Within their family’s 70-year boatbuilding legacy, Bill and Gary Kenner created K2 Marine, which builds Frontier Boats and BlackJack Boats. BlackJack is a line of esteemed saltwater center-console bay boats. Frontier is also a line of dry-riding bay boats but with a focus on value.
Each BlackJack is assembled by hand, its Carolina-flare hull built with molds designed by Bill and Gary Kenner. The concave-design bow slices into chop and waves and, combined with the reverse flare of the hull chines, turns spray down and away for a smoother, drier ride. Large lifting strakes reduce the hull’s wetted surface for more efficiency at speed. The tumblehome transom hearkens back to classic wood hulls. Handmade touches include traditional hand-laid laminates to 57 individual pieces.
BlackJack owners, many of them guides and captains, praise the boats’ ride, shallows-friendly draft, abundant dry storage and generous fishing room. These boats hop onto plane quickly and stay there, even at slow speeds.
BlackJack 256 Coastal
The 256 Coastal—the newest addition to the BlackJack line—combines offshore- and bay-boat elements in a model that lets you decide how you want to fish on any given day. Its three-piece design, deeper casting deck, and open aft deck support comfortable fishing in bigger waters, without sacrificing inshore effectiveness.
Fishing-ready, the BlackJack 256 Coastal has a fiberglass leaning post with anodized backrest, four rod holders, storage, and a livewell. The boat features dual forward fish boxes plus a third in-floor center fish box, all insulated, with a through-hull drain. The rear bilge-access compartment includes storage for a 5-gallon bucket. A six-gauge trolling-motor harness with circuit-breaker protection and tilt trim switch is standard. The large console dash stands ready for the addition of aftermarket electronics.
Undergunwale storage cradles three rods on each side, and a forward insulated baitwell is topped with a clear acrylic lid and equipped with a recirculator and fill.
The front-open console houses batteries, and a seat at its front contains a 70-quart cooler. Optional forward seating with removable cushions and backrests create a day cruiser perfect for family trips to the sandbar or an island beach.
Editor’s Note
Many offshore boats can handle rough conditions but draw too much water for inshore waters. Many inshore boats can run skinny but are out of their element when running offshore. However, few boats can handle both environments as well as the Blackjack 256 Coastal. -Alan Jones
Performance Data
- Test Power: Yamaha F350
- Test Prop: 15 ¼” x 21” Yamaha SWS XL
- Test Load: 1,293 lbs
- Test Speed: 32 mph at 3,500 rpm
- Max Range: 249 miles
Specifications
| LOA: | 25’6″ |
| Beam: | 8’6″ |
| Fuel Capacity: | 80 gal. |
| Dry Weight: | 2,900 lb. |
| Max HP: | 450 |
| Powered By: | Yamaha |
BlackJack – Knoxville, Arkansas; blackjackboats.com
