On the day of our boat test the forecast predicted 30 to 40 knot winds with stronger gust. That’s not the type of weather that I like to go out in, let along try to take photos! I was on the verge of calling off the test when Lee Kenyon from Coorparoo Marine checked in to say the wind hadn’t come up quite that strong, and it was only blowing about 30 knots from the south-east.

Previous experience told me that even these conditions in a centre console would see me get wet to the bone and a sore back. We went through with the test anyway, and I’m glad we did - it made me appreciate just how good this boat is. To give you some idea of how rough it was in the bay, you’ll note that all the pictures that I took are in the marina. It was too rough to pull in anywhere for me to get off and take some picks.

HULL

Cyclone Boats is world-famous in the ski boat field, and they currently manufacture the top ski racing boat in the world. That’s one fine credential to have up your sleeve! When you build boats for speed, performance and handling it’s no wonder that every boating and fishing writer who hops into Cyclone’s fishing version raves about it.

The bullet profile of the 680 Cyclone, with its deep 21-degree deadrise, is constructed with some of the best materials available, including Klegecell foam in the floor stringers and transom. You’d be hard-pressed to find another fishing boat constructed in this matter, or with a similar hull design.

TEST DRIVE

After gaining some confidence in the boat we headed out into the open waters of Moreton Bay where I pushed the throttle down to 30mph. Believe it or not I remained seated behind the centre console at that speed and just made a mess of that chop in front of me.

The long, fine entry at the bow eases the nose of the boat into each wall of water instead of slamming the whole entry into it. Consequently, you don’t end up with that harsh bag nor do you throw up a heap of water.

The boat doesn’t have a huge beam either, at 2.19m. Boats of similar size would be around t2.4m. However, despite having a deep V and a small beam you don’t lose stability. The boat is very comfortable to walk around in, both at rest and on the move. With the boat out of the water you can understand why it’s so stable – the hull has several full-length planing strakes, reverse chines and a planing plank. The hull also tucks down a few degrees just back from the transom, giving a heap of lift to the boat as it powers away. At all times the ride is level from low planing speeds to flat out.

After running around for over an hour in the rough, my spray jacket had minimal spray on it. There was also next to nothing on the windscreen of the console, and I could still see out of my sunglasses. I don’t think I’ve ever said that about any boat that I’ve been in.

Coming from a race boat background it’s only natural that the Cyclone can take plenty of horsepower. The 150hp Mercury Optimax provided more than enough grunt to satisfy any anglers. Imagine a great centre console fishing boat that you can also flick a few skiers around in!

LAYOUT

This boat makes good use of space in several areas. To start with there is seating for six on this particular rig. Due to the boat’s design, the transom area has a very large undercut section to house batteries, oil bottles and so forth. In here there are also a couple of big plastic Bermuda seat boxes. These heavy-duty storage tubs with padded lids slide in and out from under the transom, and it’s a great system for storage and seating.

In front of the centre console there’s another bench seat with storage underneath. Because the ride on this boat is so soft it’s fine to sit here while travelling.

The main seating is behind the centre console - a big bench seat for two with storage below. While I like the big bench seat I wasn’t keen on the way the driver’s side of the centre console continues down to meet the seat; it means that the passenger has to move aside to let you out. If your mates are like mine, they’ll see this as the perfect excuse to hog all the strikes of the rods while fishing.

There is a version available without this that I’d certainly choose.

The console unit is fairly large, and there’s an immense amount of dry storage inside as well as another underfloor storage area that makes a very good underfloor fish box. That’s on top of the way under the aft floor.

There are mid-size side pockets down the rear sides of the boat and, while they’re not overly big, they have room for a fair bit of terminal gear. There’s also a small locker in the transom with a few tackle trays included. A couple more small elastic side pockets are placed up towards the bow.

While looking around the boat you can’t help but notice how well it’s finished. Not just the smooth rounded corners and the way it all fits together, but many little things as well. Many of the hatches and bait tanks use stainless Allen bolts rather than screws, and where screws and bolts are fitted the heads all sit the one way. A few weeks after the test I went to the Townsville and Cairns Boat Shows, and all the Cyclone Boats that I saw on display were finished with the same pride. This kind of attention to detail is often overlooked in boat manufacture.

Cyclone Boats are made in Cairns, and while there I had the chance to meet Ross Wilson, owner and designer of Cyclone Boats, and his lovely wife Chris. Ross was over the moon that I had done a test run in one of his boats, and showed a great deal of genuine interest in my feedback. If there’s a way to improve things or change the layout to suit a customer, Ross is ready to listen.

And I now know that there is a centre console that you don’t get wet in!

Price for boat as tested is $59,990 (BMT). Test boat supplied by Coorparoo Marine (ph. (07) 3397 4141).