Mclay Boats 531 Fortress Wide Body

The 531 Fortress Wide Body (formerly known as the 511 Fortress Wide Body) is an open aluminium fishing boat within McLay’s Fortress range. At 5.3 m overall, it combines a wide-beam hull with high freeboard, delivering a very stable, soft-riding platform that has become a strong export seller, particularly to Australia and Europe.

Available in tiller, side-console or centre-console layouts (as a range), the Fortress series is built with heavy-gauge plate alloy, extensive underfloor and foam buoyancy to meet Australian and CE standards, making the boats virtually unsinkable. The 531 Wide Body is aimed at anglers seeking a tough, open layout with a strong emphasis on safety and durability.

• 3 mm marine-grade alloy sides and tops with 5 mm plate bottom chines.
• Welded 4 mm tread plate floor with underfloor buoyancy.
• Spray chine for a drier ride.
• Transducer plate and bracket provision for a live bait pump.
• Casting deck with drains (including hatch drain), hatch and provision for routing fuel line to transom.
• Bow keel wear strip, bow sprit with rope guides and rails.
• Foam buoyancy gunnels plus air buoyancy for compliance with Australian and CE standards.
• Rod bars on port side and storage rack on starboard.
• Multiple blind sockets (up to five) for removable seats.
• Live bait tank on port side, storage bin on starboard, and flush transom with splashwell on tiller-steer versions.
• Self-draining anchor locker recessed into casting platform with hinged lid and rear steps/rails.

• 1100 GPH bilge pump, navigation and anchor lights.
• Nyalic protective coating inside and out.