Overview

Bluewater Sportfishing Boats’ newest, the 25T, proves itself a purpose-built fishing boat ready to tackle offshore conditions like few boats its size.

An Armstrong engine bracket holds the twin ­Yamaha F200s and adds 3 feet of length to its 25-foot hull. It has a wave-slashing 24 degrees of deep-V goodness at the ­transom and an even-sharper 44 degrees at the entry. Yet, because deep deadrise can make a boat tender, all Bluewaters now come standard with Seakeeper’s Ride system. This replaces standard trim tabs with what’s called a Vessel Attitude Control System. While underway, this makes 1,000 observations and 100 corrections per second using unique cupped blades that travel only a fraction of an inch when at planing speeds. The system reduces pitch and roll by up to 70 percent while the boat’s at speed.

Hardcore anglers will love the absence of fixed bowrider seats and a molded-in stern bench, which can rob a boat of ­angling space. The ­fishing cockpit is roomy. I taped 47 inches of deck aft of the ­leaning post. You can add family-­friendly seat options, but they are easily removable for ­fishing. Other features that let you know the 25T is a real-­deal fishing boat include the twin 24-gallon transom livewells, twin in-floor 20-gallon fish boxes, and a 133-gallon bow fish box/storage locker that can hold tuna up to an estimated 250 pounds. Our test boat sported 21 total rod holders, including 12 set into the gunwales (eight are standard).

The helm features a pair of flush-mounted Garmin 8612xfv multifunction displays and can accommodate up to 16-inchers. Rather unusual was the optional thin windshield, made of the same polycarbonate material as the optional side panels, which, despite being curved, provided a distortion-free view.

The twin Yamaha F200 outboards proved an ­excellent option. Time to 30 mph was 9.1 seconds, and the best cruise speed was 25.5 mph (3,500 rpm), which yielded an impressive 2.3 mpg. Along with its jumbo 189-gallon fuel tank, it offers it a theoretical range of nearly 400 miles. ­Bluewater also rigs twin Suzuki and ­Mercury outboards up to 500 hp, with a single 300 hp option. Choices in power: just another benefit of owning the ­Bluewater 25T.

Read Next: How Fishing and Boating Can Change Life for the Better

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin Yamaha F200 outboards
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha Reliance 14 ½” x 18″ stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.86:1 Fuel Load: 80 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

High Points

• Gunwale height starts at 26 inches aft and grows to 31 inches moving forward.
• Equipped with Gemlux friction hinges, hatches remain open until you close them, so there is little fear of smashed toes and fingers. 
• Bluewater is a custom family-owned builder, and with its wide range of options, it can design a boat that gives buyers precisely what they want.

Low Points

• Unlike similar boats, there is no tuna door for landing extra-large fish and helping guests board.
• When deployed, the removable stern bench and bowrider have support legs that stand on some hatches, making these lockers inaccessible.

Toughest Competitor

Parker Boats’ 2600 CC ($255,616 MSRP) measures 26-feet-by-9-feet-6-inches—wider than the Bluewater. The T-top, with a powder-coated frame, rocket launcher, lights and more, is standard equipment. The lockable console offers 65 inches of headroom and comes with a portable -toilet. Power it with up to twin 250 Yamaha outboards.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2025 Bluewater 25T appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

Given the widespread popularity of taking one’s boat to The Sandbar, or The Cove, or The Island (I’m using proper nouns because in every boating locality these places are referred to as specific locations), it’s a wonder we haven’t tested a boat with this name in the 69 years we’ve been in publication. Way to go, Sea Pro! And, not just for the name. The 225FLX Sandbar Boat is designed and outfitted with features to make it shine for boat buyers who regularly visit their local gathering spot, the beach brigade, the cove captains, the sandbar bosses.

As our test proved, this is a versatile boat. Read on to discover more about it.

Engines

You can power the Sea Pro FLX with a variety of outboard engine brands. That is to say, a given dealer may offer it with one or more brands of power. We think boats that offer you a choice of power is a good thing.

Our test boat was powered by a single, inline-4 Suzuki 200-hp outboard. This delivered good performance for this boat. Check out what we thought.

See a video review of our test boat’s Suzuki outboard, here.

The 225FLX rides on a conventional V-hull with a moderate 17.5 degrees of deadrise. This is not a boat that is going to offer a high cruising speed on choppy water, like other boats that sport a deeper V.

That said, properly handled the 225FLX can readily traverse open water safely and comfortably when properly handled. In fact, our test took place on a day of questionable weather, with 20-knot winds whipping up steep, 3-foot whitecaps. In these conditions, the Sea Pro’s ability to stay on plane at 15 mph—something a similar boat with a deeper V would be challenged to achieve, by the way—allowed proceeding in dry, slam-free comfort. The optional Zip Wake auto trim tabs helped in this. It’s all about setting your expectations.

Shallower deadrise also results in higher efficiency due to easier planing. This allows the boat to achieve good performance with a 200 hp Suzuki inline-4 outboard. Our tester hit 30 mph in 10.3 seconds and topped out over 40 mph. The chart shows the fuel burn, which I deem excellent for a coastal boat this size. Larger 250 hp options are available.

Also, the scant 14 inches the 225FLX draws can be attributed to its hull form. That’s knee-deep, easy-wading, even for kids. You might consider that shallow draft one of the “sandbar features.”

