The original BF40 and 50 engines, which were based on Honda’s advanced automotive technology, have been around for years. They set the trend for the ‘rounded’ shape subsequently adopted by all manufacturers of four-stroke engines. Remarkably, more than a decade later, these engines were still amongst the lightest four-strokes at their power on the market.

Honda’s new 2009 engines at 40 and 50hp fully exploit the very latest technologies of construction and engine management but are still based on the original blocks - demonstrating how truly advanced Honda’s original design and quality parameters were.

This month’s test was scheduled to be a back-to-back comparison of original and new Honda BF 50s, but at the last moment we learned that this was not going to be possible. After a little ‘constructive re-planning’ Steve Morris (the guy responsible for Honda outboards in the UK) came up with a brilliant solution that resulted in (arguably) a far more intriguing story than that originally planned.

Two for the price of one

Most of the craft available for testing had already been featured in our pages, but two boats in particular grabbed our imagination - a Finnmaster 4900CLX and a Ring Harbour Rat 475 - two differently styled craft moored on a common pontoon.

Steve suggested we test these boats back-to-back as they had identical new Honda BF50 engines. The craft were virtually the same size and within a few pounds of each other in cost. In retrospect, they could not have been more different.

In the blue corner…

The 4900CLX is the smallest boat in the Finnmaster range; a classic affordable family runabout from the drawing board of a logical Scandinavian designer. It has a roomy interior, centre console with large windscreen, comfy seats, safe high sides and modern pleasant lines that would not look out of place anywhere in Europe. The interior is fully moulded, easily cleaned, boasts plenty of stowage and is self-draining. The craft is unsinkable, the quality of build and finish simply can’t be faulted and the blue hull side panel and excellent hull top rails really make this craft visually very attractive.

Even before getting aboard it’s a fair bet that the little Finnmaster would not spring any nasty surprises.

…and in the red corner

The Ring Harbour Rat, on the other hand, was a totally different ball game - a dilemma of the first ilk.

I had the gut feeling that one night my old friend Mike Ring, relaxing after a busy week of building extremely fast ‘special purpose’ RIBs, sat down with a well deserved small glass of something potent and a scribbling pad. After decades of designing countless extremely ‘pointed’ and obviously very quick craft Mike seemingly flexed his dry and wicked sense of humour, and the little Ring Harbour Rat was the result.

The Harbour Rat bears little outward resemblance to a classic Ring. Viewed from above the bows are round, almost ‘tuggish’, not like a sleek marine missile. The stern has swooping corners ending in an angular transom which drops almost vertically to the waterline, similar to an old sports boat - or a launch. The bows when viewed beam on are not steeply raked but almost convex with a hint of a classic ‘goose neck’ - reminiscent of a classic fast cruiser, or even a schooner.

Inside, instead of a complex full interior moulding there is a (much tougher) simple ply bonded and glassed-in non-slip deck. The top moulding simply extends a few inches down the interior hull sides, just like a classic sports boat, and then stops. Whilst this endows the boat with much otherwise wasted space it also makes the Rat look like a small harbour launch, or even a working boat.

However, unlike the small stand-up helm and simple wooden wheel appropriate in a classic working launch there is a modern centrally located console (precisely where it should be) with a beautifully upholstered twin helm seat, stainless wheel and well placed engine controls. Hardly surprisingly there is no windscreen as Mike reckons such accoutrements “only slow a boat down”, but at my age I admit to finding such ‘unnecessary luxuries’ quite pleasant.

This little boat would not look out of place in Salcombe harbour where the speed limit is 8mph, moored at the bottom of a Thames riverside garden or gently pottering across a private lake. I can visualise a white haired gentleman at the helm, bedecked in blazer and white slacks, on his way to grab a snifter at his favourite hostelry - prior to keeping a discreet romantic assignation. In hindsight I have the distinct impression that this is precisely the impression and character for his boat that Mike wanted to convey.

Grab the remote - fast forward

Simply because I can’t move the test results around in this feature please stay with me whilst I ‘fast-forward’ a few hours. The lake tests are over, the boats are being hauled up the slipway and there’s an opportunity to look underneath and study the hulls.

No surprises underneath from the Finnmaster…

Despite the deck’s sleek bow line the Finnmaster’s sporty raked bows have quite a blunt entry; they then progress downwards with a gentle spray deflecting flare to the waterline. The hull, as expected, then progresses into a ‘warped’ deep Vee (but not radically so) that shallows off astern, with two spray rails and a pronounced reverse chine either side. Precisely what I would have expected.

…but the Ring

Anyone glancing at the Harbour Rat not au fait with craft carrying Ring genes might be forgiven for expecting a launch hull, or even a round bilge under this appealing little boat. But, knowing Mike’s sense of humour of old, I expected a twist in the Rat’s tail and was not disappointed. From the deck to the waterline the Rat’s bows are not unduly flared, but they are sharp, very sharp. You could peel a spud or cut a warp on the leading edge.

Below the waterline the hull has an equally ‘narrow’ pronounced deep Vee entry progressing into a medium Vee (extending all the way to hull sides) incorporating classic Ring chines and a pair of Mike’s beautifully executed spray rails per side - running bow to stern.

In other words the hull has been specifically designed to cut through the water, generate lift quickly and be ultra efficient. By resisting the urge to go for an ultra deep Vee, serious horsepower is not needed for performance - neither is stability sacrificed just for a few more mph.

This is obviously not a launch, but neither is it a skittish race hull designed solely to go like a bat out of hell. To put it simply the old master has given birth to a small, very appealing, but potentially potent, sure-footed wolf in sheep’s clothing.

How did they perform?

Though it was extremely convenient to test on a lake where I could easily swap boats (to re-evaluate specific points) it would have been nice to have a bit of chop just to see how they coped. But you can’t win them all.

