ENDEAVOUR 500 boat test
By Simon Everett
(Featured in Boat Fishing Monthly, November 2008)
The latest incarnation of the Endeavour 500 has retained the overall look of the original model but Sunshine Marine has made a few slight alterations that have made small, visual improvements.
The big difference is below the surface where the hull has been strengthened and stiffened with a matrix if stringers and floors made out of resin-impregnated foam. There have also been improvements in the cuddy with the more rounded windows that are made out of Lexan and held in place by bolts every inch or so.
The Lexan material is very strong and stable and better than old-fashioned baked Perspex.
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Within the cuddy itself the traditional seat locker bases have been laminated in place and filled with foam to give positive buoyancy in the case of the boat becoming swamped. Set into these seat mouldings are water tight fully sealed lockers, accessed through gaspatchi hatches. The opening forward hatch provides access to the foredeck for anchoring and mooring from within the confines of the cuddy precluding the need to go on deck.
This is useful from both a convenience and safety point of view. The marrying hatch covers for the rope and anchor locker are another nice touch. This feature provides smaller hatch covers and once toy have the anchor out of the store you only need one cover.
When weighing anchor you can flake the rope down into the locker through one side and only need to fully open it for the anchor itself. When it is windy this prevents the hatch falling down all the time, making life so much more pleasant.
Around the cockpit there is a handrail atop the gunwale capping, making a full metre of internal freeboard.
This aspect is as welcome to anglers leaning over the gunwale to land fish as it is concerned parents with young children onboard using the boat as a means of family fun. These boats are more than just fishing craft after all!
The Endeavour 500 has a deep, spacious cockpit with generous internal freeboard all round.
The open deck layout makes life very easy for moving around, or you could specify alternative seating arrangements.
The test boat was furnished with two swivelling pedestal seats and a clear deck. Another option would be to put a full bench across the stern. Sunshine Marine offers this option and the locker within can also be used to store the battery and fuel tank rather than have them lashed down under the aft deck as on the test boat.
You will also notice the ski pole that is mounted right through the cockpit coaming and into the deck. .jpg)
The step in the deck is fastened through and so the mounting is very secure.
An indication of the pride the new makers have in their work is the polished stainless steel surround to the towing pole mounting in the coaming.
The pole is easily unshipped and stowed away. Having the dedicated towing point gives this boat a whole new lease of life and for those just wanting a bit of fun on water-skis the ability to do that is great for youngsters to learn this exciting and healthy activity.
Such a utility boat requires stowage and the Endeavour 500 is given watertight stowage in the cuddy seating but also in the base of the console, under the wheel. In the forward end of the console there is a very neat tackle tidy to keep a whole range of lures and small items neatly arranged in sliding drawers with compartments.
The locker could be just as easily used without the removable storage trays for larger items, although there is another locker on the helm side too.
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The boat has a smart, stainless steel A-frame fitted on the wheelhouse roof to take aerials and lights. This makes the wiring very simple and neat and puts the lights up high for better visibility by other vessels. It also gives the greatest height for a VHF aerial, making best use of the set’s power and at the same time is high enough to be clear of the line of sight when stood at the wheel.
The wheelhouse cuddy acts as a big, wrap around windscreen, keeping the wind and wet at bay when running at speed and providing shelter when at rest. It is a tried and tested formula and the chaps at Sunshine Marine have breathed new life into a familiar design.
The little extras they have provided, like the grab handles each side of the cuddy and the full length gunwale rails, plus the four, flush-mounted rod holders and ski pole turn the Endeavour 500 into a do-it-all boat for the family and whatever activities they want to get up to while afloat.
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The beauty of the Endeavour 500 us that she uses so little power, the Yamaha 50 gets her up to over 35mph, and has enough bottom end to pull up a skier. This could also be translated into the ability to take burly men and fishing or diving gear. If diving is your thing, then the stern steps will be a welcome addition to make it easy to get back into the boat from the water. There is plenty of space beside the motor for getting back over the transom.
The handling of the Endeavour 500 is the same as it has ever been, the hull design hasn’t changed, just the execution. It is stiffer and you can feel the extra rigidity when riding a bit of slop.
The boat is still light on her feet and moves easily, but there isn’t the flex and rattling of old. The Endeavour 500 is one of those enduring designs that will always find favour with people who want trailer boat so they can expand their boating radius by simply hitching up and going where they please. A lightweight boat is a godsend in this regard, you can tow the Endeavour 500 with a small family car happily, saving on motoring costs as well as boating costs.
All in all then, an affordable and versatile package.
