S
portsman Boats is yet
another worthy brand of
centre console from America
to hit Australian shores,
again complementing one
of the most popular selling boat
styles on the market. It seems like a
political analogy where American
centre consoles are seeking asylum
in Australia, albeit all are most
welcome.
Sportsman Boats in the USA
are no underdog when it comes to
building centre consoles and with
an extensive range – from open
bay centre consoles to tricked up
tournament and flats boats, and even
high-end offshore centre consoles
up to 30ft – they most certainly cater
for serious fishermen and family
boaters alike. W hat’s more, theseboats sport a classy finish and are
very reasonably priced against the
competitors.BREACH OF JUSTICE
The first Trade-a-Boat Sportsman
test was the latest Island Reef 19
centre console from Northside
Marine in Brisbane, and having
researched the boats online some
time back they didn’t appear that
aesthetically attractive, or loaded
with the normal American bling.
However, in the flesh it’s a totally
different story as they sport a classy
sheerline off a beefy flared bow, a big
beam with spacious decks, quality
finishes throughout, and a 19ft hull
that looks more like a 22ft hull. It’s
a good-looking boat and photos just
don’t do it justice!Another deceiving discovery
at first glance was the motor, and
expecting to see a 150hp badge I was
surprised to find a Yamaha F115 on
the transom. Well, don’t judge a boat
by its motor – read on to check the
performance on this little weapon.OPEN AND SPACIOUS
Centre consoles are all about space
and 360 degrees of usability and
fishability, and the Island Reef 19
is not lacking in this department
with a decent 2.3m beam. Onboard
you get a workable-sized cast deck
up in the bow, with ample storage
space for gear and tackle, as well as a
dedicated anchor well.
The centre console is well
appointed with enough flush-mount
area for a few gauges, large switch82 trade aboat.com.au