Kiwi-Kraft 720 Weekender |
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Rodney Harris, founder and director of Kiwi-Kraft, is an outdoorsman from Southland who enjoys the challenge of diving, hunting and fishing in the southern ocean, lakes and high country.
Harris built and restored boats as a hobby, and upon seeing his first aluminium pontoon boat, he was inspired to try the concept with his own design. He built the first Kiwi-Kraft in his home garage in 1988, and since then his Invercargill-based company, Kiwi Engineering and Marine Ltd, has grown steadily. These days, 14 fulltime staff aim to produce 200 hulls of nine sizes from their modern, 2000 square metre workshop.
Kiwi-Kraft specialises in customising hulls to each owner’s requirements, and this process often sees the development of design innovations that are carried forward to future hulls. Along with supplying the local market, Kiwi-Kraft is exported overseas, including sales to Africa and the
I had previously driven a Kiwi-Kraft 550 Sport, and was impressed with its ride and handling, although the layout favoured general sport and family use over fishing. Consequently I was pretty keen to trial the more fishing and diving-oriented Kiwi-Kraft 720 ‘Weekender’ Hardtop when the opportunity arose, and travelled down to Tauranga in early May to meet up with Karl Rastrick of local Kiwi-Kraft agents MasterTech Marine to give the boat a run.
Construction
Some of the main benefits of the pontoon concept are greatly increased stability, high load bearing capacity, and the potential for huge reserve buoyancy. Kiwi-Kraft enjoy all these benefits.
Under-deck support consists of four full-depth longitudinal girders of 5mm material. Full-depth cross-bracing at 400mm centres provides lateral support. Four-millimetre plate is used for this.
The pontoons have a 4mm bottom section (the area likely to get the most wear), while the top and inboard portions are 3mm to reduce weight. The pontoon-to-bottom join is fully seam-welded inside and out.
The 720 has a massive 2960kg of reserve buoyancy – and that is with a full contingent of nine adults taken into consideration. Buoyancy is contained in nine sealed compartments in the pontoons. The underdeck sections are also sealed, and all chambers are tested to five PSI during construction.
All Kiwi-Kraft hulls are plan-approved by M&I (
Power and performance
The Kiwi-Kraft 720 is rated for up to 350hp. The test boat, a 720 ‘Weekender’ – an enclosed hardtop layout – was powered by a Honda 225hp four-stroke, fed by a 250-litre underfloor tank. This was a new combination, and MasterTech was still trying different props and engine heights for optimum performance. We tried two 19-inch pitch props on test day, with one returning better performance than the other. There was still a bit of cavitation, so Karl decided to drop the engine one hole on the mounts.
A third brand of 19-inch prop was subsequently found, which, with the slightly lowered engine, provided an excellent performance. On the day, the rig turned out 43mph (69kph) at 5800rpm by the dash gauges during a quick squirt on the harbour.
The variable-deadrise hull has a fine entry and a deep (22°) ‘V’ at the transom. This cuts the water well, and I suspect the sharp downturn created where each pontoon meets the bottom, traps an air cushion as the boat comes down on the water, for a shock-absorbing effect. Twin planing strakes, which run the full length of each side, add lift to the hull.
The result of all this is a remarkably soft riding hull. I would go so far as to say that it is possibly the best riding pontoon boat of this size I have tested to date. In a confused half to one-metre slop out off the Tauranga entrance – the sort of sea that ordinarily beats the crap out of a trailer boat – we were quite comfortable at around 25 knots, with no crashing or jarring. Inside the big hardtop we were warm and dry, the big four-stroke purring quietly along, and all-round visibility was great through the 6mm curved, toughened glass ‘screen and side sliders – a very good performance indeed.
Anchoring
The 720 Weekender was fitted with a large capacity anchor well. No hatch was fitted, but this is available as an option. There is sufficient fall for a capstan or windlass to be fitted, and the wiring had already been laid for this.
The anchor well and cleat can be reached from the hatchway, but the fairlead cannot. This can be overcome by fitting a permanently mounted anchor. Otherwise, reaching the fairlead necessitates climbing out on the bow, either from the hatch or around the side. MasterTech intends fitting some non-skid panels on the bow to facilitate this, and also to help protect the foredeck paint from chain flogging. A big, solid foredeck cage is fitted.
Layout
The layout of the ‘Weekender’ lives up to its model name, designed as an overnighter with a strong fish and dive bent. The forecabin will easily sleep two adults, with a berth infill giving plenty of room. Out in the wheelhouse an extension to the passenger bench seat provides another single berth.
