TMA 27R Leisure Boat

Both models are built over an ultra deep vee monohull originally designed in the US and associated with a number of famous marques. That’s about where the similarities between the two boats end however, as the Fisherman model has a walkaround cabin layout and is designed for offshore sport fishing. The TMA 27R has a centre console design and an interior that is set up for day boating on the bay or harbour – though the boat does have the pedigree to run long distances offshore.

The TMA 27R we tested was fitted with everything that opens and shuts, and then some. The flyer/leaflet Tailored Marine hands out at boat shows doesn’t list any options because just about everything you need is included as part of the standard inventory.

Some, but not all of the standard equipment includes a 416-litre underfloor fuel tank, 120-litre water tank, bow seating surround with removable cocktail table, two automatic bilge pumps, hydraulic steering, canvas T-Top with anodised alloy frame, electric toilet with 27-litre holding tank, fresh and saltwater deck wash/shower, pressure fresh-water system with sink in head compartment, twin batteries with isolator switch, and a massive rear boarding platform with ladder.

The TMA 27R is available with outboard and sterndrive power. The test rig was fitted with a 300hp Volvo Penta 5.7GXiE DPS V8 petrol sterndrive motor coupled to a Volvo F5 Duoprop drive leg.

Packaged with a Dunbier aluminium tandem-axle trailer (with electric hydraulic break-away brakes) the test rig is priced from $128,600 – and this is pretty good value given the number of standard inclusions.

As tested, with options which include a Humminbird depth sounder/chart plotter, VHF radio, and high-end stereo system, the TMA 27R is priced at $134,632.

The console unit is large and there is a lot of flat panel dash space for flush fitting a depth sounder, radios and GPS plotters.

The design of the console has the steering wheel positioned well over to the starboard side so that two people can sit at the helm. If the steering wheel was dead centre, then there wouldn’t be enough space for a passenger to sit beside the skipper on the two-person width seat box (with reversible back-rest).

It’s a logical set-up as it makes the most of the available space and allows two people to sit at the helm sheltered behind the console. The only downside is that the engine throttle needs to be located to the left of the steering wheel. If you’ve never driven a boat before, then a port side throttle box would not be an issue, but it does take a little adjusting to if you’ve spent much of your boating life using your right hand to operate the throttle lever.

To facilitate the installation of the steering, throttle box and electronics, the console has been cleverly designed so that the entire front fascia can be folded backward to provide complete and unhindered access to the wiring. Three clips on the top of the fascia are simply unlatched and the whole top of the console rotates backward, away from the main console bulkhead.

More innovation can be found under the console. As noted earlier, the TMA design team has managed to build a spacious head compartment under the console, running down into the vee of the hull. The compartment has an electric toilet with holding tank and sink with freshwater tap.

Getting down into the head compartment from the starboard side of the console requires a bit of dexterity, but there is a surprising amount of move-about space within the compartment itself.

Moving forward now, one of the key features of the TMR 27R is the large wrap-around lounge up in the bow. There is seating for about five people in this forward lounge area, and a seat for a sixth adult in front of the console.

The seats and back-rests are all nicely padded and upholstered in a hard-wearing vinyl for comfort and durability.

Storage lockers abound, and a removable cocktail table slots into the floor in the appropriate location.

For family day boating the forward seating layout is ideal. As an angler at heart however, I do lament the absence of a casting deck. I believe the forward layout of this boat would be more versatile if the seating/lounge area could be converted into an elevated casting deck.

I was also surprised by the absence of a bow roller. The anchor locker is reasonable in size, and there are pop-up cleats on each side of the bow to tie-off the anchor or mooring lines - but no bow roller.

Moving aft, much of the rear cockpit in the TMA 27R is taken up by the sterndrive engine box – although this space has been used to create additional seating.

The two big batteries included with the boat are located in lockers beside the engine box, in each of the transom corners.

Further aft is a massive rear boarding platform that has been added to the main hull, extending the length of the boat. A boarding ladder folds out from the starboard side of this rear platform to make it easier for a swimmer to board the boat from the water.

It was also reasonably dry inshore and much more stable than I had expected. It was also a little more stable than the outboard powered TMA 25 Fishermen we tested previously because the test package sat lower down in the water due to the added weight of the petrol sterndrive power-plant.

The engine weight was no hindrance to performance however, as we clocked a top speed of a 38 knots in conditions that were less than ideal. Around 40 knots would be likely in calm water with the drive-leg trimmed out and the boat skimming along on its hindquarters.

To drive, the TMA 27R is good fun. It’s quick in a straight line, and for a big boat, quite agile through the corners. It banks heavily through sharp turns (like all deep vees) but the hull hangs on well and there was no cavitation.

With regard to manoeuvrability, a boat the size of the TMA 27R can’t be likened to a high performance ski boat, but it is certainly capable of towing social skiers and wake boarders, and pulling the kids on tubes, etc.

Does it work though? Centre console boats are generally regarded as fishing rigs, and work best in this application. But there are exceptions and I think the TMA 27R is one of those. When you take onboard the excellent handling, ride and performance of the hull, the large amount of seating, the enclosed, private head compartment, the storage space and interior move-about room, then you come to realise the TMA 27R has most of the boxes ticked for this style of craft.