Robalo partnered with Michael Peters to redevelop the R300 center-console from the keel to the hardtop. The new hull offers impressively crisp handling during sharp turns and when crossing aggressive chop. At speeds of around 40 mph, we reined the R300 into barrel-racing turns, and it took them sure-footedly. Top speed nearly tapped 59 mph. At rest, the 10 ½-foot beam held steady footing so crew could work efficiently while trolling or bottomfishing, resulting in a solid offshore platform.
Twin Yamaha 350 V-6 outboards are controlled with Yamaha’s exclusive Helm Master Full Maneuverability system, which includes a joystick integrated with Yamaha’s proprietary autopilot system. The system provides incomparably convenient docking confidence, but more importantly, it includes station-keeping capabilities that hold the vessel in three ways. First, it can hold the vessel on a GPS point in an orientation the skipper selects. That feature is important in port while waiting for a turn at the gas dock. It can also hold the vessel in that position, but allow the boat to pivot on its point to whatever orientation the engines find most fuel-efficient to maintain. Finally, it allows the vessel to drift in its present orientation along whatever line the seas and winds determine.
The R300 offers a spacious interior, especially at the helm and in the cockpit. The helm area is wide enough for three-across seating, with each adjustable seat featuring flip-up bolsters. There is plenty of space to stand while piloting the R300, and the seating keeps the dash and tilt wheel within comfortable reach. A footrest below lets you brace yourself in rough seas.
The hardtop pipework was powder-coated black to contrast with the custom white hull color on our test boat which I found pleasing to the eye. I also felt the dark overhead surface reduced glare from the water. Overhead handrails give crew a place to hold fast in bumpy conditions, and a bonded-glass three-sided windshield opens on stainless-steel struts sturdy enough to support it while underway.
The roomy cockpit is made comfortable thanks to standard mezzanine seating that faces foldaway transom seating. That grants seating for four to six in a face-to-face conversation area. The transom seat deploys or stows at the touch of a button, eschewing the awkward manual systems found on most center-consoles. It also offers a fast shift from casual cruising to serious fishing. There is a Yeti cooler under the mezzanine seat cushion, and when the lid is raised up for access, special scissor hinges hold it up while you dig through the ice to find just the right refreshment.
For the angler who brings a stick for every conceivable fishing situation, there are ample rod holders in the transom, gunwales and hardtop. All are plumbed to drain overboard. Dual 28-gallon livewells flank the transom and are fed via a pump box in the bilge that bleeds off aerated water before it can reach the livewells and adversely affect your live-bait supply. Acrylic lids allow inspection of your liveys without the need to open the splash-inhibiting lids.
For fish too large to pull over the gunwales, a transom door and a portside dive door offer convenient options for sliding a big tuna into the large fish boxes. With the seat folded away, the transom seatback offers padding to brace your thighs against during a battle. The coamings also boast thick pads port and starboard, from bow to stern.
At the bow, seating stretches to the anchor locker. A stowaway table can be used to convert the area into a sun pad. Seatbacks and cushions for the port and starboard lounges can be stowed to open the area for fishing. There’s a large in-sole locker for a net bucket between the forward lounges. An inviting seat occupies the front of the console. The console interior opens from the front, offering easy access to the step-down head plumbed with a marine toilet and a sink.
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A pair of doors in the compartment open to reveal the back side of the helm, offering excellent access to all electronics, switches, relays, wiring and cables. Likewise, the transom seat module opens to the bilge to provide generous access to the plumbing of livewells, bilge pumps, seacocks and fuel filters. A door in the transom walkway protects battery switches. All that represents key advantages found on other Robalo models.
Features on the R300 designed to extend the vessel’s service life are numerous. For example, every hinge is a friction hinge designed to hold hatches up without troublesome struts. Fender hangers on the gunwales preserve cleats for mooring lines. Perhaps most notable of the forward-looking materials is the silicone upholstery, which is inherently cool, stain-repellent and UV-resistant, dramatically extending its life. Even gelcoat formulations are selected for high gloss and resistance to UV chalking.
Hardcore fishability, Yamaha outboard power and reliability, comfortable cruising with family, and a head-turning style that makes the R300 a pride to own are all traits that have built Robalo into a top resale brand in the marine business.
Specifications
| Length: | 30’6″ |
| Beam: | 10’6″ |
| Draft: | 3’3″ (motors down) |
| Fuel: | 280 gal. |
| Weight: | 9,000 lb. |
| Max HP: | 700 |
| Base Price: | $316,899 |
Robalo – Nashville, Georgia; robalo.com
