Luxury sport-fishing specialists, Scout builds center-console, dual-console and inshore/bay-boat models ranging from 17 to 67 feet. Since its founding more than three decades ago, the company’s goal has been to manufacture the best-built boats in its distinctive sport-fishing niches. 

Each Scout hull design is an original, the result of the company’s in-house research-and-design team working closely with its engineering staff to take concepts from blueprint to production efficiently, earning a world-class reputation for quality, strength, durability and value. 

Within the line, Scouts from 33 to 35 feet are built on the company’s epoxy-infused, double-stepped fuel-efficient hull. That technique provides a Class-A finish, with more hull stability while reducing the overall weight, countering the long-held belief that a larger boat must be heavy to perform. 

Scout 357 LXF

The new Scout 357 LXF S-Class is the latest in a nine-boat LXF line of luxury sport-fish models combining high-performance fish boats and high-end cruisers. Amenity-packed, it reaches a top speed of 72.2 mph ahead of triple Mercury 400 hp  Verados.

The 357 LXF, which will replace the Scout 355 LXF, is part of Scout’s S-Class category, upper-echelon luxury models 33 feet and up. Standards include triple captain’s helm chairs featuring integrated heat and flip-up bolsters, and an electrically actuated bow table/sun lounge rising from an Esthec deck. The bow contains an anchor camera, and an aft-facing bench seat converts into a raised prep table. The inner console berth includes a marine head. Luxurious Grigio bow cushion upholstery is available along with other color options.

Fishing features include 10 gunwale-mounted stainless-steel rod holders, a 60-­gallon transom fish/storage box, port and starboard 43-gallon in-floor fish boxes, and a 47-gallon cockpit baitwell. Among fishing options are retractable hardtop rocket launchers, electric reel plugs, underwater lights and hardtop-mounted outriggers. 

Other options include a Seakeeper 3, a hardtop solar panel that trickle-feeds batteries, an additional charger and batteries, an electrically activated fiberglass cockpit sunshade and air conditioning.

Editor’s Tip 

The new Scout 357 LXF S-Class offers outstanding fuel efficiency for a boat of this size, thanks to its epoxy-infused double-stepped hull construction that minimizes weight while maintaining high strength and superb durability, as well as a flawless finish. -Jim Hendricks, Staff Editor, Boating and Fishing Group

Performance Data

• Test Power: Triple Mercury 400 Verado V-10s
• Test Props: Revolution X SS (27P)
• Test Load: 3 people, 160 gal. fuel, batteries, test and safety equipment (24,020 lb. total)
• Test Speed: 43.7 mph at 4,000 rpm
• Max Range: 330 mi.

Specifications

Scout Boats – Summerville, South Carolina; scoutboats.com

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Scout builds luxury sport-fishing center-console, dual-console and inshore/bay-boat models ranging from 17 feet to 53 feet and, since its founding more than three decades ago, its goal has always been to manufacture the best boats in each of those sport-fishing niches.  

Scout boats, designed and produced in-house, are known for their all-hand-laid construction, smart and sharp designs, superior fit-and-finish, best-in-class strength-to-weight ratios, fuel-efficient hull designs, and completely finished bilges, lids, doors, and hatches. 

Scout 281 XSS 

Scout’s new 281 XSS, one of three new Scout models this year, is a serious inshore/offshore hybrid bay boat. It complements the popular 251 XSS and the 231 XSB, boasting aggressive lines, high performance, and all-around fishability.

Built featuring carbon-epoxy construction, the new boat has large fore and rear casting decks, dual stern bait/fish boxes, and generous rod and tackle storage. Its all-composite hardtop includes a T-top superstructure built of carbon fiber, with fiberglass supports and an integrated acrylic wraparound windshield. Its dash can accommodate two 12-inch screens or a single 24-inch.

Standard features include jack plate, custom transom storage boxes to house four fenders, and independent dual helm seats with flip-up bolsters. The leaning post has an acrylic-faced baitwell, Corian countertop, cutting board, freshwater and raw water washdown, and rod holders—all atop a 65-quart Yeti slide-out cooler. 

