Here’s a baker’s dozen of boats we think rate “must-see” status at the 2024 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. From fishing boats to luxury boats to deck boats, these craft all share one thing in common: they possess some new, different or interesting design, construction or layout characteristics that we think boat buyers who consider themselves true fans of powerboats will be interested in learning about.

We’ve included the location of each of these must-see boats at either the Bahia Mar Marina or the Broward County Convention Center. Download the FLIBS app (available on both Google Play and the Apple Store). Map your route, hit the show and get your boat geek on!

Read Next: Must-See Marine Electronics at the 2024 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show

Axopar 29 CCX

What: Termed a “hybrid center console” it is said to meld full on fishing with a refined experience underway.

Why: Modular cockpit offers four different layouts.

Where: Bahia Mar F/G Dock 49 (Nautical Ventures Dock)

Beneteau Antares 9

What: Termed, “The Ultimate Weekender,” this 30 footer offers two private cabins, a full galley and a head with shower.

Why: Truly private stateroom with solid bulkhead not a curtain.

Where: Bahia Mar, G/H Dock 29

Monterey Elite 30 OB

What: Honored as a Boating Magazine Boat of the Year category winner: Best Small Dayboat.

Why: The center helm is a true wow!

Where: Convention Center 2027

Phenom 43 Center Console

What: A no-holds barred CC said to offer performance, luxury and fishability. Fathom E-Power battery system extends the adventure without the need for a generator’s noise and fumes.

Why: The trademarked Phenom NextStep 3-Piece Hull Design is innovative and unique.

Where: Convention Center 2084

Sea Pro 225 FLX Sandbar

What: A unique take that offers versatility with an emphasis on those boaters who enjoy hitting the beach or sandbar.

Why: The special table that installs at water level for entertainment while wading and swimming.

Where: Convention Center 2030

Grady-White Freedom 345 DC

What: Grady-White will debut a new Freedom 345 dual console.

Why: This wide-beamed dual console sets high bars for luxury, fishability and quality.

Where: Convention Center 2025

Sōlace 28 HCS

What: This new bay boat is unique from design, to build to layout.

Why: The excellent execution of the convertible transom which transforms from seating to casting platform while concealing two 50-qt coolers.

Where: Convention Center 2021

Sailfish 232 Center Console

What: A category winner for Boating Magazine Boat of the Year 2024; honored as: Best Small Fishing Boat.

Why: Excellent mix of construction and standards for its price.

Where: Convention Center 2081

Regal 38 SAV

What: This boat cruises, fishes and entertains while displaying little compromise regardless of the activities you pursue on the water.

Why: Multi-position captain’s seats. Ever see a chair become a table? See this boat!

Where: Bahia Mar, H-Dock

Robalo R257

What: They say this boat is a leap forward in boat design.

Why: Check out that hardtop!

Where: Convention Center, 2061

Sea Ray SDX 230 Outboard

What: The latest outboard-powered deckboat from Sea Ray, the year 2025 model SDX 230. (*SDX250 shown in picture)

Why: Will it be luxurious, functional, or both?

Where: Bahia Mar, Dock G/H 45

Boston Whaler 330 Vantage

What: They say that this versatile model is the final piece in the evolution of Boston Whaler’s  dual-console lineup.

Why: Boston Whaler always showcases some cool and new features with new models.

Where: Bahia Mar, Dock C 300

NAVAN S30

What: The new NAVAN open-air center console.

Why: Unique T-Step Hulls.

Where: Bahia Mar, GH Dock

The post Fort Lauderdale Boat Show 2024: Must-See Boats appeared first on Boating Mag.

It’s important that you know how we assess boats. First, the boat must be safe, as well as designed and built with industry best practices. We rely on the standards set by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) for this, as well as other published and respected sources.

Secondly, we judge boats by their category peers. There’s little value in comparing a watersports boat to a fishing boat, for example. Also note that all categories of boats are not represented. This doesn’t mean that boats in other categories not shown here were in some way inferior. It simply means that no boats that we tested from other categories stood out in those categories as much as did these category winners.

Congratulations to the following 2024 Boat of the Year category winners!

Dayboat—Large: Regal 38 Surf

This boat, powered by the new Volvo Penta Twin Forward Drives, rates as the world’s largest wakesurf boat. Beyond that accolade, Regal built in tremendous versatility, delivering a boat that can entertain, overnight and even fish, all while providing surfing thrills safely. That the boat is finished beautifully, and loaded with thoughtful details, further solidifies its stature and status.

