Moda Marine, based at Clontarf on Brisbane’s northside specialise in plate alloy craft. While comparatively new to the Queensland boating scene my initial impression of the finish, performance and overall comfort of their BV5000 side console craft was quite positive; an indication of good things to come.

Moda Marine offer craft from 5.2 to 8.6m long and I enjoyed using the massive BV8000 (all 8.6 metres of her) as a super stable camera boat.

As reviewed The BV5000 is a 5.2m plate alloy rig with plenty of class. Construction is very solid, with 4mm bottom plate and decks, 3mm sides and inner furnishings give the craft some authority on the water with the result that there won’t be any banging or bashing from this alloy rig under way.

Yet the BV5000’s basic hull design is very efficient, incorporating a solid keel, a 15º deadrise and prominent outer reversed chines mated to a very fine entry forward to ensure best passage through unsettled water. With 115hp rating as maximum the craft did very creditably indeed with a 75hp Optimax on the transom achieving nearly 50km/h with two people aboard in less than smooth conditions.

While the reviewed craft featured a twin console layout keep in mind Moda Marine are happy to customise: with single side console, centre console and tiller steer crafts also on their books.

While the BV5000 shows some departure from the norm in some respects, the basic hull shape, which is the foundation of any good boat, is of a very sound design, is fully certified and built to Australian standards. Moda Marina hulls feature foam fill to ensure level flotation with noise reduction a significant bonus.

A carpeted deck up front is equipped with three hatches with an anchor hatch being closest to the bow, side storage compartments further aft compliment an under floor storage area between the consoles.

An interesting factor about the forward layout is that the central section between the side hatches actually lifts out to store neatly on the floor aft. With this insert removed a couple of people could sit up front on the deeply carpeted hatch covers thus converting the craft to a bow rider in seconds. While the reviewed boat didn’t feature the usual cushioning of bow rider seats, I did think the concept was useful.

The reviewed BV5000 is not designed purely as a fishing craft, although there are certainly useful features for anglers incorporated. This boat is designed as an all rounder, a family or fishing craft for whatever the occasion warrants.

All floor surfaces are carpeted: finish is of a very high standard. Comfort is obviously a priority given the plush seating featured.

Twin blue tinted windscreens adorned each of the side consoles to provide some slipstream protection for driver and mate with the dash layout set into the upright section of the driver’s console. A compass and gauges were set behind the wheel with an array of switches to starboard. There was ample room on the upper section of the console for a large sounder or additional nav aids to be fitted.

Note that the forward squab of both skipper’s and mate’s pedestal mounted bolster style seats were able to be folded down to facilitate standing.

Forward cockpit features included speakers for the craft’s Majestic CD/DVD sound system, a lockable glove box, a 12 volt outlet, five tackle drawers beside the first mate’s left knee, paired cup holders and a Lowrance VHF marine radio.

Fully lined storage pockets for clothing, PFDs or smaller items of tackle were also featured within the cockpit as were a pair of quite comfortable rear seats with removable back rests (to provide extra fishing room) which were set into the rear of the carpeted self draining cockpit. A good sized glass fronted live well was located between the rear seats. I found the glass front very handy, as it was easy to see how the livies were going. Two rod holders per side were also standard fare on the reviewed craft.

The Moda Marine BV5000’s stern treatment was quite radical in that it featured sleekly raked side sections with the 75 Mercury Optimax central between twin non skid, gently aft sloping, boarding sections with handy grab rails, the craft’s folding ladder to starboard. A very smart recessed transducer bracket gave protection to this vital bit of gear.

Test runs were in Bramble Bay off Scarborough on a nasty sort of morning, with a very fresh easterly breeze. With two aboard the craft was easily able to sort out that Bramble Bay chop and offered a very quiet and fuss free ride, whether punching into or running with the steep little sets. Handling was pin sharp thanks to the excellent characteristics of the hull and hydraulic steering.

With its well designed entry, the hull could be trimmed slightly up to keep spray away when heading into the breeze yet I noticed that the ride quality remained as soft as ever, which is not always the case in some craft I’ve been in.

I was not only able to give the Moda full marks for ride quality but it was a very steady craft at rest courtesy of the overall mass plus excellent hull design, with the reversed chines and keel stabilising it. Two of us to one side or the other did little to upset the level attitude of the BV5000.

As mentioned previously the craft was blessed with a slippery hull and was easily powered given its size and weight.

The powerful, quiet and smoke free 75 Mercury Optimax never seemed to struggle through any aspect of performance and planed the craft at 15.6km/h with ease at 2,800rpm. At 3,000rpm saw 21.8km/h, 4,000 registered 38.6km/h and 5,000 clocked 48.3km/h on the hand held GPS unit.

Four aboard frequently might warrant the installation of a larger engine but two up saw the 75 Optimax in fine fettle and an ideal power plant in many respects.

With external side heights of 65cm and internal freeboard of around the same (thanks to the full length side rail) the new Moda will offer security for young children aboard.

Ride and handling were confidence inspiring, and although not a purpose designed fishing craft the BV5000 would certainly fulfil a lot of requirements. This cockpit is on the smaller side, but the area up front could also be used to advantage for fishing.

The BV5000 was mounted on a Moda built tandem all alloy trailer, which made launch and recovery an easy, one person, event.

The Moda BV5000 with 75 Mercury Optimax is innovative with a steady hull that rides and handles very well and a top shelf finish, with neatly smoothed welds and an exemplary paint job. The styling incorporating the full length rails was somewhat unusual but quite eye-catching none the less.

I saw the craft as an all rounder, perhaps less orientated towards pure fishing pursuits as general boating but still easily able to handle bay or estuary work, with runs offshore in suitable conditions certainly on the agenda.

At around the $48,990 mark for boat, motor and trailer, the price reflects the high standard of build involved with the boat and trailer and a test run will reveal the inherent ride quality of this craft.

A centre console rig might come home for around $33,000 while a tiller steer would cost around $27,900. These prices do include a Moda trailer but not an engine.

Moda Marine can be contacted on (07) 32838537, fax (07) 32840863 or on visit www.modamarine.com.

Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.

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