BANCROFT BAY 30 EXPRESS LAUNCH REVIEW

Bancroft Bay’s owner and boatbuilder Michael Boag has employed the proven design concepts of commercial fast planing vessels – a traditional full keel protecting the propeller and rudder that gives surprising performance, as well as shallow water access. All up, Michael has combined classic boatbuilding techniques to create a real blueprint for custom artisans. His concept, design and composite engineering was supported by naval architect Chris Tucker to produce excellent balance and layout. On the water she sits just right with her 3m beam and 0.9 metre draft. The weight distribution seems near perfect with a rear mounted V-drive configuration and a very flat, even attitude.

BANCROFT BAY BOAT COMPANY

The traditional Express Saloon style is reminiscent of the lobster boats of north east America. The traditional hull proudly bears an Alaskan styled extended express cabin, albeit with a splash of modern flair. There are beautiful timber trims, beech decks and accents throughout the boat, including the foredeck where we find a bowsprit, plough anchor and a Muir anchorwinch.

The side decks are minimal, yet easy to walk around, particularly with the security of full-length beech handles on the cabin roof. A strong, single piece stainless steel rail defines the bow enclosure. The long, flat roof extends halfway over the rear deck and the windows are large enough to suit the overall demeanour. The hardtop has a navigation mast as well as room for a raft or water toys as desired. Her creamy beige gelcoat, make-up, timber trims and accessories combine for a beautiful presentation worthy of any red carpet celebration.

LAYOUT

The eye candy continues to the stern, where she’s wonderfully proportioned and easy to live with. Boarding is simple, via the transom platform and rear doorway but the most striking aspect is the beautiful beech flooring and inlays that Michael has obviously spent many loving hours perfecting with some artistic carpentry. As it is a rear V-drive configuration, the stern coaming, icebox and lounge take up most of the transom space but it’s in no way restrictive. Access to the engine bay is quick and simple with fibreglass internal frames and hatches for the supporting structure.

The rear lounge extends to an L-shape up the port side. It’s trimmed with plush marine leather-look upholstery and enclosed by the roof overhang and detachable side clears.  All of the seating is fairly upright but very comfortable. The starboard side coamings in front of the rear door are beech trimmed too and feature a neat pull-out table for entertaining. This is a great idea, however the fold-out legs need a little rethink as they aren’t entirely stable. We can’t have you spilling your drinks on the way to the awards ceremony now can we? Further forward to port is the solid timber galley. It’s a relatively simple affair with a bar fridge/freezer, single burner gas cooktop and a stainless sink with hot/cold mixer tap. If it were mine, I’d probably select a more comprehensive galley for extended living, however the design brief was for a dayboat and hence suits the owners perfectly.

HELM

The vision around the boat from the helm is very good with three beech trimmed windows framing the scene forward and large curved glass sliding windows on the sides. When you consider that every stick of timber in the boat has been hand shaped, you come to respect this labour of love. The helm is relatively high and I’d probably like a footrest, but otherwise it’s comfortable and workable. Sticking with simplicity, the dash folds open to reveal the standard Yanmar gauge panel and a Humminbird GPS/plotter/sounder. This locks away precious instruments from prying eyes while on your mooring. I loved the combination stainless steel spoke and  cherrywood steering wheel, too – very classy and very beautiful. The controls for the Bennett trim tabs are on the horizontal helm surface to the right.

BERTHS

Designed as a custom day boat, the accommodation is fairly simple, but in saying that, I could very easily see myself spending a week with a loved one cruising the Gippsland waterways. Up forward is a largish V-berth in the lockable cabin. There’s not much else in there and it could use a bit more storage but it is well presented, warm and inviting. There is a very small bathroom to the port side with a pump out toilet and a hot/cold shower providing the necessities, but you will need to pop the hatch in the passenger dash if you want to get anywhere near an upright position while showering. I think I’ll stick with the hot/cold pull-out shower on the rear deck. But, we need to remind ourselves that this is designed very much as a day boat, and as such, it’s a beautifully presented and very inviting one at that.

PERFORMANCE

From first appearances you would be easily forgiven for assuming that Sirens boasts a displacement hull – I did. But no, she’s a single diesel V-drive with a planing hull. She’s powered by that tremendous Yanmar inline six-cylinder diesel giving her the power, the torque, the efficiency and the fuel consumption that come from one of the most technologically advanced new generation engines.

Given the boat’s profile, style and 4500kg weight, I certainly didn’t expect the speedy top end of 27kts at 3750rpm. This speed was further confirmed in an official survey by Ashworth Maritime Services when she was still being run in and with a clean bum. The independent marine surveyors also noted: “The vessel performed smoothly with ample effortless power to attain planing and cruising speed”.

The vessel would perform well in heavy weather with the fine entry bow. Using trim tabs is essential to attain premium trim for balanced performance. Bow and sternthrusters make for ease of docking.” I couldn’t say it any better myself; I would add though, that it’s suitably quiet with almost no turbo or V-drive scream, nor is there any aspiration, vibration, drive or harmonic noise.

THE VERDICT

The Bancroft Bay 30 Express Launch is a traditional boat with modern accents, technology and surprisingly, a sportsboat temperament. She has wonderful yesteryear charisma with the layout and prestige to host that Hollywood after-party. She hides great seaworthy ability and construction quality behind that alluring outward presentation, and would be entirely suitable to break free from the enclosed lake environment to challenge the infamous waters of Bass Strait.

HIGHS

• Mouldings (all fibreglass construction)
• Aesthetically beautiful
• Gentleman’s cruiser with grunt
• Premium hand built construction
• Rear platform
• Entertaining, liveable layout
• Power selection

LOWS

• Cockpit table legs
• Small bathroom
• No small item storage
• Fuel capacity

Performance (five passengers)

BANCROFT BAY 30 EXPRESS LAUNCH SPECIFICATIONS

PRICE AS TESTED

$288,000

OPTIONS FITTED

Timber deck and sole, Humminbird sounder/GPS/Plotter combo and ice box.

PRICED FROM

$267,000

GENERAL

TYPE Planing hull express cruiser

MATERIAL Fibreglass

LENGTH 8.72m

BEAM 3.00m

WEIGHT 4500 kg

CAPACITIES

PEOPLE 8

REC HP 315

FUEL 280lt

WATER 140lt

ENGINE

MAKE/MODEL Yanmar model 6LPA-STP2

TYPE In-line six-cylinder turbocharged intercooled four-stroke diesel

WEIGHT 408kg  

DISPLACEMENT 4.16lt

SUPPLIED BY

Bancroft Bay Boat Company

4 Lawrence Ct, Metung, VIC, 3904

Phone (03) 5156 2564

Web bancroftboats.com.au