Tristram 581 Prima

Tristram 581 Prima Review

The last few years have seen a flood of imported boats hit our shores, and with  our strengthening dollar, there is no sign of it slowing. While American boats make up the majority of imports, the South Africans and Kiwis are also getting in on the action. One of the more recent arrivals to our shores is the Tristram range of fibreglass boats, which is built in New Zealand. By all accounts, the company has developed something of a reputation for delivering an exceptional level of finish and quality of construction. According to Sydney-based dealership Acclaim Marine.

They're also reasonably priced and pitched squarely at the social boater who enjoys doing a bit of everything when out on the water, from wetting a line to towing the kids around on an inflatable tube or waterskis.

The 581 Prima (meaning "first" in Italian) - one of Tristram's biggest sellers - measures 6m long overall with a beam of 2.4m. Acclaim says the Prima has plenty of room for a day of fun on the water, with a generous cockpit, intelligent dry-storage options and a spacious cabin so the kids can kip when all the excitement becomes too much.

The mid-sized cabin has a bunk length of 1.90m. Drop in the optional infill and you've got yourself a comfortable double bed if you don't feel like going home when the sun goes down. The boat, motor and trailer weighs in at just under 1500kg, creating a package that is easily handled and towed behind the average family car.

Acclaim Marine says the Prima comes packed with useful features, including a self-draining cockpit with removable carpet, 145lt underfloor fuel tank, full stainless-steel frame canopy, road cover, sturdy stainless bowrail, walkthrough transom and boarding ladder, bilge pump, navigation and cabin lights, extensive storage, and a wet locker for stowing your fish, dive bottles or cold drinks. A range of integrated extras is available to configure the boat to your individual needs.

The package rolls on a custom-designed single or tandem-axle multi-roller braked trailer. This is a great looking rig, Acclaim says, of which its owner will be proud both on and off the water.

Speaking of being on the water, Acclaim says the Prima 581's hull design provides the performance to support the all-round applications for which the boat is intended. Craig Thomson of Acclaim Marine chose the Prima for his own family boat.

"The boat has a very solid feel and is extremely predictable in smooth or confused sea conditions," he told Trailer Boat. "The 21° deadrise makes for a comfortable ride in choppy water, and the boat is still very stable at rest. High-speed cornering will certainly bring a smile to your face, and you can expect to push close to 80kmh with a 150hp V6 outboard."

Tristram Boats has been going for some 45 years, and are designed by Lance Fink and built by a small team of dedicated professionals. All the hulls are covered by a five-year warranty, and are available from Acclaim Marine in Sydney, tel (02) 9986 1911, and Westside Boating in Brisbane, tel (07) 3818 0400.

 

 

SPECIFICATION: TRISTRAM 581 PRIMA

Priced from (BMT): $53,100 w/ 150 two-stroke and some options
Overall length: 6.0m
Beam: 2.4m
Deadrise: 21°
Fuel capacity: 145lt
Rec/max hp: 150/175
Towing weight: 1480kg

 

Story: TB staff
First published in TrailerBoat #175