The Horizon 515 Pacific centre console has a pure fishing layout, with the centre console a bit further forward than standard to give more fishing room at the back. Shifting the console forward can result in a loss of comfort in the rough stuff but that isn’t the case with the Pacific, which handled the slop surprisingly well. The test boat was supplied by Boat Scene in Cairns, which has recently changed owners and moved to much larger premises at 370 Mulgrave Rd, next to WOW Sight and Sound.

A layout of the Pacific, consisting of a raised forward casting platform, with under floor storage, fold down console, helm seat with storage box, under floor kill pen/wet well at the stern, built in live bait tank and bait board with twin rocket launchers provides and excellent ready to fish rig. Access over the stern is good with a fold down ladder to port making it easy to board and alight both on the water and the trailer. The full width duck board with a grab rail running down the top of the fastback stern offers plenty of support when clambering aboard. The full height transom makes it safe in a following sea, though the configuration does slightly inhibit fishing in the rear corners. Just the same, a rod can easily be swung around the back of the motor when fighting a big one that’s circling down deep.

The bolt on bait board sits over the motor and is basic yet functional with a raised lip to stop blood and guts spilling onto the floor or motor and two large diameter drain holes to prevent clogging. Rod holders in the rear corners provide four rod positions across the stern to set a full trolling pattern if desired. The port side transom top has a good sized fully plumbed live bait tank in an ideal position for easy access.

Side pockets are big enough to hold a pair of paddles and a few hand lines up out of the way, and they are raised off the deck to allow feet under for good support when angling over the side. The padded helm seat will hold two and has a large storage capacity that could easily be turned into an esky. An under console shelf provides more storage, along with an open glove box on the top of the console. Electronics could be mounted on top of the moulded console top or on the sloping face of the dash itself. The console easily folds forward to allow garaging in low clearance situations. While the Perspex screen provides a wind break it doesn’t really offer much protection from the elements. The support struts however make an excellent passenger anchor point when holding on in the rough stuff.

The raised forward casting platform has an access hatch for under floor storage and in keeping with the simple and functional layout the anchoring system consists of a split bow rail that feeds the anchor rope straight onto the bow roller, with a cross bollard on the front of the self draining anchor well.

We took the Pacific for a run along the leads out from the Cairns harbour in sloppy conditions and I was surprised at how well the Horizon handled the sea. It got up on top and cut the swell nicely and there was no spine jarring re-entry off the top of waves. It landed nicely on its tail and turned the spray away pretty well. The Pacific behaved like an obedience trained Labrador when turning, with no signs of playing up by letting go or sheering off a swell. Stability was excellent both on the fly and at rest, with the three of us comfortably able to stand on one side with our knees against the gunwale.

The 90 hp Mercury direct injection Optimax gave the Horizon a good turn of speed with a stack of punch out of the hole. At 3500 rpm it clocked 33 km/h ( 21 mph, 18 knots), at 4000 rpm it produced 37 km/h (23 mph, 20 knots), at 4500 rpm it reached 43 km/h ( 27 mph, 23 knots), at 5000 rpm it got to 50 km/h ( 31 mph, 27 knots), at 5500 rpm it touched 60 km/h ( 37 mph,32 knots), and topped out doing 6000 rpm at 64 km/h ( 40 mph, 35 knots).

All up the Horizon Pacific 515 centre console is a no nonsense fishing rig that is ready to be loaded with gear and hit the water straight out of the show room. It has all the basics necessary to provided trouble free fishing for years to come without the need to continually upgrade the layout. For further information contact Boat Scene in Cairns on (07) 40 338800.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Length: - 5.2m

LOA:- 5.3m

Depth: - 1.23m

Beam: - 2.4m

Bottom Sheets: - 3mm

Side Sheets: - 2mm

Transom: - L/s

Weight (boat only) : - 480kg

Rec HP : - 80

Max HP: - 100

Transom Weight: - 178 kg

Max Passengers: - 5