Whether you’re thinking about buying a new boat, or just like to keep up with the latest models to come on the market, here’s a preview of 20 top new fishing boats (in alphabetical order) of various designs, sizes, and brands, launched in 2016 and featured on Salt Water Sportsman.
For more in-depth information on any of the boats, including performance data, additional photos and/or video, click on the respective hyperlink.
AVENGER AV26
Sporting an aggressive entry and 15-degree deadrise at the transom, this 26-footer is capable of handling the chop in a large bay and bigger seas during nearshore forays. The beam is 8½ feet, but the layout and roominess make it feel much bigger.
The low freeboard makes easy to land and release fish, and there’s tons of storage aboard. Twin rod lockers in the forward ¬casting deck rack several outfits in cradles for extra protection. A 12-gallon livewell underneath the console seat is ideal for holding live shrimp or crabs, and dual 27-gallon livewells on the transom corners house more bait or redfish en route to a release tourney weigh-in. A 96-quart cooler in the transition step to the bow complements the 180-quart in the cockpit sole. And there’s a 260-quart fish box in the bow.
The Avenger AV26‘s deluxe standard leaning post comes with four rod holders, and there are rod racks in the covering boards. A 65-quart Yeti cooler stows below the leaning post. Other handy standard features include the anchor locker with twin hangers, raw-water washdown, coaming bolsters, and undergunwale LED lighting. In addition to the console seats, the Avenger has a folding bench on the transom.
An Atlas jack plate, Lenco trim tabs, and SeaStar hydraulic steering come standard. And the transom setback is filled with foam flotation, allowing for higher horsepower options and reducing squatting associated with heavier outboards.
(adapted from feature by Dave Lear)
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 26’2″
- Beam: 8’6″
- Draft: 14″
- Deadrise: 15 degrees
- Fuel: 89 gal.
- Weight: 3,100 lb.
- Max HP: 400
- Price: $74,142 w/ Yamaha F300XCA
Avenger Bay Boats: avengerbayboats.com
BARKER 26 OPEN
Built on the same fast and efficient twin-step hull as the ¬acclaimed 26 Calibogue Bay, the new Barker 26 Open is a great choice to fish bays and estuaries, plus nearshore reefs and wrecks, and also has bluewater capabilities.
Four livewells, including a pressurized 40-gallon upright well with viewing window, clear lid and friction hinges, offer 85 gallons of capacity for live bait. If that’s not enough, there’s another 40-gallon livewell below the aft cockpit sole, plus a 140-gallon insulated fish locker below the forward deck to ice down your catch.
Twin helm seats feature flip-up bolsters, fold-down armrests. A bench-style seat folds open from the aft casting deck. A sliding pilot hatch in the Key West-style hardtop provides access to the half-tower helm. While aloft, you can stand on a special SeaDek-covered platform above the center console or sit on a bench.
Five rod holders come flush-mounted along each gunwale. All double as drink holders. Padded coaming bolsters encircle the interior. Undergunwale racks allow convenient rod and gaff storage. A rack of seven vertical rod holders lines the aft edge of the hardtop and five more punctuate each side of the console. Twin locking compartments in the forward gunwales stow additional rods.
The Barker 26 Open features a bow-mounted Minn Kota Riptide Ulterra trolling motor, twin 8-foot Power-Pole anchoring systems, plus a hydraulic jack plate.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 25’6″
- Beam: 9’3″
- Draft: 14″ to 16″
- Deadrise: 18 degrees
- Fuel: 90 gal. (standard), 125 gal. (optional)
- Water: 20 gal.
- Weight: 4,500 lb.
- Max HP: 400
- Price: $131,500 w/Mercury Verado 350
Barker Boatworks: barkerboatworks.com
BOSTON WHALER 330 OUTRAGE
The 330 was the first launch in Boston Whaler’s redesigned Outrage lineup. With 28 inches of interior freeboard and stainless-steel toe rails, safety is clearly paramount.
The helm leaning post incorporates an aft-facing couch and an ingenious pullout table for rigging. Three storage drawers hold terminal tackle, and a 40-gallon livewell is an available add-on. The tempered-glass windshield has a power-actuated vent, wipers and washdown system. The hardtop is prerigged for outriggers and comes with LED, flood and dome lighting, life-jacket storage and an electronics box.