Among options are fish-box conversions to livewells, recirculating leaning-post livewell, bow rod/cup holders, Minn Kota trolling motor with iPilot, and Garmin electronics, stereo, and outrigger additions and upgrades. 

Manufacturer’s Remark

Our newest bay-boat model, the 281 XSS, couples the luxury of a Scout with all the characteristics of a serious bay boat.

Performance Data

• Test Power: Mercury Verado 400 hp
• Test Props: Enertia SS Series, 17p
• Test Load: Two people, 84 gal. fuel, batteries, hardtop, and safety and test equipment
• Test Speed: 55.3 mph at 6,800 rpm
• Max Range: 295 miles. (90% of 126 gal. capacity at 2.6 mpg, 34.9 mph, 4,500 rpm)

Specs

Editor Says

The 281 XSS boasts advanced epoxy-infused carbon fiber and e-glass construction that minimizes weight, ensures long-term durability, and maximizes performance.  -Jim Hendricks, Staff Editor Boating and Fishing Group

More Info

scoutboats.com

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For nearly three decades, Scout has evolved from a new, unknown company to one of the industry’s most respected brands. Today, it builds luxury sport-fishing center-consoles, luxury crossovers, dual consoles and inshore/bay boats ranging from 17 to 53 feet.

Scout boats are defined by their 100 percent hand-laid construction, head-turning designs, -superior fit-and-finish, best strength-to-weight ratio in class, and completely finished bilge, lids, doors and hatches. Its fuel-efficient hull designs—used across its model lineup—include the NuV3, Air Assist and Stepped Hull technologies. 

Scout 231 XSB

Scout calls its new 231 XSB the ultimate fishing and family bay boat.

The successor to the 231 XS, the 231 XSB is a -serious bay boat with a stepped hull, aggressive lines and proven high performance. But the new model adds touches requested by families: most obviously wraparound bow seating with removable cushions and storage beneath, as well as up to five removable backrests throughout the boat, with two back sockets in the bow and three serving the transom bench seat. An oversize lounge seat forward of the console has armrests, and all upholstery is diamond-stitched for a luxurious feel.

The XSB boasts port and starboard rod storage. Another notable feature is the optional new, patent-pending through-hull bow anchor pole named the “Scout Post,” which handily pins the boat in place for either fishing or hanging out, storing easily when not in use.

Standard features include a powder-coated -hybrid leaning post, a wraparound helm windshield, port and starboard aerated baitwells and release wells, four stainless-steel flush-mounted cup holders, six stainless-steel flush-mounted rod holders, a console lounge seat with cushions, and a Fusion Bluetooth stereo with four speakers.

Among options are aft baitwells, leaning-post choices, upgradable Garmin display screens, a -portable head and console lounge storage. 

Manufacturer’s Remark

Scout has built a reputation for being first-to-market with innovations throughout its 30-plus-year history.

Performance Data

• Test Power: Mercury Verado V8 300 HP 
• Test Props: Revolution 4 stainless steel, 20P  
• Test Load: 3,500 lb., incl. 49 gal. fuel, batteries, safety & test equipment; one person    
• Test Speed: 56.5 mph @6,000 rpm   
• Max Range: 193 mi., 23.7 mph, 3,000 rpm

Specs

Editor Says

In my time aboard Scout’s 231 XSB, I found features not typically associated with bay boats, such as a forward console lounge with a coffin box underneath. I also discovered innovations like a through-hull bow anchor pole called the Scout Post, as well as a boarding ladder that tucks inside an exterior transom locker. – Jim Hendricks, Staff Editor, Fishing Group

More Info

scoutboats.com

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Scout refined numerous aspects of its 420 LXF to deliver the recently unveiled 425 LXF S-Class center console. “We looked at the popularity and innovation of both our former 420 LXF as well as our current 530 LXF flagship and set a course to develop the new 425 with even more yachtlike characteristics and appointments than its predecessor,” says Scout CEO and Founder Steve Potts. “Our 425 rivals even some of the larger luxury sportfishing machines with its appointments, technology and attention to detail.”

