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marque.com.au
But first some background on Trophy, one of the more successful American trailerable fishing marques in recent times. Parent company Brunswick Marine has enjoyed a great deal of success with its dedicated fishing-boat range spanning 18 boat models. In fact, more than 2000 boats from 17 to 29 feet rolled off the production line last year. Of the centre consoles, from 17 to 25 feet in length, I had previously tested just the 2103. I considered it to be a seriously seaworthy and fishing-savvy centre console for bluewater fishing. However, the 1903 Trophy is quite a different boat. The 1903 is low-profiled and wouldn't be out of sorts working the flats from the casting platform with a fly rod in hand or heading wide on a fair-weather day. Like all good centre consoles, fishing factors come first. Realising as much, the Australian agents added a factory-fitted Pro Pack with padded coamings, saltwater deck wash, cushion package and esky that doubles as an impromptu seat in the bow. Trophy backs its boats with a transferable 10-year limited hull warranty and the hull has a one-piece foam-filled fibreglass stringer system bonded. All models from 19-foot and under have foam-filled hulls for positive buoyancy in the event of being swamped. With self-draining decks and big aft drain holes - plus gutters around the floor hatches - you don't have to worry about putting water aboard. The optional moulded hardtop and aluminium framework had sufficient strength for hanging off while bounding out to sea. I also liked the decent spotlight that lets you illuminate the cockpit while night fishing. The running surface of the hull doesn't break new ground, but instead draws on proven attributes such as a flared bow to shed water, a good amount of buoyancy to support anglers or anchormen, and a useful amount of deadrise - 19 degrees is heading towards deep vee. The seamless deck moulding is perhaps the boat’s greatest feature. The liner flows from its non-skid sole up the sides to the gunwales and from the forward casting platform to the transom in one continuous moulding. This creates an uncluttered, easy-to-clean and accommodating interior, which is helped kept that way by the side rod racks and recessed sub floor fish wells. There's a concealed anchor locker, big forward casting platform over a big lined fish well, dry storage in a hatch in the forward panel of the console, and a zip-up pocket for stowing lifejackets and your wet-weather suit under the canopy. The cockpit had padded coamings, drink holders, abundant rod storage, aft-quarter seats for carrying the family and livebait tank behind the console with a decent 68-litre capacity and pump and aerator. There is a raw-water washdown to help keep the decks clean when you land that whopper. The two-person helm leaning seat is quite tight to the console but I like the fact you can wedge yourself in when taking flight - which is something I did often. The windshield kept some spray away and the upgraded Mercury 150hp Optimax outboard gave an efficient low-speed plane for heavy-weather boating of 12 knots at 2500rpm. At 3000rpm with mid trim I sustained an unstoppable 20-knot cruise whereupon I thought the boat surprisingly smooth riding. In the conditions you couldn’t go any faster, but back on the flat water the 1903 proved to be something of a rocket. When I advanced the throttle all the way I returned a flighty 40.6 knots top speed. At more economical settings, the 208-litre fuel capacity will be just fine for sportsfishing off most ports. To top it off this was a keenly priced package and a known brand with established resale value. Put it all together and you have a great little boat that can be used for fishing in fair and foul weather and running the family around in between trips. And it’s not a handful to tow, which means new frontiers are just a drive away. Think flathead and bream one day, trout and some lakeside camping the next. lockwood@intercoast.com.au
AT A GLANCE |
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