The Whaler 330 Outrage has plenty of rod storage: eight holders mounted on the gunwales and more underneath, another rod rack on the transom, a five-rod rocket launcher on the hardtop, and the lockable front console compartment accommodates 10 other rods, plus gear and an optional cooler. There are twin 57-gallon fish boxes in the cockpit deck, and a transom door and companion dive door on the port side come standard.
There’s a stowable transom bench and flip-down trolling seats on each side of the console. Removable cushions in the raised bow deck add to the overall seating capacity. Other key features of the Boston Whaler 330 Outrage include a spacious head compartment with VacuFlush toilet, raw and freshwater washdowns, a summer kitchen with electric grill, a cockpit sunshade, underwater LED lighting, a bow thruster, and more.
(adapted from feature by Dave Lear)
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 33’1″
- Beam: 10’2″
- Draft: 1’10”
- Deadrise: 23 degrees
- Fuel: 300 gal.
- Water: 40 gal.
- Weight: 9,000 lb.
- Max HP: 700
- Price: $261,091 w/twin white Mercury Verado 350s
Boston Whaler: bostonwhaler.com
CALCUTTA 263
Cats are known for stability, but the Calcutta 263 is far more than a stable fishing platform. The hull is designed to cushion bumps from wakes or waves, accelerate astoundingly fast, stay on plane at very slow speed, and it’s also very fuel efficient.
The bow remains tall to take on waves and mitigate spray, but the gunwales slope down aft of the console, reducing freeboard to comfortably reach the water to grab a fish or release it. Calcutta incorporates its innovative SeaGate fold-down transom instead of the usual rear bulkhead. When it’s up, it keeps the deck completely dry, even when backing down. When down, it extends the aft cockpit and allows easy access to the bilge, motors and the integrated swim platform with openings to port and starboard, which makes it easy to boat a big fish or get back on board after taking a dip.
A step behind the spacious fore deck of the Calcutta 263, twin hatches access a 350-quart fish box. A lockable door enables access to systems and marine-grade-tinned wiring inside the console — with heat-shrink connections, and clearly labeled and arranged for convenience. Seats with flip-up bolsters accommodate the skipper and a companion at the helm. They rest on a module with storage, an aft-facing bench, and a 42-gallon pressurized livewell. Aft, 300-quart compartments to port and starboard offer ample storage. Four flush-mount rod holders, racks for three rods below each gunwale, LED lighting, and raw-water washdown come standard.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 26’3″
- Beam: 8’6″
- Draft: 14″
- Fuel: 126 gal.
- Weight: 2,800 lb.
- Max HP: 300
- Price: $103,900 w/twin 90 hp outboards
Calcutta Boats: calcuttaboats.com
COBIA 277
The 277 appears larger than its specs indicate, the tall gunwales deliver the feeling of safety experienced in much bigger boats, and the wealth of appointments make a day on the water fun for the entire family.
Foldaway backrests turn the bow the seats into twin lounges. Remove the cushions and the elevated compartments make excellent casting platforms with dry storage underneath. An 18-inch-wide extension bridges the gap between them but folds down to access the anchor locker. A table that begins flush with the deck rises between the seats, transforming the front of the boat into a picnic area at the push of a button.
The front of the Cobia 277‘s console opens to a step-down head compartment. Twin bucket seats with fold-down bolsters, double as a leaning post with storage drawers and tackle trays. An optional rocket launcher holds four rigged rods behind the seats.
There’s storage for rods and gaffs in the covering boards, two 47-gallon fish boxes in the cockpit, and coaming pads and the optional toe rails let anglers bear down on fish digging for the bottom. At the stern, a wide bench with removable backrest seats up to three, and the motorized transom bulkhead lifts to access the bilge. A 42-gallon transom livewell features a clear lid to keep tabs on the bait.
The Cobia has a transom door to port, and a retractable ladder, raw- and freshwater washdowns, and eight flush-mount rod holders come standard.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 27’7″
- Beam: 9’8″
- Draft: 23″
- Deadrise: 21 degrees
- Fuel: 189 gal.
- Water: 25 gal.
