Sting 725 Pro T-Top tested: The crossover for work or play

Some boats reveal themselves at the dock. Others only make sense once you put them to work. The Sting 725 Pro T-Top falls firmly into the latter camp. We spent two days fishing from one off Lofoten in grim northern conditions and, while it looks simple at first glance, the more time you spend aboard the more its thinking comes through. This is a seriously capable bit of kit.

The 725 Pro marks Sting’s move into more purposeful territory, a crossover between leisure boat and commercial platform, developed for owners who need something tougher and more capable than the brand’s family-orientated runabouts.

Built in Norway with clear input from the local fishing community, it has been designed around function first and foremost. This is a boat for anglers, commercial operators and practical-minded owners who care more about usability than soft furnishings.

The first thing that strikes you is just how much deck space there is. For a 7.2-metre boat, the working area both fore and aft is substantial. We had three people fishing comfortably on the foredeck without bumping into one another, always a good test of whether a boat really works.

The beam is generous, the decks are wide and the moulded non-slip finish is seriously grippy underfoot. It all feels built for wet boots and rough weather and certainly worked well when we had half the North Atlantic sloshing over the sides. Talking of water, a thoughtful touch is the decision to position the hand bilge pump forward rather than aft. Sting’s reasoning is that by pumping water from the foredeck, there’s a more even weight distribution when water accumulates at the stern, a clever detail that reflects Sting’s intelligent design thinking.

Up forward, the broad bow doubles as seating on top of a roomy locker, and because of the insulated composite seat pads in lieu of cushions, it actually felt warm to sit on, and is easy to clean. Sting has recessed the mooring points into the moulding rather than fitting proud cleats, reducing the chance of snagging nets or lines. It is a small touch, but one that tells you this boat has been thought about by people who actually fish.

The flush inner topsides work well too, giving anglers a sure footing with a positive surface to lean against when playing fish and the high freeboard also gives extra security. Rod holders, handholds and storage are all exactly where you want them.

To find out more about how this boat specifically performed as a fishing boat, do read our story on the World Cod Fishing Championship.

The T-Top format suits the boat particularly well. It provides good shelter from wind and spray without stealing valuable deck space for a wheelhouse, while also avoiding the steaming-up that often comes with compact enclosed cabins full of wet crew.

The helm is basic but has a logical arrangement of what you need. Our boat carried a Lowrance multifunction display and fishfinder, trim tab controls, bow thruster and the usual switching, all laid out sensibly.

Visibility is excellent and the driving position gives a commanding view forward. Some may prefer a slightly larger wheel, but in practice it never felt awkward. As elsewhere on the boat, everything feels robust and built to last.

Powered by a Mercury Racing 150hp V6 outboard, the Sting is geared and propped for torque rather than top-end thrills. It climbs onto the plane at around 12 knots and feels happiest cruising around 15 to 18 knots, where it runs efficiently and comfortably.

What stands out most, though, is the stability. The broad, flat aft sections and effective chines make this one of the most stable boats at rest in its class. You can lean hard on one side trying to rock it and barely get a response, exactly what you want when several anglers are working from the same rail.

That flat transom design also helps it rise quickly onto the plane, though it does mean low-speed turning is less nimble than if it had a deeper-V. Sting counters that with a bow thruster for close-quarters work, and in practice the trade-off feels worthwhile given the gains in stability.

This is an extremely well thought-out boat to live and work with. A salt washdown system using a spray nozzle and retractable hose reaches all parts of the boat and neatly stows away. Good drainage, easy-clean surfaces and durable finishes all make it simple to keep tidy after a hard day’s use.

It would suit everyone from serious recreational anglers to lobster potters, harbour staff and commercial operators wanting something compact but capable. Equally, for practical family owners who value toughness over luxury, it offers genuine crossover appeal.

The Sting Pro 725 T-Top is 69,415 EUR excluding VAT.

The Sting 725 Pro T-Top is not fast, flashy or luxurious, and it makes no apology for that. What it offers instead is a huge amount of usable deck space, excellent stability and a level of practical thinking that is rare at this size.

The flat aft hull and modest power package bring some compromises, particularly in outright performance and low-speed agility, but for anglers and working boaters those trade-offs feel entirely justified. This is a boat built to do a job, and it does it very well.