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The term extreme means the highest degree of intensity, or taking things to the utmost limits. And that pretty much sums up what the imported Kiwi Extreme 570 Game King offers.
This handsome looking plate alloy tinnie delivers on many levels, not the least true offshore-capacity in a craft under six-metres.
This tinnie certainly blows away any perceptions we might have in Australia about hardtops being impossible below six metres. The Extreme 570 does it nicely and with such style it actually enhances the look of the boat float and on the trailer.
The Extreme 570 Game King shows how well a hardtop roof can be incorporated into a boat this size without compromising looks, or stability.
Through clever use of CAD CAM aluminium design the builders here have achieved strong, nice-looking lid in a single-skin structure. This actually works out be hardly different in weight to a board with a targa/rocket-launcher and soft top.
This is just one of a number of hardtop models Extreme offers, which is not surprising given the somewhat cooler conditions Kiwis have to contend with.
And the lines look great because all these boats are designed by one of New Zealand’s top Naval architects, Scott Robson, who also designs big boats and performance catamarans. Robson has really worked his magic on this smaller version to an impressive degree. It’s a cute-looker from any angle and would give you the capacity to fish out wide in a range of conditions and seasons.
Fishing is definitely the raison d'etre of the Extreme range but the boats still work well on the family front as well. For example, this boat comes with a folding rear lounge for lazy days out with the family. There are also comfortable pedestal seats and the option of having back-to-back seating arrangements on both skipper and passenger sides.
The bigger Extreme models feature double-decker bunks below so kids can also bunk down overnight with Mum and Dad. This boat is too small for that, however, they still squeeze a comfortable single berth into the small cabin. The bunk is offset to starboard so there’s still room for a double-decker stowage shelf on the portside. This is a brilliant use of space and something that Aussie plate fishing boats could do well to copy as a good idea.
Another feature that makes this boat work at both the fishing and family level is the decent walk-through door, plus matching alloy boarding/swim ladder.
The way this boat is set up you would be quite comfortable doing overnight fishing trips. One bunk means the crew could take turns having a nap in real stretch-out comfort. They could also have a rear lounge they could use while fishing and a walk-through for good access aboard at night.
Recently, I had the pleasure of water testing this newcomer from the Land of the Long White Cloud. It’s a good looking machine finished in dark blue and white and made a nice trailer package with its Aussie-made Dunbier tandem-wheel trailer.
Our test boat was supplied by the Corrimal branch of Hunts Marine that is specialising in the Extreme range. The package retails for $58,840, which seems pretty good value. It includes hydraulic steering, Lowrance HDS7 sounder/plotter and all fishing accessories shown.

