Cobra 525

The Cobra 525 from Caldy Marine in Tenby, West Wales is a catamaran design, and for that is almost unique in this 17/18-foot size category here in the UK.

Boats in this 17 to 18-foot size are my favourites for all round sea angling. Given a good design they have the stability and sea keeping qualities to work far offshore, plus they offer more room with comfort to fish from. They are also not too heavy to launch and retrieve thanks to the new modern trailer designs. The choice of boats in this sizing is growing fast, and I see this size of craft becoming the most popular bought brand new angling boat in the long term.

The catamaran hull is proven in the rough waters of South African and Australia, and offers something relatively new to the UK small boat offshore angler, but with that proven track record from overseas.

TEST TIME
I'd done a little homework on the boat before heading down to Tenby and found out that this 525 is designed to take twin engines up to 90hp. This particular 525 was armed with twin Tohatsu 50hp 2-stroke Low Pressure TI DI's. This is the minimum engine size combination for this boat. Fire up the engines and you're instantly aware how quiet they are. They just purr away in the background.

Heading out under light throttle the boat is responsive pretty much straight off. The helm position is good, and with the low screen gives true all round visibility. I chose to stand, but you can steer with good visibility even when seated. The throttles are at a comfortable compromise position for people of all heights and you can see your instruments easily with just a slight lean back needed for full clarity if you're tall and standing up.

Easing the throttles forward gently the boat just perceptibly lifts herself in the water. Shove them all the way forward and the boat leaps out of the hole like a missile and gets straight on to the plane. Checking speed against the GPS we were edging 20-knots at 4500 RPM and 25-knots at 5000. What the heck would it be like with the twin 90's on? They reckon speeds approaching 40-knots are achievable with the 90's, and boy, could I live with that!

Staying on the power and finding a little more bump on the sea, added to by the wash of a passing boat, I shoved here nose through the waves. These cats just cut the wave clean in half with minimal bump as the wave parts. This is such a comfy ride! The boat will not appreciably rock from side to side as you attack the waves staying almost totally flat. No white knuckles on this baby!

Taking her at speed almost beam on to the waves was little different. The hull cants over slightly then stops and holds steady. Turning at speed produces limited lean and she steers like she's on rails. The hull grips the water even when you tighten the turning circle half way through by winding the wheel a little more. No sign of skid at the stern!

I backed her in to oncoming waves under power but couldn't get water to climb in to the transom. Conditions were not rough, granted, but this manoeuvre will highlight any weakness regards water flooding back in to the transom.

With the waves on the stern and under minimal power the hull stays pretty much on a true course. This hull will be reassuringly predictable in a following sea, and after testing I figure will hold pretty much full on to her given course even with a sea forcing itself on the stern quarter at an angle if you balance the power to the sea state.

Shutting off the power and letting her drift, because the vessel has such a low profile it holds steady and is easy to set up for drifting a tight course over a bank or mark. Something else you notice is the lack of hull noise. Handy if you're fishing shallow ground for bass. Three of you on the one side sees minimal lean and you've no problem two of you hanging over the side to grab a big tope and haul it aboard for photos before release.

The hull does not lose steerage to any noticeable degree when tight manoeuvring under light throttle. She is easy to park at the pontoon or on the mooring.

Tohatsu figure fuel consumption to be about 5 gallons per engine, per hour at 5800 RPM for the 50hp units. Running between 4500 and 4800 is a good compromise and will keep fuel rates down but give good speed.

LAYOUT
Taking the stern section first there is a stand on platform between the motors. This useful addition means you have easy access to the motors if need be and you can also use the platform to net fish. In the middle of the inner splash well is an easy access live bait tank for mackerel and sandeel.

Either side of the live bait tank are stainless steel U shaped frames carrying flat tops holding rod holders for trolling. If you troll for bass and pollack you'll like these, though for shark and static fishing you might prefer standard tube type rod holders. These waist high frames also add to the security when working the rear deck area.

There are twin battery lockers positioned in each stern corner, each motor having it's own independent power source. Essential when running twin power units and venturing any distance offshore.

