ANGLAPRO OUTLAW 424 PRO REVIEW

Here's a question without notice… what do you do if you're a marine dealer looking to sell a complete range of plate-aluminium boats from 4m to 6.5m and you can't find an existing brand that suits your needs completely? The answer's simple. Talk to your mates and customers to find out what they want in a boat. Draw on a lifetime of boating and fishing experience. Design each model with the help of naval architects. Find a reputable aluminium fabricator and build the boats yourself.

That's exactly what Derek Rodway, from Sydney-based Goodtimes Marine, did before launching the new range of Anglapro aluminium boat at this year's Sydney International Boat Show. And what a launch it was… because of their top design and excellent build-quality the boats proved to be an instant success with fishos. So-much-so, that the builders of the new range are being rushed off their feet trying to fill the orders.

PROVEN DESIGN

While the hull design of the Outlaw is not unique, the designers and builder have drawn on many proven hull designs; then, tweaked and modified them into their own style, the boat certainly produces the goods out on the water, but that's only half the story. The great news about all Anglapro Boats is that they can be custom-built. As long as you work within the parameters of each hull, you can set any model up as you see fit. Add rod racks, bait tanks and lockers, or remove them, Anglapro don't care and that's what truly does make this new range of aluminium boats unique.

The Outlaw was designed as an estuary boat, ideally suited to chasing bream, bass and barra. She has a deep leading edge with a constant deadrise angle that flattens out amidships. Her bow's "shaped", her bottom's flat and she has relatively aggressive chines for a tinnie. It's a system that works well together to deliver a soft, dry and stable ride.

Because she has a flat bum, with three strakes on each side of a prominent keel and equally prominent chines, the hull planes effortlessly, tracks straight and the bow shape helps channel air under the boat's nose to create lift. So, when the estuary or lake does blow up, as we all know they do, instead of just slicing through any wind chop, which on many tinnies means they will bang amidships, she slides easily over it on her own cushion of air. Also, because of her wide 1.88m beam, the Outlaw is super stable and has been designed not to list with only one person onboard.

Hull strength is another facet of all Anglapro Boats. The Outlaw has 3mm bottom and sideplates. The thickness of the plates and the almost excessive number of ribs under the carpeted floor ensure this is one very solid boat.

POWER TO BURN

While the Outlaw, in standard fitout, was designed to run a 30hp Suzuki two-stroke, most are delivered with a 40hp Suzuki four-stroke. Under normal conditions this is more than ample power, but if you intend to carry three people and a swag of gear, you might opt for a 50hp Suzuki four-stroke as fitted to the test boat. It might only be an extra 10hp, but those extra horses turn this already fast boat into a 45-knot (51.8mph) beast. Fishos running the Daley River in the Northern Territory, or racing to be the first at the best bass snag will appreciate that turn of speed.

At the other end of the scale is a feature that's now on most of the smaller Suzuki motors and that's a slow-troll function, which drops the in-gear idle rpm to 500. This is a feature fishos trolling the mountain lakes for trout will find handy, because it delivers a troll speed of one to 2kts. Then, if you really want to get sneaky, slide the bow-mounted foot-controlled Minn Kota electric into the drink and the fish will never hear you coming.

The Outlaw carries a standard removable 25lt-plastic fuel tank under the portside transom-casting platform. However, I'd also take up the optional 38lt underfloor tank to increase the boat's range, especially if I was running the 50hp outboard.

Out on the water the boat tracked straight in the calm conditions on Port Hacking and the non-feedback steering eliminated any torque steer. She turns on a dime with only a slight lean into the turn, so you don't feel like the G-forces are trying to throw you out of the boat. By doing multiple figure-of-eight turns, then running back over the rough water, I was able to ascertain that "yes", she does give a soft, dry ride over chopped-up water and she doesn't bang amidships. She really is a capable boat that's a pleasure to drive.

MAXIMISING SPACE

Anglapro also gets a tick in the box for the way it has maximised the use of all available space on the test boat. Under the forward casting platform is a 100lt livewell and a dual-opening bow locker for storing the safety gear. She comes with two heavily-padded, removable, folding seats and three seat mounts - two amidships at the side console and one on the forward casting deck. Battery and rod lockers, sidepockets if you want them, it's all up to you.

The side console has also been cleverly thought out. It's narrow and smaller than many, to maximise room in the cockpit, but it does have a grabrail and a small amount of storage inside. There isn't much room for mounting electronics, except the basics on the dash, so those wanting to run a big colour sounder will need to mount it on swivelling gimbal attached to the top of the console. The gunwales are also wide, so you won't have any problems mounting rodholders for trolling and a downrigger.

THE WRAP

You can probably tell by the way I have given this boat a wrap that I truly liked the Anglapro Outlaw. She's a total fishing package that's ideally suited to all the bass, bream and barra fishermen out there that she's clearly targeting by her design. Speed, ride, stability and looks, she's got the lot.

The Outlaw comes on a Dunbier single-axle 'skid' trailer and people who have read my tests and columns over the years will know that I am not a great fan of skid trailers - I'd pay extra for a roller trailer any day - but it does the job of supporting the hull well.

With a reasonable price tag starting at only $15,990, I think we'll be seeing a lot of these new boats in many Christmas stockings this year.

Specifications - Anglapro Outlaw 424 Pro

HOW MUCH?

Price as tested: $24,300
Options: Minn Kota electric motor, Eagle monochrome sounder, underfloor rod locker, plumbed livewell, and painted hull

GENERAL

Type: Side console, estuary boat
Material:   Plate aluminium; 3mm bottom and sides
Length:   4.2m
Beam:   1.88m
Freeboard:  550mm
Hull Warranty: Three Years

CAPACITIES

Rec. max. HP:  50
Payload:  300kg

ENGINE

Make/Model: Suzuki DF50
Type: DOHC 12-valve four-stroke outboard
Rated HP: 50
Displacement: 815cc
Weight: 110kg
Gear ratio: 2.27:1
Prop:   9 x 17 (alloy); 13 x 16 (stainless steel)

SUPPLIED BY

Goodtimes Marine,
2 Toorak Avenue,
Taren Point, NSW, 2229
Phone: (02) 9524 6999
Email: Derek@goodtimesmarine.com.au