REVIEW - NOBLE BOATS INTERNATIONAL 5M

TEST: NOBLE BOATS INTERNATIONAL 5M

The idea of fishing Sussex Inlet (NSW) on Michael Guest's new Noble five metre estuary boat seemed like a good idea at the time, but after a late night visiting friends in the area the early start suddenly looked less appealing. Nevertheless I made it to the ramp at just before 6am - still in the dark - and met up with Michael and local guide Greg Reid from Bay and Basin Sportsfishing.

The predawn was clear and warm as we headed up the lake to the shallow edges and set about flicking some of the walker-style lures at Greg's likely spots.

A walker is a lure that floats on the surface and retrieves in a slow motion with gentle tugs on the line, making the lure wander across the top of the water. It mimicked how I felt myself so I got the hang of it pretty quickly.

Fishing in the shallow water highlighted the versatility of the Noble 5.0 metre, a fairly large hull for an estuary boat that's not your average tinny.

This style of fishing can be quite exciting as the fish is visible as it follows the lure and it becomes a game of cat and mouse, allowing the fish to examine its prey and attack - and it's all happening right in front of you with the angler controlling the action. We, okay, Michael and Greg, bagged a few small fish but the bite was pretty slow so after an hour or so we headed back to the main lake.

With the sun poking through the low hills and with a break in the fishing it was time to check out the boat.

Noble boats are constructed from plate-aluminum and are now built in China. The construction uses sheets of metal, cut and formed, then fully welded together. This makes for an extremely strong and durable boat. The 5.0 metre model is constructed from 4mm plate throughout, giving a hull weight of 480kg (compare this to around a hundred kilos less for a similarly sized pressed-aluminium hull). The 5.0m is available as a side or centre-console.

THE NITTY GRITTY

The demo boat side-console layout is simple and makes maximum room for fishing - three of us had plenty of room, even with my wayward casting. The design makes the most of opportunities for storage and practicality. The boats come with an excellent range of standard features and the overall impression is of solid build and quality finish. To be fair, this boat was finished by Michael to a high level. He is, after all, the distributor of Noble boats for the NSW North Coast and he has a deserved reputation for quality fit out. Custom-features included non-skid Regupol floor covering which is practical and neat and sets the boat off as being a bit special. When you see the product you'll ask yourself why all boats aren't fitted with it.

At the bow is a large anchorwell and a solid bollard. An 80lb Minn Kota is custom-mounted to the port bow-section, with a 24V Riptide battery in the storage area below the forward casting platform. This storage bin has space for lots of gear, even with the battery in there, and the lid is big enough to allow easy access to the whole space. A 7in Lowrance HDS screen is mounted low on the gunwale at the bow and complemented by a second 10in screen at the helm.

A flat floor runs between the forward and rear casting platforms for easy access around the boat. Sidepockets run along each side and a 180mm wide non-slip gunwale gives the hull lots of integral strength and a comfortable place for sitting. Three welded rodholders are set along each sidedeck. Two pedestal-seats are the only other concessions to comfort but the generous height of the gunwales gives plenty of security when standing up.

The transom houses a plumbed livebait tank and an aluminum baitboard with four rodholders, two knife-pockets, and a slide-out drawer. There's also space here for two batteries, the fuel strainer, and a deckwash. Large bollards are set into each rear sidedeck.

Like its big brothers in the Noble range, the boat's welded floor allows for a fully selfdraining deck, so there are large scuppers to allow water out. A generous-sized killtank is set into the floor at the rear of the hull. It has an option for plumbing and for a split-tank to keep the catch separated. The boat is fitted with a 130hp Evinrude E-TEC which, as usual, ran smoothly and quietly, and was a natural match for the hull. A small boarding or swim-platform sits to the side of the enginewell, and there's a drop-down ladder to starboard. Fuel capacity is 150lt in the baffled tank, which is plenty for covering lots of miles, particularly with the frugal Evinrude setup.

The side-console has a sturdy grabrail and it's topped with an acrylic glass screen. The console houses a switch panel and the Evinrude instruments with full readout. The Noble pedestal-seats are finished in blue and white vinyl and can be matched to the hull colours.

AND IT HANDLES

The sporty timber wheel fell easily to hand as we got underway. Visibility was good through the screen in either a sitting or a standing position, and all controls were just as easily handled.

