Profile 780 HW: Trailerboat Trials

He sold the company to Napier nautical retailer Firmans Marine in 2008, but still manages the manufacturing side, while Firmans handles the marketing, design feedback and setting-up. Since then, the Profile marque has become better known to the boating public, partly through its association with the Hiwi the Kiwi Fish for the Future programme; the distinctive Profile 650H that features on Adam Clancey’s TV show Fishing New Zealand; and a win for the Profile 750HW at the 2009 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show.

Despite the economic downturn, demand for Profile hulls is strong. The company has doubled its production facility space in two years, and while I was down in Napier in mid-winter doing this test, owner Brian Firman was in the process of ordering three new welding machines – and employing three new boat builders to use them – to meet the orders on the books.

Construction

The Profile 780HW features 6mm bottoms, 3mm pontoons, 6mm transom, 3mm and 4mm topsides, and a 4mm chequerplate deck.

Considerable reserve buoyancy is one of the best features of a pontoon design. The pontoon construction is split into three separate sealed sections, with a large buoyancy area under the sealed deck as well. The excess of buoyancy over the weight of the rig is 870kg and the hull is rated to carry up to nine people.

The hull is supported by the pontoon structure itself and four back-braced under-deck bearers. A flat plate is also welded across the hull, forming a strong triangular section at the keel. A new feature on this hull is a ‘wave-cutter’ keel cap added under the bottom, giving a sharper entry, improving the ride and providing further protection to the bottom plates.

Another design aspect is the internal profile of the pontoons, which are cut back at the bottoms to allow for a toe recess space above the deck. This permits anglers, in particular, to lean on the sides for support when fishing, without having to lean forward, off balance.

The welding appeared well executed and was mostly left un-ground for full strength. The paintwork looked great, an attractive orange-gold that has proved popular on these hulls. A substantial all-round rub rail helps protect the pontoons.

Power and performance

The 780HW is rated for 200-350hp; the test boat was powered by a Mercury Verado 250hp four-stroke outboard spinning a 15”-pitch Revolution Four prop. Fuel capacity of the underfloor tank is 265 litres. In calm water with four adults and a full fuel load, this turned out a top-end performance of 34 knots (63kph) at 6000rpm, which is in the mid-zone of the ‘book’ top-end rev rating of 5800-6400rpm, indicating a good prop choice. A more reasonable cruise speed of 24 knots (44kph) was achieved at 4800rpm.

We left Napier’s Port Ahuriri early on an overcast July morning, heading for a mark about 35km offshore. Hawkes Bay, for those who have not boated there, is a big, open piece of water with little structure and not much shelter. This favours hulls with long legs and which can cover the sea miles in reasonable comfort in moderate conditions, and return to shore at speed if the sea starts to cut up while out there. The big Profile is such a boat, and it delivered a pretty fair performance in seas ranging from calm to a metre of slop, without the ride being much affected by the changing conditions.

The weather was not great (which is why we had done the photo shoot in kinder light during a spare hour a few days before), and by midday started to get worse as rain set in. This made no difference to the crew; we were comfortable and dry inside the hardtop during the run back to port. The Mercury Smartcraft controls and steering made steering a breeze, and visibility from the helm was good.

Anchoring

The platform formed by the pontoon tops is extended, tapering right to the bow and topped by a non-skid panel, making for easy access to the foredeck, where substantial bow rails increase the security. The hatch in the fore-cabin roof is another access option.

However, a permanently-mounted Sarca anchor on a substantial fairlead and helm-controlled Lewmar winch greatly reduce any need to climb out on the bow. A heavy bollard is welded to the foredeck. The winch feeds the warp and chain through the foredeck into an anchor-well in the bow, which can be accessed through a hatch in the forward bulkhead.

Layout

The demonstrator had been fitted with most of the listed available options for this model, but Firmans/Profile is always willing to customise to owner’s requirements if possible.

The forecabin is fully lined and can sleep three adults with the central berth infill fitted. A toilet is mounted under the central berth. Under-berth stowage space is complemented by modest side shelves, and there is hatch access to the wiring and steering in the console. A wide entry allows easy access from the wheelhouse.

The helm position features a large dash (with marine-carpet lining helping to cut internal reflection on the ‘screen) and a rear lip to help control loose items placed there. A large cubby hole in front of the passenger offers more stowage. Multiple grab rails, including two under the cabin roof, offer security to passengers.