- Weight: 5,200 lb. (plus power)
- Max HP: 500
- Price: $124,547 w/ twin Yamaha F200s
Cobia Boats: cobiaboats.com
EDGEWATER 262 CC
Single-piece infusion construction, turns the 262’s hull and stringer grid into one solid piece, utilizing only the necessary resin for superb strength and rigidity with minimal weight, and the deep-V hull and variable deadrise conquer choppy seas and provide a stable ride.
Remote latches make it a cinch to open large twin storage compartments at the bow that double as forward seating and, with the removable table in place, convert the area into a full sun pad, a casting deck or a picnic spot with a view.
The walk-in console of the Edgewater 262 CC houses an electric head, a sink with pullout shower, and access to wiring and electronics. At the helm, adjustable bolster seats allow the skipper and a companion to sit or stand. The slim design leaves space for a sizable cooler on a pullout slide. Lighting shines down from the hardtop, which also includes LED spreader lights, an instrument box and overhead life-jacket storage. A bait prep station includes a sink, cutting board and storage, with an electric grill available as an option.
There’s a pair of doors — one to starboard and another on the transom, twin 120-quart fish boxes, a 40-gallon pressurized livewell with clear lid, and copious rod storage: four flush-mount holders on the gunwales, four on the transom, a triple rack under the port gunwale, two rocket launchers holding a combined total of nine rods, and a rack for another pair of rods inside the port bow compartment.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 26’5″
- Beam: 9’3″
- Draft: 21″ (hull only)
- Deadrise: Variable
- Fuel: 163 gal.
- Water: 19 gal.
- Weight: 5,000 lb.
- Max HP: 500
- Price: Upon Request
Edgewater Boats: ewboats.com
GRADY-WHITE FISHERMAN 236
The stringer system and transom of the 236 are constructed with all composite materials, with a beefy aluminum brace molded into the transom for additional strength.
The forward casting deck has a fill-in section and the outer insulated 89-quart boxes enhance the usable footprint. Thick coaming bolsters surround the cockpit, and a comfortable leaning post affords helm seating. An upgraded version includes rod storage, a companion tool rack and a 25-gallon livewell.
Toe rails, rod holders on the gunwales, horizontal racks for six combos, and a160-quart transom box to port with a 15.5 gallon livewell just inboard of the swing-away transom door, are all standard issue on the Grady-White Fisherman 236.
Also standard, the aft foldaway bench-style seat is a good spot to relax during long runs. A jump seat on the forward console lifts to access a drink cooler. A tall compartment to starboard opens into the ventilated head with porta potti. And for family outings, a full cushion package with foldaway back rests (an available option) turns the bow into a lounging area.
The helm is large and the instrument panels are easy to scan and reach. Integrated twin swim platform extensions help span bigger waves, and the adjacent compartments supply extra storage, while the telescoping boarding ladder to starboard simplifies re-entry.
(adapted from feature by Dave Lear)
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 23’7″
- Beam: 8’6″
- Draft: 18.5″
- Fuel: 115 gal.
- Water: 10 gal.
- Deadrise: 20 degrees
- Max HP: 300
- Weight: 3,900 lb.
- Price: $97,995 w/Yamaha F300
Grady-White: gradywhite.com
GRADY-WHITE FREEDOM 275
The retooled Freedom 275 is a dual-console model incorporates a new layout, which expands the helm and increases cockpit and storage space, improving seating and adding to a lengthy list of features.
Comfy cushions covering twin elevated boxes to port and starboard seat six comfortably at the bow. The pair of insulated compartments provide a combined capacity of 176 quarts to stash gear or keep food and drinks chilled. All-around bolsters and a removable table that also mounts in the aft cockpit round off the conveniences forward.
Moving aft, entry to the lockable portside console is now wider. Inside, a step-down head compartment comes with a mirror and a marine head, while horizontal racks allow storage of longer rods than before. A deluxe adjustable helm seat comes standard. Behind it, an optional wet bar is equipped with grill and refrigerator, and includes storage, a countertop, sink, and trash compartment. On the opposite side, a lounger in the back the wider companion seat extends into the cockpit at the touch of a button.
A hardtop with a painted aluminum frame, storage net, speakers, LED lights, radar flat and outrigger plates, four rod holders on the gunwales, a 165-quart fish box on the transom, and a lighted 32-gallon livewell come standard on the Grady-White Freedom 275, along with a walk-through tempered-glass windshield, and a windbreak door that closes the gap between the consoles.
