The Northbank 500C may be an excellent choice as your first boat, but perhaps more importantly, it could be a strong contender as your last!

Most of us start our boating careers in modest trailer boats that are easy to tow, simple to handle and functional in a great many aquatic environments. But then we get the big boat syndrome, introducing all sorts of added costs and concerns. Most Aussie boaters want a reliable, comfortable, family-friendly boating package that’s easy to tow and reasonably priced with terrific resale. Above all, it has to be safe and a lot of fun.

Northbank Boats from South Australia

Introducing the Northbank 500C, a boat built on generations of experience but with fresh appeal. Northbank uses a “more is better” attitude in their range of practical designs from 5 - 7.5 metres. Many years ago, I predicted that Northbank Boats would be the market leaders of the next decade due to their down-to-earth, honest convictions, and they have stood true to my predictions.

Eyes turned everywhere as I towed the lovely little Northbank 500C from the local Melbourne Marine Centre down to the Martha Cove boat ramp. This is a very pretty boat, emphasised by the Pacific Blue colour band that stands proud against high-gloss ivory white gelcoat surfaces. The “C” in the model designation denotes it as a “cuddy cabin,” but I prefer to describe it as a raised runabout with a walk-thru bow. 

There’s nothing really new about the 500C. It’s just a great hull with loads of functional deck design, and I found it refreshing to get back to basics. It stands as a monument to the fact that the amount of fun you have in a boat is definitely not proportionate to the amount you spend.

The 500C features a nineteen-degree deadrise on a genuine 5m hull (5.25 OA) with a 2.5m beam weighing around 580kg (dry). So, by the time you add in the trailer, engine, 60 L fuel, and a bit of gear, you can expect to be towing around 1100 kg, which is well within the realm of most family commuter vehicles.

 Cuddy Cabin

She draws on many long-standing design concepts, including a walk-thru bow for easy access to anchoring, even without an electric winch. There’s a neat little bow sprit, an internal anchor locker, and split bow rail. The walk-thru design is very handy for loading on a river bank, sand bar, or even more permanent lakeside moorings. As a youngster, I used to love fishing from the bow too! A pair of short, cuddy-style upholstered bunks is on either side of the walk-thru with storage cavities below. 

At the rear, the folding engine well flap extends the deck space, gaining precious work area. On either side of the transom, there’s a small upholstered fold-down seat, bait tanks, plus a boarding platform with a ladder for fun water sports. The battery, auto bilge pump, and plumbing are well protected under the transom, and up top is a plug-in fibreglass bait board, stainless steel rod holders, and a small bait compartment.

Standard Boat Upgrades

The dashboard is quite small but very efficient, with a Garmin 7” EchoMap touch screen GPS/plotter/sounder that keeps the bottom in a bumpy sea at full speed. I like the deluxe upholstered bolster seating configuration, particularly the upgrades to the standard pedestal bases. In this package, the passenger swivel seat is mounted to a fibreglass box with a 2-drawer tackle locker, and the driver’s side is mounted on a stainless frame retaining a 45Ltr ice box.

The seats sit relatively high, so I found myself looking through the clears, but I have no issue with that. The bimini and clears provide terrific weather protection and a good sense of security, plus they incorporate a rocket launcher with work lights. The structure folds down easily, creating a low storage height suitable for garages/carports.

Our 500C also featured a GME 27meg radio, key start, switch panel and a single Mercury SmartCraft digital/analogue gauge with flush mount controls for the 75HP 4-stroke outboard. The moulded white gelcoat dash is finished off with a sporty steering wheel and mechanical steering. If you’ve got a few extra bucks to spend, opt for hydraulic steer; it really is just so much nicer and less maintenance.

Stainless Steel Bow & Grab Rails

The passenger side has a stainless steel dashboard grab rail and recessed storage tray with full-length side pockets leading down either side of the deck. The freeboard is at a safe height, and a further recessed grab bar is down either side. Our demo boat had a simple flowcoat floor that is terrific for easy cleaning, but can get slippery when wet, so maybe custom flooring could be the next Chrissy present. Underfloor is a 60 litre fuel tank and a large wet box that is ideal as a kill tank or perhaps wetsuit and tow sports storage.

When I launched the boat, the construction became immediately recognisable. The foam fill and timber substructure provide tremendous acoustic absorbance, resulting in exceptionally low hull noise. I motored out of the Martha Cove entry into a 15-20 knot north westerly blowing in my face and steadily increased the revs, expecting to wear a bow full from the nasty little head sea. To my great surprise, the clears were completely dry about one kilometre later!

I have no hesitation in stating that this is one of the best 5-metre hulls I have had the pleasure to drive. It turns well and feels safe and secure in head, tail, and beam seas, has great stability at rest, and I would have no hesitation in recommending it to a serious fisherman or young family. There is a bit of noise due to the big walk-thru hatch, but that is my only criticism. She’s a wee ripper!

How Does She Go?

The gutsy Mercury 75HP 4-stroke powered the nimble hull easily onto the plane and travelled well at 28 kph (15 knots) at 3200 rpm and using a thrifty 9.5 lph. A bit of throttle saw 38 kph (20.5 knots) at 3800 rpm using 15 lph and cruising comfortably even in the short, sharp slop. The fun really began at 4200 rpm with a brisk 44 kph using 18 lph, with the boat feeling fine, but these old bones started to complain. I tried for Wide Open Throttle, but the best I could get to was about 56 kph (30 knots) at 5000 rpm with more in reserve. I have little doubt that she will do 60 kph in the sweetwater, and this was with a 15” 4-blade SST propeller that did cavitate a little. 

The 75HP Mercury is the smallest in the “Tiger Shark” range of Mercury 2.1 litre in-line 4-cylinder, 4-stroke engines, which are available in 75, 80, 90, and 115 HP. Northbank rates the hull to 90HP, so if you want a little more top end, and perhaps a little more family friendly fun it is worth considering, but do you really need it?

The Wrap! 

In my opinion, the Northbank 500C has just taken line honours in its class! They say that quality never goes out of style, and the 500C is living proof of exceptional Northbank DNA.

Specifications

Length overall: 5.25m

Beam: 2.25m

Weight: BMT approx 1000 kg (dry)

Fuel capacity: 60L

Water capacity: nil

Power:  75 HP Mercury 2.1 litre in-line 4-cylinder, 4-stroke

 

Supplied by: Melbourne Marine Centre, Hallam, Vic 3803

 

Ready to Set Sail? 

Find your dream boat online at Only Boats, and perhaps narrow your search to our cuddy cabin boats for sale! We have many other types of boats for sale, including great deals on used boats and new boats. You can also check out our used boat buying guide.

Smooth sailing starts with the right boat. We’re here to help you find it!  


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