The Finnmaster’s turn first…

First the Finnmaster 4900, the smallest of the family I have tested to date. With a mere 50hp astern I was not expecting anything dramatic, neither was I at all disappointed.

Inevitably with a rear console, a crew of two and all the weight astern, the boat does aim its bows at the sky a little when taking off. However she planes at a respectably low speed at which point the bows drop and she will run all day at less than 15mph without coming off the boil. At a slightly greater velocity the Finnmaster does precisely what she was designed to do - let a family cruise at the most economical engine rpm, in comfort and without back jarring impacts or spray. On a lake at 25mph the ride is probably superior to an equally loaded small family hatchback.

The Finnmaster is sure footed, can be thrown about with abandon (even at full chat) and is vice free. Even if someone does something totally stupid, like pouring on the power in a tight turn, or going lock to lock at speed, the Finnmaster simply protects its occupants. Push her too far and she just cavitates - just long enough for the idiot at the helm to be reprimanded, or replaced.

Throughout our tests no spray came over the bows of the Finnmaster and the remarkable ‘self-drying’ cloth upholstery remained dry but for a few rain spots - very impressive.

The only flaw, ironically, involved the very robust and substantial semi wrap round windscreen. Whilst it effectively deflected rain and kept the dash dry, it failed dismally in keeping much of the wind off the driver. Perhaps it’s the shape, I really don’t know.

…then the Ring

Then it was the turn of the Harbour Rat to be thrown about the lake. Even pottering away from the pontoon it was evident this little boat was going to be fun. Ok, so it was raining, but who cared? This was an unknown Ring with a full tank on an empty lake - what more could one ask for?

With the console where it should be, amidships, boasting a beautifully comfy helm seat, the boat was a delight to drive with a crew of two. Surprisingly she planed at a mere 7 - 8mph without lifting her bows and at 3,500rpm was slightly quicker than the Finnmaster. At 4,500rpm the Rat equalled the other boat’s performance at 5,000rpm. It was purely academic as we were really enjoying ourselves.

The ‘launch’ soon turned ‘wolf’ skimming the lake, high in the water. At around 25mph neither the boat nor the new BF50 engine were working hard. The ride was excellent and at this velocity she could have cruised all day.

Of course we played, who wouldn’t? We didn’t have any chop, but we did have a slalom course and a whole lake to ourselves. For a while both the little Rat and her crew enjoyed themselves churning the lake’s biological slimy green carpet, creating wakes to jump and generally playing.

The ride was superb and the hull gripped like super glue to a toddler. Unlike the vast majority of small craft the spray rails deflected all the (literally) green downwards and away from the hull - precisely what Mike Ring had designed them to do.

The Harbour Rat is a mere 400kg all up, 150kg lighter than the Finnmaster, and the boat simply cried out for throttle. I thought the new Honda BF50 astern was ideally matched to the hull, extremely quiet and it appeared a lot more responsive than its long proven predecessor. Nevertheless my private thoughts were soon drooling over the prospect of 50% more power - it is a Ring after all.

Then the drizzle turned torrential, the crew mutually decided enough was enough and we headed to the clubhouse for shelter and coffee.

And finally the Honda

There’s no doubt that the new generation BF40 and 50 engines are even smoother and quieter than their predecessors. The technological improvements in these engines have certainly resulted in improved acceleration. The new ‘40’ is virtually as quick off the mark as the old ‘50’ whilst both display perceptively more grunt, but with reduced emissions and fuel consumption.

Comparing notes

Although both boats had identical engines and props, for some unknown reason we could only squeeze 5,700rpm out of the Harbour Rat’s power pack, compared to 6,000rpm from the Finnmaster’s engine - a great shame. This enabled Finland’s craft to get a 1.5mph advantage over the British Ring.

Notwithstanding Mike’s ‘launch’ was as quick as a similar sized and powered Fletcher or a small sporty RIB. This may well give a few people a nasty shock - especially with a Harbour Master at the helm armed with a GPS.

So there you have it. Two virtually identically sized craft with identical engines but very different personalities. Which craft you would put on your shopping list is a matter of conjecture. It’s down to personal choice, individual requirements and whether you have a sinful side to your character.

On the one hand the Finnmaster (to be called the ‘49’ for 2009)

• Is a rather pretty Scandinavian family craft, equally ideal as a runabout for either a young family or a grandpa looking for a boat in which to take out his grandchildren.

• She’s stylish, comfy, easy to handle and versatile.

• The Finnmaster hails from a country where people spend far more time in their boats and demand more from them in terms of both convenience and safety.

On the other hand the Ring Harbour Rat

• Is a traditional looking boat with an enviable pedigree and a perfectly balanced Ring hull lurking beneath its misleading simpler exterior.

• Has a superb level of comfort, almost over the top - Bentley seating in a Detroit soft top.

I can envisage rather wicked retired gentlemen taking their wives to look at this craft and with sly grins saying “Don’t you think this is a rather nice relaxing little launch for our retirement?”.

SPECIFICATION

Finnmaster 49 (bare boat): £7,740
As tested (with trailer and teak): £13,995
Length: 4.85m
Beam: 2m

Ring Harbour Rat: £14,995 
Length: 4.75m
Beam: 1.8m

Both prices are for fully rigged boats, as tested, complete with trailers.

WHO TO TALK TO

Finnmaster

Midway Boats: 01270-528-482 / www.midwayboats.co.uk

Ring

Honda have just announced that the Harbour Rat will be packaged exclusively with Honda engines for the next two years.
Poole Marine Services: 01202-677-387 / www.poolemarine.co.uk
Ring Powercraft: www.ringpowercraft.net

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