Reviews

Boat test: Foveaux Custom 9m

There's something new brewing in the Deep South. Matthew Jones headed to Bluff to check out Foveaux Boat's brand-spanking-new Custom 9m demonstrator, aptly named "The Demo"

Weather conditions: 20-30 knots W

Sea state: Morderate – rough

They breed ’em tough in Bluff – they have to or they won’t
survive the harsh conditions, and the same goes for their boats.
You don’t have to live there, or have even been there, to know how
treacherous Foveaux Strait can be – the news headlines are tragic
and all too frequent. I admit to being both excited and just a
little bit nervous when I got asked to venture to “Land’s End” to
take a demonstrator from a brand-new boat building company for a
test spin in the notorious waters of Foveaux Strait. And with a
turbulent patch of water at the entrance to Bluff Harbour – named
“Hell’s Gate” – and treacherous rocks, with names like “The
Widowmaker,” I had good reason to be. But I was confidently assured
she was built for Bluff and Bluff conditions. Indeed, Foveaux
Boats’ advert read, “No-obligation sea trial welcome. Rougher days
preferred!” So I eagerly packed my bags and headed South.

Who is Foveaux Boats? Foveaux Boats is a new
division of the Port Maintenance Group. However, it’s fair to say
it’s been around for a while, with over 40 years’ experience in the
marine and engineering industries. The team is a versatile bunch,
specialising in fabrication, marine engineering, repairs, surveys,
salvage, wharf construction, container repairs and, as if that’s
not enough, they also fix oil rigs. Workshop manager Che Watt
convinced managing director John Roderique to open up the cheque
book and put Watt’s boat building and aluminium fabrication skills
to good use. The nod was given in September, aluminium specialist
Jason Elvines from Pro Kit Industries was engaged to draw the plans
and after a bit of toing and froing to get the look and feel just
right, The Demo went into construction in early October. Watt is
something of a one-man boat building machine and once the CNC- cut
pieces arrived in Bluff, it only took him a couple of months in the
shed to construct and fit-out Foveaux Boats’ maiden demonstrator,
with the champagne bottle smashed just in time for Christmas.

Fisher, diver, weekender Watt’s goal was to
produce a tough yet sleek-looking trailer boat that could be used
for both pleasure and commercial boating ventures. He’s certainly
ticked the boxes, and where I think this boat really excels is in
it’s capabilities as a serious year-round diving platform. The
cockpit area has ample room to cater for half a dozen bubble
blowers, with plenty of underfloor storage to stow the tanks.
Access over the side is excellent from either the nice wide gunnels
or the generous dive ladder built into the Portofino duckboard
railing. With 350 litres of go-juice under the floor, the plentiful
hunting grounds of Stewart Island are well within reach for a
weekend away – what could be better than climbing on board after a
successful dive, having a nice hot shower and then chucking a
couple of crays on the barbecue with a cold one in hand? Once the
wetsuits are off, the menu can be further enhanced with some fresh
fillets, aided by the huge bait board and no less than 17 rod
holders! The full-length canvas awning provides excellent
protection from the elements but the trade-off is that access to
the rocket launcher is impeded and casting room is impacted. In the
Deep South, shelter from the elements takes precedence and you’d be
hard pressed to find anyone with one of those wimpy little
soft-bait rods down these parts anyway. The tread-plate cockpit
floor has been raised to provide additional buoyancy, and while
it’s easy to clean, it’s a little lacking in the comfort
department. Watt is planning to add tube floor matting to their
second boat, with Tek Dek synthetic teak as an option, too.

Family time A true sign of a versatile boat is
one that’s rugged enough to handle the punishment of taking the
lads fishing, while remaining comfortable enough to take the family
away for some quality time as well. This boat bridges the gap well.
While there are only four berths available on the demonstrator,
Watt has plans to almost double the number in Fouveaux’s next
vessel. It’s family-friendly with both the cabin and cockpit areas
able to be securely closed off. The separate toilet and shower
provides some personal space and privacy, which mum is sure to find
appealing. Whipping up a quick feed can be done on the gas hob or
barbecue, which mounts on the bait board out the back. Watt got to
enjoy the fruits of his labour taking his wife and one-year-old son
on a thorough test run through Cromwell, Wanaka, Queenstown and Te
Anau lakes over the Christmas break. With its “Green Envy” and
Nyalic paint job, sleek menacing lines and one hell of an outboard
bolted to the back, I’m told The Demo drew attention wherever she
went.

