Sailfish Boats has added its largest dual-console model yet—the 316 DC—bringing to three the number of models in this series for the brand. “Based on the positive response to our other DC models, we wanted to offer a larger option for boaters seeking the all-around versatility and stability of a dual console model,” says Rob Parmentier, company president and CEO.

Offshore Capable

The 316 DC offers an offshore-capable hull featuring the company’s Variable Degree Stepped (VDS) design with three step angles. The deepest of the three steps features a 24-degree angle designed to slice through the water, with a second surface of 23 degrees enabling air to flow efficiently under the hull for less friction and greater fuel economy. The third and outermost step measures 22 degrees to enhance stability at rest. Power choices include twin Yamaha or Mercury outboards up to 700 total horsepower. The Sailtech construction of the 316 DC incorporates materials including Kevlar, quad axial fiberglass mat, spray core and Trevira to ensure reliability, strength and durability in rough conditions.

Angling Amenities

Fishing features include a spacious aft cockpit made possible by a 9-foot 9-inch beam. A 30-gallon livewell is nestled into the port quarter; a transom door resides on the starboard quarter, and there are two in-sole fish boxes with overboard pumpouts, in addition to a pair of insulated fish lockers, in the bow. The 316 DC boasts a total of 14 rod holders, and an inward opening door on the port side aft cockpit lets you haul aboard a big tuna or swordfish.

Coaming pads encircle the cockpit to cushion legs while fishing. The integrated hardtop boasts a full-height windshield, and a unique sliding center panel for the walk-through blocks the wind when closed and eliminates the need to flip over a heavy pane of glass to access the bow. The 316 DC is equipped with an in-stem anchor roller.

Read Next: Sailfish 320 CC Boat Review

Creature Comforts

The dual-console layout enhances family cruising opportunities, as do a trio of fold-out bench seats in the aft cockpit, aft-facing seats abaft the port and starboard deluxe helm chairs with flip-up bolsters and fold-down armrests, and wraparound loungers in the bow. You can also order the 316 DC with an optional wet bar and summer galley that fits behind the captain’s seat and includes a refrigerator, wine rack cooler, countertop and freshwater sink.

The dash on the starboard console is large enough to accommodate a pair of 12-inch Garmin multifunction displays. The port console houses a spacious step-down head compartment with an electronic marine toilet, vanity, freshwater sink and teak-framed mirror.

Specifications

Sailfish Boats – Cairo, Georgia; 229-377-2125

The post Sailfish 316 DC First Glance appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

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

The post Robalo 266 Cayman Boat Review appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

When it comes to multihull fishing boats, the 40-foot-plus models seem to dominate new-boat introductions these days. Yet at least one multihull builder—World Cat—continues to deliver mid-size models. The latest example is the new 260CC-X, a 25½-footer that combines serious angling features with amenities that allow this center console to double as a comfortable family day cruiser.

This smooth-riding cat can handle up to 400 hp in the form of twin Yamaha F200 or Mercury 200 FourStroke outboards. Twin Yamaha F150s are also available as an engine package. A pair of 90-gallon fuel tanks keep the motors well fed while cruising to the offshore grounds. A covered 30-gallon livewell resides in the starboard quarter, and in the port quarter, you’ll find a 30-gallon insulated fishbox. Fresh- and raw-water washdown systems help keep this cat clean.

A wraparound glass windshield with a manual front vent is integrated into the aluminum hardtop frame to protect the helm, which features a Garmin 12-inch multifunction display, Garmin VHF, and Fusion Apollo 670 stereo feeding six JL Audio 6 ½-inch speakers through the interior—all as standard equipment. A second 12-inch Garmin MFD and other electronic upgrades are available as options.

A stitched brow over the dash helps reduces glare. Standard helm seating comes in the form of a powder-coated aluminum leaning post with four rod holders in the backrest and a Yeti Tundra 65 slide-out cooler beneath. Standard equipment includes a 31-series deep-cycle battery to serve house 12-volt DC electrical needs, while a pair of 27-series cranking batteries provide redundant engine-cranking capabilities.

Hydraulic steering also comes standard, but World Cat offers an optional Dometic Optimus 360 power steering/joystick system for the Yamaha outboards or Mercury’s DTS engine package with the Merc FourStroke engines. 

Read Next: World Cat 280CC-X Review

One of the most unique elements is a 50-inch-wide transom bench seat that folds down electrically to create a slightly elevated aft casting deck. The deck extends aft between the twin outboards, which enables anglers to work a fish around the transom. The platform includes a hand railing for safety and a fold-down boarding ladder for those days when swimming and diving are on the agenda.

