It’s took time, but the UK boat scene is starting to adopt a more American attitude regards the type of boats we choose to fish from. Bare bones angling boats are in direct competition nowadays with stylish more comfortable boats offering sleek lines and a fast speed capability. Boats in this latter category need to be sympathetic to family needs as well as be a good fishing platform.
The Azura 570 Walkaround mirrors this option in choice. Anglers considering this craft will be looking at how she fits the bill for mobile fishing situations such as bass fishing with lures and fly gear, reef pollacking and general inshore fishing.
I’d be working the boat out off Milford Haven and my day was looking good with a moderate 3 to 4 northwest wind and a relatively flat sea with a little chop just inside the Haven between Castlebeach Bay to the west and Angle to the east. It was hot and sunny, so a great day to be out at sea.
HOW SHE HANDLES
I elected to take the craft out on test first, then give her the full once over back on the pontoon.
Easing out under minimal throttle the deep V hull needs only minimal correction to keep on a steady course. Once out of the speed restriction I shoved the throttle forward and the boat pauses briefly before taking off like a bat out of hell. The power band is short and there’s only a slight pause before the boat is on the plane and flying.
Skidding along across the quite choppy sea hull chatter was light with the noise level low. You don’t feel much through the deck while under way at speed either on the 570. Some boats you can feel every single bump as the hulls rides through choppy water which makes your legs ache over time and is an important factor when you’re continually moving chasing fish...
The test boat was married to a Yamaha 115hp 4-stroke outboard, and heading through the waterway past South Hook Point a quick glance at the instruments told me I was running at 5500rpm and reaching a speed of 33mph. I felt that the boat is capable of more, and listening to the engine note working on the test boat I did detect a hint of cavitation and it might be that playing around with a different propeller pitch might find you an increase in performance over the figures I quote.
At this speed the boat really comes in to her own though, and we’d got more in the way of deeper troughs now as we approached more open sea. She sticks to her course well with little movement on the wheel needed regards correction. Being deep V she cuts the oncoming water like butter and with little hull pressure slam and noise. Even though we were really shifting through the waves no splash at all made it on to either screen or the deck area.
Making her take the waves at an angle the bow cuts up the side of the forward wave, leans only slightly then rises over the waves to give a very smooth overall ride. Easing back on the throttle and turning the boat around inside the troughs her lateral stability is excellent with little lean as the waves push on the gunnels.
Keeping a little power on I went with the waves and found in a following sea she is quite placid, though you do need just a fraction of correction from time to time to stay on course.
During the handling of the boat, I did notice that the helm seat position made the wheel be slightly offset to the helmsman. I quickly got used to it, but it may be something other handlers might find a problem.
Moving about on deck makes little difference to her, and two of you on the one side creates only minimal lean. You have easy access on this walkround design for fishing from the bow when stationary, and once up on the bow the safety rail is high enough for security when stood to cast, especially a more fluid cast such as fly fishing. At the back the helm seats also swivel fully around, so you can fish facing the stern while seated.
The 570 has a central steering position which I found gives a good all round circle of vision when stood up, and for cruising at low speeds you can see well enough when seated just looking through the screen. The helm seat was comfy when travelling, though I preferred to stand.
The deck has a good stipple finish giving little chance of slipping if the deck is wet with fish slime. She’s easy to keep clean too, with a quick wash down being pretty much all you need, everything flushed away on the self draining deck.
PERFORMANCE
Performance wise she’s impressive being quick and agile with excellent sea keeping abilities, plus is highly manoeuvrable with a tight turning circle. The 570 is also very stable when walking about on deck with no sudden pitch motion to throw you off your feet.
As mentioned, both myself and another driver from Imperial Leisure felt there was a hint of cavitation apparent on the test boat that would affect overall performance, but she was still quick making that 33mph at 5500 revs and cruising sweetly at around 25mph.
