Specification:
Length 17ft 5ins (5.35m)
Beam 7' 6" (2.30m)
Draught 16" (0.35m)
Weight 750Kg
Engine 75 - 115hp
Country of manufacture: Lancashire, UK
More details on full specification can be found by requesting a brochure from Warrior (adverts in boat mags for contact details). There is no website.
Report by Dave Lewis (Boat Angler)
Warrior boats just keep getting better. The Lancashire company's latest craft, the 175, is a stunner and the ideal choice for the owner angler who is looking for a 17-footer that can handle offshore work, yet is easily hitched
to the back of a veichle.
The latest Warrior stood out anoungst the crowd when I toured this years London Boat Show, so I booked a sea trial for a little later in the year. Having run a 150 for a two seasons I had an idea I was in for a treat.
She's a fine-looking boat, which like all other Warriors, has been designed for rod and line angling. Mind you that doesn't come much as a suprise when you know the men who own Warrior, are passionate about boats and crazy about angling.
Less than a fortnight after London I found myself in North Wales standing on a banks of the Menni Strait, watching as this fine craft was slipped into the fast flowing waters for which the coast is famous.
A brisk wind funneled through the Strait creating a masty, short chop .... ideal conditions for a change to test a new boat. I wondered if I was going to get a white-knuckle ride or face a face full of water.
Before we get down to the actual on-water test, let us take a quick run through the features and more subtle points of design, which I am sure many of you will appreciate.
If you are familiar with Warrior boats then I suppose the easiest way for me to describe the 175 is to say it is a perfectly scaled down version of her big sister, the mighty Warrior 195. Certainly she is a fine-looking angling boat, with clean rounded
lines complementing a traditional, simulated clinker hull.
With a substantial 7ft 6in beam, the Warrior 175 draws just 16ins ofwater and weighs in at 750kgs. One of the key features I look for when assessing an angling boat ia a large and uncluttered space from which to fish and here I can only award full marks.
As with all Warrior boats, the gunnels fall vertically to the deck, which helps to maximise what is already a substantial amount of deck space. It is also useful to be able to stand right up against the transom when playing fish. There is an excellant amount of inboard freeboard
and with the deck some four inches above sea level it is entirely self-draining, making this an extremely safe boat from which to fish from.
The boat I tested had a 20 gallon inboard tank, through a sizable deck hatch situated amidships in the fishing cockpit and is large enough to stow a reserve standard 5 gallon tank, a wise precaution when travelling well offshore to fish. Obviously this hold can be used to stow other
bulky items of equipment.
A short open cuddy is a feature of this boat and one I personally appreciate because I like lots dry stowage and locker space on my boat, and here the 175 scored highly again. The cuddy has plenty of headroom for a couple of adults to shelter in comfort.
There are useful lockers beneath both the port and starboard cuddy seats, a sizable stowage compartment, containing the battery, incorperated within the steering console.
You also get a tackle box built in to the forward bulkhead and two very handy open stowage channels either side of the cuddy, great for holding flasks, tackle items and other things you need to hand.
Access to the bow is through a sizable opening hatch fitted to the front of the cuddy, earlier models hade a top opening version. The test boat did not have an anchor locker built into the bow, but I was told these could, if requested, fitted at the build stage.
The steering console is a sensible size and features a rather smart, round the clock system of guages and fully waterproof marine grade switches. The excellent no-feedback steering system is another standard feature as is a padded pedistal helmsman's seat.
ENGINES< FIXTURES & FITTINGS
The new Warrior 175 is rated for outboards from 75hp up to a maximum of 115hp. The test boat was fitted with a Mariner 75 four-stroke, which under the conditions on the test day gave her a top end crusing speed of just over 30mph, which would be more than enough speed for me.
Warrior tell me they are developing a special bracket to carry the auxilliary engine.
Standard fixtures and fittings include heavy-duty ribber fendering, all necessary deck hardware and stainless steel grab rails, a handy hindged step fitted outboard on the transom to help you climb aboard, quality rubber Treadmaster deck covering , fully fitted rubbing strake and keel band and a full mooring/trailing cover.
In addition, and for a limited introductory period only, you also get a four leg stainless bridge, pulpit rails, bow cushions, crewman's seat, 20 gallon built-in fuel tank, water separator/filter , upholstered back rests, internal rod storage racks and a compass.
By now you know you get a lot for your money, but the acid test of any review is what was it like on the water? In a nutshell, no holes barrd ........ bloody brilliant!
Throttle response was crisp and as I pushed the lever forward, the 175 quickly rose up onto the plane and accelerated smoothly away to attain her maximum speed at 5,100rpm.
Similarly, the hull responded well to minor adjustments to the trim, and it was easy to establish the perfect cruising angle for the varing sea conditions and speeds.
