While the new front-to-back passenger seat is excellent, able to be used by crew to sit and watch the lures when trolling and in the shade of the cabin. The big 770 XL hard top now features a recessed anchor well, with Boat Dek used across the foredeck, walk-around cabin, topsides, and transom for practical flooring. YAMAHA 350HP V6 The Grand Prize 770 XL is fitted with a Yamaha 350 4.3L V6, which looks striking in white to match the boat’s wrap. The V6 includes the Helm Master EX System with Joystick, Digital Electronic Controls, single concealed binnacle, with CL5 gauge and push button start. This will provide the winner with all the latest tech on hand for better manoeuvring when on the water. After crossing the bar and taking over the wheel from Geoff, the Helm Master EX System is very responsive and effortless to use thanks to the digital electronic controls and full manoeuvrability joystick for precision boat control and handling. Launching or docking certainly becomes a lot easier on a large hard top using this impressive Yamaha tech. I opened up the Yamaha V6 to check the outboards performance, and the boat was cruising along in calm conditions at a speed of 46.3km/h at 3900rpm. With fuel consumption of just 40.2L/h, this is good for a boat weighing in around 2500kg. Pushing the throttle up more and getting the Yamaha 350hp to really purr nicely, it cruised in good sea conditions with little swell at 53.6km/h at 4500rpm and sitting on 54.6L/h. 52 FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE Tested Surtees 770 XL Game Fisher With a good sized 2.5m beam, large cockpit with walkthrough transom and large rails, there is a lot of room for several anglers to get down to business. A top feature is the bifold sliding doors for the cabin to really open the space up, note the sink/tap, cooker and handy Dometic pull out drawer fridge on the right.
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