Among the new wave of pilothouse sports boats is one that deserves a little more attention than most. Simon Everett heads for Marseilles to search it out . . .

The pilothouse style of boat has found a great deal of favour of late - and not just among weather-beaten anglers. After four or five questionable summers, relatively young family boaters have also begun to consider the merits of a protective structure in preference to the blind optimism of a open boat. And while that sage approach to the decision making process is to be applauded, some of the latest pilothouse craft have left quite a lot to be desired. Most of them look very similar in profile and have virtually the same layout, but below the waterline, hull shapes tend to vary wildly, in many cases apparently abdicating any commitment to sporting ambition. Happily, the Antares 680 sets out to confront and confound that compromise. Here we have the promise of a pilothouse boat designed to satisfy the handling expectations of even the most ardent sports boat fan. As a fisherman, a cruise boater and a driving fan myself, I can’t wait to get her on the water . . .

Upgraded Facilities

Despite the pleasant subtlety of the stylistic tweaks, the Antares 680 is not just a mildly buffed version of a previous model. This thing has been purpose designed from scratch and the difference is noticeable. It can now accommodate three people in two berths and allow your guests enough room to fish without forever tangling their lines. It is also quite light on the water and while that tends to mean she is susceptible to excessive shifting of weight at rest, she becomes much more stable underway and, funnily enough, when drifting beam on too.

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