Scout builds the double-stepped hull with an epoxy-infusion process, employing a carbon-fiber/e-glass blend. Feeder lines inject the exact amount of necessary epoxy into the fiberglass and core; a vacuum bag then removes air pockets, and the infused hull bakes for eight hours.

Standard features include twin 40-gallon transom livewells; sea chest manifold through-hull system, full transom walk-through platform; dual transom walk-through doors; port and starboard in-deck, 92-gallon fish boxes with overboard diaphragm discharge; retractable fresh- and raw-water hoses in the hardtop aft; heated forward helm seats and second-row seats; triple Garmin 8616s and Wi-Fi router; a Seakeeper 5, and Zipwake trim control.

A standard 8 kW generator powers the 12,000 BTU air conditioning in the console cabin, which also ocmes with a glass-stove cooktop, microwave, 32-inch LED TV (that doubles as a mirror when off), galley, sink, drawer refrigerator, enclosed shower and head, and a sitting area that converts to a berth.

Read Next: Scout 530 LXF: 2021 Boat Buyers Guide

Available power packages for the 425 LXF include quad Yamaha 300s, triple Yamaha 425s, or quad Mercury 300, 350 or 400M Verados. (When Mercury makes its new V-12 600 Verados available, Scout will offer twin and triple configurations for the 425.) Notable options include a fish ice maker, freezer plate for the port fish box, Lumishore underwater lighting and a hardtop retractable rocket launcher.

Specifications:

LOA: 42 ft. 2 in.

Beam: 13 ft. 1 in.

Weight: 16,800 lb. (w/o engines)

Draft: 2 ft. 4 in. (w/o engines)

Transom Deadrise: 22 deg.

Fuel Capacity: 500 gal.

Max HP: 1,600 hp

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Scout luxury sport-fishing boats span styles from center-console, dual-console and inshore/bay-boat models, and range from 17 feet to 53 feet—the latter an exciting full 11 feet longer than was true last year!

Proud of its superior fit-and-finish; best-in-class strength-to-weight ratio; fully finished compartments, lids and doors; and more than 30 years of family ownership and operation, Scout has also built a reputation for being first to market with innovations. Those include the company’s patented bow camera, and an optional articulating rocket launcher that works in unison with a SureShade retractable aft awning, both electronically actuated.

Epoxy infusion utilizing carbon fiber/E-glass, used in Scout’s 530, 420 and 380 LXF model (38- to 53-foot) hulls, is a process borrowed from the aerospace industry. It provides a rigid hull with more strength and stability at a lower overall weight. Models from 33 to 35 feet are also created using epoxy-infused E-glass.

Scout 530 LXF

Scout calls its new 530 LXF a “mega center-console.” Two years in development, it’s a jaw-dropping 53 feet, 5 inches long, and ready to carry four or five powerful Yamaha or Mercury outboards.

Beam is 14 feet, 8 inches, stretching to 17 feet, 6 inches when electronically actuated dual beach platforms are extended port and starboard for entertainment space or swimming access.

Standard are a Seakeeper 6 gyrostabilizer, glass helm enclosure, cockpit island, generator, air conditioning, heat, electric sliding sunroof, and heated helm seats. At the helm is a Garmin 24-inch MFD touchscreen, with a 12-incher in the overhead helm.

The boat can be configured into 21 comfortable seating areas throughout the boat, several with tables. The helm area seats seven. (Only 16 percent of boats in our survey seat eight or more.)

Below deck is a master stateroom with a large berth, enclosed head, shower room, galley, a convertible single and fixed aft double berth, hanging closet, and central vacuum system.

For anglers, seven shotgun rod holders across the transom stand ready, plus more mounted in cockpit gunwales. Rods stow beneath the cabin’s master-stateroom berth as well as in-deck. Two 30-gallon livewells will meet the stated needs of 96 percent of center-console survey respondents, while a pair of aft fish boxes awaits catches.

