One word to describe the Stessco Bowrider Series of boats is ‘versatile’. Now, I am the first to admit, that I spend a lot of time looking at boats and assessing their fishability. So, yes, I sometimes skip over a boats suitability for other recreational activities. Which, many boating families enjoy apart from fishing. Think water skiing, wakeboards, lazing in the sun, snorkelling, swimming and simply cruising around in comfort.
When I first laid eyes on the Stessco Bowrider 520 at the Gympie Terrace boat ramp on the Noosa river. Three things immediately grabbed my attention. Those being, the front lounge covered in cushions, a walk-through windscreen with centre door and finally a ski pole.
Versatility
Immediately, I had pictures in my mind of my wife and boys laid out relaxing on the front lounge. Nestled in the comfort of the cushions as we cruised toward the gorgeous Pelican Bank sitting between Hervey Bay and Fraser Island. Then, just as quickly my mind was full of images of my two young boys holding tightly to a tube, with grins from ear to ear as the boat towed them around in circles.
Then of course, recognising my own passion for fishing, the next question which popped into my head was; But can you fish from it? Turns out, you can.
A Closer Look
Simply lift the front lounge cushions up and you are greeted by a decently sized casting deck, complete with infill and plenty of under deck storage. Even better, behind the walk-through windscreen, there are 4 plastic rod holders fitted down the gunnels and enough room along the transom to have an optional plumbed bait tank installed. If you are not into skiing or towing a wakeboard, you can fit a removable bait board with two additional rod holders.
Performance
With so much versatility built into this boat it certainly ticked all the right boxes in my mind for families and casual fishers alike. All we needed to do now, was see how it performed on the water.
Fitted to the test boat was a shiny Yamaha F90 16-Valve, In-Line 4. The Stessco 520 Bowrider is rated to a maximum of 115hp or 225kg transom weight. During the test day we had six full grown adult males on board, complete with lots and lots of camera gear. The 520 Bowrider is rated to a maximum of six persons so it was going to be interesting to see how the boat performed.
Short answer, it performed really, well. We didn’t punch it out of the hole too hard while we had all six of us on board as we were trying to capture imagery of Stessco’s flagship Sunseeker 620 on the same day.
However, the Yamaha F90 had more than enough power to get the fully loaded Bowrider 520 out of the hole and onto the plane smoothly as we manoeuvred around the Noosa River grabbing running shots of the other boat.
A Lighter Load
Later, we had the opportunity to give the Bowrider 520 a good workout with only 2 people on board and I must admit, with less weight on board, it was like driving a mini rocket ship. This opportunity cemented in my mind that not only was the Yamaha F90 well matched to this boat but that this boat rode as well as any other aluminium hull of this size.
Fuel Figures
The sweet spot for the F90 was found at 3500rpm at which point the boat achieved approx. 35km/h and burned 1 litre of fuel for every 3.4km covered, which, with the standard 110 litre underfloor fuel tank, provides a massive amount of range.
Standout Features
Sitting behind the walk-through windscreen and under the optional gunwale mounted bimini was a touch of luxury that I really appreciated on a day which saw the occasional shower of rain passing over head. I found the layout of the drivers console comfortable and roomy with plenty of room for a modest sized sounder and other gauges. On the passenger’s side there is a moulded storage tray and cup holder with a lockable glove box underneath.
Visibility for driving while seated was good, however I would imagine with people sitting on the front lounge you would need to stand up occasionally to navigate the boat safely around any obstacles. For myself at a little over 6 feet I found this very achievable with only a slight bend in my back which would be fine for short periods of time.
Problem Solving
Of course, the folks at Stessco have thought this problem through and provide a standard rear padded ¾ lounge / storage box. Meaning that if you are travelling at speed for extended periods or through tricky areas, passengers can sit aft and then return forward through the spacious centre door to the front lounge when conditions are better. Or for when your simply slowly cruising along enjoying the scenery.
The Transom
Before I wrap up, I want to mention the transom layout, which again is well thought out and tidy. With all the electronics hidden behind easily accessed hatches and a transom door which leads to a favourite feature of mine, an alloy boarding ladder. I have said it before and I will say it again. Boarding ladders are worth their weight in gold when it comes to loading and unloading eskies and other items onto a beach and for just general entry to and from your boat while it is sitting on the trailer at home. Your knees will thank you for it.
My Final Thoughts
My final thoughts on the Stessco Bowrider 520. If you are not a hardcore fisher looking to head offshore to do battle with beasts of the deep but enjoy wetting a line now and then. Or you and your family are more into boating, swimming, skiing or snorkelling with fishing only happening once and a while. Then this boat is for you. It provides a solid foundation on a soft ride hull, plenty of room for the kids and all you need for a great day out. Versatility to lounge, fish, swim or play and when you contact your local Stessco dealer and hear the price you will be pleasantly surprised.
If you wish to read over the full range of features available with the Stessco Bowrider 520 then visit – http://www.stessco.com.au/
This is a pretty good review.
Thanks Mate