Ten top side-console tinnies Review

OVERVIEW
In recent years we've seen the side-console helm configuration become increasingly popular on small pressed and plate-alloy boats. Small boat anglers are now foregoing the basic tiller-steer outboard option, and the more traditional centre-console layout, in favour of an offset side console.

Tiller-steel outboards still dominate open boats under 4.0m in length but, once you get above 4.2m, most anglers and boaters are now opting for the side-console helm configuration for sheltered waters and nearshore applications.

We would also suggest that side-console boats are now more popular, and sold in greater numbers, than centre-console craft – at least with alloy boats up to 5.3m in length.

The side-console layout is essentially a modern adaptation of the centre-console. Instead of being situated in the cockpit centre, the helm console, steering wheel and controls are located over on one side of the boat (normally to starboard), hard up against the gunwale.

To my way of thinking, the side-console configuration provides the best fishing layout for small boats. It is particularly well suited to drift fishing, bearing in mind that for this style of fishing you are normally restricted to fishing over one side of the boat anyway. With the helm console situated to starboard, there is plenty of space to fish over the port side.

The side-console configuration is also very good for trolling, fishing at anchor, or lure casting.

Disadvantages of the layout? A few. Perhaps the most serious is that it doesn't work as well if you normally fish alone. Small boats are very weight sensitive, so when you drive a side-console boat from an offset, starboard side position, the boat is likely to list or lean in that direction when it is underway.

However, if you regularly fish two-up it's no big deal, because your buddy can balance up the boat by sitting opposite you. Alternatively, you can stow all your fishing gear on the side opposite the helm console to offset your own weight.

The side console is an excellent choice for vee-nose boats, bass and barra tournament boats, multi-hulls, and vee-bottomed boats in the 4.2 to 5.3m size range. Like the centre console, the side-console layout offers anglers most of the cockpit fishing and storage space of a tiller-steer, open boat – but with the comfort of a proper driving position and steering wheel.

10 TOP OPTIONS
Most of Australia's mainstream alloy boat manufacturers produce half-a-dozen or more side-console boats. Some brands offer a side console only with a smooth water vee-nose barra boat hull. Others have side consoles available with differing hull bottom shapes suited to everything from impoundment tournament fishing through to general-purpose coastal boating and fishing.

During the past year or so we have seen and tested plenty of side-console boats. Unsurprisingly, nearly all have been small to mid-size boats made from pressed or plate aluminium. From this group we have plucked out 10 stand-out models to re-examine here.

The boats are listed in alphabetical order, commencing with another look at one of our most recently tested boats, the Formosa 480 Tomahawk Classic SC.

FORMOSA 480 TOMAHAWK CLASSIC SC
One of Formosa's most popular fishing models is the Formosa 480 Tomahawk Classic SC. This production plate-alloy boat (with 4mm hull and topsides) has a typical inshore/coastal fishing interior layout with an elevated casting deck forward (optioned to your preferred height), coupled with a deep, safe rear cockpit with high freeboard and wide, fully welded side coamings.

Key features include a moderate-sized console helm station with acrylic windscreen, marine carpet throughout (including the anchor well), dual lift-out pedestal helm chairs (with four floor sockets), elevated side pockets, rear battery and storage platforms, transom boarding platforms and ladder.

On the water the 480 Tomahawk runs to 34.6 knots with a Suzuki 100hp four-stroke on the transom. The boat is also easy to drive, remarkably stable, dry and comfortable in choppy water.

More on the Formosa 480 Tomahawk Classic SC here

HORIZON 438 STRYKER XPF SC
Launched in 2016, Horizon's Stryker range of deluxe vee-bottom boats are available in 4.38m, 4.54m, and 4.74m model sizes and with tiller-steer and side-console layouts. All models have flat floors, wide coamings, carpeted casting decks and plenty of storage.

The strongest selling model is the Stryker 438 XPF Side Console, which is available in either a standard or deluxe level of fit-out. Our test boat was the latter, and it came superbly equipped with a plumbed live bait tank, underfloor kill tank, deluxe side console, two very comfortable bucket chairs with fast-back-style transom with outboard splash well, and rear boarding platforms.

