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

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Robalo calls building world-class fishing boats its “passion and a way of life”; across more than five decades, the company has crafted a reputation for heavy-duty construction, legendary ride, and commitment to innovation.

Those attributes are embedded in Robalo’s versatile center-consoles, Cayman Bay fishing boats and dual-consoles—the full gamut of saltwater fishing boats. All 2023 Robalo models feature upholstery material made from 100 percent SiO silicone, making it virtually maintenance-free. Its angular resin technology offers enhanced durability.

Robalo R250

Robalo’s new R250 Center Console is both fishing and family friendly, and comes powered by twin Yamaha 150s or 200s.

Its standard fiberglass hardtop’s powder-coated frame bears four rod holders, an electronics box, LED spreader lights and two speakers. Options include forward canvas, outriggers, other hardtop styles, and cockpit and underside color options.

The helm, with space for two large displays, is wrapped by front and side window glass, with an overhead vent. Hydraulic steering is standard; options include trim tabs, underwater lights, audio sound-system upgrade, and Simrad electronics.

This fishing-minded boat has a pair of 50-gallon cockpit fish boxes with overboard drains and pump, and twin 25-gallon insulated bow fish boxes draining overboard. The standard 30-gallon port aft insulated livewell has a transparent lid, LED lighting and adjustable flow valve. 

Gunwales bear stainless-steel vertical rod holders, with dual combo shotgun/cup holders on the transom corners and six shotgun holders behind them. All cup holders drain to the deck or splashwell and overboard. Rod storage under the gunwales and on the hardtop structure are generous, secure, and handy for the fight. 

Manufacturer’s Remark

Our newest model features the largest aft cockpit in its class, a side entry door, full glass windshield, and oversize hardtop.

Performance Data

• Test Power: Twin Yamaha 200
• Test Props: 18P Reliance
• Test Load: 420 lb. crew; 1,106 lb. fuel   
• Test Speed: 51.40 mph @ 6,100 rpm (40.2 gph) 
• Max Range: 400 miles; 4,000 rpm; 2.3 mpg

Specs

Editor Says

Robalo’s ­reputation was founded by ­fishing greats like Mark Sosin, and solidified by a long track record of ­quality ­construction and rugged ­seakeeping abilities. -Randy Vance, Editor-at-Large Boating and ­Fishing Group

More Info

robaloboats.com

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Most boats seem to shrink once they’re off the trailer and on the water. Yet as I launched the Robalo 266 Cayman in California’s sprawling San Diego Bay with the help local Robalo rep Tim Walters, the size of this bay boat still impressed me.

As well it should. The 266 represents the largest model to date in Robalo’s popular five-boat Cayman series with a length overall of 26 ½ feet (with swim platforms) and a beam of 9 feet, 4 inches. That translates to the expanse and stability of a micro aircraft carrier. Walters and I both stood on the aft port gunwale, and the 266 barely listed.

Robalo makes good use of all that space with a layout that includes a deep mid-cockpit nestled between bow and stern elevated casting platforms. Leading to the 6-foot wide bow casting deck, elevated pods wrap around the forward cockpit. I found that these serve as convenient steps up to the bow area, but they also house abundant stowage that includes a rod locker under the port side, a fish box below the starboard side, and additional stowage and a battery compartment in the middle.

Luxury Touches

On those days when fishing is not the first priority, upholstered pads and removable backrests transform this area into a relaxing lounge. You can also add a dining table to maximize the social factor. When not in use, the table stows inside the center console, which is accessed via a forward companionway that also serves as the forward console seat.

I found that the console interior offers 5 feet of headroom, plenty of space to stow gear and access the rigging behind the dash. My test boat also came with an optional electric marine toilet inside (with an 8-gallon holding tank).

Let’s get back to fishing. The bow casting platform features a 20-gallon pitch well and anchor locker below the deck. An optional 36-volt Minn Kota Terrova Riptide trolling motor adorned the bow of my test boat.

