Using a tried and tested ride and a top deck which was designed by real anglers themselves, the Point Runner 660 was built with one real purpose in mind – to go to the deep and perform exceptionally. The Editor travels to Gordon’s Bay to see Honda Marine’s latest and most exclusive craft.
The 6.6 metre Point Runner can be considered a smaller gamefisher in terms of size at 21.6 foot, but not in terms of heart. Incorporating big boat ideas into a tough little package, the team at Honda Marine Somerset West are proud to present a craft which will amply suit South African fishermen – especially those who like to head from the point and go deeper. Practical and economical, I think that the Point Runner 660’s future popularity will have a lot to do with her simplicity and ruggedness.
Deck layout
The interior of the Point Runner is designed in a walk-around configuration which lends itself to being in the gamefisher category. This type of setup is practical for fishermen as it allows for a more spacious stern – which the designers have used to house some seating for the crew when you’re en route to the tuna grounds. Once you’re there, either side of this seating can be lifted to grant access to the catch hatch or it can be used for storing bigger necessities like fenders, bags, tackle and extra fuel while fish you keep can be stored in the large coffin hatches to port and starboard. Four premium rod holders have been built into the rear stern seating console while a neat storage locker is located on the front side behind the skipper’s backrest of the lean post. Additional storage built into the gunwales comes in the form of boxes – two either side for loose gear, and one either side for rod storage.
The Point Runner has a fully drained wet deck which is ideal, especially for this genre of boat and is great for not only removing any water taken onboard, but for keeping the deck clean too. Other handy features are the bait or equipment locker on the transom and the boarding step between the motors that should help with loading bigger fish.
As you might expect, the bow is kept simple with one seat on the front of the helm, access to the six portable 25-litre fuel tanks, and the ability to easily work the anchor while reaching the bow cleats.
Inside the wheel house, things are kept neat and basic as the designers have done away with all the usual clutter. In addition to the quality Elite-7 HDI chart plotter and sonar system, the Point Runner boasts a fully-fitted Fusion sound system equipped and piped to several speakers around the boat – so that, if the day on the water is a little boring, at least the vibe on the boat won’t be!
