Although a relative newcomer to the Australian boating community, the name Seaswirl is as well known in the United States as Haines Hunter is recognised Down Under. Indeed, for more than 50 years this Oregon-based manufacturer has been building fibreglass boats that have an excellent reputation for quality of craftsmanship and providing award-winning customer satisfaction.
Now owned by boating giant Genmar, Seaswirl builds an extensive range of sportsboats, bowriders and deckboats but is probably better known for its Striper brand of sportsfishing boats. With their deep-vee hulls and foam-filled construction, Stripers are respected for their seaworthiness and are particularly popular among keen anglers along the east coast of the US.
The subject of this review is the company's flagship, the 2901 Walkaround. The testboat arrived on a trailer, but with a towing weight approaching five tonne and a beam of over three metres, you need a truck to tow it and a wide-load permit to take it on the road, so while it is theoretically possible, towing isn't really a practical option.
RACING STRIPER
Our testboat was fitted with twin 225hp Mercury OptiMax outboards but the 2901 can be optioned with petrol or diesel sterndrives also. A pair of 200-275hp Mercury Verado supercharged four-strokes is another option for those looking for the latest in high-performance outboard power.
We drove the big Seaswirl on a windswept Moreton Bay where a 20kt south-easter pushed up a metre of the typical short, sharp chop for which the Bay is renowned.
The boat felt most comfortable at a sprightly 26kt cruise at about 4000rpm. At this speed, the boat handled the chop admirably. A bit of tab to bring the nose down was all that was required to smooth out the bumps with the sea right on our nose.
Turning downsea and pushing the pedal to the metal we reached a top speed of 40kt at 5500rpm. As you'd expect there were a few bangs and rattles at this speed but you shouldn't be driving at WOT under the conditions we had on the testday anyway. Only a boat tester would be silly enough to do that!
Playing with the outboard trim as well as the trim tabs I managed to get the Striper to sit on a rough water cruise of 15kt at 3500rpm. It's good to know that the boat will plane at these slower speeds just in case you find yourself caught out in some really snotty weather and have to punch your way home.
CONFIGURATION AND COCKPIT
The testboat was fitted with Seaswirl's Alaska Pack, which is basically an enclosed hardtop and windscreen with an open rear bulkhead. Included in the Alaska Pack configuration are sliding side windows and a small ventilation panel incorporated into the windscreen.
When you see a fully-enclosed hardtop it is easy to think that it may be a wet boat, but this is not the case with the Striper 2901. I was pleasantly surprised when I only managed to get a few drops of spray on the windscreen, even purposely trying to wet the boat by driving with the sea and wind off my forequarter.
If the Alaska Pack isn't your cup of tea - although I reckon it is the pick of configurations - the 2901 Walkaround is also available in a fully-enclosed Pilothouse version complete with solid rear bulkhead, or the standard hardtop and clears layout if you prefer a bit more wind in your hair.
The best access on to the boat from the dock is via a fully-integrated boarding platform located on the starboard side. From here it's an easy step though the transom door and you're in the cockpit. The cockpit is quite spacious and has some excellent features.
These include two big fishboxes below the cockpit sole complete with macerator pumps, a huge livewell moulded into the transom on the port side, a fold-down transom seat that doesn't encroach on fishing room when in the stowed position, padded coaming bolsters and four heavy-duty rodholders. There is also saltwater and freshwater washdowns, horizontal rodracks and recessed handrails.
The compartment housing the transom seat is hinged which provides good access to the bilge when open. The only problem is that the deck hinges for this hatch are quite large and are likely to catch bare feet.
At the forward end of the cockpit are three more insulated compartments to store drinks, food or your catch of the day. Two of these compartments feature padded tops to form aft-facing seats which are ideal spots to sit and watch the lures while waiting for a bite. The third is under the step that leads to the helm area.
Steps at the forward end on each side of the cockpit lead to the walkaround which is wide with a non-skid surface all the way. A high bowrail as well as handrails on the hardtop roof ensure your safety as you move forward. The clever design of drains in the walkaround ensures any water taken over the front is dispatched before it can enter the cockpit.
