When Trophy first came to Australia I recall being fixated with several of this brand’s outboard and sterndrive powered craft. At the time there very few locally made trailer boats with a proper fishing fit-out, and the Trophy models were available with the works. Fishing features like rocket launchers, live wells, bait boards and insulated kill tanks came standard on these craft — at a time when a locally made trailer boat was considered a fishing model if it had a large cockpit!
Trophy boats were innovatively designed compared to most Aussie-made rivals back in the day, and yet these craft were considered entry models in their home country.
Now back in business, and retained under the Bayliner brand name, Trophy boats are again establishing a following with keen anglers, mostly young people who are just starting their boating/fishing careers and buying a new boat for the first time.
THE TROPHY LINE-UP
Bayliner re-launched the Trophy range with a pair of centre console open boats — although there are actually four boats in total as each of the two different hull/model sizes is available with a slightly different stern/cockpit layout.
The boats include the T20CC and CX, and the T22CC and CX. The CC or Centre Console is the standard model, best suited to fishing. These two craft are designed with transom corner jump seats to each side of a centre transom live bait tank. These seats have backrests which fold down to create a full width, elevated stern casting deck.
The CX models have more of an all-rounder/family orientated rear cockpit layout. Instead of the transom corner seats, the CX models have a three-quarter width moulded bench seat with a fixed padded back-rest alongside an entry/boarding step to starboard.
Otherwise, the boats have an identical layout. The T22CC has the same internal design as the T20CC, albeit slightly scaled up in size. Similarly, the T22CX shares the same layout as the smaller, narrower T20CX.
The subject of this review is the Trophy T20 with the family-friendly CX layout. We tested this versatile, centre console trailer boat paired with a Mercury 175hp ProXS four-stroke outboard.
UP-SPEC LOCAL MODELS
In the US the Trophy centre consoles are sold as basically outfitted boats to keep the entry package price competitive with rival makes and models. Customers are then encouraged to add optional features and accessories to the base boat to create their ideal craft.
In Australia, Bayliner Trophy boats are marketed slightly differently. Aussie trailer boat buyers are more discerning, and demand a higher specification of fit-out. To that end, local Bayliner dealer C-Worthy Marine has opted to kit out each Bayliner Trophy with a range of features that would be options overseas.
You can still add a bunch of gear to personalise your boat, but locally-delivered Trophy T20CX centre consoles come with stuff you'll want. This includes hydraulic steering, a stainless steel upgrade package, interior lighting package, graphite and white interior upholstery, bow and stern seat cushions (including the bow fill cushion), freshwater transom shower with 45L tank, water-proof stereo system, automatic bilge pump, and the leaning post with doublewidth bench seat, live well and rod rack.
BEAMY BOW SHAPE
There is nothing fancy about the interior design of the T20CX, but the open deck centre console configuration works well. Like most of its rivals, it has a seating area/casting deck at the bow, a second seating/living space aft, separated by a double-width centre console helm station and leaning post.
Notable in this particular craft, however, is the substantial size of the front seating area. The front deck is wider, larger than most craft in this size range due to this boat’s distinctively squared-off bow shape.
The Trophy T20CX is virtually rectangular in shape when viewed from above, with the maximum beam carried right forward to the bow. Most rival centre console and bowrider boats have a beam which tapers to a point, or a V-shape at the bow, thereby reducing the available deck space for seating and storage.
I certainly found the front deck and seating area to be bigger than most. The cushioned moulded seats are comfortable and cater easily for three people, although I would have liked a padded back-rest behind the aft facing middle seat.
Our test boat had the included infill cushion to connect and join the middle bow seat with the cushioned seat in front of the centre console. This addition creates a comfy forward facing chaise style lounge with a well padded back-rest on the front wall of the console.
Beneath the console forward seat you'll find a handy storage locker/cooler. This insulated compartment adds to the port and starboard side bow safety gear lockers, and the space beneath the middle bow seat which is used as an anchor locker.
Each of the three moulded bow lockers has gas-strut supported hinged hatches so they stay open when you need them too.
With the bow seat cushions stowed away, the front compartment converts into a flat, elevated casting platform. The deck hatches are reinforced for strength so you can safely move about on this front platform to cast lures or flies into bait schools, across sand flats, over tree stumps and mangroves, etc.
Other bow features include speakers for the included stereo, recessed grab rails, cup holders, and removable back-rests behind each of the bow side seats so you can face forward while underway.
TWO-PERSON WIDE HELM
Like most modern, recently designed centre console boats, the Trophy T20CX has a doublewidth console and helm station in front of an equally broad, moulded leaning post with padded bench seat and back-rest.
The console is wide, but not too wide. To each side of it there is about 420mm of foot space so you can stand and fish the full length of the boat, and walk back and forth to the bow without restriction.
The layout of the helm station is unremarkable, but practical. The light grey, low glare dash and fascia panel is large enough for a single large display, though our test boat sported only a set of analogue engine gauges, the switch panel and radio head unit.
The sports steering wheel is offset neatly to the port side with the throttle box centred and within a comfortable reach. This layout allows for the first mate to stand, or sit alongside the skipper when the boat is underway.