A standard wraparound lounge (optional removable backrests) in the bow converts to a forward casting platform. Abundant dry storage resides under the elevated seating pods. The forward console features seating, and behind it is a door providing access inside the console. An electric marine head with an 8-gallon holding tank and overboard discharge is optional.

Specifications

World Cat – Tarboro, North Carolina; 866-485-8899

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The newest model in the Solace Boats lineup to date, the new 32 CS combines hardcore fishing features and luxurious touches that every member of the family will love. This 32-foot 7-inch center console features a vacuum-infused carbon fiber and vinyl ester-epoxy resin laminate construction to ensure strength and durability while minimizing weight. It sports an iconic, Dougherty shearline and an in-stem anchor that preserves the stylish aesthetics and minimizes snagged lines and cast nets.

The variable-deadrise, double-stepped V-hull features 21 degrees of deadrise at the transom for an efficient, smooth ride. Twin-outboard power choices range from a pair of Yamaha F300s to a pair of Mercury 450R V-8s. Buyers can also opt for a Yamaha Helm Master EX system or Mercury Joystick Piloting.

Twin 30-gallon livewells reside in each of the stern quarters, and both are pressurized and feature tempered glass lids. There are three insulated fish lockers—a 176-quart box in the transom, as well as 140- and 220-quart lockers under the sole of the aft cockpit. The level, self-bailing deck features a diamond nonskid sole for excellent fishability. An inward-opening side-entry door on the port side of the aft cockpit eases boarding and hauling aboard big tuna or swordfish.

A workstation abaft the helm seating includes a countertop with Corian cutting boards, freshwater sink and faucet, built-in tool holders, tackle drawers and drink station. A custom Frigid Rigid 105-quart fiberglass cooler tucks away and slides out from underneath the station. When pulled out and fitted with the upholstered cooler top, it doubles as an aft-facing seat.

The 32 CS helm is decked out with a pair of deluxe captain’s chairs with flip-up bolsters and arm rests. The helm face features a pair of Garmin 8616 flush-mount 16-inch multifunction displays and a VHF. An Airmar 500-watt chirp transducer with SideVu and ClearVu capabilities comes as standard equipment. Optional electronic upgrades include a Garmin radar, FLIR thermal imaging camera and a 1,000-watt transducer.

An integrated hardtop with a carbon-fiber support structure includes a full-height tempered-glass windshield and side windows. The windshield is electrically operated to fully open at the touch of a switch. Solace offers an optional cobia (stand-through) station with full controls for greater elevation while searching for fish.  

The step-down console interior provides 6 feet, 2 inches of headroom with teak entry steps, Chilewich cabin flooring, a vanity with a Corian counter, freshwater faucet and stainless-steel sink, wood-veneer cabinetry, and an electric marine toilet with an 18-gallon holding tank. A convertible forward berth offers overnighting comfort, and quickly converts with a flip-up rack to securely stow eight fishing rods.

Optional cabin upgrades include a 2,000-watt inverter, microwave, and two electrical outlets and a 12-volt 5,000 BTU air conditioning system.

On the luxury side, you’ll find an inviting contoured lounger for two atop the forward console and a recessed bow seating nook with built-in backrests. In a unique touch you might expect in a Stephen Dougherty-designed Solace boat, an optional forward-facing seat, with a removeable backrest, armrests and five rod holders, installs atop the transom.

Additional highlights of this Stephen Dougherty-designed boat include innovative features and options like the shade system, under-floor cabin extension that enables lockable rod storage, and designated spaces for many items you might carry onto your boat.

Read Next: Solace 41CS: 2022 Boat Buyers Guide

Specifications

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North Carolina-based Mystique Boatworks will hit the market this fall with its first model—the Mystique 48 CC—a custom outboard-powered luxury sportfisher. Hull No. 1 will incorporate cold-molded wood-boat techniques, with each subsequent model featuring composite materials and technology.

Designed by Jim Luxton, a co-founder of Jarrett Bay Boatworks, the 48 CC will feature 19 degrees of deadrise at the transom and progress to 24 degrees forward to help smooth the ride. The 48-footer will boast a 15-foot beam and a gyro-stabilizer for roll stability in rough seas.

