DESTINED TO MEET A NICHE MARKET DEMAND
The new Fin Chaser Centre Console Amphibious (FC600CCA) was conceived and designed to fill a unique and hitherto unfulfilled niche market.
Several years ago, under the guise of FC Boats, the FC600CC (non-amphibious) was launched as quite the revolutionary craft with a lot of features never before incorporated into such a boat. Over the years, the original 600CC ended up turning into the 620 and later the 635. Then, under the ownership of Ross Christensen and his son, Max, the evolution ended, and a completely new design was created. Thus, was born the radically new Fin Chaser 600CCA, based on the combination of the best parts of the 635 and the 595 models. As Max explained to me, “We overlayed both boats in the drawing software, and did a new, from the ground up, design with an amphibious system in mind”.
I must confess from the onset that I have never been much of a fan of centre console boats, as I like to stay dry when I’m out on the water, and I felt that they were just too open to the environment and rough seas. Therefore, I much preferred a cuddy cabin design in this size trailer boat range. But hang on, for a start, this isn’t a trailer boat; it is an amphibious craft and is meant for you and a few of your mates to get out fishing in almost any weather and sea condition; ‘creature comfort, not necessarily being the main criteria. So, would the Fin Chaser 600CCA change my mind about mid-size, centre console boats?
Designed and manufactured in Hamilton, the FC600CCA was conceived to be the ultimate fishing machine for any avid fisher and their family and being fitted with the Anura Amphibious System, allowed it easy, stress-free beach or lake launching. As Max explained to me as we headed out of Half Moon Bay Marina, south of Auckland on a drop-dead gorgeous spring day, the Fin Chaser 600CCA was designed to be the ultimate on-water performer, jumping quickly onto the plane while being able to turn sharply under control at speed, while still being incredibly stable at rest.
True to its heritage, the FC600CCA includes most of Fin Chaser’s unique features. These include, among others, Fin Chaser’s ‘Extended Gunwales’, claimed to provide a dryer ride than most of its competitors. As we set course for Motuihe Island, SE of Rangitoto Island in the Hauraki Gulf, to conduct the sea trial and photo shoot, a fresh NE breeze set in, lumping up the sea against a mid-incoming tide, providing almost ideal ocean conditions to see how effectively the ‘Extended Gunwales’ and overall hull design would react, in regard to stability, and more importantly as far as I was concerned, dryness.
As it turned out, this vessel proved to be remarkably stable and dry as we hammered through the waves, entering the often notoriously rough Motuihe channel. Sensing my quizzical mood, Max explained that the “Carolina” type upswept bow and extended gunwales design combined with large down-turned chines provide the ultimate in dryness for everyone onboard, with a smaller chop being deflected well by the chines, while larger waves are quickly turned around and deflected back down towards the water surface.
Historically, in the years following WWII, backyard boat builders along the shores of the Carolinas (east coast USA) began crafting a new breed of boat, one with a very distinctive design that featured a huge bow with extreme flare. ‘Carolina’ built hulls tend to have a shallower draft with a sharp entry and looking aft from the bow you’ll note a sharp, deep V-hull design that smoothly transitions to a shallower and modified-V as you go aft. So, a deep/sharp V with a large prominent bow flare contributes hugely to a dry boat.
By the time we approached Motuihe Island, I was beginning to warm to this boat and almost forgot she was amphibious. When you set out to design the best possible six-metre fish platform, its fishing functionality must be your first priority. But then, when you also want to make it a practical amphibious craft, you really need to start thinking outside the square!
Most existing amphibious packages were too large and heavy for the FC600CCA, but shopping around, the boys at Fin Chaser had discovered a new Anura S15 Amphibious Package, only released onto the market in 2023 and which they used on their 600HTA model. Weighing in at just 300kgs, it offered a new level of technology that had previously been unavailable to the smaller amphibious craft market. Comprising a 25hp Honda IGX800 EFI petrol engine and hydraulic reservoir and pump system, all encased in a lightweight aluminium box hidden inside the centre console unit, this compact and relatively lightweight arrangement allows you all the 360-degree fishing space you would expect out of a centre console fishing boat while offering a really well-balanced vessel that performs efficiently and doesn’t require huge horsepower to drive it.
All the hydraulics and other engineering for the rear wheels have been hidden under the transom. Although it is pretty easy to access should one need to, it doesn’t impinge in the cockpit, either visually or by taking up valuable space. Indeed, all one sees when looking aft is the FC Boats bait station.