A bench-style seat supplies seating aft and folds away when the fishing heats up. A transom door, and the integrated swim platform and ladder make it easy for swimmers to hop back on board.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 26’11”
- Beam: 8’6″
- Draft: 20″
- Fuel: 184 gal.
- Max HP: 500
- Weight: 4,972 lbs. (plus power)
- Price: $154,585 w/twin Yamaha F150s
Grady-White: gradywhite.com
INVINCIBLE 42 CENTER CABIN
Offering a superb layout for fishing and numerous creature comforts, the new Invincible 42 Center Cabin includes a roomy cabin with more than 6 feet of headroom, a 7-foot by 4-foot forward berth, and a mini galley in the aft portion, complete with microwave and refrigerator/freezer, sink with freshwater faucet, and a Corian countertop.
There’s a two-person lounger on the forward console with a handy cooler at the foot. A three-sided, shatterproof polycarbonate windshield extends from the console to the hardtop, shielding the bridge from spray and wind. Three-across Llebroc helm seats feature flip-up bolsters and fold-down armrests, with a footrest integrated into the console base.
A covered tackle rigging station behind the helm seats, features a cutting board, sink with fresh and raw water, racks for leader spools, diagonal cutters, pliers and knives under the cover, and drawers for tackle and other gear below, plus a 105-quart Frigid Rigid cooler that slides out on tracks and doubles as a seat.
On the bow of the Invincible 42 Center Cabin, a pair of elevated pods with dry-storage lockers provide more seating when fitted with snap-on pads. At the transom, recesses in each stern quarter let you brace yourself while fishing or take a load off on one of the flip-up jump seats. A 53-gallon livewell with clear acrylic lid rests between the transom recesses, and there’s an additional 64-gallon well below the sole of the aft cockpit. The Invincible also has five insulated fish lockers, raw and freshwater washdown spigots under the gunwales, and a dive door on the port side makes it a cinch to haul in a big fish. A foldout boarding ladder helps crew members get back on board after taking a dip.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 42’9″
- Beam: 11’7″
- Draft: 24″
- Deadrise: 22 degrees
- Fuel: 565 gal.
- Water: 40 gal.
- Weight: 14,000 lb.
- Max HP: 1,600
- Price: on Request
Invincible Boats: invincibleboats.com
JUPITER 34 LX
The 34 LX is tailored for serious angling and long offshore runs, with roomy, well-appointed quarters below deck to overnight in comfort. Jupiter’s uni-grid stringer system makes for a more-rigid hull, and the Posi-Stern hull-pad design produces a variable dynamic stern lift for the ideal running angle at all times.
An L-shaped lounge in front of the console offers comfortably seats three or four, with storage and an 85-quart cooler underneath. A large hatch provides entry to an air-conditioned cabin, complete with a convertible dinette, flat-screen TV, microwave, refrigerator, sink with hot and cold water, electric head, and forward storage compartments.
The console of the Jupiter 34 LX has the real estate for a complete electronics suite, multifunction gauges, switches, stereo and Helm Master control. Next to it, a flip-up counter hides a freshwater sink. Helm seating is a stand-up-height module with fold-down footrests, a bait prep center with tackle storage, and a 25-gallon livewell.
The spacious cockpit of the Jupiter 34 LX boasts coaming bolsters throughout. There’s a side door, a transom door with a retractable boarding ladder and twin in-deck 54-gallon fish boxes near the port and starboard gunwales. There are also four rod holders on the gunwales, fresh- and saltwater washdowns with molded hose-coil holders, a rod storage locker and three in-deck compartments offering a combined 22 cubic feet of dry storage.
A hardtop with vertical rod tubes on the frame, a transom livewell, a bait prep center with a 45-gallon livewell, and a bow thruster are among the available add-ons.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 33’9″
- Beam: 10’5″
- Draft: 24″ (engines up)
- Deadrise: 23 degrees
- Fuel: 345 gal.
- Water: 50 gal.
- Weight: 12,750 lb. (plus power)
- Max HP: 900
- Price: $433,990 w/triple Yamaha F300s
Jupiter Marine: jupitermarine.com
MAKO 334 CC
The new 334 CC incorporates an aggressive deep-V, 24 degrees of deadrise, lifting strakes and a notched transom in a hull that planes in a flash, cuts through a chop with ease, and offers a comfortable ride with responsive and predictable handling.
