Choosing a boat to purchase can sometimes be quite daunting. Its size, fishing capability and stability all come into play. But then you stumble across one that is so versatile you can do almost anything from it.

I recently took the new Mustang 1750 Tournament out for the day on Port Phillip Bay. Instantly, I was impressed at what this entry level boat could accomplish; from water skiing to fishing, even just a leisurely boat cruise, this small but spacious boat covers all the aspects of modern boating.

From the outset I noticed it was fitted with a 90hp Honda, which on a boat of this size, was sure to get up and boogie. Situated on the transom were built-in ski hooks and a hinged telescopic boarding ladder, making it easy to get in and out of the boat.

Internally, the cockpit is spacious enough to accommodate a small family. There was adequate storage pockets and built-in handrails on either side of the gunwales. There was also a small kill tank in the floor forward of the transom, to accommodate a reasonable catch and two rear bait wells moulded into the transom. Along either side of the free board deck are two stainless steel rod holders for the keen fisher.

The helm was set out brilliantly, with fully upholstered seats swivelling 360 degrees and a large clear dash complete with full Honda analogue instruments and a 6-panel switch control. It was still capable of carrying a depth sounder, GPS plotter and a 27MHz radio.

Fishing room was adequate, with a beam of 2.13m and room for up to six passengers. From an angling perspective, I would recommend three anglers otherwise it could become overcrowded when casting.

Most impressive is the cuddy cabin which, if you’re fishing overnight or just need some shade, provides a lot more room than I first thought. The boat comes with a moulded bowsprit with built-in anchor roller and tee-bollard for hitching the anchor on when the time comes. The deep anchor well has enough room to accommodate a generous amount of rope, chain and sizeable anchor with easy access to it through the top hatch in the cabin.

After taking some time to poke around, it was time to see how it performed on the water in the conditions Mother Nature had dealt for the day. Although it was quite calm with a slight sea breeze, the 90hp kicked in and put her up on the plane relatively easy.

I found the dash grab rail when we took off and at 2000rpm it sat on 9 knots, 3000rpm at 15 knots, 4000rpm at 23 knots and the Tournament cruised perfectly on 39 knots at 5500rpm. Although this boat was fitted with the 90hp Honda, it is rated to 135 horses, and I could only imagine the speed you could get from it then.

Making a few waves, we ploughed them down without missing a beat. When at rest, the small waves that did come into contact with the hull rocked it a little – but this is fairly standard for boats of this size. As stable as it is, I could easily see myself being able to fish comfortably in a 10-knot wind with a half metre chop. The bow entry is quite sharp on this model, which creates a 21 degree dead rise at the transom and keeps the water out of the boat.

The rear of the transom comes standard with a folding bench seat that can be neatly folded down to provide anglers with a cushion against their knees when fighting that big gummy shark or snapper. For keen anglers who have a multitude of fishing paraphernalia, the ample storage space along the gunwales is amazing and the toe rails underneath are great help when gaffing your catch.

The Mustang 1750 Tournament features a high level of standard extras and an extensive range of options to choose from. The 1750 is a boat capable of being fully customised to suit the serious angler or a family looking for a fun multi-purpose boat. It doesn’t matter which aspect of the boating world you’re into – whether it’s fishing, skiing or cruising – the 1750 can accommodate all your boating needs and more.

The price of the bare bones model that I tested is $36,000 for the hull, engine and trailer. If you wanted to add all the optional extras you’d be looking at a price tag of around $53,600.