The Angler Boat Corporation has been building quality outboard boats in Miami for nearly 30 years. That’s quite an accomplishment inand of itself, but what’s more astounding is the fact that oneof the founders of the company, Elio Grillo, still owns it andis involved in management on a daily basis. Now that’s stabilityfor you.
Perhaps that’s why Anglercan offer its boats with a lifetime limited hull warranty. It’shard to get any better warranty than that, and it reflects Angler’sconfidence in its wood-free, 100-percent hand-laminated constructionmethods, which have proven so durable.
The new 2400CC is thelatest center console from Angler,and comes packed with lots of no-nonsense fishing features thatoffshore fishermen are bound to like. These include ample drystorage, a bait-rigging area, a lighted live well, and a large cockpit. The boatis an integrated-engine-bracket design, with some innovative featuresthat make it more fishing-friendly.
Console Moves
Angler started by moving the console a little farther forward on the 2400 to create some additional cockpit space. The console has no seat on the forward end, so moving it up doesn’t reduce the bow space. The largercock pit gives you ample fishing room, along with two in-deckfishboxes that drain through a macerator pump and are actuallybig enough to hold some respectable fish.
The transom bulkheadhas a gate to starboard for reaching the engine platform, whereyou’ll find a recess ed stainless-steel swim ladder.
There’s a lighted livewell on the centerline of the bulkhead, and a sink with a bait-riggingstation to port. Salt water washdown is standard, and Angler evensupplies under-gunwale rod racks with locking rings to hold yourrods securely, as opposed to the simple cut-out racks we see sooften.
The roomy compartmentbeneath the console can be used to house an optional porta-potty,or it can simply be used as a storage area. The console sportsa low-profile, wraparound acrylic windshield and an aluminum handrail. The helm is to port with switches placed on the right, gaugesarranged above the wheel, and an electronics mounting area above that. Angler has also molded in an angled footrest to make steering more com fortable. Our test boat had the optional rocket launcher with four rod holders, and the footrest made steering the boat a breeze.
At the bow, a split seatingarrangement provides a nice casting platform, plus lots of storageroom beneath the seats. The 2400 comes with a molded-in bow pulpitand an anchor locker that will store a Danforth anchor vertically.You can also order an optional filler piece and cushions to makethe bow area one large sundeck, for those of you who might liketo catch a few rays after a hard morning of fishing.
Our test boat ran verywell with a single 225-hp Yamaha, posting a cruise speed of 27knots at 4000 rpm, and hitting a wide-open 39.5 knots at 5600rpm. The 2400 has a deep-vee hull with 19 degrees of deadriseat the transom, so it handles chop pretty well. We ran it on a verywindy day in Miami’s Biscayne Bay, and found that the boat would pound ifyou pushed it too hard. However, by backing off on the throttleand finding a slightly slower cruising speed, we stayed dry andcomfortable at every angle to the waves. Incidentally, the enginebracket will also accommodate twin outboards.
The 2400’s standard equipmentlist includes hydraulic steering, chrome-over-bronze through-hulls,four rod holders, and recessed water and oil fills in the transombulkhead. Options include an auxiliary fuel tank, a T-top, freshwater shower, a head, and a folding rear bench seat. It all addsup to a real winner of a center console, one that should proveto be a great value, as well.
Angler Boat Corp.,Miami, FL; (305) 691-9975; www.anglerboats.com.
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