Menai Marine’s Adventure 510.    510 ADVENTURE

Adventure Sport Fisher Test.  Taken from Leisure boating magazine SA.

 

Who ever designed the Adventure 510 knew what they were doing.  In a following sea it handles fantastically, so well in fact that Dudley Hartman bought the first one to arrive on his showroom floor for himself, after taking it for a short test. “Not all boats ride well in the sea,” he said very happy with his new acquisition.  With its high sides and round contoured lines the 510 is extremely versatile, both offshore and inland, being suitable for fishing skiing or just pottering about, she is the   ideal all-round size.  The strong hull and built in buoyancy ensure that your ride is both dry and safe.

 

 

 

The first thing Dudley did when laying eyes on the Explorer 510 was to clamber beneath the hull and hit it. If the hull was solidly built it would not flex or sound like a drum. The only sound Dudley could produce was a dull thud, which proved that the hull was very sturdy. The rounded corners, apart from giving this leisure craft a distinctly modern European feel, further add to the strength of the hull. The high sides create a deep secure cockpit for passengers, making it perfect for those who enjoy boating with their families. Two scuppers and a wet deck ensure that what little water comes onboard quickly disappears. Buoyancy in the form of sealed bottles is packed beneath the deck and the fuel tanks are stored there too, keeping the weight as low down as possible.

The conditions in Granger Bay during the test were perfect for it and if we'd had more time a trip to Bellows Rock off Cape Point would not have been an issue.

Dudley's boat is the first one to have a twin engine installation. The two 40 hp Yamaha's fitted with 14" pitch propellers delivered more than enough power. Load wise it can fit five big guys comfortably and gets on the plane easily with three of them onboard, while using only one motor. Two 60's would be the maximum power you'd want to attach to the transom, with a single 70 upto 115 hp installation being a good option if choosing this configuration.

Underway the Explorer 510 showed no vices and was a pleasure to handle. Its medium V hull tapering down to 18 degrees at the transom allows it to cut through chop and get on the plane efficiently. This boat is very stable whether underway or stationary, while the sturdy grab rails in the bow and around the console are strategically placed for the crew to clutch onto. Hout Bay is known to generate an uncomfortable short chop when the wind picks up and recently Dudley was out there with 25 knots blowing, no water came over the sides.

One advantage smaller motors have is great fuel consumption. When fishing Dudley goes out for around five hours and only uses half the fuel onboard. The motors proved to be very quiet while idling because the design of the engine well deadens the sound, keeping it aft of the boat. An Ultra Flex, heavy-duty steering system is fitted and can be used both for single or twin-engine installations. The skipper's position is comfortable and visibility good all round, the backrest of the wide seat flips forward allowing you to face aft while trolling. A functional cockpit and non-slip wet deck make the boat easy to clean and quickly wash blood off after fishing.

There is so much storage space you will never have to leave anything behind. The anchor locker is voluminous and storage beneath the bow seat is large and secure. Uniquely designed to tilt forward so fuel can be stored beneath, the steering console provides space for either five 25-litre jerry cans or four normal 25-litre outboard tanks. Side pockets make space for fishing rods, paddles, wakeboards and skis. A large general storage area is found beneath the removable fish box under the aft seat. There is also a live-bait well or cooler box with an external drain aft. A roll bar or ski pole can be fitted and access to and from the water is easy thanks to the two aft steps and well-placed grab rails.

Uniquely designed to tilt forward, the steering console provides space underneath for fuel tanks

If you're the kind of person who enjoys skiing on Saturday and fishing on Sunday this good-natured and versatile leisure craft could be just what you need. Cleverly designed, the Menai Explorer 510 is attractive and seaworthy, providing ample safety for both skipper and crew.

 

Adventure 510 centre consol

Length 5.1 m beam 2.3 m hull deadweight 375 kg

 

A good sized all rounder built for adventure, a spacious and comfortable sea boat.

                       

A functional cockpit and non-slip wet deck make the boat easy to clean and quickly wash off after fishing.

Deep sided and dry with plenty of seating and storage. Ruggedly built with modern designing and style.

                             

 

There is so much storage space you will never have to leave anything behind. The anchor locker is voluminous and storage beneath the bow seat is large and secure. Uniquely designed to tilt forward so fuel can be stored beneath, the steering console provides space for four normal 25-litre outboard tanks. Side pockets make space for fishing rods, paddles, wakeboards and skis. A large general storage area is found beneath the removable fish box under the aft seat. There is also a live-bait well or cooler box with an external drain aft.  Access to and from the water is easy thanks to the two aft steps and well-placed grab rails.

 

Pictures above with standard UK spec equipment.                                                    New ski sport version available.

The new explorer SLC theb adventure with a side consol.