Dayboat—Small: Monterey Elite 30

The Monterey Elite 30 is an American-made dayboat that takes on the European builders, who have arguably owned this category for a number of years, with a wider beam, more horse- power and innovations such as its ingeniously executed centerline helm with all-glass display. Featuring a straight stem, but with more flare worked into the bow than similar boats, we found the ride and handling great.

Fishing—Large: NorthCoast 415HT

In a world where center-console fishing boats have come to rule the roost, NorthCoast debuts a cabin model to give CC buyers second thoughts. It delivers all the fishability an avid angler can use, plus a luxurious interior for when the boat is used as a cruiser, or simply for fisherman who don’t mind a comfortable place to get out of the heat, the cold or the wind enroute to the grounds. Outboard-powered, and with its deep-V hull, it will run faster, smoother, quieter and less smoky than the sedan fishing boats of the past.

Performance: Checkmate Pulsare 2400 BRX

Time was when boat buyers could choose from many new performance boats. With the Pulsare 2400 BRX, Checkmate gives boaters seeking such a boat an alternative to used boats—with the versatility of a bowrider. Running on V-bottom with a pad, and with a Mercury Racing motor set back on a jackplate, this boat really goes. It can be powered as a 65-mph run- about or, with the Mercury Racing 500R, for 90-plus- mph thrills. Inside, plush upholstery, a new digital dash, and other upgrades ensure user-friendly speed and comfort.

Watersports: KYMA K7 Supercharged

V-drive inboards do a great job, so why bother with water-jet power in this specialized category? We didn’t honor Kyma for simply being different.

The 6.2L 575 Indmar jet gives this boat shallower draft, better slow speed handling than a V-drive, and its wakesurf waves rank on par with those produced by V-drive boats, thanks to the innovative use of the Seakeeper Ride stability system.

Fishing—Small: Sailfish 232 Center Console

Usually, more expensive boats get honored with Boat of the Year awards: Expensive boats generally see more money applied to them for the R and D that creates innovation. Of course, there’s plenty to be said for a boat that delivers more bang for the buck than its competitors, even at a moderate price.. The Sailfish 232 Center Console’s ride and standard equipment are equivalent to boats costing more. It is a true “great buy.” A nice detail is the front-entry head, and there are enough seats and drink holders to allow this fishboat to serve as a runabout and retain great fishability.

The post Boat of the Year Category Winners 2024 appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

Sailfish Boats was one of the first fishing-boat companies to embrace a Fishing-Focused/Family-Friendly Boats mantra in the early 2000s. According to internal research at Sailfish, those buying center-consoles 27 feet and shorter didn’t list fishing as its primary purpose, unlike owners of its 30-plus-footers who overwhelmingly had fishing as their No. 1 activity. Accordingly, Sailfish designers applied that owner input when designing the new 232 Center Console. It is a versatile craft designed to please angler and family boaters in equal measure and delivered with more standard features than other boats offered at comparable prices.

Engine

Our test boat was powered by a Yamaha F250 that provided excellent performance. Time to plane was 3.6 seconds, and the 232 CC reached 30 mph in 7.4 seconds. The top speed was 48 mph (a Yamaha test driver got 49 mph in calmer water just before our test). In addition, owners can choose a 200 hp engine, which may not be enough if watersports are on the agenda.

Available 300 hp engines would push it past the 50 mph mark. Sailfish gives buyers a choice of outboards from Mercury, Yamaha and Suzuki. We like that boat buyers can choose their engine brand,  and thus have a choice of servicing dealers. Bravo, Sailfish. 

As we shoved off from Point South Marina in Port St. Joe in the Florida Panhandle and idled into Saint Joseph Bay, we were greeted by a corrugated surface created by 15 mph winds.

Fortunately, the new 232 CC employs Sailfish’s three-hulls-in-one Variable Degree Stepped Hull (VDS), which uses a sharp 24-degree keel section to help slice through the chop, the next section outward moderates to 23 degrees that, when combined with its downward turned strakes, creates lift when accelerating or running. The outer section of the hull is a flatter 22 degrees, giving it greater stability at rest. The other factor that makes Sailfish boats ride well in rough water is their relative beefiness, thanks to a stout layup with quad-axial fiberglass mat, reinforced by Kevlar at high-stress points, contributing to its 5,065 rigged weight. The 232 CC easily ate up the 2-foot chop while running at its best cruise speed of around 25 mph, which netted an impressive 3.5 mpg.

