Drago Sunday Fisher

Chatting to so many people in various pockets of the boat trade you inevitably pick up snippets of gossip. One of the most recent being good things said about the Drago Sunday Fisher, an 18ft fishing cruiser.

One of the things that is coming across from feedback of the boats we’re reviewing is that individual buyers are more and more looking for craft that they can use with the family as well as catch fish from. To some extent the same applies to two man angling partnerships that buy the boat between them, they want proper accommodation and more comfort for weekend trips.

On paper the Sunday Fisher certainly has all the criteria, so I was looking forward to a day testing out from Lymington in Hampshire with lads from Severn Valley Boat Centre of Stourport-on-Severn who are the sole distributors for Drago here in the UK, and also working in conjunction with BHG Marine Ltd, Lymington who are the main dealer for Drago boats.

ALL AT SEA
I’d got a good test day. A stiff northerly wind was whipping across the sea which looked short and confused with a few white tops evident further out. It was bitterly cold too!

I was getting my gear ready, but watched the lads launch the boat. It’s dead easy with two of you, and looks easy enough for just one person if you’re organised. She’s easy to relocate on the trailer too. No problems there!

Leaving the wheel to Roger Page, the Managing Director at Severn Valley Boat Centre, as we slowly motored out through the navigation channel I used this opportunity to wander about on deck checking out the stability of the craft. Moving my weight around to each gunnel saw little appreciable movement regards lateral stability, and keeping my eye on the helmsman he needed no correction to counteract my weight, the craft keeping a steady course.

You have acres of room for two guys and all their gear, and still plenty of space to fish four people when required. I also felt safe on deck with the boat underway as the gunnels are good and high.

What makes this boat that bit different is that you have a walk in cabin. This gives the boat a feeling of being much bigger than it really is, plus it increases the comfort factor and you can fish sat inside the cabin during bad weather and only brave the elements when a fish bites.

Once out to sea, I jumped in to the helm seat. The Sunday Fisher test boat was fitted with the new Yamaha 50hp Four-Stroke Fuel Injection engine which had less than ten hours on it. Nevertheless when I eased the throttle forward the boat came rapidly on the plane and once she’d settled at a steady momentum I eased the throttle back a touch and let her run on in a straight line with the wind and sea direction. The ride is steady and predictable. There is some hull chatter, but noise levels are minimal even with the open cabin, and it was a very bumpy sea we were skipping across.

Choosing a particularly nasty area of short sea I eased back the throttle and swung the boat around. We were still going quite quickly and I glanced back during the peak arc of turn both looking and feeling for any sign of major lean and especially to find out if the stern showed any sign of slipping. Nothing to report here, the hull has great grip sticking like gum to a footpath when powering through tight turns.

Taking a straight course and increasing speed we were now punching directly in to the wind and waves. I was impressed how little spray reaches back to the windscreen. The wind was touching a force 5 out here, yet only the odd splash made it on to the windows.

Risking the wrath of Roger, I left the power on and made the boat really attack a couple of bigger waves that conveniently loomed up in front of me. This V hull cut through the first smaller wave smoothly, but had no choice than to hit the whole weight of the next wave full on. The boat barely felt the impact, but took the wave on the chin, pushed the wave either side, gave no spray back the cabin, and pushed through with minimal hesitation. Normally I’d read a wave of this size and ease back on the throttle, but it was a good test manoeuvre and will tell you the strength of a boat to some extent too highlighting any judder through the main structure.

Bringing her around again I took a course that saw us run parallel with the wave pattern. This can often cause the helmsman to work hard having to continually correct the course as waves push against the full length of the hull. The Drago holds her course well, just occasional adjustments of the wheel being needed to get her back on track. Running the leading edge of some of the bigger waves the boat showed no sign of slipping away from steep wave and remained stable for anyone on deck to retain a comfy ride, and this was at a good speed too.

I positioned the boat up for a short drift through some lumpy water, pulled the throttle back in to neutral and watched how the wind affected the drift of the boat as the wind pushed on the cabin. The bow comes around to lie nicely just off the wind, but once she’d found this angle held that position comfortably. She was also stable on deck and is an easy platform to work from while drifting.

Leaving minimum throttle on and working with a following sea pushing us along the boat again held a steady course with barely any wheel correction needed.

Sticking poor Roger back on the wheel, I got him to back the boat hard in to the oncoming waves. A short bulb of water builds up and washes in to the splash well and out again. Next to nothing came back up over the transom to reach me stood on deck by the transom.

Me at wheel again, you have excellent all round vision when seated in the helm seat with the massive side screen windows superb for close quarter manoeuvres when up against pontoons and other structures you’re about to moor to. I did notice that when you stand you do touch the cabin roof with your head, and I’m only 5’10”, so anyone taller would need to bend at the knee to stand upright for better vision if you were caught out in big seas, or looking for lobster pot buoys in dense early morning fog. The throttle lever is also at a comfy level when sat, with the helm seat comfy and all the instruments and switches easily accessible.

I hadn’t got the sea state to really open the boat up, plus the engine was almost straight out of wraps, but I’ve been quoted a top speed of 32mph for the Sunday Fisher and Yamaha 50hp Four-Stroke with fuel consumption around 17 litres. I guess shell cruise easily around 25mph, which would also reduce your overall fuel consumption.

I’d really enjoyed my test of this boat and can see why tongues have been wagging about the Sunday Fisher.

BUILD FEATURES
All the Drago range of boats are hand built to a high standard with many fixtures and fittings made in the one Athens factory. Just looking around the boat with her sat back on the trailer the overall finish is very good with neat lines and no mould blemishes that can be part of parcel of some British built craft.

She sports a full length stainless steel pulpit rail leading from the cabins rear edge, plus carries a stainless steel bow roller and stainless Sampson post for tying off.