Interior and Accessories

Wading around the boat is what Sea Pro envisioned when it developed the innovative Sandbar Table that mounts to the transom, just above the waterline. This facilitates serving snacks while beached or anchored shallow.

Other sandbar-specific features include a tremendous head compartment—the largest we’ve seen in a boat this size. There’s a sink, porthole and our tester sported the optional marine head with a pump-out. For long days beached or at anchor, your crew will need relief and this head provides it comfortably.

Let’s review the seating. Forward, the V-shaped seats combine with the seat on the console front to allow a group to gather around the optional table. Optional backrests convert the seats to lounges. Pull the cushions (these fit inside the head—we checked) and use the optional table as a filler to create a casting platform. The seats conceal draining storage.

Aft, folding jump seats create a three-to-four-person-wide lounge out of the aft platform. Big storage is inside. Want to face aft? The leaning post backrest flip flops to do just that. Additionally, an optional cooler slides out from beneath the leaning post to form either a footrest or another seat, or for easy access to the cooler itself. 

Flip that backrest the other way and take your spot at the helm. There is comfort seated or standing thanks to the footrest and there was enough room at the helm, further enhanced by the tilt helm power steering. There’s also space for a variety of electronics, including big-screen MFDs, to add to the standard Simrad 9-incher. An Audison Marine Audio stereo is also standard, along with a compass, and the Sea Pro Connect app. I appreciated the dry box atop the console: Every boat needs a “Captain’s Box” at the helm for wallets, licenses, glasses and more. Overhead, the T-top provided good sun coverage and impressed me in several ways. Made in-house by Sea Pro, the top features powder-coated pipework, an underside that matches the hull color, and a grab handle incorporated into its perimeter that I found perfectly placed for boarding the boat from a high dock. 

Fishing standards include trolling-motor wiring, raw-water washdown, under-gunwale rod racks, four gunwale rod holders, a 68-quart stern cooler-box, two 120-quart boxes under the bow seats and a 12-gallon livewell.

The price is definitely a feature. Offered for $81,932 as a nicely equipped version with hull color, trim tabs, and a 200 Suzuki, the MSRP for a loaded version like we tested runs $103,361. This boat is a deal in today’s boat market, dear reader.

For comparison, I suggest you look at the Sportsman Open 212 ($89,495 with a F200XSA2 Yamaha in white). It’s a new 2025 model, and though it’s console head compartment is not as large as that of the Sea Pro, it comes with a tall, tempered-glass windshield, which I prefer to the short standard windshield aboard the Sea Pro.

In characterizing the Sea Pro 225FLX Sandbar it may be easy to say that it is a good boat for the money. I’ll just say I think it is a good boat. Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think.

How We Tested

• Engine: 200 hp Suzuki DF200
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/16” x 20” 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.50:1 Fuel Load: 75 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 360 lb.

High Points

• The built-in-house T-top proved sturdy in rough water and offers an integrated handrail to ease boarding from the dock.
• You’ll appreciate the dry box atop the helm for a variety of reasons.
• This boat boasts the biggest head in its class.
• Through-bolted hatch lids finished on both sides.

Low Point

• The standard windshield is too low to provide any real protection. Order the optional and removable hard enclosure.

Extra Point

• The standard Sea Pro App keeps you in touch with bilge-pump activity, battery status and is your direct line to service help should you need it.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Operation, Efficiency

The post Boat Test: 2025 Sea Pro 225FLX appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

If, like me, you dozed through Ancient Greek Mythology class, Panacea was the goddess of all cures and ­solutions. And that is the perfect name for the new Intrepid 41. This big center-console will satisfy every one of your boating wishes and desires.  

Engines

If speed is at the top of your boating checklist, get a tie-down for your hat. This new Intrepid easily nailed 61-plus mph, and that was in a not-so-friendly Gulf Stream. Our test boat boasted a trio of the standard Mercury V-10 400s clamped to the transom.

You can check the option box for twin Mercury V-12s, punching out 600 hp each, but warn your guests to bring extra sunglasses to replace the ones that will blow off their faces.  

Interior and Accessories

You can bring a whole bunch of those friends too because the 41 ­Panacea is a party animal. An outdoor galley behind the helm seats features a grill to torture steaks, an Isotherm fridge to keep beverages chilled, a sink, and a pull-out cooler in case the fridge floweth over.

If you want to spend the night aboard with your significant other ­after blasting across to Bimini, Catalina or Nantucket, the spacious cabin sports 6 feet, 3 inches of headroom, a comfortably sized V-berth with convertible table, and a human-size enclosed head with shower and ­electric toilet. There’s even a mini galley (microwave/sink/fridge), so you can have your morning coffee and croissants without leaving the cabin.  

But will the 41 Panacea fish? Oh, yeah! The twin lighted livewells in aft corners of the cockpit have side windows so that you can check the health of your pilchards or pogies, macerators for sending off those baits that didn’t make it to the hook, five rod holders across the transom (more along the rails), and a hardtop braced for outriggers. Foldout seating is shaded by the pullout awning hidden in that hardtop and fish boxes that reside below the cockpit sole.

You say you’re a diver? The oversize hull door to port (an Intrepid invention) is large enough to easily handle chubby divers and a big fish. A boarding ladder flips out from a hatch in the cockpit floor adjacent to the door.   

The styling is the highly ­recognizable straight and rising Intrepid sheer that looks like it’s going fast at anchor. The rakish hardtop, with full-height windshield and ­recessed ­speakers and lighting, adds to the ­swept-forward look. 

