There are three models in the lineup—the 21 LX, 23 LX and 26 LX. All have elevated fore and aft decks providing ideal casting platforms, panels for 12- or 24-volt trolling motors at the bow, locking rod boxes, flip-up jump seats, and livewells in the aft deck plus a second livewell under the forward console seat, dedicated 5-gallon-bucket stowage compartments, and flush-mounted rod holders. Perhaps more importantly, all also feature all-composite construction with a high-density fiber core foam transom, a fiberglass stringer grid system, and a self-bailing fiberglass deck liner.

As one might guess, the 26-footer (check out the 26 LX on Instagram) will likely be your pick if you want a larger bay boat that can pack a powerful punch and haul a hefty crew. In fact, it’s rated all the way up to 350 horses and can carry a dozen passengers. Rigged with max power, you’ll be blasting across the bay at speeds worthy of the highway, and won’t hesitate to make those long runs to distant hotspots where you just know the fish are snapping.

The Sea Chaser 26 LX also comes with a number of stock goodies that you might be surprised to find on a standard features list. The steering wheel sits atop a tilt helm, the leaning post has both rocket launchers and a removable cooler, there’s a raw-water washdown, and bilge access and stowage compartments are lighted with LEDs. Oh, and speaking of lighting, did we mention the underwater blue LED lights?

Another important item to note is the available fiberglass T-top option, which comes in a couple of flavors. You can get a top with integrated LED lights, spreader lights, an electronics box, and integrated stereo speakers, and you can even have the underside matching the boat’s hull color, depending on which you pick. All of these are high-end perks commonly found only on high-dollar boats, and there’s one additional note about that top-and-hull color coordination: there are seven different colors. Plus, you can get these tops on the 23 LX as well as the 26.

Speaking of the 23-footer, if you want a boat that’s a bit easier to tow and a bit easier to afford, this one could be the right choice. This rig has a boat weight of under 3,000 pounds, so even a midsize SUV can haul it to the ramp, and max power is 250 horses. Meanwhile, you still get big-boat perks such as a head compartment inside the console and an eight-person capacity.

The 21 LX is, of course an even more svelte alternative. Tipping the scales at just under 2,000 pounds, you won’t even know it’s behind your tow vehicle, and with a 200 horsepower powerplant, you’ll still be looking at speeds in the upper 40 mph range. As a bonus, the 52-gallon fuel tank won’t be nearly as painful to fill up as the tanks on larger boats.

When it comes to sneaking through those backwaters, a minimum draft of 8 to 12 inches means that the LX models will have no problem taking you to the fish. And when you want to fish open water, the flared bow and sharp entry will keep the ride dry and smooth. Will a Sea Chaser LX model bay boat be the ideal fishing machine for your needs? That’s a question only you can answer. Still, we know one thing for sure: If you like to fish skinny one day and hit open water the next, a bay boat like the 21 LX, 23 LX or 26 LX may well prove to be the perfect pick.

The post On the Chase appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Start with construction. The offshore environment can dish out a lot of abuse, including from the sea conditions you’ll inevitably encounter as well as the harshness of the saltwater climate. Look for fiberglass/composite, rot-free construction, particularly in areas such as the stringer grid and transom. Components should be tabbed (or joints overlapped with fiberglass cloth and resin) to make them a strong, integral, waterproof part of the construction. On metal components like railings and hardware, insist on 316-grade stainless steel to best resist rust and corrosion. A self-draining cockpit ensures any water that gets aboard is quickly funneled overboard via large scuppers and/or drains, not just sent to the bilge. In the bilge, look for easily accessed seacocks on any and all through-hull fittings, so they can be quickly closed in the event of trouble. Double-clamped hoses are yet another sign the builder paid attention to detail.

Design also comes into play. A deep-V hull will knife through waves and provide a softer, less jarring ride in larger waves. A higher freeboard provides added security and prevents an ill-timed wave from washing into the cockpit. Generous fuel capacity also ensures that you have the necessary range to both get to the fishing grounds and make it home without worry.

While there’s no one-boat-fits-all solution for every angler, the versatile outboard-powered center-console comes close. Sea Chaser’s 30 HFC is a classic example. Its design allows anglers unrestricted access to the boat’s entire perimeter. High-capacity baitwells have good water flow to keep bait fresh and are placed where they can be conveniently accessed (one forward and one at the leaning post). Multiple wells allow for a choice of bait. Keep sardines in one and blue runners in the other. A big, insulated fish locker is ready for the keepers brought aboard. Rod holders? In general. the more the merrier, but Sea Chaser keeps them convenient, offering multiple choices along the gunwales and at the leaning post. Tackle trays are also readily accessible.

