Tabs Southener

To give more practicality to anglers with this boat they have pared back the cabin 30cm on the previous Ocean Series models leaving it at 1.5m or the old five feet.

This has expanded the cockpit somewhat and in a boat of this size the small reduction in the cabin length is not going to be such a drama. With an infill, a single adult could still curl up there for a nap between the hot bites.

Gone too are the fluffy cabin linings that serious fishers tend not to fuss too much about but decent size stowage bins under the bunks there still prove invaluable to those spending a day or two on the water.

Seat box modules seen on previous Ocean Series boats have been replaced by pedestal posts which won’t please some but this is after, a budget project.

A less-expensive windscreen has been fitted in the form of a one piece acrylic wrap around type with an aluminium top edge. Its construction would prohibit the later inclusion of a bolt-on grab rail but the robust build of the dash area certainly would allow the installation of one if need be.

The difference is made up of the options of an upgraded Redco trailer, Lowrance depth sounder, VHF radio, bait rigging station, bimini top and rod holder, livebait tank and the installation of the second battery which was yet to take place on the reviewed boat although the box for it was installed.

The foot well is rebated below the level of the cockpit deck and head height is good; a person of around 180cm could sit here upright and not contact the cabin roof.

The rigidity in the forward section of the V-berth will allow one to more easily stand and access the anchor well through the acrylic roof hatch. A person with a large torso might find the dimensions of the hatch a little tight. With no helpers smaller in stature, one might want to look at something larger in this department. The anchor well is an open top affair and large enough for standard ground tackle for coastal fishing.

The usual surrounding pockets one sees in a cabin have also been axed in the name of the dollar but there are ample options that could be used here and one would be lure and gear bags screwed to the sides.

The dash top runs full width behind the windscreen and is broad enough to handle medium-sized electronic cabinets; perhaps up to eight inches.  Lowrance’s Elite 5 sat atop there looking lonely in the expanse.

The helm fascia would suit those that prefer flush-mounted units though as tested, the Yamaha instrumentation sat in the ideal position for an electronic cabinet; something that is easily addressed at the time of ordering. Another blank fascia formed part of the bulkhead in front of the passenger seat and would provide a good mounting area for protruding or recessed stowage units or entertainment systems.

Three-quarter length side pockets are installed each side and a personal pocket for both the skipper and the passenger next to their seating positions was located at the aft of the cuddy-cabin walls.

The helm area was sheltered from the elements by a canvas bimini top on a tubular alloy frame with plastic joints. A rocket-launcher style four-rod, rod rack was attached to the aft of the bimini frame as well and strength wise would be capable of holding four medium to light weight fishing outfits.

The coamings over the port and starboard gunwale were fitted with alloy rod holders, two aside and were wide enough to fit aftermarket fishing accessories such as out and down rigger bases. The coaming over the transom bulkhead was wider fore and aft and in the port corner a plumbed livebait tank was recessed and a bait rigging station was bolted down centrally. It was practical with a deep shelf fixed below the cutting table in which tools could sit reasonably securely when underway over rough water.

The rear lounge was removable when required and the padded backrest remained fixed to the inside of the coaming making for an ideal lean when fishing over the transom. The manufacturer has done a good job of getting the seat to fold up and go in under the coaming of the bulkhead. Of concern though was the full width flat bar reinforcing across the seat bottom that protruded and came into contact with the shins when the seat base is folded away. Not a comfortable way to fish but a piece of box section that was padded at the front edge, as a replacement, would solve the problem immediately.

The hull is constructed of 3mm bottom and topsides and the rib count has been doubled compared with the Ocean Series hulls. This effectively puts them at 350mm centres except where the 115-litre poly fuel tank is installed at which point the spacing is slightly wider.

Those ribs at the sides are top hat style whilst those under deck are box section, the latter less prone to spreading under heavy pounding on chop.

The carpeted deck is constructed of 12mm Armour Ply which is a fully-skinned marine product, and the void in the bilge has closed-cell polyurethane installed to qualify it as having basic flotation.

The deadrise at the transom of the Southener is 15 degrees widening to 21 amidships and 40 at the bow. This allowed the hull to come back to 13mph (21 km/h) and remain on the plane doing 3400rpm. WOT is 6100rpm with the speedometer registering 34mph (55km/h) which is a pretty tidy result considering the power-to-weight ratio.

We would hazard a guess that the fuel consumption results with this combination and its capabilities may well be very pleasing indeed.

The steering underway and when cornering at speed was as good as it is going to get in a mechanical system and those who hanker for hydraulic in this department would just have to accept this as is. It proved to be quite easy to push and pull when throwing the boat around in tight situations.

The weather on the day was on par with the seas; quite sedate and nothing of note to put this Tabs to the test. Taking it over large-boat wash proved it didn’t have any bad habits and there was no noticeable spray on the screen. Neither was there at the stern other than that generated by the transducer, proving the hull has got some clean lines underneath.

The Southener as reviewed is amazing value for money in the form of a tough boat with lots of aftermarket potential; definitely worthy of further investigation.