Fyran 5.3m

With packages starting at $26,750, the Fyran is great value for money. This boat retails at $32,750 with a Mariner 90hp two-stroke. 

The model is an ideal entry-level boat – nothing flash, but newcomers can explore the coast and go fishing or diving. Recommended horsepower is 60-90hp, which gives a top speed of 43mph – enough power to tow a wakeboard.

The boat is a lively handler and pops onto the plane quickly, despite the bottom of the hull being 4mm thick for greater strength and a softer ride – as we experienced over the Tauranga Bar. Visibility from the helm is good, sitting or standing.

Construction incorporates locked-in chines for strength and stiffness, as opposed to butt joins; the chine deflects water away from the hull reasonably well. The boat is CPC rated and has foam floatation underfloor and up for’ard. Access for’ard is through the cabin.

The bare-bones aluminium finish suits fishing, and there is storage for rods in the side pockets. When leaning against the sides of the cockpit to fish, anglers contact with a shin-high shelf rather than at thigh height, which is less useful if hooking into the big ones, but the wide gunwales provide comfortable perches, and you can fish from either of the pedestal seats. The floor is Nautilex-covered – nice and gentle on bare feet – and the handsome timber baitboard is optional.

The boat has good stability at rest – something its manufacturers say is a big selling point. The portofino stern has a ladder and, with good grabrails at the back, provides a good platform for divers and swimmers. There is no built-in buoyancy here, so there is some splashback when backing up. 

The battery is in a sealed box, stowed low, but can sit up on a shelf. Fuel is stored in tote tanks, giving ample range, but an 85-litre underfloor tank is optional.

The cabin is partially enclosed by a bulkhead, with access through a wide opening that compromises the placement of handholds for the passenger. The step-down into the cabin helps taller people get into position to lean out of the for’ard hatch to deploy the anchor from the closed anchor well. The cabin is lined and carpeted, with good seated headroom and legroom. Kids love it, and there are good storage shelves.

The Fyran 5.3 is easy to handle and comes with a nice paint job.

This article is reproduced with permission of NZ Fisherman Magazine John Eichelsheim Re-publishing elsewhere is prohibited