Most offshore boats will also do double duty as a family cruiser on occasion, so don’t forget those features that also double as passenger-friendly amenities. Removable seat cushions can be added for passengers or removed when you desire a high-traction, easy-to-clean cockpit. Flip-up seats and benches add seating that is easily stowed. An overhead T-top offers shade for long days in the sun. Inward-opening dive doors offer convenient access for passengers, as well as make it easier to haul aboard that tuna that’s too heavy to haul over the transom.

Outboard-powered center-consoles also have the advantage of being able to trim up in shallow water, making it possible to gather bait in skinnier waters or nose into shore when friends or family want to gather at the sandbar.

The post The Lure of Offshore Fishing appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

In sports, Sea Chaser’s 26 LX Bay would affectionately be referred to as a tweener, a versatile center-console that can’t be pigeonholed into one single category but instead excels in a variety of roles. In the bay, offshore, upriver or plying the waters of your favorite lake, it handles all with equal aplomb, whether the task at hand be fishing or just cruising with family and friends.

Much of the craft’s on-water versatility can be attributed to the hull—a stepped, dynamic-V design with a 17-degree deadrise that can slice its way through big water, display spirited handling in calmer conditions, and prove a stable platform at rest. Completely devoid of wood, it’s backed by a fiberglass stringer grid and high-density fiber-core foam transom. Topside, a molded fiberglass deck liner gives the interior a finished appearance, incorporates plenty of storage and fish-friendly compartments, and is self-bailing to funnel water overboard.

While able to play multiple roles, fishing is clearly the LX Bay’s favored pursuit. Spacious raised decks are found at both the bow and stern, each of which can be fitted with an optional pedestal fishing seat. At the bow, lockable rod/storage compartments are positioned to both port and starboard. Savvy buyers will appreciate that the lids open lengthwise, making it easier to both stash longer rods as well as access contents whether aboard or loading or unloading from the trailer. Open the additional flush deck hatches to reveal an anchor locker, insulated fish box, and a tackle box array. One of two onboard baitwells is found below the forward console seat. Aft, the other is located within the even-more-spacious rear platform. Two flush-mounted jump seats await below that deck’s surface when it’s time to relax and cruise. The center of the two raises to reveal spacious maintenance access to pumps and seacocks, with room for additional storage.

At the console, Sea Chaser’s Ultra Leaning Post offers the function of a leaning post with the comfort of a seat, with backrest, flip-down footrest, four rod holders and designated storage for a 70-quart cooler. A clean dash layout offers plenty of space for additional electronics. Overhead, a variety of top options are available, from Bimini to canvas T-top to a nicely finished molded fiberglass hardtop that matches the hull color on the underside and includes speakers, LED lights and electronics box.

High Points

• Versatile design includes high gunwales, large bow grab rails for more security in big or offshore conditions, and minimal draft to get into skinnier coastal waters.
• Additional fishing highlights include trolling-motor panel with trim/tilt, port and starboard coaming pads, below-gunwale rod holders, eight flush-mounted rod holders, dedicated bucket storage.
• Standards include Sea Star hydraulic steering with tilt helm, blue LED underwater lights, raw-water washdown, swim platform with telescoping ladder.
• Optional flip-up console offers a step down to a portable toilet or electric head with 9-gallon holding tank.

Specs

LOA: 25′11″

Beam: 8′7″

Draft (min): 12″

Dry Weight: 3,234 lb.

Seat/Weight Capacity: 12/3,400 lb.

Fuel Capacity: 84 gal.

Available Power: Single outboard to 350 hp

More Info

Sea Chaser – Waycross, Georgia; 800-422-7282; seachaser.com

MSRP: For pricing and additional details, please contact your local authorized Sea Chaser dealer.

The post Sea Chaser 26 LX Bay Series: 2022 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

In this first video launching an ongoing series, Sport Fishing editors Chris Woodward and Jim Hendricks talk with the folks at Sea Chaser and Carolina Skiff, makers of highly popular center-console inshore and offshore fishing boats. We asked and they answered: What does the current market mean for boat buyers? What key fishing options do pros want aboard their boats? What’s your favorite model? And, what’s next for Carolina Skiff?

This installment features Robert Sass, sales and marketing manager for Carolina Skiff LLC, and Capt. Don Dingman, host of Hook the Future TV, who runs a 30-foot Sea Chaser. For more on Carolina Skiff, visit carolinaskiff.com.

The post Sport Fishing Roundtable: Sea Chaser and Carolina Skiff Boats appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

The 35 CC is a brand-new boat from a company that comes from Carolina Skiff––and Carolina Skiff’s specialty has been bringing great fishing platforms to the boater at a low price. They’ve carried that philosophy into the Sea Chaser 35 CC but all while stacking this boat full of important features onboard––standards and options––to make this a finely fishable boat.