The 438 Stryker has a pressed-alloy vee hull design with wide, reverse chines and a variable vee shape. Horizon has called this the 'Hydrolift' hull, and it certainly does its job of providing a decent level of ride comfort with stability and easy planing.

The Horizon 438 Stryker is rated for a single longshaft outboard between 30 and 50hp – and runs to a top speed of 28.5 knots with a wonderfully smooth Yamaha 50hp four-stroke outboard.

More on the Horizon 438 Stryker XPF SC here

HORIZON 515 NORTHERNER
Our full test on the Horizon 515 Northerner is yet to be published, but here's a sneak peek at this inshore/coastal-capable side-console pressed-alloy fishing boat.

The Northerner series has been a mainstay of the Horizon boat range for many years. The boats are available in 485, 515 and 540 model sizes and with lots of standard features and equipment – including carpeted plywood floors and casting deck, extruded welded side decks, bow trolling motor plate, cockpit side pockets, and a full height, fast-back-style transom with tread-plate boarding platforms and ladder.

The boats are built with a 4mm hull bottom and transom and smooth 3mm topsides, and combined with a matrix of sub-floor cross ribs for strength and rigidity.

Our 515 Northerner test boat was optioned with a cool-looking vinyl hull wrap and rigged with a Yamaha 115hp four-stroke outboard for a top speed of 35.3 knots.

On the water the heavy duty 4mm hull combines with a fine entry forward and moderate vee aft to provide a good quality ride with ample stability at rest.

MORNINGSTAR ANGLER 498A
Along with Morningstar's three other models, the 498 Angler is manufactured in Taiwan using the latest stretch form pressing technology combined with automated robotic engineering.

The advanced construction technique has given rise to a hull shape with the complex curves and angles you normally find only on moulded fibreglass hulls. The variable (rather than constant) deadrise, concave shape gives the hull a surprisingly comfortable ride with good stability at rest.

Internally, however, the Morningstar differs little to locally made craft. Features include a 3mm tread-plate alloy forward casting deck and rear cockpit (glued/bonded to the hull sides), compact side-console helm station, provision for an electric trolling motor and battery, 60L sub-floor fuel tank and a cockpit drainage system for hosing/cleaning out the boat after use.

The Angler 498A Side Console is an excellent small fishing rig. It looks good, and combines light weight with a solid structure, a practical layout and 30-knot performance from a Yamaha 70hp four-stroke outboard.

More on the Morningstar Angler 498A here

QUINTREX 470 STEALTH HORNET
In 2017 Quintrex added three new Stealth models to its hugely successful Hornet range. Available in 470, 510 and 530 model lengths, these deluxe-appointed lake, river and impoundment fishing rigs all have 4mm hull bottoms with 3mm topsides.

The boats are targeted at competition bass, barra and bream anglers and have features to suit – including a large forward casting platform with sub-floor live fish well, a bow trolling motor plate and battery tray, and a pickle-forked bow shape for extra storage.

Cleverly, each of the Stealth models has a low-set row of bucket seats in the centre of the boat, over which a hinged section of the rear casting deck can be folded to double the size of the rear fishing platform.

The 470 Stealth Hornet we tested was paired with an Evinrude E-TEC 60hp HO two-stroke outboard, which accelerated the smooth, stable-riding test boat to a top speed of 30 knots.

More on the Quintrex 470 Stealth Hornet here

QUINTREX 530 FRONTIER
One of five models in the innovative Quintrex Frontier range, the 530 Frontier is a smooth-riding, dry and stable side-console boat with the size, freeboard and versatility to fish rivers and streams as well as coastal offshore waters.

Like its siblings, the 530 Frontier is equipped with the remarkable new Quintrex Apex hull, which incorporates a concave, variable vee shape with substantial flare and a wide beam carried forward to a pickle-forked bow. This combination provides class-leading levels of ride comfort and handling.

The 530 Frontier is a premium boat with many standard features. They include a large, carpeted casting deck with safety gear storage lockers underneath, foredeck anchor well with hatch, VHF radio, transom corner live bait tank, underfloor fish box, moulded helm console, three comfy lift-out pedestal chairs, rear boarding ladder, a 98L sub-floor fuel tank, and more.

