CLASSIC PERFORMER
All about the Jeanneau Merry Fisher 695.
This is more than just another boat review, it is a story of brand and dealer confidence. I recently had the opportunity for a brief sea trial aboard Gwenant, a Jeanneau Merry Fisher 695 that had become available from Cambrian Boats in Swansea. She was what the Americans describe as ‘pre-loved’, or as we’d say, secondhand.
Originally sold by Cambrian Boats just over a year before, her owner had been so pleased with his Jeanneau that he decided to upgrade her and invest in a larger Merry Fisher 895... and that’s not the end of the story.
Gwenant had already been sold, her new owner upgrading from an open, centre-console Jeanneau Cap Camerat, again originally sold by Cambrian Boats. That says a lot for the confidence those two customers have, both in the Jeanneau brand and Cambrian Boats.
PERFECT CHOICE
The Jeanneau Merry Fisher 695 is a boat that is not only ideal for fishing, but also the perfect choice if you are looking for a boat you can comfortably live aboard for a couple of days – therefore, a great boat for taking out family or friends for a day afloat.
Over the years I have reviewed many models from the extensive and evolving range of boats manufactured by French company Jeanneau, and have always found these to be well designed, well built and especially well finished. The Merry Fisher 695 is no exception. She is certainly one of the very best cabin/day fishing boats I have seen.
She is a classic performance powerboat, featuring a large forward cabin and a spacious cockpit, from which two or possibly three anglers could fish in absolute comfort.
The use of available space within the cabin itself is excellent. Her designers managed to incorporate a decent-sized twin berth arrangement complete with toilet forward, along with a spacious seating/dining area to port, and a well laid out helm arrangement in the wheelhouse. A small galley and heaps of dry locker stowage space complete the package.
CABIN AND COCKPIT
Visibility from within the well-ventilated cabin is exceptional, thanks to a wrap-around windscreen. Side windows provide necessary ventilation, while additional lighting and ventilation is achieved by the inclusion of skylights in the forward cabin and wheelhouse, though these are both optional extras.
Access to and from the cabin is through sliding glass doors. The self-draining cockpit features an excellent amount of inboard freeboard, and a moulded non-slip finish. A large stowage hatch amidships in the main deck provides access to the battery and an integral 200-litre fuel tank.
Seating and additional stowage are provided along the port side and aft, and custom-made padded cushions, another optional extra, can be provided. A moulded step on either side of the cockpit provides access to the bow, where you’ll find a spacious anchor locker. A full stainless pulpit rail, grab handles fitted to the cabin roof and gunnels, and all necessary deck hardware are provided as standard.
The 695, which conforms to CE category C, has an overall length of 24ft 3in, along with a substantial 8ft 4in beam. She draws 1ft 6in while displacing just under 3,375lb, and is rated for use with outboard engines up to a maximum of 175hp. The test boat was fitted with a Yamaha 150hp four-stroke.
SEA TRIAL
At the start of my trial, within the confines of Swansea Marina, I found the Merry Fisher was very easy to manoeuvre. She is fitted with flyby-wire controls that use electronic data rather than cables, thus eliminating the friction and resistance invariably associated with mechanical cable controls. Fly-by-wire provides the operator with exceptionally smooth and positive gear shifting at all times, along with precise throttle response, especially at low rpm levels.
Once we had exited the Tawe Locks and cleared the breakwater, we encountered ideal, testing sea conditions, as we ran across Swansea Bay towards Mumbles Head. The waves were breaking on our port bow yet, despite this, we were able to maintain a comfortable speed, somewhere approaching 20 knots.
The 695 fitted with the Yamaha 150hp, as tested, has a maximum speed of 33 knots, which consumes 55 litres of fuel per hour. Her ideal cruising speed is 24 knots, providing a more economical fuel burn of 33 litres per hour.
CHOPPY SEAS
During our short time at sea, we ran the 695 through those choppy seas in all directions. I was impressed, though not surprised with the way she handled the conditions; it is what I have come to expect from a Jeanneau.
Even when running with the wind, the sea breaking directly astern of us, she steered beautifully, showing hardly any tendency to breach or in any way veer from the course I was steering. Running with a beam sea, her lateral stability was excellent. I noted that despite the snotty sea conditions, a surprisingly little amount of spray was thrown on to the windscreen.
Certainly, this is a boat aboard which I would confidently venture many miles offshore in order to fish, and this confidence is not based upon just a few hours racing around Swansea Bay.
About 10 years ago I spent a few days fishing aboard a Merry Fisher 695 in Alderney, which we took back across the channel to Weymouth during horrible sea conditions. On the day we were due to set off, conditions off Alderney were so bad I nearly refused to make the trip.
Having considered all the relevant weather forecasts, and talking to one or two skippers at sea on the English side of the channel, we went for it. The first hour of the 40-mile journey was, as expected, horrendous, but driven with care the boat took it all in her stride, giving a most impressive demonstration of her capabilities.
When you consider the comfort and liveaboard qualities of the Jeanneau Merry Fisher 695, you quickly realise you really do have the ideal boat for both the more adventurous sea angler and the angler looking to take the family out either for a day’s fishing or cruising.