Since 2006, Invincible has carried serious sport fishermen in pursuit of trophy fish and tournament wins in boats boasting intuitive designs, solid construction and thrilling performance. 

Invincible is proud of its semicustom, owner-designed boats with innovative hull designs. These include the original Michael Peters-designed and patented Stepped-Vee Ventilated Tunnel (SVVT) single hull of its powerful tournament boats, and the partnered Morrelli & Melvin patented, hybrid, semi-asymmetrical hulls of its catamarans.

Invincible launched with the SVVT single hull in 2006, after its founder was unable to find a boat tough enough, fast enough and smooth-­riding enough to meet his demands as a serious angler and decided to build his own instead. Enlisting naval architect Peters’ design, he created a new standard in Invincible.

Invincible uses innovative and practical techniques such as vacuum-bagged infusion and diamond-patterned nonskid decks. It pays attention to console design and footrest angle, with hardtop frame sightlines providing better navigation. Invincibles have smooth hole shots and quick on-plane times.

When Invincible ­decided to get into the center-­console catamaran segment, it brought to market a cat superbly adept at high-speed turns, agile without need for trim tabs or tanked ballast. 

In single hull or cat, the company says, “No one builds a more athletic fishing machine.”

Invincible 43 Open Fisherman

Invincible’s legendary monohull boats now count the 43-foot Open Fisherman among their number, a new a center-console built on the patented Michael Peters Stepped-Vee Ventilated Tunnel hull. 

The new boat, featuring plenty of power and even more room, replaces both the 42 Open Fisherman and the Center Cabin in Invincible’s lineup. Dual-row seating means big crews are welcome; says the company, “Never let capacity be the deciding factor again.”

A new extended console, helm and cabin have been moved forward to preserve fishing room while accommodating the dual-row captain’s-chair seating, with shock absorbers an option for the front row. The redesigned dash area has space for two 24-inch Garmin screens. Additional electronics such as audio, Seakeeper control, Mercury VesselView and a third MFD (so anglers in the cockpit can eye the latest info) nest in the hardtop.

Designed with tournament and master anglers in mind, the new semicustom 43 Open can be built with a full sleeping berth, a head compartment and a vanity sink. Two large windows bring in sunlight, while air ­conditioning keeps it comfortable, with two AC ducts on the helm dash. 

The standard extended console lounge houses the boat’s largest fish box, or with dividers in place, its three sections can be used for storage. Five more fish boxes are located within the floor.

Besides electronics, the hardtop can support outriggers and/or a folding tower rear-entry second station. A second livewell with aquarium windows at the transom complements an optional in-floor well. Full coaming bolsters around the boat provide 360-degree fishing comfort. Rod holders can total a stunning 60, and electric-reel outlets are available.

A flat-back tackle center flanks the second row of seats. From it a cooler is ­electrically withdrawn. Four sets of washdowns, fresh and saltwater, are ready for cleanup.

Editor’s Tip 

Invincible’s Stepped-Vee Ventilated Tunnel hull with twin steps rides remarkably flat. Even during acceleration from a standing start, there’s virtually no bow rise, offering excellent ­forward visibility. Its monohulls offer one of the lowest drag coefficients of any boat. -Jim Hendricks, Staff Editor, Boating and Fishing Group

Performance Data

• Test Power: Triple Yamaha 450 XTO
• Test Props: PowerTech XLF
• Test Load: 2 people, 90 gal. fuel, 40 gal. water
• Test Speed: 39 mph at 3,500 rpm
• Max Range: 631 mi.

Specifications

Invincible Boats – Opa-Locka, Florida; 305-685-2704; invincibleboats.com

The post Invincible 43 Open Fisherman: 2024 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Yellowfin entered the premium center-console category in 1998 and remains among the most recognized and coveted brands in that segment. The make consistently draws customer praise for performance handling, fishability, comfort, speed and fuel efficiency.

Yellowfin Yachts bears the undeniable imprint of its founder and president, Wylie Nagler, who became known for his pledge of personal responsibility for the standout quality of every boat his company ships. Florida-built Yellowfin is now part of Warbird Marine Holdings.

Yellowfin creates offshore models that display classic Carolina Outer Banks-style influences in wide, flared, high bows. Their distinctive sheerline combines classic flair and modern functionality—a singular and immediately ­recognizable look that pays off in beauty, dry ride and superior seakeeping abilities. They pop onto plane on stepped hulls, and are noted for their strong, lightweight construction. 

