Quicksilver Pilothouse 500

Traditionally open or small cuddy 16ft boats were chosen by anglers intent on fishing estuary marks or marks relatively close inshore up to a mile out. Speed was not a criteria that mattered.

The upsurge in the numbers of bass around our coasts, has though contributed greatly to creating a new and more varied market with many anglers looking for more modern open craft, easy to launch, comfortable to fish from, with a much greater speed capability to get anglers out to these inshore reefs for short fishing sessions when time, tide and sea conditions are just right.

One of the latest examples is the Quicksilver Pilothouse 500, new for the 2003 season, which I was to test at ABC Power Marine at Beaumaris, Anglesey.

PUSH HER OFF
Getting out of the car at ABC the yacht masts rigging in the yard was singing merrily in a steady force 4 to 5 south southwest wind. Glancing across the northern end of the Menai Straits I could see a mussel dredger in the main channel pitching nicely in a short sharp sea.

The lads from ABC launched the boat with a push from a finger off the shingle beach as I got a few photos. No problem launching her on your own when needed. She's ideal for estuary launches where you may need to access the water without proper slipways off shingle or hard sand banks in to shallow narrow channels.

CHASING WAVES
Moving away from the beach and navigating our way through the many mooring buoys the steering was precise, and at low speed the boat is stable holding true to course. You don't need to work the wheel to keep her on line at minimum speed if you have to navigate a fair distance down narrow access channels to reach the open sea.

Out in the main channel there was, as I'd seen from shore, a lumpy sea running with wind against tide creating steep waves and a fair old wind whipping across the surface. I banked the 500 round to face straight in to the waves and eased on a tad more power. I was expecting a rough ride, because it was a lousy sea for a 16-footer, but the bow parted the oncoming waves cleanly sending spray out either side, and not much getting back on deck.

Feeling more confident with the boat I added more power. She really attacks the waves lifting a little but cutting them cleanly. I sat two big lads in the front bow seat to get her nose down a bit just to find her response. We were getting a little more spray coming in now, but given the sea, and me really charging at the waves, she proved exceptionally dry for an open boat.

Easing off the power and deliberately turning her beam on I waited to see if she would pitch side to side, but the hull has good grip and remains stable and steady with minimum sideways lean as a big wave pushes the boat beam on. She seems to sit in surface layer and slide across the top of the waves as they pass underneath the hull.

Taking a slow course at angle to the waves, again the 500 shows minimal inclination to any sideways pitch and shows no sign of major bow sheer as a wave hits just the one side and tries to force the nose off course.

Swinging the wheel over and shutting off the power brought the stern face on to the waves. Going in reverse against the waves I was checking to see how close to the top of the transom and splash well the water gets. In the given conditions, I was expecting to take a fair bit, but no, she kept out all but a few splashes.

Back in to forward and going with the waves again the hull holds the intended line with barely any need for correction on the wheel to readjust position.

Taking a steady course back in towards the shore and finding some flat water, we were cruising at 15-knots, but she'll top out over 20-knots. The lads at ABC estimate fuel consumption to be between 21/2 and 3 gallons per hour, which gives good economy for the turn of speed.

I wanted to see what the overall stability was like with three of us walking about on deck. To standing on the one side sees very little lean at all. Even outside in the channel in the rough sea, three of us had been swapping places without any sign of unbalance. The gunnels are good and high too, giving true security when on deck.

DESIGN FEATURES
She's a stunning looker! A modified semi-displacement hull with all her topside edges rounded off giving her a neat sleek appearance. The white hull is set off well by heavy duty blue coloured fendering that gives a really smart colour contrast.

She was sat on a Severn Valley two-wheel trailer and armed with a 60HP Mercury outboard.

The bow is fitted with a stainless T cleat and a stainless pedestal cleat. There was no bow roller fitted to my test boat, but ABC tells me one will be fitted. Fair does, she had only just been delivered. The anchor locker is accessed through a fold down hatch that lifts to the left for access. There is bags of room in this locker for ropes and anchor, plus spare rope.

Jumping aboard, you have a large two man seat formed to fit against the forward bulkhead with a large storage locker underneath the seat. There's also room to slide a fish box or similar underneath the seat while fishing to keep the deck area clear.

Amidships at either side there are single box seats formed off the gunnels that have flip up hatch covers with storage space underneath. The seats are ideal to fish off and still leave lots of deck room.

The steering console is towards the transom on the starboard side. This has a tinted splash screen, with a small dish type storage area immediately behind the screen. There is ample room to add instruments either side of the main console, and there is more storage space inside the console access through a locker door. The wheel is a standard sports wheel, but comfy and with good grip when your hands are wet. The throttle is on the starboard side and at a very comfy height.

Between the console and the starboard gunnel is a small moulded in tray that could take small items like tackle, or drinks cans etc. Useful to have and helps keep the boat ship shape while at sea.

A three man (including the helmsman) seat runs the full length of the stern. This is wide and comfy, though you might want a padded waterproof cushion for your backside if you're driving in to a bad sea like I was, just for a little added comfort. This seat is also used a storage space, accessed through a lift up lid, taking the fuel tank and battery box, plus loads more space for other bits and bobs. There are also air vents built in to the front of this seat.

The deck itself is self-draining and has a stippled finish for grip. The deck was certainly wet while we were aboard, but I found it safe when moving about.

Each stern quarter carries a slide in rod holder and a T cleat for mooring up. The gunnels have two stainless steel grab rails built in to the gunnel edges which face back in side the boat, but within the profile of the gunnels. These are excellent for holding when you need to be at the boat side and leaning over.

Casting a general eye over the boat, the finish is excellent, all the fittings top quality, including stainless clip fasteners on all the seat hatch lids.

CONCLUSION
This has to be one of my favourite open 16-foot boats. She's really stable to work from, dead easy to handle, and will take on a heck of sea if she has to. She has the speed and manoeuvrability to get you out to, and work the reefs effectively, is perfect for trolling and drift fishing, plus is economical if you're boating on a daily budget.

She is also a good choice for any general inshore work for winter codling and whiting, ideal for fishing the outside bars of estuaries and the deeper main inlet channels, or if you just want an easy session offshore mackerel bashing on a summers evening, her speed and ease of launch make her a top choice.

DIMENSIONS
Length: 5.0 metres
Beam: 2.0 metres
Draft: 0.35metres

CONTACTS
The 500 and the full Quicksilver range are available from ABC Powermarine, Gallows Point, Beaumaris, Anglesey, LL58 8YL. Tel: 01248 811413. Fax: 01248 811412. Their website address is www.abcpm.co.uk , and their e-mail address nemo@abcpm.co.uk. To organise a test on any of the range contact Robin Howells at ABC Powermarine.