TOURNAMENT 1750 BOWRIDER REVIEW
On the heels of the recent popularity of small, manageable bowriders, Tournament Boats
Primarily a social family boat, the team looking after the 1750 Bowrider strived to provide a roomy, yet easy to handle and efficient rig for a small family to buy on a working man's budget. The boat will cater well for family boating such as touring, watersports activities, family picnics, social fishing and the like.
Find new and used Tournament Boats for sale here.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Using an existing hull which is tried and proven beneath the Tournament 1750 Cuddy Cabin, the team set about building a new deck to best utilise the space.
The boat is built using an all-fibreglass stringer system, and carries full-foam floatation beneath the floor to provide basic floatation.
As with the Tournament 2400 Clubsport tested recently, the level of fitout and finish on this boat is fantastic. The team at Tournament have really hit the mark with providing what a customer wants and needs in their boat.
The finish on the 1750 is mirror smooth, with no rough edges for little ones to catch their fingers on. All fittings are quality stainless steel and substantial considering their purpose. The boat maintains an extremely attractive and sleek look, turning heads wherever it goes.
IN THE SKIPPER'S SEAT
Maintaining the basic concept of a bowrider boat, the dash area is both uncluttered and functional. The Tournament 1750 featured the Evinrude E-TEC I-Command gauges up high, with a clear and unobstructed view from the helm seat. The sports steering wheel is at a fixed height, and the six-gang switch panel is mounted alongside the starboard bulkhead. The helmsman's seat is very attractive and comfortable, and the seating position was perfect for me, looking through the curved Perspex windscreen with no restriction to visibility as the throttle fell nicely to hand.
One thing this boat has in spades is space. For a boat with a moulded length of 5.45m, there is room for a party. The 1750 Bowrider can legally carry a maximum of six persons. With comfortable seating in the bow for two, the helm and passenger chairs, and a rear lounge capable of seating two or three, this boat will make a great entertainer.
The bow seating area is flanked by coaming upholstery to provide back support, and the test boat was also supplied with an infill cushion, to make a luxurious bed area. Handholds are provided for safe seating underway, and the anchor well is easily accessible from the bow.
An opening windscreen centre panel allows easy access into the rear cockpit, where the passenger is provided with a grabhandle, drinkholder and small open glovebox, while the full-width split folding rear lounge is comfortable and safe with more handholds.
The transom encompasses twin bait tanks in either corner, which could double as storage for social outings. The carpeted cockpit also has an underfloor storage area between the helm and passenger seat, which would easily handle a spare anchor or safety equipment.
The transom arrangement keeps the engine essentials out of harms way, and also provides a moulded step on either side with a ladder and handholds on the port side to aid in boarding.
The test Tournament 1750 Bowrider was also fitted with an aftermarket aluminium wakeboard tower complete with board racks and tow point, which will be a popular option for those wishing to get into some watersports action.
POWERING UP
With a recommended engine rating of between 75 to 135hp, the test boat is suitably powered by an Evinrude E-TEC 115hp outboard. The E-TEC is always an impressive engine to use, maintaining the power-to-weight ratio of engines from days gone by and the efficiency of running we all expect of a modern-day outboard.
The 1750 Bowrider has a maximum recommended transom engine weight of 200kg, meaning all brands of 90hp outboards are suitable, but ruling out the larger Honda engines.
The Tournament 1750 Bowrider package I tested is certainly no slouch. It is quick out of the hole, cruises along at 25.5mph at 4000rpm, and winds out to a top speed of 39.5mph at 5700rpm.
The hull proved to be very responsive and liked to be driven using the engine's trim to its full advantage.
The boat's SeaStar hydraulic steering system coupled to the sports steering wheel is an option I would definitely recommend, especially if using the boat for any watersports purpose. The steering was light, and easily handled the 115hp under its control.
ON WATER
Test day provided a mixed bag of weather from sunshine to rain, but the one thing that did remain constant was the 25-knot southeasterly wind which chopped up the bay routinely. The 21-degree deadrise on the hull proved that, for a small hull, the 1750 can handle the chop remarkably well.
Even in these conditions, the hull also remained very dry, with only the moisture from above proving to mess up the view from my sunglasses.
The deep-vee Tournament 1750 hull performs well and provides a versatile platform to fish or perform watersports activities.
TRAILERING
The 1750 Bowrider is cradled by a single axle multi-roller Sea-Link galvanised trailer and the beauty of this rig is that it is easily handled. It doesn't need a 4WD to tow it, let alone the bundles of money which go along with such a vehicle. A late-model mid-sized vehicle such as a Toyota Aurion will handle this rig easily, while a larger vehicle such as a Ford Falcon or Holden Commodore will yawn at the effort required.
The 1750 Bowrider will have an all-up weight on road of around 1200 to 1300kg, which combined with the single axle trailer will be easy to push around and store in the yard.
If it's hassle-free boating you're after, with a very long list of uses for your boat, the Tournament 1750 Bowrider could be exactly what you are looking for. A very versatile craft, capable of almost anything that can be thrown at it, this one will become an affordable favourite.
Specifications- Tournament 1750 Bowrider
HOW MUCH?
Price as tested: $39,900
Priced from: $36,900 w/ 90hp Evinrude E-TEC
GENERAL
Type: Monohull
Material: Fibreglass
Length: 5.45m
Beam: 2.13m
Deadrise: 21 degrees
Weight: 1.25 tonne (BMT)
CAPACITES
Fuel: 90lt
Rec. HP: 75 to 130
ENGINE
Make/model: Evinrude E-TEC 115hp
Type: V4 two-stroke outboard
Weight: 170kg
Shaft length: 25in
Propeller: 17in Viper stainless steel
SUPPLIED BY
Australian Marine Centre,
3491 Pacific Highway,
Springwood, Qld, 4127
Phone: (07) 3808 7333
Fax: (07) 3808 7300
Originalyl published in TrailerBoat 245.