Survey Says: On Target

• Medley of rodholders, livewells and tackle storage makes it tournament ready
• Flexible power options

Owners Say

• Style, great riding, fun to fish on
• Very comfortable offshore

Brand Says

• Yachtlike center-console masterpiece on so many levels
• An on-the-water entertainment platform

Reader Response

• “Great layout”

Specs

LOA: 53′5″

Beam: 14′8″

Fuel Capacity: 875 gal.

Dry Weight: 26,500 lb. plus power

Max HP: 2,250

Certifications: NMMA

More Info

scoutboats.com

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The sea stretched before me like a pane of glass as I piloted the new Scout 330 LXF out of the channel at the Ocean Reef Club and into the Atlantic Ocean off of Key Largo, Florida. Joining me for a test run on this warm, windless September morning were Scout Boats’ product specialist, Josh Slayton, and Sport Fishing group publisher, Scott Salyers.

With a 10-foot, 4-inch beam, the 330LXF offers a 3-inch wider stance than its predecessor model, the 320 LXF, for a bit more room to fish, as well as entertain at times when angling is not a priority. The wider beam also contributes to greater roll stability at rest and while underway.

Propelled by a pair of Yamaha 425 XTO outboards bolted to the integral motor bracket/swim platform, my test boat did not lack for power, though it is also available with twin Mercury Racing 450R outboards (special order only) for a bit more oomph, if that’s important to you. As we cleared the no-wake zone, Slayton and I relaxed against the twin high-back helm-seat bolsters, while Salyers kicked back on the fold-out transom bench.

Spirited Performance

“This is the newest model in the Scout S-class that includes boats 33-feet in length and up,” Slayton said to me, as we talked behind the integral, full-height tempered-glass windshield. “All S-class models have double-stepped hulls and that translates to greater efficiency and performance.”

“Hold on,” I responded. “Let’s see how she runs.”

The calm waters ahead prompted me to put the boat through a series of dizzying high-speed turns, then cross back through our wake. The 330 LXF carves turns with confidence-inspiring precision, and while sea conditions were hardly challenging, the hull sliced through the 3-foot self-generated waves like a knife through warm butter. The boat felt solid, with nary a creak or rattle, thanks to Scout’s 100 percent handlaid construction and advanced epoxy infusion.

My boat was also equipped with a Zipwake interceptor trim-tab system, though I did not find it necessary to use it during this test. The double-stepped hull lifted nicely and responded quickly to engine trim.

While I didn’t get a chance to gather performance data, Yamaha representatives ran the numbers later and reported a time-to-plane of five seconds, with a 0-to-30-mph time of 8.2 seconds. They achieved a top speed of 66.4 mph at 6,100 rpm, where the twin Yamaha 425s drank 76.6 gallons per hour for 0.87 mpg. The sweet spot for fuel economy turned out to be 3,500 rpm and 32 mph as the outboards sipped 22.2 gph for 1.5 mpg.

Classy Touches

Like other S-class models, the 330 LXF is designed with luxury amenities to enhance the onboard experience, putting it on par with larger models in terms of comfort, Slayton pointed out. Indeed, the gracefully sweeping sheer line, Carolina-style bow flare and classic tumblehome of the stern quarters lend it a yachtlike air.

Coaming pads encircle the interior, with recessed grab rails extending mid-ship to bow. I found shelves under the gunwales handy for stashing small items such as tubes of sunscreen.

In the bow, I found an inviting nook with 5-foot-long loungers on each side and a teak table that rises from the deck at the push of a button. It also serves as a platform for a padded forward sun lounge. Atop the forward console resides a comfy, 39-inch-long lounge seat for two, with cavernous dry stowage underneath.

Back in the aft cockpit, the optional motorized fiberglass shade extends from inside the hardtop for relief from the sun. An optional, patented Retractable Rocket Launcher that holds five rods on the aft edge of the hardtop tilts downward electrically to allow deployment of the shade.

I ducked into the step-down center-console through the portside companionway and discovered 6 feet, 3 inches of headroom, a 6-foot berth that will accommodate two well-acquainted adults and an electric marine toilet, making this boat comfortable for overnighting.

