Tabs Boats Bullshark P420

Name: Tabs Boats Bullshark P420
Brand: TABS

With a hull that is strong enough to take a real pounding if that's your inclination, this boat is purpose built for some serious estuary sport fishing and will be right at home on big rivers and lakes.

LIKES

- Very tough for its size

DISLIKES

- Its true potential could not be put to the test due to the engine fit up.

OVERVIEW

- This little ripper won't disappoint

With a dry weight of 250kg this dinghy is far from being a car-topper due to its general hull build quality and the construction of the deck components. It would cave in the roof and loading rack of most vehicles so it is marketed as a 4.2m salt water punt trailer boat and fits that bill nicely.

It’s layout is such that it could be tricked up into a great little estuary sportfishing boat and still able to be towed by a four cylinder vehicle. When stability is what you are after when running around the gunwales flicking lures at fish, the Bullshark has got it; you won’t be disappointed.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

- Wrong motor spoils the day

This boat has a retail price of $12,990 inclusive of a 30-hp two stroke motor and trailer. As reviewed though, it was fitted with an obsolete Johnson 25-hp four-stroke engine (out of convenience for a short-notice test) which was mediocre in performance to say the least.

It comes standard with two seats and four seating positions which are well thought out when it comes to controlling list and bow attitude

LAYOUT

- Built to fish

The layout will well suit the sport fisher chasing things piscatorial and crustaceans in the estuaries, rivers and lakes. It has a large forward casting deck that occupies nearly half of the space inside the gunwales and the carpet overlay sits about 100mm below the coamings providing a foot barrier when moving about the edges.

Most of the area below the casting deck is usable hatch space. A wide one at the front is purpose-built for the ground tackle while a longitudinal hatch runs aft from here down each side of centre.

A section in between is supported by substructure and a swivel seat pedestal base is installed here.

In the aft of each of these two compartments batteries may be stowed which is a sensible layout, keeping dead weight well aft making for an improved bow attitude during hole shot and on the plane.

A central hatch running from the seat base aft to the casting deck bulkhead is also longitudinal in design and exposes the live bait/fish tank. This is another simple but sensible design minimising port to starboard rock and roll (which you get when having water tanks running abeam). This could only be alleviated with the inclusion of baffles which would clutter this purpose built tank.

A brow protruding from the port side of the bow point is designed to mount an electric motor for quiet cruising amongst the structures.

Down in the cockpit are three seat bases inserted into the deck which is carpeted throughout with its edges tucked under flanges which form part of the rib system. Should there be any warping due to ongoing moisture in the elements, these plates keep the deck flat as it cycles through dampness and dry.
That for the rear passenger seat is set forward enough for the engine tiller handle to swing full arc uninhibited and both skipper and passenger here have a comfortable grab rail on the gunwale.

A short casting deck behind the seating is raised and rebated centrally to allow the engine full tilt.

Each side of the rebate the deck is removable to allow stowage of one or more fuel tote tanks and, when reinstalled, the hatch covers fit snug.

A plastic rod holder is installed handy to the two aft seats and a large side pocket is featured each side of the boat, bridging the forward and aft casting deck bulkheads.

HULL

- A minor trade-off

This hull could be best described as a semi V-nosed punt and features five rib pressings each side of the keel line. The chines run well forward before rising in the forequarters which gives the hull big shoulders up front for improved stability when moving around on the foredeck. That extra flat hull in those parts also allows for easier hole shot with less horsepower though the downside to this is that the ride may well become a little hard when traversing short sharp chop. Unfortunately you can’t have it both ways.

The bottom sides are constructed of 3.0mm alloy and the topsides 2.5 which is generous given the small stature of this boat which is all the more tougher for it.

ON THE WATER

- Will provide years of service

As mentioned earlier the Bullshark was fitted with an obsolete 25hp four stroke motor which did not do the boat justice. Initially set too deep on the transom, water ingress into the engine well was remedied with a piece of driftwood that raised it about 25mm. From there its performance was somewhat elevated but with the engine power output more like that of a poor running two stroke there was definite room for improvement.

This boat is priced with a 30hp two stroke which should make it boogie if fitted and a recommended maximum of 50hp would no doubt be mind boggling. As it was though a guess of the top end speed of the hull at WOT was around 50km/h.

Hulls as flat as the Bullshark give optimum stability when dead in the water, anchored or drifting as it did here and the attitude when cornering also remains level, even at speed in hard turns. There was no evidence of untoward spray and the hull weight certainly toned down any hard bumps going over boat wash on what was a calm day on the Broadwater down on the Gold Coast.

No frills here, just a good, straight, honest boat built tough enough to provide years of service and at an attractive price.

RATINGS

Overall rating: 4.2/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 3.8/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.1/5.0
On the water Performance: 4.0/5.0
Value for money: 4.2/5.0
X-factor: 3.6/5.0

COMPARABLE BOATS

Quintrex Hornet Trophy

Specifications

Price: $12,990
LOA: 4.2m
Beam: 1.87m
Weight: 250kg hull only
Engine: Johnson 25hp four-stroke (obsolete model)
Recommended hp: 30hp two-stroke
Maximum transom engine weight: 120kg
Weight 250kg dry

Supplied by

Tabs/Seascape
Telephone (07) 5594 6333
Email: sales@tabsboats.com.au
Website: www.tabsboats.com.au

Read the latest Boatsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the Boatsales Network's mobile site. Or download the all-new App.

Tabs Boats Bullshark P420

Tags