Bluefin Boats are synonymous with quality and attention to detail. The Tournament Drifter Pro 455 is a testament to their company motto of ‘Built with Pride’ and, as 4-5m sized aluminium lure fishing vessels go, it has few peers.

Designed with tournament and lure anglers in mind, the Tournament Drifter Pro 455 integrates Bluefin’s build quality with advanced design and forethought to actual on-water use and practicality to deliver anglers a boat that delivers when it comes to looks, function, and performance.

Partnered with a 60hp Mercury 4-stroke outboard, Power-Pole Micro Anchor, Bluefin trailer and Haswing Cayman bow-mount electric motor the package is tailor-made for lure and tournament anglers.

A turn-key tournament rig at its very best, the package we tested and reviewed is to be presented to the champion team at the ABT BREAM Classic Open on Sydney Harbour, NSW, in November. Let’s see how the package stands up and how it performed when we put it through its paces.

The Tournament Drifter Pro’s performance pedigree begins with its 3mm plate side and bottom pressed aluminium hull. Despite its 4.55m length and a 2.04m beam, the Drifter Pro drives and handles well beyond its length, thanks in large part to its rear pod. The rear pod enhances running speed and stability due to the extension of the hull-planning surface and combines with the Drifter Pro’s Ezi Ride hull design to allow it to cut effortlessly and quietly through the water.

Bluefin’s Ezi Ride design features an increased deadrise that extends a long way forward towards the bow to create a sharper vee than traditional hull designs. This increased forward extending deadrise combines with a reverse chine to deflect water spray away from the hull to generate lift and achieve a smoother, faster planning hull.

On the water the combination of the hull length, hull pod, and Ezi Ride hull design enables the Drifter Pro to cut through the water smoothly, efficiently, and quietly. On the day of our test the Gold Coast Broadwater had its usually wind blown chop and the Drifter Pro powered through it without hull slap, banging and the reverberation that often occurs with this style of hull and in these conditions. The hull’s spray-chines further enhances its running performance and deflects spray outward from the hull for a drier and quieter ride.

As impressive as it is on a straight run, the Drifter Pro definitely takes it up a notch when you start to put it through its paces, with its Ezi Ride hull allowing you pull into the tightest turn with ultimate ease, stability and comfort. Smooth under steering and willing to go where you want it, when you want it, the Drifter Pro makes child’s work of cutting through boat washes and threading your way through sandbanks and tight corners.

At rest the Drifter Pro is equally impressive with its large beam extending well forward towards the bow of boat to maximise hull stability, particularly when fishing from the front casting deck. This stability is so good in fact that two large men can easily fish from the same side of the boat with minimal change to the boat’s position and balance in the water.

Equally stable and assured at speed and at rest the Drifter Pro has the hull design and performance that all flared bowed aluminium boats strive to have but not all achieve to have.

The Drifter Pro’s impressive hull design equals performance and design driven above the waterline. A large raised forward casting deck offers plenty of room, and will easily accommodate two anglers up front, while the rear casting deck offers ample space for a tournament non boater or someone wanting their own area away from all the angling action.

Both the front and rear decks, as is the floor, are fitted with a hookless carpet ensuring ultimate angling ease and comfort. Anglers who have had to pull trebles out of non-hookless carpeted or found themselves kneeling on rough and uncomfortable carpet when re-tying leaders or changing lures will appreciate the luxury of the Drifter Pro’s plush carpet.

Housed beneath the Drifter Pro’s carpeted floor is full underfloor fuel-resistant floatation, while a 60L underfloor fuel tank keeps fuel storage out of sight and out of mind and leaves above floor/in-hatch storage space free for more important things, like fishing tackle.

Tournament anglers and lure casting anglers are fully catered for their electric needs, with a full length, rock solid electric motor bracket located on the portside bow of the boat. A reinforced battery shelf is located below deck at the bow of the boat and has space to accommodate two large deep cycle batteries meaning you’ll never get caught short when it comes to battery power.

