Explorer Fast Bass 22

I’d first got word of the  Fast Bass 22 during the test day of the now highly popular Explorer Elite.  Brian Atherton of Explorer mentioned to me in conversation then that on the  horizon for them was the development of a bigger boat suitable for longer range  fishing trips with a crew of four aboard.

Some of the ideas that came  from Brian in that conversation got me really intrigued and he promised me  there and then that when the boat became reality we would be the first aboard.  It’s taken a couple of years, but true to his word that phone call came, so it  was up to New Brighton  on The Wirral to take an eager first peak at the Fast Bass 22.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
She’s basically a modified  deep V hull with a length of 22ft and a beam of 7ft 9ins. Sat on the trailer  the boat looks big, but jump inside and it’s massive with a no clutter open  deck, high gunnels and transom and with easy access in to the cabin.

Looking around you’d have no  problems fishing four big lads each with a big plastic seat box full of tackle  and you’d still have ample room for the fish boxes too.

Her looks are stunning!  Sideways on the boat is sleek with neat aesthetics all running forward to the  bow. What really sets the boat off are the long one-piece tinted side windows  that run virtually the full length of the cabin, but angle inwards towards the  bow following the natural contours of the boat. So many boats look alike  nowadays, but this one sits out from the crowd with her own personal identity.

Launching some 22-foot boats  can be hard work, but I was watching closely as the explorer lads took the 22  down the slipway and surprisingly on to sand, then in to the water. Using the Hallmark  Twin Wheel Super Roller Coaster 7 trailer she slipped in to the water with a  gentle shove, and what’s more comes back on just as easy.

I asked what vehicle the  lads have been towing her around with, and they use standard 4 x 4’s, typically  Isuzu’s, Range Rover’s and Nissan’s and don’t even know she’s there. I’d have  no concerns towing this boat long range around the UK  or over to Ireland  with my Discovery.

TEST TIME
I jumped in a rubber duck  which I was to use as a camera platform, plus I was keen to observe the boat in  action from the outside before getting aboard her myself.

We motored out just a few  hundred yards towards the main channel with the wind turbines on the skyline  towards Bootle out in front of us. It was  calmish day with overcast cloud and The Mersey carrying just a slight chop.

Brian was at the helm of the  22 and I watched carefully as he pushed the throttle forward.  This first Fast Bass is fitted with a Mercury  150hp Optimax Saltwater outboard. What was visually obvious was the sheer  impact of acceleration from a standing start. There is no pause as the hull  lifts in the water trying to find the planing point as the engine power increases.  This boat responds to the engine instantly and just leaps forward straight out  of the blocks. Running at a fair speed, I visually guessed around 40mph, she  runs just slightly nose up but with minimal hull in the water.

I was also clocking how much  spray she created and it’s minimal, most of the spray line being underneath  gunnel height with little lifting forward of the rear edge of the cabin.

Brian was starting to work  the boat pretty hard banking the boat over at speed and the impression I got  was that the stern sticks to the water like glue. But she responds to the wheel  easily and holds her balance as the helmsman corrects the angle and brings the  boat back on line to run forward.

There were two other lads  aboard the 22 and they were not being thrown all over the place either during  these exaggerated manoeuvres. Both were either side of the cabin at the gunnel  looking forwards which also proved again that little if any spray was making  its way back on deck at head height.

Jumping from the rubber duck  to the 22, it was my turn to sit at the helm. Having already seen the boat in  close quarter action, I’d got a good idea what to expect. Being totally new to  the boat I eased the throttles forward just feeling my way in to the boat. It’s  very responsive, light, balanced and with a docility that belies its speed and manoeuvrability.

Brian tapped me on the  shoulder and said, “Go on, shove the throttle all the way forward!” Well, I  couldn’t refuse! You don’t feel the hull lift as you add power when you’re  already moving, at least you’re not conscious of it. The boat just leaps  forwards and you can really feel the acceleration. It’s quite a shock to  briefly switch your eyes to any nearby buoys or the skyline to gauge just how  fast you are shifting over the water.