Interior and Accessories

Prospecting for redfish and seatrout, I fired a plastic lure with a gold spinner in all directions at the designated fishing spot, where the depth ranged from 2 to 6 feet deep. I had no problem moving around the boat’s perimeter thanks to the minimum 16 inches of walkaround space around the center console. A generous 27-inch minimum gunwale height at the stern grew to 30 inches amidships, and with standard bolsters all around, I felt contained and comfortable. I left the bow and stern cushions in place, and we didn’t have the filler board to insert between the bow rider benches up front, which would have created a roomy casting platform. I only saw one fish that day and identified it as a 40-pound black drum lazing on the surface. But, to paraphrase the scariest line in “The Shining,” it was only a floating “dead drum” clearly past its expiration date.

When trying to figure out a boat’s intended purpose, a good guideline is if there are more places to park a beverage than to store a rod, it’s a pleasure boat, not a fishing boat. Our test boat has 22 standard rod holders and eight cup holders. 

Vertical racks for two rods each are set inside recesses on either side of the center console, keeping them tucked out of the way but ready for action. Other holders are set into the gunwales and on the hardtop. The 232 Center Console has twin 10-gallon livewells beneath the rear bench seat for those who fish with live bait.

The 232 CC comes well equipped with standard features that most companies charge extra for, such as the well-braced hardtop, premium Fusion stereo with Rockford Fosgate lighted speakers, 58-quart slide-out Engel cooler, raw-water washdown and trim tabs with auto-retract, to name a few. To up its fishing game, add a 75-inch Garmin Kraken trolling motor with a 36-volt lithium-ion battery ($10,700) and a 12-inch GPS/fishfinder from Simrad NSX 3012 ($4,509) or Garmin GPS/Map 1243xsv ($7,700). One of the most innovative features is the optional, reversible leaning post ($1,467) that lifts and can be securely reinserted into rocket launcher-like receivers to face aft, not only to increase fishing area in the cockpit but also to provide a rear-facing throne while fishing or watching the kids swim.

It’s easy to enhance the 232 CC’s non-fishing game by adding the Entertainment Package ($3,296), which includes a retractable ski pylon, removable bow table, Fusion transom stereo remote control and Hella underwater lighting.

Shopping? Sea Hunt’s Ultra 234 also offers a fixed stern seating arrangement. It’s less expensive, but unlike the Sailfish, features such as the $7,500 hardtop cost extra. The Ultra 234 has more livewell capacity when you add the optional leaning post with an integrated bait tank. Its max horsepower is 250 compared to the Sailfish’s 300, and Sea Hunt is a Yamaha-only boatbuilder.

Read Next: Sailfish 312 CC

How We Tested

• Engine: Single Yamaha F250
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha Saltwater Series II 15.5″ x 17″ 3-blade, stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 55 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

High Points

• Its console interior opens from the front for easy access, and sports 5 feet of headroom plus a standard portable marine head.
• Many high-end standards. 
• There is enough quality seating for 12 people.
• The large dash offers space to flush-mount a 12-inch MFD.

Low Points

• Stern seating is more comfortable than a folding bench, but it comes at the expense of cockpit space.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2025 Sailfish 232 Center Console appeared first on Boating Mag.

Editor’s Note: Boating’s Tech Team will be sea-trialing this new Sailfish 232 CC soon. One thing we note, without even taking her out, is that you can power this Sallfish with a variety of outboard brands. You can choose from Mercury, Yamaha or Suzuki, which gives you more flexibility in choosing your dealer. Look for our full boat test report coming soon.

Sailfish Boats announces the 232 Center Console (CC). Engineered with precision and design for unparalleled performance, safety, and comfort. The 232 CC has everything boaters need and more.

Step aboard the 232 CC and discover a world of upscale amenities and comfort at your fingertips. The Sailfish 232 boasts an array of innovative features designed to enhance every aspect of your on water boating experience. From the convenience of port and starboard transom entry points, to the versatility of twin 10-gallon livewells tucked beneath the rear bench seat, every detail has been carefully crafted with the modern boater in mind.

From the integrated full-height windshield built into the T-top frame, to the bow seating with built-in chaise backrests, every detail exudes quality, comfort and ease of use for a day of fishing or just enjoying the day on the water. With head access from the front of the console, complete with a standard portable head, pump-out optional. Equipped with a 108-gallon (45.4 L) fuel tank – the largest in its competitive set – and a transom Baja beach cooler for easy access to refreshments when hanging in the water, the 232 ensures that your adventures continue uninterrupted. Additional features, such as the standard 65-quart Engel hard side carry-on cooler with slide out tray beneath the leaning post, provide ample storage for all of your essentials.

