Boat Test: Merry Fisher Sport 795

Merry Fisher 795 Sport Serie2 with Yamaha 250HP

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FMG Steve Morgan

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

I am pretty sure that this is the very first boat test I have done on a rig that lives in the marina. We have done several tests on trailered Jeanneau boats before, but the 795 is definitely new to us. Brisbane’s Northside Marine have been importing Jeanneau boats for several years now and have experienced remarkable success with this European style family and fishing boat. Jeanneau hulls are a particularly beamy and deep Main: This is my favourite version of Jeanneau boat I have tested to date. It is a nice compromise between fishing and comfort. Above: Fitted with Yamaha’s 250hp DES outboard with full Helm Master EX kit, this boat was a pleasure to drive.

Dual transom doors are a standard feature and allow easy access to the duckboards.

sided shape that carry their beam a long way to the bow. They corner very flat and are a very stable hull at rest. They are definitely not a slender, wave piercing boat that is designed for triple digit speeds. However, they are a great platform to fish, entertain family and stay out of the weather.

The test boat was fitted with Yamaha’s 250hp DES 4-stroke outboard engine, complete with Yamaha’s Helm Master EX system.

“We find that most purchases of rigs like this choose to incorporate the Helm Master system,” said Bill Hull, sales chief at Brisbane’s Northside Marine.

“In the broad scheme of the total cost of the boat, Helm Master is a fairly natural choice. It gives you joystick steering, autopilot and the smooth, responsive digital controls,” he continued.

There is 280L of fuel under the deck (as well as 100L of freshwater) and when we ran the economy figures, the best we could get out of it was 1km/L. This is fairly standard on a boat of this size.

Top speed was 63km/h at 5800rpm. At the speed you get 700m/L burned. Best economy was at 4400rpm and 43km/h. The helm is comfortable and everything is flush mounted.

We were expecting gusty NW winds and cloudy skies on the test day, however the Bureau got it wrong again. Calm, sunny skies meant that it was a very pleasant day on the water. It also meant that we couldn’t run this boat in any of the rough stuff.

We have, however, run this boat’s siblings in some nasty conditions. They are a little wet, but the enclosed cabin makes the ride very comfortable. We assume that

SPECIFICATIONS

Hull length............ 6.97m Beam.................... 2.82m Hull weight........... 2.82m Draft...................... 0.58m Fuel..........................280L Water .......................100L Max HP......................250 the 795 is no different.

I really liked the build of the cockpit. A removable table takes 20 seconds to pack away and leaves a great fishing area. You would expect this in a boat with a 2.8m beam. Seats on three sides fold down without the need for any legs or other support. They deploy and stowaway in seconds meaning that the configuration of carrying passengers is infinitely customisable.

The deck is fully selfdraining and I can see this rig being at home in some reasonably nasty conditions.

It takes a little while to get used to the asymmetric walkaround. The starboard side walkaround is much wider than the port. Both sides lead to a front deck that is designed for socialising rather than fishing. You can see in the images that there is room for one person but no more than that. This is unusual in a boat of this size.

This model also comes with a side dive door as standard. It has a neat, kid-proof latch to make sure that the young’uns don’t go swimming when they’re not supposed to.

There is also plenty of storage under the cockpit deck for fish, ice or wet gear as well as a plumbed live bait tank on the port side.

Unique to the Jeanneau boats are the roof racks mounted on the hardtop. These are ideal for various boards and kayaks and keep them securely locked away when not in use.

With a price tag around $300,000 as tested you would expect a very well appointed and functional rig. And this rig will be an excellent compromise between function and comfort for many anglers.

Hull and motor packages start from around $180,000. See Dave, Bill and all of the team at Northside Marine to secure a test ride.

PERFORMANCE RPM............Speed (km/h) ... Economy (km/L)

700..................................5 ......................... 1.4 1000................................8 ......................... 1.4 2000.............................. 13 ......................... 1.0 3000.............................. 17 ......................... 0.7 3500.............................. 20 ......................... 0.7 4000.............................. 30 ......................... 0.8 4400.............................. 43 ......................... 1.0 4500.............................. 46 ......................... 0.9 5000.............................. 53 ......................... 0.8 5800.............................. 63 ......................... 0.7

Top: There is a live bait tank with clear lid built into the port side transom. Above: Instead of a rear sliding door, this rig features a centrally mounted outdoor gallery with stove and plumbed sink. Top: These are pretty cool, roof racks on a boat that can take stand-up paddle boards, surfboards or kayaks. Above: There is a small, 12V fridge sequestered inside the cabin that will keep items cool and readily available.

Top: The dashboard features ample room for flush mounting your displays and gauges, as well as space for all of the Yamaha Helm Master accessories. The throttle position is very comfortable. Above: Deck floodlights below and rod storage above, all with a walk round grab rail means the back of the hard top is very efficient.

There is broad access to the front bunks, however, it is a cosy fit for two people. With the infill in, you need to lie diagonally. All around visibility is exceptional. This is the cockpit with table up and seats stowed. Remove the table to maximise fishing area.