P26 - FISH & BOAT, April 2019 Boating Beach Comber 485 By Peter Kaye for easy anchoring. Is your family contemplating get- - Slightly larger gunwales to facili- ting into boating or upgrading tate a more comfortable sitting and The 485 Beach Comber rides well and from a small tinny? If you an- leaning position. offers excellent cornering and stability. swered yes, then the Savage Beach The gunwale height is ideally suit- Comber 485 might just be the boat ed for small children. You can relax for you. If the family can’t decide on the water knowing full well that between fishing, skiing, snorkelling they will not accidentally fall out or just cruising the bay, then this is while leaning over the side. definitely a boat to consider. The bimini also adds a little safety Savage Boats have been aroundfactor in the way of shade. Keeping for a long time, 120 years to be ex- the kids under cover not only stops act. Naturally, you learn a lot in that them burning but also helps with fa- time, and their boats have cleverly tigue that comes with a long day on evolved in that time. the water. You will also find plenty The team at savage definitely know of carpeted a thing or two about making a fam- floor space in ily friendly boat. You just do not last the shade when 120 years in the boat industry by the little ones crash out building bad boats! when their batteries in- The Savage 485 Beach Comberevitably run flat. is a Bowrider style all-rounder that The overall length of the will not break the bank. Now, if you boat is 5.1m and just a touch have ever taken kids on a boat, they over 2m wide. Bottom, sides and are magically drawn to the bow. Sit- transom are all constructed from ting up the front moving along with 3mm aluminium. Basic weight is the wind in their hair must surely 636kg, meaning that even the small be the drawcard. The padded bowfamily SUV can tow this boat to the seating is the perfect place for them ramp or on the yearly holiday. while you’re travelling. It’s not a bad The bimini can be removed for spot for mum to relax and read astorage in the garage or carport. book while the family partakes in The lightweight of boat, motor their favourite activity. and trailer will aid in maneuvering it would be better suited for skiing, The front lounge also makes an the boat by hand. wakeboarding and tubing activities. There’s plenty of room for the whole family. excellent spot for those “wine and This combination of Savage’s “Ul- The “Ultra-Lift” hull gives the cheese” sunset cruises. tra-Lift” and the Mercury’s 90hp boat better economy and all-around This is Savage’s newly redesigned Four stroke will have no trouble get- better performance. family boat with heaps of versatility. ting the family and all their gear up You will also notice the hull will Some of the improvements include: and moving. The base model comes provide you with a much more stable - Extended dash for better driving with the Mercury 75hp Four stroke platform for all your on water activi- position and creating more room for and would also suit the average fam- ties even at rest. The Deep V design electronics. ily. If you were entertaining the idea and reverse chines are the secrets to - Anchor well that can now ac- of the optional ski pole, then I would a smoother ride and better handling. commodate an electric drum winch probably suggest the 90hp motor as The options list for this boat is The newly redesigned dash is a great feature. longer than the last fish that busted me off. The great thing about this is that you can customise your boat to meet your family’s specific needs. You may want to add a bimini, deluxe bow cushions, bow table and rear ladder for a bit of extra comfort. Alternatively, you may go for the specific fishing extras like bait fish- Even the list of standard fea-be, in my opinion, a little too low, ing station, burley bucket, Lowrance tures included is quite impressive. and for those taller people, it may sounder and rod holders. The 70ltr underfloor fuel tank will get a little uncomfortable standing Have a chat with your local dealer see you through even the biggestunder the shade for an extended pe- about the options available. Some of days on the water. The rear folding riod of time. the extras must be fitted or modified lounge is quite comfortable and in- Generally, the boat presented very in the factory when you order your cludes transom backrest. The 3 piece well. All the welds were neat, and the boat. Other options can be addedwraparound windscreen is hinged inpaint finish looked very professional. later as you and your family find out the middle for easy access to the bow The 485 Beach Comber definitely what activities you’re enjoying on the and includes an internal grab rail. displayed exceptional bang for your water. Fully welded gunwales with smooth buck and is well suited, budget and tops and large side pockets are also feature wise, as a great family boat. standard. I was quite impressed with the rear Performance Data landing platform and wraparound 485 Beach Comber aft rails. The rails extend from over the gunwales down to the landing 1000rpm 3.8kts 2.0l/ph platform, enabling assistance for all 1500rpm 4.5kts 4.0l/ph members of the family to board the boat. The addition of the rear tel- 2000rpm 6.0kts 6.0l/ph escopic stainless steel folding ladder 2500rpm 9.5kts 8.0l/ph The 485 Beach Comber is the will help access in deeper waters. 3000rpm 15.0kts 10.0l/ph ultimate family escape machine. Visibility and driving position were all quite comfortable. The boat 3500rpm 20.0kts 13.0l/ph handled a little bit of chop quite eas- 4000rpm 25.0kt 17.0l/ph ily, and the ride was very comforta- 4500rpm 29.8kt 23.0l/ph ble. The front screen gave the added 5000rpm 32.8kts 28.0l/ph benefit of being able to carry out a conversation while underway. While 5500rpm 35.0kts 32.0l/ph not a huge problem, the bimini may Relaxation station up towards the bow.