A cavernous 740-quart compartment provides lots of storage at the bow. Midship, a pair of tilt-out lockers provides more to port and starboard of the center console, which includes a spacious step-down head room, and a wide dash equipped with a pair of 12-inch Garmin multifunction displays, illuminated switches, digital gauges, a VHF radio, stereo, and more.
An outrigger-ready hardtop with two integrated electronics boxes and LED lighting provides shade for both the console and the leaning post with flip-up bolsters and back- and armrests. The leaning post incorporates storage hatches on both sides, with tackle drawers and a rigging station with sink in the back.
The Mako 334 CC has a tuna door to port that doubles as a dive door, a pair of 290-quart in-deck fish boxes on book-end the leaning post, and twin lockable, tilt-out hatches on both covering boards keep essential tackle handy. Coaming bolsters, a raw-water washdown, trim tabs, and rod racks also come standard.
In the transom corners, twin 34-gallon oval livewells with clear lids hold a substantial bait supply. A long cutting board is positioned between them for chumming and chunking, and a fold-down bench adds aft seating for two.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 33’4″
- Beam: 9’10”
- Draft: 21″
- Deadrise: 24 degrees
- Fuel: 306 gal.
- Water: 38 gal.
- Weight: 9,000 lb.
- Max HP: 1,050
- Price: $249,900 w/twin Verado 300s
Mako Boats: mako-boats.com
PATHFINDER 2500 HYBRID
Three large lockers under the fore casting deck, provide ample dry storage and twin racks to cradle a pair of rods to port and another to starboard.
The 43-gallon fish box on this new Pathfinder serves as a step to the fore deck and is long enough to keep big kingfish or cobia. An in-deck locker between the step and the console keeps your cast net handy yet out of the way.
Four rod holders on the gunwales come standard, and vertical racks on both sides of the console hold a combined eight rods ready for action. A hydraulic jack plate, horizontal rod racks for two outfits under each gunwale, raw- and freshwater washdowns in opposite cockpit corners, and a boarding ladder are also standard issue.
The Pathfinder 2500 Hybrid offers two helm seating options, both leaning-post configurations with tackle storage. One includes premium seats with flip-up bolsters, pull-down arm and footrests and an expanded tackle center. The other has a bench seat with removable backrest, a tackle drawer and a massive livewell with viewing window in back.
If you opt for the premium helm seats, a lighted 35-gallon livewell on the transom handles most live bait needs. If it isn’t enough, request the storage compartment on the portside corner be plumbed and turned into a 15-gallon crustacean well.
Other key options for the 2500 Hybrid include hydraulic or power-assisted steering, trim tabs, 8- or 10-foot Power-pole, bubbling and recirculating livewell aeriation systems, and vertical racks to carry six extra rods on the hardtop and another four in back of the leaning post.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 24’9″
- Beam: 8’6″
- Draft: 14″
- Fuel: 67 gal.
- Weight: Not yet available
- Max HP: 300
- Price: $82,576 w/Yamaha F300
Pathfinder Boats: pathfinderboats.com
PURSUIT OS 355
The 355 is a formidable craft well suited for extended cruises and built to handle whatever King Neptune throws at you. It incorporates twin fish boxes in the cockpit deck, a large tackle center to house all the gear needed for a day offshore, a 28-gallon recirculating livewell, and fresh- and raw-water washdown systems in the cockpit and the bow anchor locker.
Undergunwale rod racks are augmented by the rocket launcher on the hardtop. Twin aft-facing seats are the ideal vantage points to watch the bait, plus they include insulated storage underneath. An entertainment center with stereo, sink, electric grill and cutting board complements the bridge deck’s refrigerator/freezer. A bench on the transom and an optional one to starboard offer plenty of seating for the crew and fold out of the way when more fishing room is needed.
The helm includes dual flip-up footrests to accommodate different heights, an expansive electronics panel, a molded captain’s seat, and companion bench-style seating with storage. A custom windshield system with an optically clear laminated glass shield, tempered side glass and an electrically actuated center vent offer distortion-free view at the helm with a sense of open air.
