SAILFISH S7 LIMITED REVIEW

Ailurophobia: the persistent irrational fear of cats. It’s a relatively common condition among boaties and something that I battled with myself for many years. Medical professionals will tell you though, the best way of overcoming any phobia is to tackle it head on.

NEW SAILFISH POWERCATS

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

Built on a slightly shorter platform – 6.9m x 2.45m, as opposed to the Canyon Master’s 7.3m x 2.45m – the S7 cabin has been extended rearward to afford more covered accommodation for passengers. There is now reasonable stand-up room behind the helm and passenger seats, each of which sits atop one of the many storage compartments. The buttresses that support the roof feature an accentuated curve that sweeps from the coamings to the rear of the hard lid. The arc is traced by integrated full length handrails that complement the new lines.

The roofline itself extends further back to protect passengers perched on the padded lids that cover a sink to port and stove to starboard, each with storage beneath. These storage boxes form part of the rear cabin bulkhead which frames the S7’s crowning glory, a toughened glass screen with neat lockable French doors. While the Canyon Master’s hardtop with wrap around glass affords a fair degree of protection and a lot more civility than removable clears, the S7’s fully enclosed cabin approaches car-like comfort. With the doors closed and sliding side windows shut, occupants are cocooned in blissful isolation. Even the hull noise evident on the best plate alloys is minimised thanks to foam-filled sponsons.

STORAGE

With many boats, it’s evident that storage is an afterthought. Not so, the Sailfish 7 Limited where the use of available space is optimised. Everywhere you look there is a hatch or door or shelf or pocket ready to swallow whatever gear you bring along. They’ve even gone so far as labelling every component – someone must’ve worded them up about my bad memory.

As a fishing platform, the Sailfish is brilliantly conceived. It’s one of those rare hook-it-up-and-go prospects where all your gear could be locked up inside the cabin ready to hit the ramp at a moment’s notice.

FISHABILITY

One of the real benefits this plate alloy cat has over a ‘glass boat is that its overall beam of 2.45m is imminently useable, since it is carried most of the boat’s length. The transom is fisherman’s wet dream, where everything a skirt chaser or bait slinger could want falls immediately to hand. There is a bait station with its own tap to starboard above a two-tray tackle drawer. A neat LED striplight ensures fumbling in the dark with sharp implements is a thing of the past. Hatches below it open to reveal a secured battery raised above floor height alongside the deckwash plumbing. A large plumbed and lit livewell resides in the port corner finished with an inspection window. A second high crank battery resides below. Plush coaming pads trim the transom at a convenient thigh height.

Rod storage and deployment is another area that’s been sorted. Seven rod holders are mounted to the hardtop with a further four angled stainless rod holders in the wide flat coamings. Two-way alloy rod holders are welded in each transom corner while another is welded each side of the gantry walkway. Horizontal storage for gaffs and tag poles fitted above short side pockets completes the picture.

COCKPIT

A two-tone fibreglass chip cockpit flooring decks the entire surface underfoot, save for the helm which is carpeted. A 100mm lip divides the fishing cockpit from the enclosed helm and prevents any water that does come on board from flowing into the cabin dry zone. Stepping inside the cabin, you’re greeted with a familiar Sailfish layout. A clean uncluttered dash features a Garmin GPSMAP 7012 touchscreen combo that can also display the engine’s vital statistics when utilising NMEA 2000 capability. Everything falls right to hand as it should in a good cockpit.

CABIN

A stylish radio box is integrated above the companionway that leads to the cabin. In this instance it housed a GME GX600 and Fusion IP600G marine stereo system with Ipod dock. Once again the matte black finish has been used to great effect. The cabin has been given special attention by the Sailfish team to enhance its appeal to all members of the family. A pump out toilet with macerator sits dead centre covered by an alloy panel with upholstered insert when not in use. The attention to detail even extends to the Sailfish logo on the cabin pillows and colour coordinated bunk cushions.

HANDLING AND RIDE

Despite being 40cm shorter than the Canyon Master there is more weight over the nose, allowing it to retain a level attitude when running. Cats are generally in their element running hard into a head sea, but some are undone by a following sea, particularly when surfing down the face of a swell. Once again, the S7 didn’t disappoint, remaining responsive and nimble no matter what we through at it. I simply set the trim at just over a third up and left it there changing direction only when the need to pound some swell into submission became too tempting to refuse.

Unfortunately for this review the conditions were mild but I found we could hold almost 75kmh in messy chop without trying too hard. Slip back to around 4300rpm at around 40kmh and it feels like you could hold that attitude forever, leaving you in no doubt about its long range cruising potential.

THE VERDICT

Once again I’m left with the lingering impression that the Sailfish S7, or to give it its full designation, the Sailfish S7 Limited Edition was not conceived to retain the company’s existing customer base or merely recruit other cat buyers looking to upgrade. These large trailerable felines have plate and fibreglass monohulls in their sights and I reckon they’re onto another winner.

HIGHS

• Versatile platform
• Family friendly demeanour doesn’t diminish capability
• OCD attention to detail
• Big boat comfort in a relatively compact platform
• Attention to detail

LOWS

• Not exactly cheap, but still great value
• I’d prefer the optional aluminium shroud to cover the console wiring.
• Cabin headlining would be a nice touch
• Won’t be limited once the word gets out

SAILFISH S7 LIMITED EDITION PERFORMANCE

4.3kts (7.9kmh) @1800rpm

13kts (24.1kmh) @2500rpm

16.7 kts (30.9kmh) @3000rpm

21.2kts (39.3kmh) @3500rpm

29kts (53.7kmh) @4500rpm

38kts (70.4kmh) @5500rpm

40kts (74.1kmh) @5850rpm

SAILFISH S7 LIMITED SPECIFICATIONS

PRICE AS TESTED

$134,990 Ex-factory

OPTIONS

Everything you see is standard

PRICED FROM

$134,990 (Refer above)

GENERAL

Type Aluminium Catamaran

Material Aluminium Alloy

Length 6.90m

Beam 2.45m

Weight 2450kg (BMT Dry)

Deadrise n/a

CAPACITIES

People 7

Rec. HP 270

Max. HP 270 (Twin 135’s)

Fuel 350L (2 x 175L)

Water 45L

ENGINE

Make/model Twin Honda BF135

Type 4-stroke outboard

Weight 220kg(XL)

Displacement 2345cc

Gear ratio 2.14:1

Propeller 141/4 x 17

MANUFACTURED BY

Sailfish Catamarans

SUPPLIED BY

Webbe Marine

17 Yalgar Road Kirrawee

NSW 2232

Tel: (02) 9521 7944.

Web: www.webbemarine.com.au