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By
DAVID LOCKWOOD
26 November 2007
If you thought Australia had a mortgage over the iconic
tinnie, think again. Aluminium dinghies have long been popular in North
America and now, it seems, a Finnish-built fishing-and-family craft is
destined to carve out a niche on our local waterways.
Establish some 15 years ago, Silver is now the biggest
production builder of aluminium runabouts in Europe. Production is
currently running at about 3000 boats a year and growing.
But what makes this boatbuilder different is the construction:
the boats have aluminium hulls, foam-filled sides or sponsons
something akin to a solid RIB, and then an internal fibreglass
liner for a splash of panache.
Built to CE standards and backed by a three-year hull warranty,
the Hawk 540DC was a good example of the Silver boat. The DC
stands for dual console, which could also be interpreted as a
bowrider layout.
The hull is made from 4 mm-thick aluminium and 2 mm topsides.
Welded crossbeams and longitudinal stringers provide stiffness to
the hull and, with the aforesaid foam in triangular pontoons, the
Finnish factory claims its boats are unsinkable. And the Hawk
540DC has a self-draining hull.
The boat features a split stainless steel bow rail riveted to
the hull, under-seat storage including a centre hold with a
moulded GRP pan for stowing the anchor, and a section of aluminium
tread plate on the bow for safe disembarkation.
There are fittings for the clip-in navigation lights, stainless
steel catches and nylon cleats. Plumbing routes around the hatches
prevent the ingress of water and, thus, these can be considered
real dry storage.
The boat had twin top-shelf Todd bucket seats (standard on all
Silver boats imported here), set behind a deep acrylic windscreen
with some distortion in its folds.
Ahead of the co-pilot is a moulded glove box, storage for
personal effects, room to mount a stereo, a drink holder and the
boat’s battery near the foot space.
Meanwhile, the dash has a spread of Mercury outboard-engine
gauges, room to mount a depth sounder, a compact switch panel and
a 12-volt accessory plug. A grab rail tracing the windscreen and
flip-up seat bases let you drive on your feet if needs be.
Seating extends from the bow to a three-person aft lounge,
under which is more dry storage space. There are also two storage
bins outboard of the transom, with bungs. If you forget to screw
them in your bait will drain into the bilge. The swim ladder will
come in handy when not fishing.
Packaged on a Boeing trailer, the 1195 kg rig will be an easy
tow for a mid-sized family car. With a four-stroke outboard, the
105 litres of fuel should suffice for a full day on the water.
As for the ride, the Hawk 540DC was very smooth, which might be
considered unusual for a tinnie. The hull has a deep-vee, again
for a tinnie, with 18.5 degrees of deadrise, and a fine entry. The
potential tenderness of the hull is offset by the foam-filled
sponsons.
With three adults leaning into the hull sides, the boat heels
at first but then goes no further as the buoyancy of the
foam-filled sides kicks in. However, I wouldn’t class the boat
as having an especially big cockpit by Australians standards.
Matched to a Mercury EFI 90 hp (67 kW) four-stroke outboard
spinning an 18-inch three-blade prop, the Hawk 540DC offered an
easy drive thanks to hydraulic steering. This was the only option
besides the factory-made stainless steel targa arch with rod
holders. A bimini top is something you will need to have fitted
locally.
The boat just held onto a planing speed of 10.6 knots (about 20
km/h) at 3000 rpm, ran nice and level at 3500rpm and 16-knots
(about 30 km/h), and cruised most compliantly inshore and offshore
at 4000 rpm and 22.4 knots (about 41.5 km/h).
Top speed was 36.5 knots (about 68km/h) at 6000 rpm, with
various fast- cruise speeds clocked between 4500 rpm and 5500 rpm.
All the while the four-stroke outboard is nice and quiet, as is
the foam-filled hull. No creaks or thumps. And this was also a
remarkably dry tinnie.
The importers are using the catchphrase: the game has changed.
But whether the Silver boats can claw ground off our tinnie
manufacturers remains to be seen. In the tinnie market,
prospective skippers tend to buy on price.
The Silver Hawk 540DC package costs about $10,000 more than a
similar length Stacer bowrider with a two-stroke instead of a
four-stroke outboard. If you upgraded the outboard you would still
be a long way ahead on price with the local tinnie.
What can be said about the Silver tested here is that it ran
really well at sea. And a smooth ride isn’t something
Australians normally associate with a factory-rolled tinnie.
Little wonder, the importers don’t see the term tinnie as
fitting for their boat. Take a test drive and see for yourself.
lockwood@intercoast.com.au
AT-A-GLANCE
SILVER HAWK 540 DC
Price as tested: About $46,996 with Mercury 90hp four-stroke
outboard, Dunbier trailer and optional Baystar hydraulic steering
and targa arch.
Priced from about: $44,995
Length Overall: 5.40 metres
Beam: 2.17 metres
Hull Weight: 550 kg
On-Road rig weight: 1195 kg
Fuel: 105 litres
Water: N/A
Engine: Mercury EFI four-stroke 90 hp outboard
Rated hp/kW: 90/67 kW @ 5500-6000 rpm max
Propeller: 18-inch three-blade
Supplied by: Scandinavian Boat Imports, 25 Rutland Avenue,
Castelcrag, NSW, 2068. Tel 0431 947 821, www.silverboats.com.au
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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