Sea Jay 630 Trojan HT Boat Review

Boat Review Date: February 2019
Author: Mike Brown

Overview

Sea Jay is an unusual builder: it is nominally a production line operator but (possibly because it is family owned) strives to make custom changes where possible. These are not just add-ons but even modifications to the hull. This has 5mm bottom plate and 4mm side, but still manages to press some form into the latter.

The Sea Jay Trojan HT has a closed hardtop with sliding side windows – and would probably be hard to sell in WA without them. The hardtop itself has the highly desirable overhead grab rails and also carries the radio.

This is a visually tall boat, and much of that height is used to provide a proportionately high gunwale. This is good news for fishos and families alike, because this is marketed as a dual – at least – purpose boat. The height is accentuated because this is not a wholly self draining boat: water arriving on deck will normally exit via the freeing ports; excess water drains into a sump and is automatically pumped out. The deck itself is in chequerplate aluminium.

The cuddy is big enough to claim cabin status and is fitted out with 1.8 metre settees plus infills that make it genuinely sleepable; roof and sides are lined. Under bunk volume can stow sleeping bags and much besides. There are no side windows but a clear fore hatch makes up for this as well as providing access to the anchoring arrangements, which have roller and bowsprit sized for the up market Sarca anchor. Side decks are narrow to maximize interior cabin width but, aided by fore and aft cabin top rails, passage forward is possible. Those rails could also be called into service as a roof rack; stowing bulky or awkward gear up there keeps the cockpit clear for active duty.

The dual or multi-purpose roles are illustrated by the bearers of the excellent bolster seats at the dash, which are matched with good footrests. The driver’s is mounted on a stack of tackle drawers, the navigator’s on a general purpose locker. This arrangement is duplicated at the transom by another locker and set of drawers. The transom also features a folding settee. One of the most significant items within the transom is a second battery – a pet inclusion of mine.

Dual boarding platforms coated with non skid material project from the transom, the starboard one equipped with a heavy duty scuba ladder. Beneath the platforms trim tabs are mounted. With a high windage boat like this they are likely to get their share of use. Not for fore and aft trim – this is a well balanced boat, readily adjusted with a dab of trim button – but for beam winds. Boats tend to lean into a beam wind, and engaging the windward tab will level the boat.

The serious ladder and the spacious platforms reflect the homeland of Sea Jay’s agents, Sports Marine of Bunbury. Geographe Bay, not far south, is a seasonal hotbed of diving.

Fishers do, perhaps, have the upper hand in the fit out. The bait board is in the not quite Jaguar class, but definitely ahead of Morris Minor. Significantly for those who value such things, it carries five rod holders. Combined with the eight on the hardtop this makes a formidably equipped boat. There is a self flooding and draining kill tank and a plumbed live bait tank. The usual pair of transducer brackets is also fitted.

Recommended horsepower for the 630 is 150 which is what we had, provided by Yamaha. Maximum recommended occupant load is six and we were just two, but I have no doubt the motor would well and truly cope with the extra live load plus gear. It certainly had the grunt for effortless berthing in a fresh cross wind.

The 630 makes a very good fist of its all purpose role and was a pleasure to drive.

Lowdown

Length overall                     6.65m

Beam                                 2.48m

Fuel capacity                       210L

Motor fitted                         150hp Yamaha

Trailing weight (no load)       1,950kg