Boat Test Report
Pilothouse 20 MKII
Boat Angler
Written by Dave Lewis BOAT ANGLER ORKNEY PILOT HOUSE 20 MKII
Pictures by Dave Lewis www.seangler.com
Falling for the Orkney When I drove down to Sussex with Dave I really had no intention of buying a new boat, I simply went along for the ride and the chance to check out some new electronics, Tempted? writes Julian Lewis Jones. I suppose the frst thing that drew me to the Pilot House 20 MkII was her traditional lines. I love the simulated clinker hull style and Orkney has managed to preserve Julian takes the fowing lines of this classic hull You will be... a look at the design. Closer inspection quickly The cabin has revealed that the build quality and helm position loads of room overall fnish of the boat were truly superb, and it wasn’t long before I found myself starting to weigh up the options of upgrading. I loved the amount of space that is available in the cockpit, and I could see that at just under 20ft in length here was a boat aboard which three or even four of us could fsh in comfort. It was hard to imagine that she was actually smaller in overall length than my existing boat; she certainly looked to be far more spacious. The self-draining deck, the excellent height of the inboard freeboard and the amount of secure locker stowage space only helped to confrm the plan that was quickly forming in my mind. The one thing I wasn’t happy about with my previous boat was that being an inboard diesel she really wasn’t a boat that could be transported easily on a trailer. The more I have got involved in small- boat angling the more the freedom of being able to haul my boat out on to a trailer and tow her wherever I wanted has started to appeal to me. Here in south-west Wales we Julian Lewis have excellent ferry links to Ireland, and I’d love to be able to take her Jones gets a new across the Irish Sea a couple of boat – an Orkney Pilot times a year. I’ve always wanted to travel up to Scotland to catch a House 20 Mark II. She’s skate, and what better way to do fresh out of the boatyard it than aboard my own boat? Each year we have a family holiday in and he’s going to use her for France, and often I’ve fantasised about taking my own boat. exploring further out on the Obviously the vast majority of my Welsh side of the Bristol Channel fshing will take place here in Wales, so nothing is easier than having a he looked as pretty Bafta Bach II, but ultimately decent-sized boat kept in a marina as a picture, moored Julian Lewis Jones is his own man ready and waiting for immediate alongside her berth at and nobody actually made him along use as soon as the weather and Itchenor in Chichester get another new boat: in the end and work commitments allow, and I Harbour, and I could see it was his choice. grab the could see the Pilot House would from4 the glazed look in Julian’s And things had all started out opportunity allow me to beneft from the best of eyes that it was love at frst sight. so innocently. For some time to be able to assess the both worlds. I admit it was I who had Julian had been considering company’s entire current range. The Pilot House 20 MkII we looked orchestrated the meeting that investing in some upmarket The trouble was that frst I “By the time we returned to at was powered by a 70hp Suzuki had subjected him to such cruel electronics for Bafta Bach was booked to go on a sea trial outboard, and I could see that temptation in the frst place, and II, so when I told him I was of Orkney’s new Pilot House 20 Itchenor my mind was made up, here was a boat with which I could yes, I can only confess that I even visiting Raymarine’s impressive MkII, and that’s where things actually live out my dreams and, egged him on a tad when frst he Hampshire headquarters he started to go wrong! I’ll let Julian Bafta Bach III was on her way” provided I had a decent trailer, fsh raised the subject of upgrading jumped at the chance to tag take up the story... wherever I liked. I liked lots of the features Orkney has incorporated
82 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 452 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 452 83 BOAT ANGLER ORKNEY PILOT HOUSE 20 MKII
Pictures by Dave Lewis www.seangler.com
Falling for the Orkney When I drove down to Sussex with Dave I really had no intention of buying a new boat, I simply went along for the ride and the chance to check out some new electronics, Tempted? writes Julian Lewis Jones. I suppose the frst thing that drew me to the Pilot House 20 MkII was her traditional lines. I love the simulated clinker hull style and Orkney has managed to preserve Julian takes the fowing lines of this classic hull You will be... a look at the design. Closer inspection quickly The cabin has revealed that the build quality and helm position loads of room overall fnish of the boat were truly superb, and it wasn’t long before I found myself starting to weigh up the options of upgrading. I loved the amount of space that is available in the cockpit, and I could see that at just under 20ft in length here was a boat aboard which three or even four of us could fsh in comfort. It was hard to imagine that she was actually smaller in overall length than my existing boat; she certainly looked to be far more spacious. The self-draining deck, the excellent height of the inboard freeboard and the amount of secure locker stowage space only helped to confrm the plan that was quickly forming in my mind. The one thing I wasn’t happy about with my previous boat was that being an inboard diesel she really wasn’t a boat that could be transported easily on a trailer. The more I have got involved in small- boat angling the more the freedom of being able to haul my boat out