Merry Fisher 625

Driving along Brighton seafront towards the marina the sea looked lousy.  I realised just how much as I glanced over at the west breakwater and saw spray  splash right over the top of it. For a summer’s day it was more like the back  end of January. 

I was visiting Walton Marine,  based in the marina, to test the very popular Merry Fisher 625, a boat that’s  finding favour with a wide cross section of boaters.

With the weather so  unsociable again, having checked in at the office I decided to look the boat  over on the pontoon, and wait to see if the forecast for clearing skies later  actually materialised. It was pretty obvious though, that the increasing force  6 southwest wind hammering up the English Channel  was going to make for one very rough boat test.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT
The 625 is a V shaped semi  displacement hull with walk in cabin. She is designed as a capable angling  craft, but also for overnight accommodation and weekend living. She was backed  in to her pontoon berth, so I made my first observations from there.

The test boat was already  sold and I was out on her courtesy of the owner. Called Smoking Banana she  looks a treat in all white with bottle green graphics and black water line.

She was fitted with a Suzuki  90HP Fuel Injection 4-stroke outboard. I checked first that there is ample room  at the starboard side of the main outboard for an additional auxiliary smaller  motor to be fitted. No problem!

On the port side stern  corner you have a moulded in flat step aboard area. This is a lift up hatch  hiding a dive ladder and to the side a stainless steel grab rail. On the  starboard corner is a smaller step on area. Again this is a lift up hatch cover  with access to the wiring etc, for the engine and possibly for additional  storage.

The transom is lower than  the gunnel height, so I made a mental note to check the boats ability in  following seas and when going astern once I got out to sea.

The transom carries a  substantial stainless steel safety rail across the top which could be used to  fix additional rod holders too, and has a full length fold up bench seat in  place supported by fold down legs.

The gunnels carry hardwood  tops and 6-inch stainless safety rails. The wood tops have mooring rope access  to T cleats at each stern end on the inside of the gunnels, and also carry a  single drop in rod holder.

A huge lift up deck hatch  offers entry to a massive amount of storage space below deck, and houses the  136-litre fuel tank and battery. The deck is stippled finish for grip and is  obviously self draining.

Coming off the deck you have  moulded in steps from deck level up on to the walkway by the cabin for bow  access with stainless grab rails placed on the cabin rear edges for holding  when accessing the walkway. The walkway width gives comfortable access with  additional safety supplied by a stainless grab rail on each side of the upper  cabin roof. The bow safety rail is full length but splits at the bow offering  easy hauling of the anchor.

The bow is fitted with a  stainless steel bow roller and a T cleat either side, with the anchor locker  having a right hand opening hatch. What strikes you up on the bow is the amount  of room available for working and the relatively large flat area of foredeck  adding to the safety factor when at the bow.

Glancing back at the cabin  the tinted windscreen is split in to two with the duo navigation light  positioned at the base of the screen in the middle. I’d rather have separate  port and starboard nav lights high up on the cabin sides for better sea  visibility for approaching craft and my peace of mind.

The cabin roof carries the  all round steaming light, but has easy room for adding a stainless steel  gantry, as many choose to do, for carrying of VHF aerials to give greater  height and range, GPS units and radar. The rear cabin roof also extends over  the deck a short way to give added weather protection.

Back on deck, entry to the  cabin is through a tinted sliding door with a step down to cabin floor level.  The door way is spacious and with good head room if you’re tall.

The upholstered white  plastic helm seat is on the starboard side with a nifty looking hand wash bowl  area moulded in rear of the seat, plus with storage locker space underneath.

Sat in the helm seat I found  the throttle at a slightly higher height than ideal, but that’s just me and  others may find it bang on. The main fuse panel sits just below and slightly  forward of the throttle housing, with a fire extinguisher by your right foot  for instant access if need be. The foot rest for the helm is fixed to the lower  console in front of you.

The wheel is a superb  looking round polished wood type with stainless spokes adding a real touch of  class. Your fuel gauge is to the right of the wheel, and a flat shelf area  behind the wheel carries the compass and sounder. Beyond this is a wood type  console carrying all your instruments. This gives easy reading when at the  helm, both seated and standing.

Looking at the rest of the  console top and dash, you have enough room for a GPS unit close to the side of  the sounder, but the rest of the upper dash area is narrow and restricted by  the rearwards angle of the screen. I’d probably choose to fit my radio on a  roof bracket above and forward of the helm. A nice touch is the stainless grab  rail on the port side of the dash for use when travelling in rough seas, and  for added stability when entering the cabin area.

The split screen has a  windscreen wiper fitted on the starboard side, with both side screens sliding  forward to open for air. The ceiling houses an opening sky light vent and a  cabin light.

On the port side of the  cabin is the galley. This comprises a single burner gas cooker and sink basin  with a separate cup storage area, also a large locker space beneath the sink.

As you enter the accommodation  area there is a fold in half wooden leaf table for eating and chart work. This collapses  to form the bunks that run fully around the forward cabin in to a double bed.  The bunks hide three storage lockers with a   small dinky toilet inside the bunk moulding on the starboard side. The  seat upholstery is blue against white cabin walls and ceiling making for smart  surroundings. You also have shelf storage running either side of the cabin  area. The cabin area has an opening sky light and a cabin light fitted too.

My overall impression regards  the layout of the craft is frankly excellent. The space available in the cabin  has been put to maximum use making for a comfortable and practical living area,  with the bunk accommodation comfy, roomy and with lots of light, plus its easy  to keep clean.