One hell of a good ride Conditions on the test
day weren’t quite what I was expecting, given the good forecast
when the flights were booked. The computer screen told me to expect
a brilliant sunny day and 10-15 knots from the West, but the real
world dished up 20 knots, gusting 30, with the odd squall and a few
hailstones for good measure! To the guy with the camera and a
return ticket booked that evening, it’s the stuff heart attacks are
made of, but to Watt it was the perfect opportunity to showcase The
Demo’s capabilities. Figuring I may as well make the most of the
conditions, I asked Watt whether he was adverse to demolishing a
few of the swells rolling through Foveaux Strait and, in true
southern style, my request was met with a smile and the reply,
“Yep, that’ll be good as”. After witnessing many a wave come off
second best to her fine entry and rock solid construction, I was
eager to have a play for myself – and I wasn’t disappointed.
Sitting comfortably in the helm seat, with one hand on the
throttle, the other on the wheel and 300 supercharged horses
waiting to be unleashed never gets boring. The Mercury 300hp Pro
outboard quietly went about its business and had power to burn,
launching nine metres of boat out of the hole remarkably quickly.
The Smartcraft DTS throttle system was ultra smooth and responsive,
which made controlling all that power an enjoyable and rewarding
experience. With the change in tide, Hell’s Gate was beginning to
fire up, presenting the perfect opportunity to test the ride. This
boat really is built tough and charging through Hell and back with
1-2m of swell and wind against tide slop at WOT was quite
comfortable, with absolutely no moans or groans from the unyielding
hull. The visibility through the large treated glass windows was
excellent and any spray we took over the windscreen simply beaded
off. An unfortunate warranty issue with the outboard trim unit
meant I couldn’t unleash the boat’s full potential, which was a
shame. Watt tells me he managed 37 knots out of her before the trim
unit pulled a sickie. Included in the price is a great looking
twin-axle trailer, complete with cab-assisted electric brakes. At
just under three-tonne on the trailer, you will need a suitable
towing vehicle but you’ll be rewarded with access to all the best
spots around. After returning from giving The Demo a thorough
workout, the owner of the B&B I was staying in (with a great
view of the harbour) commented that someone ” … was really going
for it in that green boat out there today, it looked like a lot of
fun,” to which I replied with a grin, “It sure was!”

The final word Built for Bluff and the harsh
conditions that frequent the south coast, The Demo answers its
design brief very well. There’s no mistaking that this is a serious
boat: serious construction, serious power and serious capabilities.
Foveaux Boats are masters of aluminium engineering and are happy to
custom build your dream boat from seven metres upwards. I’m looking
forward to seeing the second Foveaux Boat roll out of the shed, and
if the planned modifications are anything to go by, number two
should be a good number, too.

For more information on the Foveaux Boats Custom 9m
contact Che (pronounced “Shay”) at Foveaux Boats, ph 03 212 7674 or
mobile 027 225 8274.

SPECIFICATIONS FOVEAUX BOATS CUSTOM 9M

Designer Jason Elvines

LOA 9.0m

Beam 2.6m

Material Marine grade aluminium

Thicknesses 6mm hull, 4mm sides and 3-4mm
hardtop

Hull weight 1450kg (approx)

Towing weight 2880kg (approx)

Deadrise 18o

Engine Mercury 300hp Pro four-stroke

Fuel capacity 350L

Water capacity 120L

Priced from $200,000 plus GST ($230,000
including) approx

Price as reviewed $240,000 plus GST ($276,000
including) approx

 

WE LIKE – The private, separate toilet and
shower Comfortable family-friendly
accommodation  Wave-smashing performance
with a soft and predictable ride  Great
looking and functional helm set-up

WE DON’T LIKE – The line between the polished
aluminium keel and the Nyalic coating could be more refined

Photography: Matthew Jones

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