The Quintrex Legend 470 centre console is for fishing, fishing and more fishing.

Quintrex has designed this boat for the fisho who wants a boat capable of performing across a wide type of scenarios.

Whether it’s dropping a bait down over inshore reefs or sand patches, throwing slugs offshore or flicking smaller lures around the estuaries and rivers, the 470 Legend has it covered.

Quintrex has been around for many years and these boats have become leaders in the Australian aluminium boat market and this new model is no exception.

With only a couple of hours to experience this boat on the water, so we had to make the most of it. We hooked her on to the tow vehicle and on the short drive to the ramp the rig towed very smoothly.

The braked trailer is made by Quintrex and has moulded plastic mudguards solid enough to stand on to climb aboard. It has rollers and skids to make it very easy to slide the hull off the trailer and when ramp conditions allow, you can also drive the boat back on the trailer.

There is also an aluminium walkway running the length of the unit to keep you dry if winching the boat back on is the way to go. The spare tyre on a bracket on the neck section is out of the way when using the winch.

The 470 Legend glided off the trailer, we jumped aboard and were off. We had the boat loaded with all safety gear and fishing gear, allowing us to get the best insight to this boat’s performance with a realistic load.

The day was gloomy, the wind was up and there was chop and a small swell running – perfect conditions to give the Legend a proper going over.

The test boat was powered by a 60hp Mercury EFI four-stroke, one of the latest releases from Mercury and you can neither smell nor hear this engine. It’s quieter than I could believe – twice I tried starting the engine and it was already running and you can have a normal conversation without having to raise your voice.

The loudest part was the telltale stream hitting the water. The four-stroke will also add great fuel economy, especially for those who love to troll around all day.

We really put the hull through it paces, throwing it over the swells, across the swells and down them, with some heavy turning in between. This boat handled it well, remembering that the four stroke is not built for the speed that other motors like the Mercury Optimax are, but it got up and went.

The hole shot wasn’t quite as quick as a two-stroke but we got it up over 32 knots (60kmh) at just under 6000rpm so that means the rig was well set up with the right prop and motor height.

Turning was smooth and easy, thanks to the hydraulic steering.

The smooth ride in choppy waters is due to the Quintrex Millennium Hull, which provides maximum lift to get on the plane quicker and great static stability yet its deep vee sections allow it to cut through the water easily to ride soft, quiet and extremely dry –it’s nearly as smooth a ride as fibreglass.

This boat has a place for everything and there is nothing left to impede your fishing room.

The rotomoulded foredeck anchor well will keep all your rope and chain in place without rattles and feeding the ground tackle through the bow roller and making fast on the big cleat is easy.

The non-warp AllyCore forward hatch on the slightly raised casting platform conceals a storage area which goes all the way to the bottom of the boat. This one is perfect for storing fishing gear because it’s right at your feet.

Under the rest of the casting platform is a 120-litre fully plumbed bait tank that will keep your bait, or a catch up to about a 5kg jewie, alive all day. The pump switch is on the console for easy use.

The centre console, or should I say ‘control room’, is home base for this boat. It houses all controls for the engine, steering, accessories, Furuno FCV620 sounder and Humminbird 785 GPS unit, GME VHF radio, gauges, compass, drink holders, throttle and even enough storage underneath for tackle or safety gear.

Grab rails are strategically placed and the windscreen is large enough to protect you when driving into wind and or spray.

The top section of the console flips down for access to wiring and cabling and to reduce rig height on the trailer to fit in most garages.

Vision when standing under way is very good and if a long drive is on the cards then the 470 Legend’s Igloo esky with upholstered cushion is easy on the rear end and there’s more storage in the rotomoulded base.

On the port side is a very long, carpeted side pocket again long enough even for some fishing rods.

Another new inclusion to this fishing machine is what Quintrex calls its ‘wash deck’ with its wide deck wash drain funnels with air lock ball scuppers which drain any unwanted water through the M3 Transom.

The rear section of the cockpit has a small raised shelf on which sit the battery, isolator switch and fuel filter.

On the transom cap is another plumbed livewell. This little fella is perfect when live baiting and it’s close to the optional bait board with its four rod holders and places for knives and other tools.

The bait board can be removed to be washed and replaced with an optional ski pole for towing fun days.

The M3 Transom featured a standard boarding ladder, optional removable poly berley bucket and non-slip foam deck matting and a grab rail.

Centre Consoles are great for all-round fishing but you are out in the elements so you are going to get hit by the sun or the rain. Quintrex have options including a flip-down bimini canopy to cover most of the boat, along with other options like a stereo, auxiliary motor bracket, folding rear lounge and even a transom door, so sit down and look at the options before you buy.

The thing with a Quintrex is that it can be optioned up to a great level of personal taste.

Jetty Boating Centre at 26-28 Orlando Street, Coffs Harbour, supplied this 470 Legend. They’re a long-established business with a definite family feel; call 02 6651 4002 or email --e-mail address hidden-- or view all their products on www.jettyboating.com.au .

The 4.70 Quintrex Legend test boat is in stock and ready to drive away with all the extras and inclusions for only, $???????????.

Quintrex 470 Legend Specifications

Length of Hull 5.16m

Beam 2.10m