The large entry to the forecabin is comfortable and there is a heap of stowage space: under the berths, on two large side shelves and through hatches into the forward sections of the pontoons. The fore cabins are lined down to the berths, and there is space for a portable chemical toilet.
The wheelhouse has considerable headroom, suiting even the very tall. Seating comprises a comfortable upholstered helm seat on a Softrider gas-shock pedestal and a large, L- shaped passenger bench seat (with backrest) that would accommodate three. This seat provides still more internal stowage, augmented by more side shelves.
A large front dash is provided with a back lip and grabrail, while a grey marine-carpet covering stops items sliding and helps cut internal glare on the ‘screen. The console is fitted with ‘retro’ Honda gauges, and there is plenty of room to flush-mount the electronics of your choice. VHF and sound system were mounted up in a ceiling console. A windscreen wiper aids the good all-round visibility through the 6mm toughened-glass ‘screen and sliding side windows. Hydrive hydraulic steering handles the big Honda with ease.
A hatch in the wheelhouse floor gives access to a stowage hold and a further fitting is a screw-in deck mount for a small cabin table at which three can sit. This disassembles for stowage.
Currently, other stay-away facilities are based on the KISS principle: chilly-bin storage for perishables (avoiding the complications and costs of a gas fridge) and a BBQ that mounts on the transom for cooking. A sliding, locking door provides security and comfort. That is how the test boat was set up anyway; as Kiwi-Kraft pride themselves on their ability to custom build, obviously a wide range of fit-out options are available.
A good-sized, clean-edged cockpit has a sealed chequerplate deck that drains to a sump under the transom, from where water is removed by an 1100gph bilge pump. Good-sized side pockets are built in, and a hinged face panel protects the inside of the transom wall. In here is fitted the fuel filter, isolation switch, pressure pump for the wash-down hose/livebait tank, and the battery – fitted in a battery box on a low shelf (with room for two more at least). If you were doing serious bar work, you might like the battery a bit higher up and maybe some scupper drainage for the deck – doubtless Kiwi-Kraft can accommodate you.
The fuel port is mounted on the transom, with a transom step-through on the port side. This takes an alloy drop door. Over the transom is a decent-sized chequerplate boarding platform, making a portafino-style stern configuration. Other features include: separate mounting plates for transducers etc. on the stern; mooring cleats on the stern corners; grab rails on and around the rear of the cabin and the boarding platform; a transom frame for ski rope/BBQ/bait board mounting; and a substantial rubber rubbing rail around the outside of the hull.
Fishability
All the basics are here for a good fish and dive boat: stability, good footing, and a good-sized cockpit with clean lines. There is toe room under the transom and support above the knees. There is no toe room along the gunwales, but they are not too hard to work off. The addition of a padded rail along the sides would improve this aspect, providing comfortable mid- to top-thigh support.
Four stainless through-gunwale rod holders are fitted, and there is plenty of room for more. The pipe frame in front of the outboard can mount a removable bait board, BBQ or act as a ski pole. This is another aspect that individuals may want to play with. It could be lowered if you are not a skier, more rod holders could be mounted there, or it could be removed altogether.
Rocket launcher, outriggers etc., are doubtless available as custom options. A plumbed livebait tank was fitted in the transom step-through of the test boat. Any of the large after-market ice bins now available would provide flexible storage for the catch. A boarding ladder is easily fitted for divers, and tanks will sit in the large side pockets, although deck tank racks are offered as an option.
For fishermen and divers, this boat is a blank canvas with plenty of potential.
Trailering
Kiwi-Kraft hulls are supplied with Mudgway Trailers. The test boat was carried on a tandem-axle, reinforced, cradle A-frame design, hot-dip galvanised, with entry bay, keel entry roller and eight pairs of wobble rollers per side.
Suspension is zinc-treated leaf springs, and the wheel rims are galvanised. Other fittings are a dual-ratio manual winch, dual coupling, wind-down jockey wheel and submersible lights.
All-up tow weight on the trailer with a 225hp outboard and full gas load is about 2150kg, according to Kiwi-Kraft.
All in all
The welding and finish on this boat is very good and it is an exceptional sea performer, especially in a head sea. Add these aspects to the inherent stability, load-bearing ability, massive reserve buoyancy gained by the pontoon design and Kiwi-Kraft’s willingness to customise, and you have a very serious contender in the fish and dive stakes.
This article is reproduced with permission of
New Zealand Fishing News
2007 - by Sam Mossman
Re-publishing elsewhere is prohibited
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