While the 232 CC prioritizes comfort, it does not lack in the performance department. Like all Sailfish models, the 232 sits on the revolutionary VDS hull design, delivering unmatched stability, agility and efficiency on the water. This innovative three-hulls-in-one platform offers an ideal blend of stability and performance, whether navigating calms waters or powering through choppy conditions. The deepest “step” features a steep 24-degree angle, expertly designed to slice through the water with remarkable ease, ensuring a smooth ride. Positioned slightly shallower at 23-degrees, the second surface facilitates easy airflow under the hull, reducing friction and maximizing fuel efficiency. Finally, the outermost stepped surface, set at a flatter 22-degree angle, enhances stability when the boat is at rest. In practical terms, this means passengers will not experience that dreaded rocking feeling, even after a long day on the water.

Sailfish’s Sailtech construction process enhances the already impressive ride characteristics of the VDS Hull. Combining a strong building philosophy and premium materials like Kevlar®, carbon fiber, quad-axial fiberglass mat, Prisma® beams on the underside of the deck and Trevira®. Sailtech delivers the next-level strength, quality and durability to stand out from the rest. With Sailtech, boaters can relax and enjoy the quality of the build and comfort knowing that they are aboard one of the most secure models on the market. Standard power is 200HP or choose the optional 250-hp motor from Mercury, Yamaha or Suzuki engines, ensuring top performance both new or seasoned captains alike.

Read Next: Sailfish 312 CC

Finally, tailor your Sailfish 232 Center Console to suit your unique preferences with a range of options. Choose from features such as a reversible leaning post that can face aft, single Garmin 1243 GPS screen, or the entertainment package, including a retractable ski tow pylon, fusion transom remote and Hella underwater lights to further enhance your boat and boating experience.

Sailfish Boats is excited to embark on a new era of boating excellence with the 232 Center Console. Whether you are an avid angler, water sports enthusiast, or just want a take a leisurely cruise, this center console promises to meet your every expectation. The new 232 Center Console will be in dealerships starting this summer. Visit your local dealer to learn more about the new Sailfish 232 CC and the entire line-up of boats.

Preliminary Specifications

The post Sailfish Boats Debuts 232 CC appeared first on Boating Mag.

If you’re shopping for a boat that can accommodate your family, your fishing trips, and your comfort needs, a dual console boat might be the perfect choice for you. When looking for a dual console boat, it’s important to consider features such as depth in the cockpit, stowaway space for inflatables and watersports gear, fishing functionality and a wide bow seating area. You want a deep cockpit area because it makes it stable and easy to get your footing while fishing, and provides safety for small children.

An amazing feature is the wraparound windshield for extra protection in choppy waters. Boats of this nature offer the easy convenience of a changing room on board with a portable head or a flushing toilet. Dual consoles have the perfect seating configuration of a bowrider but the rugged durability of an inshore/offshore fishing boat which makes it great to operate in both areas. These ideal features are perfect for fishing, cruising comfort, and provide ample space for all your activities.

The post What to Look For in a Dual Console Boat appeared first on Boating Mag.

The Sailfish 226 Dual Console crosses over so well from a freshwater runabout to a saltwater fishing boat. Featured on this boat with a Suzuki 200 horsepower outboard motor, it is extremely powerful, and fuel efficient.

Sailfish boats have their VDS hull which involves 3 different planning surfaces: sharper at the keel, moderate in the middle, and by the time you get out to the chines it’s a lot shallower, that gives you great stability at slow speeds.

You’ll notice and love the full wraparound windshield, optimal legroom, 7-inch display on the helm, and the center console trademark of comfortable seating.

Learn more about the Sailfish 226 Dual Console here.

The post 2024 Sailfish 226 Dual Console appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

In a sea full of center-console sport-fishers, Sailfish stands out by attending to all the details needed for an efficient big-game platform. The company adheres to standards of high quality that keeps it on the top shelf of production-boat brands. The new 312 CC has all of Sailfish’s attributes, including comfortable cruising, stability at trolling speeds, and fuel efficiency from a well-designed hull.

Our tests prove Sailfish’s design team is comprised of fishermen and accomplished skippers who draw from their experience to develop features and building techniques that favor hardcore fishability, exemplary seakeeping abilities in the roughest waters, and the durability to support an extended warranty. Just as important, Sailfish keeps family and crew comfort in mind, making its boats ideal candidates for families anticipating a wide assortment of recreational activities.

Interior and Accessories

Fourteen rod holders, including six shotgun holders, are arranged around the cockpit. Five more are located in the hardtop, as are two kingfish rod holders port and starboard. Those are particularly important for kingfish, obviously, but are also handy in bump-trolling with livies for pelagics such as mahi or sailfish. Also built into the hardtop are backing plates to receive outriggers as an aftermarket accessory.

