Swift 165

The latest addition to the rapidly growing array of boats brought in from South Africa by Caldy Marine, Tenby is the Swift 165.

I was a tad shocked when stepping aboard her to see that she was armed with a 120hp Tohatsu Automixing engine. That's an awesome lot of poke for a 16fter. Turns out that the builders recommend twin 60's as standard, so the transom is built to take it. They do like fast boats these South African's!

Once aboard, it was off the mooring and easing our way out to sea. At slow speeds the boat sits quite deep in the water, even though she is lightweight, making for a comfortable ride, but with positive steerage for tight manoeuvring.

Power is there the instant you ease the throttle forward. Hardly surprising given the big engine stuck on the back. The deep V type bow lifts up in proportion to how much power you add before settling down and flattening out a little as you reach the plane. Once there throttle back to hold it there, and she just skips across the surface. There were three of us on board, but she absolutely flew. It's not noisy either, and is a quiet ride.

Glancing back while at full speed I saw no flipped up spray get back in to the deck area, and my passengers stood behind me stayed dry all the way.

Time to really test her out then. I started to zig zag her at speed taking tighter and tighter turns. No sign of the stern skidding or sliding as she banks over. She actually banks at quite a steep angle, but under total control with no fear of flipping, and we were, as usual, pushing the boat way past what you'd do on anything bar a test day, but again we stayed dry.

Coming round in a very tight arc at slow speed to deliberately leap my own wash I rammed the throttles forward. She darts out of the hole like a bullet, head up, and skipped over the deep and tight together waves as she rapidly hit planing speed. Running across short waves at an angle does not make the boat lean and wobble giving your passengers a comfy and secure ride. You don't get much in the way of harsh pounding coming at you either through the hull as the boat takes the waves.

Finding a little more swell I found she turns inside wave troughs without being flipped to one side or leaning over. I worked her on a light throttle in front of some big following waves, but she holds an even course and showed no signs of yawing or being forced to one side at the stern.

I also backed her in to oncoming waves with a little speed. The Swift has a relatively low transom and splash well and I was concerned she might take water easily in such a circumstance. In the test conditions she did not take water at all, and I realise deliberately backing boats in to oncoming waves is not to be advised, but I have to cover as many possibilities as I can during a test and ideally I would like to see a little more height across this stern area for added peace of mind. That said the SA guys don't seem to have had problems with this low transom.

I found the lean on position for steering very comfy, it's how I prefer to steer pretty much standing up for increased vision. The throttles are positioned at the optimum height for most people, and there is ample room to really work the wheel when needed without having to worry about whacking your knuckles on anything. All round visibility is excellent.

On the drift, with three of you on the same side she leans only a little before finding her balance point. At flat out speeds in a straight line providing you balance the boat by positioning your passengers to equalise weight, which you should do on all small boats anyway, then she is light, quick to manoeuvre, comfy, easy to steer and does not wander off from the steering line.

With three up we were easily touching speeds up to 30mph. Depending on how hard you're driving the boat, expect fuel consumption figures between 4 and 5 gallons per hour.

LOOKING AT THE LAYOUT
The test boat was fitted with a stainless steel long U shaped frame above the transom. This is used by South African anglers to support their rods when trolling and has four-rod holder fittings already supplied. A handy addition if you're in to trolling for bass in a big way.

The transom also has a small locker with a hinged access door at each corner. These take the battery or batteries if you go for an engine to battery system, and a separate battery system for your electrics.

The gunnel tops are finished in red to contrast with the white, the red being stippled finish for grip when boarding. Each gunnel houses a stainless drop in rod holder at each end, plus a grab rear rearwards.

The gunnels are recessed inside and equipped with holders to take oars, boat hooks or ready made up rods well out of the way of the walking area on deck. At the console end of the port gunnel there is also a wooden rod rack for four rods held upright.

Looking at the deck area there is a large livewell at the rear situated midway across the deck just short of the transom. It's ideally placed for easy access of baits while fishing. The deck is obviously self-draining.

The middle deck area houses a large seat locker. This is split in to two levels. The portable fuel tank goes underneath, with a sliding floor section giving a second floor to take spare fenders and the like. I'd probably put the fenders underneath and the fuel tank on top to stop damp potentially dripping through and on to the fuel tank.
This locker has an upholstered seat on for comfy fishing.

Forwards the deck houses a fish locker accessed through a hinged door. Stacks of room in here for a big catch and the glass finish looks easy to scrub clean.

The helmsman and passenger are seated on upholstered circular stools mounted on stainless steel pedestals. These can be lifted out and removed if required. Steering from a lean on position these stools are comfy for long range travelling.

The console in front of the helmsman sports a stainless steel round wheel with a hard plastic grip. The instruments on the test boat were placed on the left, but there are plenty of room for additional instruments on both sides if required. The top of the console in front of the helm has a moulded recess for the storage of small items. There is also a large locker with door access below the wheel ideal for storing lifejackets and things you need easy access too.

The port side of the console houses another storage locker, but on top of the console you have two small locker units with lift up lids, again for small items.

The screen comes right around the console area. It uses heavily tinted screens with heavy-duty stainless steel frame bar. The screens do not come as far up as the bar and you can use the bar as a grab handle if needed.

In the middle of the console and front bulkhead is a walk in area that gives access to the bow for hauling the anchor. At the end of this little walk in is another storage unit with slide in wooden draws for holding smaller tackle items.

The bow itself is access from waist height by a sideways opening hatch door. I tried this and could easily reach the anchor rope. There is an anchor locker with fit down hatch cover, plus a T cleat and bow roller combined in the one unit. A stainless safety rail also goes right around the bow.

The boat is beautifully finished with Meranti wood trim, and the deck and inner gunnels are covered with Flotex carpet, a heavy-duty fabric designed to be scrubbed and washed repeatedly. It's used in UK hospitals.

All the fittings like hinges are all top quality stainless with secure fastenings.

The boat is packed with 1-litre flotation bottles filled with Segax foam beads. I never use the word unsinkable when it comes to boats, but this craft is designed to be badly damaged and to still stay afloat.

One thing with these South African boats is that they do lack straight from the factory a gunnel safety rail. The gunnels are not overly high and I know that Caldy Marine are going to supply safety rails on these boats in the future. You need one just in case you overbalance on deck in a bad sea.

CONCLUSION
For an open boat this is a dry, safe and easily handled craft with stacks of room for two to fish, and you'd fish four comfortably as well as there's loads of deck space thanks to the generous 2.3metre beam. She handles extremely well in all conditions and is a consideration not just for angling, but also for the angler that might want to use the boat for general family weekend fun.

CONTACTS
Contact Caldy Marine, Ilford House, Broadwell Haze, Tenby, South Wales SA7 8DC. Tel: 01834 845067 or via e-mail on caldymarine@hotmail.com

SPECIFICATION
Length: 5.1 metres
Beam: 2.3 metres
Flotation: Plastic bottles filled with Sagex foam beads
Weight: 600Kgs
Rated maximum horsepower: Twin 60HP motors