

PERFORMANCE DATA

1000     8.10         3.05     2.66
1500    11.00        5.05     2.18
2000    13.25        8.70     1.52
2500    18.00       12.10    1.49
3000    29.15       16.25    1.79
3500    38.55       21.20    1.82
4000    45.50       26.45    1.72
4500    52.00       33.45    1.55
5000    58.30       46.50    1.25
5500    64.75       59.75    1.08
5700    67.80       63.45    1.07

Specifications: Surtees 650 Game Fisher
Price as Tested: Our loaded test boat was a $106,018 drive-away rig with the works including options such as painted hull, walk-through transom with live-bait tank, canvas hardtop extension, bunk infill, rear bench seat, tubular rubber floor matting, Axis helm seat upgrade, Garmin autopilot ($3400), Lone Star anchor winch, excellent Esky with seat cushion, bait station, berley pot, cockpit rod racks, dual batteries, wash-down and pump, trim tabs and more.
Priced From: $84,696 with 175hp Yamaha outboard on Redco drive-on trailer with Garmin GPSMap 7410 with chart
Overall Length: 6.50m
Beam: 2.375m
Hull: 5mm plate alloy, 4mm sides, 3mm cabin
Dry Weight: 890kg
Deadrise: 20 degrees
Water Ballast: 300lt
Max HP: 175hp
Fuel: 200lt
People: 6
Height on Trailer: 2995mm
Length on Trailer: 7770mm
On Road: About 1990kg as tested

Supplied by:
Northside Marine
2294 Sandgate Road
Boondall QLD 4034
Telephone: (07) 3265 8000
Website: www.nsmarine.com.au
Email: billh@nsmarine.com.au