First test of the Northstar Orion 8 powered by new Honda 350

Northstar Orion 8 plus Honda’s flagship V8 BF350

Testing the Northstar Orion 8, just how ‘starry eyed’ do Ed Hickling & Tom Montgomery-Swan become when they undertake the very first UK test of this potential ‘marriage made in heaven’.

The Turkish RIB brand Northstar, owned by parent company the Marintek Group, first came into being in 2002 when they launched an array of craft that today includes an impressive line-up of both leisure and commercially spec’d offshore RIBs, ranging in length from 3.1 to 12 metres.

Manufactured at their own dedicated facility in the city of Izmir, the company has made the smart move of involving the services of leading UK hull designer and naval architect Adam Younger – a man well-known for his outstanding work in the high-performance sector and whose design influences can be seen throughout the Northstar model range. This is particularly evident with the Orion series, which is the subject of this first ever UK test and a breed of craft now exclusively represented by Twisted Marine of Salcombe.

Special ops

The Northstar Orion 8 model we trialled in the Channel seas off the UK’s rugged coast of Devon this summer came presented in a purposeful-looking black and grey livery – a colour choice that, no doubt, will have strong appeal for all those who favour something of a ‘special ops’ look. But jesting aside, in my view, though other variants are available, this particular colour scheme suits the character of this craft.

Aesthetically, this 8m craft is attractively proportioned. Her visual calibre and substance are enhanced by the cowling of the mighty Honda 4-stroke outboard hanging off her tail. The vessel’s sturdy T-top, with its matt-black, powder-coated ironmongery, as well as the RIB’s steep-sided chines, which sweep with hydrodynamic confidence right through to her pronounced bow, contribute towards her sporty ‘star quality’ look.

But let’s step aboard and take a closer look at the fixtures and features included with this Northstar Orion 8 offering.

Stepping aboard

The Northstar Orion 8 ’s beamy design results in minimal taper towards the bow, which in turn ensures greater deck space and a generous sun deck. The latter can be increased further by adding the infill to link to the two-seater bench positioned to the front face of the helm console. This results in a really spacious area where one can stretch out, relax and socialise. In turn, the boat’s distinct bow sheer provides an added feeling of security even at rest.

Moving aft, you’ll find a double bench-styled rearward-facing passenger seat, which in turn faces a triple version of itself with its back to the splash well through which the deck scuppers are channelled. This rear-deck seating zone is both comfortable and free of pinch points – plus, it integrates the added benefit of maintaining good access to the vessel’s swim platforms and engine. There are plenty of storage options available aboard the craft, but let’s face it, you can’t have enough of these, particularly on an open boat.

Simrad electronics.

The Silvertex-type cross-stitched fabric used throughout the upholstery gives an air of quality and dovetails nicely into the overall colour scheme of the boat. I would say, however, that the padding to the seats generally could do with being more generous in order to provide the necessary degree of comfort one would expect on a high-end product such as this. Northstar are clearly aiming their blows high as a builder, but besides the all-important matter of comfort, deeper cushions mean better shock mitigation, of course. In the luxury high-performance market, such things can’t be overlooked.

Foldable sun bed.

The faux-teak deck surfacing affords the Northstar Orion 8 a very visually pleasing experience. However, this cohesiveness is at odds with the vessel’s puzzling mix of metal finishes – namely, the purposeful-looking, black powder-coated T-top and the stainless steel handles/grab points. Consistency in design and aesthetics is therefore lacking in this area of the boat’s make-up.

Forward storage locker.

Public amenities

At this point, the heads deserves a special mention. As we’ve stated before, the addition of such a facility has become pretty much expected on the specification list of most craft in this price sector. But here on the Northstar Orion 8, Northstar have managed to squeeze in a full-size toilet, which is commendable because it’s discreetly ‘hidden’ within the helm console, being accessed via a hatch door to its front face. My only concern is that the latter does not appear to have a rubber seal to prevent water ingress and as a result would leak considerably if there was much flying spray or, worse still, in the event of a green sea being taken. Of course, unless an internal compartment of this kind is completely dry, it could render it null and void in terms of performing the function of a dry storage area. Nonetheless, this annoyance is a relatively straightforward matter for the builder to put right.

Compact Heads within the console.

On the rear-facing/business side of the helm console, you’ll find a useful and respectably sized (42-litre) pull-out fridge, nicely positioned below the driver’s seat. A pair of recessed non-draining cup holders to the dashboard represent a thoughtful touch, but it would be nice to see additional cup holders located in the front- and aft-deck areas of the boat, while ensuring that all are self-draining too.

