Whittley Fleetmaster 23 and Fleetmaster 26 Review

The 2018 Whittley Fleetmaster 23 and Fleetmaster 26 represent so much more than just another couple of fibreglass trailer boats.

Indeed, with Aussie manufacturing facing onslaughts on so many fronts, these models bear testament to the dedication that has stood Whittley Marine in good stead for three generations, along with the business acumen and innovation that has seen the company through good times and bad.

This year, Whittley Marine is celebrating its 65th anniversary, and it's marking the milestone with the release of two limited-edition 'Heritage' models, the Fleetmaster 23 and Fleetmaster 26.

However, rather than bringing out two all-singing, all-dancing boats packed to the gunnels with options and accessories, Whittley has taken a different tack. These two boats are aimed those after a slice of the family boating lifestyle at a very tempting price point, as Alan Whittley, the firm's sales and marketing boss, explained to us on an enjoyable day on Port Phillip.

Easy overnighting
"These two models are all about getting into an overnighting package at a great price but without compromising," Whittley said, as we ready the boats for launch at Patterson Lakes Marina.

"These are both BMT [boat/motor/trailer] packages, but you've still got a double bed, you've still got the sink, stove and fridge, you've still got the toilet and a shower, all standard."

The idea here, he added, is that buyers can get out on the water in a package with all the essentials for overnighting, before adding further accessories as funds permit.

The newcomers are based on existing models from Whittley's cruising range, namely the CR 2380 and the CR 2600. So in effect they serve as base models, with prices starting from $99,990 for the Fleetmaster 23 and $149,990 for the Fleetmaster 26.

If the Fleetmaster name is a familiar one, it should be: historically it's been one of Whittley's most popular cruising models, and was produced back in the 1980s.

"It actually fell between these two new models in terms of length but it was an overnighting, trailerable cruiser," said Whittley.

"The Fleetmaster 23 and Fleetmaster 26 follow the same theme. There's a comfy bed for mum and dad, a further rear bed, a galley, and a toilet and shower. It's a family cruiser that you can still fish out of; they're just great all-rounders."

Cool debut
Boatsales spent a day aboard both models with Alan and the co-directors of Victorian Boat Sales, Tim Pratt and Andrew Burns. Victorian Boat Sales, based at Patterson Lakes in Melbourne, recently signed on as the newest member of Whittley Marine's national dealer network.

On a chilly mid-winter morning where the mercury was struggling to reach double digits, both Fleetmasters proved comfortable and cosseted places to be, thanks to the hard top and expansive windscreen of the Fleetmaster 26 and the bimini, clears and (optional) targa bar of the Fleetmaster 23.

"We don't build a fully enclosed boat," said Whittley in reference to the Fleetmaster 26, which is a contrast to the often fully enclosed products hailing from Europe.

"We feel that an enclosed boat really anywhere outside of Victoria really limits your boating, as it's just too damn hot. In the Fleetmaster 26 you've got the protection of the hard top but you've also got the sliding sunroof and you can pull the clears off – all of a sudden you've got the best of both worlds."

Sibling rivalry
The differences between the two are fairly obvious, beginning with size. The Fleetmaster 26 has an overall length of 8.5 metres, a dry towing weight of 3200 kilograms and a maximum capacity of eight people, while the corresponding figures for the smaller Fleetmaster 23 are 7.6 metres, 2650kg, and seven people.

Both models, however, have sub-2.5-metre beams – 2.49 metres for the Fleetmaster 26 and 2.44 metres for the Fleetmaster 23 – meaning owners can legally tow them without incurring the extra hassle of 'wide load' restrictions.

After a quick tour of the dry stacking facility at Patterson Lakes Marina – impressive it is, too – I started our run on the Fleetmaster 23, and appreciated its ease of boarding via the rear platform and walkthrough transom.

Both models have walkthrough transoms, while the full-length rails on the Fleetmaster 23, a factory option, meant boarding and disembarking was even more secure.

Alan guided the Fleetmaster 23 up the Patterson River, before I took the helm for a while for our run up to Beaumaris. Conditions were excellent, with blue skies and just a light breeze, although the latter was still sufficient to provoke a bit of chop.

With a 19-degree variable deadrise hull, which Whittley believes "represents the perfect compromise between stability and ride", the Fleetmaster 23 felt fairly similar to the entry-level Sea Legend model we sampled over a weekend at Lake Eildon some months back.

Like that SL 20, there are no complaints concerning the Fleetmaster 23's stability at rest, while at cruising speeds the hull carves through the chop easily.

A 200hp Volvo Penta V6 sterndrive is standard, but both boats on test here sported a 240hp upgrade with duo-props, and so there were no issues as far as grunt went.

