Boat Review for Savage Bluefin (older, late 1960's to early 1970's model)

I consider our family's Savage Bluefin to be a bullet-proof little boat. Built in the late 1960's or early 1970's (and up until about 1980), this popular fibreglass monohull boat is reliable and was built to withstand the test of time. She's somewhere 35-40 years old surely, but the hull is still sound and provides a comfortable ride in varying sea conditions. When she's waxed and polished there's still some shine in the gelcoat and her styling (although dated) still makes her a beautiful boat that attracts looks.

We have had our Savage Bluefin for 22 years now. In that time we have replaced the twin Chrysler 85 horse power outboard engines with a new Mercury Saltwater Series 140 horsepower outboard engine. The transom has been replaced in recent years, but it had a very long life. Same with the aft decks which started to go a bit soft. And these are probably the two big-ticket items to look out for in the older Savage models.

The Savage Bluefin is a practical boat. At 21 feet long it is not too big to trailer about and not too small to handle the chop out on the bays. Our boat has the cabin, but no hardtop as seen on some models - particularly the boats that have the inboard engine and stern drive configuration. These older Savage boats at least have reasonable sidedecks - unlike many newer boats which have dispensed with them. The gunwhales are about waist-height on me (I'm 5 feet 11 inches tall) and this is great for fishing and climbing into and out of the boat.

The hull has a nice shape considering its vintage. It has moderate deadrise for a relatively shallow draught and rocks and rolls a little, but the chines certainly temper the rolling motion to a more comfortable sway. We've been in some choppy seas with this boat, both at anchor whilst fishing and underway at various speeds. Amazingly, I find it to be a dry boat that is very seaworthy and balanced very well.  The hull rides well and the slight bow flair helps deflect spray outward and away from the cabin windows.

The cabin a a good size, suits the appearance of the boat and still allows for plenty of space out back for the helm and fishing room. There is a vee-berth up forward under the boat's foredeck, which can be accessed by lying on your back and opening the forward hatch. You can sleep two people snugly in there. I like the Savage logo on the cushions - a nice finishing touch. The hull here is insulated by a decent layer of carpet which on many Savage Bluefin boats will probably show its age. Removing the centre cushion reveals a manual flush toilet and macerator pump.

Entering the cabin and to port there is a plumbed plastic sink with fawcet fed from a stainless steel fresh water tank also on the port side underneath the cabinetry. There's plenty of storage space with cupboards underneath. To starboard there's a handy plastic bench top ideal for spreading maps and charts or leaving personal effects. Underneath this is more storage space for lifejackets, tool boxes, tackle boxes and flares etc. All very simple, but effective and practical with little that can go wrong.

The cabin bulkhead provides wall-mounted interior cabin lighting to port and starboard, along with cup-holder storage. The cabinetry is a well-made varnished timber finished off with a darkened glaze which really suits the boat. Whilst you don't have head-height room in the cabin, there is room to move and plenty of room available to modernise the boat with conveniences such as a small refrigerator, a small television and DVD player for overnight stays. It's fine for overnight trips, which are always fun. Sliding side windows in the cabin and a screw-top vent in the foward hatch allow ventilation.

The helm station to starboard looks out over the boat's cabin roof, which has hand-crafted timber handles assisting anyone moving forward along the sidedecks and a centrally-mounted mast anchor light. The dash-mounted gauges are the original analogue ones that came with the boat and are angled so that you can read them easily whilst standing or sitting. The helm seating is provided by single leather-bound pedestal seats on either side of the cabin doors (which are those really nice old-fashioned varnished timber-slat doors!). Everything is within easy reach and access for servicing. The flat dash has room for as much fishing and technology gadgets as you want to splash out on, but too much will impair your sight forward.

When the throttle is opened, you might find it easier to get the best view forward by standing up as the bow pulls up. The Savage Bluefin hull has a smooth comfortable ride. The Saltwater Series Mercruiser motor cruises along at about 3,000 rpm. Fuel economy would vary little from newer boats of a similar size. The original stainless steel tank which was mounted centrally below the deck on our boat has been replaced with two smaller (removable) deck-mounted plastic tanks and we haven't measured fuel consumption with the newer Mercruiser engine. The Savage Bluefin is very solidly glassed and the weight might affect the figures, but I doubt she's heavy enough to drain much more fuel than the average modern boat.