HARDTOP AND HELM
It's a single step up from the cockpit to the helm area, which is a good idea to ensure that any water that may enter the cockpit can't make its way into the helm area or even worse, the cabin. This little bit of extra height offers surprisingly better vision as well.
The helm features a bench seat but also incorporates a flip-up bolster for those that prefer to stand and drive. With a moulded footrest as well as a fold-down model, you are sure to find a comfortable driving position.
An adjustable steering wheel and binnacle throttle controls fall nicely to hand. Trim tabs and switch panelling are also in easy reach. The testboat wasn't fitted with a sounder or chartplotter, so a new owner can choose freely, and there is enough room to install a couple of reasonably-sized units.
Vision around the entire boat was excellent. That's one thing I really like about hardtop boats: you don't have to contend with clears that invariably get covered in salt spray and restrict your vision. For those calm and balmy days, ventilation is provided by sliding side windows, overhead hatch as well as another small ventilation hatch located at the base of the windscreen.
Opposite the helm is passenger seating in the form of a bench seat that will cosily seat two people. There is good storage space below, as well as a handrail, drinkholders and a couple more drawers on the adjacent portside bulkhead.
FEATURES AND FISHABILITY
Access to the cabin is via a lockable sliding door. Three steps down and you'll find a compact galley to port. Galley features include a dual voltage refrigerator, single-burner hob that can run on shorepower or alcohol, CD player, sink with cover to form more bench space, switch panel and storage for crockery and cutlery. There is also provision to install a microwave oven and there is a porthole overhead for ventilation while cooking.
Opposite the galley on the starboard side is a surprisingly spacious head complete with vacuflush loo, washbasin, storage cabinets and ventilation hatch.
Making good use of every available space, Seaswirl has incorporated a dinette table adjacent to the vee-berth for meals. With the dinette table moved to the cockpit, infill cushions can be added to the vee-berth to form a double bed. Optional bunkbeds were installed on the testboat so including the transverse bunk under the helm area, there's an amazing amount of sleeping room for a nine-metre boat.
The Seaswirl Striper 2901 as tested wasn't in full fish-fighting mode but we could definitely see its potential. Add a set of outriggers and some decent electronics and I wouldn't hesitate entering it in the next gamefishing tournament. The Striper has a great following in the US and from what I experienced it can only be a matter of time before it has a similarly strong following Down Under.
| Seaswirl Striper 2901 |
| PRICE AS TESTED: $200,000 |
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| OPTIONS FITTED |
| Alaska pack, bunk beds, coloured hull, shorepower, windlass, remote spotlight, windshield w iper, canvas enclosure |
| |
| PRICED FROM: $190,000 |
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| GENERAL |
| Material: Foam-filled fibreglass |
| Type: Deep vee monohull |
| Length: 9.04m (29ft 8in) |
| Beam: 3.18m (10ft 5in) |
| Draft: 0.79m (2ft 7in) |
| Deadrise: 20° |
| Weight (hull only): 4695kg (10,350lb) |
| |
| CAPACITIES |
| Berths: Six |
| Fuel: 820lt (217 US gal) |
| Water: 110lt (11 US gal) |
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| ENGINE |
| Make/Model: Mercury 225 OptiMax |
| Type: V6 direct-injected two stroke outboards |
| Rated hp (ea): 225 |
| Displacement: 3032cc (185cu in) |
| Weight: 225kg (497lb) |
| Gearbox ratio: 1.75:1 |
| Props: 17in Mirage |
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SUPPLIED BY: Cunningham's Marine Redcliffe, Qld Tel (07) 3284 2342 or visit www.cunninghamsmarine.com.au
All figures supplied as per manufacturer's specifications. Prices in Australian dollars for Australian-delivered boats unless otherwise stated. | |
Published : Sunday, 1 January 2006
Issue : January 2006
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Prices and specifications supplied are for the market in Australia only and were correct at time of first publication. BoatPoint Australia makes no warranty as to the accuracy of specifications or prices. Please check with manufacturer or local dealer for current pricing and specifications.