Photos by - John "Bear" Willis


Bear's Best Boat Tests

The story of War Horse tells a tale of strength, courage, loyalty, and mateship through incredible odds at a time when flesh met armour and iron weaponry reigned supreme.  Thankfully, Surtees Boats don’t have to face the mire of the trenches. Still, their armour-plated resilience and dependable fortitude make them the ideal warriors to challenge the rigours of offshore assault.

The tale of War Horse is a story of unfaltering friendship with an unlikely alliance, and that sort of comraderie is forged into the Surtees 610 Pro Fisher centre console. We were lucky enough to ride the beast on quite a blustery day in Port Phillip, where we faced that horrid 20-25 knot nor-wester that may not send the swells of Odin in your path, but instead presents the wind-swept moguls of a short, sharp and rocky path full of pits and troughs that will crumble the foundations of lesser craft.

Our latest offensive in a Surtees 610 Pro Fisher was up to every challenge we threw at it displaying a truly confident attitude with a soft, comfortable ride that would leave most fibreglass boats shivering in its wake. MY Marine’s Theo Rozakis and I could be heard whooping and hollering all over nearby Safety Beach as we played like schoolboys in the slop, gaining way too much air in our flight path..

The Surtees 610 Pro Fisher could be the right decision for a new boat owner with fishing in mind

Flies High and Lands Softly

What a ride—but more so, the incredibly soft landings! You would have expected us to be soaked with the minimal protection of the small console windscreen, and sure, we did cop a bit of spray, but the amount was minimal compared to the drowning we deserved.

I have previously tested Surtees stablemates, the 610 Game Fisher and Workmate Hard Top cuddy configurations, but having the weight centralised transformed this Pro Fisher into a ballistic missile with the surefootedness of a high-country brumby. Its layout allows its riders the ultimate in fishability both offshore and inshore, perhaps even to alpine lakes and extreme top-end exploration.

Surtees says, “The name says it all. Surtees Pro Fisher opens up a whole new experience for fisho’s that want nothing to get in the way of them and their catch.” With the centre console configuration available in six models, from the funky little 495 to the 700 battlewagon, there is sure to be a size to suit your style and budget.

Surtees designs boats for family, fishing and dive customers

Plenty of Fishing Territory

Our 610 Pro Fisher provided 360 degrees of fishing territory with terrific flow throughout. The work area is safely enclosed with high freeboard and surrounded by state-of-the-art fittings and design. As its model designation indicates, it is 6.1 metres in overall length. This includes the full width transom platform with its fin friendly ladder and handy step through transom gate, and includes the convenient bow sprit with its pair of short bow rails and a Lone Star electric anchor winch in the deep well.

The brand has become so familiar that we tend to lose sight of some of the details that make Surtees Boats ideal platforms. Features include the wide combings around the entire hull and the non-skid deck grip right up to the bow to be utilised as a casting platform for dedicated lure tossers. The combings also feature mid-section and rear grab rails, a terrific selection of cast alloy rod holders and most with sinker cups that double as refreshment holders.

The centre console creates a stable forward workplace

Storage is always tricky in centre consoles, yet the 610 Pro fisher features long side pockets, a twin shelf compartment under the dual seating/leaning module and more in the console. Plus, the transom layout is excellent, featuring protected battery and plumbing compartments with two other enclosed cabinets, a fully plumbed live bait tank with the pop-up gateway, and a strong cutting board on top with more rod holders.

The efficient transom layout is ideal with plenty of storage boxes and compartments

Centre Console with T-Top

The actual centre console is quite narrow but very strong and maximises the checkerplate deck space that surrounds it. Overhead is a fully welded T-top with a soft awning and plenty more rod holders combining function with protection. Our demo unit was fitted with a Simrad NSS 12” multi-function GPS/plotter/sounder and VHF radio, binnacle controls and twin analogue/digital instruments for the smooth but gutsy 135HP Honda 4-stroke outboard. There’s a flush mount compass, switch panel, Lenco trim tab controls (that we never needed), anchor winch controls, key start and a gutsy sports steering wheel for the Ultraflex hydraulics.

While it actually feels a bit wider, the 610 hull follows proven design characteristics with its 2260mm beam and is constructed with a bullet-proof 5mm marine alloy bottom and 4mm side panels. The hull weight is considerable at 1300kg and it incorporates the famous Surtees Anti-Roll ballast with Anti-Roll Lock gate optionally adding the mass of another 340 litres of water to the keel, and a large 200 litre fuel tank allowing excellent range. 

Under the floor, Surtees feature Safety Buoyancy Airtight Flotation Compartments with their Tough Deck construction framework and deep-V Razortech hull. To put all that simply, she’s a very well-constructed, safe and soft riding deep-V hull with optional ballast for added ride ability and stability at rest. These smart Kiwis like to call it the 'SiQ' or Surtees IQ and back their constructions with a massive 10 year hull warranty.

Powered By Honda - The World's Largest Engine Manufacturer

Honda's 135HP outboard motor

To be honest I was very surprised that the Honda 135HP DOHC, in-line four-cylinder 4-stroke punched this weighty deep-V out of the hole with total confidence and never lacked for instantaneous power as we pulled off some blood curdling manoeuvres. She impressed with a very even power curve throughout the entire rev range, featuring the smooth acoustics that as are inherent throughout the Honda range. You can opt up to a maximum 150HP should you wish.

It was damn near impossible to get proper performance results in the sloppy conditions as we flew over the top of the crests, but at one point I found a speedy 29knots at 4800RPM using a thrifty 27Lph, giving the package a terrific range of around 193 nautical miles with 10% reserve - and that was working hard in the rough. We even ran sideways across the peaking swell at this speed with the hull displaying truly astounding tracking ability.

Our Kiwi mates Surtees Boats produce quality boats available in Australia

The Wrap

Centre consoles make just so much sense to any keen fisho, or diver for that matter. The amount of functional deck space with 360-degree casting capability plus the weight perfectly balancing the hull in the mid-section creates the opportunity to maximise performance on all levels. Add the strength, ride, stability and refined features of this tried and proven 5mm plate aluminium hull and Surtees have produced a classic package for offshore, inshore and everywhere in between.

Specifications

Length overall: 6.10m
Beam: 2.26m

Weight: 1300kg (dry- hull only)

Fuel capacity: 200L

Water capacity: nil

Power:  Honda BF135 DOHC, in-line four-cylinder, four-stroke outboard

Supplied by: MY Marine, Dromana VIC

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