600 F Pursuit

The 600 F is the most radical departure from Signature's 'normal' range of middle-ground, high performance trailer boats that has emerged from the big Wacol factory in years.
True, the Hines family are not strangers to fishing boat design and construction in a historic sense. However, in the context of this latest generation of top-selling Signature models, true fishing boats have had to take a back seat.
First off, the family had to re-build their vastly up-dated range of boats (now stretching from the 15'6" 1550 F through to the 28' 850 Series) before they could branch out and develop specialist models.
For those fishes chomping at the bit to get the renown performance and ride of a variable dead rise Signature under a decent fishing platform, the wait has been worthwhile.
In the 600 F, we have one of the most sophisticated mono-hulls yet developed in Australia, based on the marvelous 600 LE hull, but in fact very different from the waterline up.
Nowhere is this more obvious than around the transom, where the production team, headed up nowadays by second generation boat builder John Hines (Jnr) working under the watchful ? and highly critical ? eye of John Hines (Snr), has changed the original transom outboard well into a far more practical arrangement for fishermen.
And that is only the beginning. The deck and cabin mold is radically different, the design being based around a 'shooting list' of features the factory wished to include. The list was the result of much research and collaboration with dealers, boating writers and Signature owners, not leas of whom were Spring wood Marnie's Tommy Wylde, and TBF's Jeff Webster. Although these two men were coming from completely different directions, for different reasons, the end result of their deliberations was remarkably similar Spring wood Marine is one of the biggest Signature dealers in Australia (the biggest is JV Marine in Melbourne) and Tom Wylde a close friend of the Hines family. For a long time now, Tom and his son Hayden have felt there was a need for a fiberglass alternative to the Quintrex models their dealership sells by the truckload. But it had to be a real fishing boat?
Jeff Webster, on the other hand, was frustrated by the knowledge that the signature hulls were exactly what the fishermen needed ? soft riding through chop, superb handling craft through any slalom test ? but without exception, all were designed for the middie-ot-the-road family
Yes. they could/can be made-over with after market mods, but in most cases, some of the fundamental shapes and transoms just don't do it for the keen trailerboat fisherman. But the ride quality of a Signature in rough or choppy water just blows tinnies of a similar length clean out of the water . . . what to do ?
Finally, late last year, came the break-through Jeff had been waiting for. Greg Haines rang from Brisbane and asked him to prepare a list of ali the features Jeff reckoned they should have in a 6 m fishing boat.
It is an indication of the factory's determination to build the definitive fishing boat, that they achieved 18 out of the 20 suggestions Jeff recommended for the new 600 F ? and the two other items are options.
Design
Statistically, the 600 F has an overall length of 5.94 m (19'6"), with a maximum beam (forward) of 2.21 m (7'3") and a wateriine beam of 1.99 m (6'6") at the transom.
It is a variable deadrise hull, working from an amazing 34 degrees in the forefoot, turns back to some 22.5 degrees at the transom ? no wonder it rides so well in choppy water! But if you want to see how or why a Signature works as well as it does, you'll need to get down on your hands and knees and study the planing strakes very carefully; this is where the action happens, folks, and the shapes, placement, angles and size of the strakes, relative to the size, shape and displacement of the hull, are all part of the John Haines' Signature hull magic.
On a trailer, the complete test rig tipped the scales at 1 68 tonnes ? that's complete with the 135 Merc, tandem axle trailer, basic safety gear and all the standard fit-out for the 600 R and 25 per cent fuel. The alloy fuel tank accepts 165 L (36 gal), so chocker with fuel, the rig will weigh pretty dose to 1.70-1.75 tonnes with fishing gear and persona! effects.
it's a pretty big six metre, especially the way the cabin 'shed' has been truncated to form a large cuddy cabin underneath.
Inside, the cuddy easily seats 3-4 adults out of the weather, with headroom of 101 cm (40"), sleeps two in 1.87 m (6'2") berths, and has a walk-through arrangement to the forward hatch and anchor well, that's plenty big enough for the 16 stone and above fishing fraternity.
