Yellowfin YF-66 Boat Test

Designed to take a single outboard from 150 to 200hp, the YF-66 partners perfectly with a Mercury 200hp V6 four-stroke outboard with extra-long shaft, and gets you out into open waters.

On test day, we found the boat quick and responsive, accelerating to a top speed of 38.1 knots (70.6km/h) without letting up anywhere in the rpm range. Steering was light and direct, and throttle response felt quiet yet linear, providing optimum control.

While the 20-degree deep-vee plate alloy hull is largely unchanged from its predecessor, the YF-66 now has a single planing strake on each side of the keel to provide more bow lift. At speed, it’s smooth-riding, dry and well balanced, easy to control, and responsive to trim and throttle input.

The test boat was optioned with Zipwake automatic trim tabs, but I was happy to run without them. Through corners, the boat sat relatively flat with minimum banking, and the hull gripped the water tightly through the middle of the turn, with just the right amount of slip when exiting corners to reduce G-force and keep the crew safe.

The most economical cruising speed was around 22.5 knots (41.7km/h) at 3500rpm for a fuel burn of 23.2lt/h, which would yield a maximum range on the 260lt fuel tank (after a five per cent safety margin) of 239nm (442km).

The elevated bow fishing deck sits 310mm above the main floor, above a large compartment that lifts on gas struts to store tackle bags, safety gear, fenders and more.

Yellowfin Plate Boats has added U-Dek foam rubber underfoot for better grip, as well as on the 330mm-wide coamings. There’s a large bow anchorwell, and space for an optional Garmin bow-mount electric trolling motor.

A standard treadplate (U-Dek optional) self-draining floor stretches 2.92m from the front casting deck aft to the transom wall. There’s a slender space (640mm) behind the helm for two anglers to fish over the 700mm-high transom.

Elevated side storage pockets extend the length of the cockpit on both sides and, as is required for a proper fishing boat, six stainless steel built-in rodholders and five cupholders are standard.

Across the transom you’ll find a starboard door step, an enclosed and elevated dual battery storage compartment, and a decent-sized livebait tank with an aquarium-style front viewing window to port.

Our test rig was fitted with the optional bait station above the centre of the transom. This included a cutting board, tackle storage cupboard, and aft rod rack, and more fishing add-ons - a transom burley bucket and a vertical rod rack mounted on one of the side storage pockets.

The twin helm seat comes with a three-position reversible backrest, a 75lt Icey Tek esky underneath, and enough space for two people to stand abreast.

There’s provision on the dash and fascia panel for a 19in multifunction display, although our test boat was optioned with a Garmin GPSMap 8416xsv, along with radio head units and engine displays.

The console includes cupholders, a recess beneath the acrylic windshield for small items, and a shelf beneath the tilt-adjust steering wheel (above the footrest). There’s also a handy tackle tray on the front of the console that you can access while fishing off the bow.

Our test boat was optioned with a Roswell Uni-T canvas T-top for shade and weather protection - the T-Top and console both fold forward for easier boat storage in a garage or carport.

A first-class open boat for coastal offshore fishing, the basic model Yellowfin YF-66 Centre Console comes in standard white, with a 175hp Mercury outboard, on a Yellowfin braked tandem-axle aluminium trailer for less than $114k.

That price jumps to $165,900 drive-away when you add the 200hp V6 Mercury and any number of options including a Garmin electronics display, a trolling motor, and fishing accessories.

LOA: 6.46m

Beam: 2.4m

Deadrise: 20 degrees

Hull weight: 957kg

Fuel capacity: 260lt

Power (as tested): Mercury 200hp V6 four-stroke extra-longshaft

Price from: $113,594

Price as tested: $165,900

More information: Yellowfin Plate Boats