Scorpion 655 Hardtop

The two security guys at Half Moon Bay Marina were full of questions about the big Scorpion 655 Hardtop. 'What's it go like? What's it like for bar work? Is that enough engine to push such a big boat?' All I could answer was 'I don't know, I haven't tried it yet. Wait for next month's Fisherman and you'll find out!'

Ellery's arrival with the big Scorpion 655 Hardtop in tow had caused quite a stir. It's a purpose-built craft supplied by Sportcraft Boats in Morrinsville. It's meant for serious fishing and diving and the demonstrator we tried was not yet customised to any particular customer's requirements. Nevertheless, it was well enough equipped for an afternoon's fishing, which was exactly what we had in mind. Ellery is a keen fisher who helps out the boys at Sportcraft Marine from time to time. He's a real fan of Scorpion boats and is planning on getting one of the hardtop models when he upgrades his present boat.

We slipped the boat into the tide and headed off down the Tamaki River. The wind was puffing in from the south-east at around 25 knots, promising plenty of chop out in the channel and beyond the shelter of the islands.

We'd packed a few rods aboard, a heap of bait (Ellery hadn't skimped in that department) and the boat had a full belly of fuel (150 litres). Nevertheless, with two-up, the boat felt quite lightly laden and I got the impression it would prefer a bit more weight. The hull's easily driven - the 135hp EFI Mariner looked almost too small mounted on the half-pod on the boat's stern, but it provided surprisingly brisk performance. The designers have used what they term a 'radius' from keel to chine rather than opting for the more conventional deep-vee configuration for rough water performance. It's claimed this design expels water faster when going through rough seas. Reduced deadrise means a more easily driven hull, which translates to less horsepower for the same performance.

We encountered fairly lumpy, uncomfortable conditions, particularly out the back of the Motuihe Channel and in open water as we made our circumnavigation of Motutapu and Rangitoto Islands. The Scorpion was unfazed by the conditions and handled the rough water competently enough. It's not as soft riding as some alloy boats of this length, nor is it as quiet (the 655 as tested was completely unlined so any hull noise was very noticeable), but it caused us no surprises and proved to be very dry. We were snug inside the hardtop (simply the best thing for winter boating), but the cockpit didn't ship much water anyway, despite the fierce crosswind. The chines are obviously doing a good job of directing the water downwards.

In the turns the boat tracks well and isn't easily thrown off line. It's possible to generate quite severe G-forces in turns if that's your thing. Cavitation was minimal except when the engine was trimmed right out. A top speed of forty-plus mph showed on the speedo when we tapped the engine out to 5200rpm on the flattest bit of water we could find (which was still not very flat). Again, the Scorpion felt very stable at speed.

The wind turned out to be a bigger factor than I'd planned. The spot we'd hoped to try was out because there was too much east in the breeze sweeping round the island. We anchored for a while but wind against the tide conditions made fishing too difficult and I elected to move. Lifting the anchor is easily accomplished by standing in the large hatch. The bollard is a solid aluminium affair and there's a separate anchor locker with plenty of space for a decent Danforth and a grapnel. While I found it easier to work the anchor from inside the cabin, the boat's big and stable enough to walk around the hardtop and stand on the foredeck for this purpose. I'd love a winch on a boat this size and that's an option many Scorpion buyers take.

The cabin is large and roomy. Bunks are full-size and there is a great deal of storage under the squabs with plenty of room for a chemical toilet. There's full headroom and the cabin is deep enough to sit in normally with your feet on the floor. The cabin is lined, an option worth taking for the feeling of warmth it imparts.

The cockpit has a checkerplate floor and drains into a sump. It's very roomy with high sides for safety. Across the transom are two shelves or seats. I found them ideal for placing my tackle bag while fishing. A Fyran bait board slots into two rodholders in the outboard well, and has a drain that takes blood and juices outside the boat via a flexible hose.

Our fishing was less than inspiring, but two hours of hard work did result in three or four keepable snapper and a kahawai or two. Our fishing did illustrate how fisher-friendly the open layout is. The engine is closer to the transom than on boats with a portafino stern or those with engines mounted on a full pod. This made fishing easier and reduced the chances of getting lines tangled around the propeller.

A single pedestal seat was all that was fitted in the demo boat. Seating configuration is very much up to the customer and there are lots of options available. These range from twin pedestals, to one pedestal and one king and queen, to two king and queens. Two removable fish boxes with padded lids made useful temporary seats on the demo boat.

Likewise the boat was only minimally equipped with electronics: a VHF radio and a Humminbird sounder. Any number of options are available through Sportcraft Boats when ordering a Scorpion.

The 655 is one of the smallest Scorpions produced in a hardtop version (they go right up to 8m-plus). It's still a big roomy boat, but it falls within the current trailering regulations and it can be supplied on a braked trailer if desired. The standard of finish is good and there are no nasty sharp bits to snag toes on or corners to knock knees and elbows. This example featured painted sides; it looks smart in blue. The run home was with the wind on the beam but very little spray reached either the windscreen or the cockpit. What did come inside was quickly pumped out by the bilge pump in the sump. The flatter water in the lee of the islands allowed us to get along at a very respectable pace and I have to admit to being surprised at just how well the 655 goes with 135hp. It's obviously a very easily driven hull as I would have expected more horses on a boat of this size. This is an important consideration if you're looking for a bluewater boat on a tight budget. The more horse, the more dollars and (sometimes, not always) the bigger the fuel bill.

Putting the boat on the custom tandem trailer was no drama and both of us congratulated each other on an enjoyable autumn afternoon on the briny, even if the fishing wasn't quite up to its normal standard.

The Scorpion 655 impressed with its good performance from relatively little horsepower, lots of interior space and an uncluttered well laid-out cockpit, true overnighting capability and the extremely practical hardtop configuration. It appears to be well put together and can be specced to suit a particular customer's needs.

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