Northbank 550R with Mercury 115HP Four Stroke

• by Steve Morgan

Fairly early on in the purchase process, you’ll need to make some big decisions when it comes to buying a boat – and in particular, a fishing boat. You’ll need to decide if you want an open boat, a centre console, a runabout (with minimal cabin), a cuddy cabin or a cruiser. Generally, the more comfortable you get, the less fishing room and functionality you have in return.

And the perennial compromise is between family comforts and fishability.

The ‘runabout’ layout skews a long way towards the angler. There are no bunks up front but there’s miles of cockpit space. No lockable space, but heaps of options to tote a lot of gear around. A runabout is a real angler’s boat.

Northbank make a great 5.5m runabout in their 550R, which combines their build quality with a simple, practical design. When paired with a double axle trailer and a 115HP Mercury 4-stroke with the CT (Command Thrust) gear box, it gives any angler the tool they’ll need to get out and about in semi open and open waters.

Importantly, this rig weighs in at around the $60K mark, which is right in the hitting zone of plenty of anglers who want to take that step up from an open tinny. Also, you can tow it behind virtually any SUV or twin cab 4WD.

Melbourne Marine Centre’s Andrew Stephen was excited about the capabilities of this rig, and explained that it’s much more flexible in use than you’d think at first.

“Some families would write this off as a fishing-only boat, but that Mercury with the CT gearbox will easily throw the kids around on a tube,” Andrew said, “and there’s still plenty of shade with the soft top to have a great day out on either the fresh or the salt.”

As tested, the Northbank 550R package will cost you around $60,000.

The Mercury CT gearbox spun a 17” propeller and gave great hole shot.

You step through the windscreen to deploy the anchor in this rig, and there’s plenty to hold onto and tie onto.

There’s easily enough room for half a dozen rods in the rocket launcher.

Long side pockets – and we mean LONG – will swallow up a lot of your everyday gear.

The storage up front is simple and nowhere near as comfortable or complicated as a bunked, cabin boat. This suits plenty of anglers.

The helm is simple and comfortable. You can turn the seats around to fish from if you’re soaking baits.

Thinking of a serious fishing boat that’s a step up from the tinny but isn’t a stretch to operate and keep clean? The runabout format may be for you.

That’s why you buy a runabout – for the mountains of deck space. The layout of the 550R is simple and effective. The folding rear lounge provides additional passenger seating while travelling.

It’s not the fanciest bait board in history but it will definitely get the job done, and keeps a low profile.

Supplied on a twin axle Mackay trailer, the 550R sits wonderfully on the road and trails true.

Twenty-one degrees of deadrise will make for a comfortable ride home in sloppy conditions.

Mercury’s 2.1L 115hp with the CT (Command Thrust) gearbox is designed for lots of torque. Spinning a 17” Vengance stainless steel propeller, it jumped out of the hole.

Mercury’s Andrew Small added, “With a 6-year warranty and the CT gearbox, this 115 offers the boater a wide range of prop selection, with the ability to turn blades that offer greater thrust.”

The test rig ran a 17” stainless steel Vengance prop on the 2.38:1 box.

Performance-wise, the rig sat most economically at 4000rpm, delivering 2.3km for each litre burned, and cruising at just under 40km/h.

We loved the build quality and simplicity of the Northbank. And the space. There’s as much space in this boat as any in this size class. Serious anglers will love it – especially with the seats swivelled around and a spread of baits out the back.

What would we add? Clears for one, to add that extra level of waterproofing, and we’re always a sucker for a dash that allows for flush mounting of electronics.

But we know you’ll be able to catch fish from this rig. The question is: will you get the rest of the family across the line?

Andrew Stephen and the team from Melbourne Marine Centre may be able to help you with that. Visit their dealership or online at www.melbournemarine.com.au.

SPECIFICATIONS
Length – 5.50m
Beam –  2.34m
Capacity – 7 persons
Fuel – 100L
Max hp – 150
Deadrise – 21í
Hull weight –  750kg
Tow weight – 1450kg

PERFORMANCE
RRM              Speed (km/h)       Economy (km/L)
Idle…………………. 2.0………………………… 1.5
1000……………….. 6.5………………………… 2.8
2000……………… 11.0………………………… 2.0
3000……………… 19.5………………………… 1.9
4000……………… 38.5………………………… 2.3
5000……………….58…………………………… 2.1