In a world of boating extremism, where maximum power seems to rule the waves, it's refreshing to see a craft that is minimally powered offered for review. Mike Jessop of Ocean Craft opted to take the minimalist approach with his 6000 Ocean Series Extreme Fisher simply to stress the hull's efficiency, hence the fitting of a 15hp Yamaha plus a 30hp Tohatsu for a combined package of 45hp on the transom. It certainly was an unusual approach but these are unusual craft.

Imagine a 6m craft that falls straight into 2C and 2D survey ratings and yet has a 2.7t carrying capacity, is rated for up to 13 aboard, and planed at 14kph when powered by the 15hp Yamaha. Yet that was exactly what the Ocean Craft Caloundra Class Extreme Fisher achieved.

We've all seen rigid inflatables, virtually every government body that has anything to do with water related activity runs these craft due to their terrific sea keeping ability, huge reserves of buoyancy plus the fact that minimal horse power will deliver a lot of bang for the buck.

Ocean Craft have taken the concept further in that compartmented aluminium cylinders are melded seamlessly with a deep Vee alloy central section, on which the craft planes with ease, while the air filled cylinders provide both stability and buoyancy at all times.

This hull design also achieves enhanced efficiency when underway courtesy of the air trapped between each cylinder (sponson) and the central vee section. The additional bonuses of this being both greatly decreased wetted area and drag.

Not surprisingly, Mike Jessop rates a 50hp two stroke outboard as ideal power for the big 6m rig when carrying up to six folk, or a 70hp or 90hp motor for up to 10 or more.

The 6000 Extreme Fisher is a centre console rig with a bimini for weather protection. A checker plate 5mm thick floor is featured throughout. The sealed area below the floor forms another buoyancy cell to compliment the sealed compartments within the sponsons. One could describe the reviewed un-painted 6000 as a basic layout, a work boat if you like, and it would be quite true, just as true as describing the craft as an extremely stable fishing or dive boat as well. Yet a close look shows the potential for factory modification for serious fishing use: the addition of live wells for the angler (in the transom area) with rod holders able to be fitted to the rail along each waist high transom side box. These neatly finished boxes are welded on top of the sponsons and are essentially the sides of the craft as they run aft of the console back to the transom.

The bow area of the Ocean Craft is a neat combination of sponsons and fine central entry section. There's sufficient shape and certainly enough rake up front to kick spray away too, and even travelling slowly will see occupants remaining dry thanks to a spray dodger set onto a solid bow rail affixed to the sponsons. Remember, it's the ultra fine entry of the central Vee section that is actually making contact with chop or swells, while the sponsons kick all water down quite effectively.

Up front in the bow area a forward floor level storage compartment takes care of anchor warp if there's a need to keep it handy otherwise it can be stored in either of the side storage boxes. Paired hatches allow access to these boxes, however Mike Jessop advised me that any number of hatches can be set up, with compartments and appointments to match.

A novel feature of the big 6m craft is the way in which the sponson sections ahead of the console make handy forward seating if necessary. A tropical ice box was floor mounted ahead of the console for the catch or storage and could double as a seat with the addition of some padding on the lid.

Bench seats along the sides and at the transom are certainly factory options, and with 12 person capacity some seats might be the first tick on the options list for many buyers.

Seating on the test craft consisted of a single pedestal seat for the skipper, just aft of the console with it's grab rail and side engine controls. Instruments and gauges were not a feature of the test rig but there was ample room for their installation.

The aft section of the 6000 Extreme Fisher was unremarkable except for the fact that the test rig was equipped with tote tanks for the pair of outboards on the transom. A shelf to contain the tanks is planned for future craft. That wide transom will take two or even three engines with ease, although they will need to be long shaft models. For divers a boarding ladder is fitted to the port sponson area.

At rest or off the plane these craft simply cannot tip one iota due to the terrific buoyancy of the sponsons. The reality is that once the sponsons are engaging the water the craft is virtually a raft. Half a dozen folk on one side will make no difference at all; hence the survey ratings and 2.7 tonne carry capacity. Not surprisingly, the incredible stability carries through while on the plane and moving along at speed. Even throwing the craft into full lock turns at over 30km/h saw the ride remaining as flat as the proverbial pan cake! Amazingly, there was very little wash or sign of displaced water at speed as well.

With just 45hp on the transom I was amazed at the easy performance of this craft. Weight, at 360kg for the hull, is a big part of the secret of course and even such modest power returned good results with the craft planing at 14km/h, cruising easily at 25.3km/h, and topping at 35.2km/h. For an experiment we did kick up the Tohatsu 30 and ran on the Yamaha 15 two stroke at 14km/h on full plane.

There's another factor to consider with this craft: the noise levels from the alloy hull were negligible. I expected the sponson chambers to ring like church bells but they just hissed gently at speed as we cut across wash, with very little perceived impact, in the Pumicestone Passage out from Caloundra.

The Ocean Craft concept is different but in my view it works well, the result being a modestly priced craft with terrific potential for a wide range of boating pursuits. The range of current craft encompasses a 2.4m car topper through to the big Ocean series which run to 8m in length. All craft share common traits of enhanced performance through slippery hulls and light weight, plus that almost unbelievable stability and steadiness at rest. The 2.5mm alloy tubes carry a lifetime guarantee and can be foam filled if required.

Overall finish on the unpainted test rig was fine. A close look shows a high level of expertise in the full welds throughout (there are no tack welds in these craft) and while welds are visible they are all neatly finished. Customisation of layout is OK with Mike Jessop who explained that he is willing to modify a craft to a customer's wishes.

A couple of the other Ocean Craft present on their trailers on the test day were also very interesting. I particularly liked the smaller centre console 5200 Chinook with it's 2.2t capacity, with 50hp Tohatsu electric start and Dunbier trailer for around $23,995. This craft is rated for 10 people and 2.2 tonnes.

The 6000 Ocean Series Extreme Fisher with Dunbier trailer and 50 electric start Tohatsu 2 stroke retails for around the $27,995 mark. Ocean Craft can be contacted on (07) 5499 6937 or at --e-mail address hidden-- .