On the wide expanses of Sussex Inlet there was a small chop from a 12-knot breeze that had picked up, but the hull rode across the waves easily with no banging. The boat rides high in the bow, deflecting any spray and keeping the occupants dry. The hull feels stable into the steepest of turns with the chines digging in and recovering quickly once the turn is complete. Only the sharpest of turns with not enough trim would result in any cavitation. Moving weight around while underway tested the optionally fitted trim tabs and the boat could be readily set for a flat run to compensate for this.

The Noble gets on the plane at 3150rpm doing around 13kts and quickly gets out of the hole and settles into its natural bow-up stance.

With 3500rpm we achieved 16kts and used 19lt/h. The boat feels in a natural gait at 4000rpm, burning 25lt/h and sitting at 25kts. A fast cruise at 5000rpm will burn 36lt/h and send you along at 32kts. WOT is 5800rpm, or 32kts drinking 42lt/h.

Summing it up, the Noble International 5.0m is a great multi purpose boat. It's small enough to handle on your own but spacious enough for the whole family or a few mates to fish extended periods in comfort. The large fuel capacity is an advantage and this boat is safe enough to get out into the wide ocean on the right day.

THOSE PESKY WALKERS - But it's easy in the Noble

The boys were keen to get back to fishing so we headed to the northern shore of the inlet, again to the shallows around the lake. We fished this area and a small creek with lots of fallen logs and deep holes. While Michael and Greg persevered with the walkers, I snuck on a little vibe since it looked a likely flathead location. Using all the skill I'd absorbed from previous fishing adventures I soon hooked on to a smallish tailor. Well, at least I was on the scoreboard. A few casts later I did manage to hook onto my targeted species and landed a 22cm flathead. The lads were way impressed but suggested, since the aim was to catch bream on walkers, that I should "get back with the program." I immediately snagged a tree up the bank.

Michael reminded me again about the day's task at hand. We were fishing with a light spinning rod and a light threadline reel using 2kg braid with a 2kg leader. At the front of all this we tied on a Smith's Mebapen Mebaru walker-style lure, using a Lefties Loop knot to allow the lure to swim naturally. These Japanese lures cost nearly as much as my boat but Michael assures me they work (for instructions on Lefties Loop knots you can visit www.illawarraflyfishers.com.au/tips/lefty_loop_knot). If you didn't take your computer with you, tie a granny knot and hope.

The method then is to find a suitable location, which seems to mean travelling round the whole lake system and trying your luck. Greg knows the inlet as well as anyone and he took us to his favourite spots, all of which were shallow reed beds along the shore, interspersed with patches of sandy bottom.

We then approached the likely area, with the Minn Kota silently drawing us closer without disturbing the fish. It's useful to have the wind behind you to assist the casting length. The lure is allowed to land on the water and settle before a slow retrieve. Greg explained again that the fishing is not what it had been but as the afternoon wore on the size of fish improved.

What was painfully obvious was the complete disregard Greg and Michael had for the passing of time. Mere mortals would have given up hours ago but these chaps - real fishermen - just kept at it, casting away like it was the funniest thing ever invented. Both kept up the fishing despite hints that it was morning tea or lunchtime then afternoon teatime. Have a nut. Have a drink of water. Bloody hell.

We were finally rewarded with a really nice bream. It put up a good fight and made its way into the net for inspection, photography and release. The fight was spectacular as Michael called the action. You could see it following the lure, then the wait as the lure sat in the water, tempting the fish. Then the explosion on the water as the bream struck in a split second and hooked itself on the razor sharp trebles. It was all great stuff and well worth the wait. Bream fishing like this is addictive and I want more of it. There's so much to learn in the technique that it can be a lifetime pursuit, and what better way to spend your time than mucking around in boats.

Specifications: Noble Boats International 5.0m Centre-Console

HOW MUCH?

Price as tested: $58,000 with 130hp Evinrude E-TEC

Price from: $46,000 with 90hp
Evinrude E-TEC

GENERAL

Type: Monohull side-console

Material: Aluminium (4mm)

Length (overall): 5.3m

Beam: 2.1m

Deadrise: 24°

Hull weight (dry): 480kg

CAPACITIES

Fuel: 150lt

People: Four

Rec. max. HP: 130

ENGINE

Make/model: Evinrude E-TEC 130hp

Type: V4 two-stroke direct-injection

Displacement: 1727kg

Weight: 184kg (long shaft)

Power: 97kW @ 5750rpm

SUPPLIED BY

Complete Boating Solutions

11 Espirit Close

Ellebana, NSW, 2282

Phone: (02) 4946 8655 or 0412 723 787

Originally published in TrailerBoat 256.