By pioneering innovative lay-ups (including kevlar) and experimenting with extended motor pods, Kevlacat led the way in improving the hull efficiency of cats, thereby reducing the need for powerful and thirsty motors.

These days Kevlacats are going through a continuing process of evolution and refinement. Always very desirable to the offshore fishing crowd, they’ve built on that reputation.

The 6.5 metre “Offshore 2400” is a prime example, and we are indebted to the owner of Intruda, Glen Pieper, for allowing us to let his baby loose off Mooloolaba in Queensland for a few hours.

It was an overcast day, with the surfers enjoying a fair swell, as we exited Mooloolah River. Often test boats come lightly loaded and minimally powered but for once we had a kitted-out and fuelled-up boat ready to go fishing.

Glen chose twin 130hp Johnsons for Intruda’s motive power and the boat was no slouch.

Tapping the throttles as we cleared the breakwalls produced a noticeable shove into the seat.

The new hulls are a little finer in the entry but otherwise unchanged – Kevlacat have got it right. Up swell, down swell, across swell, quartering the swell. Intruda had impeccable manners. Could we bury a sponson? Nope, and it wasn’t as if we didn’t try.

Glen’s 6.5 is the more extensively optioned version. There’s also a basic cuddy which comes standard with twin 90s, while twin 140s is the max.

The expansive cockpit had full and unrestricted leg support without any toe busters around it periphery. Although that’s no less than how a proper offshore fisher should be, few are this well done.