With a Suzuki 115hp outboard our test boat package achieved a top speed of 35 knots and cruised easily at 19.1 knots (3500rpm) for a fuel burn of 11.1 l/ph.

More on the Quintrex 530 Frontier here

SAVAGE 525 SCORPION SC
Savage is a household name in aluminium boats and this manufacturer has plenty of great side-console models on offer. One of the best is the 525 Scorpion SC, which is just the right size to fish open bays, harbours and coastal offshore waters.

The Savage 525 Scorpion SC is an attractive vee-bottom, pressed-aluminium open boat with smooth, “plate-look” 3.0mm topsides.

The moderate-vee Savage 'Ultra-lift' hull has a sharp entry vee shape at the bow for wave cutting, combined with a moderate vee aft, external keel, and wide, flattened chines at the stern to boost stability.

The Scorpion range is very well equipped straight out of the factory. Key features include the carpeted bow and stern casting decks, super-wide side coamings, compact side-console helm station, live bait tank, short bow and stern rails, cockpit side storage pockets, roto-moulded anchor well insert, and two folding swivel seats on removable pedestals bases.

Packaged with an Evinrude E-TEC 90hp two-stroke outboard, the Savage 525 Scorpion SC is a sporty performer, sprinting to a high top speed of 38 knots.

More on the Savage 525 Scorpion SC here

STACER 469 CROSSFIRE
The Stacer 469 Crossfire is an all-new boat featuring Stacer's superb new Revolution concave vee hull bottom shape, combined with high topsides and a deep cockpit with high freeboard. The Crossfire is designed as an all-rounder for bay, harbour and coastal offshore boating and fishing.

The Crossfire is available with a centre-console or side-console layout. The latter version is pictured here and will be tested in full in coming weeks.

The Stacer 469 Crossfire is the only boat examined here that is set up for family boating and fishing. Cleverly, there is a bowrider-style seating area up front which can be readily converted into a large, elevated casting platform with the additional of an infill board. Pile a heap of cushions on top and you then have a big double bed/sun lounge.

Other great features include super wide, all welded side coamings, an elevated rear storage shelf, and a transom corner live bait tank.

With an Evinrude 60hp E-TEC HO outboard, the 469 Crossfire achieves a top speed of 29 knots.

STACER 529 ASSAULT PRO
For competition bass, bream and barra anglers, Stacer has just launched the 2018 range of Assault Pro models, available in 469, 509 and 529 sizes. Like the Stacer Crossfire boats, the Assault Pros use the new soft-riding and stable Revolution hull bottom shape, but combined with a lower profile and much sleeker appearance.

The 529 Assault Pro we were able to trial recently is easily capable of handling coastal offshore seas, but is best suited to bay, lake and impoundment fishing. To that end, this impressive new boat has large (deck-level) bow and stern casting platforms, an electric trolling motor plate, loads of storage space, dual helm chairs, and a sleek, low-profile side-console helm station.

Key options include a second console on the port side, rod locker, and an 80L live fish well beneath the bow casting deck to suit catch-and-release fishing competitions.

Our test rig proved to be very fast, as it was fitted with the maximum power Evinrude E-TEC 150hp HO outboard. At wide open throttle the boat/engine combination attained a top speed just shy of 46 knots.

STESSL 485 APACHE PRO
Long-standing alloy boat manufacturer, Stessl Boats, has launched a new, mid-sized side-console boat called the Stessl 485 Apache Pro. This smooth-sided, full-featured new boat is just the right size to fit into your garage at home and to tow behind a small car or SUV.

Paired with Yamaha's all-new 75hp four-stroke outboard, the Stessl Apache Pro is a versatile, nimble (35-knot top speed), well-mannered bay and harbour fishing/family boat.

The boat is also nicely finished and outfitted. Standard gear includes a front casting deck with storage, wide, fully welded side decks, a broad side-console helm station, an alloy anchor well with tread-plate foredeck finish, two helm chairs with four seat/floor sockets, cockpit side pockets, fast-back-style transom, kill tank, a 60L underfloor fuel tank, and a 30L plumbed live bait tank.

With regard to handling and ride, the Stessl is a solid performer across the board. The shallow/moderate vee hull is very stable and well-mannered and the entry shape at the bow is sharp enough to soften out the bumps on the bay and harbour.