There are 62 gallons of livewell capacity between the portside transom livewell and the leaning-post livewell. Keep goggle-eyes in one and pilchards in the other. They are rounded inside to improve bait movement, well-aerated, and covered with acrylic lids for keen observation. We liked the setup of the rigging station in the leaning post, with tackle drawers, slots for utility boxes, and spots to keep tools handy.

The bow deck is ready for anglers too, with rod holders conveniently located, and removable lounge cushions to convert seating into casting platforms. The cockpit itself has stowable lounges. When deployed, they can seat four to six passengers. When stowed, they complete the gunwale and transom bolsters, allowing anglers to brace comfortably while battling fish. We also found the gunwale height well-balanced between providing a safe cockpit depth and the ability to reach the water to bill a fish.

Hand in hand with fishability is performance. The boat is stable at rest under crew movement and comfortable at speed in seas and heavy chop. Sailfish employs a hull design it calls VDS for variable-degree stepped hull, which features three separate planing surfaces on both sides of the keel. The one nearest the keel has a 24-degree deadrise to cleave waves at speed. The middle surface is 23 degrees, broadening out to improve stability, and the planes closest to the chine are 22 degrees, ensuring optimal balance between at-rest stability and high-seas performance.

Sail Tech is what Sailfish calls its construction process with a lamination schedule and assembly. It includes strategic use of Kevlar, carbon fiber and quad-axial fiberglass to create a rigid hull that can handle rough reentry from seas. It’s what makes the boat rigid, durable and smooth while riding in rough water.

Engines

Handling the boat in our tests was a blast thanks to Yamaha’s F300 outboards with digital controls and joystick. Docking it was easy. Acceleration was snappy, tipping over to plane in a little over 3 seconds and hitting 30 mph in 8 seconds. With a 10 percent fuel reserve, it has a range of 430 miles at 29.5 mph.

The helm station had thickly padded bucket seats set a comfortable distance from the wheel and throttles. Seated driving was more comfortable than most boats we’ve tested, and the footrest in the station was comfortably located. With the bolster up, the skipper is easily in control with an outstanding view through the tempered-glass windshield. On top of the helm, where everyone dumps their wallets and phones, Sailfish installed an acrylic compartment with dividers and a clear lid to stow the crew’s valuables, glasses and such. If you choose to add radar, the hardtop is durably built to handle it.

Side boarding doors are becoming mandatory among boat buyers, and Sailfish’s was well done. It opened inward on solid stainless-steel hinges and closed watertight with a beefy, highly polished latch.

Robalo’s 302 ($286,697 base with test power) is 16 inches shorter but 9 inches wider, putting its footprint toe-to-toe with the Sailfish. The 302 doesn’t sport the portside door, but its cockpit space is comparable and complete with an additional lounge chair that the Sailfish forgoes in favor of the door. The Robalo also sports dual livewells.

Conveniences at the bow included a cooler under the center-console seat and retractable lounge backs. A flip-up center bow seat improves access to the windlass and anchor compartment. Inside the console is a roomy compartment with more than 6 feet of headroom, housing a sink, toilet, and convenient access to battery switches and wiring.

The Sailfish 312 CC is one of the latest in the company’s full line of fishing-focused, family-friendly boats. In my experience, it’s among the best in its class.

How We Tested

• Engines: Dual Yamaha F300s
• Drive/Prop: SWS II 15.25″ x 18″
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 60 gal. Water On Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

High Points

• Livewells have powerful pumps and ample circulation. Clear lids make it easy to keep an eye on bait condition.
• Sailfish’s battery system includes voltage-sensing relays for optimizing alternator power.
• Standard through-stem anchor chute and windlass ease bottomfishing chores.
• Acrylic lidded locker atop the console keeps phones and wallets secure.

Low Points

• We liked the bow seatbacks that extend or lower, but would’ve preferred them to be removable and stowable.
• An optional upper station would be a good factory addition.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Sailfish Boats – Cairo, Georgia; 229-377-2125; sailfishboats.com

The post Boat Test: 2023 Sailfish 312 CC appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

Those who say dual-console boats aren’t real fishing boats have never stepped aboard a boat like the Sailfish 316 DC, with a vast expanse of open cockpit space that channels the same feel as a traditional sport-fishing boat. Its best-of-both-worlds design allows occupants to go from fishing to entertaining in a blink or do both simultaneously.

Interior and Accessories

The other vast attention-getter is the 316’s 41-inch-high, three-piece windshield. Extra-tall windshields are one of the fastest-growing trends in modern recreational boating design but usually confined to boats like the decidedly unfishy Sea Ray 370 outboard. The 316 DC comes equipped with a standard hardtop, stiffened by carbon fiber in stress points, and joined to the windshield to provide an oasis from the wind and sea. And under the big top is 6 feet, 10 inches of headroom that could fit NBA star Kevin Durant. While a couple of small vents or an air-conditioning option would be nice on blazing days, the sliding center section of the windshield allows for a variable amount of airflow without the usual all-or-nothing option provided by flip-open windshield sectionals, though it can’t be secured unless fully open or shut. For extra cockpit shade, there’s a manual SureShade option for $10,414.

