What Savage classic boat should I buy?

Pioneering Australian boat maker Savage has produced many popular and classic trailer boats during the past half-century (or more).

Across the decades, through different periods of ownership, and right through to today, Savage has continued to produce first-class family/fishing trailer boats.

On the market now, Savage has a ripper line-up of alloy bay runabouts, bowriders, consoles and more, but there is still plenty of interest in the golden oldies – the classic Savage models that have stood the test of time.

Here are five older Savage models that are still drawing a crowd on boatsales…

The Savage 480 Centurion is a mid-1990s cuddy cabin with a short but high cabin structure with a V-shaped seating/berth area contained within.

The Centurion has a centre-opening windscreen and cabin hatch that allows you to walk right through the cabin to the bow for anchoring.

The cabin is open to the cockpit which stretches aft to a pair of lift-out, cushioned transom quarter seats situated to each side of a conventional, low-set outboard well.

Standard models were equipped with a pair of pedestal helm chairs fronting a helm station with a simple instrument panel for the steering wheel and switch panel.

The modest, 14-degree deadrise vee hull provides a good compromise between ride comfort and stability, making it ideal for family boating.

The Savage 480 Centurion was rated for a maximum 90hp outboard. Expect a top speed of 32 knots with a single 75hp outboard.

Find your own Savage 480 Centurion SP/SPX right here on boatsales.

One of the best-known of the Savage classics is the 1970s-era Savage Bluefin half-cabin cruiser. This 6.4m deep-vee fibreglass boat was years ahead of its time with regard to design and layout.

Unlike more modern half-cabin boats, there is actually space and headroom inside the cabin, as well as two full-length berths, a toilet, sink and galley facilities.

Above decks, the Bluefin was originally fitted with comfortable twin bucket helm chairs mounted on adjustable pedestal bases, along with a large dash, timber trim, and a spoked wooden steering wheel.

The heavy deep-vee hull beneath the Bluefin is renowned for its soft, cruiser-like ride.

The Bluefin was available with outboard and sterndrive power – with the latter being the better choice as the extra weight improves stability at rest.

Most Savage Bluefins – and other Savage fibreglass boats of this era – will have been restored and repowered several times over.

Find your own Savage Bluefin right here on boatsales.

During the 1970s the 5.0m Savage Escort and 5.5m Savage Ensign were very popular fibreglass runabouts.

But for their size difference, the two runabouts are virtually identical.

Most Escorts and Ensigns have back-to-back helm seats or pedestal seats fronting a low-set three-piece centre-opening windscreen.

The hulls have a moderate vee-bottom shape, topped with clinker panelled topsides.

The boats were heavy and solidly built so they feel quite comfortable yet stable out on the water.

As with all boats of this vintage, however, you do need to watch out for soft transoms and floors with boats that have not been restored.

Interestingly, the original Escort and Ensign were both available with a semi-enclosed hardtop with sliding side windows.

The Escort was also reintroduced in the 1990s as a completely different 5.2m runabout.

Find your own Savage Escort right here on boatsales.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, the Savage Ranger was a very popular forward windscreen alloy runabout.

This model started out as a 4.3m open boat but then became available with a range of configurations and increased in size.

One of the most popular models was the SF 455 Ranger runabout launched in 1998. This entry-level rig was ideal for first-timers for bay and harbour boating and fishing.

In 2003 the Ranger was lengthened to 4.8m with the interior layout remaining largely unchanged.

Like many Savage aluminium boats from the 1990s, the Ranger has a pressed alloy hull mated to a fibreglass deck – a practice which started in the 1980s with the hugely popular Savage Osprey 480.

The 480 Ranger has a moderate vee hull but with a slightly sharper bow entry shape than its rivals to provide a smoother ride in the chop.

Find your own Savage 480 Ranger right here on boatsales.

The second-generation Savage Mako (the first one was a 1970s 6.0m runabout) was introduced by John Savage as a cuddy cabin called the 55SP in 1991.

The launch version and the updated Mk2 model – which had a redesigned transom – were both superb cuddy cab fishing boats.

With an overall length of 5.5m and a towing weight of around 1400kg, these craft were – and still are – easy to haul about behind a large SUV or dual-cab ute.

The boats also had a decent-sized cockpit, along with a walk-through windscreen and cabin with short seats/cabin berths.

On the water, the Mako is very smooth riding into the chop but just a little tender a rest.

The Mako 55SP was available with single outboard and single sterndrive power. I tested both and both were very fine craft for mixed family/fishing applications.

Find your own Savage Mako 55SP right here on boatsales.