Boat Import Holland, known for the Topcraft and OudHuijzer sloops and tenders developed and produced in-house, and importer of Style sport boats, has developed an entirely new model that has been introduced under the name Topcraft 605 Tender. At the invitation of Boat Import Holland, we spent an afternoon sailing the 605 tender on the randmeren near Biddinghuizen. Thanks to the sunny weather, we had ample opportunity to take some beautiful photos of this special new tender.
Around 6 meters, there is a lot of competition in the field of tenders and sloops. To be successful, a model must therefore have a number of striking features. Boat Import Holland has over twenty years of experience with sloops and tenders, and this is clearly reflected in the design of the 605 Tender. Over the years, they have listened carefully to the wishes of diverse customers, and much of that knowledge has ended up in the test ship.
The first thing that stands out is the great width; at 2.4 meters, this Topcraft is the widest tender in its class. The width translates into a very stable boat and an unprecedentedly large interior space.
In the front, the 605 Tender has a round seating area with benches opposite each other. Especially when a comfortable seating position is adopted, people in boats around 6 meters often find their knees touching. However, this is not the case in the Topcraft, allowing even taller people to have a comfortable seat.
In addition to the pleasant width and space, the seats are deep, and the luxurious cushion set provides excellent support. The high backrests provide shelter and comfort, even during longer windy trips. Thanks to the generously sized gunwales, the cockpit is deep and safe for children and also entirely self-draining.
In the cockpit, the helmsman can take a seat behind the clear steering console with enough space for instruments, navigation equipment, or a fishfinder. A cup holder and a compartment for a mobile phone are standard. The helm bench offers ample space for three people and has the same deep and comfortable seating as the other benches.
Striking details are the two steps in the cockpit. A step on the port side provides easy access from the side to the cockpit, and a step on the starboard side ensures that the aft deck is also easily accessible. Both steps have three treads.
The swimming platform is accessible via the sides of the aft deck and, thanks to the optionally mounted swimming ladder, is actually very usable.
The central part of the aft deck is formed by a large lid under which the engine compartment is hidden.
In the spacious engine compartment (sufficient ventilation to prevent engine malfunctions!), a maximum of a 60 hp outboard engine can be installed.
The test boat was equipped with a 20 hp outboard motor, for convenience with electric start. Thanks to the spacious insulated engine compartment, the sailing comfort is comparable to an inboard motor, without the higher costs and with the advantage that maintenance or an engine change is much easier to carry out. Boat Import Holland deliberately equipped the boat with a relatively small engine power for this test. With 20 hp, the Topcraft 605 easily sails 20 kilometers per hour. That is a wonderful speed with which you can make good progress without needing a boating license. Not too heavy people will easily be able to wakeboard and a funtube or banana is certainly among the possibilities, making the boat also perfectly suitable for all kinds of sporty water sports in this combination. With a 20 hp four-stroke from Tohatsu you will also not be unpleasantly surprised at the petrol pump.
The underwater hull of the 605 ensures that the boat quickly glides and causes virtually no wake. Trips on, for example, the canals of Leiden or Amsterdam are therefore a pleasure not only for the occupants themselves but also for other water sports enthusiasts. For water sports enthusiasts who like to sail a bit faster, a 50 hp Tohatsu four-stroke outboard motor (consumption 6.2 liters per hour at full throttle) is an excellent choice. These engines weigh less than 100 kilograms, so the 605 continues to sail nimbly with a top speed of 50 kilometers per hour. More than enough for waterskiing, wakeboarding, or simply enjoying the open water with a boat full of friends.
Standard, the Tender 605 is equipped with a beautiful thick rope fender, comfortable cushion set with luxurious fabric, and a spacious swimming platform.
