OFFSHORE MARINE MASTER 610WA REVIEW

With so many plate-aluminium trailerboats currently on the market, where the heck do you start when trying to choose one?

As with any boat purchasing decision, this will come down to your specific needs. In my case it's walkarounds - I really like their versatility, as they tend to be excellent fishing rigs that still offer plenty of protection in the cab.

The next thing to keep in mind is location. Plate-aluminium boats tend to be highly customisable, so having the dealer or - even better - the manufacturer close by often means you can oversee any custom work, be it during construction or later on when you inevitably change your mind about something or discover the need for an as yet unnamed accessory.

Finally, it should be capable of handling rough conditions. This is a no-comprise area. If a plate-boat can't handle the rough, go somewhere else.

Given my attraction to walkarounds and the fact that I live in Brisbane, for me a boat like the new 610 WA from Offshore Marine Master (OMM) isn't a bad place to start. Based in Caloundra on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, the company specialises in not mass-producing boats. In fact, the OMM team - consisting of just a couple of full-time staff - is dedicated to customising each and every boat to the customer's exact needs. Yes, it takes longer, but as the saying goes, quality takes time.

 

 

OCEAN BOUND

When it comes to testing boats there's nothing better than putting one through its paces in the environment that it was made to operate in. Mooloolaba, on the Sunshine Coast, is one of my favourite spots for testing in offshore conditions because it's just a stone's throw from the open ocean and is really easy to operate in (unless of course your intention to test boats for the purpose of reviewing them in a magazine comes to the attention of Fisheries officers… but we'll talk about that another time - Ed).

It was in these conditions that I first set eyes on the new 610; its massive shoulders, beefy beam, sleek sheerlines and colour scheme making for a striking combination. At 6.1m long you might not think it's that big, but when you get closer you find that it's actually massive for its size, both outside and in. Clearly this boat was meant for long days offshore on your favourite fishing grounds.

Standing and driving from the helm, you can clearly see over the screen through the clears, and when seated my vision was not obstructed by the top of the screen either. I might add that's judged against my height and I'm not the tallest of blokes. However, if you're too short or too tall for the helm there's an easy way to get around it, namely custom building. Just one of its many benefits.

 

 

HANDLING AND RIDE

Fitted with the maximum recommended 175 Suzuki four-stroke, the OMM 610 is like dynamite on the water. I always like to test a boat's low-down torque out of the hole to see if it can handle going through bars or surf. Launching through tricky bars is not everybody's forte, but it's always nice to know your boat can handle it if need be.

The test model had dynamite holeshot and got onto the plane and up to speed really fast. When winding the steering up to full-lock with the hammer down and gas on, the handling was just as good, although there was some slight cavitation in turns. However, this is nothing to worry about when crossing a bar. These boats also have a bus of a bow on them, so you can confidently tackle the odd wave or large chop.

Up and running I cranked it up to speeds around 38kts (70kmh), which is pretty quick for a boat of this size. The boat has an 18° "ultra-vee" hull which is extremely stable at rest and when underway. This stability is a great characteristic, but you have to remember that it will lose some comfort on the top-end with a bit of banging. I personally don't have a problem with that, as I don't drive around at 40kts (74kmh). Indeed, its ideal cruise speed seemed to be around 17-25kts (31 to 46kmh), depending on conditions. That's a good speed to maintain, both on the comfort side and of course economy.

Another point worth mentioning is that this boat had tabs fitted. Tabs are very beneficial on any monohull, regardless of whether you think you need them or not. I've heard people say over and over again that their boats don't need tabs. Well that's a crock of bulldust - any monohull will ride better with the correct use of tabs. Tabs not only help keep the boat level, but can also contribute to a softer and dryer ride as they can be fine-tuned to suit the conditions. There are lots of tricks to tabs, and if you don't know how to use yours properly then you should get someone to show you. You might be pleasantly surprised.

 

BORN TO FISH

Just one look at the simple yet practical layout is all it takes to be quite clear that this boat has been built to suit an avid offshore fisherman. Now I love all types of boats but as I've said previously, walkarounds are one of my favourites - you can fish from the bow and still enjoy protection in a small to medium sized cab. In other words, they're great for fishing, and great for the family.