Backing off the throttle the  hull stops quickly under full control and in a straight line. She makes little  wash behind her so you don’t get that following wave slam as your wash catches  up with you either.

Getting more confident with  her I started to turn her at speed trying to feel for any stern slip, then  bringing her out of the turn quickly and driving her across the wash of the  rubber duck which was tracking us. The hull smoothly cuts through waves, and  when you jump waves the return to water is smooth and even. Hull chatter is minimal too under way and at  speed. All you get is the inevitable wind noise around the open cabin as the  hull cuts a pocket in the air.

I was also impressed with  the new Seastar steerage system fitted which feels really smooth and is ultra  light to the touch making the big 150’s weight feel like a lightweight 40hp  motor during steering manoeuvres.

There was no wind to speak  off during the test, so I couldn’t gauge how she would sit on the wind for  drifting, but I guess she’d come just slightly bow off the wind and sit almost  straight. With four of us now on board the boat was extremely stable and you’re  not conscious of people wandering around on deck when drifting or on the move.  This is a boat all four of you could go to one side on and lift a big fish in  without fear of the boat tipping anywhere near a dangerous angle.

Sat in the helm seat your  all round vision is honestly the best I’ve ever come across. I’ve said it so  many times before in these reviews, but I live near several major estuaries and  I’m constantly coming across floating trees and other debris in my home waters.  This has made me careful when driving at full speed and full vision is  imperative to my well being at sea. This is the first cabin boat of 22-feet or  less that I’ve been fully comfortable in driving seated. Normally I stand to  gain as much visual arc as possible. In the Fast Bass 22 you have full water  coverage sat in the comfort of your helm seat, and much of that is due to those  superb angled side windows.

Admittedly I wasn’t punching  in to a good head sea, but little water got back on to the side screens or the  forward facing Houdini hatch to obscure my vision during the test manoeuvres. I  also checked the deck as I walked back out and it was bone dry. This is a very  dry boat!

I put Brian back at the helm  and got him to reverse her in to the sea. I watched to see what if any bulb of  water tried to claw its way back in to the deep and spacious splash well. No  water accessed the splash well at all!

Brian reckons that he’s had  the boat clocked at over 50mph with the 150 Merc and having been at the wheel  myself I’ve no doubt she’s capable of that and maybe a tad more once she’s  fully sorted. The 150 Merc is currently fitted with a 17-inch pitch prop, but  the lads intend to experiment a little to find the perfect setting. Fuel  consumption at cruising speed is between 2.5 and 3 gallons an hour.

Apparently a 90hp motor  still works the boat well, though myself I’d go with the 150 every time.

FITTED OUT
The key thing with all the  lads at Explorer is that they boat fish. Brian in particular has a long  background in small boat fishing and still gets out every chance he gets. This  understanding of anglers needs is instantly evident in the overall build of a  boat. There is no clutter, just open space.

The transom is good and  high, no way you’ll slip and fall over this, or the gunnels. I also like the  heavier diameter stainless steel safety rails fitted to the transom and the  gunnel tops. This attention to detail really suits the boat whereas standard diameter  safety rails would have looked out of place. I gave these a bloomin’ good pull  and you feel no movement at all, it’s all rock solid.

Under the transom is a large  drainage well with room to fit a big remote fuel tank either side, though Brian  is looking at adding internal fuel tank options. The deck is built up from a  fibreglass stringer system using ¾-inch marine ply to create a deck with the  solidity of concrete.

This first sample boat has  an open cabin leading in to a drop down mid cabin deck, with a full length  bench seat on the port side, this to be fitted with a spacious locker for  storage on future boats. Like wise the seat across the bow, again this will  have a storage faculty, as will the shorter seating area on the starboard side  running back to the steering console.

