Boat Review: Quintrex Trident Hardtops

Our intrepid field editor Ben Keys was up on the Gold Coast for a first look at the latest Quintrex Hardtop boat range.

QUINTREX TRIDENT HARDTOP

Telwater was even kind enough to let the journos try their hand at welding, using the twin pulse welder. As you can see from the results, Ben probably won’t be leaving his day job.

THE QUINTREX BOATS

And then it was onto the boats. Quintrex supplied two Hardtop models to test — a blue and white Quintrex Trident 650HT with an Evinrude 225 HO; and a meancing looking gunmetal-grey Quintrex Trident 690HT with an Evinrude 250 HO in matching grey. Pretty sharp!

Here’s a short list of some of the new features included on the Quintrex Hardtop include:

• Livebait tank with window.
• Larger bait station with cutting board, integrated rodholders and drinkholders.
• 135lt killtank longitudinally under centre floor (can also be used as water ballast).
• Quintrex-designed “Reel Easy” rocket launcher with rodholders that flip down via locking pin.
• Twin batteries.
• Solid transom door.
• 200lt underfloor fuel tank (on both size boat models).

And it was all on the smooth-riding Quintrex Blade hull.

HARDTOP

The hardtops themselves were slick — and extremely solid. The curved windscreen is made of toughened glass with includes a wiper on the port side, while side windows allow ventilation. It’s all lined with carpet, handholds abound, and there’s a heap of room on the dash for large electronics. A hatch from the cabin-top to the bow allows anchor access.

HANDLING AND RIDE

On the water, both boats looked imposing, particularly the larger Quintrex 690 with its menacing paint job. These trailerboats made short work of a smooth Gold Coast seaway with their maximum-rated outboards. Several orders are already on the books for this new range — some sight unseen — and they’re bound to be popular among fishos in the colder climes where a bit of protection is necessary.