The dash has moulded segments ready to accept instrumentation and there is plenty of room for add-on electronics. The throttle quadrant was just at the right height for total control without getting a tired arm. The seating position for driving was excellent with good visibility over the windscreen. A bow roller completes the hardware up forward.

There is a small platform just aft of the strong cross-bollard that can accommodate a power anchor winch for all those who loathe the hard work of pulling up the pick. Standing up on the cushions, the hatch is easy to open and a crew member can work the anchor with ease and security. Under the cushions is plenty of storage, but beware: This area does get water intrusion so think about what’s stored there. The small cuddy cab will sleep two small kids on the bunk cushions and an option is the infill, making this area into a small double bed.

A forward-opening segment allows access to the anchor well but is a bit squeezy for a big lad like me. The four-piece windscreen (including sides) is strutted and strong and can be used for holding onto in bumpy seas. The passenger has their own shelf for personal items while the skipper has a pocket for all their paraphernalia. The two pedestal seats are comfortable and the skipper’s chair can be slid forward or back. The side pocket bracing brackets have a cut-out for support so rods are secured when under way. I was impressed with the full-length pockets for storing rods, gaffs, boat hooks and paddles. There are small grab rails for passenger security. The two rear quarter seats are not usually ideal for fishing but the squabs can be removed, giving access right to the transom for fighting hard-running fish. A small drained well in front of the motor is too small for a live-bait tank but is ideal, when filled with ice, as a drink cooler. There are stern rails for a hand hold but they run for only about a metre. Two rear cleats provided anchorage for mooring ropes and I’m sure keen anglers would appreciate the four standard rod holders.

The deep transom well allowed the motor to fully tilt, important for moored boats that need the leg up and away from corrosive salt water. Flexing can lead to gelcoat cracks which, although they cause no damage, are unsightly. There was a new dash support across and above the entrance to the cuddy to stop lateral flexing, a new feature Savage has initiated. First impressions were that the boat looked very solid with plenty of glass and nice rolled edges. This hard-chine boat was powered by a brand-new Mariner 75hp two-stroke spinning a standard 17” stainless steel prop, a combination that worked well. At least two hours of hands-on instruction is given so new boat buyers will have complete confidence when they take their pride and joy to the boat ramp solo for the very first time.Īfter a cuppa to catch up on the local goss, Greg and I launched the new Savage Centurion 4.8m cuddy cab. Every boat sold comes with on-water training. Plans are also under way to extend the workshop to include a new fit-up bay.Ĭentral Coast Boatworld is unique in that it has in the yard its own deep-water launching ramp directly into Budgewoi Creek. It had been over a year since I last visited and the place had been extended, with a flash retail area for all the nick-knacks boaties demand and a much-improved display yard. I was there to conduct a boat test on one of the new Savages at Central Coast Boatworld, run by husband-and-wife team, Greg and Dorothy Ellery. Milkshakes are made from a bottle of fresh milk and the local takeaway puts out a hamburger that’s a complete meal. AROUND two hours’ drive north of Sydney is a spot that has bypassed the ravages of time, the township of Budgewoi, where locals still say g’day and are genuinely interested in you.

Savage centurion boat