The 610 has the usual fixtures found on similar boats, with a few other notable features. They include: loads of stern fishing space; dual livewell; full padding around the gunwales; selfdraining deck with large centre scupper and two side scuppers; good toeholds; deckwash; drinkholders in the stern and cab; hinged targa-top; mother-sized killtank; and a good, spacious cab and custom-built dash setup to suit various electronics.

Something else that stood out was the Regupol rubber deck covering. I've seen it before on boats and I reckon it's an awesome material for cover decks. You get different colour mixes to match the boat, it's soft on the feet, it's hard-wearing, and it absorbs hull noise. Not only that, it's very easy to clean. The only negative was in the form of a few rough finishes on the edges, but I'm sure these are quite hard to avoid. Nonetheless, I'd have it on my boat.

I noticed the manufacturer does something else differently too - namely. not painting surfaces that are prone to wear and scratching, like gunwale tops and all rails. It's a great idea if you care about the way your boat looks.

Yet another clever feature that caught my eye was the double bowrail. You don't have to lean out to grab onto it and the added inside piece brings the rail back in; it's more straight up so you can lean up against it. It allows you to hold on and you can actually sit on it too.

Finally, the overall construction and finish was another standout. The thick welds look good with little to no rattles throughout the hull. These boats are built pretty tough and have a 6mm plate-aluminium bottom with a 4mm deck and 4mm sides, and on top of that the hull is foam-filled to Survey standards.

 

 

THE WRAP

The Offshore Marine Master 610WA ticks most boxes when it comes to a really nice offshore fishing boat that doubles as a family boat. It's a big boat with a towing weight close to two tonnes, so it would need a reasonably powerful ute or 4WD tow vehicle.

As tested, this 610WA came in at $77,000 - a comparable price to several other makes on the market. When it comes down to it, this Offshore Marine Master offers you a customised boat that suits you and your boating needs, be it fishing, family time, or both.

 

On the plane...

Great stability
Simple customised layout
No paint on hard-wearing surfaces
Fully customisable if desired
Good construction quality
Double bowrail

 

Dragging the chain...

Gauge angle a bit flat for viewing when seated
Rocket launchers a bit difficult to get to if you're short
Edges on Regupol deck-cover a bit untidy

 

PERFORMANCE

5.5kts (10.1kmh) @ 1500 - 4.7lt/h
8.0kts (14.8kmh) @ 2500 - 9.8lt/h
15kts (27.7kmh) @ 3500 - 18lt/h
25kts (46.3kmh) @ 4500 - 32lt/h
30kts (55.5kmh) @ 5000 - 41lt/h
WOT not available offshore.

 

 

HOW MUCH?

Price as tested: $77,000
Options fitted: 175hp Suzuki four-stroke with data link, trim tabs, freshwater 39lt tank, Regupol rubber flooring, extra bait tank, Fusion stereo with remote
Priced from: $69,990 with 150hp Suzuki four-stroke

 

 

GENERAL

Type: Fishing walkaround monohull
Material: Plate-aluminium
Length: 6.1m
Beam: 2.45m
Hull weight: 850kg (approx.)
Towing weight (dry): 1800kg (approx.)
Deadrise: 18°

 

 

CAPACITIES

People: 6
Rec. HP: 150
Max. HP: 175
Max. engine weight: 220kg
Fuel: 250lt
Water: 39lt freshwater tank (optional)

 

 

ENGINE

Make/model: Suzuki DF 175 Type: DOHC, 16 valve, four-cylinder, four-stroke
Weight: 215kg
Displacement: 2867cc
Gear ratio: 2.50:1
Propeller: Suzuki 14.5 x 21p

 

 

SUPPLIED & MANUFACTURED BY

Offshore Marine Master
151 Mark Rd
Caloundra West, Qld, 4551
Tel: (07) 5492 6555
Web: www.offshoremarinemaster.com.au

 

Originally published in TrailerBoat #277.