Sea Jay 630 Trojan HT boat review

SEA Jay Boats recently introduced a brand-new model and I travelled to Bundaberg to check these rigs out. Called the Trojan, two models make up the range – the 550 Trojan (review to come) and the 630 Trojan HT reviewed here.

While the two boats only differ in overall length by 800mm, it feels like much more. The 630 Trojan HT is a genuinely big boat and our test boat cut an imposing figure thanks to sharp lines and a deep black paint job. Leaving the ramp, the 630 surprised me with good manoeuvrability despite a howling 20-knot easterly wind and strong current in the Burnett River. The big Yamaha 175hp four-stroke had no qualms lifting the 1100kg (hull only) 630 onto the plane and quickly settling into a 50km/h cruise in genuinely ugly conditions.

Stability, both at rest and under way, is a core point of the Samurai Hull on which the 630 Trojan HT is built. I could feel the hull working beneath us to flatten out waves and maintain a fine balance between stability and manoeuvrability. Throttling back, the 630 also impressed with its ship-like stability and solidity. Solid is probably the best term for describing the whole package, as it really does feel like a serious bit of alloy, especially when charging back at and across the waves pushing in through the Burnett River mouth. At times it can feel like a stretch to imagine the 550 and 630 as being related under the Trojan banner.

Where the 550 has carpeted floors, the 630 has checker plate, where the 550 has a bimini and clears, the 630 gets a full hard top with sliding glass windows. The differences are many and varied but one feature they share is fantastic seats. I believe these are the most comfortable seats to be found on the water, and Sea Jay should be commended for thinking of making them useful as well as comfortable by fitting Plano tackle storage trays in the driver’s side seat box and a storage hatch in the passenger seat box. The 630 goes one further in terms of tackle storage and has a facility for five Plano tackle mtrays down the stern beside the rear bench seat.

The proportions of the 630 feel just right, with a big enough cabin to feel extremely secure at the helm and enough cockpit space for you and a few mates to fish comfortably. Checker plate isn’t my preferred choice of flooring material but here it really suits the rugged persona of the 630 Trojan HT. Continuing to walk around the interior of the boat, the standard fit-out is nothing short of impressive. Full-length side pockets are handy, as is the non-slip material on the side decks that wraps around to the anchor well. Another innovative feature is the way the hard top incorporates numerous grab handles into its structure, so whether you’re standing behind the hard top, under it or on the side of the boat, a grab handle is always within reach.

This is an excellent feature in a boat that is likely to see some pretty nasty conditions during its ownership. Adding to the 630’s overall sense of security are high sides and a practically bomb-proof helm environment. With the sliding glass side windows closed, the 630 HT provides a remarkably insulated experience from the helm. The bum of the boat incorporates additional central storage, a rear door with access to the full-width, non-slip transom and a heavy-duty boarding ladder and grab rails. A plumbed live bait tank features, as does an exceptional bait board with five rod holders, two cup holders, a bait pocket and removable cutting board.

The wide side decks also incorporate three rod holders a side which are angled so as to point your rods out to the side of the boat, rather than straight up in line with the sides. Rod holders are something you’re not going to run short of on this boat, with another eight featuring in the rocket launcher on the hard top. The hard top and cabin also include LED interior lights as standard, which is a nice touch and saves you wiring up your own lights at home. Rounding out the standard inclusions are a GME VHF radio flush mounted on the underside of the hard top and a self-flooding kill tank in the floor. Jumping out of the 550 Trojan and into this bigger brother makes for a stark contrast when punching back into the slop coming through the Burnett River mouth.

Where the 550 felt happiest with the nose up, skipping across the waves as much as possible, the 630 HT didn’t seem to care for the conditions, instead carving a path through the swell and disregarding wave direction. Whether taking the waves head-on or on the chines, the 630 HT felt comfortable and unflustered. This was all travelling at over 50km/h too, which I felt was a happy medium. I did allow the 175hp Yammie to stretch its legs a couple of times, both with the sea and against it, and the speedo quickly lunged towards 70km/h without fuss. If you’re thinking of a hard-core fishing rig for getting offshore and chasing everything in the ocean, you would be wise to think about the Sea Jay 630 Trojan HT.

Price wise, this rig presents a strong case. For the hull only you’re looking at $49,500, an alloy trailer is about $12,000 and a quick online search reveals a 150hp Yamaha four-stroke (which would provide plenty of punch) is roughly $20,000. So for $80,000-$90,000 you have an exceptional offshore rig with a build quality superior to almost anything on sale today.