The big, draining anchor locker is outboard of the hatch, and in a
perfect position for the crew to pick up the anchor and lower over the side. Reaching out to the forward bow roller is a real stretch though, especially if you want to open or close the pin.
The cabin structure is quite high, and provides an excellent base for the helmsman's seat, instruments, engine controls, and the 5 piece lexan windshield. The windshield is well placed too, being 1.6 m (5'3") off the deck, ideal for most owners who like to stand and see over the 'screen, or sit and be protected. Notice too, the superbly built stainless steel rod rack-come-targa bar, and the way it is integrated into the design of the bimini and windshield.
This is good stuff - all you do is add a zip-in clear vinyl screen between the top of the windshield and the leading edge of the bimini, and a snug, water tight 'outer cabin' is created. Very nice it is too, on those winter snapper fishing trips, with the boat laying to anchor facing into those chilly winds ? what price then a warm cabin area :
The dash area has been /veil thought out too with sensibly deep spaces being allocated to the depth sounder radio(s) and storage and bits and pieces
The shelves along the topsides under the gunwale cover boards. deserve special mention
On both sides on the boat moulded GRP shelves and ledges have been designed so you can easily add more shelves later or build in customised features such as a lure cupboard first aid corner tool locker more rod racks, gaff racks, etc.
It?s the first time I?ve seen such a feature in a GRP boat Keen fishos will be rapt - flexibility like this is normally the province of the plate alloy brigade
Other excellent cockpit features include:
- Above floor battery box
- Standard moulded fish box and ? - storage lockers
- Standard live bait tank
- Standard nylon cutting boards
- Removable transom corner seats
- Built in, draining icebox
- Built m tackle cupboard
- Four stainless rod holders
- Ideal 83.5 cm (33") internal freeboard amidships, 74.5 cm (29.5") next to the transom
- Side lockers you can put your toes under and stand against the gunwales.
- Foot boxes for tools and spares
- Swiveling, adjustable track molded seats
- Molded topside rod racks on each side
- Optional lift-out bait prep tray.
Performance
With a 135 Mercury on the transom, the 600 F didn't lack anything in the performance department. had done an excellent job with fitup including one of the new Hi- Five stainless steel, five-bladed props, resulting in superb top end performance and surprisingly good out the hole acceleration. I say surprisingly, only because some of these hight performance props are brilliant at the top end of the performance envelope, and leave a lot to be desired al the bottom. I am not sure thus is a prop I'd choose for continual offshore use but on the other hand, for boating people intent on a mixture of everything, it is very hard to argue with the statistics we obtained.
It is also hard to see the need for greater horsepower, unless a fishing crew involved three or four big men. The economic advantage of staying with the 120-135 engine size is clear.
The 600 F is rated for a maximum 150 hp outboard in any event, and that would cater for any situation.
(Note: The full performance trials were curtailed in Queensland due to bad weather. Instead, we've utilised the fuel figures we obtained with an identical Mercury 135 fitted to a Sea Ray Laguna. We then produced a compilation of the data; it will be accurate to within (say) 5 per cent on the fuel and range figures, in the Signature's favour i.e they will be a fraction better).
As you can see, the Signature 600 F has a maximum range of approximately 170 miles at a mid range 3,000 r/min. and around 125 nm in the 20 knot range. Some readers in FNQ, or the SA gulfs, or WA's mid north coast might have to think about installing additional fuel tanks for long range cruising or fishing situations.
It is easy enough to do -- the 'trench' in the middle of the cockpit can be extended in either direction. However, the factory has chosen 165 L (36 gallons) as a good compromise between weighing the boat down with too much fuel for most situations, against having a decent sort of range in the majority of cases.
Handling
The Signature 600 F handles superbly. This isn't exactly news, as the 600 LE has long been regarded as a bench mark in monohulls in Australia, and if anything, because this is a bit heavier, it is just that little bit softer in the ride.