Intrepid has perfected its high-speed, ­high-efficiency single-step hull, which aerates the running surface, allowing you to run faster, longer and farther. This is balanced by a trio of strakes on each side to fine-tune tracking and lift, plus hard chines that throw aside spray and stabilize the boat at trolling speed. Add to that the optional Seakeeper 3 gyrostabilizer, and the 41 is fire, as the kids say.   

As you’d expect in a go-fast boat, the ­skipper is awarded every desire. We applauded the comfortable seat with great lumbar support, as well as identical companion seats on either side. The no-distortion windshield ends at the stylish dash with twin 22-inch Garmin monitors and rows of Bocatech push-button switches for the various systems. Besides the Mercury Joystick Piloting for Outboards, the Vetus bow ­thruster aids in easy docking.  

But this is only half the 41 Panacea, which also aspires to be a luxurious bowrider forward of the helm. Wide walkways lead to twin sun pads with hinged backrests atop the cabin, and the seating wraps around a high/low table that retracts electrically flush with the floor. Pop-up cleats and an underhatch Maxwell horizontal windlass keep the foredeck clear, and anchoring can be controlled both at the windlass and from the helm. A thoughtful touch: a washdown pump in the anchor locker to get rid of muck. 

Speaking of uncluttered, the transom ­platform is a delight. Most outboard boats have a tangle of wires and hoses to trip anyone who ventures onto the platform, but all this maze is hidden below the Intrepid platform. You can step aboard from a dock, stroll safely across the platform in front of the Mercurys, and enter the cockpit through the starboard-side ­transom door.

Read Next: Intrepid 51 Panacea 

When it comes to service, an oversize hatch allows you easy access to the undercockpit Paguro 8.5 kW genset, as well as the optional Seakeeper 3 gyrostabilizer.

Shopping around? Check out the ­Cigarette 41 Nighthawk ($1,279,000), with similar ­bad-boy looks, quad Mercury 500s and a more Spartan interior. A more conservative-­looking boat that’s a bit longer is the Tiara 43LS ($1,560,425 base price), which hits 56 mph with twin 600 hp Mercury Verado outboards.

Underway, I loved the 41 Panacea, upgraded using customer comments about the now-retired 40 Panacea with a new and wider hull. Even Aunt Edna is going to grin when you grab the Brodie knob on the fat 14-inch stainless-steel wheel that begs you to spin doughnuts. Put the hammers down, and the Panacea pops onto plane in just 5.3 seconds. Launch off a Gulf Stream graybeard, and the Panacea lands softly, begging for more.

The Panacea, as Greek gods know, is truly a boat for all reasons. 

How We Tested

• Engines: Triple Mercury 400 hp V-10 Verados
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/16.8″ x 19″ Revolution X 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.09:1 Fuel Load: 275 gal. Crew Weight: 650 lb.

High Points

• I love the hidden hand grip that makes boarding through the hullside door safe and easy. Thoughtful, functional and executed with élan, it’s the type of thing upon which Intrepid has built its reputation. 
• Electric backrests installed in the forward lounges allow guests to sit up or recline without requiring the captain to stow or retrieve a removable backrest. 
• Gutters in the deck hatches are deep enough to handle Biblical quantities of rain or energetic use of the washdown hose, and keep gear protected from moisture and corrosion. 

Low Point

• The white dash reflects into the windshield, creating distracting “ghosts” and glare. I’d prefer a dark helm top for this reason.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2025 Intrepid 41 Panacea appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

Mathematicians and philosophers have long debated whether there can be more than 100 percent of anything. I remember this from the mists of math class, while I dreamt of boats. But until I saw the new Cobia 265 CC Open, I hadn’t formulated Caswell’s Theorem.  

Here’s a simple explanation: At first glance, the Cobia 265 CC looks to be an ­angler’s dream—decks dotted with rod holders, two rows of rocket launchers on the ­hardtop, rod racks along the cockpit sides, plus a livewell and fish boxes. So, let’s call it 95 ­percent a fishing war wagon.

Interior and Accessories

But then, it also has a family-friendly head inside the console that ­surprises everyone who unlatches the forward opening door, with easy entry steps, 6 feet of headroom, a sink and mirror, a shower, and a toilet. Add in the folding bench seat for Aunt Edna aft in the cockpit, the hinged lounge backrests forward around a high/low sun pad/munchies table, and you have a boat that is 75 percent for families.  

It’s clear that if there can be no more than 100 percent of anything, then philosophers have never seen the Cobia 265 CC Open because it disproves everything: This boat is far more than its numbers. It blends serious angling with family fun. This is Caswell’s Theorem of Fun Boats at work.

Because the percentages favor fishing, let’s start there. The 265 CC Open is just that: a wide-open cockpit, a 30-gallon livewell aft, and a dedicated console behind the helm with tackle boxes, a cutting board, and an ice chest. Need to chase a fish forward in a hurry? The ­24-inch-wide side decks are deep and secure, padded thigh-high, with grab rails ­everywhere.

Once forward, a removable casting platform (with dedicated stowage) gets you up high, and our test boat had the optional Garmin Force Kraken trolling motor with enough length so that the prop continues to find a bite (excuse the pun), even in rough seas. Tucked forward under a hatch is a Lewmar anchor windlass with helm remote for easy anchoring.

