Reviewed:
Edgewater 170CC
There have been a number of imported fishing boats hitting our shores in recent years. Sami Omari reports on one of the latest.
There have been a number of imported fishing boats hitting our shores in recent years. Sami Omari reports on one of the latest.
SMALL trailer boats have great appeal – they’re light, agile, easy to tow and store and many are quite capable vessels. Having recently gone through the motions of having a plate boat built I was keen to see what a ’glass counterpart in the form of the 4.8m Edgewater 170CC had to offer.
The Edgewater range is US built and imported to Australia by Josh Batterson from Skeeter Boats. Following the success of Skeeters on the bream/bass circuit, Josh was looking for a range of quality ’glass hulls to cater for the domestic inshore and offshore fishing markets; after some deliberation he decided the Edgewater series provided the ideal fit. All models in the Edgewater range will be offered domestically, which includes hull sizes from the 4.3m 145CC through to the flagship 11.5m 388CC, however, the standard trailerable models will be the focus initially with the larger models brought in on demand.
The hulls are constructed completely of composite materials, are foam filled to provide level flotation and have self draining decks as standard – on paper the 170CC seemed to tick the right boxes.
My first thought when I laid eyes on the vessel was the similarity between the Edgewater and the well-known Boston Whaler brand. Unbeknownst to me at the time, the two hulls share similar lineage with Edgewater founder Bob Dougherty having previously worked at Boston Whaler.
Walking around the hull revealed attractive lines and styling while looking below the theoretical waterline showed a variable deadrise with pronounced chines and a planing plank towards the transom. Internally, the deck appeared uncluttered with a padded seat directly behind the console along with seating in the aft corners. A 50 litre cooler with a padded lid (standard) was positioned directly in front of the console. The casting deck lifted to reveal a plumbed and insulated livewell which could easily store quite a few decent fish along with a few bags of ice. The seat behind the console housed a livebait tank beneath.
Recessed cup holders with stainless accents were strategically placed around the hull and rod racks positioned alongside the console and on the transom bulkhead, with additional rod holders clamped to the console grab rail providing sufficient rod storage. The spec sheet lists a 140 litre fuel tank and the hull was fitted with the maximum rated horsepower in the form of a 115hp Evinrude E-TEC.
On the water
Launching in the Parramatta River we put the boat through its paces, however, I really wanted to see what it would be like offshore so we planted the throttle and ran eight miles downstream towards the Sydney heads. I was immediately impressed by the ride quality while travelling at a relatively constant speed in the high 20, low 30 knot range through incessant Harbour chop. At times I expected a bone shattering landing when hitting some of the larger waves at speed but to its credit the hull maintained a very comfortable ride.
Once past the heads I took control of the helm and did my best to get some water onboard. With a moderate sou’-wester blowing I hit waves at all angles yet the hull deflected essentially all spray. That’s not to say more adverse weather conditions would not see water coming on board, however, the characteristics of the hull saw it deliver a dry and comfortable ride. The below waterline hull characteristics were impressive for a 16 footer; it performed well above what its size might indicate. I later found that the hull alone weighs 771kg, which, whilst quite heavy, helps the hull plough through the swell and chop with relative ease.
The console is neat, compact and large enough to house a decent electronics package – there was no shelf beneath the helm or glovebox to house your wallet and keys though something to suit could be easily installed. The switch panel and throttle were easily accessible while the console also features a couple of recessed cup holders. The screen on the console provides some protection for electronics on the dash, however it appears to be designed in line with the aerodynamics and styling of the hull so weather protection for the driver and crew is minimal.
The 115 E-TEC propels this hull to approximately 38 knots, which is noticeably quick in an open boat. The engine is responsive while application of power is obvious throughout the entire rev range – plant the throttle and this thing goes! The chines and planing plank help with a quick and smooth transition onto the plane while the weight of the hull lends itself to being powered towards the upper horsepower range. I suspect the hull will also run reasonably well with a 90hp engine; either another two-stroke of one of the lighter four stroke offerings, although I doubt they would give that raw burst of power a 115hp would. Performance and fuel flow readings are listed below:
RPM Speed (Knots) Fuel flow (l/hr)
1500 5.1 3.2
2500 10.4 9.8
3000 15.6 13.4
4000 23.1 24.8
4500 26.4 28.8
5600 37.4 41.6
Fishability
Overall, the hull is spacious with a deck layout that lends itself to all manner of fishing styles, particularly lure and fly casting with ample clearance beside the console to walk around when fishing. The US styling is evident in the transom layout, which is fine for estuary fishing and cruising, however, for offshore fishing there is little angler support along the transom. The padded quarter seats contain tackle lockers that house a few tackle trays and it appears the padding can be clipped off to expose rear casting platforms. Bow and grab rails were absent although they are available as an option.
The hull features a fully sealed self draining deck in a non-slip finish with any water on the deck funnelling out through openings in the transom bulkhead then into the engine well and out to sea via a couple of ping-pong ball scuppers on the engine well drains.
The deck joins the internal topsides seamlessly with the cavity between internal and external topsides sealed. The gunwales house four flush mounted stainless steel rod holders that drain through a small outlet in the internal topsides. Bracing against the gunwales offshore saw my knees being the point of contact for support against the topsides – I’m a big fan of thigh support when fishing in any kind of sea so the addition of padded coamings if you were planning to fish offshore would help provide additional clearance. The options list is extensive and Josh assured me that a myriad of options are available including an electric bow mount bracket, which was yet to be installed on this hull.
There is no anchor well up front and given the cooler beneath the casting deck is nicely flow coated you wouldn’t use it for ground tackle storage. The storage compartment beneath the console is much larger than expected as it extends below deck level. Opening the hatch on the side of the console reveals the large cavity, which I imagine has been made to accommodate the lack of an anchor well up front, along with providing a raft of dry storage that is generally lacking in an open boat.
Behind the helm is a large padded seat with a livewell beneath. The seat features a tilting backrest that can be shifted and locked into place while the livewell was sizeable and could keep a decent number of baits alive and healthy.
Overall, the Edgewater 170CC provides an interesting option for anglers that are looking for a safe, comfortable, compact and versatile 16-foot hull for estuary or inshore work. The price for a boat, motor, trailer package including 115hp E-TEC and Easytow trailer is $46,990, which isn’t cheap and tilts pricing towards the upper end of its peer group, however you are getting a quality, exceptional riding and versatile hull that will no doubt leave many similar sized boats in its wake.