The luxurious cabin of the Pursuit OS 355 rivals sport-fishers twice the size. The interior is highlighted by custom tongue-and-groove wood flooring, sound-dampening insulation, a nifty digital entertainment center, a solid wood table on an electric actuator that converts into a queen V-berth, and bulkhead rod racks.
There’s also a full galley with plenty of pantry storage and every appliance needed for overnight stays. The head is roomy, and equipped with a vacuum-flush toilet and a full shower.
(adapted from feature by Dave Lear)
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 37’11”
- Beam: 12′
- Draft: 26″
- Deadrise: 20 degrees
- Fuel: 375 gal.
- Water: 50 gal.
- Weight: 16,620 lb.
- Max HP: 700
- Price: $424,355 w/twin Yamaha F350s
Pursuit Boats: pursuitboats.com
PURSUIT S 408
This boat is sort of a hybrid. The builder incorporated a lounging area forward of the sizeable center console, with a roomy step-down cabin below it, giving the Pursuit the feel of a walkaround enhanced by the hardtop, which brings the seating module into the mix, turning the helm area into more of a salon.
Elevated compartments up front stow safety gear or tackle and cradle three rods in removable racks on each side. With fold-up backrests, the compartments combine with a removable jumpseat to form a U-shaped seating area that turns into the ideal spot for lunch or drinks with the optional removable table.
The air-conditioned cabin boasts all-around seating that converts into a comfortable V-berth, plus a 28-inch flat screen TV, DVD, stereo, and a side galley with microwave and fridge. The head room is equipped with a porcelain toilet, vanity, sink with pressurized faucet and shower.
Two-position bolster seats with armrests accommodate the skipper and two companions at the helm of the Pursuit S 408, with A/C vents on the console and the helm seating module to keep them and any crew members seating behind them cool or warm as needed. Horizontal racks under the port gunwale accommodate six rods, while a door on the opposite side simplifies boarding and pulling in large pelagics. Two in-deck fish boxes, one of which can be refrigerated, provide a combined capacity of 61 gallons for your catch.
On the transom, there’s an insulated 40-gallon livewell, and a rigging station with tackle storage that doubles as an outdoor kitchen complete with electric grill, sink, and a 30-gallon refrigerator/freezer. A transom door makes it easy to step to and from the swim platform.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 43’0″
- Beam: 13’0″
- Draft: 25″ (motors up)
- Deadrise: 20 degrees
- Fuel: 450 gal.
- Water: 65 gal.
- Weight: 17,700 lb.
- Max HP: 1,050
- Price: Custom build price on request
Pursuit Boats: pursuitboats.com
STAMAS 370 AEGEAN
The 370 Aegean sports is a serious island-hopping or canyon-running machine. Hardcore anglers will appreciate the many standard features, including the full bait prep center behind the helm, which includes a deep sink, cutting board, locking tackle storage and tool rack. A 92-quart livewell with circulation system holds plenty of bait, while the 235-quart insulated fish box, also in the transom, easily swallows a chunky tuna or two.
Two more insulated coolers (57 and 71 quarts) sit under the seats. Four rod holders in the covering boards are augmented by horizontal racks below. A Taco Grand Slam outrigger package can be added to the standard hardtop, which comes with rod holders and spreader lights. A mister system, full enclosure and remote spotlight are also available options.
The Stamas 370 Aegean has ample seating for a large crew with the foldaway transom bench-style seat, twin aft cockpit seats and a companion bench on the bridge deck. The full cockpit deck lifts to allow easy access for maintenance.
The foldaway screened port entry leads down into the bright and spacious cabin equipped with air conditioning, generator and a host of other amenities, like a convertible dinette, a galley equipped with refrigerator, microwave, stove, deep sink and dish locker. The roomy head is matched with electric porcelain head, vanity, molded sink and shower. The oversize berth in the forepeak is the master, while the double aft berth comes with a cocktail table and rod storage. There’s more rod storage in the deck, plus additional compartments beneath the berths.
(adapted from feature by Dave Lear)
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 37′
- Beam: 11’2″
- Draft: 22″ Fuel: 350 gal.
- Water: 40 gal.
- Deadrise: 20 degrees
- Weight: 13,100 lb.
