Long-standing Yamaha and Evinrude dealership, Kev and Ian’s Marine, was bought by Luke Sharp from Outboard Marine Technologies. The South Auckland company relocated to new, premises in Wiri and is firing on all cylinders, writes Sam Mossman.

One new project the company is involved with is marketing Domain Alloy Boats. These craft are designed and built in Henderson, West Auckland, by Russell Gillam, a talented and very experienced engineer who has headed some large projects overseas in the past. He loves boats and boating, and having designed and built craft for other NZ boat companies, has now done his own thing, founding Domain Boats, with Evinrude and Mercury agents Kev & Ian’s Marine handling the fit-ups, sales and marketing.

Currently 475 and 550 models are available in both cuddy and centre console variations. Our test boat this month is the 550 Centre Console version, fitted with one of Evinrude’s newly released G2 115hp HO (High Output) outboards. These are two-stroke, in-line three-cylinder direct-injection models with many new features which have now been walked down through the range to the 115 from its larger G2 brothers.

Revolutionary power plant

The outboard cosmetics include custom cowling panel pin striping, allowing the outboard to be colour-matched to the boat/tow vehicle. Another new feature is ‘Clean Rigging’. This means the motor pivots on the clamp bracket. Nearly all the other leads, steering arms, etc. that usually are connected to engines are eliminated by the G2 electronic systems. Just a single connection into the boat makes for an uncluttered engine mount. Another greatly appreciated feature is a superbly smooth digital shift and throttle that is click-adjustable in 50rpm increments.

Evinrude makers, BRP, claim more torque, greater fuel efficiency and much lower emissions for their new 115hp than competing outboards. They are particularly quiet and almost vibration free, which is further aided by a Vibra Stop system.

Similar to the larger engines in the Evinrude G2 line-up, the new models are worldwide emissions compliant and have no run-in period. These new G2s also have an integral oil tank that holds enough for up to 60 hours of operation between fill-ups. Fuel capacity is 100 litres in an underfloor tank, or tote tanks can be used.

Stem to stern

The hull is robustly built with a 5mm aluminium bottom, transom and girders and 4mm sides, topsides and tread plate deck. The deadrise is variable to 15 degrees at the transom, and considerable effort has gone into getting the balance of the hull perfectly level, ensuring good stability at rest. There is a sealed underfloor compartment with a volume of 420 litres. Reserve buoyancy figures were not available at the time of writing. The quality of the welding, finish, fairing and paintwork are all excellent.

Considerable effort has gone into getting the balance of the hull perfectly level, ensuring good stability at rest. 

The boat is rigged to take house and start batteries if required, with isolation switching. A third battery is fitted exclusively for the optional Minn Kota Terrova 55lb-thrust electric outboard that is mounted towards the bow. A plug-in battery charger is fitted for easy external charging.

One of the main advantages of the centre-console configuration is that it opens up the bow section of the boat to fishing; particularly useful in craft the size of the 550. This advantage is maximised with the fitting of an optional raised casting platform in the bow. The space created is used as hatch-accessed dry-storage. The open-topped anchor well in the bow is also easily accessible. This is designed to take a drum winch if required. We ran a drogue off the bow when drift fishing and the anchor well was the perfect spot to stash it when it was not in use.

The centre console includes a protective polycarbonate windscreen, two levels of internal lockers and an aluminium T-top, a design that looks to supersede the usual canvas bimini.

Seating behind the console is provided by an Icey-Tek bin with a padded top and reversing roll-back bolster, which can be used for fish stowage. It is restrained by a pipe framework but can be easily opened or removed. Behind this is another under-deck hold, large enough to take a couple of dive tanks.

Seating behind the console is provided by an Icey-Tek bin with a padded top and reversing roll-back bolster, which can be used for fish stowage.

Construction is modular where possible, including the two-level transom wall, to keep the layout tidy. For example, overflow pipes discharge under the boarding platforms and the washdown hose has its own compartment in the transom wall.

The decks drain to a sump under the transom wall from where water is pumped overboard by a bilge pump. Over the transom wall are tread-plate boarding platforms fitted with handrails and a fold-down ‘T’ dive ladder on the port side, for easy boarding.

SeaDek panels are used on the forward deck and gunwales, including etched fish measures along each side of the cockpit. This material helps provide good footing, and comfort for bare-footed fishos. The wood tones give a nice contrast to the alloy, too.