The cabin roof on the test boat has stainless safety rails either side. The walkway alongside the cabin some may feel is slightly narrow and it does mean that should you need access to the bow when at sea, you have to lean out slightly over the water when holding the safety rails. I don’t have a problem with this as I’d be tied on, but it is a test review and I need to mention this. It is though a common thing with many boats.

The cabin roof offers masses of room for adding a gantry to house aerials, GPS locators or radar. I also understand there is a rocket launcher type rod carrier available too. The cabin edges also have vertically stainless grab handles in place.

The windscreens are divided in to three facing forward and tinted, located in tough looking alloy frames and screwed in place with stainless screws.

There is a small step built in to the gunnel at the cabin rear for access to the bow and deck, also for stepping off the boat. The self-draining deck has a deeply stippled finish to it to create excellent grip, even when wet. The gunnels are upper hip high for on deck security and each gunnel has a small in built storage shelf centrally located.

The transom houses an upholstered seat built in to each stern corner, the starboard side under seat area carrying the battery box on the test boat. These have storage space underneath with the actual seat removable. The transom middle offers a large storage locker and carries the remote fuel tank, with easy deck access. You also have stainless safety rails around each stern corner, with a stainless T cleat for tying off to. There is also a dive ladder available, plus an auxiliary engine bracket.

The open cabin gives easy access straight off the deck and in to the forward accommodation area. There are two upholstered swivel seats with back supports. The helm console has direct vision for the helmsman of all the instruments and gives easy access to the switch panel, this being on the starboard side of the wheel. The wheel is a round car type, but offers excellent grip and comfort during long range trips. The throttle lever is on the starboard side and at a comfy working position.

Above the console is an area ideal for fixing your compass, Fish Finder and GPS unit too, also your VHF, though I suspect many buyers would choose to mount the VHF on a bracket off the cabin roof in front of the helm seat. This wide shelf area extends along the width of the whole screen, but also has a recessed area built in to it on the port side for carrying small items like pens etc. There is also storage shelves built in to the cabin sides either side of the seats.

Access to the accommodation is through a hinged tinted door opening to port. The inner cabin area offers a double bunk and storage faculties, plus a full length shelf area either side. The bunk is upholstered in blue, with the cabin walls and ceiling covering in white. You also have an escape hatch/air vent and small tinted side screens for natural light to enter.

What really struck me was that they’ve made maximum use of the space available. You have lots of storage space, easy access from cabin to deck, plus comfortable and roomy accommodation. The cabin is also easy to work with, with everything close at hand, yet nothing in the way to make clutter.

Two guys taking a weekend fishing trip can fish in real comfort, and if you’ve the family aboard for the day, there is more than enough space to accommodate a family of four.

THINGS I MIGHT CHANGE
The 50hp Yamaha works really well with the boat, especially if the bulk of your fishing will be relatively close in, but I think offshore anglers would probably choose a bigger 70hp unit, some going the whole hog for the maximum rated 90hp unit. I’d go with the 70hp myself. The speed is not the issue, though there would be obvious gains, but for long range trips a bigger engine does not need to work as hard for the same effect, especially if you’re loaded with fishing gear and supplies, or working with three or four anglers aboard.

I did notice that at the base of the windows where the alloy frames are there are open holes which, in big seas if you took water over the bow, would potentially let water through inside and on to the inner cabin shelf area. It’s a minor thing, but I’d feel happier if these were plugged to stop any chance of water ingress.

I seem to mention this with most boats these days, but the navigation lights are set low down below the wind screens on the cabin sides. I’d prefer my nav lights high up on the cabin roof side edge and my steaming light on a vertical bar for maximum visual identification at night.

Inside the cabin a small grab handle positioned conveniently on the port side console area would be useful for the passenger when travelling in heavy seas.

There were no rod holders on the test boat, but you have loads of room on the gunnels and transom to fix in what you need.

All very minor points and easily adjusted if you have the same ideas as me.

The boat is capable of fishing far offshore in good weather, with the turn of speed to get home again if you’re running before the weather. At the same time, it can tackle seas far worse than the helmsman will.

Fishing wise, take your choice, it can handle the lot. I see it especially ideal for long range day trips to wrecks or for offshore shark fishing, for which it would be bang on. Its shallow draft also makes it suitable for shallow reef bassing, tope fishing over the banks, and reef fishing for general species. It’s also a good choice for anglers wanting to fish through the winter time. The cabin area gives full shelter from the elements, but being open gives quick access to the rods.

I feel this boat will be a big seller over here and become a common site moored in our marinas and harbours!

TECHNICAL SECIFICATIONS
Length: 5.4mtrs
Beam: 2.08 mtrs
Draft: 0.40mtrs
Cabin Height: 1.45mtrs
Weight: 500kgs
Maximum Engine: 90hp
CE category: C

CONTACTS

SOLE DISTIBUTORS
Severn Valley Boat Centre, Mart lane, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, DY13 9ER. Tel: 01299 871165 Fax: 01299 871165. E-mail: sales@severnboat.co.uk or drago@severnboat.co.uk Website: www.severnboat.co.uk . Ask for Roger Page or Matt Knowles.

They can also advise you on alternative Yamaha engine packages for the Sunday Fisher, as well as all other boating essentials.

Finance can also be arranged, if required.

MAIN DEALER
Paul Martin, BHG Marine Ltd, Ampress Park, Southampton Road, Lymington, Hants, SO41 8LW. Tel: 0845 644 6645/01590 613600. Fax: 0845 644 6635. E-mail: paulmartin@bhg-marine.co.uk Website: www.bhg-marine.co.uk

BHG can also advise on alternative Yamaha engine packages for the Sunday Fisher, as well as all other boating essentials, plus organise suitable finance packages.