Having arrived at the wide bay on the western side of Motuihe Island, we began running the FC600CCA through its paces with the dual purpose of allowing me to throw the craft around to judge its performance and manoeuvrability while at the same time getting the all-important images and drone footage for this boat test review article. With the drone operator ashore and ready to film, Max handed me the helm, and so began a series of manoeuvres to test its capability. Being in the lee of the island, I was forced to create our own waves to bounce through as I threw the craft into successive tight port and starboard turns, doing my darndest to test the seaworthiness and dryness of this amphibious vessel.
This might be a boat with protruding wheels front and rear and an additional 300kgs on board, but it sure doesn’t look or perform like it. The ability of the FC600CCA to handle tight turns at almost full throttle is truly impressive and hugely exhilarating. What’s more, thanks to the Zipwake auto trim tabs, the driver need only concentrate on turning the wheel, stroking the throttle and adjusting the engine trim for the take-offs, the exceptionally tight turns and whether one is heading into or down the swells.
At one stage, wrenching the steering wheel hard to port, the boat was well heeled, heading into a large swell created by a passing Waiheke ferry, but all that happened is that the stern (no doubt aided by the 60-kilo weight of the stern wheels and hydraulic mechanisms) just dug in with hardly a hint of prop cavitation or a feeling that the stern was going to break loose and have us flailing over the ocean surface. And what was most gratifying, after all this, we were still dry!
On water test performance and handling complete, I was curious to discover how this craft handled its ‘on-land’ duties. Deciding to head around to the eastern side of Motuihe, where the beach was more expansive, Max ran me through the amphibious landing craft procedure. I was pleased to learn that this was actually quite simple, with the controls for the wheels – up/down and driving being intuitive and ergonomically easy to use. One touch panel for up/ down wheel function, a start/stop button to fire up the Anura System and a large jockey stick for fore and aft locomotion.
Following Max’s instructions, as we approached shallower water towards the beach, I pressed the ‘all wheels down’ button and, while continuing to idle forward, raised the outboard slightly, the prop still pushing us forward until the wheels found grip on the sandy sea floor. Once it was obvious the wheels were doing their job, outboard into neutral and stopped, all I had to do was nudge the joystick forward until I achieved a safe and comfortable speed up the beach. On top of all this, you simply steer it on land as you do on the water. How easy is that? Without belabouring the fact, suffice it to say, that getting back into the water is pretty much a reverse of the above procedure. Just drive across the sand and into the water. Once afloat, raise the wheels and you’re ready to go.
However, while the craft was up on the beach, we took the opportunity to inspect the boat more closely and to take land-based pictures as well as more interior images.
WELL LAID OUT INTERIOR
Considering the amount of “kit” on board, the Fin Chaser 600CCA’s helm station is surprisingly uncluttered and well laid out. Pride of place is taken up with the Raymarine Axiom Pro II Series 9” MFD. However, this boat being a demonstrator, Ross says they are happy to install any brand of MFD that the client prefers, as long as it is a touchscreen model and can take the camera feed from over the for’ard wheel. Immediately to starboard of the MFD, the Anura Display Screen and Drive Control are to be found. To the right of these, and centrally mounted above the steering wheel are the two Mercury Smart Craft engine gauges (for the Mercury 175hp V6 outboard). Continuing to glance clockwise, you will spot the Anura System Control Panel (Legs Up & Down) and the Mercury Remote Control gear shift/throttle lever. Just to the left of this will be found the Viper Drum Reel Anchor Winch switch, positioned just above the Zipwake Automatic Trim Tabs control and below these, the Battery Isolator Switch and Ignition Key for both the Mercury and the Anura. Tucked just under the steering wheel to port are the Emergency Kill Switch and Accessory Switch Panel. The lower port quarter of the helm station houses the Fusion Bluetooth Stereo Head Unit, the GME VHF Radio and watertight Glove Box.
This is a centre console boat designed to be open but still provide escape from the elements and allow for the captain and co-pilot to sit behind the sturdy Perspex windshield on a very comfortable helm seat with a backrest bolster that can be swun forward or aft, depending on whether your underway or relaxing at anchor. Located under the helm seat is a large 70-litre, removable chilly bin. The expansive ‘canopy’ roof provides more than ample shade on those hot sunny days and is large enough to protect at least two of the crew from a heavy rainstorm.
