Review: Stessco Fish Hunter 459 Centre-Console
If you are past the age of yanking tiller-steers around but still after a tinny that’s easy to maintain, is an easy tow and is suited to numerous fishing techniques or styles then the Stessco Fish Hunter 459 centre console would be a good option.
For the 459, Stessco have gone with a narrower centre console with high screen and storage shelves that’s positioned slightly forward of the midships to increase fishability in the stern. There is no cast deck so the bow area is a full walk-around.
A leaning post seat with storage then adds to the comfort when driving and definite a bonus to have - if anything, I would prefer it to be set slightly further back to suit driving in a seated and standing position.
The gunwales are also a good height on the 459 and have wide sturdy coamings and side-pockets for gear. In the stern there’s a small live-well, a rear side-seat, and battery box and fuel tucked below and out of the way.
ECONOMICAL RIDER
Fitted up with a Yamaha F60LB four stroke this is another well balanced power to weight ratio. Considering it’s a five metre centre console and the hull possibly being rated to 80hp I thought the 60hp was going to be a bit average on the performance side, but surprisingly this little motor pushed out a good hole-shot and even a quick top-end of 30.29 Kts – and even at WOT its only chewing 23.9 l/hr which is nothing.
With a deadrise of 13 degrees this also helps with the quick hole-shot and at a cruise speed of around 15 kts the fuel burn is as low as seven litres per hour, which would give you a range of approximately 40 nautical miles on a small 24 litre tank.
The low deadrise also helps with good stability at rest and underway, although if you are a water hoon and looking for a speed machine at WOT in the rough conditions you won’t be able to do it on this boat. The 459 rides best at speeds of 14-17 Kts in rough chop and in calm conditions, well then you can crank up.
VERDICT
A no mess no fuss economical and good fishing centre console that’s easy to maintain and clean, and with a few upgraded accessories could be easily tricked up to suit the more serious fisherman.
Sea trials
Stessco Fish Hunter 459 fitted with Yamaha F60LB and GP Series Alloy 10.375x12in propeller. Two persons and 110 litre of fuel on board.
1000rpm reaches a speed of 3.40kt with fuel burn of 1.45L/hr and economy of 2.35nm/L for a range of 42.65nm
3500rpm reaches a cruising speed of 14.88kt with fuel burn of 7.5L/hr and economy of 1.98nm/L for a range of 36.06nm
6100rpm (WOT) reaches a maximum speed of 30.29kt with fuel burn of 22.15L/hr and economy of 1.37nm/L for a range of 24.86nm
*Data supplied by Yamaha, verified by author. Range calculated leaving 10% in reserve.
SPECIFICATIONS
Stessco Fish Hunter 459
PRICED FROM A$23,808
OPTIONS FITTED
Hummingbird Pirhanamax 4., bait box/Esky
PRICE AS TESTED A$24,703
GENERAL
LENGTH 5.05m
BEAM 2.1m
WEIGHT 567kg (as tested)
DEADRISE 13deg
CAPACITIES
PEOPLE 5
REC. HP 50
MAX. HP 60
MANUFACTURED BY
Merlin Marine and Leisure
For all pricing, availability and information on the Stessco product range please contact your authorised Stessco Dealer as Stessco do not offer factory direct sales.