The post Sea Chaser 35 CC: 2020 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

The 30 CC is a brand-new boat from Sea Chaser, and it’s quite a performer. Sea Chaser comes from Carolina Skiff, the company that built their reputation on bringing boaters the maximum square footage of fishing fun for the lowest price. Their durable Carolina Skiff line led into the Sea Chaser line, and now you have this value proposition. The 30 CC is stacked with amazing fishing features that you need to check out.

The post Sea Chaser 30 CC: 2020 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

This 27-foot dual console from Sea Chaser comes from the popular company Carolina Skiff, and they’ve brought all of their value and high-quality features to the Sea Chaser line. The dual console design is one of the fastest growing designs right now because of its fishability and comfort. This boat has plenty of seating aboard, tackle storage, tons of rod holders, a live well, a hard top for shade and more.

The post Sea Chaser 27 DC: 2020 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

The dual console design has grown in popularity, and Sea Chaser stepped in and created this one: the 30 DC. What makes this boat so special are all of the creature comforts onboard, from the unique seating designs and configurations to a roomy head compartment, a freshwater sink and shower, grill, refrigerator –– and the list goes on. And if fishing is your game, this boat is well-equipped for that too. It has 6 rod holders on the hard top, another 6 on the transom and gunwale, a large live well and more.

The post Sea Chaser 30 DC: 2020 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

The Sea Chaser boats team was just wrapping up a photo shoot in Pompano Beach, Florida, for their 2020 brochure this past August, when they pinged me to jump aboard the new 35 HFC Bluewater for a test run. The 35-footer lay nestled along the dock at Alsdorf Park when I arrived, making the surrounding boats look shabby and ill-equipped by comparison.

This test vessel bristled with standard features, plus a few options such as twin 16-inch Simrad evo3 displays rather than the standard 12s. I also found optional Optimus 360 joystick steering, as well as power steering and Fusion audio that come standard. On the transom hung a pair of Suzuki’s V-6, dual-prop drive, four-stroke 350 hp outboards.

The Way She Moves

Once offshore, those Suzies growled as I pushed the dual chrome-plated throttle levers to the dash. I had lowered the trim tabs to diminish bow rise—so I could accelerate quickly in a tight area—and the boat stepped to plane in about 5 seconds. Backing the tabs off to a minimal setting held the stem into the waves, cleaving a path for the 20-degree deadrise hull.

Light for her length, the 35 handled 3-foot rollers off the beach without difficulty. Power steering made the turns effortless, and the dual-prop Suzuki outboards delivered plenty of torque to keep a steady speed all the way through the turns.

Engine outputs to the Simrad -displays indicated a top speed of around 54 mph at 6,250 rpm in that hot, humid weather, with storm clouds spitting rain and threatening lightning. A cooler, drier day might have given those outboards an additional mph or so at wide-open throttle.

Proven Methods

In Sea Chasers, the layup begins with a tridirectional fiberglass stringer system, with bulkheads for a solid, rigid hull. Stringers are injected with closed-cell foam flotation, providing each vessel with what the company describes as a virtually unsinkable hull.

The hull easily supports a -portside boarding door, perfect for loading gear or people, and for hauling in a barrel-bodied tuna. For additional convenience, the transom platform features a stainless-steel -ladder, accessible from the water, a safety feature now demanded by -quality boat‑-building standards.

Fish Savvy

Two 50-gallon livewells, one in the -transom and one in the leaning post, plus a 64-gallon fish box in the bow create loads of space to hold bait and stow your catch. Sea Chaser installs a macerator to pump out the fish box on the water, but a second drain allows gravity to do its job on the trailer or hoist.

Mate Series cup-and-rod holders (six per side) along the gunwales bridge the gap between fishability and cruising comfort. Under-gunwale storage plus a rocket launcher on the hardtop keep rigged tackle handy and secure.

For bottomfishing or anchoring, I found a beefy electric windlass with an anchor-line storage spool capable of holding 30 feet of chain and 250 feet of 1/2-inch nylon rode.

The cockpit feels roomy despite the full-featured tackle station abaft the helm seats. A freshwater sink lies on centerline, with a refrigerator below, flanked by storage.

Forward, Sea Chaser hid two -compartments in the port and starboard bulkheads that serve as seatbacks to bow lounges. The port side holds tackle boxes while the starboard side features open storage and spool holders.

An electric switch elevates the console lounger, which is centered ahead of the helm station. Beneath the lounger, I found room for buckets, tackle bags and more.

