The French love their pêche promenades, they even have a special term for it, its called pêche pro.... oh. Anyway they just love the central wheelhouse, simple shaftdrives and manageable walkaround decks – it’s the knockabout, bit-of-this, bit-of-that end of boating (which has well and truly spread to these shores as well), and there’s no shortage of boats on offer, most of which look pretty similar and come covered in shiny gelcoat.

Rhéa, however, has cut itself a rather tastier-looking niche, with a traditional edge in terms of looks and an eye on build quality. This, their 28ft (mid-range) 850 model was launched last year and has been an immediate success, offering all those practical facets while pushing the comfort factor.

The Rhéas stand out first and foremost because of their interesting, somewhat traditional lines. The topsides incorporate tumblehome – or barrel-like curvature – as they tuck in towards the transom, while the clean shear running at bulwark level and fishing boat stem give them a substantial seaman-like air. This, however, is a boat that, as well as looking the part, has the build quality to match right through. There’s tidy woodwork and chunky fittings through to the mouldings themselves, which are as solid as they come.

In addition, anywhere that is likely to get knocked is capped with a wear strip, such as round the transom gate. Underwater, things take on a more modern slant, with the single prop tucked into a tunnel enclave so that the engine is low and all but level in the boat. This also ensures the cockpit sole can be kept flush, the deck taking on some extra camber to give the required height to the engine space (as opposed to an intrusive engine box).

A deep fin-like skeg protects the stern gear and gives some of the best astern manoueverability we’ve experienced in a boat of this type. Furthermore, the combination of protective skeg and deep forefoot means that the hull can readily take the ground.

Back on the creature comfort side, there are loads of places to plonk yourself: in the huge cockpit sheltering, in the wheelhouse with your nose outside of the door, or on the foredeck area having ambled along the safe sidedecks. The wheelhouse doubles as both a saloon and
a galley, and the view out is excellent irrespective of where you may choose to sit, the fore part of the dinette settee hinging over to make a double co-pilot seat. The dinette table drops to supplement the separate fore-cabin with its angled double berth, which is an awkward shape, as only around half of it pushes out to more than 6ft (1.83m) in length. A nicely finished toilet compartment with shower completes the accommodation.

The roof overhangs – including the side ones, which they might not have bothered about – are extremely useful, as they tend to shade the wheelhouse windows from too much sun, while also allowing the doors to remain open in a shower.

Inside there is the same solid, sensible approach as on deck, with robust but well executed wood trim and joinery, and again plenty of handholds.
The dinette is adequately proportioned for four place settings and, so that no one lacks for elbow room, they have also included a small extension piece to the rear seat, which can be dropped in place when it is time to eat. The rear seat also incorporates a purpose-built wine rack – good design is all about priorities after all!

Across from this, the galley boasts an array of storage, while still managing to fit in a gas oven as well as the hob, a sensible sink and a decent sized fridge under the helm seat. The helm also makes good use of available space. There is not only room around the staggered console for various pieces of electronics, but in front of the flip-over seat opposite there is a fiddled chart table, plus useful bits and bobs storage.

The void in the seat plinth incorporates a couple of lockers, while as far as anything majorly bulky goes, check out the berth-sized compartment under the sole. Commodious to say the least, it’s difficult not to think this void could be put to better use, especially as the fore cabin, while altogether pleasant with seats and adequate clothes storage, has that skewed, slightly awkward-shaped berth.
The Rhéa’s toilet/shower compartment is of adequate size and finished in the same manner as the rest of the accommodation, inasmuch as GRP does not overtly feature. There is useful storage, here too.

The ‘moulded’ length gives the boat its ‘850’ designation, onto which there is a further metre to add once the optional bathing platform and the stemhead fitting are added. It’s easy to do without the platform, at least for boarding, as when moored the easiest route is over the gunwale onto the sidedeck. Handholds abound and moving about is no problem.

The cockpit comes ready fitted with deep, slatted, hinge-down seats and this is simply
a great spot – for fishing, eating, letting the kids roam safely… you name it. Plus the wheelhouse overhang offers useful protection and landing for a canopy. Indeed, the deckhead clearance is substantial – not quite 7ft (2.13m) – and the whole structure is strong enough to take sunbathers or stow cumbersome items – perhaps canoes to entertain the kids.

The deep coaming is finished in a solid iroko taffrail and thoughtfully sports some small fiddled cave lockers for dropping in bits you don’t want to go flying when you put them down. There is also access to the steering gear, plus a properly finished lazarette area. Wandering forward along the 12in (30cm) sidedecks you are inclined to perch on the coachroof or set a cheek on the taffrail, as the boat’s whole 28ft feels there to be used – with something solid always there to lean on.

Mooring hardware is, as you would expect, all well up to the job. We especially liked the fact that the cleats for the sternlines were far forward, making them easy to get to when skippering short-handed.
A foredeck-accessed locker houses the anchor chain, with the stemhead fitting and windlass included as standard.

The engine line-up is comprehensive to say the least, with both single and twin configurations available, from 200-440hp. And they are not just from one stable, with Nanni, Volvo and Yanmar represented. Our test boat had a single 315hp Yanmar fitted – a good all round choice, allowing you to explore, but with sufficient oomph to get you back home at 20 knots.

Access to the engine compartment is gained from two points,
the main one being through a large lifting section of the cockpit sole
– ably helped and supported on a pair of gas-struts – plus a hatch from the rear of the wheelhouse that gets you easier access to the front of the engine. With just the single unit down here there is loads of room to get right round, while items like the raw water strainer and primary fuel filter are readily accessible.

Bins are provided outboard for storage, with the fuel tank itself located on the other side of the forward bulkhead. Large voids can often spell trouble in terms of reverberating, unwanted noise levels, and the builder has endeavoured to curtail this by fitting insulation to most surfaces. As ever the build quality is robust and tidily well-executed.

Boats often have a certain speed where they feel most comfortable – any more or less and they feel off-key. The first thing in the 850’s favour is that it is happy at any setting between 3 and 22 knots. However, if you want to select an all-round cruising speed, then a straight 3000rpm gives a shade under 20 knots and an even, steady ride.

Moreover, stick the helm over at this speed and you get a level, easy turn without a hint of the hull wanting to heel. Skipper and crew sit well too, with an excellent view and plenty to steady yourself against. There is also a range of doors and windows to open so the wheelhouse doesn’t get muggy. Meanwhile, a touch of spray flicks up on occasions, but this does not appear to be a wet hull.

However, perhaps the best bit is the Rhéa’s slow speed manners, and if you are into creek-hopping and pottering then you’re in for a treat. This is one of the steadiest single-engined craft we’ve driven in a long while: the boat moves when you say, otherwise staying put. As for going astern, it steers as well going backwards as forwards.

The Rhéa is a clear cut above the usual pêche promenade jobs (from the likes of Bénéteau and Jeanneau) and this is reflected in the price. However, it is not hard to see where the money has been spent; everything from the mouldings to the fitout is given the heavyweight treatment, and you feel this is a boat that is going to look just as good in ten years as it did the day you first took delivery.

As a standard boat we like the fact that items such as the excellent all-round cockpit seating or that wonderful stemhead come ready fitted. But there are some surprise options on the list that need to be looked at. These days shore power comes on pretty much anything that floats, while £2546 for a bathing platform seems a rather painful addition to us.

North Sea Maritime Ltd, PO Box 5539, Southend-On-Sea, Essex, SS1 3TE.
Tel: 01702 584 821.
Email: info@northseamaritime.com
Web: www.northseamaritime.com