Sailfish encourages owners to load up the 316 DC with reasonably priced options such as the Entertainment Package ($3,076), which includes features that expand its versatility with a ski-tow pylon, cockpit table with fore and aft receivers, Fusion transom remote control and three underwater lights. Our test boat came equipped with the galley option ($3,683) that includes a 12-volt Isotherm refrigerator, a sink with spigot, a wine rack cooler, and ample Corian countertop space that can double as a bait-rigging station. The bow section epitomizes the 316’s recreational vibe with twin Cleopatra couches that have the perfect amount of recline, although the flip-down armrests were unnaturally high. A table ($921) can also be placed aft, and it becomes a perfect place for dining or card play. A beverage is never far away with a bow cooler and a sandbar cooler built into the portside swim platformette.

A portside dive door enables easy passage for dockside guests and swimmers alike, and a rear-facing club seat in the open cockpit makes a perfect throne to observe a trolling spread, with storage for the dive-door ladder. In addition, three flip-down bench seats provide seating for seven-plus in a socially friendly layout without limiting fishing space. There are six rod holders at the transom, a pair in the gunwales, and six rocket launchers positioned on the hardtop support pillars, and an in-floor rod storage-locker option ($317). To keep bait frisky, there’s a curved 30-gallon transom recirculating livewell to port. Dual in-floor fish boxes give plenty of capacity, long enough for pelagic fish like extra-large wahoo.

At the compact helm, owners will find enough room for a pair of 12-inch Garmin displays, and a standard Mercury SmartCraft screen is above. The electronically adjustable helm seat has a flip-up bolster to create stand-up room or a higher perspective while seated. Black padding on top of the dash reduces reflective ghosts in the windshield. The companion helm seat is extra wide for comfort and sits far back enough to allow the head door to swing open without conflict. Inside is a yachtlike head compartment with a sink and electric toilet.

Engines

Our test boat was equipped with standard twin 300 hp Mercury Verado V-8 outboards that give the 316 DC a suggested retail price of $315,147, but the biggest no-brainer on the option sheet is an upgrade to twin Verado 350s for just $7,233. Another fishing-forward center-console to consider is the Grady-White Freedom 307, which comes standard with twin Yamaha F300 outboards. It has 10 inches more beam than the Sailfish 316 DC but is pricier, with a suggested retail of $345,058.

The twin Mercury 300 hp package provides sporty performance and pushed the 9-foot-9-inch-wide, 32-foot-6-inch-long hull with an estimated rigged weight of 11,315 pounds to a top speed of 51.1 mph during our sea trial. Acceleration was swift with a time to plane of 4.5 seconds and a zero-to-30 mph time of 8 seconds.

Sailfish’s Variable Degree Stepped (VDS) hull was put to the test in a gnarly Palm Beach Inlet churning up steep 4- to 5-footers. It’s not stepped in the traditional sense of adding a longitudinal notch with a vent that introduces air under the hull. Instead, the VDS hull uses a steep 24 degrees of deadrise at the centerline that gently flattens to 23 degrees, moving outward before tapering to 22 degrees at the outside of the hull, which gives it plenty of slicing ability without being too tender at rest. In front, the hull’s entry is 58 degrees, which helped it neatly slice through the maelstrom cleanly. The big windshield kept our faces dry as a stiff headwind blasted the spray. Fortunately, there’s a driverside windshield wiper with a fresh-water spritzer to keep it clear.

Part of our inlet adventure included breaking out the fishing rods to prospect for snook, and a ripping tide made it easy to do some vertical jigging. Although we remained in a state of snooklessness, the tall cockpit gunwale height, which averages 31 inches, made it easy to brace against the coaming pads for comfort and security.

Read Next: 2022 Sailfish 276DC

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin Mercury Verado V-8 300 hp
• Drive/Props: Outboard/19″ x 19″ Revolution 4 4-blade
• Fuel Load: 150 gal. Crew Weight: 415 lb.

High Points

• Excellent access to pumps, batteries and the seacock.
• Open cockpit layout offers more room for fishing than most dual-console boats.
• Heavy-duty hardware illustrates Sailfish’s approach to boatbuilding.