Design: The Extreme 570 Game King is a striking-looking beast on her trailer. The lines are nicely balanced and have a hint of the classic game boat with an up-swept flared bows and a deep, 20-degree deadrise bottom.
What I also like is the way the hardtop ‘shed’ seems to grow naturally out of the low, wedge-like cuddy cabin. It’s a beautiful piece of design work and really makes the Extreme 570 look a serious offshore boat.
The problem with putting hardtops on boats this size is the added weight they place high up, however, in this case clever design ensures the hardtop doesn’t add any unnecessary weight.
The hull itself measures 5.75m overall including a small snub bowsprit and bow roller.
Like many Kiwi boats the deep Vee bottom doesn’t have strakes so the hull just slices easily into the water at speed. However, you do get aggressive ‘reverse’ angle chines to help sit the boat up on the plane.
Unlike the bigger Extreme models the boat doesn’t come with self-draining floor as standard, though this is an option if you really want it. Personally, I think it works well with the existing setup as you’ve got plenty of cockpit freeboard to fish the sides in safety.
With a beam of 2.2m she’s not overly a wide boat for her class, yet she achieves quite good stability due to a wide waterline beam and having water-ballast. The latter is a Kiwi invention and provides stability without any loss of performance. A central compartment fills with water ever time the boat is launched. This water automatically dumps within seconds once the boat goes on her trailer, or lifts at speed onto the plane. The concept is now well understood by Aussie boaties since we have it on local designs like the Bar Crusher.
Back aft you also find a full-depth motor pod to support the heavier four-stroke motors. Here you’ve also got landing platforms either side of the motor well and a folding stern ladder. The latter looks a looks a little agricultural but it certainly does the job.
Stepping into the Extreme 570 via the stern doorway you find a roomy cockpit with a tough checkerplate floor and high coamings to keep you safely in the boat.
Under the floor you have three large sealed buoyancy chambers to help keep the boat afloat if she is ever swamped.
Some builders make the mistake of fully enclosing the wheelhouse, however, the Extreme has an ‘open backed’ hardtop so you really good air ventilation and also excellent rear vision from the driver’s seat.
Structurally, the Extreme 570 is very impressive craft and features hull bottom thickness of 5mm and 4mm side and deck panels. There is also box structure internal framing and the whole boat is computer cut to give extremely fine tolerances.
I might mention another version you can have a soft-top version of this boat. This is the Sport Fisher version and may appeal to those buyers who still prefer the open-top layout. Personally, I like the hardtop because it great sun protection and with side opening windows to keep you cool.
Another surprise with the Extreme 570 is the overall weight. Dry trail weight is just 1200kg, which is low-ish for this size of boat made in plate alloy. Even allowing for the added weight of fuel and some personal gear you’re still around 1400kg. That puts the boat comfortably within the tow capacity of cars like the Toyota Aurion V6 plus popular 4WDs like the Ford Territory, Nissan Pathfinder and Hyundai Santa Fe.
By the way, the overall trail dimensions are 6.9m long, 2.44m wide and 3.0m high. This makes the Extreme 570 reasonable easy to park at home even if too high for the garage.

Performance: It was one of our better summer’s days when we took the new Extreme for a spin on Botany Bay. The 570 Extreme seemed to appreciate the warmer Aussie waters and ran surprisingly well for a boat fitted with a modest-sized motor on the transom.
I think a look of fishos will love this package because it gives you craft that’s not too big to handle on their own. Having the hardtop helm station also makes you less dependent on the weather because it won’t matter if it starts to rain cats and dogs!
What I also like is the way you stay comfortable with the enclosed hardtop and get really good vision at all times through the three-sided glass windows. It’s way better than looking through a set of clear vinyls!
It might seem funny testing a boat like this on a sunny summer’s day, however, it’s not as if you’re missing out on the sunshine. Underway, you’re simply been spared a few more minutes in the hard Aussie sun. And once you’re at the fishing grounds you’re still able to enjoy the outdoors like any fisho.
Actually, this boat was also fitted with an extension ‘lip’ sun-cover off the back of the hardtop. This gives you some added sun shade in the cockpit that’s not a bad idea on really hot days.
We found the Extreme 570 gets along quite well with an 115hp four-stroke. It breaks free pretty quickly and seems to settle quite easily to the planing mode.
Most importantly, the Extreme 570 retains very good stability at speed. Any concern it would be less stable once it lost the water ballast was not the case in practice.
While we didn’t have any strong winds, or rough water to test the mettle of this boat I have no doubts the Extreme 570 will acquit itself well in these conditions.
It feels pretty sure-footed in the water and the aggressive chine edges help to keep the hull tracking nicely, especially through turns and running down-sea.
I found the helm position comfortable with good vision through the glass windows. You get only a minor blind spot with the support pillars and access to the cockpit is pretty good, while the boat is easily reached via the forehatch.
Helm and passenger seats are comfortable hip-hugging swivel buckets with insert cushioning. These seats are side-mounted rather than on pedestal so you get free stowage under to take two large esky kill boxes.
It comes as no surprise the Extreme 570 Game King is very stable at-rest and slow trolling speeds. This is the direct benefit of the water-ballast system and will be well appreciated by offshore fishing. Especially if you’re hooking into big pelagics it will be a nice safety feature.
With the hardtop situated for’ard you also get plenty of free working space in the cockpit. Having the lounge folding means you can fish right up against the rear bulkhead.

