Quintrex 590 Frontier and Evinrude 150hp G2 E-TEC

by Steve Morgan •

Quintrex boats have a long history of innovative design and huge sales. Originally, their stretch-formed hulls and the shapes that they could make in sheet aluminium gave a look and ride that couldn’t be equalled in an aluminium boat.

Over the years, Quintrex tinnies have evolved. From the original flared bow to the Hornet, to the curvier Millennium hulls, all represented steps forward in ride, looks and durability. Enter the Apex hull in 2017.

It mightn’t look it, but the Frontier (with the new Apex Hull) is the new Top Ender – one of the most popular Quintrex models. The test model was a 590 fitted with the ballsy 150hp G2 Evinrude E-TEC and represented a full boat-motor-trailer package delivered from the Queensland factory.

You see, as well as making the hull and trailer in-house, Quintrex’ parent company – Telwater – is the Australian distributor for Evinrude outboards.

Quintrex’s Nathan Shaw explained the advantages of the Apex.

A year ago, the only part of this package that existed was the Lowrance sounder. The new Apex hull Frontier combined with an Evinrude G2 E-Tec 150 HO outboard is exactly what your Quintrex dealer would serve up if you asked for an all-round boat with the lot.

Boasting the pickle fork bow design and a totally redesigned hull, the 590 Frontier rode brilliantly in a Broadwater that featured solid wind versus solid tide.

Don’t be fooled – this is the same boat. Quintrex wrap their demo and press boats on one side and have the factory paint job on the other to show customers and dealers the options available.

The G2 Evinrudes have amazing low and mid-range torque. The 150 HO (which means ‘high output’ or ‘hold on’ depending on your technical knowledge) is the maximum horsepower allowed and is a perfect fit for the craft.

Move the pedestal seats around to accommodate a variety of seating or cargo options. They fold over for trailering.

The test boat had a 9” Lowrance at the helm, however the dash holds a 12” display, flush mounted – a big tick.

Check out the beam of the front casting deck. The Frontier combines castability, trollability and the ability to anchor and to use an electric motor. It’s the true crossover boat.

All of the front hatches have a sub-floor that keep your gear out of the bilge water.

The cavernous front main hatch eats a lot of tackle, but it’s still not a truly waterproof space, meaning you still need to be careful where you store your expensive lures.

Quintrex have been rotomolding their own livewells for decades. They can be plumbed or drain straight to the bilge.

Keep your livies in here and you can check on their condition with a quick glance.

Massive cockpit? Check. Tons of freeboard? Check. Multiple seat bases? Check.

A couple of years ago we were all sitting on the sidelines wondering whether the ‘pickle fork’ design would be accepted. It was.

The true test of the Apex hull was on a windy day on the Broadwater and the results were impressive. It’s definitely the softest riding Quintrex in this size range the author has ever been in.

With a reinforced pad for mounting a trolling motor on the port side, there’s a conventional anchor well in the middle of the pickle-fork. A lid on the anchor well keeps it neat and tidy when you’re casting lures.

“The Apex hull has been developed over a two-year period. It’s super soft, there’s much more room inside, there’s more freeboard and it corners beautifully,” Nathan said as we dropped the test boat into the Gold Coast Broadwater.

The Frontier is designed with the same ‘pickle fork’ bow that was initially released with their F-Series Hornets, however it’s below the waterline where the new design really makes a difference.

Quintrex is now able to form the aluminium for the entire length of the hull sheets and the difference in ride is noticeable over its predecessor, the Blade hull.

For me, the true test was while we were filming running shots for the video review (that you can watch by scanning the QR code on this page with your smartphone).

Rarely can I shoot running shots boat-to-boat. We usually have to stop one craft and run the other boat past at speed to capture the movement smoothly.

Even on a windy bay on the Broadwater, the Frontier provided a stable, on-plane platform to shoot boat-to-boat while we were running. It was impressive.

Like its predecessor, the Frontier will be expected to perform everywhere from freshwater lakes to the open ocean and at first glance, you’ll be able to tick all of the boxes with the Frontier.

The layout cleverly combines ways to make this boat eminently suitable for anchored-bait or moving-lure fishing. For once, an anchor well and bow mounted electric motor work well, without getting in each other’s way when they are needed.

There’s a mountain of storage space underfloor and if you manage to fill it all with lure boxes, you’ll have as much money’s worth of tackle as you do boat.

Indicative pricing? Sitting on a Telwater-built aluminium trailer, the package as tested comes in at $57,790 (from Caloundra Marine in Queensland). For more information, like Quintrex on Facebook or visit www.quintrex.com.au.

PERFORMANCE
RPM         km/h        km/L
Idle           4                5
1000        8                3.7
2000        12             1.7
3000        32             2.4
4000        47             2.2
5000        60             1.8
6000        72             1.5
6200        74             1.5

SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 5.99m
Beam: 2.35m
Depth:  1.30m
Length on trailer: 7.67m
Height on trailer:  2.09m
Bottom: 4mm
Sides:  3mm
Hull weight:  708kg
Rec hp: 90
Max hp: 150
Capacity: 7 persons