See this sturdy fisher on the water
- This is the first time the popular 640 Fisherman has been fitted with a diesel inboard
- 640 Fisherman diesel option gives fuel efficiency and range, and improves fishing access at the transom.
- Four-stroke, 150hp Mercury Verado engine uses around four litres an hour
- Construction is marine grade alloy with 3-year warranty
- Ideal for those who favour range over speed
The 640 Fisherman Hardtop has always been powered by outboards. But a Blenheim owner recently opted to fit his new 640 with a diesel inboard – and loves the result.
The engine is a Cummins Mercruiser QSD 2.0, a 150hp, four-cylinder, turbo-charged, common rail power plant, mated to an Alpha stern leg.
Compared with an outboard rig, there’s a significant weight difference. Together, the QSD and Alpha leg weigh 322kg. A four-stroke, 150hp Mercury Verado tips the scales at 231kg.
The standard 640 is a fairly large fishing platform. The engine box is dominant, but doesn’t encroach too much on overall cockpit space. There is a generous bait board on top of the box – at a perfect height.
The engine box also offers maintenance benefits: it hinges forward, giving excellent access for checking batteries, fan-belts, coolant and oil levels.
There’s easy access from the cockpit on to the platform via the port-side step-through. The transom cage gate is cleverly incorporated into the structure, and hinges down and becomes the boarding ladder.
Performance
The engine comes with Mercury’s SmartCraft gauges, and consumption is around four litres an hour.
The Furuno’s GPS readings showed the 640 cruising at 34 km/h (3000 rpm), burning 14.3 litres/hour. At WOT (4000 rpm), it did 52 km/h, burning 33 litres/hour.
The diesel doesn’t provide the same acceleration you’d expect from a 150hp Verado, but it has plenty of torque. It drives the 640 on to the plane easily, and the boat cruises effortlessly. Fitted with counterbalancer shafts for reduced vibration, it runs smoothly.
The engine’s not particularly quiet (but is unobtrusive with the cabin door shut), and there’s no hint of diesel fumes. In terms of its emissions, it’s EPA Tier 2, IMO and RCD compliant.
Construction
Construction is marine grade alloy and incorporates 5mm bottoms, 4mm sides and top, a fully-welded 4mm tread plate floor for buoyancy, 5mm chines and a full-length keel wear strip. The burnished alloy is Nyalic coated and all McLay boats are covered by a comprehensive three-year warranty.
The boat has an enclosed hardtop, and in the cabin you’ll find plenty of storage. All other surfaces are carpeted or lined.
The helm station instrumentation is uncluttered and the view is unimpeded.
To read the full review on the 640 Fisherman Hardtop plus other boats like this see the latest issue of Trade-A-Boat magazine, on sale now at all good retailers.
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See McLay 640s for sale online here.