A walk-through screen is standard
andhandywhensettingoff,whilethe
cuddyinteriorhasbeenlaidoutfor
storagewithpartitionstoholdlure
bags,safetygear,towelsandother
handybitsandpieces.IN THE ROUGH
Iknewbeforeheadingout,thatthe
bigchinesandmoderatelyshallow
deadrisewouldmeanaflatandhard
ride with the possible saviour being
awellset-upenginethatcouldlift
andtuckthebowquicklythrough
trimming.
SoIwon’ttellyoutheScout4.7rode
likea9mtwin-riggeddeep-veehull,
butitwasn’tasbadasexpected.
Thehullworkedwellin
combinationwiththequick-trimming
Merc,soIcouldgetthebowupandin,
when needed.
Plus,withmassesoftorquedown
lowfromthe2.1Lengine,popping
fromcresttocrestwaseasyandfun.
Butwhatsurprisedmemostwas
whatIcametotest–thestrength
andfeelofthathull.Itwassolidand
squeak-free.
Atnotimediditfeellikeitwas
flexingortwistingandevenwhenI
missedmylandingspotanddropped
usintoatwo-metrehole,thehard
landingonlyfussedthepassengerson
board, not the hull itself.
Conditions on the day were so bad
we couldn’t even record consistent
fuelfigures,evenwhilesneaking
inside the marina mouth and
breaking the speed restrictions.
Eventuallywedidmanagetotie
a few smooth runs together, where
the Mercury Tigershark 75hp four-
stroke showed economy of 2km/L was
possible at best cruise.WHY SO TOUGH?
Backonthehardandoutofthewind,
Nick talked me through what goes
into making such a tough little boat.
Heusesamouldofhisownfora
pairofbearerswithsixintegrated
stringers.CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHTBreaking waves and getting serious air; a well set up
engine that can lift and tuck the bow quickly through trimming; seating can be built to
order; it’s easy to surpass speed restrictions in the zippy Scout.The lattice is joined to the hull
mould with chop matt and hand-laid
multi- and bi-axial matting.
The mould has provision for a
90-litre fuel tank and once in, this
joins with the floor to make one hell of
a tough floor structure.
The same approach is taken above
decks in the cuddy, with the dividers
working as supports for the cuddy and
sides.
All in all, it’s built like a tank and
far better than some bigger boats I’ve
looked over.FISHO OR FAMILY?
W hy not both? A pair of fold-down
rear seats gives the SharpCraft
Scout 4.7 the flexibility to take extra
passengers and with the optional
baitstation, it would work as a stink-
baiter or lure fisher just fine.
The high sides will keep the
youngsters safely inside the boat,
while estuary fishers will welcome the
shallow draft.
Options will define the overall
usefulness – an anchor winch can be
added for bay fishing – which I think
is the boat’s greatest appeal – while a106 tradeaboat.com.au