Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine Location reports & tips for fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, 4WDing in Queensland and Northern NSW
These 6m, 7m and even 8m offshore fishing machines have been the dream of many people.
However, it is now easier for this to be a reality, with the crew at AMM going back to a smaller model due to consumer demand.
The new 4900 centre console has been reintroduced to fill a hole in the market.
This size has proven very popular and it’s easy to see why.
Firstly, it is easy to handle.
One person can launch and retrieve the 4.9, but it is still large enough to easily take three or four people offshore fishing for the day.
When buying a boat, you need to take into account where you are going to keep it.
With smaller house lots, there is less room for a shed or side access to store your toys.
However with a beam of 2.05m and overall hull length of 5.3m it should be relatively easy to find a spot for the 4900.
The centre console has also been designed to easily fold down, making it similar height to most four-wheel-drives.
While vastly different in size to AMM’s other vessels, many similarities are carried through to the smaller model.
One feature evident throughout the range is the quality finish.
The guys at AMM are very proud of their boats and want each and every one to be built exactly to their customers’ requirements.
In saying this, a standard format is used in terms of hull designs and layout.
Although a few refinements have been made with the new model, including the internal floor being raised to allow for underfloor flotation.
To maintain the generous amount of freeboard, the sides have also been increased.
The height of the internal sides now measures 61cm which gives plenty of freeboard.
This is an important feature for a boat designed to handle a mix of situations, including offshore.
Hull design of the centre console incorporates a large relatively high swept bow with a decent reverse chine that runs most of the length of the boat.
Advantages of the large reverse chine include making it more stable at rest, as well as directing spray away from you when under way.
However, you need to take into account that this is an open boat so if the wind and waves are going in the wrong direction or you are beam on to a large chop you may get a little wet, which comes with the territory of having a hard-core open fishing vessel.
The internal layout follows that of a traditional centre console.
But the actual console is pretty big, with plenty of room for electronics and storage.
In fact on the test boat the safely gear was stowed on the floor at the bottom of the console, showing the depth and size of the area.
Even with the big console, there is ample room to easily move around the boat.
A front casting platform is positioned towards the bow, with one large compartment for underfloor storage.
room for electronics plus ample room to walk around.
folded forward for easier storage.
A bit of room between the console and casting deck is an ideal place for an Esky.
Depending on how you intend to use the boat, you could extend the casting platform so it wraps around the Esky.
I guess that is the main advantage of having the boat specifically set up how you want, which is what the guys at AMM are happy to do.
You could also keep the casting platform as standard and just get the option of the anchor well cover, which would increase the flat platform area at gunwale height at the bow.
Now it might not seem like the best place to stand, but in protected waters like a canal or creek it would be ideal.
And you have the added advantage of the increased height to help spot fish or to cast to structure.
The higher position will also allow you to vary your retrieve when flicking plastics or hard-bodies, adding to the versatility.
This craft would be equally at home chasing barra in the Territory, snapper on offshore reefs or bream and flathead in canals.
After doing a few speed trials, the numbers show a definite liking for the 4000rpm through to 5500rpm range with the respective speeds recorded at 27km/h and 47km/h.
Depending on conditions, this range is where you would spend most of your time.
While rated to 90hp, the 70hp 4-stroke Yamaha performed well with two people on board.
At wide open throttle and maximum revs of 6000, we hit and held around 53km/h very comfortably with the boat tracking true and straight.
Overall the Australian Master Marine 4900 centre console is a very solid package with 4mm bottom and side sheets all backed by a five-year structural hull warranty that gives peace of mind when investing in a new boat.
In addition you will have a boat that is 100 percent Australian designed and built for our conditions.
While I have touched on some of the features, there are heaps more, so I suggest you give the team at Australian Master Marine a call on 07 3889 7380 or check them out at the Brisbane Boat Show.
And if you are serious about buying one it might even be possible to tee up a test drive.
So if you are after a serious fishing boat than can be customised to whatever requirements, then it is well worth checking out the range.
The centre console comes in three additional sizes of 4500, 5200 and 5700, but make sure to look at the specifications because the overall length is more than the sizing suggests.
Ben Collins