No boat is complete today without a sound system, and the 330 LXF takes it to the max with a standard Fusion stereo, pumping audio to 10 JL 7.7-inch speakers. My boat came equipped with an optional 12-volt air-conditioning system to cool the helm deck.

Fishy Side

My inspection revealed a pair of optional Garmin 8616 multifunction displays set flush in the wide helm panel and networked with Garmin chirp sonar, xHD2 radar and GHP 40 autopilot. A Yamaha CL7 display monitors the twin 425 XTO outboards and interfaces with the boat’s Yamaha Helm Master system, which includes a joystick among other features.

Abaft the helm seating, a work-station with a sink and freshwater faucet can be equipped with either a grill or a mini fridge. The station also includes raw- and freshwater washdown spigots, and a Yeti Tundra 65 slides out from underneath. There are also three tackle drawers on the port side and a handy trash receptacle in a cabinet on the starboard side.

Twin insulated 132-quart insole fish lockers bracketing the aft deck ice down a catch. A 21-gallon livewell resides in the port quarter, and six rod holders along the transom bulkhead provide quick access to a stick, and there are under-gunwale racks for more rods.

Read Next: Scout 380 LXF Review

A beefy inward-opening door is built into the port side of the cockpit to ease boarding or hauling in a swordfish or big tuna. The transom gate in the starboard quarter offers access to the swim platform in case you need to work fish around the outboards.

If you’re looking for a stylish center-console that offers comfort, performance and serious fishing features, take a close look at the Scout 330 LXF.

Performance

Power: Twin Yamaha 425 XTO outboards

Load: 100 gal. fuel, two crew

Top Speed: 66.4 mph @ 6,100 rpm

Time to 30 MPH: 8.2 sec.

Best MPG: 1.5 @ 33.2 mph (3,500 rpm)

Hull

LOA: 32 ft. 9 in.

Beam: 10 ft. 4 in

Deadrise: 24 deg.

Dry Weight: 9,545 lb. (dry w/o engines)

Draft: 2 ft. 3 in.

Fuel: 265 gal.

Max Power: 900 hp

MSRP: $406,469 (base w/ twin Yamaha 425 XTOs and Helm Master)

Standout Options

• Electric fiberglass cockpit sunshade ($4,976)
• Retractable rod rack for hardtop ($4,593)
• Twin Garmin 8616 multifunction displays ($16,549)

Scout Boats

Summerville, South Carolina

843-821-0068

scoutboats.com

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Comfortable fishing and luxurious cruising in center-consoles, dual-consoles and bay boats, from 17 to 53 feet.

Each Scout is an original, with in-house research and design teams working with engineers to nurture concepts from sketch to blueprint to production, efficiently, all the while growing the company’s reputation for quality, strength, durability and value.

Scout, founded 25 years ago, counts among its selling points its superior fit and finish; best-in-class strength-to-weight ratio; fully finished bilge, lids, doors and hatches; and the company’s -family ownership and operation.

Scout 420 LXF

Three years in development, this 42-footer takes its place in Scout’s LXF Collection, a line of luxury sport-fish boats the company calls a unique blend of high-performance fish boat and high-end cruiser.

Stevie Potts, son of Scout CEO and founder Steve Potts, headed up development of the 420, which the elder Potts said “rivals even some of the larger luxury sport-fishing machines with its appointments, technology and attention to detail.”

That technology includes an epoxy-infused, carbon fiber/ e-glass double-stepped hull that welcomes quad outboards. Standard are full transom walk-through with teak swim platform, side boarding door, Kohler generator, and Seakeeper gyrostabilizer.

Also standard are two 92- gallon in-floor fish boxes with overboard diaphragm discharge, powder-coated hardtop with curved glass enclosure, and three-person aft-facing cockpit seats that are part of a leaning post that contains an ice maker, drawer refrigerator and/or tackle drawers (you select two).

The cockpit baitwell holds 80 gallons, a nod to the 5 percent of offshore center-console survey respondents who carry hundreds of baits. (Sixty-three percent say a single livewell is enough, by the way.) The boat bears 10 stainless-steel gunwale-mounted rod holders, with seven more on the transom; offshore CC respondents ask for an average of six total. Optional hardtop rocket launchers articulate downward, making rod access easier.