"These two have the engine upgrade but it isn't really necessary – they're certainly not underpowered," said Whittley.

"The 200 is a gutsy little engine; it's very fuel efficient and it makes the package really affordable."

With the 240 beneath the aft lounge, the Fleetmaster 23 fairly leapt onto the plane, and charged capably and confidently up to 38 knots (70km/h) or thereabouts.

Photo opportunity
We reached Beaumaris in short order but found it less protected from the breeze than we'd anticipated, so we pushed on to Half Moon Bay at Black Rock instead and its dramatic backdrop of sheer cliffs, turquoise waters and the remains of HMAS Cerberus.

The waters here proved much calmer, giving us a good opportunity for photos and allowing me to have a closer inspection of the Fleetmaster 23's thoughtful layout.

Although both this boat and the Fleetmaster 26 on test are fitted with several factory options and accessories – both were hot off the factory floor in time for their public debut at the looming 2018 Melbourne Boat Show – they share a typical forward vee-berth/mid helm/aft cockpit layout.

The 23's vee-berth is smaller but still ideal for couples, and there's a cassette-style toilet stowed under the starboard cushions. To port, opposite the helm and just forward of the passenger's seat, is a small sink and stove (not yet fitted to the test boat). There's also a compact Engel fridge below, providing all you need to whip up a meal on the water.

The test boat had an optional sliding cabin door (standard on the 26) and, right up the front of the vee-berth, a flat-screen TV (another option).

An AM/FM radio with Fusion speakers is standard in both, as is a VHF radio, but like so many aspects of Whittley boats, the factory can accommodate a wide range of upgrades – like the large Garmin GPSmap 7410xsv, for example, which is a step up from the 23's standard gauges.

The pedestal seating in the 23 is more basic than the seat boxes in the 26 (one of which can be fitted out with a fridge) but it's comfortable and supportive, and the upholstery – like that found throughout the boat – is of a good quality. Forward vision is good too, with a clear line of sight ahead.

However, it's the quality feel of the Fleetmaster 23 that resonates most. It's clearly put together with a high degree of care, by people who know their trade well. The overall finish is of Whittley's high standard, and the choice of fabrics and fittings combine to create an elegant and modern yet highly functional living space.

The cockpit provides room for fishing, and the boarding platform is perfect for swimming and water sports.

Here's a boat that, for just under 100 large, will get you on the water with zero fuss. You'll save tens of thousands on a CR 2380, yet have all the basic features and functions required for overnighting, allowing you to maximise your enjoyment on the water.

Stepping up
Of course, for those wanting that bit more – and for those willing to spend a bit more – the larger Fleetmaster 26 represents a significant step up for an extra $50k.

For $149,990 as a complete turnkey package, it's still priced well under a standard CR 2600, but compared to the Fleetmaster 23 it offers extra living space and amenity in a trailerable format.

The prime point of difference is that hardtop, and for this winter run I really appreciated the protection afforded by it and the toughened-glass windscreen. With the side sliding windows closed we were in our own little cocoon, yet even when relaxing on the port-side sun lounge I barely copped a drop of spray as we motored along at a brisk clip.

Of course, it's an appreciably bigger boat and it feels it, although it rails through turns beautifully and, like its smaller brother, delivers an impressively soft ride over the chop.

The same 240hp V6 wasn't left wanting either, and despite the extra mass and displacement the power at my right hand felt amply sufficient, pushing the craft to over 32 knots (60km/h) at wide open throttle.

Our test boat was fitted with automatic trim tabs – another factory option, and one not available on the Fleetmaster 23.

"I don't think the 23 really needs them, to be honest," said Whittley.

"But once again, in the 26, if you don't want to spend the $4000 for auto tabs, you don't have to."

Same but different
The 26's format is slightly different to that of the 23, having a narrower deck due to the cabin's full walkarounds, the galley being forward of the cockpit and the living quarters also equipped with a full standing-room toilet/shower, all neatly partitioned by the sliding cabin door.

The vee-berth is significantly roomier, while the pedestal table drops down at the aft lounge to form a full-length double bed. That's a standard feature in the 26 but an option on 23.

Alan says that for many of the buyers to whom these two models will appeal, there's not too many options boxes to be ticked.

"There's really not a lot of options that people would probably add – the three most popular would be a winch on the Fleetmaster 23 [a standard inclusion on the 26], plus a hot-water system and dual batteries," he says.

"We can build you a boat with full engine integration like we have here, with battery management systems and full digital switching and that sort of stuff, and there is a place in the market for that. But there's also a place in the market for something that's not entry level but that represents affordable cruising – because not everyone's going to want all that stuff."