Softer Side

That console chaise is wide enough for two riders and comes with armrests and nearby cup holders. The bow seating can accommodate four to six people sitting or two lounging. In the transom, dual benches fold down to form plush upholstered seating for four.

Coaming bolsters surround the inwales, protecting hips while passing along the console, and they also provide padding for anglers to brace themselves against the pull of big fish.

However, Sea Chaser reserved the most pampering for the captain and mates. The three-wide helm seat features armrests and footrests for comfortable standing (with the seat bolsters folded up) or sitting.

Leaving port in a 35-footer for -fishing or cruising means entertaining a crew often for eight to 12 hours. That necessitates a freshwater system on board, including dual 9-gallon tanks and a roomy head compartment for privacy and comfort. The area beneath the console can also be used to lock away rods.

I found battery switches near the transom, just ahead of the starboard-side tuna door. Helm and electronics wiring can be conveniently accessed from the head compartment.

Read Next: Sea Chaser 27 HFC Boat Review

Sea Chaser’s fishability and -comfort levels excel among its competition, thanks to thoughtful design and quality equipment. Their construction techniques have stood the test of time and many, if not most, of the boats that have rolled off the company’s assembly line are still registered and skippered today.

There’s not much more one could ask for in a value design—except a comfortable price. And the 35 is also a winner there.

Performance

Power: Twin Suzuki DF350AT V-6 outboards

Load: 110 gal. fuel; two crew

Top Speed: 54.1 mph @ 6,250 rpm

Time to 30 MPH: N/A

Best MPG: 1.7 @ 22.1 mph (3,000 rpm)

Hull

LOA: 35 ft. 8 in.

Beam: 10 ft. 8 in.

Deadrise: 20 deg.

Dry Weight: 8,261 lb. (w/o power)

Draft: 1 ft. 8 in.

Fuel: 255 gal.

Max Power: 900 hp

MSRP: $272,100 (as tested)

Standout Options

• Dual 16-inch Simrad display upgrade from 12-inch ($9,864)

• Optimus 360 Joystick Steering ($12,715)

• Sea Keeper 3 ($56,808)

Carolina Skiff

Waycross, Georgia

800-422-7282

carolinaskiff.com

The post Sea Chaser 35 HFC Bluewater Boat Review appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Carolina Skiff is known, the company says proudly, as “the most durable, versatile, stable and economical boat on the planet.”

The market agrees: The company’s Carolina Skiff, Sea Chaser, and Fun Chaser deck boats and pontoon boats comprise the No. 1 boat brand in retail sales of outboard-powered fiberglass boats of 24 feet and under.

Our survey concurs: Carolina Skiff is among the top four in ownership among our respondents.

The company says its aim is to provide the most features and best boating available, with top value in performance and comfort. It does that in variety too: It makes more than 60 models of pleasure, fishing, runabout and work boats.

Patented box-beam construction produces a solid, durable, nonflexing and wood-free hull warranteed against delamination or separation for five years, excluding improper use. Foam flotation exceeds U.S. Coast Guard standards.

Sea Chaser 27 HFC
The “HFC” stands for Hybrid Fish and Cruise. The “27” designates its length — the longest in the four-boat series that’s become a hit for Sea Chaser, and one of four lines under that brand.

Sea Chaser designed HFC with both serious fishermen and active families in mind. Standard features include stainless-steel fold-down cleats and anchor chock, LED undergunwale lighting, windlass-ready anchor storage, built-in lifting eye, LED-illuminated stainless-steel cup holders, tilt steering wheel, and digital command link.

There’s a stunning total of 19 stainless-steel rod holders, all but four gunwale- or transom-mount, well in excess of the six that would satisfy 93 percent of offshore fishing survey respondents. There’s rod storage under gunwales and in T-top rocket launchers.

Other angler-pleasing ­features include an aft 30-gallon recirculating baitwell (LED-illuminated, with navigation lights, courtesy lights, storage compartment and compass), leaning post with a 40-gallon baitwell (this second well exceeds the numerical preferences of 59 percent of survey respondents), and an in-floor 208-quart fish box with macerator. Three cabinets — two in the bow and one aft — provide storage.

The standard powder-coated T-top is ready for optional Grand Slam or Sport Slam telescopic outriggers. There are high-pressure and freshwater washdowns, the latter with shower head.

Survey Says: On Target

• Rod holders dramatically exceed expectations
• Flotation exceeds U.S. Coast Guard requirements

Owners Say

• Dry, takes a chop very well
• Can use the boat both in the bay and in shallow inshore waters

Sea Chaser Says

• Versatile, dependable, affordable
• The most in value, quality and style
• The versatility of the HFC will meet all your requirements

More Info: carolinaskiff.com

The post Sea Chaser 27 HFC: 2019 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.