That helm is going to be a feature for both anglers and families, protected by an integrated frame with a tempered-glass enclosure, full-width wiper, and an electric vent for those hot days. A big glove box for suntan potions and shades is backed up by another in the hardtop, and two levels of skipper footrests fit ­everyone. The dash is designed for a pair of ­Garmin ­16-inch displays, and the row of toggles is ­backlit for night running.

Read Next: Cobia 350 CC

Engines

For our test, we had the midsize Yamaha 200s (150s are standard; 250s available), which seemed just right, topping out at over 50 mph while getting better than 1 mpg (38.3 gph!). Ease the throttles to 4,000 rpm, and you’ll sip fuel at 17-plus gph while getting better than 2 miles per gallon (35 mph).

Just as important—whether you’re ­heading to an offshore canyon or yanking kids on ­inflatables—is the hull, and here is where the 265 excels. Your starting point is the 21-degree ­deep-V, with twin strakes and wide chine flats that throw spray to the side. And the 265 is just plain fun to drive. I flipped the stainless-steel wheel to its flat bus-driver position and cranked the Cobia hard over with the Brody knob. It banked solidly, with no cavitation, even when I did it into a passing yacht wake. Solid for ­offshore, comfy for families.

Its construction is what you’d expect from this sister company to Pursuit Boats, with its proprietary VARIS (Vacuum-Assisted Resin Infusion System) for a wood-free stringer grid. That’s a fancy way to say rock-solid, with no creaks or groans.  

What about families? They’re going to love the bowrider seating forward, and the big enclosed head is where they can change clothes, rinse off and, of course, do the usual stuff. Aft, the transom platform is free of the typical outboard-rigging tangle (it’s hidden underneath), making it easy for adults to drop snapper baits straight down and for kids to use the pull-out swim ladder safely. Access is via a locking sealed door, so no water enters the cockpit even if you back down hard. Another freshwater shower on the transom gets rid of salt or sand from ­swimming or a sandbar.

Speaking of ladders, the inward-opening side door abaft the helm is of equal interest to anglers and families. Big enough to pull in a trophy-size fish (or a well-fed diver), it has a removable ladder that stores neatly in a dedicated alcove. That door is right next to one of the two 46-gallon insulated fish boxes, so you can drop your catch from the water and into the box. And whether you’re splashing water or fishing around, the EVA faux-teak decking (an addition from Malibu boats, which recently acquired Cobia) proved itself on our 100-degree test day by maintaining its cool on our bare feet, while giving a solid grip as well.

If you are shopping, you might consider the Sea Pro 262 DLX. It is available with your choice of twin Mercury, Suzuki or ­Yamaha outboards, and it comes in at $155,183, ­well-equipped, with twin 175 hp Suzukis.

Well-built, thoughtfully equipped and just plain fun, the Cobia 265 CC Open proves my theorem: This is a boat that adds up to fun.

High Points

• Deep gutters on hatches and doors.
• Good access to electrical and plumbing, including batteries.
• Multiple cellphone chargers.
• Fish-box lids lock in the “up” position.

Low Point

• For anglers, a single livewell can be limiting.

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin 200 hp Yamaha outboards
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/13 ¾” x 19″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.86:1 Fuel Load: 85 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 750 lb.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Operation, Efficiency

The post Boat Test: 2025 Cobia 265 CC Open 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.

Overview

Sōlace Boats are the brainchild of Stephen Dougherty, an engineer and boat designer of exceptional pedigree. His late father, Bob Dougherty, put Boston Whaler on the tip of ­every boater’s tongue. Then he did the same with EdgeWater and Everglades. For the past few years, Stephen has carried on the tradition with Sōlace. These boats are ingenious thanks to Dougherty’s experienced look at all the activities that happen in boats, especially with the new Sōlace 37CS. He has eliminated many annoying details found in competitive boats, then replaced them with conveniences that turn nuisance into pleasure, complete with world-class fishing amenities that pamper not only anglers, but the most demanding pleasure-boat owners as well.

Magnetic attachments for removable deck lounge cushions replace fragile finger-spraining snaps; automatic actuators raise the windshield; nearly hidden magnetic cup holders secure drinks to gunwales and tabletops. Even a bait board is attached magnetically to the transom and is so secure, we could practically toss it from the port station to the starboard station or a center station and stick the landing. The double jump seat also magnetically fastens to the transom and boasts a footrest beneath. These are dramatic and innovative details that add “wow” to match the performance of the 37CS.

Engines

At 16,000 pounds, it’s svelte with an 11-foot beam. Three of Yamaha’s new V-6 4.3-liter 350 hp outboards ran the 37CS up to 60 mph. Hole shot was crisp and the bow stayed low, inclining only 3 degrees before settling into a smooth gait at 35.5 mph running 4,000 rpm, and providing an optimal cruise range of 423 miles. You also can order it with triple Mercury 400s and net similar economy.

The bottom features a double-stepped design, and is engineered to preserve forward visibility out of the hole. This boat also held its ground in high-speed turns. The ride is plenty smooth, but for the less adventurous, the optional Quick X10 MC DC gyrostabilizer on our tester steadied the boat for even greater comfort. 

Interior and Accessories

Controlling the Solace 37CS proved a pleasure thanks to the row of triple bucket seats with adjustable armrests, and easy-to-adjust legroom. A footrest below the wheel is comfy. The Garmin displays spread before us carried digital switching, gyro and media ­controls, with a rocking Fusion audio system so ­well-appointed that nobody could sit more than 3 feet from a coaxial woofer and tweeter.