Summing up
As we glided back down the Patterson River to the marina, the brilliant sun overhead setting the water ablaze with a million diamonds, our bright white duo cast a sublime scene.

With a momentary pause for reflection, it struck me how Whittley's 65 years of boat building is no small feat, and how so many others must have succumbed to the many economic storms that punctuated those decades.

The Fleetmaster 23 and the Fleetmaster 26 therefore stand as floating tributes to all the expertise and experience gleaned over those years, from when brothers Jim and Ossie Whittley built their first wood-bond boat for a friend in 1953, before later switching focus to the fiberglass vessels that now dominate our waterways. And the rest, as they say, is history.

These two boats, designed and built right here in Australia for Australian conditions, are a fitting homage to the Whittley Marine story, and are undoubtedly destined to welcome yet another fresh generation of boaties to the extended Whittley family.

RATINGS – FLEETMASTER 23
Overall rating: 4.7/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.6/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water performance: 4.8/5.0
Value for money: 4.8/5.0
X-factor: 4.6/5.0

PERFORMANCE – FLEETMASTER 23
5.9kts (11km/h) @ 1500rpm at 5lt/h
7.0kts (13km/h) @ 2000rpm at 8lt/h
9.2kts (17km/h) @ 2500rpm at 14lt/h
10.8kts (20km/h) @ 3000rpm at 19lt/h
16.7kts (31km/h) @ 3500rpm (planing) at 22lt/h
21.6kts (40km/h) @ 4000rpm at 26lt/h
24.8kts (46km/h) @ 4500rpm at 35lt/h
29.7kts (55km/h) @ 5000rpm at 45lt/h
32.4kts (60km/h) @ 5500rpm at 61lt/h
37.8kts (70km/h) @ 6000rpm (WOT) at 70lt/h

Specifications: Whittley Fleetmaster 23
Priced from: $99,990 including Volvo Penta 200hp V6 sterndrive, Volvo power assisted steering, Mackay tandem-axle galvanised steel drive-on trailer with electric brakes, sport bimini and front, side and rear clears, anchor, rode and chain and 12 months boat and trailer registrations.

Options fitted: Volvo Penta 240hp V6 sterndrive with duo prop, fibreglass targa bar, anchor winch, stainless-steel bait board, full-length rear rails, Garmin GPSmap 7410xsv instrumentation and dual battery system, among others.

Length overall: 7.60m
Beam: 2.44m
Towing weight: Approx. 2650kg (dry)
Length on trailer: 7.80m
Height on trailer: 2.65m (to windscreen)
Deadrise: 19 degrees
Maximum power: 280hp
Engine as tested: Volvo Penta 240hp V6 sterndrive with duo prop
Fuel: 200 litres
Water: 100 litres
Maximum Persons: Seven

RATINGS – FLEETMASTER 26
Overall rating: 4.7/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.6/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water performance: 4.6/5.0
Value for money: 4.7/5.0
X-factor: 4.7/5.0

PERFORMANCE – FLEETMASTER 26
5kts (9.3km/h) @ 1500rpm
7kts (13.0km/h) @ 2000rpm
8kts (14.8km/h) @ 2500rpm
9kts (16.7km/h) @ 3000rpm
14kts (25.9km/h) @ 3500rpm (planing)
20kts (37.0km/h) @ 4000rpm
24kts (44.4km/h) @ 4500rpm
27kts (50km/h) @ 5000rpm
33kts (61.1km/h) @ 5500rpm (WOT)

Specifications: Whittley Fleetmaster 26
Priced from: $149,990 including Volvo Penta 200hp V6 sterndrive, Volvo power assisted steering, Mackay tandem-axle galvanised steel drive-on trailer with electric brakes, side and rear clears, anchor/winch and 12 months boat and trailer registrations.

Options fitted: Volvo Penta 240hp V6 sterndrive with duo prop, stainless-steel bait board, full-length rear rails, and dual battery system, among others.

Length overall: 8.50m
Beam: 2.49m
Towing weight: Approx. 3200kg (dry)
Length on trailer: 8.70m
Height on trailer: 3.30m (to windscreen)
Deadrise: 19 degrees
Maximum power: 300hp
Engine as tested: Volvo Penta 240hp V6 sterndrive with duo prop
Fuel: 200 litres
Water: 100 litres
Maximum Persons: Eight

Supplied by:
Whittley Marine Group
99 Freight Drive
Somerton VIC 3062
Telephone: (03) 8339 1800

Victorian Boat Sales
Unit 4, Inner Harbour Drive
Patterson Lakes VIC 3197
Telephone: (03) 9776 1662