Tournament 1750

LIKES
-Cheap to power and a good value boat for the price

DISLIKES
-Rear lounge seat not removable, and when not in use contacts the deck and no ‘foot under’ capabilities will annoy anglers. A short fence forward of fuel tank plumbing would prevent damage to fittings from sliding items on deck.

-Livebait tank lids should open in the opposite direction.

-Run-out or backlash at propeller evident when idling in gear. A change in pitch should fix this.

OVERVIEW

- Horsepower has room to move
It has been four years since Mustang Boats were rebranded by Tournament Pleasure Boats. What was ostensibly a good boat to begin with, has had a few hull changes for the better. 

The 1750 is a half-cab craft and as tested, was fitted with a 90hp ETEC engine which produced acceptable performance with two adults on board. Should you need more power for carrying a heavier payload there is plenty of room to move with a maximum recommended horse power rating of 130.

In our current economically strained climate, the purchase of a value-for-money boat and running costs of such a low horsepower powerplant makes this boat an attractive proposition.

With not a hint of timber in these boats, the stringer system consists of a fibreglass mould that's glassed into the hull and then foam-filled for further strength.

The bimini extension was one of them and another, the rocket launcher. The bunk infill and privacy screen were also extra, the latter to be employed should you have a portable toilet in the cabin.

Remove those options from the equation and you may acquire the boat, motor and trailer package with rego and basic safety gear for just $39,100.

LAYOUT AND ACCOMMODATION
-fishing potential
There’s a lot of fishing potential at the transom of this boat. It has two livebait wells fitted, though not plumbed, in the transom bulkhead. They are large and the obvious place to hinge the lids is on the longest edge but that positioning has the lids opening into the cockpit necessitating one to work over their opened height. It would be more practical to have them hinged on the aft edge so they open toward the stern.

While standing at the transom the non-removable rear lounge base, when collapsed, touches the carpeted deck. This prevents the feet from tucking underneath to get a good balance when rocking and rolling at sea. It would be advantageous to shorten the front edge of the lounge base or perhaps put an unhitching device at the hinge so it may be removed altogether when the boat transitions from family fun to full-on fishing.

 Under this bulkhead the plumbing for the fuel tank can be seen rising from the bilge. The risers are aluminium pipes which may be prone to damage should something low and heavy be sliding around the deck and find its way under the bulkhead. A short fence in front of this plumbing would also be a good idea. After market, it need only be a length of 50mm aluminium angle sika-flexed to the fibreglass deck.

 Ample padded side pockets run the length of the cockpit and they feature padded fascias. Both are situated high off the deck for feet-under access.

 At the helm, both skipper and passenger are supported on comfortable pedestal seats and between them there is easy access into the half cabin.

Before we go there though, the helm layout is quite Spartan with dial gauges for the ETEC fitted into the top brow of the dash while the flat fascia below will one day house an electronics cabinet up to a screen size of around eight inches. A pair of five-inch screens would flush mount here, side by side.

Overhead, the bimini cover is larger than we usually see on this size boat with it extending well back over the cockpit deck. There would be no reason a set of clears could not be fitted to this bimini and the alloy frame surrounding the wrap around perspex windscreen.

 A rocket launcher will stow four rods while the gunwales will hold another two.

There is a good expanse of flat area atop the dash in front of the passenger to store gear on a trip.

Stepping down into the half cab a person of about 180cm will have their head touching the roof. The leg well is ample and the usual stowage is found under the bunk cushions. An infill over the leg well will complete the bed for two medium-sized folk, at a squeeze.

 The most-forward cushion, when removed reveals a raised platform on which the crew may stand when working the ground tackle through the clear hatch, opened in the cabin roof. The anchor well will hold enough ground tackle for coastal fishing in most areas and there is a standard fit of a fixed bow roller and split cleat. The hatch closes tight with no apparent rattles when underway.

MECHANICAL AND HULL
- neatly done!
Hydraulic steering is standard fit on all Tournament Boats and that on the 1750 did the job nicely.

Finish to the fibreglass on the test boat was good with no blemishes and the fit out was neatly done. Short boarding platforms form part of the transom mould and a telescoping fold down ladder sits perpendicular to the hull when deployed.

 Add some more payload such as full fuel tank, ice boxes and fishing tackle and another body or two and it may be left wanting power wise. Having said that, if you are a light weight and travel that way also, you could get away with a 75hp ETEC.

The hull displayed excellent stability dead in the water and occupants moving about did not phase its balance at all.

Manoeuvrability was also good and riding over other boat’s wash showed the hull to be a soft performer in that respect; in fact noticeably softer than most of this calibre.

With no speedometer or gps to rely on we hit full throttle at 5,800rpm and estimated top speed at just over 60km/h. Once on the plane the 90hp ETEC displayed good torque performance throughout the throttle range.

 This boat presents as an economical package for first time boaters or those that have been-there-done-that and are downsizing.

 With a few refinements to the rear lounge and livebait tank lids you will have the basis for a great little fishing and family fun boat for the coast and lakes.

 RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.5/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.3/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.2/5.0
On the water Performance: 4.5/5.0
Value for money: 4.8/5.0
X-factor: 4.1/5.0

SPECIFICATIONS