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In recent years, Yellowfin Yachts has earned a reputation for producing some of the most jaw-dropping center-console fishing machines on the market. Their good looks and sleek design are easily recognizable, even from far distances. And their fish-catching features make them a favorite among offshore anglers.
Recently, the Sarasota, Florida-based company spread its wings, adding a fine flats skiff to their line as well as a hot rod of a bay boat. As you might expect from Yellowfin, its 24 Bay is slick to the nth degree. Designed with only the most serious of anglers in mind, the 24 Bay offers plenty of punch and a host of excellent fishing designs.
Design and Construction
This boat will get anglers where they’re going in a hurry. Stretching to 24 feet, 11 inches and boasting a sound, 8-foot, 6-inch beam, the 24 Bay is rated for up to a powerful 350-horsepower outboard. A center-console design, its hull features a composite foam transom, Corecell coring above the waterline and Baltek coring in the running surface. With a deadrise of 15 inches, the 24 Bay will cut through a persistent chop with ease, and thanks to a 75-gallon fuel tank, it is prepared to go the distance to find fish.
Yellowfin’s 24 Bay comes ready to roll with an Ameratrail dual-axle trailer that includes electric-over-hydraulic brakes, a spare tire and transom ratchet tie-downs. Fully rigged with a standard 300-horsepower Mercury Verado (which is mounted standard on a Bob’s jackplate), the company pegs the boat’s weight at about 3,250 pounds.
Fly-fishermen will appreciate the 24 Bay’s recessed forward casting deck and clean, clutter-free design. The bow deck also features three hatches that provide easy access to a huge storage area below, which offers tons of room for gear. Plenty of room also exists in the helm for flush-mount electronics, and the boat comes equipped with an acrylic windshield along with a recessed footrest for the captain’s comfort and stainless-steel rails for passengers.
Running and Fishing
You’ll certainly want to hang on when dropping the throttle on this baby! Like all Yellowfins, the 24 Bay is a very fast boat. As with other models under the company’s umbrella, the 24 Bay features a stepped hull, which reduces friction and gets the boat up on plane in very short order.
In company tests with a standard 300-horsepower Mercury Verado, the 24 Bay hit a top speed of 65 mph at about 6,200 rpm. Pulling the throttle back to 3,900 rpm, the 24 Bay produced a nice, economical cruising speed of 40 mph, burning about 8 to 10 gallons per hour.
No question this boat will get you to the grounds quickly. With a draft of 12 to 14 inches, it won’t venture into the shallow waters, but it is perfectly suited for fishing most inshore waterways as well as performing the occasional nearshore and offshore duty under reasonable sea conditions. With two 35-gallon livewells, a large cooler, five Gelmux vertical rod holders on each side of the console and a standard 8-foot Power Pole with a high-performance stealth pump, it is ready to fish.
The 24 Bay is a very serious boat for very serious anglers. A head-turner that leaves many comparable craft in the dust, it provides a stylish platform from which to catch fish. – MM
LOA……24’11”
**Beam……8’6″
Draft……12″ to 14″
Deadrise……15 degrees
Weight……3,250 lbs. (fully rigged)
Fuel……75 gals.
Max HP……350
MSRP……$65,000
(with 300 hp Mercury Verado)**
_Yellowfin Yachts / Sarasota, Florida / 941-753-7828 / _www.yellowfinyachts.com