on to a trailer and tow her wherever I wanted has started to appeal to me. Here in south-west Wales we Julian Lewis have excellent ferry links to Ireland, and I’d love to be able to take her Jones gets a new across the Irish Sea a couple of boat – an Orkney Pilot times a year. I’ve always wanted to travel up to Scotland to catch a House 20 Mark II. She’s skate, and what better way to do fresh out of the boatyard it than aboard my own boat? Each year we have a family holiday in and he’s going to use her for France, and often I’ve fantasised about taking my own boat. exploring further out on the Obviously the vast majority of my Welsh side of the Bristol Channel fshing will take place here in Wales, so nothing is easier than having a he looked as pretty Bafta Bach II, but ultimately decent-sized boat kept in a marina as a picture, moored Julian Lewis Jones is his own man ready and waiting for immediate alongside her berth at and nobody actually made him along use as soon as the weather and Itchenor in Chichester get another new boat: in the end and work commitments allow, and I Harbour, and I could see it was his choice. grab the could see the Pilot House would from4 the glazed look in Julian’s And things had all started out opportunity allow me to beneft from the best of eyes that it was love at frst sight. so innocently. For some time to be able to assess the both worlds. I admit it was I who had Julian had been considering company’s entire current range. The Pilot House 20 MkII we looked orchestrated the meeting that investing in some upmarket The trouble was that frst I “By the time we returned to at was powered by a 70hp Suzuki had subjected him to such cruel electronics for Bafta Bach was booked to go on a sea trial outboard, and I could see that temptation in the frst place, and II, so when I told him I was of Orkney’s new Pilot House 20 Itchenor my mind was made up, here was a boat with which I could yes, I can only confess that I even visiting Raymarine’s impressive MkII, and that’s where things actually live out my dreams and, egged him on a tad when frst he Hampshire headquarters he started to go wrong! I’ll let Julian Bafta Bach III was on her way” provided I had a decent trailer, fsh raised the subject of upgrading jumped at the chance to tag take up the story... wherever I liked. I liked lots of the features Orkney has incorporated
82 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 452 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 452 83 BOAT ANGLER ORKNEY PILOT HOUSE 20 MKII
within the design of this boat, found the helmsman’s position to particularly the fuel tank stowage starboard was ideally laid out with Dave’s verdict system. This consists of a fush- excellent all-round visibility. 4VCUMFDIBOHFTIBWFJNQSPWFEUIJTCPBU mounted locker located centrally It was a blustery day, yet the within the cockpit foor, which is Orkney handled beautifully; I’d The Orkney Pilot House 20 switch/fuse panel are all the perfect size to hold three large almost forgotten how much easier is a familiar friend because provided ftted as standard. standard fuel tanks. an outboard powered boat was I once had one on extended Overall length is 19ft 6in When empty I can easily take to handle compared to a shaft them home and refll them at my driven. We didn’t actually get loan that I used to keep at and she sports a substantial leisure, avoiding the often high out into the eastern Solent, but Penarth Marina. 7ft 10in beam, and certainly cost of fuel at many marinas. conditions within Chichester’s The Mark I version I had looks bigger than she is. She By the time I stepped into the vast harbour were such that I was was a truly superb angling tips the scales at 1,800lb, cabin my mind was chugging left with no doubts about her boat, and I enjoyed many that’s 820kg, so obviously through the various options for ofshore capabilities. During our successful days fshing you’ll need a decent trailer upgrading, and if there were sea trials we recorded a top speed aboard her, but this latest and a suitable vehicle to doubts still lingering, then a quick well in excess of 20 knots, which Mk II version is even better. tow her from port to port, scan around the interior quickly is more than enough to quickly For example, Orkney has but provided you meet dispelled them. I’m 6ft 2in tall, yet transport me out to the prolifc made subtle changes to the these criteria, this truly is an there was heaps of headroom sharking grounds of south-west shape of the bow and stern, extremely versatile angling for me to stand fully upright, Wales. Unfortunately we only had which have improved her boat ofering geographic plus the forward vee-berth was time for a relatively short sea trial, overall sea-keeping qualities versatility along with serious large enough for me to crash in but by the time we returned to Now, as standard you get ofshore potential. comfort. I loved the neat cooker/ Itchenor my mind was made up, extra stowage lockers, a As I write this at the end sink arrangement to port, while I Bafta Bach III was on her way! SA smart foredeck hatch for of February I have heard increased cabin lighting and that Julian’s Bafta Bach III extra ventilation. has just popped out of the The galley arrangement, mould at Orkney’s factory in stainless steel fxtures and Arundel, West Sussex, and The cockpit fttings, tough D-section I look forward to telling you has a forward rubber fendering running all about the adventures we vee berth fore and aft and Orkney’s have been planning for the new custom electrical coming months. There is loads of storage space
The test boat had a 70hp outboard
84 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 452 www.orkneyboats.co.uk