Low Points

• Bow chaise longue armrests are set too high.
• Adding vents to the windshield would add needed airflow on hot days.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Sailfish Boats – Cairo, Georgia; 229-377-2125; sailfishboats.com

The post 2022 Sailfish 316 DC appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

I admit it. I almost fell into using the threadbare simile often found in boating reviews, where a boat is described as being a Swiss Army knife. It’s shorthand for a boat that does everything well. And I started to use that on the Sailfish 276DC, but realized that would be completely, totally false. It does not do everything well.

It will not open a bottle of wine.

But the 276 does everything else extremely well. The 276DC (for Dual Console) is a boat for all reasons and all seasons.  

Interior and Accessories

Pile a bunch of fishing buddies aboard and the spacious cockpit has the openness you’d expect from a center-console, not to mention underfloor rod storage and six rod holders in the transom.  

For your family outings, the forward seating is clearly pilfered from a luxurious bowrider, with easy access between the consoles and both a door and folding windshield to control the breeze. Adventures with the kids are easy too with the optional retractable ski bar for towing water toys or skiers. 

Families and anglers are going to appreciate the head tucked neatly in the port console. Having a head aboard makes all-day outings comfortable, and Sailfish has two surprises here. The first is 52-inch headroom, so you can actually change out of a wet bathing suit. Second, the electric marine head is standard, so no more portable marine toilet or pumping action.  

Sailfish allows tailoring each 276DC to your particular fun zone, with an optional dive and tuna door in the port side (which also makes boarding from docks easy), and a cockpit galley and bar that’s able to accommodate a fridge. The impressive fiberglass hardtop with powder-coated supports is standard (including docking lights and PFD stowage), but you can add a SureShade awning to shade the aft cockpit.  

The standard equipment list is nothing short of impressive. It ranges from easy-to-clean SeaDek flooring in the head to a midship ski locker, and from built-in tackle trays to a circulating 30-gallon baitwell (LED-lit) that will please anglers, as will the two in-floor fish boxes and another insulated box forward that can double as a cooler. The raw-water washdown is for fishing cleanup, and a freshwater shower (14-gallon tank) is for swimmers or sandy beachgoers. And don’t miss the extended transoms on each side of the outboards; one hides the four-step boarding ladder, and the other has a built-in cooler for easy access at the sandbar.

Engines

Base power is twin Mercury or Yamaha 150 outboards, but I’d vote for the twin Yamaha F200 upgrade on our test boat as a good balance between speed and economy.  

A word about construction: The 276DC is built like a tank. For starters, there is no wood. Anywhere. So, the worry of dry rot in plywood reinforcing is gone. The fiberglass hull stringers are foam-filled, and both Kevlar and carbon fiber are used in areas with high loads. Thoughtful details include backing plates built into the hardtop, which make adding electronics a cinch. And anyone who has tried to chase wiring through a hull will bless Sailfish for using built-in rigging tubes with pull cords to add or replace wires. And to cap it off, Sailfish offers a 10-year hull warranty.

Besides the two aft-facing seats, there’s a 38-inch fold-down rear bench, plus fold-down seating standard on the starboard side. With these out of the way, anglers have wide-open deck space and 30-inch-high coamings for security. The skipper gets a power-adjustable chair with flip-up bolster for standing. Forward, the backrests (with folding armrests) are higher than the norm at 22 inches for all-day comfort. Aft, parents will appreciate the 31-inch-high coamings for safety.

Shopping? Consider the Pursuit DC266 ($196,089 with twin Yamaha 200s), which is close in size and layout.

One of the selling points of the 276DC is the Sailfish Variable Degree Stepped (VDS) hull, now in its sixth generation. This hull changes the deadrise in three 1-degree increments from 24 degrees (a true deep-V) to 22 degrees. The result is a hull that offers a deep-V’s soft ride offshore as well as speed and economy in smooth water.  

Underway, the 276DC proved the efficacy of the VDS shape. We topped out at 45.2 mph, and barely produced a sneeze of spray punching back through our own wake, thanks to the triple strakes and hard chines that throw spray to the side. Steering was light, and carving slaloms was just pure fun.

Putting the hammer down from a dead stop was a tribute to the strakes in the VDS hull, and we didn’t have to touch the trim tabs to minimize any bow rise.  

The Sailfish 276DC is also allergic to fuel docks; you can run comfortably at over 35 mph while burning just 20 gph. And with the sound level at 83 dB(A) at 5,000 rpm, you can carry on conversations without shouting.

Yep, I liked the 276DC a lot, but I have one piece of advice: Bring your own corkscrew.

How We Tested

• Engine: Twin Yamaha F200 outboards
• Drive/Props: Outboard/14 ¹/₄” x 17″ Reliance 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.86:1 Fuel Load: 100 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 350 lb.