Below are amenities Scout compares to those on a private jet: stove cooktop, microwave, flush-mounted TV, DVD player, galley sink, refrigerator, enclosed shower, and two single beds that can be combined into one large king berth.

The hydraulic portside beach platform adds a floating veranda.

Survey Says: On Target

⋅Luxurious seating abounds

⋅Ample tackle-storage options in leaning post

⋅Rod holders double most expectations

Owners Say

⋅Takes waves well, great fishability

⋅Fishing friendly plus family creature comforts

⋅Dry ride

Brand Says

⋅Loaded with standard features

⋅Countless unique features

⋅Digital switching enhances reliability

More Info: scoutboats.com

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Scout debuted its new flagship model — the 530 LXF — at the Miami Boat Show in February. This mega center-console tops a lineup of luxury sport-fishers that includes seven previous models from 25 to 42 feet.

The 530 LXF is built on Scout’s carbon-fiber, epoxy-infused double-stepped hull, previously used on the 380 and 420 LXFs. Scout offers various outboard packages for the 53, including four, five and even six engines.

Standard features include a Seakeeper 6 gyro stabilizer, a glass helm enclosure with electronically sliding windows (port and starboard), a cockpit island with a forward-facing bench seat, aft-facing bar stools that retract and stow, 16,000 BTU air conditioners for the cabin and helm, an electric sliding sun roof, heated helm seats, and more.

Anglers will appreciate the two 30-gallon cockpit livewells, twin transom-access doors, and Scout’s trademark optional articulating rocket launcher abaft the hardtop that raises or lowers rods.

The 530 carries 805 gallons of fuel and can handle up to 2,700 horsepower.

Specifications
LOA: 52 ft.
Beam: 14 ft. 8 in.
Dry Weight: 31,500 lb. (w/ five Yamaha 425s)
Draft: 2 ft. 7 in.
Transom Deadrise: 18 deg.
MSRP: $2,342,019 (w/ quad Yamaha 425s)

The post Scout 530 LXF First Glance appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Scout, building boats since 1989, continues to succeed today on innovative engineering.

The company pioneered reverse-shoebox hull/deck design, which increases overall hull strength and prevents water from penetrating through the hull/deck joint in rough conditions.

Today, Scout makes bay, dual-console, center-console and luxury center-console sport-fishing boats, all with 100 percent hand-laid fiberglass, including completely finished bilges, and door, lid and hatch undersides.

Scout’s gas-saving hulls, with the best strength-to-weight ratios in their class, include the NuV3 hull, a convex design comprising varying-degree deadrise angles for fuel efficiency and soft ride; Air Assist, which adds longitudinal buoyancy for quicker time to plane, better handling and boosted fuel economy; and Scout stepped hull, which reduces the hull’s wetted surface for faster, dryer and better-­performing boating — requiring less ­horsepower and less fuel.

All Scouts have 10-year-limited hull and three-year-limited stem-to-stern warranties.

Scout 355 LXF
The 355 LXF is a luxury center-console fishing boat built on Scout’s rugged dual stepped-hull technology, strengthened further by epoxy infusion.

On deck, standard, are three independent (and independently) heated helm seats — beneath a standard T-top and Scout’s patented glass enclosure — and a patented, forward-facing fish-eye bow camera. Called an anchor camera, it feeds the helm’s multifunction touchscreen displays.

Beyond a transom ­55-gallon livewell and 60-gallon fish box are twin floor fish boxes. Ten flush-mount gunwale rod holders exceed the minimums of more than 70 percent of survey respondents.

There’s plenty of fishing room — even for double and triple hookups. Up front, the bow urges relaxation with a lounge with retractable table.

The cabin’s forward dinette becomes a double berth, cabinets, refrigerator and full head, with 6-foot-1-inch clearance.

The deck was designed to accommodate an optional Seakeeper 3DC gyro stabilizer, increasingly popular on offshore boats, beneath the aft-facing bench seat. Optional solar panels within the T-top trickle-feed batteries when Seakeeper is ordered.