The windshield overhead provides shelter from the wind, but you'll need to add the optional soft top bimini or T-top for additional weather protection.
Most US centre consoles these days have a head compartment/change room within the helm console. The T20CX is no exception, featuring a step-down recess accessed via a door on the starboard side of the console.
VERSATILE COCKPIT
The self-draining aft cockpit is small by most fishing boat standards, but the layout suits a mix of family boating and fishing.
Given this mixed usage configuration, it is perhaps surprising that the T20CX has two large live wells. The first is a large live well contained inside the cockpit leaning post, beneath a handy rocket-launcher rod rack. The second is very nearly as big, and located under the moulded transom bench seat. Anglers will appreciate both..
Fishermen will also be pleased with the horizontal gunwhale rod racks, the 690mm of cockpit freeboard, and the 245mm wide side decks, which should easily take a few flush-fitted rod holders, perhaps even a downrigger bracket.
Family boaters will also warm to the cockpit layout, given the extra seating across the transom, along with the starboard side entry step/platform, aft swim boards and ladder, and the abundance of stainless steel cup/drink holders.
The aft bench seat back-rest is also large and comfortable, although it is fixed into position. I expect anglers would prefer an easily removable (or foldable) back-rest to provide clean fishing access over the stern of the boat.
Other surrounding features include the scupper drains in the transom corners, port side electrics box with the battery and master switch, and a second set of stereo speakers.
POWER AND PERFORMANCE
Bayliner is one of many boat brands owned by the Brunswick Corporation. This US multinational company also owns Mercury Marine, so Bayliner boats are pretty much exclusively powered by Mercury outboards or MerCruiser sterndrives.
The Bayliner Trophy T20CX is designed for Mercury extra-longshaft 508mm (20in) fourstroke outboards in the 115hp to 175hp size range.
The most popular, and arguably the best Mercury motor for the T20CX is the evergreen four-cylinder in-line 150hp motor. However, if you envisage towing the kids about on tubes or undertaking other social towsports, then I would recommend the maximum size engine.
Our test boat was rigged with the larger motor in the form of a Mercury 175hp ProXS. This powerful V6 engine delivers plenty of grunt, pushing the T20CX to a top speed of 38.2 knots.
The Mercury delivers in the low and mid range too, the Trophy hull being quick to plane from displacement speeds, and very responsive through the middle rpm range.
We were not able to record fuel flow figures on our test boat as it was fitted with analogue engine gauges. However, performance data recorded by Mercury Marine shows the test boat/engine combination is most economical when cruising at 3500rpm.
EASY HANDLER
The Trophy T20CX has an easy handling, safe, stable hull with a modest transom vee deadrise angle of just 18 degrees. I half expected the hull to be a little bit bumpy through the chop and offshore, but was pleasantly surprised by its excellent performance.
Stepping out through the Southport Seaway on the Gold Coast, our test boat belied its modest size to run quite smoothly — the fine bow entry shape parted the waves nicely with just a little negative engine trim to tuck the nose down.
Once offshore, and running beam to the sea, I raised the motor a tad to allow the boat to gain speed, and to run smoothly and quickly across the water.
Inshore or offshore, the Trophy handles nicely. It is well mannered through tight turns, taking them sharply, but in a controlled manner. This boat will readily double-up for social towsport applications, particularly with the big Mercury motor on the transom to provide the oomph.
THE WRAP
The Bayliner Trophy C20CX is an excellent social family day boat and coastal fishing rig. It has the features and fit-out to do both pretty well. If you need one trailer boat to perform a range of different roles and functions, look closely at the Trophy C20CX as it delivers on most fronts.
At 6.22m long, 2.43m wide and weighing less than 2000kg on a tandem axle trailer, the Trophy T20CX is also readily trailerable behind a family size SUV or dual cab ute.
C-Worthy Marine on the Gold Coast has package prices for the Trophy T20CX starting at $97,890 with a Mercury 150hp ProXS four-stroke outboard and tandem axle trailer.
Optioned with the larger Mercury motor and black-coloured topsides, our test boat is priced at $102,990.
$102,990
OPTIONS INCLUDED
Black coloured topsides.
PRICED FROM
$97,890
GENERAL
TYPE Centre console
MATERIAL Fibreglass
LENGTH OVERALL 6.22m (20ft 5in)
BEAM 2.43m (7ft 12in)
DEADRISE 18 degrees
WEIGHT 1878kg including engine and trailer
CAPACITIES
PEOPLE 8
REC. HP 115-175hp
FUEL 208L
WATER FRESH 45L
ENGINE
MAKE/MODEL Mercury 175hp ProXS
TYPE 4-Stroke 24 valve DOHC V6
WEIGHT 213kg
DISPLACEMENT 3.4L
GEAR RATIO 1.85:1
PROPELLER Inertia 17in
MANUFACTURED BY/
Bayliner/Brunswick Corporation
SUPPLIED BY
C-Worthy Marine Pty Ltd
200 Beattie Road, Coomera QLD 4209
P 07 5580 0905