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Despite sharing the same ‘580’ badge as earlier Ramco Fishmaster
incarnations, the Renegade is a totally new boat with a new hull and totally
redesigned topsides. It’s bigger, too (the new model 560 is closer in size to
the old Fishmaster), with all of the ride and handling advantages that greater
size imparts.
The Renegade we reviewed is a balanced-looking boat, with plenty of space in the front cabin but still enough cockpit for serious fishing. On the water it looks smart and handles well. A new 90hp Mariner was a good match, although the boat will accept engines up to 115hp. It was supplied by Auckland Marine who put it in the water for us early one squally winter morning. The venue was Stanmore Bay, which entails beach launching. There was no swell to speak of so the whole procedure was a piece of cake, but its handy to know that the Renegade is still small and light enough to be easily managed in situations like beach launches. It’s one of the advantages aluminium boats have over fibreglass boats of similar size. We were soon in the water and once the engine had warmed up, we scooted out into the wind chop beyond the shelter of the bay. We could see that rain was on its way, so decided to get the pictures done while we still had enough light and while there was a chance of keeping the camera gear dry. The 580 Ramco runs very cleanly and I could see from the photo boat that the Renegade’s hull was doing a good job of turning down the spray. The wake is likewise clean, indicating the underwater contours are about right. The hull proved to be dry, but the rain that swept in with the squalls made us grateful for the protection of the canopy. The cuddy cabin is quite spacious. It’s fully lined, which helps keep noise down, and the berths within are long enough to lie down on. The squabs lift up to reveal a generous amount of storage above the flotation and there are handy shelves down either side of the cabin. Tinted windows let in a little light and the clear plexiglass hatch in the roof allows the anchor to be worked from the safety of the cabin. Bow rails are optional, as is a canvas door to close off the cuddy cabin. Two adjustable swivelling pedestal seats accommodate the helmsman and one passenger. Grab-rails and footrests are provided. The helm station is fairly standard — the black plastic fascia is quite attractive and there’s room up on the dashboard for electronics, although video sounders and VHF radios may be better mounted inside the wide cabin door to keep them out of the weather. A standard Mariner instrument pack and a four-switch panel are fitted to the test boat as per CPC requirements. The cockpit is uncluttered and roomy with plenty of fishing space. Gunwale heights are good and they’re wide enough to comfortably sit on. Toe room is adequate. Wide shelves on either side of the boat will accept fishing rods or dive bottle. The floor consists of vinyl-covered plywood. The surface is non-slip and the cockpit drains into the bilge through grilles in either corner. An automatic bilge pump transfers water back outside the boat where it belongs. The whole space under the floor, except for the 65-litre fuel tank, is filled with flotation material. Across the transom Ramco have done a tidy job of keeping everything well out of the way. The portafino type transom is stepped and good use has been made of the space this provides. There’s room under the transom for at least two tote tanks and the battery box, with the battery isolation switch and fuel filter well out of harm’s way. The Mariner 90hp has an integral oil tank, but with other engines the oil reservoir would also be mounted under the transom. A feature of the Renegade is the generous livebait tank mounted on the stern. The hatch is actually on the outside of the boat on the ‘step’. The rotationally moulded plastic tank has rounded corners; a feature that greatly increases the life expectancies of any baitfish in the tank. It’s easily plumbed and the standard tank drains into the cockpit via a large bung. Outside the cockpit, twin chequer-plate swimsteps, grab-rails and a single folding dive ladder on the starboard side aid in getting in and out of the boat. A lift-out transom door is another feature of the Renegade. The 90hp Mariner provides excellent performance. The boat is very responsive and I felt that the engine was a perfect match for the boat. There may be situations where more horsepower is required, but for most applications 90hp is ample. Many may find 75hp perfectly adequate. Out in the chop the boat performed well. The ride is good and the boat relatively quiet. We had the canopy up due to the rain showers, but the hull seems dry and minimal spray found its way onto the clears. In the turns, the Ramco tracks well and doesn’t heel excessively (the welded down-turned chine has a big part to play in this, as well as keeping the boat dry). Top speed is in excess of forty miles per hour. Stability at rest is fine and general fishability is good. Rod holders can be fitted to suit and a rocket-launcher is a factory option. Not surprisingly, the model has proved popular with anglers and divers for its performance and versatility. The Renegade is able to be towed on a single-axle trailer, easily launched and managed, but it’s still big enough for some serious boating. Pulling the boat out was a breeze; there was no swell to speak of, but we still had to ground the boat so as not to submerge the truck’s wheels. The boat winched straight up onto the Voyager trailer — a one-man job. The Renegade is a versatile aluminium boat of a size that will suit serious anglers and family boaters alike. The standard of finish is good, as is the case with the whole range of Ramco boats, and the boats are available with a comprehensive range of optional features. The review boat was unpainted, except for Ramco decals, but most buyers opt for painted versions. Specifications LOA — 5800mm
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