I loved the 7-foot-5-inch wide stern deck, which is flanked by a pair of insole 30-gallon livewells, each with clear acrylic dividers to keep different species of live bait separated. Abaft each well lie compartments designed to hold 5-gallon buckets for equipment such as cast nets.

The stern deck on my boat featured an optional powder-coated rail with a central tow point for watersports just ahead of the splashwell. Since I’m not big on watersports, I viewed it as an obstruction until we headed offshore. That’s when I realized that it serves as a great way to brace yourself while fishing aft, especially when battling fish in rough seas.

Maximum Power

A couple of crew members can take a seat by folding out a padded bench from the aft deck. The entire seat assembly also lifts up for easy access to the starting batteries, battery charger and other bilge rigging. On days when you want to take a dip, there are swim platforms on either side of the outboard motor with a fold-out, telescoping boarding ladder on the starboard platform.

Speaking of the outboard motor, a Yamaha 425 XTO Offshore V-8 outboard power package propelled my 266. It’s the most powerful outboard available for this boat, and it was mounted on a standard Atlas jackplate to optimize the boat’s shallow-water capabilities. The jackplate bolted to the super-thick, heavy-duty poured ceramic transom. Optional Lenco trim tabs on my test boat helped compensate for any heel while underway. I observed that this boat features a motorwell versus an integrated outboard bracket; the well minimizes the chance of following seas slopping onto the deck, according to Robalo.

Curious about the performance? So was I. The Yamaha came with a 20-inch-pitch XTO three-blade stainless-steel propeller. The 266 jumped on plane in 5 seconds and reached 30 mph in 9.5 seconds. With 53 gallons of fuel onboard and two crew members, the big bay boat reached a top speed of 52.3 mph at 5,800 rpm in my test, burning 37.5 gallons per hour for 1.4 mpg at wide-open throttle. In previous testing by Yamaha under different conditions, the 266 reached a top speed of 55 mph.

To see what kind of range the Cayman offers, I throttled back to 3,500 rpm and 28.5 mph, where the 425 XTO achieved an optimum burn of 11.1 gph for 2.57 mpg. How far will that take you? About 254 miles, based on 90 percent of usable capacity within the 266’s 110-gallon fuel tank.

Deluxe Helm

The 425’s all-electric steering made for easy handling during my test. While the tilt-and-lock wheel is in the center of the helm area, and the digital throttle-and-shift binnacle control resides on the far starboard side, this design leaves plenty of room for both the helmsman and companion perched in the leaning-post style helm seats with flip-up bolsters. The helm seat comes with a 70-quart cooler below and a backrest with integral rod holders. A two-tiered footrest at the base of the console let me brace my feet while seated or perched on the flip-up bolster.

Both Tim and I stood nicely protected behind three-sided bonded glass windows within the hardtop’s powder-coated aluminum frame. A vent at the top of the windshield opens to usher in fresh air on sultry days.

My test boat featured an upgraded electronics package that included a pair of 12-inch Simrad multifunction displays for monitor and control of the chart plotter, sonar, Halo radar and engine instrumentation. Both displays flush-mounted into the 30-inch-wide dash panel, which was flanked by push-button two- and three-way accessory switches. The helm also featured a Yamaha multifunction engine display and an audio controller feeding six coaxial speakers throughout the interior.

Utility Player

In relatively flat sea conditions, Robalo’s 266 Cayman can venture offshore, and that’s exactly what we did on test day. We shot out onto the blue Pacific for several miles, and I marveled at the seakeeping and stability of this big bay boat. It sliced smoothly through waves and carved turns with predictable ease. I think the 266 would be great for chasing bluewater species such as mahi, sailfish, tuna, wahoo and more. You can also take it to out wrecks and reefs to fish for cobia, grouper and snapper. It will also serve West Coast anglers who want to fish offshore islands for calico bass, rockfish and yellowtail.

Robalo designed the 266 with 18 degrees of deadrise at the transom using a Hydro-Lift multi-angle running surface and a Kevlar-reinforced hull that tapers to a sharp cutwater at the bow to slice through waves. It also created a deeper mid-cockpit with padded coaming bolsters to improve crew safety and comfort, especially when fishing offshore. With this in mind, the 266 falls clearly in the category that many boating anglers know as a hybrid.

