AUSTRALIAN Master Marine has long held a reputation for building serious plate alloy fishing boats. The latest example to roll out of the Brisbane-based AMM headquarters looks to be no exception.
The boat seen here was designed by AMM boss Barton Thomas to be “the ultimate offshore plate alloy boat”. The new Tournament 7800 boasts a number of impressive features that look to make it ideal for extended fishing trips or weekends away including a separate toilet and shower cubicle; fully sound insulated cabin; freshwater hot water system; fridge freezer running on solar panels and even mood lighting.
The boat was launched with twin 200hp Yamaha G series outboards fed by a 750 litre fuel capacity.
Thomas’s rig, lifts standards even higher for the boats which he ordinarily custom builds in 12 different hull lengths, for specific owners.
“I wanted my personal boat to reflect and be a tangible example of what we can do for any customer,” he said.
“It was to be a see it, touch it, feel it example of how far the customising envelope can be pushed.”
“While most people mightn’t opt for $8,000 worth of hand–stitched sound insulation in the cabin, every genuine offshore fisherman or weekend cruiser knows the ‘clip, clip’ sound of water lapping against the hull when a vessel is anchored and they are trying to have a sleep.”
“My objective was to eliminate that disturbance and we have all but done that, with this boat,” he said.
“Not only that, but I also added heat insulation as well.”
Achieving a premium ride with outstanding stability at rest were two other key objectives on Barton’s list of “non-negotiables” for his own boat.
The cabin and helm are located 800mm further aft than in a similarly designed sistership of 7.8 metres.
The decision to follow that design route has succeeded in removing any hint of the dominant “nose down” attitude prevalent on many deep vee plate boats where the cabin has been pushed too far forward in an effort to achieve a larger looking cockpit area.
“The sea trials also demonstrated that the greater lift in the bow, sees it rising more readily to meet the faces of pressure waves.”
“That’s a major benefit when crossing any of the dozen Queensland designated coastal bars, as well as other hard-to get to fishing places like Breaksea Spit, at the northern end of Fraser Island,” Barton said.
Barton’s Tournament 7800 also features special, silver champagne coloured paint work that cost him more than $4,500 for just the paint itself, not including the cost of a skilled tradesman to apply it to the boat.
As a result, the Tournament 7800 which has a beam of 2.5 metres and a 20 degrees deadrise, is one of the slickest looking plate alloy vessels afloat.
The below water lines are high tensile strength 6mm marine grade plate alloy; the sides and side decks are 4mm, the transom framing is based on 8mm thick extrusions and with 20 rod holders around the boat, it’s easy to see that serious fishing is one of Barton’s passions.
Step aboard on to the self-draining floor and Barton’s expertise in personalising a definitive offshore platform are readily apparent. There’s a switch panel that includes on/off settings for blue underwater lighting to create ambience at anchor and white underwater lighting to attract squid and bait fish at night. The extended hardtop includes sail tracks for locating storm covers, a 110 litre fridge freezer unit assisted by solar panels and a premium Fusion sound system.
Other key features are a Garmin sounder / plotter, VHF radio, opening portholes in the galley and toilet /shower cubicle; BBQ, sink, deck shower, freshwater deck wash supplied from 100 litre tanks; a large hatch in the cabin measuring more than half a metre by half a metre; hinged transom door, and galley bench space on both sides.
“The trouble with being a boat designer is that the end result is what I expected, but nonetheless everyone is pretty stoked at the factory about how well the project came together –particularly me,” Thomas said.
And the bottom line question … how much?
“If AMM were to build it as a customer order, it would be in the order of around $225,000, but a base boat with a less extensive list of luxuries and a single outboard, could be built for around $118K,” he said.
More info: Ph Australian Master Marine on (07) 3889 7380.