The hardtop offers beefy construction. The supporting stanchions are laddered braces for easy access to the top. The ­windshield is glass, and a pair of grab rails on the hardtop “ceiling” add passenger stability and confidence in rough water. Two side glass windshield panels are bonded to the curved aluminum pillars; the center one raises on rams. And Sōlace added grab rails to either side of the console, in reach of crewmembers standing beside the helm area.

Crew comfort in the boat comes from well-designed seating and high-quality components. Mezzanine seating is designed for two, and the seat bottom lifts up to reveal an ice chest beneath. You can rummage around in it with both hands because the lid hinges to a vertical position and stays there until you close it. The mezzanine seatback folds down to form a rigging table complete with a tackle-box cabinet behind it. At first, we thought the arrangement eliminated the grill that is often found in the rigging station. Instead, we found a gas grill stored in a drawer under the seat. This grill mounts in a rod holder when in use. 

The bow has two lounge seats open at the center at the anchor locker to allow easy ­access to the ground tackle. The interior freeboard’s height was ideal for manning the ­electric windlass. Even better, Sōlace replaced vinyl upholstery with silicone “fabric”: a tough, UV-resistant, stain-blocking material that maintains factory freshness for years. 

Below deck, rod holders for all the sticks you can carry are concealed in a hidden compartment beneath the double berth. Instead of rod/cup combo holders on the gunwales, the 37CS has premium polished rod holders, and next to each one is a polished cup ­holder—that’s in addition to the magnetic pucks hidden in the nonskid diamond plate to hold your magnetized cups.

Read Next: Solace 32 CS

If you are shopping around and want to compare other boats to the Sōlace 37CS, the Scout 377 LXF ($894,398 base) would be a good model to check out. It is imminently fishable and comparably luxurious. 

The 37CS’s aft cockpit is equally well-planned. A portside boarding door supplants the transom door, with a pair of 40-gallon pressurized livewells and a ­refrigerated fish box spread out over the ­transom instead. A unique electric chill tub can be removed. Optional tuna tubes can be placed near the livewells.

The little things add up on the Sōlace 37CS, which is sure to draw a chorus of “Wow, that’s cool” from experienced boaters. I am one of them.

How We Tested

• Engines: Triple Yamaha 350s
• Drive/Props: Outboard/Rev 4 14 ⁵/₈” x 21″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.79:1 Fuel Load: 500 gal. Water on Board: 40 gal. Crew Weight: 650 lb.

High Points

• The windshield is supported on struts strong enough to allow operation while it is open. 
• Silicone upholstery is easy to clean (ink wipes right off), UV resistant, and longer lasting than vinyl.
• Sōlace planned for a future upper station by building a ladder into the supports of the hardtop. 

Low Point

• We missed the transom door and that easy access to the platform and ladder.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Sōlace 37CS appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

The 208CC was one of EdgeWater’s first and most successful center-consoles. Still popular and one of the strongest fishing boats in its class, EdgeWater’s designers decided it was time to update it to modern expectations with cutting-edge construction ­techniques, seriously ­competitive fishing features, and family ­cruising comforts previously not present or valued with the ­original design. The new model is called the 208CC Watchman, and it boasts all-composite construction, a fiberglass stringer system and transom, and a foam-filled unsinkable design. The standard black canvas T-top with textured black powder-­coated ­superstructure is matched to the leaning post, the finish more durable than paint. It’s this look—plus the black dash plate large enough for a 12-inch display and a matching black wheel that pays homage to the law enforcement and lighthouse keepers who were called “the Watchmen”—that tops off the aggressive dash.

Interior and Accessories

In the Watchman, bold design is balanced with comforts, such as the thickly padded front seats and the thickly padded helm seating with a pullout cooler beneath. The fold-down transom seat is an unexpected treat in a boat this size. Even the coaming pads feature accented vinyl. For more fun, the standard  JL Audio system features gray-accented speakers.

Still, fishing assumes top priority on this boat. A large livewell, eight rocket launchers between the leaning post and T-top, and four gunwale rod holders secure a full ­quiver of sticks. A large rigging station pops out of the leaning bar. EdgeWater has even ­designed the Watchman to carry an optional Power-Pole ($3,412). T-top spreader lights and cockpit courtesy lighting are standard.

Read Next: EdgeWater 325CC

Engine

We tested the 208CC on the inland waters in a windy chop that exercised the hull without shaking us up. We liked that the performance from Yamaha’s 200 hp outboard (a $12,531 upgrade brings electronic throttle, shift and steering) gave a rewarding, economical 3.6 mpg at 3,500 rpm.

The 208CC is ideal for big bays, inland striper fishing, and for salmon trolling in the Great Lakes. It’s ready to fish, beachcomb, or cruise with family and friends.

How We Tested

• Engine: Yamaha Inline Four 200 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/SWS II 14.25″ x 17″ stainless-steel 3-blade
• Gear Ratio: 1.86:1 Fuel Load: 28 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 600 lb.

High Points

• Standard features include T-top, raw and fresh water, battery switch, JL ­stereo, and livewell—all are usually options on the competition.
• With so many features for anglers, we were surprised to see so much ­c­omfortable seating for crew.
• An electronics box in the T-top is ­standard, and most 20-foot center-­consoles can’t fit a foldout transom seat like the one in the 208CC.