Read Next: Robalo R272

Offshore aside, the 266 retains the features that make it an effective inshore fishing machine. Drawing 17 inches with the outboard raised, this bay boat can sneak into shallow bays, coastal rivers and creeks to target bluefish, redfish, snook, striped bass, tarpon and more.

Ultimately, Robalo’s 266 Cayman is a brawny bay boat that does not seem to shrink once you’re on the water, and that translates to great versatility—a superb inshore angling platform that also allows you to venture offshore to fish the blue water and wrecks when conditions permit. On top of this, it provides creature comforts that beckon the anglers and non-anglers alike to get out and enjoy adventures afloat.

Performance

Hull

Robalo Boats – Nashville, Georgia

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A marine-industry leader since 1968 and sister brand to Chaparral, fishing-minded Robalo is known for its heavy-duty construction, superb ride and cutting-edge innovation. 

Robalo builds center-console, dual-console and bay boats at its 1.25 million-square-foot facility in Nashville, Georgia. Its HydroLift hull designs feature Kevlar-reinforced hull material. 

All 2022 models feature upholstery material made from 100 percent SiO silicone, a very pure form of silicone that, unlike conventional marine seating, is free of chemical additives. Nearly maintenance-free, it is durable, resists scuffs and scratches, and creates a soft and comfortable marine-seating surface.

Robalo R266 Cayman

Balancing comfort and fishability, the Robalo R266 Cayman features bow and aft seating areas that convert to massive casting platforms. 

Robalo’s biggest bay boat, the R266 Cayman is at home both inshore and, when weather permits, offshore. Rather than the integrated brackets common on bay boats, the R266 houses a single outboard up to 425 hp on a shallows-friendly jack plate within a motor well, adding a bit of security in following seas. Swim platforms flank the outboard.

Beneath the standard T-top—which is wrapped by front and side windshield glass—the roomy helm provides space for up to two 12-inch Simrad displays, and is served by stainless-steel, LED-illuminated push-button switches. 

Standard is the hydraulic jack plate; lockable rod storage beneath bow seating; a 20-gallon bow-center insulated livewell, a 45-gallon forward-starboard insulated fish box, and twin 30-gallon aft insulated livewells/fish boxes with pumps; LED lighting and a blue-gelcoat finish; and adjustable flow valves and a plexiglass divider. 

This fishing boat also features comfort touches including stowable backrests on the forward U-shaped seating, a double-wide seat that folds out from the aft casting platform, and room for a marine head beyond the console’s forward door.

Manufacturer’s Remark

The 266 Cayman is the perfect blend of hardcore fishability and family creature comforts.

Performance Data

• Test Power: Yamaha 2.6 L 425 XTO Offshore
• Test Props: 20P XTO   
• Test Load: 7,480 lb., incl. two people, 68 gal. fuel    
• Test Speed: 55 mph @ 5,900 rpm  
• Max Range: 346 mi. @ 35 mph, 3,500 rpm

Specs

Editor Says

Unlike bay boats with integrated outboard-engine brackets, the R266 comes with a splash well, which I like because it minimizes the chances of following seas slopping onto the deck. I also like the twin 30-gallon livewells with clear acrylic dividers flanking the aft platform, and the 20-gallon under the bow deck. – Jim Hendricks, Staff Editor, Fishing Group

More Info

robalo.com

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Robalo Boats has introduced its largest bay boat to date—the new R266 Cayman. This 26 ½-footer features a broad, 9-foot 4-inch beam to create more fishing room and enhance stability for anglers standing on the bow and stern casting platforms.

The mid-cockpit zone features deep, padded coaming for an extra measure of security while underway or in rough water.

Robalo has adorned this boat with creature comforts, as well. “The 266 Cayman is the perfect blend of hardcore fishability and family creature comforts,” says Buck Pegg, executive vice president for Robalo, a boat brand that was established in 1968.

