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• Jul 17, 2024
• Reviews

Morrinsville-based Marco Boats has come a long way since aluminium boat-building pioneer Graham Ransom founded the company.

I first tested a Marco for this magazine in July 1992 – getting on for twenty years ago. Graham (who had been at the birth of both Fyran and Ramco aluminium boats) was producing small, entry-level tinnies for the fishing market, a market position that he maintained until he retired and sold the company to the Horne family – Dayne and his parents Helen and Bryan – in 2003.

While they still make plenty of basic, entry-level fishing 'tinnies', Marco Boats has also spread its range of products into more upmarket craft, including the Sou' Wester range of four models: the 600, 650, 700 and 760 (for details of models and dealers, see www.marcoboats.co.nz).

I met up with Marco's Dayne Horne at Matakana, around an hour north of Auckland, to check out the 700 Sou' Wester Tick'd Up, owned by another family operation – the Longley Brothers and their dad, Grant.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

The 700 Sou' Wester is constructed with 5mm bottoms and transom, and 4mm sides, topsides and chequerplate deck. Deadrise at the stern is a modest 17°, chines are downturned, and there are no planing strakes fitted (or needed). Of note is the cool-looking curved transom, which helps accommodate the engine installation.

The bottom plates are butted up at the keel line and fully seam-welded inside and out before a keel bar is seam-welded inside, adding stiffness and helping support the deck.

Under the deck are six full-length stringers in 5mm plate. Three full bulkheads (including a collision bulkhead in the bow and the transom construction) support the hull laterally, while the addition of partial frames sees the deck supported at roughly 450mm centres. This hull is CPC-approved and the inboard configuration has about 200kg reserve buoyancy.

The welding looks strong and competently executed, and the hull has been well faired, as could be seen by looking along the well-cared-for black gloss paint finish.

POWER AND PERFORMANCE

The 700 Sou' Wester is available in both outboard and sterndrive configurations, with a recommended maximum rating of 225hp. Tick'd Up is powered by a Cummins Mercruiser QSD 2.0-litre, 170hp diesel inboard. This is a compact four-cylinder unit with integrated heat exchanger and exhaust manifold, common-rail fuel system, turbocharger, and seawater aftercooler. The engine installation is set into the transom wall, further minimising its impact on cockpit space.

The sterndrive is a Bravo One X leg, which features heavy-duty shafts, bearings and forged gears. Prop is a 19-inch pitch four-blade VenSura. Fuel capacity is 200 litres in an under-floor tank. The fuel port is set into the outside of the transom wall for easy access and to prevent inboard spillage.

We launched the rig at the Sandspit Yacht Club's ramp and headed out towards Kawau Island with five adults on board. This is a fairly decent load and the rig turned out a maximum performance of 27 knots (50kph) at 3700rpm. Skipper Glenn Longley told me that with a lighter load he had achieved 30 knots (55.6kph) at 4000rpm, which seems about right. A more usual cruise speed is 20 knots (37kph), when it uses about 20 litres per hour. The engine was noticeably quiet and vibration-free for a diesel inboard.

All boat designs are compromises. In this case the modest 17° deadrise sacrifices a little bit of ride for a greater degree of stability. As we headed out around Kawau Island and the rip at Challenger Reef before heading around to the lee side, we struck a wind-against tide situation throwing up a tight 1.5m chop in places. We stopped for a drift-fish in the sloppy stuff, and I was really impressed with the hull's stability in what would have been unfishable conditions for many craft. Under way again, the Sou' Wester performed well with the leg trimmed in hard, forcing the entry down into the sea, with the rising sheerline and downturned chines keeping the spray at bay – a solid, safe performance overall.

ANCHORING

Bow access is either around the cabin sides (substantial bow rails and non-skid finish on the side decks help here) or through the hatch in the forecabin roof, if required.

A Quick Genius Ultra anchor winch with helm control feeds the warp and chain through the foredeck into an anchor locker in the bow. This can be reached through a hatch in the forward bulkhead if necessary. A Sarca #2 anchor is permanently mounted on the bow and a crucifix bollard handles any tie-off duties.

LAYOUT

The forecabin is lined down to the deck, where a step-down drains into the bilge. A cabin light is fitted; there is stowage space under the berths and a flush toilet between them. Large side pockets add to the stowage available and the berths, with infill fitted, would sleep three at a pinch. Access to the rear of the helm console is through a screw-on plate.

Out in the wheelhouse a large dash with backlip and marine-carpet lining offers plenty of room for odds and ends. A Lowrance HDS 10 Sounder/GPS-plotter handles the electronic duties, and a Fusion MS-IP600 sound system is fitted. Other accessories include Lectrotab trim tabs, Protech UFlex hydraulic steering, and Mercury throttle/shift with Smartcraft/VDO gauges.

Visibility is good all around through 6mm toughened glass screens and side-sliders (polycarbonate is used on the rear quarters). A single grab rail is installed for the passenger, and a few more of these would not go amiss. Chequerplate decks are covered with tube mat.

The helm seat is an upholstered, moulded-plastic bucket with a swivelling-sliding base on top of a stowage locker with twin-hatch entries. The passenger side has an upholstered bench seat, with a twin-burner SMEV gas stove set into the top of another locker underneath the squab. Chequerplate footrests are provided for both seats, and stowage space is further supplemented by two side-shelves. The addition of a squab infill across the rear of the wheelhouse provides an additional berth in the forecabin. The exit to the cockpit is through lockable bi-fold aluminium doors.

The Marco 700 Sou' Wester boasts several features that enhance its comfort and functionality. A removable canvas canopy on the hardtop's rear provides extra cockpit shade, complemented by a grab rail underneath. Against the cabin's rear bulkhead sits a bench seat with a hidden 40-litre freshwater system and sink, featuring a pullout shower nozzle ideal for post-dive rinses or extended trips.

The boat's deck design prioritizes drainage, with sealed chequerplate decks covered in tube-mat that channel water to small sumps on either side of the transom, each equipped with a 550gph bilge pump. The engine, installed through the transom wall, is covered by a space-efficient housing that doubles as a useful worktop, complete with Deck Tread paneling and an additional 1100gph bilge pump in the engine well.

For diving enthusiasts, the cockpit offers ample storage with side pockets accommodating up to four tanks, while a saltwater wash-down hose adds convenience. The transom area houses batteries with an isolation switch and features a step-through with a drop-in door for easy boarding platform access.

The boat's fishability is impressive despite the somewhat limited cockpit space due to the cabin and engine configuration. It comfortably accommodates five anglers, with the boarding platform providing additional room. The vessel's stability and ergonomic design, including flat-faced gunwales for support, enhance the fishing experience in rough conditions.

Fishing amenities are comprehensive, including a six-position rocket launcher, cockpit floodlight, multiple rod holders, and a well-equipped bait station. A live-bait tank in the transom step-through further caters to fishing needs, while also serving divers alongside the freshwater shower.

For transportation, the Marco 700 Sou' Wester comes with a Voyager A22 trailer, featuring a tandem-axle design, multiple rollers for support, and various features to facilitate launching and retrieval.