The boat feels terrific to drive. The helm position is really nice, with an almost ideal relationship between bimini, windscreen, helm and driver's chair.
The passenger side is OK too, but I didn't spend a lot of time in that chair, preferring to elbow my way into the driver's corner!
Curiously, we had a big Quintrex 535 Centre Console on test on the same day as the 600 F, and without being overly harsh on the new Quintrex 535, it was fascinating to jump from one of the best alloy boats in Australia into the 600 F ? the difference is incredible.
It is not so much that the Quinnie is hard riding, as it highlighted how astonishingly soft the 600 F is in choppy water. This hull is absolutely magic, of that there is no doubt. It is unusual, too, because it needs to be driven fast ? in typical Moreton Bay or Broadwater chop, the faster you go the softer the ride, as the boat gets up on its incredibly deep vee forward (34 degrees), literally slicing through the water. Then, as the water passes away around the sides of the boat the strakes are designed in such a way that they turn the water back down under the hull, creating a sort of kinetic force that uses the energy the boat is creating, to cushion the ride through the chop.
Offshore, this only works for as long as you can stand it ? in other words, as the waves get bigger and bigger, obviously the faster the boat is going, the more likely it is to leap clear off the waves. This forces the skipper to use his brain, back off the throttle and find the speed that the boat will work to its maximum efficiency. Here, John Haines' hull formula is negated to some extent because at sub-planing speeds it has to work pretty much the same as most other deep-vees. Even so, this variable deadrise business pays off; with the very deep forefoot warping aft to a flatter section (22.5 degrees) means that it is still softer than most monos, even in sub-planing speeds.
Stability at trolling speeds is OK ? but at anchor it is still a bit wobbly compared to some. But you just can't have it both ways ? you either have .
the stability on the pick and a bumpy ride home, or alternatively, you have an incredibly soft ride home with a bitmore rock 'n roll on the pick.
Inshore, the 600 F is first rate ? and virtually impossible to fault.
Application
Fishing, fishing and more fishing . . . that is what the 600 F is designed to do. It has been designed for the blue water fishermen, with a definite leaning towards offshore sportfishing as distinct from bottom fishing. That is not to say that it can't be adapted for bottom fishing, but in that case, you would be looking at installing a big central fish box in the cockpit.
"Not a problem," says Tommy Wyld, "just tell me how big you need the box, how much insulation, and whether or not you want a padded cushion on the top ? we'll do it!"
It was interesting for me coming back into the top-of-the -line mono land, after so many hours in TBF's Hook'em 6.0 m at various tournaments in recent weeks. In truth, it is a little shattering, because it reminds you just how much the gap has been closed Between the ride of good monohulls and the best of the twin or tri hills in recent years.
Twin hulls used to have it all over: that is simply no longer 600 F shows why. In most situations, this Pursuit 600 F is as soft riding and as dynamically stable as a cat ? and when the boat is brought around, head into the wind, a mono (as good as this) will easily go past most 'cats. Downhill, nothing is quite as good yet, but . . . but if you need anything much better than the 600F downhill, you'll need to be one hell of a skipper to keep up.
The final choice. I suspect, will come down to whether the purchaser wants:
1 A boat with two engines, and a big self-draining cockpit at the expense of accommodation, or
2. A boat with one engine, nearly half the price, and a couple of big bilge pumps in lieu of the self-draining cockpit. . .
You don't have to be a genius to work out which way most people are going to go!
Conclusion
The Haines' family have kicked a big goal with this boat. It represents a major change in strategy for them, and they deserve all the credit and success this boat so richly deserves.
It is for them a dramatic departure from their traditional turf ? and they have achieved it with great professionalism and great skill.
In the last 12 months, the Savage Mako has taken the retail sector by storm. I suspect the 600 F is going to impact with the same influence in the 6 m area.
In coming months, the Haines people have confirmed they will be developing a stern drive model, a hard top, and a toughened glass windscreen with wiper capability. And - yes, for purists like the writer, a self draining cockpit is going to be made available as an optional extra.