Buying boats in a DIY store - there has never been anything like it before. Neckermann started selling inflatable boats with Yamaha outboards via catalogue around 35 years ago - the same engine manufacturer also had a cooperation agreement with Karstadt for the sale of engines and inflatable boats - but directly in DIY stores? That's new! This is made possible by the Bauhaus chain, which started doing this about eight years ago, Nautical departments at strategic locations for water sports to integrate. Here you can find all kinds of maritime accessories and, since the beginning of 2014, plastic motorboats from Pegazus, a family business from eastern Poland.
We drove the largest open version, the Pegazus 460, a typical entry-level boat with a centre console, stern bench seat and bow seat corner, which can be converted into a sun lounger with additional cushions. Not only is the double bench seat first class, but also the firmness and quality of the upholstery (with zip fasteners). The overall finish with its neat cut-outs and surfaces as well as the seamless interior paintwork make a great impression. The metalwork and installations are equally good. We particularly like the cable feed-through to the battery with a so-called choke nipple, which protects against chafing. The 60 Ah battery stands in a box without being secured with a strap. Although it can't really move, it always slides back and forth, which puts a permanent strain on the connecting cables. To protect the electrical system from overload, the shipyard installs a switch panel fitted with glass fuses. The battery is operated with an easily accessible main switch under the driver's bench. The built-in tank, which is made of aluminium and attached with solid straps, is not quite commonplace.
Thanks to its 45-litre capacity, the Pegazus, together with the 50 hp outboard from Tohatsu, is a small endurance runner. In the most economical cruising mode, you can cover 81 nm plus 15 % reserve, which is considerable for a boat of this size. Even at full throttle, it still fulfils the BOOTE standard of 60 nm. To ensure that the transition phase from displacement to planing speed with two people only takes about one second and that you have a reasonable view ahead, one person should sit at the front on the bench. The power trim should be in the down position just as much as when cornering fast and gybing. With the outboard trimmed, the Pegazus tends to rock, especially to port. Without trim, on the other hand, it pulls its laps smoothly without a hitch. Slalom courses can be sailed fully trimmed (about ¼ on the display) just as easily as the manoeuvre "tearing the rudder". The hull travels smoothly through waves from barges on the Elbe and only takes on spray water in the bow when the waves are very close together and steep. At slow speeds of between around 3 and 5 knots, the Pagazus hull runs straight except for a few swerves, which has only a moderate effect on a person moving in the boat. For harbour manoeuvres, the turning circles are tight, and when engaged in reverse, you have to be a little patient when reversing or help with a push of the throttle so that the bow turns in the other direction. The steering and gearstick can be easily reached from the comfortable double bench.
The navigation lights are missing on our test boat, but they are included in the "ready to go" package and are BSH-approved. The package also includes a tarpaulin, bathing ladder, water ski pole, CD radio, electric bilge pump, a fire extinguisher, sufficiently stable cleats and trailer eyes. If you want to transport the boat by car on land, you will need at least a 750 kg trailer, which is also available as an unbraked version.
Data sheet: Pegazus 460
Shipyard: Pegacus
Type designation: Pegazus 460
CE category: C - Coastal waters
Material of hull and deck: Plastic
Length: 4,60 m
Width: 2,00 m
Displacement: 0,46 t
Price: 14.850,00 €