The company says that its stepped-surface hulls reflect the study of laminar flow on planing surfaces to create an efficient running surface that enables its boats to plane faster, trim better and deliver more-efficient performance in almost any conditions.

Yellowfin offers semi-custom platforms upon which customers can create the boat of their dreams, drawing from a deep list of options. These include power from several brands, top style and amenities, and even the type and placement of rod holders one’s fishing style calls for. 

Today the line stretches from a 24 CE Bay Boat to a 54 Offshore center-console, each a high-performance fishing platform custom-built of the highest-grade materials and products, and skillfully assembled.

Yellowfin 39 Offshore

Yellowfin describes its 39 ­Offshore as an offshore-­fishing beast that can “run with the big dogs,” running smooth and dry in conditions that send many other boats back to the dock, and easily outperforming much larger boats on the rip. 

The key is its brawny, wide-beamed design, but its stepped hull helps it perform in a fast, dry and efficient manner too.

The 39 Offshore can be configured with triple or quad outboards, up to 1,800 hp total. It offers wide-open space, massive storage and a wide variety of customization options. Abundant power, matched to a generous 564-gallon fuel capacity, puts far-off fishing within range.

Standard on the 39 Offshore is a hardtop with rear legs (optional until this year; a canvas top was previously standard) and spreader lights. Other top and tower options are available, as is forward seating, a coffin box, hydraulic steering, a leaning post and an insulated fish box with a gulper pump.

Fourteen Gemlux ­titanium rod holders are distributed about the boat, as are titanium cleats and through-hulls that minimize the possibility of corrosion. There’s a plumbed livewell in the transom, with a second in the leaning post. A saltwater washdown speeds cleanup after the catch. Hydraulic steering is guided by a Gemlux Belloca stainless-steel steering wheel. Livorsi trim tabs made adjustments easy.

Several console options are available, as are additional livewells and a livewell pump box, and upgrades to the head within the console.

Editor’s Tip

Center-consoles seem to be getting bigger, and for good reason. Offshore anglers have embraced the versatility of the open layouts. As a bonus, these are often faster than the sport-fishers and downeasters they replace, greatly shortening runs to distant fishing grounds. -Joe Albanese, Executive Editor Salt Water Sportsman

Performance Data

• Test Power: Quad Mercury 400 hp V-10
• Test Props: 27 Rev X
• Test Load: 3 people, 150 gallons of fuel
• Test Speed: 75 mph top speed, 48 mph cruise
• Max Range: 550 mi.

Specifications

Yellowfin Yachts – Sarasota, Florida; yellowfin.com

The post Yellowfin 39 Offshore: 2024 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Yamaha, pioneer in jet-propelled watercraft, has introduced a flagship 25-foot center-console series. The 252 and 255 center-­console models combine power, versatility and performance in Sport, Sport E and Sport H configurations.

Yamaha’s patented jet propulsion system uses an internal impeller rather than an external propeller, enabling shallow-water operation, enhanced maneuverability, reduced maintenance, and the peace of mind that results from no lower unit or propeller to avoid at the stern.

New is a more powerful 1.9L HO Yamaha Marine engine in the 252 FSH Sport that produces quicker and smoother acceleration and a higher top speed.

Yamaha 255 FSH Sport H 

Yamaha’s new, fishing-­focused 255 FSH Sport H is powered by a pair of supercharged and intercooled 1.8L SVHO engines, which combine for 500 hp to drive Yamaha’s renowned jet propulsion system. 

An industry first, the 255 FSH Sport H offers Helm Master EX, which allows the driver to control the twin engines to move the boat forward, in reverse, laterally and rotationally with just one hand on the joystick—a boon at dock or while fighting and boating a big fish. 

E-Series Electronic Throttle Control features push-button start and stop, rpm engine sync and single-throttle pairing.

The comfortable leaning post seats two, and the fiberglass hardtop has integrated stereo speakers and LED lighting.

Angling features include an insulated bow fish box; a transparent 18-gallon livewell; a 30-gallon stern livewell; and console, gunwale and hard-top storage for 25 rods. The hardtop is outrigger-ready. A slip-resistant floor cleans easily after the catch. 

