Mini Fisher is preparing the world debut of its new Classic at the Southampton International Boat Show, adding a retro-styled 4.5-metre runabout to the compact end of the leisure-boat market. The design takes visual inspiration from sporting runabouts of the 1950s and 1960s while using modern GRP construction and contemporary outboard power.
At only 4.5 metres long and 1.8 metres wide, the Mini Fisher Classic is aimed at buyers who want a boat that can be trailered, stored and launched without the infrastructure associated with larger craft. Its compact dimensions also place it squarely in the part of the market where ease of ownership can matter as much as outright accommodation.
Retro appearance with modern construction
The Classic uses a double-shell glass-fibre structure and a semi-planing hull, with stainless-steel detailing and configurable colours and upholstery. Mini Fisher’s specification gives a net weight of 290kg, helping keep the complete boat-and-trailer package manageable for storage and road transport.
The cockpit is designed for up to five people, with a usable deck area of around 2.30 by 1.45 metres and a separate sunpad section. The manufacturer also emphasises customisation, allowing buyers to vary the finish rather than treating the Classic as a single fixed specification.
Petrol or electric outboards
Mini Fisher has designed the hull for either petrol or electric outboard power. The official specification allows up to 44.2kW, equivalent to 60hp, while lower-powered petrol and electric installations can be chosen for quieter or more economical use.
That propulsion flexibility is useful in a 4.5-metre leisure boat because the same hull can serve very different ownership patterns. One buyer may prioritise low-speed lake or river use, while another may want stronger acceleration and coastal performance from a higher-output petrol outboard.
Small enough to simplify ownership
The company gives a draft of around 25cm and a towing length of approximately 5.5 metres on a trailer when the motor and bathing platform are excluded. Those figures underline the model’s central proposition: it is intended to remain physically manageable rather than trying to imitate the facilities of a much larger cruiser.
For first-time owners, families and buyers with limited storage space, that simplicity can be a significant advantage. Maintenance, launch logistics and winter storage generally become more straightforward as boat size and systems complexity fall.
World debut at Southampton
Mini Fisher says the Classic will make its debut at the 2026 Southampton International Boat Show, where it will appear alongside the company’s existing compact leisure craft. The show’s own debut programme also identifies the model as a world premiere.
The launch adds another genuine small-boat introduction to a show often dominated by larger marina exhibits. For Leisure Boat Guide, the Classic is particularly relevant because its 4.5-metre size, five-person capacity and mixed petrol-electric propulsion options sit directly within the core everyday leisure-boat market.