Our boat does not have power steering, which certainly would be a nice addition. The old hydraulic steering is tight by today's standards and makes for a little bit more of a challenge when manouvering in tight spots - like boat ramps and marinas! We find trailering and launching the boat easy, although any decent trailer setup allows this these days. There's adequate brightworks - a good bowrail forward and side-mount rails at the stern for climbing onto the sidedecks or holding yourself steady when fishing. There's a cleat either side aft and fairleads forward with a stainless bollard central on the fordeck. The stainless steel was obviosuly a very good grade and 40 years on there's no sign of corrosion stains.

The 1970's Savage Bluefin was and still is a popular boat with a good reputation for being a sturdy little day fishing boat. Depending on condition they sell anywhere from $12,000 to $25,000 with a trailer. Many would need attention to some apsect, but they are worth paying the money for if well maintained. The boats with hardtops are a good buy if you can get one. I'm not sure about the performance of the inboard models, but I'd always prefer a simple outboard setup on a boat this size anyway. They are a classic Australian boat and worth paying that little bit extra for if you can pick one up.

Boat Review - 1994 Maxum 2700 SCR Express Cruiser

It's a great little boat, quick to get on the plane and with plenty of onboard space for weekends away. My Maxum 2700 SCR is equipped with twin 262 cubic inch Mercruiser 4.3 litre LX V-6 engines mated to Alpha One stern drives.

• Length overall is 28 feet 9 inches
• Beam 9 feet 8 inches
• Draught 0.99 metre with stern drives down 
• Fuel tank capacity 386 litres
• Fresh water tank (on the port side) capacity 113 litres
• Holding tank (on the starboard side) capacity 61 litres

It's well appointed, considering its age. The boat has a vee berth forward, convertible dinette and the really spacious mid-cabin. The Maxum 2700 will sleep four in comfort, but you could accommodate six if the need be. The vee berth is really a single bed, but a couple can cuddle up on it, no worries. In summer, you can fold down the passenger-side helm seating (a nice feature), which doubles as a sun pad by day and a bed by night. You also have enough room over the engine bay doors to put one or two on a double blow-up mattress.

The cockpit area is roomy and practical. The seating is an off-white vinyl and lasts well if looked after and cleaned routinely. You can sit two passengers next to the helmsman. Another two passenders can sit right behind them on the reverse side. As I mentioned above, this seat folds outwards and down if you want to sunbake! There is room to sit 3-4 passengers along the transom seat. Then there is a removeable seat for an additional two passengers that fits snugly into the starboard bulwark. All up, I'd say you can seat eleven adults comfortably. A removeable table fits into the starboard-most engine bay door.

This boat was built in the era just prior to boat builders installing refrigerators, ice makers, sinks and fawcets, barbeques and every other known kitchen appliance in the cockpit! So don't expect anything flash out the back. There is a handy (and decent) size live bait well directly under the helm seat. This is plumbed and can also be used as storage space for fenders, fishing rods, life jackets, you name it. Directly behind the helmsman's seat is a small plumbed sink for ice and drinks, although the previous owner of my boat had obviously used it to clean and gut fish! Considering its size it is of limited use, unless you're by yourself.

The two engine compartment doors are large and offer completely open access to the engines and water heater that came with the boat. The engine compartment is well insulated and reduces engine noise very very well - try running the motors with the hatches open to hear the difference! The engine compartment is laid out pretty well for a twin engine configuration. I've seen boats including Bayliners and Sea Rays with less engine room space, although this one is still pretty cramped. You don't want to be in there too long!

You have to be very careful not to stand on wiring and pumps in the engine compartment and will find yourself constantly manouvering around to jockey into position to work on the engines or check oils and lubricant levels. On the plus side, the average boatie can do the basics with no fuss; check the engine oil levels, power steering fluids, and gear lubricants - the resevoirs are all within easy access and are color coded for visibility. The fresh water tank is on the port side and the waste holding tank on the starboard. This impacts greatly the room down the outer-most side of both engines.