High Points

• Deck areas boast aggressive nonskid but are easy to clean.
• Through-stem anchor chute with integrated roller is out of the way but accessible.
• Long standards list, so be sure you compare against other boats when shopping. 

Low Points

• Glove box in front of the companion seat isn’t water-sealed; don’t stash your phone there.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Sailfish Boats – Cairo, Georgia; 229-377-2125; sailfishboats.com

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Overview

Sailfish Boats sets a standard with its new 360 CC, a wide-beam 36-footer. It’s elegant and sophisticated, well-planned and well-executed. With the 360 CC, Sailfish blends a hardcore fishing machine with a comfortable family cruiser.

You certainly get a sensation of mass when boarding. Unusually high gunwales offer security to passengers, and everywhere you look has someplace to sit—comfortably.

An expansive forward area for bow fishing converts to lounges with an electric table on centerline. Removable backrests let you face forward—or sprawl on the huge centerline lounge hiding tons of stowage for fenders, lines, tackle, dive gear and cleaning supplies. Sailfish also insulates it so it can double as a coffin box for all those fish it will raise. In fact, throughout the 360, a masterful use of space provides copious storage.

A through-stem anchor roller and a windlass work in concert with another big-boat feature: a freshwater washdown outlet (along with transom and amidships outlets) to clear the mud off the anchor and rode.

The console houses a stand-up shower, berth, Corian counters and head, all capped by a handsome T-top with tinted opening vents and molded channels to carry water away from passengers.

Sailfish employs a “dot-matrix” nonskid pattern that grips well yet doesn’t tear up your bare feet or knees and cleans more easily than more aggressive patterns. Additionally, all lights aboard are LED and can flood the boat with 360 degrees of illumination. Underwater lights come standard as well. The only options include a Garmin electronics package and the outriggers.

Pricewise, this boat is middle of the road for its type. Compare the Sailfish 360 CC to Cobia’s 344 CC ($222,583 with twin Yamaha F350s). Also check out Boston Whaler’s 350 Outrage ($414,991 powered by triple 300 hp Mercury Verado outboards).

Engine

Triple Yamaha F300s powered our test boat admirably. It’s a big, heavy boat, so we didn’t experience head-snapping acceleration or frightening top speed, but these engines delivered ample performance.

The 360 proved stable and dry. It runs flat, so you won’t need to use tabs except for lateral trim. If anything, it would be nice if the bow rode a bit higher in a following sea. However, prudent seamanship combined with all that internal volume in the bow should alleviate any problems. The boat responds instantly, and if you turn the wheel hard over at speed, it grabs and turns sharply rather than sliding the transom around. It’s a good riding hull, and unique too.

Sailfish boats ride a hull design the builder calls a variable degree stepped hull, or VDS. Rather than a transverse step—or steps across the beam—with chine vents, as is more common, Sailfish’s VDS hull features longitudinal steps.

From the centerline along the keel to about one-third of the hull bottom’s width is a panel with a deep deadrise. The middle third of the bottom is a panel with slightly less deadrise. And the most outboard hull panel, terminating at the inside edge of the reverse chines, is a different deadrise angle again. For a simple visual, imagine an inverted shingled roof, in which each course of shingles is at a slightly steeper angle.

Interior and Accessories

A side door opens inward so you can easily board from a floating dock. This one also has an excellent four-step ladder for climbing out of the water. However, such doors and ladders are no substitute for a real boarding ladder that you can deploy while in the water. The 360 CC transom has one of those as well. Space has even been engineered into the 360 to fit a Seakeeper stabilizer, should you choose that option.

In addition to comfortable seating for three at the helm (with impact cushioning on an adjustable-height platform), mezzanine seating faces aft for another three, and a foldout transom seat accommodates more. The huge console fits a pair of 16- or triple 12-inch multifunction displays.

With 34 rod holders, two pressurized baitwells of 42 and 32 gallons with a dedicated sea-chest pump system, built-in tackle storage, outriggers, insulated coffin box and choice of several fish boxes, the Sailfish 360 CC leaves little doubt as to its angling chops.

How We Tested

• Engine: Triple 300 hp Yamaha F300 outboard motors
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/15″ x 20″
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 160 gal. Water on Board: 35 gal. Crew Weight: 499 lb.

High Points

• Impressive standard equipment list.
• Boat is roomy, with elegant styling, fit and finish.
• Auto-engine flush system included.

Low Points

• Runs flat without any tabs; would prefer a little higher bow angle for following seas.
• A little more “slide” in hard-over turns might be welcome.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Sailfish Boats – Cairo, Georgia; 229-377-2125; sailfishboats.com

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