When it comes to keeping your tackle safe, secure, and stowed away the Drifter Pro has it covered. A 7’ long carpet-lined rod locker runs alongside the port gunnel and joins flush with the front and rear casting desks, providing a full walkaround deck and flat level platform to lay your rods on.

Beneath the rod locker is a long lockable storage hatch that provides a great storage solution for items such as removable navigation lights, or your keys or wallet.

The front deck is loaded with storage options with the portside main hatch fitted with a storage bin that comes pre-loaded with six tackle trays. An additional hatch next to it provides full access to storage below deck while an anchor locker fitted with an internal tie off point is located in the hatch closer to the bow of the boat.

Located at the rear of the front casting deck is a 90L tournament ready livewell that’s fitted with a full Flow-rite livewell system and divider for optimum fish welfare and management.

The Tournament Drifter Pro delivers when it comes to life’s creature comforts with twin custom upholstered foldable pedestal seats providing ultimate seating comfort. With five seating positions throughout the boat, there’s a host of seating options available to make full use of available space and layout of the boat.

The primary seating position of course is behind the sports console, and it’s here that you’ll find a full screen, grab rail, sports steering wheel, and an assortment of modern conveniences. A multi-switch panel connects to the custom wiring harness throughout the boat and controls the LED navigation lights, bilge pump, livewell system, and LED under-gunnel cockpit lights.

The Tournament Drifter Pro also delivers on the technological front with a Fusion radio and speaker system featuring an iPod dock and Bluetooth connectivity keeping you connector while on the water.

Powering the Bluefin on-water and controlled by the factory supplied and installed Teleflex steering system is a 60hp 4-stroke Mercury outboard. While the Bluefin is rated up to a 90hp motor the 60hp Mercury was a powerhouse on the back of the 455 Drifter Pro and powered the hull with effortless ease.

Installed and water tested by Mercury Australia the 60hp 4-stroke generating exceptional hole shot, even when loaded with two 80kg+ adults, and a livewell full of water.

Top end speed was equally impressive with the Mercury hitting maximum speed easily and without any hesitation. Sharp, nimble, and aggressive through the power range, the Mercury works flawlessly with the Drifter hull for optimum speed, performance, and economy.

A Haswing Cayman bow mount electric motor offers ultimate finesse control for the lure casting angler on the move. Its 80lb, 24-volt, cable steer set-up delivered plenty of thrust thanks in part to its large 12” diameter 3-blade prop; a 12-volt motor ensures optimum power longevity and thrust.

A large foot pedal featuring a momentary power button (located on the top), speed adjustment dial, and a constant-off-momentary power switch (located on the side of the pedal) provides full underfoot control. Being cable steer means directional adjustment is instant, rather than a lag that’s commonly found on non-cable steer, electric steering units. Easily deployed and stowed with one hand the Cayman makes life for the casting angler effortless, efficient, and one that’s not short on power.

When it comes to effortless fishing the new Power-Pole Micro Anchor is equally giving, with the innovative shallow water anchor allowing you to stop on a dime with a simple click of a button.

Featuring a small (3kg) motor unit, and a 8’6” spike that extends and retracts through the unit and into the bottom, the Power-Pole Micro Anchor makes holding position simple and worry free. Perfect for keeping your boat in the one spot when releasing fish, re-tying lures and leaders, or securing your boat on the shore while launching and retrieving, the Power-Pole Micro Anchor makes your time on water stress and trouble free.

The package sits on a fully galvanized, tailor-made, Bluefin trailer. Featuring powder-coated galvanized wheels, LED lights, swing away jockey wheel, and 3 year warranty. There’s no trailer better suited or better built to get your Bluefin to and from the water.

As tournament-ready and lure fishing boat/motor packages go, the Bluefin Tournament Drifter Pro/Mercury is hard to go past. Performance inspired and designed-focused the hull and motor deliver power, stability, economy and comfort that you need. The Haswing electric motor and Power-Pole Micro Anchor delivers the level of control and precision you need to maximise angling success.

Performance meets power and price in the Tournament Drifter Pro/Mercury package.