Power: The 570 Extreme might be the baby of the Game King range but she can still pack some real power when required. She is rated to carry a single extra-long shaft motors anywhere from 90-150hp.
The test rig with 115hp Yamaha four-stroke certainly put in a solid all round performance as the following GPS speed results attest:

3500rpm     16 knots
4500rpm     24 knots
5500rpm     32 knots

Whilst these are quite acceptable speeds, I suspect those heading well offshore might want a touch more power. If you wanted to get home quickly in really strong winds and adverse seas you might like to go for a motor around the 130-140hp size.
For fishos in the Top End and Far North Queensland there’s even the argument to go for a 150hp because these fishos have to cover some big distances and can (at times) go over 30 knots speed.
The standard 80-litre in-floor fuel tank is probably OK for close range fishing, but again I’d be upgrading if I was heading any distance offshore. The builders don’t stipulate a larger tank option, but I’m sure it’s possible because they’ve got a massive, 220 litre floor stowage bin ahead of the fuel tank.
As standard the Extreme has cable steering, but I was pleased to see the local package coming with a hydraulic steering upgrade. If you’re going big distances offshore that makes a lot of sense and would give you option of adding an auto-pilot as well.

Deck layout: There’s a lot to like aboard the new Extreme 570 starting with the anchoring bowsprit, strong bowrail and for’ard anchor well. There is a high quality glass-topped fore-hatch that gives you good access to the anchor from within the cuddy cabin.
The Extreme also gives you decent side decks in case you do want to walk-around to the bows, and there’s the hardtop wheelhouse with grab rails on top if you take the outside route.
Moving aft we have comfortable, enclosed helm station with large instrument dashboard with heads-up instrument binnacle and flush-mounted Lowrance HDSS7 sounder/chartplotter. You also get a six-ganger electric switch panel; VHF radio, CD stereo sound system, sports steering wheel and flush-mounted throttle box off to the side.
I like the feel of the helm station and the way you can very easily slip from the seated to standing position. The passenger side is equally comfortable and like the helm comes with a side pocket glovebox. Indeed, you get lots of side pockets stowage here for all your nick knacks like mobile phones etc. The only thing I really think is missing here is a ‘panic’ grab bar for the passenger. Believe me, you really need them when you have to go through coastal bars!
Back aft you will find a comfortable, though very work-boat like, cockpit with checkerplate floor and raised side pockets. I was pleased to see four rod holders supplied as well as a big in-floor kill tank (floodable) and a live-bait tank fitted in the transom door step.
Other features I like about this boat include the simple but very practical cuddy cabin with sleeping bunk, cabin and navigation lights.
I also like the rear battery compartment, fuel filter and battery master switch, which are all reachable from within the cockpit.
The standard boat also comes with an electric bilge pump and three sealed under-floor buoyancy tanks.
There’s no denying the fishing attributes of this Kiwi import. The boat has a nicely designed cockpit for hardcore fishing and comes with a raised cutting board besides the live-bait tank already mentioned.

Verdict: The strong Aussie dollar has certainly brought the Kiwi boats out of the woodwork, and all I can is it’s good news for local boat buyers.
Sure it’s tough on local Aussie brands but that’s the way the world economy works today. Hopefully, such competition can only stimulate better and stronger competition between the two trans-Tasman marketplaces.
In the meantime, buyers can‘t be blamed for taking advantage of good deals like the Extreme 570. It’s a boat that fits nicely into our local fishing/boating scene and is well priced.
The fact that the Extreme is being sold through a dealer network can only make it more attractive. Dealers like Hunts Marine ensure there’s good after-market support over the whole BMT package.
Hunts for their part say they’re very impressed with the quality of these Kiwi boats. The fact that such a top Sydney marine retailer has got behind Extreme will also ensure that the boats here are properly set up, and after-sales customer support will be top draw.