- Max HP: 900
- Price: $367,358 w/ triple Yamaha F300 outboards
Stamas Yacht: stamas.com
SCOUT 231 XS
Sporting an aggressive stepped-hull design, this sleek, rakish sportster is like an aquatic Ferrari with enough rod storage and livewells to satisfy even the most uncompromising tournament angler.
The large, sweeping console incorporates rod racks that cradle and protect the tackle at eye-watering speeds. The inset electronics display is easy to scan from the helm, and all systems switches are within reach. The oversize forward console seat opens to a large compartment with access to wiring and enough room for an optional Porta Potti.
An 11-gallon baitwell on the centerline foredeck allows quick transition to the spacious bow casting deck. A monster compartment housing a 45-quart Yeti cooler with room to spare for other gear sits between twin rod lockers with enough slots to store an entire tackle shop.
The aft covering boards of the Scout 231 XS come with four rod-and-cup holders. An aerated baitwell and a 26-gallon release well sit in opposite transom corners. In between, a folding bench with a high backrest provides seating for additional passengers. The bottom of the bench lifts to access the bilge. As in every Scout model, all systems wiring is orderly and labeled, interior spaces and hatch lids are fully finished with gas shocks, and everything fits nice and snug.
Notable add-ons include a powder-coated T-top with canvas, raw- and freshwater washdowns, Power-Pole anchoring system, and a leaning post with a backrest and integrated baitwell, and a high-performance leaning post with flip-back, snug bolster seats for a reassuring and comfortable fit at top speeds.
(adapted from feature by Dave Lear)
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 23’1″
- Beam: 8’6″
- Draft: 12″
- Deadrise: 14 degrees
- Fuel: 60 gal.
- Water: 6 gal.
- Weight: 2,100 lbs.
- Max HP: 300
- Price: $76,417 w/Yamaha F300XCA outboard
Scout Boats: scoutboats.com
SEA CHASER 26 LX
The spacious raised decks offer ample fishing room fore and aft. On the front deck, a there’s a small tackle center to keep essentials, two large compartments with rod racks inside to cradle a pair of outfits on each side, and another compartment with the bottom recessed to fit a 5-gallon bucket. In addition, a 25-gallon livewell that keeps bait at arms length for anglers fishing forward
The Sea Chaser has two more livewells, one under the forward console seat, and a larger one with a clear lid to monitor your bait, or your catch if fishing a release tournament. There’s a step-down head compartment inside the console, for helm seating, the boat includes a leaning post complete with backrest, fold-down footrest, four-rod rocket launcher, a pair of drink holders, a sizeable cooler and storage netting.
Additional rod storage aboard the Sea Chaser 26 LX comes via horizontal racks to stash six outfits in the covering boards and four flush-mount rod holders on each gunwale. You gain holders for four more rods if you choose the optional fiberglass T-top with rocket launcher.
Jump seats that lie flat to extend the aft deck afford seating at the stern. The largest lifts completely for easy access to the bilge. Cavernous compartments behind the stern seats offer room for batteries and extra gear. A 24/36-volt trolling motor panel with power source plug, recessed grab rails fore and aft, coaming pads, a swim platform with telescoping ladder astern, underwater lights, and courtesy lighting round out the standard features.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 25’11”
- Beam: 8’7″
- Draft: 12″
- Fuel: 84 gal.
- Weight: 3432 lb.
- Max HP: 350
- Price: $37,695 plus power
Sea Chaser Boats: carolinaskiff.com
SEA FOX 266 COMMANDER
This center-console comes ready to fish. Rod holders are everywhere: Four vertical ones are located aft over the splashwell, there are eight flush-mounted on the gunwales, and horizontal racks accommodate more rods underneath. Two spacious fish boxes in the cockpit deck are augmented by another huge one in the bow. The bow also includes companion lockers, plus a molded compartment to hold the requisite 5-gallon bucket.
Forward console seating pairs with bow lounging, with optional folding backrests for those beach or sunset cruises. And there’s no shortage of seating in the rear where a folding transom bench complements twin jump seats in each corner. A spacious dash easily accommodates large electronic displays. A console door to port steps down into the roomy head compartment. A portable head is standard, but an electric one is an option.