Low Points

• Bow seating is abbreviated to reserve more deck space for fishing.
• The EdgeWater’s trailer is optional.

Toughest Competitor

Robalo’s 202 Explorer takes aim with a Yamaha VF200XB and a length and beam nearly identical. Priced with hydraulic steering—not digital—a T-top, 9-inch Simrad display and custom ­trailer, it hits the register at under $80,000 plus tax. Raw and fresh water and a battery switch are among options not included.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 EdgeWater 208CC Watchman appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

Grady-White’s newest version of its popular Coastal ­Explorer 251 CE and 281 CE series  is the 231 CE; it’s easy to trailer and dock, it’s more affordable, and yet surprisingly it sacrifices little in terms of luxury and fishability. We were impressed by its versatility.

Interior and Accessories

Grady borrowed the lean bar, console and hardtop from the 251 CE. The 231 CE’s 25-gallon livewell is built into the lean bar, just as it is on the 251. We had to scratch our heads as we sussed out exactly where the features were trimmed in the shorter boat.

A reduced transom ­platform still offers plenty of elevated casting deck. The unique seatbacks from the 251 and 281 are still present. They swing aft or forward and lock into place for access to the boarding ladder or to drag a fish aboard.

The transom accepts dual Power-Poles. Rod storage is ample in the leaning bar with four rocket launchers, and there are four in the hardtop too. Undergunwale storage includes two rod holders per side. Raw-water and freshwater bibs are conveniently located to wash the deck, tackle and sandy feet—if the crew ­decides to go beach exploring.

The wide console has ­plenty of space for dual ­navigation displays and a compass. An overhead electronics box provides a good spot to park a VHF radio.

Read Next: Grady-White 281 Coastal Explorer

The console houses an unexpectedly, impressively inviting changing room below with a portable head. A long jump seat with enough space to put up your legs and stretch out is at the front of the helm. There’s a step to the casting deck with generous space for two or more anglers, but when the cushions are in place and a cocktail table is arranged ­between the console lounge and casting deck, there’s an enormous sunning lounge for two or three people.

Engine

Yamaha’s 250 hp outboard with integrated power steering makes this a very nice handling package with a top speed of just under 49 mph. We liked the way it held tight in turns and skimmed over double-up wakes—some of the roughest turbulence that boats encounter. Stable at rest, it settles gently under the shifting weight of the crew. The 231 CE is packed with fun, comfort and fishability, which is not found in many other bay boats.

How We Tested

• Engine: Yamaha 250 Four-Stroke
• Drive/Prop: Yamaha Saltwater Series II SDS 15.5″ x 17″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75: 1 Fuel Load: 70 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

High Points

• The deluxe console is standard, offering an integrated livewell, rod holders and a tackle center—a feature not available on the competition.
• The standard hardtop includes rod ­holders, overhead storage and ­an ­electronics box.
• Electrically operated seatbacks at the bow fold down for casting-deck space and don’t require stowing.

Low Points

• While we like the swinging aft ­seatbacks, we wish there were a way to remove and stow them.
• Many inshore anglers prefer two livewells, a feature missing on the 231 CE.

Toughest Competitor

Scout’s luxurious 231 XSB is serious about bay fishing, but it lacks the deluxe lean bar of the Grady, and the hardtop version adds $11,000 more to the $114,149 base price.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Grady-White 231 Coastal ­Explorer appeared first on Boating Mag.

Jump To:

• Invincible 46 Pilothouse
• Four Winns TH36
• World Cat 400 CC-X
• Aquila 47 Molokai
• Twin Vee 400 GFX2

Invincible 46 Pilothouse 

The Pilothouse version of the Invincible 46 allows you to overnight in style and comfort, or enjoy weather protection en route to the fish, and the 1,000-gallon fuel capacity gives the boat incredible range. When we tested this boat with quad Mercury Racing 450s, we recorded a range of 593.9 miles while cruising at 40.7 mph at 4,000 rpm. Top speed, if you’re wondering, was 71.2 mph. But this angling platform is about so much more than just the performance numbers.

The Invincible 46 rides on a hybrid-­asymmetrical hull that combines the best of a proa cat’s efficiency with the wave slicing and ­stability of identical twin sponsons. The hulls are double-stepped to further improve efficiency and running attitude. This cat can handle heavy seas and provide comfort offshore on days when less-worthy boats are still in their slips.

The pilothouse allows the captain and crew to experience the ride in plush comfort. In addition to the helm seating and the aft U-shaped lounge, there is an aft row of captain’s chairs. However, you can delete the second-row seating and ­extend the lounge for a roomier feel. If you want some fresh air, the pilothouse opens up nicely with port and starboard sliding doors, helm and passenger sliding windows, and a power-sliding window on the aft bulkhead that opens the cockpit to the cabin. Belowdecks, there’s sleeping accommodations for four, plus a galley that can be custom-fitted to your needs.

Even with the pilothouse, Invincible bills this boat as having 360-degree fishability. There’s plenty of fish-fighting space in the cockpit and the bow, which can convert to a three-person sun pad when the lines are in. Bring all the bait you want with the dual 60-gallon transom livewells, along with the 70-gallon in-floor well. All are fed by a sea chest with six pumps to keep the bait fresh. A rigging station folds out of the mezzanine seatback so cleverly that we might have missed it in our initial inspection if it hadn’t been pointed out. Drawers and tackle-box slots keep gear, tools, and leader spools organized. Six shotgun rod holders on the transom will prove ideal for storage and rigging. There’s lockable rod storage under the gunwales too. The transom arrangement eschews a transom door, but Invincible has an inward-opening portside door for hauling fish to the deck.

