Seaboss Echo 580

Tony Peterson has been building boats for around twenty-two years, and set up Boss Boats in 1994.

Based in Te Puke in the Bay of Plenty and specialising in customised aluminium boats, the Seaboss marque is a joint venture between Boss Boats and Thompson Marine of Rotorua. Thompson Marine does the fit-ups (including upholstery, canopies, wiring and engines), marketing and sales of Seaboss boats, regularly customising them to buyers’ requirements.

I met Gordon Woods, and Ron and Julie Baskett from Thompson Marine, at Tauranga’s Sulphur Point ramp on a fine day in early summer to test the Seaboss Echo 580.

For its size, the Echo 580 is a roomy hull, with a 5.4m length (hull only), but a 2.42m beam. Designed as a day boat, the fore-cabin is restricted to two seats and a platform to stand on while working the anchor through the cabin hatch. This allows more space in the cockpit. Added to the high sides and stepped gunwales, the Echo 580 gives the impression of a ‘big little boat’.

Construction

This aluminium hull has a fine entry and a 17° deadrise at transom, with 4mm bottoms and transom, 4mm chequerplate deck and sides, and 3mm topsides. Longitudinal support is provided by four full-length welded bearers. Full framing is in the transom, main cabin bulkhead, and two smaller bulkheads in the bow.

The bottom and chine plates are butted up and fully seam-welded at the keel, and a keel wear-strip is an optional feature. Chines are reversed, and a single strake runs along each bottom plate. Mounting plates for transducers and pick-ups are fitted to the stern.

Sealed decks drain to the sump under the transom, from where water is drained by a 900gph bilge pump. The fore cabin free-drains into the bilge. The central underdeck hold has a bung that also allows it to drain into the bilge, which, in turn, drains back into the sump under the transom.

The two large buoyancy chambers under the cockpit deck are pressure-tested and also fitted with bung drainage to get rid of any condensation. Buoyancy figures were not available at the time of writing.

The welds look to be strong and well executed. The outsides are painted, as is the inside to the level of the side shelves. Nyalic is used on the lower sides and deck. Some of the finer points of finish, such as the forward hatch fit-up and the windscreen mounting screws protruding through the cabin roof, could be a bit tidier.

Power and performance

Recommended power for this 600kg (hull only) boat is 75-90kg. The test boat was fitted with a Mercury Saltwater 90 two-stroke outboard spinning a 20” pitch Lazer II stainless prop. In calm conditions, with two adults and a full fuel load, this engine achieved 74kph (40 knots) at 5600rpm. Given book top-end revs of 5500, you certainly wouldn’t want to fit a finer pitched-prop, and probably a 75hp outboard would be perfectly adequate for this hull.

The Tauranga entrance is a pretty useful place to conduct a sea trial, as since they blasted a gap in the rock bar there, the high but localised water velocity creates a wide range of sea conditions, depending on wind and tide. On the test day, a 15-knot southwest wind had conditions ranging from dead flat to a steep half-metre chop, with a wide, open, one-metre swell outside.

The Echo proved itself to be soft rider and responsive to engine trim. The fine entry cut the sea well and stability, especially considering the size of the boat, was reasonably good.

The cable steering was adequate, with the torque neutralised when the hull was trimmed right up. Visibility was good with the central section of the canopy zipped out. We took the occasional bit of spray when the 15-knot wind was on the beam, but the boat was a pretty dry rider.

My only complaint is that the rig was fairly noisy when under way. We located most of the rattles in hatches and the transom shelf, which could easily be cured with a bit of padding, so this should not be an issue in future.

Overall, a good performer for its class.

Anchoring

The easiest access to the bow is through the hatch in the cabin top. The cabin entry is wide, and a chequerplate platform is built into the bow to stand on. The anchor-well has a large capacity, and the split hatch has clips to hold them in place when open. An aluminium tie-off cleat is welded to the fore cabin, and the split bow rails drop down hard on the fairlead to contain the warp. The fairlead is an easy reach from the hatchway.

A well set up system, with an electric capstan available as an optional extra.

Layout

The Seaboss Echo 580 is designed as a day-fishing boat, with maximum space devoted to the cockpit. The forecabin is restricted to two squab seats and the forward platform for working the anchor. There is some stowage space under the seats and on wide side-shelves on the cabin wall. A cabin light is fitted, and a hinged hatch gives access to the wiring and steering at the back of the console – a clean installation with easy access to fuses.

