THE PERFECT TOOL
Compared to many angling boats, the Finnmaster Husky R6 might be flash, but it is ideal for fishing offshore
An ideal boat for lure anglers.
Having been designing and manufacturing leisure boats at its boatyard in Finland for more than 25 years, Finnmaster works hard to develop smart solutions for typical boating issues. Called the ‘Smart Design’ concept, the company says it “tailors the form to the content to make life at sea easier, whatever you use your boat for.” It adds: “These solutions not only help to tie together well thought-out and practical details with smart and modern design, but also they mean, above all, that the skilled captain and the curious novice can both have wonderful experiences at sea.”
Speaking for myself, I’m all for wonderful experiences at sea.
When I stepped aboard the Husky R6, I very quickly noted that her build quality and finish were excellent, exactly what I have come to expect from any Scandinavian manufacturer.
PERFECT FOR LURE WORK
Clearly, the R6 has been built as an allround sports boat and primarily intended for activities such as skiing, but there is little doubt she would make a good angling boat. There might be limited space aft for traditional fishing at anchor, but her spacious and well-protected bow is perfect for fishing lures from, especially casting.
Key features include a walk-through console providing easy fore and aft access, plenty of spacious stowage lockers and seats, and both pulpit and gunnel rails to enhance safety. I like the hardwearing textured deck, which, like the hull, is fabricated out of aluminium. I particularly liked the addition of aluminium grip plates cut from the same material, which provide safe footing at key areas.
The inventory of standard fixtures and fittings is impressive; full details of these can be found on the Ideal Boats website.
The Husky R6 is 5.86 metres (just over 19ft) long, sports a 2.29m (7.51ft), beam, displaces 896kg and has a 0.50m draft. Rated for use with outboard engines up to 130hp, it can carry a maximum of seven persons, but so far as angling goes this is a two-person boat.
EXCEPTIONAL BOAT
By the time my opportunity came to climb aboard and drive the R6, I had already seen more than enough to convince me that she was an exceptional sea boat, one that would be of interest to a certain genre of boat anglers.
Taking the helm, I immediately found her response to the throttle was instant and crisp, the hull rising quickly up on to the plane. This is exactly what you want when running in heavy seas, conditions that demand continual adjustments of throttle and helm from the helmsman. When reviewing a boat intended for offshore angling, the three criteria I like to look focus on are stability and handling, the amount of fishing space and the availability and volume of stowage space. The Finnmaster Husky R6 ticked each of these boxes.
The test boat was fitted with a Yamaha F130 AETX, which on previous sea trials has produced the following speed and fuel consumption figures: 3,000rpm produces a speed of 9.8 knots, along with a fuel burn of 10.8 litres/hour. At 4,000rpm the speed increases to 26.2 knots, burning 18.8 lures/hour. At 5,000rpm she achieves 29.4 knots while burning 25.6, increasing to 35.5 knots for 43.8 litres/hour at 6,000rpm. At a maximum 6,300rpm a top speed of 48.2 knots with a fuel burn of 48.2 litres/hour.
SAFETY & COMFORT
The Husky R6 has a deep-vee hull, which is perfect for slicing through a hefty swell and choppy sea conditions, such as those that anglers frequently encounter offshore.
I have said before there’s little point in owning a fast fishing boat designed to venture many miles offshore to fish distant marks if the only time you can benefit from the speed is when conditions are favourable.
Provided you drive her with due regard to the prevailing conditions, then or if conditions deteriorate, you will be able to cruise back at a reasonable speed in both safety and comfort.
This Finnmaster is one boat I would love to have at my disposal for long-haul fishing sorties, especially when targeting bass over shallow reefs and rocky shorelines using lures, or drifting offshore wrecks and reefs.
Compared to many angling boats, she might be a tad on the flash side, but she really is the perfect tool for fishing offshore.