Lighting is a full New Zealand-made LED suite from Hella, including navigation lights, cockpit flood light, multiple courtesy lights and a forward-facing light bar. Electronics are covered off by a Furuno DB9 sonar/GPS 7” touch screen MFD; an Icom VHF, and an Evinrude Icon Touch 7.0 CTS – a large format, full-colour seven-inch touch-screen unit. Steering is Bay Star hydraulic and the cool digital throttle and shift has already been mentioned.

Electronics are a Furuno DB9 sonar/GPS 7" touch screen MFD; an Icom VHF and an Evinrude Icon Touch 7.0 CTS.

Fishing fittings

In keeping with the raised casting platform in the bow, there are four rod holders built across the forward bulkhead – a useful spot to stash the casting rigs when moving spots. The substantial bow rails run along the inside edge of the gunwales and make for secure leaning spots, increasing angler security when fishing.

Rod and pole racks are recessed under the gunwales along each side of the cockpit, providing stowage for six rigs, and there are five rod holders across the back edge of the hard top. There are also two rod-holders on the back of the bait station and four through-gunwale positions around the cockpit sides, making a total of 21 rod stowage and fishing positions.

Along with two rod holders, the bait station includes a removable cutting board, a mackerel-sized live bait tank and knife slots. Over all, a decent layout for standard fishing tasks. As mentioned, the catch can be stored in the Icey Tek bin incorporated into the helm seat.

Along with two rod holders, the bait station includes a removable cutting board, a mackerel-sized live bait tank and knife slots.

On the water

Kev and Ian’s Luke Sharp and I launched the test boat at Kawakawa Bay, along with Cody Francis, who had come along to helm the camera boat. We headed out towards the back of Ponui Island. It was blowing a 10-knot sou’wester which slowly picked up to 15 knots over the next few hours, lifting the chop to half a metre.

Centre consoles, in general, are not renowned for the shelter provided to the crew but the Domain 550 CC took little spray and proved itself to be a soft rider. Evinrude had done the engine run-up the day before and provided the performance figures on page 97. The impressive economy and the quiet, low-vibration performance are both notable. Along with the hydraulic steering and easy-action digital throttle and shift, this made the rig a pleasure to helm.

The boat was also fitted with a Minn Kota Terrova 55lb-thrust electric outboard on a custom mount towards the bow. The Minn Kota is fitted with a remote control and we found it useful when cruising along the coast and when we spotted fish sign on the sounder. Hitting the Spot Lock button held us on the position while we cast to the fish. This feature proved accurate and held us steady in 15-knot winds.

On the road

With a tow weight of around 900kg, this rig is relatively easily handled on the road by a medium sedan or SUV. The trailer is an unbraked cradle A-frame design with four pairs of wobble rollers, a wind-down jockey wheel, manual winch and submersible LED trailer lights.

Over all

With the increasing popularity of sportfishing with lures, such as topwater, soft-plastics, jigs and fly fishing, centre-console configurations are becoming more popular. The Domain 550 Centre Console is stable and soft riding, with plenty of fishing space and a high-quality finish. Add the very latest G2 115hp direct-injection outboard from Evinrude, with its excellent fuel economy and smooth digital throttle and shift, and you have a great coastal fishing boat.

Performance

Hull: Domain 550 CC

Evinrude E-Tec 115HP HO
19”– pitch prop

Load: Two adults

Conditions: 20 knot wind, chop.

Performance figures averaged.

Revs      Speed      Fuel
(RPM)     (mph)       (l/hr)

1450        5              3.5

2425        10            10

2500        15            10

2500        20            9.3

2950        25            10.6

3650        30            17

4400        35            25.5

4900        40            31.5

5550        42            34.0

Figures supplied by Evinrude, Auckland

Specifications

Material: aluminium

Configuration: centre console

LOA: 5.565m

Beam: 2.076m

Sealed underfloor compartment: 420 litres

Bottom, transom, girders: 5mm

Sides and topsides: 4mm

Deadrise: 15 degrees variable

Recommended power range: 90-115HP

Test engine: Evinrude E-Tec 115HP HO

Prop pitch: 19”

Fuel capacity: 100 litres underfloor or tote tanks

Tow weight: 900kg

Base key-turn rig: $49,995 (90hp)

Price as tested: $74,995

Test boat courtesy of Kev & Ian’s Marine