The Orkney 20 tested here, the Alicia-Marie, was bought in 2003 from Cambrian Boat Centre in Swansea by angling mad pals Jerry Thomas and Kevin Ryan. The lads weren’t interested in trips round the bay and some offshore sight seeing, their boat was bought to catch fish full stop. She’s got around 350 hours on the clock and some 5500 sea miles under the hull in a little over 12 months, so she gets well used.
She fishes the Bristol Channel off Swansea and way out around Ilfracombe and Lundy island for pollack, bass, rays and tope, but the boys, by the time you read this, will have been well west off Milford Haven looking for the blue and porbeagle sharks which roam the currents sweeping in from southern Ireland. Being in to sharks a fair bit myself, this was instantly apparent when I poked my nose in to the inner cabin and spied well made shark traces stacked on the shelving.
Kevin was telling me they’ve already had cod to 37lbs, a 34lb stingray, tope over 30lbs and bass over 10lbs aboard. Like I said, they mean business!
Their summer mooring is the Marina in Swansea, though it didn’t look much like summer when I jumped aboard her. The wind was steady force 5 and gusting with the Channel waters really stirred up by persistent windy weather and torrential downpours of rain. Anyway, being a clean living lad, as we motored out to sea the clouds drifted apart and warm sunshine made the day look a whole lot better, even though the sea was wild and the horizon not a pretty sight.
BUILD FEATURES
Waiting for the lock gates to open it was the ideal time for a quick look as to how the Alicia-Marie was put together and what features she sports.
The Orkney 20 is an improved hull on the original and highly popular Orkney Day Angler 19, many of which still grace our harbours and marinas. It’s a deep V hull capable of excellent speed, but designed with stability, comfort in rough seas, with good sea keeping qualities.
|
She’s fitted with a 1.7-litre Mercruiser Turbo Diesel inboard engine with stern drive. The lads tell me they’ve clocked over 30-knots top end speed and cruise at around 20 to 22 knots, with fuel economy a surprising gallon and bit per hour. They’ll do 40 sea miles on a tenner’s worth of diesel… now that’s cheap boating!
The electronics include a Garmin Fishfinder, Garmin Plotter and a Raytheon Radar, VHF radio and an electric winch for the anchor.
Starting at the stern there is a stainless dive ladder on the starboard side, with Nav lights positioned on each outside edge of the stern. There is a rod holder each side of the transom, this hinging backwards for access to the rear of the engine and stern drive. The engine hatch cover hinges forwards towards the deck to give maximum working room for maintenance. The top of the engine cover also provides a neat area for placing your bait board.
The gunnels carry a rod holder at the rear, with an alloy T cleat for mooring off, plus another rod holder in the middle of the gunnel. Loads of room for stowing rods and each well spread if you’re running a pattern of shark bungs. The inner gunnels are slightly recessed with hangers to take boat hooks, nets and gaffs etc. The gunnels come up to upper thigh height given a reasonable degree of in board safety should you slip or be thrown off balance by a big wave.
The deck area has two large storage lockers, one either side, with the middle hatch lifting up to reveal the stainless steel fuel tank with a capacity of 30 gallons. The deck is white with a stipple finish that gives good grip.
The cabin bulkhead has small windows either side, with the cabin door hinging towards starboard and again with a window in to give the helmsman full rear vision.
As you enter the cabin you have a step down. This step is a hinged locker storing the battery. On the port side is a small galley area with a single burner stove and small sink. Below is a locker area. The galley unit also carries a stainless steel grab rail towards the cabin.
The forward cabin area has a double bunk, comfortably upholstered in blue and white, the upholstery lifting up to reveal locker storage areas at each rear and at the front of the bunks. The ceiling and upper wall finish is a very neat looking cream simulated leather finish. You also have a skylight for light and ventilation.
The helm seat is starboard side. It’s a comfy position on a well upholstered cushion that hides another deep and large storage area. The throttle is on your right at low hand level with a small shelf area just in front for small items like keys etc.
The wheel is a car type with a superb rubbery high grip material covering. The lads have chosen to position their VHF at right knee height with the Mic clipped on the side of the wheel console. The fuel gauge, rev counter and warning light panel sit to the right of the wheel. Left of the wheel is the fuse panel.
The console has an angled and forward facing area housing the Fishfinder and Plotter side by side, with the winch switches in between. Another large almost flat area on top of the console takes the radar on the right side with masses of room to fit additional units etc to the left. A convenient grab rail is placed on the left side of the console.
The window area is split in to two facing forward, with single large windows port and starboard for maximum visibility. Only the starboard front screen has a windscreen wiper.
Access to the bow is up a single step off the deck. The walkway along the cabin side is wide enough to be comfy and the finish is stippled for grip, but there is no grab rail on the cabin roof edge. Two stainless rails run from the inner middle area of the rear cabin roof to forward of the cabin roof moulding and just rear of the anchor fore deck. A high safety rail protects the individual when working on the bow, but only covers the immediate fore deck area.