BUILD FEATURES
You can step on to boat off the pontoon or jetty via large flat steps moulded in to each corner of the stern splash well. The well itself is deep and spacious giving good sea protection in following seas, and easy access to the outboard motor.
You have a dive ladder fitted on the starboard side, and stainless steel T cleats positioned either side for mooring.
The transom has a push in rod holder at each corner ideal for positioning trolling rods in, or uptiders when tope fishing. The transom top is also wide enough for additional rod holders to be fitted.
Looking along the gunnels the tops are fitted with white plastic uppers with fender rope access holes built in. The bow safety rail runs from the rear cabin console edge flaring upwards towards the bow and goes fully around. This is low enough at the bow for easy hauling of the anchor.
You have a large anchor locker with a left side opening hatch at the bow, with a stainless steel bow roller and a T cleat placed either side for mooring off.
Behind the anchor locker is a three man upholstered seat. This lifts to provide a large storage locker underneath, ideal for fenders and spare rope etc. You also have a two man seat, but with no storage beneath positioned just in front of the forward screen.
The screen is to upper chest height and tinted. This gives good wind and splash protection for the helmsman, even when stood and has a stainless steel frame around it that acts as a grab rail for crew stability when on the move. The upper frame also has a socket to take the pedestal type steaming light.
The helm wheel is a round stainless type positioned in the middle of the console, but the throttle is set back in an upright recess on the right along with the ignition key housing. This is a good safety point, as being in a recess it is that much more difficult to inadvertently hit the throttle or knock the key. The switch panel is below the wheel on the right.
Behind the wheel the main console has a small lift up hatch to give access to a flat shelf area ideal for papers and charts to be stored. The compass is positioned behind this hatch, with the instruments housed in a domed panel at the back. This puts the gauges at a good height for easy seeing when at speed. You also have just enough room for a sounder and VHF radio to each side of the instrument dome fitted on brackets.
The helm seat is on the starboard side, with a passenger seat adjacent on the port side, both upholstered in blue with white plastic backs. Both seats are pedestal type and swivel fully around.
At first glance the boat looks like a centre console, but the console structure hides the cabin access which is on the port side of the console via a slide across tinted glass screen and lift up hatch. The inner cabin area is surprisingly spacious with a flat upholstered area giving enough room for a comfy double bed. The middle seat area lifts up to provide either storage or sitting space for your legs. The cabin walls are covered in a smart looking grey nylon material which sets off well against the blue upholstery of the bunk. You also have a cabin light for illumination.
Looking back at the transom you have a two man upholstered bunk seat which lifts up to give access to a storage area where the battery and a 130-litre fuel tank sit. The fuel fill is on the starboard stern corner. This battery and fuel storage area has venting to breath through both gunnels.
Standing back to admire the boat, the 570 is finished in all white but has the contrasting stainless steel bow rail and tinted screen to make for a classy looking craft when tied up or at speed.
THINGS I MIGHT CHANGE
Some buyers might consider loosing the passenger seat alongside the helm seat and bringing the helm seat across in line with the wheel for a comfier handling position. The throttle is still within comfy reach if you did this, and there’s still plenty of seating available on the transom seat and on the seat up forward, plus it gives easier access through to the cabin area.
The gunnels are pretty high, but I’d still choose to add 6-inch safety rails for added security in case anybody lost their footing and got pitched forward towards the gunnels. I’d also do the same across the transom top.
OVERALL CONCLUSION
I found the Azura 570 walkaround a real pleasure to work with. She’s fast, very stable with several people aboard all walking about at the same time, plus is well thought out design wise cramming an awful lot in to a relatively small space.
You have lots of deck and bow space to fish from and no doubt could fish four people easily enough, two on deck and two on the bow. You can also sleep two in comfort if you want to weekend away. For mixing fishing and family she opens up a lot of options.
DIMENSIONS
LENGTH: 5.72m
BEAM: 2.45m
DRY WEIGHT: 920kg
EC CATEGORY: C 6 persons