There is plenty of dash space, with a grab rail and a rear lip to stop stuff sliding off. A cover of dark marine carpet would help cut back internal reflection on the curved, lightly tinted carbonate ‘screen.

Seats fitted are a king and queen type, a swiveller to the front and a fixed bench seat facing astern. The seats are mounted on an aluminium box base, with plenty of dry, off-the-deck storage inside. The chequerplate decks give good footing, and a tube-mat section at the rear of the cockpit adds to the comfort.

There are two carpet-lined shelves running along each side of the cockpit; the upper is about a metre long, while the lower is full cockpit length. This is facilitated by the stepped gunwale design, which offers extra shelter for those sitting on the rear-facing bench seats, and steps down for the stern half of the cockpit, allowing anglers easier access to the water to deal with fish and so on.

A large, open transom shelf carries the battery (in a protective battery box) and isolation switch, with plenty of further space still available. The fuel port is on the transom top and feeds down to a 130-litre underfloor tank – an optional feature. Alternatively, there is space for two tote tanks under the transom.

Over the transom wall are two good-sized boarding platforms with decktread finish and handrails. A boarding ladder is available as an option.

Fishability

This hull is reasonably stable and the chequerplate and tube mat give good footing. The cockpit is large for the length of the boat – a benefit of the wide beam and uncluttered layout. Only two through-gunwale rodholders were fitted, halfway back along the gunwales. Although in a good position for an angler sitting on the bench seat, the gimbal pins are in the wrong orientation for trolling. There is plenty of room for more rodholders to be fitted.

An optional extra fitted to the test boat is a six-position rocket launcher, hinged so it can easily be folded down for garage storage. The rocket launcher also supports a free-standing canopy with a zip-out portion for the helmsman.

A baitboard could be fitted on the transom easily, possibly using the mounting hole for a ski pole. Stowage of the catch can be in the underdeck hold (no doubt a fish bin could be found to fit), or an above-deck insulated fish bin could be used. Divers should find boarding easy enough with a ladder fitted.

Trailering

The trailer provided with the Seaboss Echo 580 is made by Prescott Trailers in Te Puke. Made with low maintenance in mind, it is a single-axle, A-frame trailer with zinc treated leaf-springs and galvanised rims, studs and nuts. Other features include submersible lights, a wind-down jockey wheel, and a manual winch. The boat is carried on four pairs of wobble rollers per side. Towing weight is approximately 920kg, avoiding the need for trailer brakes, and making the rig towable by the average family car.

Overall

Although aspects of the finish and fitting could be improved, these are minor. Otherwise, the Seaboss Echo 580 looks smart, is easily powered and towed, is relatively cheap to run – yet still a good performer – and is a substantial step up from a smaller ‘tinny’. On the whole this is a lot of boat for your dollar, and all the basics are there for a good, solidly made coastal fishing, diving or lake fishing boat. Well worth checking out.

Specifications

Bottoms 4mm
Sides 4mm
Cabin 3mm
Hull length 5.40m
LOA 5.80m
Beam 2.42m
Deadrise 17°
Rec. HP 75-90hp
Key turn package (75 Merc) $34,550
As tested $41,625
(captionz)
Bow rails that drop hard on the fairlead help contain the warp when at anchor in a head sea.
A chequerplate platform in the bow is ideal to stand on when working the anchor.
The helm layout is basic but very functional.
The big, open cockpit has plenty of fishing room.
The step-down in the gunwale lines provides shelter when seated, but allows anglers to get down to the water at the stern.
The rocket launcher has hinges to allow it to fold flat for easier garage storage.
The seating units offer plenty of internal stowage space.
The rear-facing bench seat is well protected by the high sides at this point in the gunwale lines.
Boarding platforms and handrails make getting aboard from the water easy, with the addition of a ladder.
An under-deck hold can be used for fish, or wet storage of dive gear, rope, scallop dredge etc.
Lots of beam and an uncluttered layout makes the Echo 580 a useful fish and dive boat. 

	This article is reproduced with permission of New Zealand Fishing News by Sam Mossman Re-publishing elsewhere is prohibited