The 255 FSH Sport H’s bow seating has snap-in cushions, storage bins (the boat has 543 gallons of storage in all!) and a filler platform/table. The boat also features a front console seat, jump seats, snap-in teak-style marine mat flooring and Quiet Cruise technology. 

It also has the company’s signature swim platform with beverage holders, backrest cushions and access to the Yamaha-exclusive pump clean-out ports. 

Editor’s Tip 

You probably haven’t considered a jet drive, but if you ever have to cross shallow expanses, you should—river anglers have been using this tech for years. With no propeller or outdrive to hit the bottom, you can get through some really skinny water without damage. -Joe Albanese, Executive Editor Salt Water Sportsman

Performance Data

• Test Power: Twin Yamaha 1.8L supercharged SVHO
• Test Props: Jet-pump impeller
• Test Load: Fuel 40 lb., crew 250 lb.
• Test Speed: 25 mph at 4,500 rpm
• Max Range: 225 mi.

Specifications

Yamaha Jet Boat Manufacturing – Kennesaw, Georgia; yamahaboats.com

The post Yamaha 255 FSH Sport H: 2024 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Solace Boats is proud of what it calls the “Dougherty difference.” Bob Dougherty, head of Boston Whaler, moved its plant from Massachusetts to Florida in 1982. He raised his son Stephen “with resin on his hands,” and the pair launched Edgewater Boats in 1992, and Everglades Boats a decade later.

Stephen and Sarah ­Dougherty founded Dougherty Manufacturing in 2012 and by 2021 had launched three Solace boat models. The line now includes five boats from 30 to 41 feet in length.

Engineered to harness the heightened horsepower of today’s high-performance outboard engines, Solace’s center-console boat line offers options including either diesel or Mercury or Yamaha gasoline engines. 

Solace produces its boats and most components at its 200,000-square-foot ­campus in Edgewater, Florida.

Solace 30 HCS

The smallest in the Solace line, the 30 HCS (hybrid center step) is nonetheless the industry’s largest hybrid bay boat, designed for both offshore fishing adventures and island days.

The 30 HCS’ gunwale height is medium, good for both inshore and offshore boating. The boat has a unique back-to-back transom seat and port and starboard doors that open to a large swim platform. Total cockpit area is a generous 34 square feet. Its full cabin has a bunk to welcome overnight stays and horizontal rod storage for nine rods. Cushions on the boat are secured with magnets, and the console windshield opens fully.

The stepped hull with its carbon-fiber construction and twin Mercury Verados (up to 400 hp V-10s) produce impressive speed, agility and efficiency.

The 30 HCS boasts two 35-gallon in-floor fish boxes, a pair of 30-gallon livewells and transom-mounted rod holders. Angler-pleasing options include Gemlux outriggers with 18-foot ­carbon-fiber poles, dual ­Power-Poles, a trolling motor and jack plates. A second station cobia tower is available to provide breathtaking views and fishing efficiency.  

Other features include underwater lights and wraparound and cockpit front lounge seating.

Editor’s Tip 

Solace made good use of what is typically wasted space with a thoughtfully designed transom bench that sits atop the stern livewells. It features two cushioned seats with armrests and an innovative backrest that pivots to let crewmembers face fore or aft. -Joe Albanese, Executive Editor Salt Water Sportsman

Performance Data

• Test Power: Twin Mercury 400 hp
• Test Props: Rev4 14 5⁄8 x 19
• Test Load: (w/632 lb. fuel, 80 gal. water, 600 people and gear, second station) 10,312 lb.
• Test Speed: 35 mph at 4,000 rpm
• Max Range: 260 mi.

Specifications

SŌLACE – Edgewater, Florida; solaceboats.com

The post Solace 30 HCS: 2024 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Robalo is in its sixth decade of crafting center-console, dual-console and Cayman saltwater-fishing boats, building on its tradition of heavy-duty construction, sea-taming ride, and consistent presence on the cutting edge of design and ­construction innovation. 

Among these innovations is Robalo’s use of upholstery material made from 100 percent SiO silicone, a pure form of silicone which, unlike conventional marine seating, is free of chemical additives. Virtually maintenance-free, its angular resin technology boosts durability, resists scuffing and scratching, and offers one of the softest and most comfortable marine seating surfaces. 

The company calls building world-class fishing boats both its passion and its way of life. All its 2024 models come with a lifetime limited hull warranty.