The helm itself provides good visibility over the curved foredeck. You step up onto the helm and the sense of a high freeboard offers you a really feeling when she's on the plane. The Maxum 2700 SCR appears to have the same freeboard as a Mustang 3200, which is easily another 5 or 6 feet longer. There is actually room between the helm seat and the controls to stand, which is nice. Whe seated, a person of average height (I'm 5 feet 11 inches tall), can still reach the steering wheel and dash-mounted switches.

There is plenty of room across the dash for GPS, radar and depth sounders. My boat was fitted with one of each - all separate units as opposed to the more advanced multi-purpose units available today. It all looks great in the photos (us guys love our gadgets), but in reality it clutters up the space and impairs vision if you are sitting down. It's all pretty stock standard, although I do not like the location of the fuses. They lie directly under the helm and gauge cluster. You have to get down on all fours and then lie on your side or back to get to them. So it's slightly (or very) annoying to replace or test them.

The console window opens outward to allow access over the foredeck. Non-skid steps and stainless support bars provide a safe passage forward. Pretty standard in an express cruiser, but also useful on a hot day if there's a nice breeze on the bay or lake. You can open this up to allow the cool fresh air to flow throughout the cockpit. The cockpit also has moulded non-skid decking and snap-on carpets are standard items. My boat has the radar arch with built-in sound speakers and night lighting.

Below decks is a spacious interior with everything needed to make a comfortable passage to and overnight stay at your favorite boating and fishing locations. The galley is port side and comprises of a Norcold refrigerator, Origo single burner stove, stainless steel sink and fawcet and hot water service. There are 12-volt and 240 volt outlets nearby for any additional devices you might like to plug in. The stove is conveniently located close by the companionway door, assisting ventilation whilst cooking. And there is a rectangular porthole behind it also. The storage space is great, with three head-level cupboards above the bench, a 3-draw utensils cupboard and additional storage lockers.

One of the features I really like is the onboard lighting. The Maxum 2700 SCR really lights up at night for overnight stays and entertaining. The cockpit has downlights in the radar arch, courtesy lights at the helm and companionway steps and the helm itself lights up nicely. The interior is decked out with lighting in every compartment. The galley has overhead lighting in downlight format. There is lighting over the dinette and just outside the head compartment, which also lights the entrance to the mid-cabin. The mid cabin and vee-berth have overhead lighting, but also have separate reading lights which is a nice gesture. The dinette will confortably seat four adults for meals, cards or watching a DVD.

Another great feature is the storage space aboard the boat. It's everwhere you look and I found new storage spaces one and two months into ownership of the boat! It's a typical design advantage of express cruisers to utilise every square inch of boat, but the Maxum 2700 SCR excels at it. There is storage everywhere - in and around the galley, for instance. There is space under both sides of the dinette seating and underneath the whole dinette itself. The mid cabin - which is very large by the standards, has heaps of space for clothing and personal belongings with 3 separate lockers. Another hanging locker in front of the vee berth. There is storage under the vee-berth, although mine is occupied by the split-system heater and air conditioner.

The head compartent features a dual toilet and shower with privacy curtain, a stainless steel sink, fawcet and vanity unit. There is ample lighting, a rectangular porthole for ventilaton and plenty of storage space. But importantly, plenty of space in generally to move, turn around and sit down. Something not always prevalent in boats generally. The shower is plumbed into a sump pump below the deck and an access hatch allows servicing of this area of the bilge. The toilet is a PAR manual pump toilet, which is simple and has not provided any problems.

Performance-wise, I can't complain either. The Maxum 2700 with twin V-6 Mercruisers will provide a Wide Open Throttle (WOT) speed of 40.8 miles per hour or a little over 65km per hour. That's at 4,700 rpm and over 35 knots top speed - enough to get you out of troubled waters quickly and safely. I find the planing cruise speed to be around 2,900 rpm and providing 27 miles per hour, or 43 km/h. Fuel consumption figures are set out below and include full fuel and water, safety equipment and passengers, as per Ken Naff from Maxum USA.

