TEST: RAZERLINE 6.6 OLYMPIAN HARD TOP

While in Western Australia recently we dropped in on Seaquest to check out its latest boats in the Razerline range.
Razerline boats have been around for some years now and, with eastern dealerships now stocking them, it would seem the public is accepting yet another premium plate boat into the marketplace.
These boats have evolved around the often choppy conditions experienced on Western Australia’s coastline. And Razerline’s hard top 6.6 Olympian is well suited to any of the inclement and rough conditions that the southern seas of this continent often dishes up.
Three toughened panels of glass make up the windscreen, and perspex sliding windows next to each helm seat ensures good ventilation. With the flat hard top above, it would be advantageous to those in warmer climates to install a hatch here also. A large, tinted perspex hatch in the cabin roof allows a draft. There is enough room upstairs to stow a small inflatable to get to shore if needs be. Pre-installed rails on each side of the roof facilitate tying down extra freight.
There is a narrow path around the cabin that allows easy walking to the bow. There is extensive use of non-slip paint over the coamings and around the walkway. The heavy-duty bowrails are set high and offer added safety and comfort and enough room exists on the fore section, should one or two passengers want to soak up the sun.
A deep anchor well, at the end of the bowsprit, will handle the average size pick. A ‘tuned’ manual anchoring system would be advisable to avoid having to climb out of the roof hatch to ensure its correct deployment or retrieve. The installation of an electric winch would be an even better option.

CABIN FEVER
Two people could fit on the berths at a squeeze. There is no optional infill to make this into one berth, but something like this would be easy to come by as an after market option.
A very sturdy, lockable sliding door secures property inside of the cabin. When the door is open, the latch has to be folded back flush before it will fully slide into its recess. This point needs addressing to prevent the latch breaking off.
Those that prefer a sea of gauges and electronics will be a little daunted by the sparse dashboard of the 6.6 as tested. It has a large flat top on the dash and the relatively small single screen of the Mercury SmartCraft system sitting in the centre of the fascia looks lonely. There is a lot of space to fit even the largest of marine electronics without encroaching on other usable space.
The electric gear shift for the Mercury Verado was slick and one could not get a more positive remote than the one that was fitted. Transition between gears was smooth and accurate.
With no stowage under the berths, the modules under the helm and passenger swivel bucket seats were utilised and feature a fold-back lid.
There is also access into the modules via a vertical hatch in the aft end. These models are part of the cabin liner and add plenty of strength.
A large kill tank was installed on the rear deck, draining through a pipe to the transom. A factory option, this tank may be lined with insulation and fibreglassed to make a permanent under floor icebox. The side pockets were installed high enough to get the feet under for correct balance while fishing.
The transom bulkhead featured a couple of vertical hatches hiding duel batteries and on the port-side a neat heavy-duty perspex door gives access to the full-width step out. On the inside of the walkthrough transom another hatch provides access to the plumbing for pumps and showers/deckwash. The person ordering this boat opted for a hinged bait station over a livebait tank. When unlatched and folded forward, the underside of the system becomes a seat, and a cushion from the cabin makes life comfortable for a couple of children or one large adult.

RIDE AND HANDLING
Slipping the Verado into gear, 2400rpm produced a converted 11km/h and it planed at 3000rpm at just over 13km/h. I wound the supercharger up on the Verado and the 6.6 registered 6100rpm at 52km/h. Gunning the engine from dead in the water had the Razerline flying out of the hole.
Running around on abating chop out of Hillary’s Boat Harbour, the Razerline proved to be dry even with wind on the quarter. It offered plenty of stability and manoeuvrability was excellent at all speeds. This boat features effortless handling in even the harshest of turns.
Out wide, you won’t have any problems backing down on fish either. Going hard astern, plenty of water stacks up on the floating transom but very little gets through the walkthrough transom door. Scuppers hold tight and steering port and starboard while backing down was excellent. With 200lt of fuel and the economy of the Verado 150hp, the grass on the other side won’t be green for long!

WHAT WE LIKED
Large dash for extra gauges if needed
Fold down baitboard/seat
Good stability when drifting
Dry ride on the plane

NOT SO MUCH
Questionable cabin door catch

Specifications: Razerline 6.6 Olympian Hard Top

HOW MUCH?
Price as tested:    $86,500 

GENERAL
Material:     Plate aluminium, 5mm bottom, 4mm
      sides, 3mm deck.
Length overall:    7.1m
Beam:      2.5m
Weight:     950kg hull only

CAPACITIES
Fuel:      200lt
People:      6    
Max HP:      150

ENGINE
Make/model:     Mercury Verado
Type:      Four-stroke, four-cylinder DOHC
Rated HP:     150
Displacement:     1.7l (1732cc)
Weight:      239kg
Gearbox ratio:     2.08:1
Propeller:     17in

SUPPLIED BY
Access Boating and Leisure,
8 Buckingham Drive,
Wangara, WA, 6065.

Originally published in TrailerBoat #207