Report courtesy of Motor Boat Monthly

Specification:
Length 6.85m (22ft 6in)
Beam 2.54m (8ft 4in)
Weight 1550Kg inlc engine
Engine 85hp Nanni diesel
Fuel Capacity 90ltr
Country of manufacture: Poland
Maximum Speed 19.6 knots at 2800rpm
Cruising speed 12 knots at 2000rpm
Acceleration 0-15 knots in 13.4 secs

More details on full specification can be found at http://www.essexboatyards.co.uk/

Although the fit-out is on the basic side, there appears to be plenty of material put into the baot itself. Take the no-nonsense taffrails along the cockpit coaming, for instance, or the sturdy stainless steel rails on the 8in (20cm) side decks.
We also like the cockpit's pratical, hinge-down wooden side benches, and the multitude of storage that includes a live-bait wel in the transom.
For extra convenience when trolling, it is possible to steer the boat away from the cockpit, with the aid of a detachable tiller. But in any case the wide, sliding door through to the wheelhouse makes it easy to get to and fro.

The interior is pretty sparse, with a pair of forward seats at the helm and vee-berths forward. There is no dinette table or galley facilities, although there might be space to fit one retrospectively. A number of fiddled shelves and a cupboard offer stowage.

The voids within the berths are simply painted out, as is the upper wheelhouse, above where the mouldings run out. A small hatch set into the Perspex side screen, and a larger one in the deckhead, help the helmsman's communication with deck crew as well as ventilation.

PERFORMANCE & HANDLING
Serious fishing pretensions are backed up by a sturdy hull and a dependable, if rather noisy, 85hp Nanni desel engine.
A slight keel and full skeg creat a stable platform when at rest or crusing at up to 12kts at 2,000rpm. However, once onto the plane the ride can be nomadic,wandering from side o side as the keel gets pushed around by the slightest swell. If you can live with this there is sufficient power to push om to a top speed of 19 knots at 2,800rpm.

Running over a chop, the hull sounds hollow than its chunky looks suggest, but it seems happy, if a little wet, with all wave directions.

The twin helm seat design offers both comfort and company. The curved perspex screen gives excellent all round visibillity and a wiper helps shed any water that does reach the wheelhouse. The console spreads across the whole beam of the boat, allowing plenty of space for the standard-fit navigation pack and more.

SPECIFICATION & VALUE
The boats specification has been tailored to appeal to fishing fans.
You wont find niceties such as freshwater sinks, cooker and toilets included in the basic price of £26,950. What you will find is a full-colour chartplotter, a cfish-finder and a VHF radio plus stainless steel net rollers, four rod-holders, outboard bracket, boarding ladder, bathing platform, electric bilge pump a0nd a live bait well with a circulating sea water pump.

Even when you have added a chemical toilet, a twin-axel trailer and antifouling the cost is about £29,845.
Running costs for the Nanni diesel engine should be mnimal, while resale values are reassuringly strong. If you live with the no-frills approach, this is a true fisherman's bargin.

Fishability
Our favorite of the group to fish from, the Arvor has space in the cockpit for up to six rods. The wooden benches are comfortable to sit on while you're waiting for bites, but can also be folded away when you need more room to work lures.
Sealing the deal are the fish-finder, rod holders, built-in tackle box and live bait tank for housing prawns and sandeels.

Report courtesy of Sea Angler by Dave Lewis

The new Arvor 215 Blue Line is outstanding and probably the best I have tested in its class. If you are looking for a solid, workmanlike cabin boat with an inboard diesel engine, then this is one to splah the cash on.

Built around a fast semi-planing hull, she features a deep keel aft with a propeller sheild to protect the prop annd rudder. Stainless steel protection strips are standard.
Quality of workmanship and finish of Arvor baots has always been superb, but now the buildersoffer the choice of a blue hull, marked as the Blue Line or the standard white.
Length, including bathing platform, is 6.85 metres (22ft 6ins) with a 2.54m (8ft 4ins) beam. The weight, inclusive of the heaviest engine option, is 1550kg and she draws 0.75m (2ft 5ins) through the water. The 90-litre integral fuel tsnk is standard. Buoyancy is provided by sealed voids with the finished package conforming to CE Category C.

The large cabin, reached through a sliding door, features a twin berth forward with lockers beneath and storage pockets throughout. A chemical toilet is standard.

The galley area is located to port, just inside the door. The helmsman's seat, complete with a stainless steel bracing bar for your feet, is positioned to starboard. From this seat there is excellant all-round visability. I saw only a single windscreen wiper to starboard; how much does it cost to fit a second wiper as standard? The crewman sits on a folding seat.

The skylight in the cabin roof and side opening window give ample ventilation. A Navman instrument pack comes with the boat, comprising 7200 DSC VHF radio and aerial, colour 4350 fish-finder and 5500 colour chart plotter.

The cockpit is large and spacious, with an excellent amount of freeboard and easy access right up to the transom. The deck is self-draining and provided with a moulded, non-slip finish. A stowage hatch is flush mounted into the deck.

The engine hatch is mounted immediately astern of the cabin and is for the most part unobtrusive. A large aerated clear op livebait tank sits in the transom. A removable panel, which doubles as a cutting board, provides access to the bathing platform, which is fitted with a stainless boarding ladder.
Teak caps the wide gunnels, which are fitted with short, stainless rails. Four flush-mounted rocket launcher-type rod rests are standard, along with a rod stowage rack to starboard, and there's a fittrd tackle box!
Also standard are Arvor's trademark folding, teak bench-style seats. I think they are naff, though I'm told they are very popular.

Access to the bow is along a wide walkway to the starboard side of the cabin, which is offset to port. This is not a new idea, but the design and arrangement on the 215 is the best I have seen. It is wide enough to fish from, allowing three or even four anglers to work along one side while drifting. She is stable enough to accommodate this.

Access to the anchor locker is superb. While working the anchor you will be standing at main deck height, with the locker sunk into the foredeck to your left at about waist height. This means you are fully protected when hauling the anchor with minimal risk of hurting your back because you are not bent double over the hatch. It really is the perfect arrangment, though a winch could be fitted. A smart stainless pulpit rail raises safety even higher.

All new Arvor boats are fitted with a Volkswagen inboard diesel engine, which are new to me but I am informed they are extremely reliable.

The test boat was fitted with the 100hp model, the largest power unit recommended for use on this boat. During my trial in Swansea Bay we recorded a top speed of just over 20 knots with the engine revving to a maximum of 3,300rpm.
It would be unfair for me to say that when running at full tilt the engine was noisy, though the issue of sound insulation is something I feel the manufactures could take another look at with a view to improving things. At normal running speeds engine noise was perfectly acceptable.

SEA TRIAL
The Cambrian Boat Centre at Swansea Marina provided the test boat.
It was flat calm with in Swansea Bay, but as soon as we ventured beyond Mumbles Head we soon encountered a ground swell and enough wind to create a short chop.

Thanks to the standard hydraulic steering she handled like a dream while close quarters manoeurving