New Explorer F Series handle like they’re on rails!
By ‘The Ed’
The V-nose punt is probably the most popular northern style of tinnie, especially in the creeks. They are superbly suited to those workhorse jobs of prawning, luring banks and blasting around labyrinth-like creeks to pick up and deploy crab pots. It was with these tasks in mind that the team at Quintrex set up a day of testing outside of the norm, but perfectly suited to the model to be demonstrated.
I’m very excited to say that the model is none other than the new Explorer and Explorer Trophy, the F series, a model released to coincide with Quintrex’s 70th birthday celebrations. The reason why I’m so excited is that the Explorer has hardly changed in two decades. There simply hasn’t been any need to! Having fished out of several myself over the years I can attest to the fact that they are super manoeuvrable, very stable for their size, excellent in shallow conditions and extremely well set up for fishing. And yes, the new ones are even better!
With a new forked bow design, the Explorer Range now features wider chines generating better stability at rest and extra storage room for your fishing gear, while the sharper entry point creates an even softer riding hull.
The new Explorer also features stronger side sheets and a sleek new look thanks to a new pressing design which increases strength by up to 50% compared to previous models.
So, what was this “testing outside of the norm”? Well, if you’re like me, one of your favourite memories as a young boater was hammering a V-nose punt up a tight mangrove creek as fast as you could while clinging, iron-gripped to the tiller and bending low to minimise wind drag. Maybe the tide was going out, maybe you wanted to beat a mate to a spot, maybe you just wanted to go fast! Well, that’s what we did. The Quintrex team set up a series of buoys which we had to weave through, before turning at the end and weaving back again. It was set up as a relay race with four models in each team: the 400 Explorer Trophypowered by 18hp Vortex (top speed: 21mph), 440 Explorer Trophy powered by 40hp ETEC Evinrude (top speed: 31mph), 390 Explorer powered by 15hp Vortex (top speed: 20mph) and the 420 Explorer powered by a 30hp Vortex (top speed: 28mph).
Myself and small boat factory manager, Radar (nicknamed after the Mash character) made a beeline for the light little 390F with the 15hp. We both realised manoeuvrability would win this race, not torque and top speed. Radar even had a secret plan (turns out there was quite a bit of good-natured interoffice rivalry). His plan was that upon coming to the end of the run and approaching the full turn, the passenger would jump to the front to give the nose more grip and help “flick” the boat around. I’m not positive it worked, but gee we had some fun trying! I felt like that 18 year old rushing to get my pots before the tide ran away all over again. That little 390 cornered like it was on rails!
The deeper, sharper entry point was very noticeable in both how the 390 gripped the water and in how it handled the wake of its bigger brothers and sisters. It was perceptibly more sure-footed than the Explorers I’d been in previously and this would only improve with some extra weight from eskies, batteries etc.
Inside the boat the only real remarkable difference was the extra width and new forked bow design. This translated to both a lot of extra storage room and forward casting space (10% more in the Trophy models) and a very stable bow. I spent some time standing on the front miming I was pulling an anchor and throwing a cast net. I might have looked silly but I was impressed by how solid the boat was beneath my feet!
In the larger Trophy models there were plenty of mod-cons, like what you’d find in the newly released Hornets: carpeted casting platforms, rod locker with easy access lift up door (in the 440), plumbed chamber in the front casting deck, rear live bait tank, rod holders, and lots more.
The base Explorer I was in was much more basic and unadorned, however this made it a very realistic little test boat for most practical applications, including car topping. Weight is the obvious question and at 105kg (boat only), this is still a vessel perfectly suited to being handled up and down banks and off a roof by two people. That’s only 4kg heavier than the old 390 and you get a 50% increase in sidesheet strength and durability for it. Worth it!
Overall, I’d like to congratulate the team on both an initiative new model and an awesome testing day. Rarely have I had so much fun while “working”!
For more information on the Explorer Trophy Range or the entire Quintrex Range head to www.quintrex.com.au
