At rest the 2.49m beam provides a
stable fishing platform and I can see
the 197 as a centre console that could
handle some fair offshore runs in the
right conditions, as well as a bit of
gamefishing and bottom fishing.
On the water, there’s a significant
difference between the ride of the 175
Baysport and the 197 Sportfish due to
size and deadrise. The 197 Sportfish
has an 18-degree deadrise, a larger
volume footprint in the water and just
short of an extra 400kg over the smaller
175 B a y s p or t.
In the moderate chop the 197’s ride is
pleasantly soft and quiet, and sporting
the Mercury 150hp FourStroke she
wasn’t short on power either. Holeshotwas nippy, the mid-range acceleration
to WOT quick and responsive, and
she achieved a comfortable 37kt at
full noise, although propped to get a
few more revs I reckon it’d hit a 40kt
top end. I must say, I found the new
Mercury FourStroke outboards quite
impressive when it came to power and
economy, in particular the 150hp.
I also liked the helm set up on
the 197 when driving as the high
screen gave good protection while
the adjustable steering was a bonus
as it can be set to suit driving seated
or standing. The wide console with
full-width flat dash is also appealing
as multiple flush-mount GPS/sonar
configurations and gauges would fit.THE WRAP
Of the two Pioneer centre consoles, I
definitely preferred the 197 Sportfish,
simply because the package offers
higher horsepower, has better offshore
capabilities and there is more of
everything in a larger boat. In saying
that, there’s a catch to choosing the
bigger boat – an extra 25-grand over
the 175 Baysport’s $55,000.
Both Pioneers will get the family on
the water skiing and tubing, both will
happily cruise the bays. For serious
fishos, well whether it’s chucking for
barra in dams and rivers, chasing
flatties and snapper, or even a bit of
gamefishing offshore, it can all be done
from a Pioneer centre console.The US still leads the centre console
charge and these Pioneer siblings are
right in there, though the layouts and
standard equipment are still not
perfect for our local waterways.60 trade aboat.com.auPioneer 175 Baysport and 195 Sportfish