Reviews

Fi-Glass 540 Cavalier

Fi-Glass has long understood that the key to repeat business is perceived value, and the 540 Cavalier would appear to be just another example of getting much more than you’ve paid for.

Founded in the 1950s, Fi-Glass remains family owned, with Griff
Simpson – son of founder and design visionary Frank Simpson – now
at the helm. The company has produced over 11,000 boats and it is a
tribute to the quality of their workmanship that a large proportion
of those early hulls are still on the water.

Apart from the sheer volume of boats produced, Fi-Glass was also
the pioneer of many innovations we now take for granted: features
like fully moulded cabin tops and closed-cell foam pumped into the
underfloor cavities were adopted by the company at a very early
stage.

Although the company has several very popular models in the 5.3m
size range, the current market calls for something with just a
little more length and especially a bit more beam. So Fi-Glass took
the best features of its ever-popular 580 Lightning, and slightly
downscaled it to make the 540 Cavalier.

From stem to stern

The boat certainly looks impressive, and at first glance seems
bigger than its rated length. The review boat had the optional
Bimini top fitted, which features a really useful zip-out middle
section for times when increased visibility is needed. What really
stood out with this boat was the standard of finish: it looks and
feels like a luxury vessel, despite many of its features having
purely utilitarian origins.

The laminated hull comes with a six-year structural warranty and
is of course CPC-rated. The transom is Klegecell foam cored, so
there is no wood anywhere to cause worries about future rot. All
underfloor buoyancy chambers are foam filled, so even if the hull
is seriously damaged the boat would still remain afloat.

The forward cabin of this boat is equally impressive, with good
length luxury squabs. Although not intended as a serious
overnighter, these could provide a comfortable night’s sleep for
two people, and the clever privacy screen closes off the cabin from
the elements. The cabin interior is fully carpeted, and a very
generous padded parcel shelf is larger than most.

The forward hatch provides easy access to the anchor locker,
which is hidden under a large bow hatch that cleverly covers the
anchor bollard and part of the fairlead, leaving clean,
obstruction-free lines for all to appreciate.

Back in the main cabin, the luxury feel continues. The helm
position is a pedestal-mounted, fully-upholstered seat, with a
similarly upholstered king-and-queen arrangement on the port side.
The passenger seats lift up to reveal storage space underneath, and
there are moulded footrests for both forward-facing seats.

The helm station itself is smartly laid out, with a
carbon-fibre-look finish trim. The review boat had a Garmin GPS map
551s chartplotter/sounder fitted, although there is sufficient
space to fit a larger unit if preferred. Steering is hydraulic with
proportional torque feedback, a feature that allows the skipper to
feel when the engine is correctly trimmed while retaining
feather-light steering.

The cockpit floor is covered with marine carpet, which clips out
for cleaning. A sizeable underfloor wet storage locker holds gear
or the catch, while the side pockets, running the whole length of
the cockpit, are carpet-lined and also have racks fitted for safely
holding fishing rods, gaff or boat hook.

Padded seats are fitted to each side of the transom, bringing
the total seating capacity of the boat to five. A clip-on padded
cover hides the space under the transom where the batteries and
25-litre tote tanks are stored. A 90-litre underfloor fuel tank
(huge for a vessel in this class) is also available as an
option.

Versatility

Only two rod holders are installed – one on each gunwale at the
stern – indicating this boat, while not really being intended as a
hard-core fishing machine, is up to taking a few fresh fillets over
the side. Two Talon receivers are fitted into the transom, enabling
a variety of accessories, such as drink holders or additional rod
holders, to be fitted. The cleats in each gunwale are recessed,
making the gunwale a comfortable place to sit while fishing.

Fi-Glass has long understood that a versatile boat needs to
appeal to the whole family, and for this reason, this Cavalier had
a ski pole fitted. A clever catch enables a bait board to be
clamped around the pole and is just one example of the innovative
ways the designers have made the most of the limited space.

