We looked at the Merry  Fisher range of boats a while back, these being the larger 600 series and the  big 805, but Jeanneau, the French company building the Merry Fisher’s, also do  a 500 range of smaller boats which will appeal to anglers needing something  they can easily tow, still get the family out on for a weekend afloat as well  as being a practical fishing boat.

I was quick to take up the  opportunity of at test on the 580 version with Mark Richards of Deva Marine  based in Pentraeth, Anglesey. The boat was  parked outside and I took the chance of a few minutes just to have a look  around the boat prior to launching inside the Menai Straits.

She was fitted with a  Mercury 4-Stroke Low Emission 75hp and was sat on one of the new Brenderup  trailers that have been the subject of much good gossip of late amongst  boaters. It was obvious to note the quality of workmanship with neat welding, quick  release clip off trailer boards for launching and simple but obvious touches  like a plastic cover over the winch to stop stray fingers getting caught, and  tough stand on mudguards with rounded edges to make them pedestrian friendly. A  boat salesman recently told me these trailers would change the way trailers are  made here in the UK,  and having finally seen one I’m inclined to agree.

LAUNCH TIME
We launched in to a flat  calm Menai Straits out from Menai   Bridge. Not a breath of  wind, a clear blue sky and warm south-westerly wind made it feel more like  summer than winter.

I watched the lads launch  the 580 by just wetting her backside and sliding her off the trailer with ease.  I was already aboard another craft which would act as a camera platform, so had  the best seat in the house to see how the 580 performed at speed at we headed  down towards the bridges.

I remembered from the  previous Merry Fisher tests that these boats are pretty quick to get up on the plane,  and this was evident viewing from outside. A hint of throttle from Mark and the  boat was up in the water and levelled off almost instantly.

Belting off down The Straits  with the 580 alongside us I could also see that the wake from her was less than  I’d anticipated with no water thrown forward, even when she was made to jump  her own wave.

Mark banked the boat through  some quite tight turning manoeuvres for me, and I was watching to see how much  grip she had at the stern, but she holds her line well and comes back on a true  course with just a slight flick of the wheel.

Jumping aboard the 580 from  a low cut speed boat, as I clambered over the gunnel with one of the Deva crew  holding the two boats together on the 580 deck, our combined sudden weight made  little impression and she stayed stable with minimal lean.

With just mark and myself  aboard, I took the wheel and turned south heading towards Port Dinorwic in  direction. This was a brand new boat, first time in the water, so I was a  little careful gunning the throttle, but easing the stick forward the power  lifts the boat up and forward the instant you apply it. I watched the rev  counter and held her around 3800 RPM, a nice cruising speed. I guess we were  running in the mid 25mph range and the hull, admittedly on a flat sea, was just  skipping along with minimal hull noise.

I edged the boat in to the  outside edge of the wake of the other boat and at a slight angle. Going forward  you will get some sideways roll as the waves hit you full on from the side  which is a natural reaction of all boats, but the 580 only goes so far then  rights her self instantly.

Backing off the throttle and  bringing the boat around in a tight circle she stayed very stable and  predictable, even when I deliberately turned her in to my own wave and at a  sharp angle.

Back on a straight course  again, I found I’d got full vision forward, to the side and to the rear when  sat in the helm seat. There is no need to stand to steer, even if you’re not  the tallest of people. It was a bright sunny day too, and the tint in the  window screen proved its worth helping me keep a vigilant watch as The Straits  is full of pot and marker buoys.

The steering console has a  domes shaped top that conveniently takes the instruments. These prove easy to read  at all times. I also found the throttle at an ideal height for comfort when manoeuvring  in tight areas such as marinas. The wheel is a round stainless cat type, which  I prefer.

I’ve had a lot of sea time  now with several Merry Fisher boats and found them predictable in bad seas,  pretty dry, though you inevitably get some spray back on screen when attacking  big waves, and they tend to lay nicely just off the wind when drift fishing. They  do need some correction in a following sea, but are generally very easy to  handle.

Pulling around 4000 revs I  was also conscious that overall background noise from the engine does not creep  back in to the cabin to any great degree. It’s relatively quiet underway.  Admittedly the boat was brand spanking new, but there was no annoying rattles or  vibrations either to distract you, or to tire you mentally on long runs.  

In the course of taking the  pictures aboard the 580 I also found access to the bow excellent as there is a  deep recess for the feet to rest in that gives added security while walking  forwards. You’ve also got a full safety rail encompassing the whole bow section  forward of the rear edge of the cabin edge.

BUILD FEATURES
The bow is fitted with a  stainless steel bow roller, with T cleats either side. You have a spacious  anchor locker with a single door opening to the starboard side. A nice touch is  that the bow moulding in front of the cabin has a flat section moulded in to it  allowing you to sit down when storing the rope an anchor if the seas are big.

