Black Watch 40

BLACK WATCH 40 REVIEW


It's all very black and white for Black Watch boats. There are no shades of grey in its approach to building bluewater boats. No comprises -or as few as you can get away with in this game. Quite simply, Black Watch builds pure bred, undiluted gamefishing boats and everything about them, both inside and out, is seriously business-like.

Unlike the popular cruiser market led by the wants of families, Black Watch has concentrated on expanding its range of purist gamefishing boats. The heritage begun with the wonderful little 26, then followed a much bolder 30 (available as a canyon runner and a more popular flybridge) and then the stretched 30 which turned into the 34.

The 34 proved a bigger hit on Queensland's Gold Coast (where Black Watch manufacture is based), NSW and some Pacific island nations than any other model before it. Apparently, the bigger the Black Watch boats became, the more popular they were. Thus it stood to reason that bigger would be better again.

That's pretty much how this new Black Watch 40 - with a hull designed by Queensland naval architect Lee Clough and Associates - was born.But no prizes for guessing its fate; already the 40 has proven a big hit with the 'go get 'em' gamefishing fraternity, partly because 40 is a fabulous size for game fishing.

 

 

BIGGER, BETTER


Although Black Watch was once distinguished by its black hulls, the new 40 we tested arrived as white as a hotel sheet... Just as crisp and comfortable to be enveloped by, too. In fact, comfort on the high seas and seaworthiness is the Black Watch's best strength and a trait for which I can vouch.

Having fished from a Black Watch 34 in Vanuatu during 35k ton-shore winds and three-metre seas, I feel I know the hull's qualities. With a deep-V, sharp entry and about 18 degrees of dead rise at the transom, the hull has a fondness for rough water and for finding fish in it. The new 40 is built on these same proven Black Watch principles.

Although there was little time to put the new 40-footer through its fishing paces - in any case, Sydney was in the grips of a cold winter current that made the Vanuatu experience seem almost heavenly - I decided that at least a short offshore passage was warranted. It was to be a run from Sydney Heads to Palm Beach, catching a lowly bus back home while catching glimpses of the beaches I'd just cruised.

 

 

STIRRING IMPRESSIONS


First impressions of the Black Watch 40 are, like all new Black Watch boats,nothing short of stirring.

The lines have an intentionally classical look to them. A nice little sheerline, some flare in the bow, a flybridge that's commodious but deliberately low-profile (perhaps reminiscent of a Precision), cabin windows which are swept-back aft and a rake to the whole thing that, like the black outriggers' poles buttoned down in travelling position, looks fast - even standing still.

The 40 is confident and smart. The look is also some what traditional, derived from a clever use of wood. It starts with a teak-planked cockpit floor but continues subtly inside for accents on doors and drawers,bunks and the galley floor. But up top the image is different again. The modern helm console is an oasis of fish-finding technology, mixed with a classic polished, all-American wheel complete with a hand-knob for spinning the boat on its length and running down fish in a jiffy.

 

 

BACKING UP THE LOOKS


Looks mightn't be everything but they count for plenty in a game boat. The Black Watch40 is very chic, but don't overlook its practical layout. It has also been bred for tournaments, live-a boarding and simply snoozing a day away between strikes.

From the pointy end, there is a stainless bow rail and cross bollard, both hand-made with an image of strength and style. Beneath the nice flat fore-deck is equally practical accommodation. The fore peak cabin sleeps four on bunks - super-wide with thick mattresses. Alternatively a huge berth could be substituted.

On the roof are teak handrails and a hatch for light and fresh air. Standing headroom throughout and a plush purple-blue carpet underfoot complete the picture of comfort. The bunk fabric is your choice,perhaps not the choice on this boat's alternatively bright orange and yellow mix.

There are hanging hooks in the bow cabin for wet-weather jackets. There is also a hanging rack in the separate cabin on the starboard side, just forward of amidships.

The test boat, built to survey for charter, had bunks inside this cabin. Mind you, they were wide bunks which could sleep two girth-challenged anglers, while storing their soft clothes bags full in the nearby wardrobe, which had hanging space and four shelves.

The head and wall-liners throughout the 40 are white marine vinyl with no signs of spilt glue or cutting marks. Importantly, the edges of all the furnishings and walls are radiused and, thus, virtually injury free. The doors are similarly well thought-out, being easy wipe-down fibreglass, pretty much as it is inside the head.

Located just aft of the owner's cabin, the head features a storage cabinet, deep sink, pull-out handheld shower, Lectra/San toilet and an open circular shower recess with room to sit and, well, read Trade-A-Boat. The floor is finished in non-skid, making the bathroom practical enough for heavy-duty workouts, which is the way of tournament fishing with a motley crew cooking and sleeping aboard.

 

 

NO GOING HUNGRY


The galley, opposite and on a mezzanine level, is similarly orderly. The teak floor glistened, while shelves and easy-to-reach recesses beckoned being loaded with crockery. A fold-down cutlery draw folds back automatically, while pantry space was sufficiently generous for bags of rice and packets of spice, bottles of chilli sauce, tins of spaghetti and jars of Vegemite... You get the idea.

The sink has a single-action tap, hot and cold, while facilities included a stainless-lined eutectic fridge, convection microwave(all a game boat needs, really) and a two-burner electric stove. Despite the blanked-out lower windscreen, which trumpets that this is a boat for fishing not coffee cruising, the main cabin is well lit with no sense of stuffiness.