Seats are upholstered swivellers with a front edge that pivots up to form a bolster for those wanting to travel standing up. Footrests are fitted and the seats are mounted on pedestal boxes that offer internal stowage space, supplemented by side shelving and an under-deck hold.

The ‘screens are 6mm toughened glass with a slider on the helm side for communication and ventilation. An AFI wiper was fitted, although the Rainex-treated glass shed the water well.

Electronics included a Lowrance HDS10 sounder/GPS flush-mounted in the dash, and a Uniden Solara DSC VHF radio, along with a Fusion sound system built in overhead.

Rod racks were mounted on the inside of the rear cabin wall, taking a total of 14 rods. This position keeps them out of the spray when travelling and offers lock-up security for gear inside the bi-fold cabin doors.

Out in the cockpit, two bench seats are fitted against the cabin wall; one houses a gas bottle and Spinflo two-burner cooker; inside the other is more stowage space. Grab rails are fitted under the hardtop and down the cabin sides, and two docking cleats are also fitted here.

The wide gunwales are topped with Decktread panels, and beneath these are large side pockets (approx 3m long), one fitted with pole and gaff racks. Sealed chequerplate decks drain to an under-transom sump; a flip-up gate gives access to the 1500gph bilge pump there. The transom locker houses the batteries, isolation switching and a top-access washdown hose.

The fuel port is fitted to the outside of the transom wall (keeping any spillage outside the hull), and the large chequerplate boarding platform has a fold-down ladder and grab rails adjacent to the transom step-through.

Mounting brackets for accommodating trim tabs and transducers on the stern eliminate any drilling into the hull proper.

Overall, the layout was practical, functional and worked well, while still leaving a heap of working space.

Fishability

Stability is another great feature of pontoon boats. Added to the good footing provided by the chequerplate deck and Tubemat covering, the large open cockpit space makes for a great fishing platform. Considerable work has gone into the gunwale and transom design too, giving a toe recess and good top-of-the-thigh support right around the sides, without compromising the pontoons.

The rod stowage inside the cabin has already been mentioned. However, there is also an eight-position rocket launcher on the hardtop (the outside two accommodate drop-in outriggers when required), six through-gunwale rod holders, and six more rod positions across the rear of the large bait-station.

Four of us fished without problems from the beamy cockpit. Anchored over an offshore mark in 100m, we put a typical winter catch of tarakihi, gurnard and a pup groper into the large after-market fish bin used to store the bait and catch, before the weather chased us home at midday.

The large bait-station allows two people to fillet at the same time, as Brian Firman and I found when the time came to undress the catch before heading in. This and the wash-down hose meant that we had a minimal clean-up and no fish frames to dispose of when we got back.

Trailering

The test boat was carried on a cradle A-frame DMW tandem-axle steel trailer, galvanised and gusseted. Loading was aided by 12 pairs of wobble rollers per side and an entry-bay design.

Other features include: submersible LED tail lights; dual-ratio manual winch; wind-down jockey wheel; and a Sensabrake braking system. Tow weight of the rig is 2850kg.

All in all

This is a solidly-built, well-finished craft. The cockpit design and amount of open working space are excellent; and the stability, high load-carrying capacity and good reserve buoyancy levels of the pontoon configuration make for an excellent fish and dive boat with modest stay-away capacity if required. 

Non-skid finish and substantial bow rails give security to anyone needing to get out on the bow

The passenger’s seat has stowage space inside the pedestal and in a compartment in front.

The helm offers a clean layout and comfortable seat with a roll-back front edge that forms a backrest when travelling standing up.

The big, open cockpit has plenty of work space. Lockable bi-fold doors allow safe stowage of equipment in the cabin.

Rod racks on the cabin wall provide secure stowage out of the spray. The forecabin is fully lined and can sleep three adults with the central berth infill fitted.

Specifications

Material: aluminium

Configuration: closed hardtop pontoon

LOA: 7.80m (exclu. bow sprit)

External beam: 2.66m

Internal beam: 2.06m

Deadrise: 18°

Bottom: 6mm

Pontoon: 3mm

Topsides: 3 and 4mm

Deck: 4mm chequerplate

Recommended power: 200-350hp

Test engine: Mercury Verado 250hp four stroke

Prop: Revolution Four 15” pitch

Fuel capacity: 265 litres

Trailer: DMW

Tow weight: 2850kg

Price as tested: $165,000

Packages from: $117,775 (Merc 250hp Optimax)

Test boat courtesy of Firman’s Marine.