Robalo R360

With a 36-foot-6-inch length and an 11-foot-4-inch beam, this biggest-ever Robalo comes powered by standard twin Yamahas with joystick steering; triple 300s with Digital Electric Steering are an option.  

The fiberglass hardtop features an overhead skylight, electronics box, map, spreader, and courtesy lighting. Options include a canvas fly, Gemlux outriggers, hardtop enclosure, and Makefast shade system.

Helm seating welcomes three. At the helm are Simrad radar, autopilot, chart plotter/MFD and VHF radio. JL Audio features eight speakers, two subwoofers and an amp. LED underwater lights enhance visibility, mood and/or fish attraction. The console contains front and side windows, as well as a skylight into the cabin. 

Within the cabin is a berth and contained head. Options include air conditioning and heating. Headroom is a ­generous 6 feet, 6 inches.

The floor contains two 80-gallon fish boxes. An aft-facing bench seat houses removable tackle storage and a Yeti cooler. Twenty rod holders line gunwales and the aft cockpit wall, into which a full transom seat folds. Two insulated 30-gallon livewells are in aft corners, and within gunwales are large, lockable rod-storage compartments. 

The R360’s Michael Peters’ stepped hull is Kevlar-reinforced, with encapsulated reserve flotation. Options include a Fischer Panda diesel generator and a SeaKeeper 3 gyroscopic stabilizer. 

Editor’s Tip 

Running-and-gunning for tuna and other pelagics is rapidly gaining popularity, thanks to the rise of the fast offshore center-console. These make casting to breaking fish easy, but consider adding outriggers for the days when visible feeds are few and far between. -Joe Albanese, Executive Editor Salt Water Sportsman

Performance Data

• Test Power: Triple Yamaha F300 Outboards
• Test Props: Yamaha SWS II 15″ x 20″ stainless-steel 3-blade
• Test Load: Crew Weight – 660 lb., Fuel on board – 170 gal.
• Test Speed: Top Speed 58.1 mph at 5,800 rpm
• Max Range: 365 mi.

Specifications

Robalo – Nashville, Georgia; robalo.com

The post Robalo R360: 2024 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Built in Edenton, North Carolina, since 1988, Regulator tests all of its boats, from the Regulator 23 to the Regulator 41, plus the new XO Series of center-­console crossovers, against the challenging conditions of the Outer Banks. 

The company announced new upgrades and features throughout its fleet for the 2024 model year. Several Regulator models are now available with Yamaha XTO Offshore 450s. More rod holders have been added throughout the fleet. New options include a half station tower for the 26XO, with more features throughout the line.

Regulator is one of two center-console builders to offer Siren Trident, which lets Yamaha digital electronic control outboard owners monitor and track multiple critical boat and engine systems, including battery voltage, bilge-pump activity, location, engine run time and maintenance intervals, with push or email notifications sent to the boater. 

Regulator 31

The Regulator 31, fastest in the company’s fleet, is now equipped with twin Yamaha 450s. Optional Yamaha Helm Master EX control provides handling power and flexibility, and the Seakeeper 2 option adds an extra element of stability. Also new is Siren Trident with the Siren 3 Pro monitoring system standard.

The massive cockpit is setup for a serious day of sport fishing and includes an oversize tackle center; huge fish boxes, livewells and storage boxes; and optional outrigger bases with 22-foot carbon-fiber collapsible poles. A half-dozen stainless-steel rod holders line the gunwales, and many more are optional.

Other angler-focused options include transom fish-box refrigeration, additional 228-quart transom livewell, and a deluxe mezzanine tackle-center upgrade for additional seating, storage, and dual-flanking rocket launchers. 

Handy features include a starboard boarding and dive door, flip-up forward seat backrests, and optional forward and rear sunshades.

Other new options include an undergunwale gaff holder, hose coil racks for raw and freshwater washdowns, clear fish-box and livewell lids, eight additional forward gunwale conventional or cup/rod
holders, diamond-quilted upholstery, teak seating accents, and more. 

Editor’s Tip 

Regulator is one of the few boat brands that labels its models based on the hull length versus the length overall. As a result, the 31 boasts a 31-foot, 4-inch hull. Adding in the heavy-duty bracket and motors brings the length overall to 36 feet, 5 inches. -Jim Hendricks, Staff Editor, Boating and Fishing Group

Performance Data

• Test Power: Yamaha 450 XTO
• Test Props: XTO Offshore, 16 1/8 x 22
• Test Load: Two people, 150 gal. fuel, three batteries, safety and test equipment
• Test Speed: 33.6 mph at 3,500 rpm
• Max Range: 370 mi.