Overall, the Invincible 46 Pilothouse is set up to be a badass long-distance fishing and cruising machine.

Four Winns TH36 

With an aggressively wide 14-foot-7-inch beam, the Four Winns TH36 packs a ton of creature comforts into this catamaran to exceed the needs of the typical dayboater. Start with the aft living room—er—cockpit, which rivals the setup of many backyard patios. The seating is genius; the cockpit lounges slide and lock in several positions, both with and without tables. Slide them outboard, and two L-lounges reside on each side of a central walkway. Slide them inboard, and you create a giant U-shaped lounge. At the cockpit’s forward end, large plush, upholstered double chaises face aft. It’s all one level from here, right up to the bow lounge. Amidships, a pair of counters to port and starboard house the galley. Lift the faux-stone lids to reveal a cooktop, sink and optional grill, with a fridge hiding underneath. The massive bow lounge provides even more social space for up to eight people.

The dual-console layout evokes the feel of a bowrider on steroids. The helm provides excellent visibility from the adjustable captain’s chair, from where the captain can observe twin MFDs mounted in a pod that extends from the top of the console without restricting the view beyond. We tested this boat with a pair of Mercury 350 Verados, achieving a top speed of 37.1 mph and a nice cruising speed of around 25 mph. With the twin hulls, we found the boat to be as smooth as silk while knifing through swells that might cause a similar-size V-hull to pound.

While designed primarily for ­daytime roaming, the TH36 is set up to also be an ­overnight cruiser. Two cabins with queen berths reside belowdecks, each with its own separate head and shower. So you and your guests, or a family of four, can enjoy some ­privacy when it’s time to draw the curtains.

The extended platform between the ­outboards proved to be a favorite feature. It’s a great spot for taking a dip at anchor when the engines are off, but it also makes for a great boarding spot, showing that the TH36’s comfort factor starts before you even leave the dock.

World Cat 400 CC-X 

An OG in the power-cat space, World Cat has been producing center- and dual-console fishing catamarans for decades. Coming out on the heels of its 40-foot dual-console, the 400 CC-X is the flagship of its center-console fleet.

With a 604-gallon fuel tank, the 400 CC-X can deliver a range of over 600 miles, as proved during test day when, powered by quadruple Yamaha F300s, we recorded a range of 611.6 miles at a 27.5 mph clip at 4,000 rpm. You can get to the blue water and back, or the Bahamas if you live in Florida, and still have fuel to fish along the way.

Because of its long length and wide beam, the 400 CC-X can fit three high-back seats with armrests at the helm. The captain’s place would be at the center seat, which adjusts electrically behind the brushed-aluminum Edson wheel with brodie knob. The three-­sided tempered-glass windshield provides wind and spray protection, while an electric opening vent at the top of the windscreen allows a breeze on hot days. Our test boat sported two 22-inch Garmin touchscreens—a trio of ­17-inch displays is also offered—that showed everything, from systems (lighting, pumps, etc.) to the engine readouts. The 400 CC-X comes with a key-fob control, so you can turn on the lights and systems while walking on the dock. Some thoughtful touches at the helm include a padded recess atop the dash to securely hold phones and glasses, plus a handy glove box with a drain.

In terms of fishy features, the 400 CC-X is stacked, with an inward-opening tuna door leading into the 200-square-foot cockpit, with padded coamings and nearly 30 inches of walk-around space past the console and T-top to chase fish. In the cockpit sole are a pair of 80-gallon insulated fish boxes (with overboard Grouper Gulper pumps) that can be optioned as bait tanks; another pair of 154-gallon fish boxes (5-by-2 feet) are forward. Up at the bow, there’s actually a casting platform that hides the Lewmar anchor windlass. Our tester boasted the optional Cat Track sliding seats forward, which can combine into a centerline coffin box, creating a sun pad, or separate into a U-lounge. So there’s definitely room to relax and chill. Rod capacity? There are four vertical holders on each side of the console, three rod racks on each side of the cockpit aft, six lockable racks forward, an ­additional six locking racks under each ­gunwale, plus six rocket launchers on the ­T-top—five behind the helm and 11 scattered around the bow. Bring your entire arsenal.

Aquila 47 Molokai

The largest of the cats in this roundup, the ­Aquila 47 Molokai can take on square-edged seas with aplomb. When we tested it with four Mercury 400 Verados on the transom, we pointed the bow through the inlet and took on some serious swells with nary a shudder. It can run far, fish hard, and cruise in comfort—all in one finely appointed package.

Aquila’s heritage stems from the ­cruising side, so we’ll start with all the amenities ­designed to keep you in comfort between ­marina runs. Tucked into the low-profile console is a fully outfitted air-conditioned cabin with a queen berth; 6 feet, 7 inches of headroom; big windows; overhead skylights; and a surprisingly spacious head with shower. The genset is powered by lithium batteries that provide eight hours of juice for cooling the cabin.