Add outriggers, underwater LED lights, and a 3-horsepower bow thruster. Optional cushion packages bring another level of sophisticated comfort.

Survey Says: On Target

• Rod holders meet or exceed expectations
• Livewell spacious enough for large baits

Owners Say

• Fishability with family-friendly comforts
• Reliable
• Great for fishing and touring
• Plenty of room to fish, but also plenty of room for relaxing and socializing

Scout Says

• Best strength-to-weight ratio in its class
• Leading industry innovator since 1989
• Luxurious appointments

More Info: scoutboats.com

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I was first among our crew of six to arrive at the marina in St. Petersburg, Florida, or so I thought. My test boat, the Scout 380 LXF, glimmered in the morning light, with a trio of metallic-gold Yamaha F350 outboards painted to match the dazzling accent color of the epoxy-infused double-stepped hull.

“That’s some bling,” I murmured to myself while admiring the boat’s classic lines. Presently, James Pate, Scout’s southeast sales manager, emerged from inside the center console of the 380.

“When did you get here?” I asked, slightly startled, as I boarded via the swim platform and transom door in the starboard quarter.

“Last night,” Pate answered. “I slept in the cabin. It’s pretty comfortable.”

Comfy Combo
That didn’t surprise me at all; Scout has built a reputation for creating boats that combine the highest level of luxury with serious fishing features. With 6 feet 4 inches of headroom, the console cabin offers ample evidence of this combination. Stepping down through the companionway on the portside, I found a master berth forward that sleeps two but will convert to a pair of facing settees. Large port lights on both sides ushered in plenty of light. I spied a flat-screen TV forward in the cabin. Dark wood flooring added a classy interior touch to the cabin of my test boat, while a rack for vertical stowage of five fishing rods recessed into the starboard bulwark served as a strong reminder that this is indeed a fishing boat.

In the aft starboard corner, an enclosed head compartment featured appointments such as a permanent marine toilet, shower, sink, faucet, mirror and faux-granite counter surfaces. A galley in the aft port corner lets you prep a meal amid wood-veneer cabinetry, a faux-granite countertop, an electric cooktop, a microwave, a drawer-style fridge and a sink.

Innovative Rod Stowage
I emerged from my inspection to find that the other four members of the crew had arrived, including Capt. Tyler Kapela, our guide for the day; Casey Smith, of the Viage Group, the Scout dealership in St. Pete; along with guests Peter Harper and Jeff Trosclair.

We placed five of our fishing rods in the optional rack on the aft edge of the hardtop and found it super easy to reach, thanks to an ingenious design. The rack pivots downward on electro-hydraulic rams to stow and retrieve your sticks. Lowering the rack also allows you to deploy the optional SureShade from the aft edge of the hardtop when you want relief from the sun’s heat. We also stowed rods in the seven gunwale rod holders across the back of the transom

I joined Kapela as he used the Yamaha Helm Master joystick control to push off the dock, and was again impressed with the combination of comfort and angling amenities. Three-across bucket seats cradled each occupant, with fold-down armrests and plenty of leg support. Individual flip-up bolsters transform them to leaning posts for standing at the helm. A trio of 16-inch Garmin GPSMap 7616xsv multifunction displays across the metallic-gold dash brought to mind an Imax theater, but these screens would help lead us to a real-life fishing adventure.

One and Done
“We’re headed to a little wreck about 7 miles offshore,” Kapela said, as he advanced the throttles. We cruised across the waters of Tampa Bay and out Egmont Channel at 4,000 rpm and about 30 mph, but had a stop to make before heading offshore. The wraparound tempered-glass windshield blended seamlessly with the integral hardtop and protected us from wind blast.

Kapela turned right out of the ­channel and pulled back the throttle at the end of Potter Pier on Mullet Key, where scores of seabirds were diving on massive schools of pilchards. With one throw of his cast net, the guide plugged the 100-gallon livewell in the transom of the Scout 380 LXF with wriggling pilchards. The bait system performed exceedingly well. Nary a pilchard bit the dust before its time.

