Activa Newport 3300

Classic nor’-east styling, masses of solid teak and a family-friendly layout disguise a surprisingly practical sportfishing boat.

A sturdy, beamy cruiser, with walk-around side decks, a raised helm and dinette under a canvas bimini top and a useful forecabin, the Chinese-built Activa Newport 3300 is a handy fishing boat.

The 3300’s hull started life as an all-weather hull for recreational charter fishing in Japan. Japanese anglers take their sport seriously and expect to go out on the appointed day regardless of sea conditions. Consequently, the semi-displacement hull is solidly built and sea kindly.

Her E-glass composite hull is resin-infused FRP below the waterline; topsides are resin-infused foam core, and the boat’s superstructure is a mixture of foam core, plywood or balsa-core laminate construction, depending on location.

Interior and deck layouts are the work of John Winter and the Adventure Bay Motor Yachts team in New Zealand and China.

Equipped with the sorts of fittings, features and luxuries usually found on much larger boats, the Activa 3300 weighs in at 6.5 tonnes – more with a full load of fuel (750L) and water (120L). But this weight does give the boat a reassuring feeling of solidity when underway. All that teak looks great, too, but will doubtless require a reasonable amount of upkeep.

A 370hp Yanmar drives the boat to a maximum of 22 knots via a shaft and conventional propeller, with 16-18 knots (3000-3200rpm) proving a good compromise between speed and economy. The same engine is available in versions up to 480hp if more speed is a priority. A 4hp Sidepower bowthruster takes the anxiety out of berthing the boat, and AGM batteries (two house, one starting) supply the ship’s power via a 1500W Victron inverter.

We enjoyed a relaxed cruise around Rangitoto Island to Rakino Passage, stopping to fish soft-plastics close to Motutapu Island. Pushing a little tide, we managed a top speed of 21 knots, but settled for a more sedate 16 knots for most of the journey.

With a full keel and a protective skeg over the propeller, the 3300 is never going to break any speed records, but neither is she likely to broach in a following sea. She certainly tracks well in the turns without heeling over excessively.

The boat’s layout is modelled on the ‘gentleman’s cruiser’ popular on the northeast coast of the United States. The simple lines are attractive, aided by the lack of railings.

Full-height bulwarks wrap right around the boat’s near-flush decks, making the 3300 especially child-friendly and great to fish from, while the slightly-raised helm and dinette area can be completely opened up by dropping the Strata clears and folding away the canvas bimini.

The 3300’s helm is low-key. A simple madrona-burr fascia is set into the modest moulded dashboard, which is large enough for engine gauges and a Simrad LCD colour sounder-GPS-plotter. The Simrad is a capable enough unit, but a more fishing-oriented buyer might specify something more powerful with a larger display.

A large stainless-steel wheel effortlessly steers the boat, and the single throttle control is within easy reach, whether seated or standing. Bowthruster and trim controls, BEP switch panels, throttle control, VHF radio and other necessary switches, gauges and controls, are positioned here and there around the helm.

It’s a simple layout in keeping with the boat’s generally relaxed progress and classic styling.

The paua-shell-inlaid madrona-burr dinette table has folding leaves for easy seating access and also drops down to convert the linen-upholstered dinette into a generous double berth.

Push the aft seats’ backrests forward and you’re ideally positioned to watch lures trolled in the wake; push them back and you’re facing forward around the dinette table.

Having the focus of the boat on the bridge makes for a very sociable layout. The cockpit is slightly lower, as are the side decks, which offers a degree of separation, but there’s excellent communication between the two.

Although it’s not especially deep, the boat’s wide beam still affords a decent amount of cockpit space. A large curved and plumbed live-bait tank across the transom testifies to the boat’s angling aspirations. There’s also a sink unit, with one of the boat’s four hot and cold freshwater outlets, as well as a saltwater wash-down on the starboard side. There are sufficient rodholders fitted (six), accompanied by a further six incorporated in the rocket launcher.

Under the floor a pair of generous wet lockers drain overboard via macerator pumps, which deal with any fishy waste. They can be used as fish bins or to store dive gear. Deep gutters around the hatch covers are reassuring, though the boat is not really equipped for backing up at speed; the broad swimstep (removable at a pinch), inward opening transom door and engine-room access hatch at cockpit level would dictate skipper discretion while battling billfish.

Engine room access is reasonable. Day-to-day tasks can be undertaken from the aft hatch, but the engine is also accessible from above once the table is removed and the aft seat bases folded back. Although not built to survey, this model, like other boats in the Activa range, easily meets New Zealand survey requirements with a minimum of modification.

Although neither designed nor equipped for specialist sportfishing, the boat’s layout works well. A few add-ons would turn the 3300 into a handy fishing craft. As it is, there are no annoying cockpit overhangs to interfere with casting, and the side decks are wide enough to allow fishing right around the boat – something we appreciated while drifting and casting soft-plastics for an hour or two. There’s good footing on the teak decks and coaming heights are just about ideal, though there’s no toe-room. Access forward is good, with just one shallow step to negotiate on the way.

The foredeck is great, too – roomy, but still reassuringly safe, with full height bulwarks. There’s a handy little seat up forward too, and notably tidy treatment of the forepeak area, with a teak-covered bow platform and anchor-locker access underneath.

A ladder is used to get down below decks, which makes sense in a boat of this size. V-berths in the forepeak are luxuriously upholstered, and the paua-inlaid madrona-burr saloon table mimics the larger table up on deck. It can be removed completely if desired, or dropped down to convert the v-berths into a good-sized double berth.

An LCD screen on the forward bulkhead, fed by a Panasonic 8-disc CD/DVD player or an MP3 player, all 12V, along with audio speakers inside and outside, provides the entertainment.

The galley features a two-burner gas hob, stainless sink and a microwave oven. LED lighting is used throughout the boat for low power consumption.

The second double berth extends across the boat under the bridgedeck aft of the galley and head. It’s a good size, with plenty of inbuilt stowage and easier than most to squeeze into. The 3300 also sports a compact but functional stand-up head/shower.

In fact, the equipment level really surprises. Extra features included in the price are too numerous to list, but together represent amazing value. As sold, the stylish and versatile Activa Newport 3300 is ready to drive away – on a harbour jaunt, a fishing expedition or on an extended stay-away cruise. Just add stores, bait and fishing tackle.

Specifications

Design name/type Activa Newport 3300
Designer Activa/Adventure Bay
Builder Activa Marine Ltd
Construction E-glass FRP laminate; foam, balsa and plywood core sandwich
LOA 10.5m
BOA 3.3m
Draft 850mm
Displacement approx. 7 tonnes
Deadrise variable
Max speed 22kts as tested
Cruising speed 16-18kts
Fuel capacity 750L
Water capacity 120L
Black water 50L
Engine Yanmar 370hp turbo-diesel/straight shaft drive
Gearbox ZF 2.45:1
Price as reviewed $350,000 (packages from $320,000, subject to Exchange Rate) 

	This article is reproduced with permission of New Zealand Fishing News  by Sam Mossman Re-publishing elsewhere is prohibited