The lads are thinking of  widening the steering console a little and possibly creating a moulded locker  seat for the helm to add more storage, create a small galley area, or maybe  house a toilet.

The steering console has the  instruments on the right side giving easy vision from the helm seat with the  throttle on the starboard side. There’s a flat area on top of the console for  housing sounders and GPS units. Looking at the throttle it’s at an angle  leaning in towards the wheel. Initially I didn’t like the look of that, but  once in the seat it proves very comfy with the hand sitting easily on it for  close quarter moves and mooring up.

You have a forward facing  middle of the cabin Houdini Hatch opening port side for access to the bow for  anchoring and retrieval. I’m an average 5’ 10” in height and found it comfy for  hauling anchor without the need to stretch.

Another possible feature to  be added is a sliding lockable door to close off the cabin.

The side windows are  oversize Lexan bolted in with stainless steel bolts. The lads have thought  about using an alloy frame, but myself I like the proven system of over sizing  and bolting it in. It’s tough and simple!

Up on the bow the demo boat  is fitted with a stainless steel Sampson post and stainless bow roller with T  cleats either side. The anchor hold is accessed by two doors opening to either  side and is massive.

The cabin sports a stainless  steel gantry with enough width to take aerials, GPS receiver etc, but there is  an ocean of space up here and if you preferred you have ample room to fit a  much bigger gantry. This area could also be utilised to store a life raft if  you want to use the boat consistently well offshore.

There are also T cleats at  each stern quarter and positioned on the gunnels for mooring up. There is also  a safety rail fitted to the back of the rear cabin edge for those on deck to  hold when travelling.

For a first off the mould  finish it’s damn good, and with the attention to detail Explorer put in to  their boats, it will only get better.

THINGS I MIGHT CHANGE
This is a first off boat and  is obviously not the finished article regards fixtures and fittings, but  frankly for angling you don’t need much more than the boat already has and the  Explorer lads might already have it in mind to add the things I felt I might  change if I was buying a Fast Bass.

The steaming light is just  fixed flat to the gantry and I’d personally put it on a stainless steel stem to  raise the height. Anglers with a boat of this capability will be fishing well  offshore and often coming home in the dark, so the more you can illuminate  yourself the better.

Instead of fixing my sounder  and GPS on the flat top of the steering console, I think on a boat of this  calibre I’d prefer a proper moulded section on the inner cabin roof to fix the  units too and with a recessed area to hold your charts etc. It keeps things  away from potential damage and your electrical units drier.

There are no rod holders  fitted yet, but these will obviously be part and parcel of the production  boats.

CONCLUSION
It’s an absolute cracker!  It’s in the right price range to appeal to both individual owners or two, three  or four lads buying the package together. It’s easy to tow, plus importantly very  easy to launch and retrieve if you prefer to work as a pair.

Its performance is  incredible. Acceleration is instant and with minimal hull clatter once you hit  cruising revs and even at full speed. It’s stable and balanced, with high  gunnels and transom for maximum safety.

This is a boat capable of  working the inshore marks for bass, rays and tope, but with its awesome speed  and sea capability experienced crews are going to be working the 22 way over  the horizon and she’ll be ultimately popular with wreck and shark anglers.

It also strikes me that this  boat will find a niche with the new age charter skipper come angling guide  taking smaller groups of 2 to 4 anglers out. I can also see this boat requiring  a commercial version as a lot of potters will be drawn to the deck space,  stability, speed and economy of the 22.

The reputation Explorer  Boats have built up within the trade with their Explorer Elite is based on  quality control and customer care and I can only see the Fast Bass 22 becoming  a top seller in the 20 to 24ft class.

DIMENSIONS & PRICE
LENGTH: 22ft
BEAM: 7ft 9ins
DRAFT: Approx 1ft 3ins
FREEBOARD: Approx 34ins
WEIGHT: Approx 1250 Kilos