New for 2010 is the Origin series of plate alloy craft. While the name is new there’s a veritable wealth of boat building, fishing and general boating experience behind the Origin name. These craft are designed and built by none other than Col Svensson, a name synonymous with quality plate alloy boats.

Col’s level of expertise is easily noted in the Evolution 6500’s sleek lines and overall build quality; a short stint at the helm confirming that the craft rides and handles as good as it looks.

The Origin Evolution is a true 23º deadrise water ballast boat offered in four sizes: 6000; 6500 (as reviewed); 7000 and 7500. They are all purpose built to handle off shore work; given the level of appointments and overall fit-out. And they haven’t overlooked comfort levels either.

Buyers are also reassured with a five-year structural warranty on the hull.

There’s a solid bow rail and forward hatch up front with a power winch tucked aft of the anchor well, bollard, and bow roller.

The Evolution’s half cabin was well set up, with a full width toughened wind screen stretching across the rear of it, along with ample head room, plenty of floor depth plus bunks well over 2m in length. The paired side windows were very useful, and the electric light was a definite bonus.

A marine toilet was tucked beneath the central squab; privacy ensured via a bi-fold locking door. Full shelving was also a feature of the Origin’s lined and very comfortable cabin.

A solid hard top complete with an extendable bimini at the rear offered excellent weather protection for people enjoying travel in the helm area. Clear side curtains were also part of the package but were not set up for use on the test day.

Seating up front consisted of robust slide adjustable swivelling full support bucket seats mounted on large storage boxes; each box equipped with a fibreglass 180L insulated and drained ice box with aft facing seat padding mounted on their lids. The set up is ideal in that skipper and first mate could easily converse with additional passengers while travelling.

The Evolution’s helm/dash layout was effectively simple: The handy compass sat neatly aft of the 48cm wide full width dash shelf protected by the windscreen; a pair of gauges linked to the Mercury 250hp astern were directly below; followed by paired Lowrance HDS 8 plotter/sounders, which are easily monitored over the top of the sports style wheel linked to Bull Horn hydraulic steering. The QL trim tabs, winch controls, paired 12V outlets were on the next level with a comprehensive bank of switches to port. The engine ignition key and forward controls were located to starboard. A very tidy and efficient arrangement!

On the passenger’s side of the cockpit a locking glove box and side storage shelf were handy, the craft’s Fusion radio/CD player and GME VHF radio neatly set into the same module for ease of use by the first mate.

The cockpit of the test craft was not equipped with rear seating although it is, of course, an option in this seven person rig.

The heart of any serious fishing craft is the amount of work area offered, and the cockpit of the Evolution 6500 has it in abundance. Its layout has all the safety afforded from 72cm high sides, a length of 3m+ and a width of 2.45m.

This vessel’s layout would suit all users; whether the craft was anchored in the bay, bobbing over a reef 50 fathoms under the hull, or set up with outriggers trolling for billfish off the coast.

The cockpit was carpeted, self draining, complete with side pockets well over 2m long. There were three rod holders per side in the 20cm wide non-skid decks and the deck wash connected to a 70L fresh water tank and pump. The live well not only has a clear front section so you can see how the bait fish are holding up but an LED light for ease of use at night.

A bait station aft is also part of the package and comes with a shelf, cutting board plus another five rod holders. Even offshore I’d see four anglers working in here quite easily and comfortable, thanks to rounded corners aft within the cockpit.

Transom features included a wide interior shelf for batteries and water separators for the fuel system while astern was a boarding platform with associated boarding ladder.

The ride quality, handling attributes and overall balance of the big plate alloy Origin is the icing on the cake! The hull, with its water ballast system, was very steady at rest and entirely predictable and well balanced under way.

With a bare hull weight of over 700kg+ the underwater features, of large longitudinal strakes and reversed outer chines, the rig was not surprisingly very hard to tilt with three people on the side at rest or underway. Moving about caused no inclination to lean whatsoever and I’d see even a compliment of half a dozen people aboard causing no issues with balance.

Power was courtesy of a Mercury 250 0ptimax Long Shaft outboard (which was maximum power). The big Mercury impressed with both its decisive power and smoothness. Smoke or smell were not factors during its operation and it was surprisingly quiet at all revs.

With three people aboard, the craft planed at 22.2km/h at 2400rpm. Following speeds were 37.7km/h at 3,000rpm, 54.3km/h at 4,000rpm, 71.3km/h at 5,000rpm and 78.6km/h at 5500rpm. Impressive indeed: near 50 mph from with ease.

I saw a very good ‘go fishing’ cruise speed of 42. 2km/h at a modest 3,400rpm. At those revs noise levels were very low from both the engine and the foam-filled hull with its under floor sealed compartments and the craft was covering quite a bit of water in an easy manner.

It’s always hard to evaluate the actual ride quality of an off shore orientated rig within bay confines, but from the minimal impact experienced when running fast onto wash from passing craft I’d see the big Origin making easy work of off shore conditions suited to craft of its size.

Factors such as the well-formed and fine bow, the decent above water line flare in the bow area (to kick water well away from the hull) plus the sheer height of its sides and transom, all amount to a rig that is going to offer a lot of sea keeping off shore.

To complete this article without mention of the absolute top shelf finish of the Origin Evolution 6500 would be a big oversight. Attention to detail is an outstanding feature of the craft; right down to the heavy-duty padding within bunks and exterior seating, and the smooth and very neat welds.

Topping it off was a first class paint job with eye catching decals. Given the overall comfort levels I consider that with just the addition of a spirit stove the craft would be well suited to entire weekends – or even longer – on the water.

A Belco combination slide/roller tandem trailer made launch and retrieve of the big Origin quite easy. Most owners will at least submerge their trailers for the retrieval, so attention to wheel bearings will go well beyond an occasional external wash of the hubs with the hose.

Origin boats can be contacted on (07) 3284 0778, fax (07) 3284 0181 or on the net at www.originboats.com.au or email to --e-mail address hidden-- Quality of this nature comes at a price, in this case around $85,000 for the craft as reviewed.

Technical information.