Review: Stessco Renegade 480 Aluminium Tinnie
Manufactured by Merlin Marine & Leisure in Narangba Queensland, Stessco boats are a common brand of boat seen throughout the waterways of Queensland and surrounds. Their extensive range consists of 10 different styles of boat, from simple budget tinnies right through to some quality looking full-plate aluminium offshore craft. But strangely enough we have never had many up for test.
At 5.2m overall, the Stessco Renegade 480 is by no means a car-topper. But, at a glance, it looks like an absolute cracker of a multi-purpose side console tinny with extra meat in the beam, big decks, decent free-board and colourful wrap.
Due to Yamaha Australia’s comprehensive testing of their motors, they opted to fit this boat with a Yamaha F70 four-stroke outboard motor, a versatile engine well-suited to numerous styles and sizes of boats. It looked a bit undersized or hidden on the Stessco Renegade 480’s transom, but looks are often deceiving and in this case performance turned out to be an eye-opener – a gentle reminder why the F70 is rated so highly.
Stessco boats have created one the more spacious layouts to a side console that I’ve seen for quite some time. The deck size is impressive for a 5.2m boat and this stems from the 2.2m beam running right up into the start of the bow section. This allows for a larger cast deck, more bow storage and adds to the overall stability. The Stessco Renegade 480 has a colossal-sized plumbed live well / kill tank with centre split built into the bow cast-deck–a great feature to have. Personally, I wouldn’t mind this area being used for extra lure tackle storage, with the oversized live-well mounted in the rear cast-deck instead, but the rear deck would have to be slightly larger and the extra weight on the stern would also be a consideration.
The balance of the layout includes a neat and comfortable side console, multiple seat bases to suit extras on-board, big side pockets, extra plumbed live-bait tank in the stern deck, good access to battery and plumbing, dual transom steps with grab-rails, carpeted decks, decent height to the gunwales with wide coamings and plenty of extra features as standard.
Overall, the abundance of deck space is the highlight – especially when it comes to lure fishing, as you could comfortably fish three without tangling up with each other. I like the fact that it’s been kept simple, but it still has everything you need to get you on the water without having to load up the end price with extra accessories.
Generally a wide beam running full span to the bow on small to mid-sized boats can hinder the ride due to less variation in deadrise, but Stessco has managed to get this one right. The stability at rest is really good, while the ride is equally great underway with the hull slicing through chop quietly and softly to enhance comfort levels.
Stessco Renegade 480 specs
Stessco Renegade 480 price: $35,000
Price as tested
OPTIONS FITTED
Hummingbird Sounder Helix 5, Minn Kota and quick release bracket, Commodore seat upgrade, wrap
PRICED FROM
$30,000
GENERAL
TYPE Monohull fishing boat
MATERIAL Aluminium 3mm bottom / 3mm smooth sides
LENGTH 5.2m
BEAM 2.2m
WEIGHT 914kg
DEADRISE 16 degrees
CAPACITIES
PEOPLE 5
REC. HP 70-80hp
MAX HP 80hp
FUEL 80L
ENGINE
MAKE/MODEL Yamaha F70AL four-stroke
TYPE Inline three-cylinder fuel injected petrol outboard motor
RATED HP 70
DISPLACEMENT 996cc
WEIGHT 119kg
GEAR RATIO 2.33:1
PROPELLER 13.5in X 15in alloy
MANUFACTURED BY
Merlin Marine & Leisure Pty Ltd
PO Box 328, Narangba, QLD, 4504