A large tackle center on the starboard console houses numerous tackle trays and stores leader spools and bigger items, like downrigger balls or weights. There’s a choice of a 48- or 72- quart removable cooler, depending the leaning post option, and a 55-gallon livewell in the transom. Raw- and freshwater washdowns, coaming pads, plus a rack in the head door for a measuring stick round out the long list of features.
Desirable options for the Sea Fox 266 Commander include the leaning post with flip-back bolster seats, cushioned footrests and an extra pair of rod holders, and the Ultima hardtop, which incorporates recessed LED spreader lights, a seven-rod rocket launcher, molded electronics box, Kicker stereo system and Climate Cool system with twin misters.
(adapted from feature by Dave Lear)
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 26′
- Beam: 9’3″
- Draft: 16″
- Deadrise: 20 degrees
- Fuel: 143 gal.
- Weight: 4,200 lb.
- Max HP: 400
- Price: $90,000 as tested w/ twin Yamaha F150s
Sea Fox Boats: seafoxboats.com
WELLCRAFT 221 FISHERMAN
This hybrid bay hull floats shallow, yet its aggressive deadrise and the higher freeboard offer enough security and comfort for offshore jaunts when the weather allows, and the layout is thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of today’s multitasking coastal anglers.
The amount of usable storage is one of the 221’s many highlights. Voluminous insulated fish boxes hide beneath the fore casting deck, a centerline compartment is deep enough to house a 5-gallon bucket, and a pitch-bait well doubles as a transition step down to the self-bailing cockpit deck.
The large console with a stainless-steel steering wheel sports an opaque finish to cut down on glare. An acrylic windshield enhances visibility. System switches, logically arranged, sit within easy reach. The electronics panel accepts a large, flush-mount display.
The forward console of the Wellcraft 221 Fisherman seat swings open for access to a roomy changing area, and a Porta Potty can be added as part of the Family Package. Sandwiched by twin 34-gallon transom livewells, a cargo bag under the stowaway transom bench is ideal for odds and ends.
(adapted from feature by Dave Lear)
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 22’4″
- Beam: 8’6″
- Draft: 1’2″
- Deadrise: 15 degrees
- Fuel: 52 gal.
- Weight: 3,900 lbs.
- Max HP: 250
- Price: $48,077 w/150 hp and trailer
Wellcraft Boats: wellcraft.com
WORLD CAT 320 DC
Based on World Cat’s proven 32-foot twin-hull design with sharp entry, aft running surface and Vector tunnel pod hull, this latest iteration offers comfort and relaxation in addition to angling capability.
A 300-quart insulated compartment in the starboard bow drains overboard while a companion space to port holds bulky gear. A 250-quart fish box in the bridge deck adds to the storage capacity. Anglers will appreciate the rod holders in the hardtop, which complement the four mounted in the covering boards, as well as the cutting board, pliers-and-knife holder, the 35-gallon livewell in the port transom, and the integrated hardtop with bow walk-through, which offers good visibility and shelter from the elements.
The starboard transom bench-style seat lifts easily to access the optional 4.2 kW Fischer Panda diesel generator. More storage lies under the port lounge seat and the starboard galley/entertainment center on the starboard bridge deck. Galley amenities include a grill, refrigerator, sink and Corian countertop. The port lounge converts from seat to leaning pad to roomy berth by adding the filler table.
Space for the electronics on the starboard helm of the World Cat 320 DC is more than adequate, and the bolster-style seat allows comfortable operation from a seated or standing position. A 12,000 Btu air-conditioning/heating system keeps the helm, berth and head compartments in controlled comfort. The starboard head compartment offers 6 feet 3 inches of overhead space and comes outfitted with electric head, shower, sink and vanity with storage. The port berth opposite is equally roomy, and the aft-facing lounge converts to a twin berth for overnight stays. A microwave, high-definition TV and cedar-lined hanging locker add to the ambience.
A raw-water washdown is standard, and there’s also a hot-and-cold freshwater shower at the transom. A starboard cockpit side door is also integrated, along with a built-in dive ladder.
(adapted from feature by Dave Lear)
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 32’2″
- Beam: 10’6″
- Draft: 16″
- Fuel: 279 gal.
- Water: 45 gal.
- Weight: 11,600 lb.
- Max HP: 600
- Price: $342,963 w/twin Yamaha F300s and Command Link+ system
World Cat Boats: worldcat.com