Specifications

Regulator Marine – Edenton, North Carolina; regulatormarine.com

The post Regulator 31: 2024 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Pursuit makes fishing boats in three proven and popular formats: ­dual-console, offshore and sport center-console. The company proudly proclaims that each is built to yacht-quality standards. 

A Pursuit boat and its propulsion system are considered together in design for optimal ride, handling and performance. Hull designs, within which are resin-infused fiberglass grid systems, are distinctive, created with meticulous and innovative techniques. Gelcoat finishes are ultra-premium. The company builds its own custom-made components and calls its helms “intelligently designed.”

Pursuit Boats carry five-year hull and deck structural, and five-year blister-free warranties, plus two-year limited warranties. They’re transferable, and resale values are among the industry’s highest, the company says.

Pursuit received NMMA’s Innovation Award in 2018 and 2022, and has consistently earned the NMMA CSI award. 

Made in Fort Pierce, Florida, Pursuit Boats are part of the Tennessee-based Malibu Boats family, which also includes recreational and fishing powerboat brands Cobia, Pathfinder, Maverick and Hewes. 

Pursuit Sport S 378

The S 378—one of the most popular members of Pursuit’s award-winning Sport center-console family—blends quality, fishability and versatility. 

This boat’s ample cockpit supports a full day of fishing—until it’s time to relax and socialize. Then, a patented entertainment center, with a sink, a grill, a refrigerator/freezer, a cutting board, power outlets and more, moves into place at the touch of a button. 

Below, the air-conditioned cabin offers a TV, a microwave oven, a forward berth, and a pair of side windows which line up perfectly with the hull side windows affording passengers a water view. The private head has Corian countertops, a vacuum-pump toilet and a shower.

At the helm, one commands the power of triple Yamaha 450 XTO engines from the central adjustable and armrest-equipped seat in the trio of Pursuit’s custom captain’s chairs. The Yamahas are securely mounted on a five-ply infused composite transom system with a patented reinforcement grid. Boating and fishing information is provided by a Garmin electronics package.

In the bow, electric-actuating forward-facing backrests serve as port and starboard seats, while a removable jump seat provides a clear passage forward to additional seating, a table, and a bow sun pad. 

The S 378 has 10 stainless-steel rod holders total in the gunwales, transom and bow. Rods store in gunwale racks, under the hardtop and in the lockable cabin. In the aft gunwale, aluminum reinforcement plates and wiring await downrigger ­installation. A lighted 36-gallon recirculating insulated livewell has a fiberglass lid and an acrylic window. There’s also a cockpit tackle center and two ­41-gallon insulated fish boxes with diaphragm pumps. Fishing options include a second livewell, hardtop rod holders and outriggers.

A Fischer Panda diesel generator with a sound shield provides power, and a SeaKeeper 3 gyrostabilizer and underwater lights are among options.

Editor’s Tip 

While there’s certainly something to be said about the ability to run to the offshore grounds quickly, it’s really nice to have the ability to spend the night there too. You’ll be ready to go as the first rays of false dawn hit, without having to make a long run in the dark. -Joe Albanese, Executive Editor Salt Water Sportsman

Performance Data

• Test Power: Triple Yamaha 450 XTO engines
• Test Speed: 29.6 mph at 3,500 rpm
• Max Range: 288 mi.

Specifications

Pursuit Boats – Fort Pierce, Florida; pursuitboats.com

The post Pursuit Sport S 378: 2024 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Pursuit makes fishing boats in three proven and popular formats: ­dual-console, offshore and sport center-console. The company proudly proclaims that each is built to yacht-quality standards. 

A Pursuit boat and its propulsion system are considered together in design for optimal ride, handling and performance. Hull designs, within which are resin-infused fiberglass grid systems, are distinctive, created with meticulous and innovative techniques. Gelcoat finishes are ultra-premium. The company builds its own custom-made components and calls its helms “intelligently designed.”

Pursuit Boats carry five-year hull and deck structural, and five-year blister-free warranties, plus two-year limited warranties. They’re transferable, and resale values are among the industry’s highest, the company says.

Pursuit received NMMA’s Innovation Award in 2018 and 2022, and has consistently earned the NMMA CSI award. 