There is no step-through onto the boarding platform, but either
side seat can be used to step up and over. A boarding ladder is
fitted to the starboard side, and the boarding area has a non-slip
pattern moulded into it. The area is not huge, but given the modest
size of this boat it is more than adequate.

Recommended horsepower for the hull is between 90 and 115hp, and
the review boat had a 90hp Mercury two-stroke fitted. Gary Hatton
from Auckland Marine Centre says that despite the hype about
four-strokes they still sell 60 percent of their boats with a
two-stroke power plant. The difference in price for this size motor
between two and four stroke is around $5500. Based on typical
recreational use, it could take more than five years of operation
before the higher fuel usage outweighs the lower initial cost. Of
course, these carbureted two-strokes don’t have the low emissions
ratings of four-strokes, so that is something else to consider.

On the water

It was a fine spring day when we slipped the Fi-Glass off its
single-axle trailer at Auckland’s Westhaven marina (Fi-Glass make
their own trailers, ensuring the trailer perfectly matches the
boat). And as we fired up the Mercury and soon glided out, heading
under the harbour bridge, conditions were very good, with only a
slight chop and almost no swell. Heading out into the wind we got
absolutely no spray on the windscreen, unlike the photo boat that
took occasional splashes over the bow.

The Mercury two-stroke was not overly noisy, although it
certainly made more noise than a four-stroke would have. The other
boat on the water was an aluminum boat, and it was remarkable to
compare the quietness of a foam-filled fibreglass hull with an
unlined alloy boat. As is normal for a carbureted two-stroke, there
was a small amount of smoke, especially when idling, but this
disappeared when we got going.

Once at the photo spot, we threw the boat around a bit. The
three planing strakes on each side meant the boat got up out of the
hole quickly, and the 90hp motor had power to spare. We didn’t
measure top speed but we certainly got well over 30 knots with two
adults on-board and with revs to play with. There seems little
reason to go for a larger motor, although if you put the ski pole
to its intended use, you may want that extra power.

Sharp turns were smooth and comfortable, with the chines coming
into play and ‘biting’ the water as the boat heels over – there is
almost no side-slip. Those same chines kept the spray low and away
from the boat, and not a single drop of saltwater landed on the
curved acrylic windscreen.

We did not have many waves to play in, but a passing ferry
enabled us to get briefly airborne. The hull carved smoothly
through the wake, thanks to the 22-degree variable deadrise. That
same feature accounted for the landing being something of a
non-event, remarkable for a hull with so many planing strakes.

Stability at rest is not bad for a boat with a 2.2m beam. At one
point, we transferred from one boat to the other and had three
adults on the same side of the Cavalier. The degree of lean was
entirely within comfortable limits, and this is not a boat that is
going to give you an unpleasant surprise.

The verdict

Overall, the Cavalier 540 is a very impressive boat package,
punching well above its weight. The standard of finish is
excellent; the boat looks extremely smart and roomy, almost too
smart to take fishing, although the removable carpets making
cleaning an easy task. On the other hand, it is impressive enough
to take your boss or a client out for ride – not to mention the
“significant other”!

For more information contact Gary Hatton at Auckland
Marine Centre, ph 09 579 7981 or visit
www.fi-glass-com
.

Specifications Fi-Glass 540
Cavalier
LOA 5.4m Beam 2.2m Deadrise 22 o (variable)
Recommended horsepower 90-130hp Trailerable weight (less motor)
820kg (approx) People 5 Price as tested $42,990

Rating Fi-Glass 540 Cavalier
Fishability 3.5 Ride quality 4.0 Versatility 3.5 Stability 3.5
Value for money 4.0 Finish 4.5 X-factor 4.0

Plus Upmarket finish Smooth ride

Minus Carbureted two-stroke smoke Lack of rod
holders

Photography: Norman Holtzhausen

Previous ArticleNext Article
Send this to a friend