Boat Review - Tournament 2000 Bluewater Gen2
A change is as good as a holiday — so they say — and when it comes to fishing boats this is spot-on, as the slightest changes or modifications can radically improve a boat aesthetically and ergonomically.
In the case of the Tournament 2000 Bluewater Gen2, the addition of a stylish hardtop and some internal makeover has brightened and revitalised what is already a proven and popular fibreglass offshore fishing boat. Interestingly, the already well-established Tournament Pleasure Boats brand is now made by The Haines Group in Queensland.
Back in 2009 the first of the Tournament 2000 Bluewater boats was put through its paces and rated quite highly as a good all-round trailerable offshore fishing and family boat. I can vouch for that as a mate of mine owned one, and after a few offshore trips I was most impressed at what it had to offer.
Tournament Bluewater Gen2
Sporting a mix of the original Mustang Boats lines and new Tournament lines, the addition of a hardtop has really upped the aesthetics of the Tournament 2000 Bluewater Gen2 and added significant protection from the elements. The hardtop has a modern slimline design, with unrestricted 180° visibility, heaps of light, good airflow and provisions for speakers and wiring.
The stainless steel frame that follows the shape of the hardtop is also a nice touch, as well as creating additional grabrails, and keeps it structurally sound with no vibrations or rattles heard. I did notice a double stainless steel support onto the dash area, which initially I thought would interfere with visibility through the screens but was no major hindrance at all – in fact it doubles as extra grabrails and would be a good place to ram-mount further electronics or gadgets if needs be.
Adding to the mix of new features, the stylish interior vinyls look a treat with colour coordinated bolstered linings to the sidepockets and matching trims to the seating, cabin cushions and infills. Instead of standard pedestal seats the new wraparounds lock you in securely and comfortably. These seats are hinged to moulded bases and offer good dry storage space for gear below. If that doesn’t suit there is the option of stainless steel seat frames that can accommodate iceboxes within.
The balance of the cockpit layout consists of standard items, such as: rear foldaway stern seat, big and spacious sidepockets for gear, livewell, sizeable baitboard, nonslip deck, plenty of grabrails, and sealed and raised compartments for batteries and the like – which I prefer. Everything is neat, accessible and nice and simple to suit uncluttered and spacious fishing.
Handling and ride
Certain hulls just seem to perform better when more gumption is applied to the throttle, and the Tournament 2000 Bluewater Gen2 is certainly one of them. Knock the smooth electronic throttle down on this baby and she gets up and goes pretty quick.
On the plane the optimum cruise speeds in moderate to choppy bay conditions were around the 4000 to 4500rpm range, producing a healthy speed of 25 to 29kts. Opening up the throttle and the hull is responsive to positive trim, maintaining a really good ride in both comfort and dryness. As the day progressed so did the wind gusting up to 18kts, but the famous Moreton Bay chop was easily annihilated by the 2000 Bluewater Gen2. In fact, the more horns you gave it in the chop, the better it seemed to handle.
One thing I did notice in the stronger winds was a bit of lean or list to the quartering windward side. Considering the hardtop size, 21-degree deadrise and strength of wind, it was not a major issue or concern. Regardless of how good a monohull is, I’m still a fan of trim tabs (when used correctly) and will spend a few extra bucks to add a pair.
Easing off the throttle and settling in to speeds suitable for trolling, the 2000 Bluewater Gen2’s good stability and open cockpit make for a decent offshore slow-speed platform. For the bottom anglers the gunwale heights are comfortable, and being fully bolstered along the coamings and sidepockets there’s no worrying about sore thighs and legs after a big day offshore.
The Trade-a-Boat verdict
Again, hardtops are the new rage and I’m a fan of them, as good protection from the elements is priceless – even in Queensland. Adding a few really good features to the Tournament 2000 Bluewater Gen2 has most certainly sparked the model up again.
At under two tonnes fully loaded it’s also not a handful to tow, and with a starting price of just under $67,000 it’s not too badly priced either. Load up the fishing gear for some long-range trips offshore, load up the family on the weekends, take it to the dam, wherever, whatever – it’s a good all-rounder and one that carries a pretty good resale value according to used prices online.
HIGHS
• New hardtop
• Simple and spacious layout
• New vinyls and bolsters
• Wide dash setup
• Ten-year structural warranty
LOWS
• Rear bench could do with sturdier legs
• Plush cabin lining would be a nice touch
Tournament 2000 Bluewater Gen2 specs
Tournament 2000 Bluewater Gen2 price: $97,217.15
Price as tested
OPTIONS FITTED
SeaStar EPS steering, Dunbier dual-axle trailer, Garmin GPSMAP 751, large fibreglass baitboard, fully enclosed hardtop with stainless steel rodholders, transom steps with rails, Suzuki DF200ATX and dual digital gauges
PRICED FROM
$66,872 BMT
GENERAL
TYPE Monohull
MATERIAL Fibreglass
LENGTH 6.5m overall
BEAM 2.34m
WEIGHT 960kg hull
DEADRISE 21°
CAPACITIES
PEOPLE (DAY) 6
PEOPLE (NIGHT) 2
REC. HP 130
REC. MAX HP 200
FUEL 155lt
WATER Optional
ENGINE
MAKE/MODEL Suzuki DF200ATX outboard motor
TYPE Inline four-cylinder four-stroke outboard motor
RATED HP 200
DISPLACEMENT 2.867cc
WEIGHT 231kg X; 226kg L
SHAFT LENGTH L 20in; X 25in
GEAR RATIO 2.5:1
PROPELLER Three-blade SST
MORE INFORMATION
The Haines Group
140 Viking Drive,
Wacol, QLD, 4076
Phone (07) 3271 4400
Web thehainesgroup.com.au; tournamentpleasureboats.com.au
See the full version of this review in Trade-A-Boat #473, January 2016.