Fuel consumption below is PER ENGINE

So going up rivers at 5 knots won't send you broke. You can put around on one engine fine, although steering is a little out of whack! I don't find my boat to be less economical than some smaller boats with outboards. I can easily get out for a day's fishing and budget on $100 fuel - you don't have to guzzle the entire tank rampaging around like a lunatic! It depends on what you want to do. Based on the figures above, I calculate 26 litres per hour, per engine on 2,900 rpm for cruise speed of 43 km/h. This would give me a cruise range of between 280 and 300 kms - about 7 hours at cruise speed with the 386 litre tank. That doesn't allow for winds, current, or inclement weather.

Handling is pretty good for a boat of its age. It's quick out of the hole for a boat nearly 30 feet long and has sharp response with the rack-and-pinion Teleflex power steering. Trim tabs assist balance the boat nicely if you've got a load or experience above-average winds. The hull planes nicely and its a great feeling standing at the helm - you feel high up and secure from any spray or wash on the rougher days. As with most express boats, she's fairly shallow draught and high freeboard - so she will rock a little, but no more so than any boat of this class. The light bow will make for a bit of a bounce on the bigger waves.

Berthing is made easier with the twin engine configuration. But the above facts stand on a windy day. You don't have much below the waterline and enough windage above it to challenge you on a windy day when entering the marina. The worst aspect of any planing hull express cruiser is that the bulk of the weight is down in the stern with the engines and related equipment. The bow essentially has no weight. So what can happen is that the wind will grab the bow and pull it around in whatever direction the wind is moving. A challenge to be had when docking!

Both my engines are tuned to idle at 500 rpm. Even at this speed, the boat glides through the water with relative ease. If you want to neatralise the engines to slow her, you need a good couple of boat lengths. When I approach my lane, I generally slip one engine into neautral to help reduce the boat's forward momentum. By the time I make my final inbound turn, she slows to a comfortable docking speed. On the windy days, I have to lift the revs on either or both engines if idle revs are not sufficient (ie. the wind is too strong on one side or another). As I said, this is only because these boats are very light in the bow. But with one engine in forward gear and the other in reverse, she'll turn on her own axis on a calm day.

Overall, the Maxum 2700 SCR has a lot more pluses than minuses on the scoreboard. Even though I spend most time aboard by myself, she's a great boat for families and for couples wanting to entertain. One of the biggest inconveniences - and again, not untypical of the production express cruiser, is that pulling things apart is not well catered for in the build. The production boat mentality, particularly in the USA, does not recognise the opinion or voice of the marine mechanic, marine electrician or DIY boater who must replace parts, service the boat and uphold maintenance.

What should have been a simple task to remove and replace the stereo system took two young men about 2 hours to do - the bloody thing was bolted in at the back of the unit where hands smaller than Yoda the Jedi Master would have struggled to reach. God forbid you have to replace the wiring to the sound speakers up forward in the vee berth. That will mean pulling the interior lining apart on both sides and who know where that ends trying to reassemble it. The motor to the starboard-side windscreen wiper is hidden up under the head compartment's storage locker. Again, a nuisance to pull apart.

The newer Maxum of the equivalent length is now the 2900 series. I was very disappointed when I stepped aboard. The mid cabin has shrunk on the newer models. I love boats and yachts and I love being aboard. The advantage of a cruiser is being able to go away for weekends, weeks or just overnight stays. So onboard accommodation is important to me. The newer models have a mid cabin that will challenge even your kids! The emphasis on the newer express boats is entertaining out back in the cockpit, where designers have increased volume size and the amenities I mentioned earlier. This means a sacrifice in interior space, which I personally don't favor. If you're after a big cockpit, save yourself some money and buy one of the larger bowriders!

Money-wise, the Maxum 2700 SCR is good value. An older one like mine is cheap if you elect the single V8 option, although even the twin V6 models have dropped in price. Express cruisers have flooded the markets in recent times and hence depreciate faster than their flybridge counterparts. Dollar for dollar, they're a good buy. They sit between Bayliner and Sea Ray, but the later only has a reputation for better quality interior furnishings and fittout. Mine was a US-import, so I bore the cost of changing the 110 volt shore power systems to 240 volts.

Obviously, you have double the cost to maintain two engines - two sets of manifolds and risers are the big ticket items. Not to forget two stern drives to service and double the number of sacrificial anodes required. Otherwise, a very good buy and definitely a boat I would recommend. Not sure I can say the same about the newer boats!