“Let’s go fishing,” Kapela said, as he put the boat on a course for one of his favorite wrecks.

To make sure everyone had a seat, Pate performed some magic with the optional hideaway entertainment center abaft the helm seating. With the push of a button, the entertainment center rotated to convert to mezzanine seating with an extended footrest. Wow! We then deployed the transom bench seating, and our crew suddenly had plenty of places to sit.

Gyro-Stabilization
Despite a 2- to 3-foot chop on the ­starboard beam, the ride out was smooth and stable, thanks to the 380’s deep-V hull with an LOA of 38½ feet and a beam of slightly over 12 feet. Also working in our favor was an optional Seakeeper 5 gyrostabilization system, powered by a Fischer Panda 8 kW diesel generator. The Seakeeper eliminated side-to-side movement while underway.

The gyro also rendered the deck more comfortable as Kapela pulled back the throttles to idle and circled to pinpoint his spot with the fish finder. As the captain reconnoitered the wreck, I moved forward along the wide walkways to check out the topside bow accommodations, which included an inviting lounger for two ahead of the console and wraparound seating at the forepeak. A motorized table tucks into the deck when not in use, but elevates to create an expansive sun lounge (with an additional upholstered pad) or ascends even farther to serve as a ­dining table.

The captain found the wreck, then motored upwind as Smith manned the anchor. The 380’s in-stem anchor chute/roller and Lewmar vertical ­windlass made easy work of mooring.

Hookups Aplenty
As soon as the first live baits hit the water, rods began to bend. At first it was small kingfish, then larger kings, a few big amberjack and finally a couple of monstrous goliath grouper, with a smattering of bonito and Spanish mackerel thrown in for good measure.

Through all of the action, I marveled at the amount of room afforded to our crew of six as we cast and battled fish in the aft cockpit. Coaming pads that encircle the interior cushioned our legs as we fought fish, and the tuna door on the port side of the cockpit allowed Kapela to more easily and safely release the goliaths.

After catching so many fish, the deck grew a bit slimy, so we used Scout’s unique washdown system, which coils hoses in the aft uprights of the hardtop frame — raw water in one, fresh water in the other. A quick tug on the hose and it quickly recoils into position.

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Numbers Game
After four hours, our arms were too sore to keep fishing, so we headed in to gather performance data. I took the helm on the run back and turned off the Seakeeper to see how the boat would perform without this feature. The hull sliced through the waves with ease, and there was not a single bump or thud. The Yamaha Helm Master power steering offered precise handling.

With a crew of six, 100 gallons of water in the livewell, 51 gallons of fresh water and 160 gallons of fuel, the 380 LXF jumped on plane in five seconds and reached 30 mph in 10 seconds. Turning 19-inch-pitch ­propellers on the outside and a 21-inch-pitch prop on the center motor, the triple Yamaha F350s propelled the boat to a top speed of 55.1 mph at 5,800 rpm, where the engines drank 97 gallons per hour for 0.57 mpg.

The Scout achieved its best fuel efficiency at 4,000 rpm and 30.9 mph, where the outboards consumed 39 gph for 0.79 mpg. That equates to a cruising range of more than 300 miles based on the 404-gallon fuel capacity.

Ultimately, the Scout 380 LXF blends practical innovation, luxury and fishing features in a boat that draws admiring looks from anglers and nonanglers alike. And that makes this boat an easy one to love.

Performance
Power: Triple Yamaha F350s
Load: 160 gal. fuel, 100 gal. water, six crew
Top Speed: 55.1 mph @ 5,800 rpm
Time to 30 mph: 10 sec.
Best MPG: 0.79 @ 30.9 mph (4,000 rpm)

Hull
LOA: 38 ft. 6 in.
Beam: 2 ft. 1 in.
Deadrise: 20 deg.
Dry Weight: 14,500 lb. (w/o engines)
Draft: 2 ft. 3 in
Fuel: 404 gal.
Max Power: 1,200 hp

MSRP: $883,526 (as tested)

Scout Boats
Summerville, South Carolina
843-821-0068
scoutboats.com

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