The gunnels have grey topsides with a high hip height stainless steel safety rail. This gives real safety and security when on deck and is something Caldy Marine chose to fit themselves. There is also a short grab handle on each gunnel top situated in the middle, plus two rod holders fitted flush in the topside.

The deck is covered with Flotex carpet covering. This is industrial grade carpeting that resists wear and tear and is washable. The lads at Caldy Marine fish from the bigger Cobra 625 regularly, and I checked for any carpet damage on this boat, but it looked as a good as new after months of hard wear.

The middle deck houses a 2-feet deep locker with cushion seating on. This can take fendering or personal clothing etc, but I'd stow my lifejackets and safety gear here, as it's central for everyone aboard. This locker is removable if you prefer an open deck format. Either side of this are fish lockers with separate drainage hatches. The fish lockers are big and with easy access.

Up towards the helm you have seat lockers either side with cushion seating. These take the portable fuel tanks as well as give additional storage space.

Seated at the helm the sports type wheel is comfortable to hold and has good grip if you're hands are wet. Instruments are positioned either side of the steering console and are easy to see. Above the steering console is a covered hinged hatch locker to take your electrics. An excellent feature! The throttles are placed on the starboard side at a comfy height. Below the steering console is a massive locker capable of taking large amounts of equipment.

A second locker the same size sits under the passenger console, and there is another covered hatch locker above for further protective storage, and a flat area for extra fixing points above that.

On the immediate port side of the passenger seat is a wooden fixed rod wrack capable of taking four rods vertically.

In the middle of the console you have an access way to get to the bow section. The bulkhead of this houses a cracking three pull out drawer storage unit with a tray storage unit in the top. This is ideal for spare tackle etc. the lads couldn't remember the name of the tree the wood comes from, but it's ultra tough and harder than oak apparently, but needs no maintenance due to natural oils within the wood.

The dark tinted windows are built on a stainless steel frame. Both helm and passenger windows have deflectors at the top designed to sheer off water as it runs up the screen at speed. These work very well and stop any residual spray getting at you. The middle window has a latch opening to allow the window to swing sideways giving full upper body access to reach the bow and anchor rope.

The bow sports a bow locker for rope and anchorage storage, stainless pedestal cleat and stainless bow roller. A safety rail runs down either side of the bow, but is split in the middle for hauling the anchor.

THINGS I MIGHT CHANGE
The bow safety rail is not very high. If you got an anchor stuck or needed to work up on the bow in a pitching sea, then another 6-inches height on the rail would give you lots more security.

I'd go for rod holder tubes set in the tops of the transom rod frames instead of the South African type trolling holders. Hardly a big list!

CONCLUSION
I really enjoyed my time in the 525. She's an easy boat to work and steer and doesn't throw any nasty surprises at you when it comes to handling her. She'll fish four, though I'd go with two, occasionally three myself as I like lots of room, but even with four aboard she is stable and there's no need to think before you move about for fear of instability.

The deck area is easy to work from and you have the option of removing that central locker if you prefer. You can reach fish from both the stern and the gunnel if need be.

What stands out is the performance of these catamaran hulls. With just the minimum engine recommendation this boat absolutely flies along. Stick the twin 90hp units on the back and you've a real dragster of a boat that in flat calm seas will get you 10 miles off in 15 minutes, but has the ability to work her way home in roughening seas.

I also noticed that the overall finish was pretty damn good to say the least. All the Cobra range are excellent, but I think the 525 is the bread and butter boat for the South African company and they spend just those extra few minutes on them for that reason.

VITAL STATISTICS
LOA: 5.25 Metres
BEAM: 2,35 Metres
CONSTRUCTION: GRP
FLOTATION: Bottles
WEIGHT: 740Kg
RATED MINIMUM HP: 2 x 50hp
RATED MAXIMUM HP: 2 x 90hp
POWER AS TESTED: 2 x 50hp Motors

PRICE
Price wise, then the test package with the twin 50hp Tohatsu's fuel injection outboard engines retails for £19,495 including a breakback trailer, plus VAT. Caldy have also organised a finance package subject to status.

CONTACT DETAILS
Contact Caldy Marine, Ilford House, Broadwell Haze, Tenby, South Wales, SA7 8DC. Tel: 01834 845067