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Driving this boat reinforced our initial impression: the Scorpion 565 is a big boat, tall and with unmatched cabin space.
Five millimetre aluminium plate is used for the hull and 3mm in the sides and topsides.
The boat’s tall profile, concentrated in the cuddy cabin, gives it a somewhat bluff look, but the entry has been fined down considerably compared to older Scorpion models. The entry, combined with an 18-degrees deadrise aft gives a generally soft, dry ride. The boat tracks and turns well, handling best with plenty of trim up.
A Mariner 90hp two-stroke provided a top speed of around 45mph with plenty of response, though it was quite noisy, possibly due to the cavernous cabin reflecting engine noise.
The 565 is a popular model, marketed as a boat for families. It offers full-length vee berths inside the lined cabin and heaps of sitting headroom. The bulkhead is open and access through the forward hatch is good. A separate anchor locker is average-sized for the class.
The cockpit is capacious with high coamings, lined sides and plenty of toe-room. Side pockets run the full length of both sides and there’s a transom shelf with battery and oil reservoir. The chequerplate floor drains into a sump aft, where a bilge pump directs any water over the side. Fishability is good, thanks to a roomy, unencumbered cockpit, good stability at rest, and wide, thigh-height coamings. Four rod holders and a bait table are standard features.
The engine is pod-mounted, flanked by a boarding platform, dive ladder and grab rails on the port side. A couple of tote tanks supplied the fuel, although an underfloor tank is also possible (the underfloor space is currently sealed to provide buoyancy).
Two fibreglass pedestal seats provide seating and some storage, though forward visibility is poor due to the high cabin. It was better standing, though it was still hard to see past the bow into the troughs on the bar – for me anyway – but the curved, tinted acrylic ‘screen does provide good protection.
VHF radio, Navman fishfinder, upholstery, paint, canopy, bilge pump, isolating switch navigation and anchor lights are standard features. The boat is supplied on an unbraked Sportline single-axle trailer. All-up tow weight is just under a tonne.
For the money, the Scorpion 565 represents a lot of boat with a reasonable level of spec. It’s bigger than many of the other boats reviewed here in terms of volume, and appears strongly built. As tested it retails for $35,750, with packages starting at just $30,500 (2005 prices)
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