Made in Fort Pierce, Florida, Pursuit Boats are part of the Tennessee-based Malibu Boats family, which also includes recreational and fishing powerboat brands Cobia, Pathfinder, Maverick and Hewes. 

Pursuit OS 405

The second-largest of ­Pursuit’s five-boat Offshore (OS) line, the new OS 405 blends sumptuous overnighting comfort and thrilling bluewater fishing chops. Pursuit says that it raised the bar when it designed the new boat, stretching it out to 43 feet, updating styling and engineering a sleek ­silhouette.

At the bridge deck, a captain and companion ride in style on Stidd seating behind a large single-piece windshield and facing dual 22-inch Garmin MFDs. Side windows provide more weather protection, while hardtop skylights add natural light. 

Power that produces speeds in the mid-50s is provided by a trio of Yamaha XTO 450 outboards overseen by Yamaha Helm Master EX controls and joystick control for docking ease. Flanking the captain and companion is wraparound portside seating with a dining table.

The open, easy-to-maintain cockpit makes a great fishing space. Two mezzanine seats and a folding transom seat line the space. Rod holders are generously apportioned in the transom, gunwales and hardtop, which is also outrigger-ready. A lighted Oceana Blue 50-gallon recirculating livewell keeps bait lively, and when the catch is big, a hullside door welcomes it aboard, where a 75-gallon refrigerator/freezer with a fiberglass lid stands ready. There are also in-cockpit-floor fish boxes of 39 and 50 gallons. 

For rest and recreation, the air-conditioned cabin contains an island-style forward berth that electrically converts to a lounging position and a midcabin guest room, plus a full galley entertainment area with a sink, a microwave, a refrigerator, a 32-inch TV and more. A hanging locker keeps clothes tidy, and a private head features a shower.

No matter the activity—fishing or recreating—boating on the OS 405 is made more pleasant with the standard Seakeeper 6 gyrostabilizer.

Performance Data

• Test Power: Triple Yamaha F450 engines
• Test Speed: 28.5 mph at 3,500 rpm
• Max Range: 317 mi.

Specifications

Pursuit Boats – Fort Pierce, Florida; pursuitboats.com

The post Pursuit OS 405: 2024 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Since 2006, Invincible has carried serious sport fishermen in pursuit of trophy fish and tournament wins in boats boasting intuitive designs, solid construction and thrilling performance. 

Invincible is proud of its semicustom, owner-designed boats with innovative hull designs. These include the original Michael Peters-designed and patented Stepped-Vee Ventilated Tunnel (SVVT) single hull of its powerful tournament boats, and the partnered Morrelli & Melvin patented, hybrid, semi-asymmetrical hulls of its catamarans.

Invincible launched with the SVVT single hull in 2006, after its founder was unable to find a boat tough enough, fast enough and smooth-­riding enough to meet his demands as a serious angler and decided to build his own instead. Enlisting naval architect Peters’ design, he created a new standard in Invincible.

Invincible uses innovative and practical techniques such as vacuum-bagged infusion and diamond-patterned nonskid decks. It pays attention to console design and footrest angle, with hardtop frame sightlines providing better navigation. Invincibles have smooth hole shots and quick on-plane times.

When Invincible ­decided to get into the center-­console catamaran segment, it brought to market a cat superbly adept at high-speed turns, agile without need for trim tabs or tanked ballast. 

In single hull or cat, the company says, “No one builds a more athletic fishing machine.”

Invincible 33 Catamaran

Five years after launching its Morrelli & Melvin-designed catamaran line, Invincible has created its smallest cat platform yet: the 33 Catamaran, with the performance, versatility and amenities of its bigger siblings in a powerful, agile and nimble new form. 

Like all the Invincible cats, the 33 features a single-level deck and 360-degree walk-around fishability, including the ability to gaff fish at the bow. Standard are bow and below-deck storage and a deluxe console—its dash adopted from the 36 Open Fisherman—with room for a full-size head. The 33 Catamaran also boasts a finished bilge and high-speed pickup for livewell sea chests.

Top options include a hardtop, a windshield and enclosures, a folding tower with a dual station, a crow’s nest for the hardtop, outriggers and kingfish rod holders. For the helm select a pair of Llebroc seats or back-to-back helm/mezzanine seats. Behind the latter is a tackle center with a built-in cooler beneath the seat base. A removable rear bench seat is another option.

