Custom features

Dan asked Senator to modify the standard seat bases, widening them and shifting them closer the gunwales. He also had them sealed at floor level, providing dry storage under the seats. The seating arrangement includes two deluxe swivelling bucket seats and a couple of fixed, rear-facing seats.

The helm console was also customised to accept a pair of Lowrance HDS12 MFDS, fitted by local Navico dealer Fluid Electronics. “I prefer two separate displays because it gives me more ways to configure and display data,” says Dan.

Like Defiant, Aqua Zition is well served by USB and 12V outlets, and also has a 1kw transducer and Structurescan, a single wiper and a slightly less extreme Fusion sound system.

Defiant’s hardtop is carpeted inside, including the sides and the shelves, as is the cockpit, deadening hull noise and protecting stowed items. Extensions to the V-berths allow occupants to lie full length. On overnight trips Mark brings a portable chemical toilet.

A large locker occupies the underfloor space between the fixed seats. Close the double doors and the hardtop is cosy and warm; open them, along with the sliding side windows, and ventilation is good.

Both boats are dominated by huge cockpits, but Aqua Zition feels more spacious, probably because of her open hardtop configuration. In winter you’d need to rug up, but on an early summer’s day in Nelson, it was nice to feel the air circulating around the cabin.

Unlike Defiant, Aqua Zition has trim tabs, which Dan says he wouldn’t be without, and the dashboard switch panels feature custom labels from a local signwriter.

Dan also has overnighting aspirations. LED lighting strips are evident throughout, including in the cockpit and along the side pockets. Defiant has them too and both boats have underwater

lights, red and white LED cabin lights by Hella and cockpit floodlights as well.

Drop covers are coming for Aqua Zition, which will turn the boat into a comfortable camper, and there’s a plumbed toilet “for the girls”, a first for an RH650. Infill squabs and bunk extensions should make sleeping comfortable enough.

FISHING TRANSOMS

Wide open cockpits and fishing-oriented transom layouts characterise both boats. Mark came up with the in-transom livebait tank design with its glass viewing window and practical venturi water feed, supplemented by an electric pump when the boat’s at rest.

Dan had had a similar bait tank in his previous boat so he specified one like Defiant’s for this boat, though Mark jokes that Senator did a nicer job of the cosmetics on Aqua Zition when it came to drilling the livebait tank overflow drains.

Neoprene on the coamings and side decks is nice to sit on and provides good footing when sidling around the hardtop, which is easy enough thanks to grab rails on the roof. There’s no