Bayfisher.co.nz 31

Sitting between the morespartanChallenger595Sandthefully-optioned595SE,theChallenger595SPisdesignedandfitted-outtoappealtoboatieswhoenjoytheirfishingandrecreationalwatersportssuchasskiingandwakeboarding.Havingjusttheoneloungerseatfacingbackwardsinsteadofthetwointhe595SEmeansplentyofcockpitroomfortwotothreepersonstofishcomfortably,andenoughroomtogetinandoutofwetsuitswhenwaterskiing.ThetestboatwasfittedoutwithaFourStrokeSuzuki115HP-rightinthemiddleoftherecommended100-130hpHPrange-whichsuitsthisboatperfectly,beingsuperquiet,economicalandhavinggruntoutoftheholeforskiing.A100litreunder-floortankisoptionalandwouldprovidearangeofapproximately200milestravellingat30mphwhichmeanspeaceofmindonextendedfishingtrips.Thehelmlayoutisacleananduncluttereddesignwithallthecontrolsfallingtohand

nicelyandfittedmy5ft11framewithoutanyadjustment.Thetest595SPhadanoptionalbiminifittedwithabuiltinsix-rodrocketlauncherwhich,togetherwiththreeholdersonthebaitboardattachmentandoneoneachgunwalegaveatotalofeleven:morethanenoughtokeepmostanglershappy.

Upforwardthereisareasonably-sizedweaverhatchtoaccesstheanchorwellandbowarea.Iwaspleasedtoseetherewasalsoenoughdeckroomaroundthewindscreentoallowaccesstothebowareasoyouarenotconsignedtousingthehatchallthetime.Makesdockingeasier,too.

Thecuddycabinfeaturestwobunksontopofbuilt-inbuoyancycompartments.Neatlyupholsteredsquabscouldbeusedforoccasionalsleepingduringanovernightfishingmissionbutwouldbetoosmallforseriousover-nighting.

Storage-wise,ashelfrunsalongthefulllengthofbothcabinsidesandthereisadditionalstowageundertheforward-facingpedestalseatsandundertherear-facingbackseatplus

Smooth operator:Challenger 595 Sp

EvEn with thrEE of us moving from sidE to sidE only a littlE roll was EvidEnt.

boat tEst

Review and Photos by Kevin Power

Bayfisher.co.nz32

full-lengthsidepocketsoneachcockpitsideandcavernousspaceunderfloor-particularlyifyoudon’tspectheoptionalunderfloortank.

AftaccessontheChallenger595isviaastep-throughopeningontheportsideofthetransomwithafold-downstainlessladderonthesternplatform.Thefitandfinishonthe595SPisfaultlessandthe

wholerighasafeelofsolidityaboutitwhichisborneoutinitsapproximatetowingweightof1350kgandtherideitprovideswhenthegoinggetsrough.ForthistestIwashopingformorewindandchoptoreallygivethetrademarkChallengerstrake-lesshullaworkoutasitistheseconditionsthatsetagoodhullapartfromthenot-so-accomplished.HoweverwedidfindsomereasonablyroughstuffinthetrustyTaurangaentrancewithanoutgoingtideandalightnortherlytostirthingsupabit.The595SPhandledthiswitheaseandcouldcertainlyhandlealotrougherconditionswithoutdishingoutapoundingride.

IwouldbequitecomfortabletakingthisrigonouttoMayorIslandandtheouterreefs,evenonaless-

SpecificationS: price aS teSted: $67000Loa: 5.96m Beam: 2.3m draft: 0.38m deadriSe: 18.5o HuLL weigHt: 1350kg traiLer: Braked, SingLe axLe preScott traiLer witH Spare wHeeL

Sufix produce a wide range of high quality, super

strong Dyneema braid to enhance your fishing. Performance

braided fishing line for soft baiting, jigging or deep water fishing.

If you’re looking at lowdiameter top quality

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Distributed by Douglas Johnson & Co. Member of I.G.F.A.

than-perfectday.Theslightlyheavier-than-averagehullandresultingrigiditygivethe595SPthatbulletprooffeelthatsomeother6mfibreglasshullsstruggletoattain;itcertainlyhandlestheroughbetterthanmost.Corneringissure-footedandfuss-freeandwithabitoffiddlingaroundwiththetrimanicebalancecanbefoundforcruisingalongatabout32mph.

Westoppedforabitofadriftfishintheharbour,andalthoughthesnappereitherhadtheirmouthsshutorwereonholidaysomewhereelseitdidgivemeachancetoexperiencehowstablethe595SPisatrest.Evenwiththreeofusmovingfromsidetosideonlyalittlerollwasevident-certainlyfarlessthanIhadanticipatedforahullwithafineentryandan18.5°deadrise.Allinallprettyuneventful,whichinthiscaseisagoodthing!

OveralltheChallenger595SPisanimpressivepieceofkitandaworthycontenderinthemultipurpose6mtrailerboatmarket.

ovErall thE ChallEngEr 595sP is an imPrEssivE PiECE of kit and a worthy ContEndEr in thE multiPurPosE 6m trailEr boat markEt.

BF