The cabin roof is wide and  spacious with room to add a full stainless steel gantry, GPS, aerials and a  radar unit. The Nav steaming light is a pedestal type, with the port and  starboard lights being a duo type and positioned low down in the middle of the  main windscreen.  

The windscreen is split in  to two at the front and tinted, with large single side screens, the helm side  only having a wiper fitted.

Access to the deck is down a  moulded in step with stainless steel grab rails built in to the cabin rear edges  for additional support. You have stacks of room to fish four anglers if need  be, but two anglers have acres of space to fish from and still carry a rake of  gear as well without cluttering up the cabin or sleeping quarters. The deck has  a non slip finish and is self draining.

The gunnels are up to upper  hip height, but would potentially benefit from having a short 3-inch safety rail  fitted just to give you that bit extra in a bad sea with a wet deck. The gunnel  tops carry rod holders at the stern with room for additional holder’s forwards.  There are also T cleats for mooring at each stern corner.

The transom has additional  seating in the form of bucket seats at each corner with additional open storage  space underneath these for tackle boxes and the like. The 100-litre fuel tank  is hidden away under a spacious hatch locker in mid deck with the battery  stored forward in this to leave additional storage space for soft items in  between.

The splash well slopes away  from the transom, and takes little if any water in a following sea. You also  have a built in step on/off area at the corners of the stern, and a useful  boarding/dive ladder fitted to the port side of the stern. This folds for  storage.

Access to the cabin and the  sleeping quarters is direct between the helm seat and the passenger seat. Both  seats are built on consoles that provide additional storage underneath the  seats. Both seats have foot rests in place, plus the passenger has a grab rail  placed forward of the seat. You also have a moulded seat built in to the helm seat  console facing back on deck.

Behind the steering console  is a flat area with lots of space to take your compass for easy reading, also  your Fish Finder and GPS unit. The shelf continues across the middle of the  screen, but again widens on the port side for additional storage space.

Access in to the sleeping  quarters is down a step. This is surprisingly spacious easily sleeping two  people. Both bunk areas hide large storage lockers, with a third locker area  forward towards the bow. The interior is well upholstered and has a wide shelf  area with wood facing running the full length of each side. You also have more  storage space running back under the main cabin floor. You have small side  screens to let light in, plus an air vent in the roof.

The cabin roof has an air  vent fitted, this being tinted. The cabin is closed off with a fold down screen  and the cabin roof comes forward over the deck to give additional shelter.

It has to be said that a  couple of years back the Merry Fisher range did have some problems with build  quality. However, I had a really close look at the 580 on test and its obvious  any past issues have been fully addressed. The strength and overall build  quality looks to be consistent and to a high standard now, and I feel the  design of these boats regards layout is excellent. No clutter, easy access to  everything you need and comfortable for both fishing and weekend lounging.

THINGS I’D CHANGE
I’d add stainless steel grab  rails to the outside upper cabin edges for additional grip when walking  forwards. The current wooden type are too short in length in my opinion.

I’d also add 3-inch safety  rails on the gunnels, and get another safety rail made that slots in to the top  of the transom. The transom is probably safe enough, but I think low for  angling and adding a safety rail would give added security in bad seas, plus give anglers something to rest rods on when fishing downtide.

I’d also prefer individual  Nav lights set on the port and starboard cabin rear edges instead of the duo  light low down below the windscreen. Angling often necessitates coming home in  the dark or in bad weather, and I like my boats to be easily seen when at sea.

All simple add on things  that just make a great boat even better.

CONCLUSION
These are good sea boats  that I find are easy to handle and work with. The 580 has superb all round  vision which is something I stress as being vitally important. She’s fast,  economical, but offers lots of deck space for her size, plus a generous cabin  and accommodation area.

I really like the Merry  Fisher boats and with any build quality issues now a thing of the past they’ll  become even more popular with anglers. They also make an ideal weekender for  small families, or for two anglers looking to fish the whole weekend without  stepping ashore.

Fitted with the 70hp Mercury  the boat is rapid and plenty fast enough for even the most avid of speed nuts,  but you have the option of a 90hp motor. You don’t have to use all its power,  but if you carry lots of fishing gear and weight it might be worth  consideration.

FACTS AND FIGURES
OVERALL LENGTH: 18’9”
HULL LENGTH:  18’ 5”
BEAM: 7’11”
DRAFT: 1’1” (1 foot 1in)
WEIGHT WITHOUT ENGINE: 1973lbs
MAXIMUM ENGINE SIZE: 90hp
CATEGORY: C 6

CONTACTS
For details of the 580 and  other boats in the Merry Fisher range contact Mark Richards at Deva Marine,  Pentraeth Services, Benllech Road, Anglesey Tel:  01248 450840 Fax: 01248 450140. E-mail: mark@devamarine.co.uk  . The lads can organise a full boat test for  you, and fill you in on any questions you have regards any other Merry Fisher boat.