In this market we’re looking at boats from 4.5m to 5.3m, and these come in a variety of formats – side console, tiller steer and centre consoles. All make use of the same hull, just with slightly different layouts.

You may be wondering what makes this boat so different from your everyday dinghy. Firstly, for a boat that measures 4.8m or 5.3m, including the pod, these are truly superb boats for fishing the estuaries, bays and rivers. Once you see the layout of the Fisher it’s not hard to imagine a stack of crab pots loaded in or a few mates casting lures to fish.

And as well as all this, the 480 Fisher is a boat that you’d have no problems heading over to Moreton Island in, running around the Hinchinbrook area and even towing it up the beach at Fraser Island and heading out to the close-in reefs here, especially in the centre console version. It really is a very versatile boat and the format you choose just depends on what you want to use it for. Estuary work is fine with the side console or tiller steer, and the centre console is better for more open work.

What you actually have is a plate aluminium boat, not a dinghy, and the Fisher is made with the same strength and durability you’ll find in the best of the big plate boats on the market.

The entire boat is made from 4mm plate alloy sheets. I’ve had the advantage of seeing a few boats at various stages, and I was very impressed with the extent of the framework beneath the floor; it was far more than I’d expect to see in a boat like this. The Fisher is constructed to last.

I’ve known Col Svensson, owner and designer of Fisher Boats, for over a decade now and I’ve seen a vast selection of the boats that he’s built. These include everything from ocean-going yachts and cats to pursuit boats for the Hong Kong Water Police and a selection of fishing boats for everyday anglers.

In many of these boats there is always something a bit different from the norm. And these differences aren’t just for looks - they add to the performance of the boat.

THE HULL

Col is a master of working chines and strakes into plate aluminium, and his work improves the performance and handling of his boats in many areas. Chines (the strips where the sides of the boat meet the planing surface) are as diverse as the fish in the sea. What this ‘lip’ does is trap water thrown up by the hull, down-turning it and helping the stability and lift of the hull.

Prominent chines aren’t common on smaller boats. However, have a look on the Fisher and you’ll see a very prominent reverse chine that runs all the way from the stern to the bow. Underneath the boat you’ll also see a pair of planing strakes running down the hull on either side of the centre keel. These strakes aren’t just pieces of 25mm angle aluminium – they’re 75mm wide at the stern and taper down to 20mm at the bow. The strakes help the performance of the boat by increasing lift, because they provide more planing surface horizontal with the water. This also helps with stability and direction.

TEST RUN

The proof is in the pudding, and our test run saw a day with a good 20-knot wind blowing. They were conditions that you normally wouldn’t head out in, but often have to head home in.

The 480 Fisher has a 17-degree deadrise. This is deep for a boat of this size and, combined with a fine entry, we cut the chop nicely. Even though a bit of spray was thrown up heading quarter-on into the sea, the amount of water thrown up on us wasn’t worth worrying about.

With one of the new 70hp four-stroke Johnson outboards on the back, the boat eased up onto the plane beautifully. With the two of us in the rear seats and no weight up the front, the advantage of those big strakes was obvious. They provided a very level transition from still to powering along.

The ride was better - even in the chop - with a bit more speed and trim, and despite the chop we ran in reasonable comfort at 4200rpm and 34kph. When that deeper trough came along we just changed direction slightly and kept powering along.

By the time we started to head back the wind had come up a bit more, and so had the sea. If there’s one way of testing a boat’s ride it is sitting up the bow. You wouldn’t normally sit here while travelling in the rough because you’d get bounced all over the place. This wasn’t the case at all with the Fisher; you can stay up here without a worry.

As far as the performance of the engine matched to the boat goes, there was no need for any more power. Even though the 70hp Johnson was a four-stroke, it still had plenty of sting and ticked along very quietly through the whole rev range. It’s very easy to forget that the motor is even running!

All in all, I was very impressed with the performance of the hull. If you’re thinking about one of these and have a few reservations, ask Col to take you on a test run on a rough day. I know what you’ll think by the end!

LAYOUT

The layout is all about space and more space. The side console offers a bit of dry storage in it and a place to sit and steer, with a small side pocket running from the console back to the transom.

There are two corner bench seats up the front, and although they’re small they’re still plenty for one person. The beauty of these seats is that they’re not in the way and they give you more dry storage. That way you get to retain that big open deck area which is so good for fishing.

The life jackets are stowed under the bow. They’re not just shoved under here though – they’re restrained by a piece of mesh similar to what you’d have on your screen door at home. A great thing about the mesh is that anyone new who jumps in the boat can see the life jackets straight away.

The deck and bow are made from checkerplate which provides more strength and a non-slip surface. The anchor well has a lid which straps down to prevent any chance of the anchor bouncing out.

As with most larger plate boats, you’ll find a self-draining deck with scuppers in either corner. These scuppers can be opened or closed to let water in or to keep it out.

In the deck there’s a reasonable size wet tank centrally located towards the transom which can be used as a kill tank, live fish well or for storage. In front of this tank, also under the floor, is the 80-litre fuel tank. With the economy of today’s four-stroke engines, 80 litres is more than enough fuel for a good day’s fishing.

The 480 Fisher certainly has a lot going for it, and you have the option of changing the layout and adding any extras that you like.

Test boat BMT package priced at approx. $29,000. For more information or a test run contact Col at Fisher Boats (07) 3348 3799.