All the fixtures and  fittings are top quality and the hull finish superb.

MAKING MERRY
While still checking over  the cabin area I’d notice a shaft of sunlight pour through the window, and  glancing up at the sky, as forecast, there was enough blue to make a shirt as  my old dad used to say, so it was time to check out the sea conditions.

Chris and Paul from Walton  Marine were to accompany me using another boat as my camera platform, then me  to jump ship and take the helm of the 625.

Poking our noses out of the  marina between the east and west walls and looking seawards the horizon looked  like a mountain scene rather than a seascape. Big waves rolled over the horizon  line and a short high swell made for a very uncomfortable and difficult sea to  work in. Not conditions you would actually choose to be out in, but safe enough  with sense and care.

Staying relatively close to  shore on the east side we watched as Chris worked the hull as hard as he could.  From my outside vantage point you can see the hull takes the wave straight on  and lifts a little as she carves her way through but does not deviate at all as  wave pressure comes on to the hull. Given the seas there was bound to be spray  flying about, but she is a pretty dry boat with little water getting back on  deck in forward motion.

We headed back inside the  marina entrance for me to swap boats as the seas were way too dodgy to be  “walking” between boats.

At the wheel and easing my  way out I found you have good all round vision from the helm seat, so much so  that I didn’t stand up as I usually prefer to do. The seat is also comfy and  holds you in position when you battle big waves.

Though obviously nothing  like flat out regards speed the hull is quieter than I anticipated with minimal  pressure slam and chatter as you travel through the waves.
  I was getting some spray  back on to the screen, but given the seas I was working in it was inevitable,  though you did have to really ram a wave to get a good dousing on to the  screen. Power is progressive coming in over a wide band, but the boats digs in  and surges forward when the shove the throttle forward.

Easing back on the throttle  and turning round between waves proved she is docile with no sudden tendency to  lean as a wave pushes hard on one side of the hull. Bringing her stern on to  the waves and easing back on the throttle to tick over I left her at the mercy  of the following waves for a few seconds, but she remained stable and didn’t  allow herself to be pushed off at an angle too much. Adding power, but still travelling  with the wave direction, I did find she needs a little work on the wheel to  hold her on a true course, but that’s nothing out of the ordinary and again I  have to quote the ferocity of the seas during the test.

Swinging round again and  increasing speed I could feel the hull climb and cut the waves, and  deliberately dropping her in to the now very deep troughs creates nothing  spectacular, the hull just settles in to the bottom of the waves and starts to  climb again with minimal noise. Watching the lifting spray during this manoeuvre  it gets forced well out to the side.

I’d spotted that the transom  was lower than the gunnels back in the marina, so I gave the controls to Chris  and asked him to gently back the boat at the waves as I went on deck to  observe. I could see he thought I’d lost my marbles, but we needed to test if  she’d take water. She took a little, but in those seas was remarkably dry.

She’s not a fidget on the  water either staying stable on the drift and she has no bias lateral lean to  one side with two of you stood at the gunnel.

Real speed was out of the  question on the test day in the big seas, but coming in through the calm water  just inside the marina she hit nearly 25-knots and looks slick at that speed  with little wake and a flat ride trajectory. At 5850rpm you can expect  27-knots, with a cruising speed of 19.5-knots at 4600rpm.

THINGS I’D CHANGE
Looking specifically at the  test boat I’d prefer my nav lights separate and mounted high up on the cabin  sides for better sea visibility.

I’d probably opt for a matt  grey deck finish to cut down on light kick back to your eyes when on deck. Pure  white decks do reflect light back at you making you squint badly.

Another simple addition  would be a short clip on safety chain to go between the end of the port side  safety rail and the transom safety rail. This would eliminate any chance of  someone tripping over while on deck and falling through the step on gap between  the two safety rails at the port corner.

CONCLUSION
What a little gem! I was  very impressed while handling the 625 in what were absolutely horrible seas. She’s  stable, good natured if you’re slow on the wheel when turning between big  waves, and for a relatively small boat attacked those seas with confidence, ease  and minimal noise. Visibility from the helm seat is excellent and your instruments  are all easy to read in front of you.

The thoughtful use of  interior cabin space is top notch and will impress the ladies. You’ll be really  comfortable if you spend your nights in the marina, plus you are fully self  sufficient with the galley. There’s a lot of thought gone in to the interior,  and it shows. 

She’s ideal for two man  teams or husband and wife crews looking to fish a boat hard, but still offering  good accommodation when you want to stay over. If you’re buying straight in to  the 21-foot market for your first boat she has a lot going for her.

FACTS AND FIGURES
OVERALL LENGTH: 21’
BEAM: 8’4”
DRAFT: 1’ 3.7” (1 foot three  point seven inches)
WEIGHT WITHOUT ENGINE:  2090lbs
MAXIMUM ENGINE SIZE: 100hp
CATEGORY: C 7 Persons

CONTACTS
If you want to organise a demonstration  test, or for details of the 635 and other boats in the Merry Fisher range,  contact Chris Atterton, Walton Marine, Brighton Marina, West Sussex BN2 5HA.  Tel:  01273 670707 Fax: 01273 674200.  E-mail: chrisa@waltonmarine.co.uk

Alternatively contact James  Powell at Walton Marine’s Walton on Thames Office, Walton on Thames, Surrey KT12 1QW. Tel: 01932 226266 Fax: 01932 240586.  E-mail: james@waltonmarine.co.uk

Also check out  www.waltonmarine.co.uk