Multi-Role Machine

The R266′s capabilities extend beyond inshore fishing. With a Hydro-Lift multi-angle running surface, Kevlar-reinforced hull, 18 degrees of transom deadrise, 110-gallon fuel capacity and a power rating of 425 hp, this boat can also fish wrecks and blue water when sea conditions permit. Unlike bay boats with integrated brackets, the R266 comes with a motor well, which helps minimize the chances of following seas slopping onto the deck.

Roomy, Protected Helm

A hydraulic jackplate for the outboard engine aids performance and enhances the ability to sneak into shallow-water flats and tidal creeks to fish for redfish, snook, stripers and tarpon. A hardtop and integral three-sided glass windshield surround the helm, which is wide enough for a pair of 12-inch multifunction displays. The leaning-post helm seat for two features a flip-up bolsters.

Room to Relax

While moving between fishing spots or cruising on more leisurely days, guests can rest in the forward U-shaped seating nook that, with backrests, transforms into a pair of loungers. You can also stow rods in the lockable compartments below.

A double-wide seat folds out from the aft casting platform for crew to take a load off abaft the helm seating, and the forward door on the console grants room inside for a marine head and access to the rigging behind the helm.

Beaucoup Bait

Twin 30-gallon below-deck livewells with clear acrylic dividers flank the aft platform. A 20-gallon well lies under the bow deck. For icing fish, there’s an insulated 45-gallon forward fish box.

Read Next: Robalo 226 Cayman First Glance

A pair of swim platforms bookend the outboard motor, with a fold-out, telescoping boarding ladder on the starboard platform. A premium six-speaker marine audio system comes standard on the R266, as does a tandem-axle aluminum trailer.

Specifications

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Robalo’s biggest-ever center console, the R360 blends a Kevlar-reinforced Michael Peters stepped-hull design with loads of standard fishing features such as twin, aft 30-gallon livewells with dedicated pumps, electric reel receptacles and two 125-gallon in-deck cockpit fish boxes.

For rod storage, Robalo provides eight vertical holders across the transom and six in each gunwale as well as a rocket launcher aft of the standard hardtop. Look for lockable horizontal storage port and starboard along the inwales.

The powder-coated fiberglass top features an overhead skylight and bonded front and side windshield glass with an overhead vent. On the helm face, Robalo installs two 16-inch Simrad NSS evo3 displays networked with an autopilot, VHF, and Halo radar array, and paired with a high-wide chirp transducer.

The three-across helm seating comes with flip-up bolsters and armrests. Aft of that row, a cockpit bench comes with tackle-box storage and a 65-quart Yeti cooler.

On both sides of the cockpit, side-entry doors create easy boarding for people and gear at the dock or for a big fish offshore. The walkthrough transom door grants access to the swim platform.

Read Next: Robalo R360: 2021 Boat Buyers Guide

The 36-plus footer can be outfitted with twin or triple outboard engines and carries 350 gallons of fuel.

Specifications:

LOA: 36 ft. 6 in.

Beam: 11 ft. 4 in.

Weight: 14,500 lb. (w/ triple Yamaha F300s)

Draft: 2 ft. 11 in. (engines down)

Transom Deadrise: 23 deg.

Fuel Capacity: 350 gal.

Max HP: 1,200 hp

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Robalo has 50-plus years of boatbuilding experience, crafting each fishing vessel in a 1.2-million-square-foot production facility in Nashville, Georgia, which is the birthplace of their Kevlar-reinforced hulls in a Hydro-Lift design that produces swift times-to-plane, top speeds, thrifty fuel efficiency, and smooth rides. The variable deep-V hulls split waves and track straight, while an extended running surface adds stability. High freeboard creates deep cockpits.

Robalo fabricates its own hardtops, storage-compartment lids, dash consoles, doors and interior components, including seating made with top-of-the-line 37-ounce performance marine vinyl with a 10-millimeter topcoat for stain resistance and UV protection. The company installs stainless-steel hardware, loom-wrapped wiring, triple O-ring waterproof electrical connectors, and stainless-steel rub rail.