A variety of fishing options are available, including up to 47 rod holders, undergunwale rod racks, transom and in-deck livewells with sea chests, and a rear-facing tackle station. Underwater LED lights are also available.

The boat anticipates fishing success with four insulated fish boxes, two flanking the cabin and another pair in the bow. The space within the console-front seat can also be used for fish or gear storage. 

Editor’s Tip 

You can never have too much deck space, especially if you engage in active fishing styles like casting to breaking fish. Big cat boats maximize onboard real estate with wide beams that ensure everyone can hook up without having to dance around each other. -Joe Albanese, Executive Editor Salt Water Sportsman

Performance Data

• Test Power: Twin Yamaha 300 hp V-6
• Test Props: Merc. Eco Enertia 19″
• Test Load: 2 people, 80 gal. fuel, 30 gal. water
• Test Speed: 44 mph at 4,500 rpm
• Max Range: 536 mi.

Specifications

Invincible Boats – Opa-Locka, Florida; 305-685-2704; invincibleboats.com

The post Invincible 33 Catamaran: 2024 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Grady-White ­produces 26 models in five different categories, including coastal explorer, ­center-console, dual-­console, walkaround cabin, and express cabin boats. 

Founded in 1959, Grady-White builds boats from 18 to 45 feet at its plant in Greenville, North Carolina. Since 1968, the company has been under private ownership by NMMA Hall of Fame member Eddie Smith, and it is led today by another HOF member, Kris Carroll, with 48 years’ experience in the company.

Grady-White has received every third-party customer-­satisfaction award ever presented in the marine industry, including all eight of the J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Awards for their category, and consecutive NMMA Customer Satisfaction Index awards for all 21 years they’ve been presented. 

Visitors can tour Grady-White’s factory in Greenville to see firsthand the process used to create the company’s legendary fishing and ­family-oriented boats, and to meet the passionate craftspeople who build them. 

Grady-White 281 CE

Fishability and luxury ­combine in the new Grady-White 281 CE (Coastal Explorer), built on Grady-White’s SeaV² continuously variable V-hull design and created to venture deftly into shallower waters but easily go offshore.

The 281 CE features a new port-side sport deck with an electromechanically folding platform and a stowable boarding ladder, perfect for landing fish or as a swim and dive platform. 

A new aft bench can be configured three ways: as forward-facing seating for three or more, an inward-facing lounge area, or a large casting platform.

The bow, with electromechanically adjustable backrests, easily transitions from lounge to fishing platform or sun pad. A bow-table package is optional.

The 281 CE has four rod holders aft and four amidships, four on the T-top, plus two horizontal rod racks. Crew can prep bait at a deluxe leaning station complete with a 38-gallon livewell, a rigging station, a cutting board, four rod holders, a lure holder, lockable storage drawers and tackle trays. 

Another, 18-gallon livewell at the transom holds plenty of bait. There are two 70-quart fish boxes in the bow and a 296-quart fish box/cooler under the forward console seat. Options include a hardtop outrigger kit. 

Below the standard T-top, the captain and mate ride in plush seats; Command Elite helm chairs are optional. The helm features Helm Master EX with digital electric steering, and space for two large displays.

Other features include a lockable console with a tinted window, LED lighting, bulk storage, and a marine head with electric flush. 

The 281 CE can be equipped with a single Yamaha XTO Offshore 450 or dual Yamaha 300 engines. Additional options include a Helm Master EX Full Maneuverability suite with a joystick and autopilot, trolling motor pre-rigging, an outrigger kit, a SureShade electrically retractable cockpit shade, and an easy-up bow shade. 

Editor’s Tip 

An innovative touch in the 281 CE is the  aft platform. Not only does it double as a versatile seating area, but the convertible port and starboard backrests also can swivel outward to create leaning bolsters and add stability when fishing from this elevated deck. -Joe Albanese, Executive Editor Salt Water Sportsman

Performance Data

• Test Power: Twin 300 Yamaha four-stroke
• Test Props: 15 ¼ x 19 SWS II SDS
• Test Load: 8,247 lb. (including people, fuel, water, gear, engines and accessories)
• Test Speed: 29.1 mph at 3,100 rpm
• Max Range: 341 mi.

Specifications

Grady-White Boats – Greenville, North Carolina; 252-752-2111; gradywhite.com

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