Pathfinder, which launched the bay-boat revolution more than two decades ago, considers this a given: “The further a company gets away from understanding what dedicated anglers want in their boats, the more underwhelming its products will be.”
That’s why each Pathfinder model springs from a challenge: to design a boat for specific angling applications and put anglers on fish in comfort and safety.
So it’s no wonder that when our bay-boat-owning survey respondents were asked to list brands they’d consider buying from a list of dozens, Pathfinder was near the top of the list.
Pathfinder 2005 TRS Smallest in the Pathfinder line of eight bay boats, the new Pathfinder 2005 TRS boasts many attributes of its bigger brothers and sisters, and is poised to handle big water in a manageable format.
Pathfinder succinctly describes it as “20.5 feet of great possibilities.”
Freeboard has been boosted in the new boat with a 25-inch transom, which, along with a 16-degree deadrise, makes both running and fishing in big water safe and enjoyable — a high-level demand by survey respondents. (Pathfinder notes that bay boats are seen with increasing frequency in inshore and offshore settings, as well as their namesake bays.) Fishing is easy from its raised casting decks, the aft deck shortened to increase cockpit space.
Gear stows unobtrusively, thanks to undergunwale rod racks with tip tubes, and a pair of in-deck storage bins that handle five-gallon buckets. Standard fore and aft coolers total 122 quarts. (The 44-quart cooler forward of the console can be plumbed to become a second livewell — joining an aft 48-quart standard livewell — a big plus for bait anglers.) Above that console front seat, a cushioned backrest conceals an additional two-box tackle-storage area. All of these tackle features speak to the most experienced survey respondents with the highest expectations for convenient access to tackle.
An optional leaning-post backrest can be removed to add two more flush-mount rod holders. Two flush-mount gunwale rod holders are standard, and two more are optional, meeting the mean expectation for a boat its size, as expressed in our survey.
The 2005 TRS’s console windshield and grab bar fold down for easy garage storage — more proof that Pathfinder designed an easy-to-manage bay-boat package.
Survey Says: On Target
- Optional second livewell meets experienced baitfishers’ needs
- Closed-foam flotation throughout
- Additional seating beyond two at helm
Owners Say
- Perfect size for the wife and me
- Good performance in shallow water
- Suitable for both inshore and coastal fishing
Pathfinder Says
- Abundant dry storage assists in keeping anglers organized and the deck clear
- Anchor locker accommodates fluke anchor and plenty of rode with chain
- Generous fishing room and broad casting decks in an easy-to-trailer package
More Info: pathfinderboats.com