Robalo R360

Robalo Boats’ new R360, the company’s biggest ever, blends luxury and fishing features atop a stepped hull designed by marine architect Michael Peters.

Three seats with flip-up bolsters face the helm, with its full suite of electronics, including Simrad dual 16-inch color displays, radar, autopilot, VHF and sonar. Control is by Yamaha Helm Master EX steering system with autopilot and joystick.

A large fiberglass hardtop has an opening skylight and electrically activated rod-holder frame that brings rocket launchers into easy reach. There’s a premium JL audio system, and underwater lighting is a switch-flip away.

The console interior, accessed via portside door, has a headroom height of 78 inches, with berth, porcelain head, vanity, sink and faucet, plus racked storage for four tuna sticks.

Eight shotgun rod holders on the transom and six more in gunwales nearby generously exceed the needs of 91 percent of center-console anglers. Twin 30-gallon insulated and clear-lidded livewells will please 96 percent of CC respondents. A transom door, in addition to port and starboard cockpit entry doors, welcomes passengers aboard, and makes it easy to drag a big fish to the deck and slide it into one of the pair of 100-gallon in-floor cockpit pump-out fish boxes.

Fishing done, there are port and starboard lockable rod-storage compartments, important to 26 percent of offshore CC respondents; for cleanup, there’s a raw-water washdown and freshwater transom shower.

Survey Says: On Target

• Abundant storage throughout
• Generous rod holders and rod storage

Owners Say

• I like everything about my [Robalo] boat
• Comfortable for family fun trips and fishing trips
• Nice fishing platform

Brand Says

• A world-class fishing boat
• Cutting-edge technology with timeless styles

Reader Response

• “Great for all activities”

Specs

LOA: 36′6″

Beam: 11′4″

Fuel Capacity: 350 gal.

Dry Weight: 14,000 lb. with power

Max HP: 1,200

Certifications: NMMA

More Info

robalo.com

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Robalo, a leader in the marine industry since 1968, calls building world-class fishing boats “a passion and a way of life.”

It builds center-consoles, Cayman bay boats, dual-consoles and walkarounds. What they share are super-tough, Kevlar-reinforced Hydro Lift hulls, in variable deep-V designs with straight-tracking 22- or 23–degree transom deadrise and a wave-splitting bow.

The Hydro Lift design -produces quick plane times, thrifty fuel efficiency, and a soft ride. Robalo traits also include high freeboard, so anglers and others feel secure even in deep cockpits.

Robalos are hand-built in Nashville, Georgia, in a 1.2–million-square-foot production facility that has earned the company the title of world’s largest single-site boatbuilder.

The company prides itself on its use of stainless-steel hardware, loom-wrapped wiring, triple O-ring waterproof electrical connectors, standard heavy-duty rub rail, and premium upholstery. Robalo also makes its own hardtops, storage-compartment lids, dash consoles, doors and interior components.

Robalo R230

The Robalo R230—which is near the midpoint, lengthwise, of its eight-boat center-console line—has both fishing and family boating in mind.

The fishing focus is in vertical storage for six rods, and horizontal-tubes storage for four more, along with the four gunwale-mounted stainless-steel rod holders that meet the minimums for about one-third of our center-console survey respondents. The aft seat’s folding backrest converts to a casting platform.

The aft cockpit livewell holds 25 gallons. Serving the helm, standard is an anodized leaning post with backrest, four rod holders and a 72-quart cooler; leaning-post options include powder-coated models with dual flip-up bolsters.

Up top, options -include a Bimini top, console cover, hardtop in anodized aluminum or powder coat, and Taco Grandslam outriggers.

Standard are an aluminum-framed glass windshield, lockable console door, forward console seat and bolster, bow cushions, two insulated 23-gallon storage compartments, portlight, port- a-potty and premium audio.

You can add LED underwater lights, electronics packages, and trim tabs with indicators.

