Trophy 1703 CC

There's a lot of luck in fishing but if you have the right tools it sure helps. The Trophy 1703 CC is a purpose designed fishing boat, and a good one at that, so there are no excuses for not bringing home supper when this is your weapon of choice.

To my way of thinking, the 1703 CC is pretty close to what I would like as a multi-purpose fishing boat. It has room at the back end to fish two in the traditional baited-line style, whereas the forward section has a raised platform suitable for lure or bass/bream fishing with an electric motor slung on the bow.

The design is ideal for light offshore work, as well as crawling along river banks, and with a LOA of 5.18m is just about the perfect trailerboat size for ease of handling.

The Trophy brand is closely aligned with the American Bayliner range and, as such, comes from one of the biggest boat building outfits in the world. They get their fundamentals right and then churn out the product.

HANDLING
The hull is fairly flat with just a 14-degree deadrise so stability is quite good. It will also handle a chop very well with minimal spray coming aboard when crossing the wind on Port Phillip Bay.

In fact, trimmed right, the little boat skimmed across a lumpy swell very well indeed and loved a bit of throttle. Unfortunately the speedo decided to have a day off and we couldn't get effective speeds but, nonetheless, the four-stroke 115hp Merc gave the boat ample power and pace. Without hydraulic steering, though, it was hard work on the arms and shoulders. It's an option I'd always have top of the list.

The deck is fully moulded with a nav light in the bow. I'd be moving that and fitting an after-market anchor carrying bowsprit as well as a Minn Kota electric motor.

Immediately behind the bow is a raised platform, about half-gunwale height, which can be used for additional seating (it has clip-on padding) or as a casting platform. Underneath is storage for jackets, as well as a separate molding for anchor and rope.

The wide gunwales are non-skid patterned all the way around with cleats either side of the bow and stern, and low grabrails amidships.

A small padded seat in front of the console has a removable 51lt Igloo tucked underneath. The padded backrest is on a panel which opens for access to wiring and a small storage area.

Coamings are only knee-high but padded in the cockpit section. Beneath that are rod storage racks with retaining elastic straps. The deck is full non-skid and self draining.

AT THE HELM
The centre console has a dash molding for a compass in front of the portside stainless steel five-spoke helm, as well as room either side of the centrally positioned controls for small electronics and radio which weren't fitted to the test boat. Instruments are centrally located and, although no trim gauge was fitted, there is space for one. It's certainly needed. A couple of moulded cup holders are handy.

The height of the Perspex screen is excellent when seated but only chest height when standing. It is surrounded by a stainless steel grabrail for when the going gets rough.

The double bench seat with reversible backrest is good and underneath is a fully plumbed livebait tank and twin storage boxes for lures.

I would have liked to have seen the transom designed to try and maximise interior space rather than have a fancy swayback arrangement that reduces fighting room.

This boat has a large engine well which allows you to get the motor almost horizontal and the prop well clear of the water which is a great idea in shallow water if you're using a bow-mounted electric motor.

However, the well surrounds are cut very low which does not offer optimum amount of fighting room when fishing over the stern.

Either side of the motor are boarding platforms and, inboard from them, two rear moulded quarter seats with storage for batteries and oil bottles underneath in the bilge area.

While it can cater to more, this is really a two-person boat - one forward, one aft. The rear quarter seats would be ideal for a couple of kids to sit in and learn the ropes from the old man.

There is a grab handle in the engine well between the seats, two stainless steel rod holders in the gunwales and rear cleats lower on the transom sides. A telescopic ladder on the port boarding platform and a grabrail is handy for swimmers.

Being self draining, the hull is quite deep for a five-metre boat but with the floor necessarily high, it does rob the boat of interior depth which was at a premium.

The test boat had no options fitted but all the basics are there in the package and it could be tricked up quite well to suit your exact fishing needs given the long list of options that are available.

Trophy hulls come with a 10 year structural warranty which is good for peace of mind.

HIGHS

LOWS