The cabin roof is home to the steaming light, VHF aerial and radar unit. You also have plenty of room to add a stainless steel gantry here for improved aerial height and for additional lighting etc. There is though, a deck light mounted rear of the cabin roof. The Nav lights sit traditionally on the rear upper edge of the cabin.
The bow carries a spacious and deep anchor locker on the starboard side, T cleat and rope runners either side, and a quality bow roller.
It’s a neat and well thought out boat with everything to hand, and with masses of room.
ORKNEY OFFSHORE
This was a boat I immediately felt at home in. She was tested exactly as the lads left her the last time they fished.
|
Taking a steady motor out from the lock gates and rounding the breakwater the sea was rougher than anticipated, so it would be a good test of the boats character.
Using another boat to take the photos from one of the lads from Cambrian Boats put the Alicia-Marie through her paces. Being as I’d be jumping ship to ship a few times we’d left the fenders tied to the boat and lifted them inside, but it was so rough the fenders kept jumping out as the boat jumped some pretty big waves. I’ve mentioned this just to prove it was no picnic out there.
Jumping in to the helm seat I found the position comfortable and with good all round vision. The wheel is at a comfy average height and you have full vision of all your instruments, Plotter and Fishfinder. The throttle is a good height, but you do need to reach down and forwards a little when pushing the throttle lever towards full cruising speed. Some people might prefer a throttle lever just a couple of inches higher.
Easing a little power on, I found the throttle very responsive. Putting the bow to the waves and increasing speed the boat rapidly comes on the plane, though given the sea conditions I could only keep her there just a few seconds picking the flat spots between big growling waves piling in from the southwest. Punching in to the waves at a reasonable speed the boat crests over the top but neatly settles in to the next wave without trying to bury the bow. I was also impressed by how little water splashes back on the windscreen maintaining excellent visibility for the helmsman.
Bringing her about and taking the waves at an angle the boat climbs the side of the wave, does drop slightly on the lee side, but then stabilises and cuts through and over the wave giving a very comfortable ride.
Swinging around and going slowly forward with the waves pushing the stern you do need a little wheel correction to keep her on line, but she is responsive and for a near 20-foot boat pretty good. Increasing the speed and still with a following sea again you need to use the wheel to keep her on track, but she’s much better than most boats in this size class when running before a sea.
|
The turning circle is tight and with just a little inside lean. Increasing speed the stern gives good grip as you turn and face an oncoming wave as you straighten her up. I set her up to free drift and she settles to lay with the bow just off the wind and was very stable in the rough short sea conditions when on deck.
Sea conditions were too bad to really wander around on deck while she was underway, but I do feel that, like most relatively small boats, careful trimming and positioning of any major carry on weight will give the boat an improved ride and that includes distributing people weight when underway.
Like I said, I instantly felt at home on this boat and found her a real pleasure to work with in the difficult sea conditions.
THINGS I MIGHT CHANGE
I think, if I was putting together an Orkney 20, I’d opt for the full bow safety rail running fully back to the cabin rear, not the short one. I’d also prefer hand rails on the cabin roof edges rather than the rails that run through from the cabin roof centre and in front of the windscreens. Inevitably you will need to work at the bow in grotty weather and I’d feel safer and more secure with grab rails when walking and the full safety rail when both making my way forward and when working at the bow. This was a point I found that Kevin had also picked up on when we chatted later.
Although the gunnels are at a good height, personally I’d still add a short 3” safety rail to the gunnel tops. I feel just that bit extra would make for a much safer gunnel height should you be knocked off your feet at any time or plain slip while on deck and close to the gunnel.
I’d also position my VHF radio on the cabin roof in front of and to the right hand side of the helm position. I feel it would be less likely to get damaged here and well away from dampness, also easier to view without taking your eyes to far off the sea when underway. Again Kevin had also found the radio was in a difficult position and prone to being knocked by your knee.
OVERALL ONCLUSION
You forget that the Orkney Pilothouse 20 is only 19’ 6”. The boat feels much bigger when you’re on deck and inside the cabin. She is spacious and would easily fish four, though for the two lads, especially when carrying all the shark gear, she still offers stacks of free room.
Performance wise the Mercruiser unit really gives tremendous speed capability allowing marks well outside normal range to be reached quickly and fished efficiently. All in all she is easy to handle, very responsive to the throttle, and importantly predictable as to how she behaves in rough seas. The boat drifts well and is easy to set up for working tight routes over specific marks. She’s also stable for working from with only an expected degree of lean when two anglers are stood tight to the gunnels on one side of the boat, say when unhooking sharks or other big fish.
|
You can easily see why the Orkney 20 is such a popular boat.
DIMENSIONS
Length Overall: 19’ 6”
Beam: 7’ 10”
Weight: 1800lbs (Standard)
Engine Options: Maximum Stern Drive 120hp, Maximum Outboard 80hp
INFORMATION
If you need further information on the whole Orkney range, or want to arrange an Orkney boat test, or discuss electronics packages, the Sales Director at Cambrian Boat Centre is Robin Vaughan on 01792 467263, or Fax 01792 467263. You can also e-mail Robin at robin@cambrianboats.co.uk or check out the full Orkney boat range on their website at www.cambrianboats.co.uk