Up three steps you arrive at the saloon, with a U-shaped dinette to port which can seat five, or six with a loose chair pulled up. The leg rolls on the lounge and the high backrests kept you seated, while the table itself is sturdy enough for a group of game-fishers to simultaneously lean on their elbows (as they will while talking with their mouths full).

Opposite was a three-person L-shaped lounge, facing forward to a television/video flush-mounted in the short wall. The television can also be seen from the dinette, which is actually smarter than you think when you spend time onboard. A locker for CDs is alongside.

But the best thing about the lounges is that, while contained by them, you can look through the windows and watch the lures dancing in the wake. Plus, if you stop and take a close look, you'll notice the engravings on the glass of these aft cabin windows. It was a beautiful touch which had me thinking of the game boats bobbing on Pier 66, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA, all full of hand-engraved glass art.

 

 

THE BUSINESS END


Walk through the wide folding door in the bulkhead and down a step and you can't miss the cockpit. It's huge and especially w-i-d-e.

To port and starboard, against the bulkhead, are deep, deep freezers. The freezer on the starboard side formed part of the ladder up to the bridge, while both of the freezer's teak lids are handy perches for the crew to sit, under the shade top, while waiting for the fish to strike.

What isn't so obvious is the engineering underfloor. There are hatches to bilge taps and couplings and shafts and, of course, the engines back under the saloon sofas. There is also an 150-litre live bait tank plus room to stash a few big yellowfin should the sashimi bug bite instead of the tag pole.

Rod holders are Reelax heavy-duties, the chair in future models will also be a Reelax item - the heavy-duty 130lb model. The coamings were padded, but the stainless marlin board, an option, is something many marlin hunters will leave off their wish list.

 

 

UP TOP


Accessing the bridge over the starboard-side fridge takes a little care. It's one of those familiarisation things where you need to practise it a few times so you known how to do it instinctively in a hurry. Rails leading up top ensure you at least won't do a Humpty Dumpty back into the cockpit.

Seating in the flybridge comprises five on a lounge, two pedestal seats and a strange little single seat to port. The view aft is especially clear for spotting fish in the wake, while for the skipper and mate the transom is visible for backing down on fish or putting the boat, paint intact, into the pen at the end of the day.

The two American helm chairs face an island helm console with room to flush-mount a deep-water depth sounder, GPS/chart plotter, radar and more. Marine radios go overhead in the dedicated facia. That American alloy wheel, single Morse controls and clear vision to all quarters make this a boat to enjoy driving and not relinquish to anyone.

The crew will find the bumps and curves on all the mouldings mindful of their needs. No bruises when rushing for the cockpit when you need to. And as a quick aside, from the cockpit you'll find the water beautifully close to hand, so you can unhook a bill fish without falling in the drink and without having to lift the fish right out of the water.

An all-over accessible boat, the 40's side decks leading to the bow are also thoughtfully conceived with rails where you want them and a bow rail (partly for survey) to keep you on deck.

As a tester, what I didn't like about the layout was the fact that I liked everything about the layout! Even the engine room has room for a genset (as it should), unlike smaller Black Watch boats.

 

 

ON THE WATER


The best thing about doing an interior survey first is that you can kick back and enjoy the ride and end on that note. And so it was that we left Sydney Harbour, an armada of three Black Watch boats - a 26, 34 and 40 - all heading north to Lake Macquarie. The Palm Beach detour was for my sake.

This was a day to be fishing. A lazy 1.5m swell, a 10kt sou'westerly, the boats all riding au-natural - no tabs, no tricks... Just running free and easy.

Top speed of the 40 is 31kts at 2600rpm. The sail-past over,we resumed a 2200rpm fast cruise for 24 to 25kts. If the sea got nasty, we might have dropped back to 2000rpm and 22kts.

But it didn't and the sea trial to Palm Beach was over almost as quickly as it started. It took perhaps 40 minutes from Sydney Heads to Palm Beach wharf, running down swell without a care in the world. The hull was dry and stable - due to its low centre of gravity - and it never fell off line.

In fact, the run up the coast didn't actually prove a lot. Black Watch's love the rough going and that's when you learn to really love them back. This was just all too pleasant.

The cost then? Around $448,000 with twin 450C 430hp Cummins,though the test boat had one-off 435hp 3208TA Caterpillars.

The public bus back home had a Mercedes... And too many school kids... And no rod holders... And it was just a lousy way to end such a wonderful sea trial...

 

 

BLACK WATCH 40

Price as tested $541,866

Factory options fitted

Full NSW Survey ($35,000); 8kVa gen set ($15,470); Air-cond to sallon and cabins ($11,248); Eutectic cockpit freezer ($9798); Reelax HD outriggers and chair ($3350); electronics package (approx $19,000). Price does not include extra cost for Caterpillar engines.

 

Base price (w/ twin 430hp Cummins): $448,000

 

Hull

Material: GRP

Type: Deep-V monohull

Deadrise (at transom): 18°

Length: 11.99m

Beam: 4.08m

Displacement: 9800kg

Fuel capacity: 1900lt

Water capacity: 400lt

 

Engines (as tested)

Make/model: Twin Caterpillar 3208TAs

Rated hp: 2 x435hp

Type: V-eight turbo-diesel

Displacement (ea): 10,400cc

Weight (ea): 943kg

 

Supplied by Belmont Bay Marine, Pelican (NSW), tel (02) 4971 5100

 

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