Adventure 200
Tested by Heinrich Kleyn (SKI-BOAT January/February 2010)
SPECIFICATIONS
Length — 6.2m
Beam — 2.3m
Boat weight (excl. motors) — ±1 000kg
Min hp — 2 x 40hp or 1 x 90hp
Max hp — 2 x 90hp or 1 x 200hp
Power as tested — 2 x 70hp 2-strokes
THIS is the third boat I’ve tested for Magson Marine and, as usual, they didn’t disappoint. I was very impressed with this nifty little-big boat. Let me explain: she looked small when parked next to her sisters, Maximus and the Sportfisher 230, but in her own right she is not far off the bigger boat league with an overall length of 6.2m.
The Adventure 200 has been designed for those who enjoy the great outdoors and love a good ride with awesome acceleration.
TRAILERING AND LAUNCHING
We towed the Adventure 200 from Magson Marine’s premises to the harbour in Gordons Bay without any hassles. Her galvanised breakneck trailer handled very well in traffic, and putting her into the water was just as easy.
Driving her up on to the trailer after the outing also went very smoothly, especially if you take into consideration the surges that occur in the Cape waters. If you know your boat and load and offload her frequently, then loading this way is a piece of cake.
CONDITIONS
During the week leading up to this test the Cape had wonderful weather. By the time I got there the sea was smooth and flat with little to no wind. Not ideal conditions to put a boat through her paces — it’s nice to have a bit of chop on the water — but I have to say I really enjoyed testing the Adventure in these conditions.
MOTORS AND CONTROLS
The test model was fitted with two 70hp Yamaha two-strokes. She had hydraulic steering with side-mount cable controls. The way the cables and controls have been fitted allow her to slip into and out of gear easily, with no grinding whatsoever.
The Adventure 200 could be fitted with a selection of engines ranging from twin 40hp to twin 90hp. Alternatively, you could use a single motor between 90hp and 200hp. The choice of motor would depend on the boat’s intended application.
PERFORMANCE
Before taking her through her paces, I didn’t quite know what to expect because, as I mentioned, although she looked small, I knew she was a 6.2m craft. Once out on False Bay I found this craft’s specially designed super chines play a large role in her stability, so she sat beautifully on the water.
Out the hole, backed by the twin 70hp two-stroke Yamahas, she jumped onto the plane very quickly. This is a clear indication that she could be used for surf launching as well.
Her turns were very even with a tight turning circle, and she didn’t lean, either into a left- or right turn. When I discussed this with Ernie Magson of Magson Marine, he explained that it is the special hull design that makes her so smooth.
Normally on a deep-vee boat you would expect that the hull would cut into the water and lean to the side into which you are turning. This was not the case with the Adventurer. She felt smooth, as though she was gliding over the water.
Into the swell — which we had to go looking for in shallower water — she did not pound or bang on the surface, and even with a running swell she did not show any signs of broaching. Overall, her performance was of a very high standard.
LAYOUT
This boat’s aft deck has been purpose-designed for the serious fisherman. It has a spacious stern livebait well, with some storage space for bait and a cutting board when working with bait. She also has two sizable fish hatches for those nice catches.
The batteries are stored out of the way beneath two removable transom seats. On the roll bar at the stern they have mounted a uPVC trolling board accommodating three rod holders. It looks very smart. She also has a good-looking stainless-steel T-top with rod holders mounted on top to keep those extra rods out the way. These touches add that extra bit of finesse to this craft.
All the electronics are flush mounted and look neat and tidy.
The Adventure 200 has a spacious cabin in the bow, with seats that can be converted into a bed for those nights when you stay out on the bay or estuary, waiting for that big daga salmon to take your bait.
She has a wet deck that makes her safer and more comfortable, giving you peace of mind in rougher seas, knowing that if water does come on to the deck it will just run off the back.
FINISH AND CONCLUSION
Judging from my previous experiences with Magson’s craft, I expected that the finish on this boat would be of a very high standard. Magson Marine are renowned for their good quality boats and service, and I wasn’t disappointed. Everything was perfectly in its place and beautifully finished.
Indeed, some of the previous Magson’s boats I’ve tested have been so well polished that they looked as if they had a mirror finish, making them difficult for me to photograph because of the reflections on the water!
This boat could be used in all facets of fishing or just for casual cruising. Besides her obvious sea applications, she’s also the perfect bay and estuary boat. Her cabin makes her that much more adaptable.
I was most impressed with the ride, handling, presentation and finish of the Adventure 200 from Magson Marine. I suggest you have a good look at her should you be in the market for a craft this size.