Additional amenities that contribute towards making the Northstar Orion 8 a convincingly equipped leisure craft include: a substantial cooler located to the reverse of the helm seating unit, a freshwater shower on the swim platform and, for all those small but important items, a glove box that includes an essential USB charging socket.

Steering console.

Cockpit capers

In the cockpit, the windscreen provides effective protection and the helm seats offer good lateral support. The striking-looking carbon-fibre dashboard, with its centrally mounted Simrad MFD, works well and serves both the cox and the navigator’s requirements admirably. However, while the dash and its instrumentation are well laid out, I would argue that the steering position suffers from being a little cramped between the seat and the wheel. Plus, the positioning of the VHF radio just at knee height means there’s a danger of knocking the mic off its retaining clip. The matter of ergonomics is absolutely essential, particularly on a high-speed craft such as this. Small things make a big difference, but obviously they tend to be much easier to address at factory level rather than in a retro situation. A Hertz marine hi-fi system provides the sonic entertainment aboard this craft and does so to a very high standard.

What about the drive?

The Orion 8 doesn’t just look sporty – let me affirm, she is sporty! Her acceleration and 50-knot top speed leave little to be desired. As expected from an Adam Younger hull, this RIB’s cornering is very precise, which in turn quickly fosters confident driving. Putting the boat into a hard 360 lock is an effortless affair, and despite the motor’s apparent high COG, there is no indication of the boat being unbalanced. Indeed, everything about the drive feels smooth and highly directional – thanks in no small part to the electronic steering system and its direct and instantaneous communication with the Honda rig. As for Honda’s throttle box and lever assembly, as well as the non-touch screen engine read-out instrumentation display, our collective view is that both these items could be of much better quality. They certainly don’t match the stylistic appearance and engineering quality of the engine they’re coupled to. Honda, you can do better than this. The ‘devil is in the detail’ after all …

The driving experience

I will add that although this 8m vessel is clearly a substantial piece of offshore hardware, at the same time, the driving experience is neither heavy nor laboursome even when the engine is trimmed right in. This translates into the Orion feeling both nimble and responsive. All such qualities are no doubt aided by her vacuum-infused hull construction, which not only makes the structure lighter but also increases strength and rigidity.

Driving conditions

The conditions on the day of testing beyond the waters of the Salcombe Estuary could rightly be described as moderately rough, but the Orion’s hull remained stable and gave every evidence of being the thoroughbred we expected it to be. Not everyone is a lover of twin-stepped technology, it’s true, but in this RIB’s case, it was noticeable that this design option increased efficiency and also helped the boat to run acceptably flat and true into the steep head seas. A little more weight up in the bow wouldn’t be a bad thing, though. With a few more kilos in the forepeak, an even more enhanced ‘flying attitude’/level angle of attack would grant this boat and engine combination near perfect head sea performance.

The BF350 is 39kgs heavier than the Mercury V10 verado 350

Understanding how to get the best out of a twin-stepped hull, especially in following seas, takes a little bit of time and practice. Generally the rule of thumb is to keep the power on, but it definitely has to be appreciated that stepped hulls require a different driving technique to a standard deep-vee. Don’t misunderstand me, though, this boat is not difficult to drive, and despite its high-performance abilities, it remains reassuringly predictable and ‘non-quirky’ to helm.

Honda V8 BF350

In terms of decibel delivery, Honda’s all-new flagship 350 model performs with adroit contriteness. It can be hard to appreciate these days just how much modern 4-stroke technology has revolutionised the outboard engine world. These engines are so refined and so efficiency conscious that, if it weren’t for the rev counter and speed read-out, one could almost be forgiven for overlooking the fact that this boat has 350 horses strapped to its backside! Certainly, however, at a comfortable and economical cruising speed of anything between 20 and 25 knots, it’s virtually impossible to hear the engines at all anywhere forward of the helm station. That said, don’t let me give you the false impression that these motors are afraid of giving voice or letting off their pent-up aggression. Oh no, because they possess an awe-inspiring eagerness to vent their raw power when the throttles are shoved southwards. If you want ‘sports mode’, this combo has stacks of it.

An equitable marriage?

So there you have it. Despite her niggles, the Orion 8 remains a compelling choice. The Northstar stands out as a versatile and efficient boat with a ready-made pedigree. She’s a make and model of RIB made all the more alluring thanks to her new-found marriage partner – that being, of course, Honda’s finest and most powerful 4-stroke to date.

Watch our video test of the Honda 350 V8 on the Northstar Orion 8 here.