Survey Says: On Target

⋅Ample family seating

⋅Roomy fishing cockpit

⋅Generous storage

Owners Say

⋅Stability is great

⋅From fishing to scuba diving, I can do it all

⋅Style

⋅Stable and versatile

Brand Says

⋅Cutting-edge technology with timeless styles

⋅The [Robalo] goal is to make boating easy

⋅One of the driest and smoothest rides on the water today

More Info: robalo.com

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For 2020, Robalo has redesigned and replaced its 226 Cayman—the midsize vessel in its bay-boat lineup—with a new version (previously designated the S version) that features plenty of fishing perks as well as family comforts.

A retooled foredeck offers a step up from the bow seating to a broad casting space atop the anchor locker. That bow seating also comes with removable backrests. Beneath the seating lies a rod locker to port and a fish box to starboard.

Aft, the casting deck flips up to a bench seat. And with three livewells—two aft and one in the bow—anglers will find 80 gallons of live-bait storage.

Read Next: Robalo R272: 2019 Boat Buyers Guide

The helm offers space for a 12-inch multifunction display, and the boat can be equipped with an optional hard-top and a four-rod rocket launcher.

The 2020 226 Cayman can be equipped with either a Yamaha F200 (mechanical) or an F250 (mechanical or digital). Other options include trim tabs, underwater lighting, a trolling motor and a Bluetooth/FM sound system.

Specifications

LOA: 22 ft. 6 in.
Beam: 8 ft. 6 in.
Dry Weight: 3,400 lb. (w/ engine)
Draft: 1 ft.
Transom Deadrise: 15 deg.
Nationally Advertised Price: $47,395 (w/ Yamaha F200, tandem-axle trailer)

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Robalo has long prided itself on its Kevlar-reinforced hulls, variable deep-V designs with straight-tracking 22- or 23-degree deadrise at the transom, and a wave-splitting bow. Called Hydro Lift, the design produces quick plane times and thrifty fuel efficiency, and what Robalo calls a “feather-soft” ride.

The Hydro Lift hull design offers one of the driest and smoothest rides. Wide reverse chines and pronounced hull strakes deliver exceptional stability and performance, directing spray away from the boat.

Loyal to its proven hulls, Robalo continually upgrades on-deck appointments and fishing features, and uses premium components. Among line-wide Robalo traits is high freeboard, so anglers and others feel even more secure in deep cockpits.

Robalo makes center-consoles, dual-consoles, Cayman bay boats and walkarounds.

Robalo R272
Robalo’s new R272 center-­console boat — what the company calls its CC flagship — is ready for fishing, running, and entertaining the family.

Fishing-minded standard ­features include a 100-gallon cockpit fish box with overboard discharge pump, twin 25-gallon fish boxes within the bow casting deck, and a molded 20-gallon cooler or livewell within an ­aft-facing bench seat.

The boat has six gunwale-mounted rod holders, meeting or exceeding the stated needs of 93 percent of inshore- and 70 percent of offshore-fishing survey respondents. A pair of stainless-steel rod/drink holders can be added. Horizontal tubes safely store six rods.

A fiberglass hardtop with four more rod holders and lights is standard, with outriggers among the options. Choose from a menu of Garmin and Simrad electronics. A bait-prep station/wet bar is another option.

When it’s time to battle and boat a fish, the R272’s full three-across aft bench seat flips up and into the transom.

When entertaining takes over from fishing, the bow ­casting platform quickly becomes U-shaped cushioned seating and a table; forward-facing backrests can be installed or removed as desired. A porta-potty is standard within a front-entry head; you can upgrade to an electric toilet and holding tank.

Within the R272’s Kevlar-reinforced hull is encapsulated reserve flotation that will please the 70 percent of respondents for whom unsinkability is the top consideration in boat selection.

Survey Says: On Target

• Focus on safe, stable ride
• Rod holders/storage meet or exceed expectations
• Raw-water and freshwater washdown

Owners Say

• Like fishing room; handling in rough seas
• Great fishability in the ocean
• Great offshore handling
• Like the maneuverability and handling of the boat
• Can troll five lines effortlessly

Robalo Says

• Prime to tackle any fishing adventure
• Best-in-class features
• Phenomenal overall performance

More Info: robalo.com

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