Abovedecks, the 47 Molokai is all ­fishing. There are 22 rod holders all around the gunwales, plus attached to the carbon-fiber hardtop and in piping along the hardtop stanchions. Twin 42.5-gallon livewells are built into the transom for your baits, and insulated 4-foot, 148-gallon macerating fish boxes hide under deck hatches along the console walkways.

Tucked under the carbon-fiber hardtop (reinforced for the optional Pipewelders tower) are seven Stidd seats: three up front behind the helm and four in the raised mezzanine to spectate the action. That helm is impeccable, from the eyebrowed black dash with twin (or triple) Garmin MFDs, C-Zone switching, custom Fusion audio, and Mercury joystick. Driving the 47 Molokai when equipped with 1,600 hp is an absolute blast. The double-stepped hulls keep the boat at a good attitude while running along at a crisp pace. We recorded a top speed of 66.5 mph with the throttles pinned, while still maintaining a range of 562 miles. Throttle back to a comfortable 48.1 mph cruising speed at 4,500 rpm, and the range jumps to 654 miles.

Overall, the Aquila 47 Molokai is a boat ­designed and built to go places.

Read Next: Six Boats Built for Adventure

Twin Vee 400 GFX2 

The new Twin Vee 400 GFX2 is the next generation of the builder’s GFX model, with many redesigned features and a new digital control system to make operation smooth and seamless.

As of press time, we haven’t been able to get on the Twin Vee 400 GFX2, the newest model in the lineup. But we will soon. Here’s what we know about the company’s flagship offering. This boat is designed to be an offshore fishing machine. It will feature more than 450 square feet of deck space, 2,500 quarts of insulated storage, 150-gallon livewell capacity, and plenty of space to fight and land fish.

Fishing-wise, the GFX will have twin 475-quart coffin boxes with stainless-steel inserts and two in-deck 700-quart fish boxes with macerators. There will also be four electric-­reel outlets if you’re looking to fish deep. For rod holders, there will be 10 mounted into the gunwales per side, plus eight more on the hardtop piping aft of the helm. The main cockpit will have a rear-facing tackle station to prep your arsenal. A starboard-side tuna door helps for landing large pelagics and doubles as a great spot for dockside ­boarding. The helm has triple captain’s chairs, with ­additional seating for three just aft. A fully enclosed windshield keeps the captain and crew protected from the elements. The dash has space to mount twin 22-inch MFDs. A freshwater head in the console and transom jump seats add to the creature comforts.

The 400 GFX2 can be powered by quad Mercury, Yamaha or Suzuki outboards up to 1,800 hp total. Depending on your power choice, cruising speed should be in the mid-40s, with top speeds in the high 60 mph range.

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Overview

Make no mistake: The Sea Pro 292DLX Offshore is an ­angler’s center-console. It’s got all the amenities beloved by hardcore fishermen, but a quick walk-through reveals enough creature comforts to keep the entire family happy.

Let’s start with the fishing features, most notably the twin 25-gallon livewells on opposite sides of the transom. Both feature clear lids, and they are pressurized to help prevent sloshing. An additional livewell resides aft of the helm seating, and there are four built-in ­rod-­holder/cup-holder combos above it. The cockpit has an ­inward-swinging side door to port for help in boating big fish; it also makes for a great spot to board the boat from a floating dock. Four rocket-­launcher rod holders reside in the hardtop piping, and there are six rod holders mounted into the topside gunwales. There’s a 277-quart in-sole fish box in the bow, joined by a 127-quart box in the aft cockpit sole. Additionally, the lockers under the bow seating each serve as 120-quart fish boxes or coolers if needed.

Engines

The 292DLX is built to handle a rugged ride outside the inlet, with a single-piece fiberglass stringer system bonded to the hull with methacrylate. The hull itself has a vinylester barrier coat and is foam-filled for more buoyancy, as well as to make for a quieter, sturdier boat. The deep-V hull tapers to 22.5 degrees at the transom, so it can carve through heavy seas without pounding. Powered by twin 300 hp Suzuki outboards, we reached a top speed of 59 mph and cruised comfortably in the 30s. Steering felt predictable and ­responsive at the helm.

Interior and Accessories

For those who prefer cruising and socializing, the bow benches feature plush ­cushions with slide-in backrests for lounging. Forward of the console, a love seat with flip-down armrests rounds out the conversation pit. In the main cockpit, the twin captain’s seats are adjustable and have flip-up armrests and bolsters. There’s also a flip-up transom bench. 

Read Next: Sea Pro 259

The standards list on this boat is extensive, including Zipwake Interceptor trim tabs, a Lewmar electric windlass, a 16-inch Simrad multifunction display flush-mounted at the helm, and an Audison stereo system.

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin Suzuki 300 hp outboards
• Drive/Props: Outboard/16″ x 21″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.08:1 Fuel Load: 175 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 480 lb.

High Points

• Long list of standards includes Zipwake interceptor tabs that automatically adjust the ride.
• A total of 13 cup holders on the boat means nobody’s drink is out of reach.
• Hardtop has a built-in “rainfall” freshwater shower system.

Low Points

• Only four rocket launchers in the hardtop piping. 
• The side door in the cockpit takes away undergunwale rod storage; everything is a compromise.

Toughest Competitor

The Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless is another family-friendly center-console that starts at $234,500 with a single 400 hp Mercury Verado. (Twin 300 Verados bring the starting price to $270,481.)

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Sea Pro 292DLX Offshore appeared first on Boating Mag.