She handled beautifully, and in no time at all I was confidently driving her through tight turns as if I'd skippered the boat for years. Certanly this is a boat that inspires confidence.
Thanks to the unique bow flare hull design, when powering full on into waves, they was minimal tendency to slam, with all the spray thrown well away to either side.
PERSONAL OPINION
So far as I am concerned the Warrior 175, which conforms to CE category C, is destined to become a classic amoung dinghy anglers. If you have any doubts about what I am saying, arrange to trial one yourself!
Report by Adam
Specification:
Length 17ft 5ins (5.31m)
Beam 7' 6" (2.29m)
Draught 16" (406mm)
Weight 750kg 1650lb
Engine 130hp Honda Outboard
Length on trailer 24ft 7.3m
Width on trailer 7ft 6in 2.29m
Height on trailer 8ft 2in 2.49m
CE category C
Max Persons 6 (adults)
Max Load 600Kg
Country of manufacture: Lancashire, UK
Web site Warrior Boats
I bought 'Out of the Blue' early in 2007 after owning a Warrior 165 for the past 3 years. I had been keen to change for about 12 months, but was unsure what to, my budget didn't quite stretch to a large offshore
moored boat (7m+) and I felt that the pocket cruisers and small pilothouses that could still be trailed were a poor trade off between a fishing boat and a cruiser - so I went with what I knew and bought the bigger 175.
Firstly the 175 is only 1' longer than its smaller sister, however when you first see it in the flesh it is much bigger all round - heavier, wider, taller and longer. She weighs in at about 1300kgs all up so
is still easily towable.
Mine is a 2003 boat fitted with a Honda BF130, sitting on an Indespension Roller Coaster 7 trailer.
It is clear that the 175 is the product of much evolution by Warrior, as it displays many features that I thought lacking on the 165. Firstly the 90ltr fuel tank is integral with dash mounted gauges - this frees up a
huge area of deck. Behind the fuel tank is a massive under deck storage area - big enough for me to get in and shut the hatch! This is ideal for fenders, warps, boat hooks and nets, cutting boards, waders etc.
The lower gunnels have been modified and are double skinned to give a smoother finish and are now finished in gel coat making them easier to clean. Rod holders are fitted to both gunnels.
The 175 has a self-draining deck which is a real boon - twin transom scuppers deal with any loose water on the deck and are extremely efficient. Other subtle changes are an enlarged centre console, twin bench lockers, and Treadmaster non-slip decking.
Outside the whole hull of the boat has been re-designed. It is a deeper Vee that the 165 and the bow is slightly convex not concave as the 165, this helps the boat cut through chop.
So it is clear that aesthetically the 175 cannot be faulted, however what was she like on the water?
Well - nothing like the 165 for a start! This is what I had expected, but it is simply a whole different experience. The boat rides a lot higher in the water, which gives an instant feeling of security.
With the 130hp Honda, she planes at about 12 knots, and very quickly skips to 25 knots at just 3500 rpm. At this speed she runs smooth and level with the engine barely working. Small chop and swell are barely felt
and the no feedback steering works better on the big engine meaning minimal helm input is needed to maintain a straight course. Pushing the throttle further the boat reacts instantly and pushes right onto 38 knots
at 3800rpm. In a head sea trimming the nose in slightly gives a smooth ride with no dramas, and in a following sea there is no tendency to broach, which I occasionally felt on the 165. A beam on sea is barely
noticeable with great lateral stability and any canting rights very quickly.
The BF130 Honda is great - very quiet and smooth. Having now run a few hundred miles fuel consumption is remarkably lower than the 60hp EFI Mariner I ran on my last 165 - I am getting about 1.3 miles per litre.
What have I added?
Well in order to kit the boat out as a long range fishing machine - quite a lot; the usual electronics, a high-pressure deck wash (3bar), a low-pressure 500gph bait tank and pump.
A rear transom rail with rod holders and bait table, I have replaced the awful windows fitted by Warrior which quickly fade to 6mm Lexan Marguard - (better than glass) and changed the keel rollers to nylon instead
of rubber - which makes launching even on shallow slips and beaches an easy task. Still on the list is a set of trim tabs to correct out the slight porpoising at 30 knots +, and a sliding canopy extension for poor weather.
In conclusion,
Out of the Blue is not a boat I can overnight on, but as a long range fishing machine I don't think it gets much better, sure they hold their money and are not cheap compared to rivals, but the
extra money gets the improved finish and of course they hold their price with resale no problem.
Disclaimer: Everything written in these reports are based on personal experience and the individual's opinion only. I have tried my best to present the facts correctly, but I/we take no responsibility for any mistakes or omissions.