The side decks are wonderfully wide and a joy to sit on, meaning there has been no need to install any sort of space-hungry transom seats (although one could if one really wanted to, perch on the top of the centrally positioned live bait tank). Still not enough seating? Fin Chaser offers optional folding rear seats, which also provide great access into the boat. The wide gunwales are also home to much of the FC600CCA’s substantial flotation. When looking aft you can’t miss the Fin Chaser bait station. Painted white, this aluminium unit comes complete with a handy open locker under a black hard nylon bait board with for’ard and side slits draining into an aft channel and then overboard, keeping things clean and tidy. Astern of the bait board are affixed four polished aluminium rod holders. There is a total of 22 of these on board! Besides the four at the bait station, there are four in each of the side decks (with pop-up line cleats in between) and 10 in the rocket launcher atop the centre console roof, which is also home to two large solar panels. The two large 140-Watt solar panels provide 280W directly into the 100AH Lithium 24V Minn Kota Battery. There is also a 1.5kw 12:24 volt convertor, so there is no house battery, utilising instead the Minn Kota battery, to keep the start battery full at all times.
Other helpful cockpit features are the Seadek floor panels throughout, the forward, underfloor locker (designed to hold two dive bottles), the side shelf lockers (one per side), and the Jabsco wash-down hose. The FC600CCA’s fuel filter, electric connections and start battery are also safely housed in a pair of lockers set high in the transom. A flip-down step inside the port side of the transom provides easy entry through the stern once you’ve climbed aboard (at sea or on land), utilising the two-rung flip-down ladder over the port rear drive wheel and the small, but adequate duckboards on either side of the outboard motor. Being a long-time SCUBA diver, I could not help but analyse this craft for its dive boat potential and, although primarily designed for resolute fisher folk, this boat more than fulfils the needs of any serious SCUBA diver.
Two other features strongly identify the Fin Chaser 600CCA as a fisher person’s craft:
- The Minn Kota Terrova GPS trolling system which is controlled by a separate remote. Ross and his team have also used their redesign process to reconfigure the 600’s foredeck; removing the bow sprit and, instead offset both the Minn Kota and Viper Windlass controlled MaxSet anchor to ensure the boat’s LOA is below 7m, while still maximising bow manoeuvrability and anchoring performance.
- The Fin Chaser Passive Live Bait Tank; a feature in all Fin Chaser models enabling the option of live baiting, without needing pumps, aerators or even a battery. This simple design lets water fill up to the waterline level of the boat. If more flow is needed for full days live baiting or large amounts of live baits then you can add the “Live Bait Pick up” which includes a venturi to keep water circulating in the 140L capacity tank, keeping bait fish alive for hours.
Heading back to Halfmoon Bay Marina gave us the opportunity to check performance figures. This FC600CCA was fitted with a 175hp Mercury V6 outboard (the standard specification is a Mercury 150hp), so figures may differ. However, check out the performance chart below for speed and fuel consumption across the rev range on our test boat.
CONCLUSION
Your first impression of this boat is one of stark, aesthetic functionality. The lines are clean, whether sitting at anchor, smashing through waves or standing on a beach supported on its three wheels. The interior is equally utilitarian, but comfortable and practical for what this craft was designed for – fishing. Was there anything missing? Not as far as I could see, but should you want extra ‘stuff’, just talk to Max or Ross; they’ll be happy to comply.
Ross Christensen founded FC Boats (Fin Chaser) some 12 years ago in the belief that there was an untapped market for simple, uncomplicated fishing boats; boats that didn’t try to be all things to all people but instead offered just the features and the value wanted by Kiwi fishers and divers. Some 1500-odd boats later it is clear that he was right. Which I think that it’s safe to say, is perfectly demonstrated by this new centre console amphibious craft.
In summary, the 600CCA turned out to be more than I expected while dispelling my hitherto misconception in regard to the fact that a centre console craft does not necessarily mean a wet craft. I liked it!
SPECIFICATIONS
Designer Fin Chaser
LOA 6.959m
LOH 6.018m
Beam 2.35m
Deadrise Variable (17 degrees at transom)
Displacement (Dry) 1500kg
Max Speed 38 Knots
Construction Aluminium
Fuel Capacity 150L
Amphibious Kit Anura S15
Price as tested NZD $285,000
PERFORMANCE DATA
RPM KNOTS L/h L/NM Range
1000 4.9 3.3 0.67 224
1500 6.2 6 0.97 155
2000 7.2 10.2 1.42 105
2500 9 14.4 1.6 94
3000 16 17.5 1.1 136
3500 21.5 21 0.98 153
4000 26 29 1.12 134
4500 31 39 1.26 119
5000 35 47 1.34 112
5500 38 61 1.6