Renderings depict handsome Carolina styling with a broken sweeping shear, wide bow flare, classic tumblehome in the aft quarters and a sculpted integral outboard bracket. Power will take the form of quadruple Mercury 600 hp Verado V-12 outboards with contra-rotating propellers. The company lists standard fuel capacity at 600 gallons with 750-gallon capacity available as an option. There’s also a 75-gallon diesel fuel tank for powering a marine generator. Mystique estimates that the 30,0000-pound boat will achieve a top speed in excess of 60 mph.

Read Next: Jarrett Bay 34 Walkaround Express First Glance

Mystique plans to offer the 48 CC on a bespoke basis, with each boat customized to the buyer’s wishes. Concept rendering shows doors on both sides of the aft cockpit, a pair of 40-gallon transom livewells, and elevated mezzanine seating abaft the helm chairs. A lounge for two adorns the forward console. The center console merges seamlessly with the hardtop, and a three-sided tempered-glass windshield protects the helm area. Within the center console lies ample room for incorporating custom overnighting amenities such as a berth, galley, head and shower. Pricing was unavailable at press time.

In this video from Mystique Boatworks, the company’s design and engineering team members describe the concept of the 48 CC and the thinking that went behind it. Courtesy Mystique Boatworks

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Stiff east winds buffeted the south Florida coast as I stepped aboard the new Sailfish 320 CC at Miami’s Sea Isle Marina. Michael Cohen from Nautical Ventures, the local Sailfish Boats dealership, welcomed me aboard, and the discussion immediately turned to the weather. “Dang wind,” I cursed. “It’ll be rough out there.”

“Yeah, but this gives us an opportunity to put the 320 CC to the test,” Cohen replied, as we cast off the dock. I sighed and nodded in agreement.

Sailfish Boats has a reputation for building wave-taming boats, thanks to an exclusive Variable Degree Stepped (VDS) hull. Now in its sixth generation, VDS features three distinct running surfaces. The transom deadrise, for example, changes in three 1-degree increments from 24 degrees (a true deep-V) at the very bottom to 22 degrees as it ascends to the hull sides.

Occurring along the length of the stepped hull, this multi-angle geometry helps deliver the soft ride of a deep-V in rough offshore waters (which the 320 CC is designed to fish), but also maximizes speed and fuel-efficiency in smooth water. What’s more, triple strakes and hard chines boost lift and toss aside spray to help ensure a dry ride.

Beefy Build

We’ll talk more about ride and handling later, but first let’s look at how Sailfish builds and equips this boat. Construction starts with a hand-laid stringer grid that’s injected with closed-cell foam and reinforced with fiberglass mat for structural integrity and durability. That explains the solid feel of the boat as we traversed the lumpy water.

Sailfish uses Kevlar- and carbon-fiber-reinforced high-load areas, and avoids using wood to eliminate any worries about rot. Sailfish backs it up with a 10-year warranty on the hull. Built-in rigging tubes with pull cords facilitate the addition of accessories that require running wires or hoses from the bilge to the helm. 

This video tour highlights many of the interior elements of the Sailfish 320 CC, including the bow seating, helm area, cockpit, transom design and deck layout. Jim Hendricks

Helm Heaven

Sailfish has enhanced the 40-inch-wide dash with an upholstered brow, which substantially cuts down on reflected glare. A pair of Garmin 16-inch multifunction displays, a Mercury Vessel View display, a Fusion audio source unit (serving Wet Sound speakers), and an accessory switch panel filled the dash of my test boat. A tilt-and-lock steering wheel lies to port.

I relished the convenient storage nooks at the helm, including a shelf and glove box to starboard. At the base of the console, behind the footrest, I discovered another convenient storage locker, and I really appreciated the full-width watertight tackle-organizer storage locker atop the console. There are also two USB charging ports inside.

To complete this offshore center-console fishing machine, nearly all boating anglers will opt for the available Offshore Tournament Pack II hardtop ($18,804), which includes an overhead electronics box, life-jacket stowage and 10 rod holders. Backing plates are integrated into the hardtop for adding antennas and radar.

A modest acrylic windshield wraps around the console, but I highly recommend the optional, three-piece clear-vinyl enclosure ($3,310) to minimize wind blast while underway.

Bait Up!

I liked the 320 CC’s livewell capacity, which includes a 30-gallon tank in the starboard quarter and a 35-gallon well built into the leaning post abaft the twin high-back adjustable helm seats with flip-up bolsters and fold-down arm rests.

While we did not fish on this blustery test day, I found plenty of room to ice a catch inside twin 65-gallon insulated fish boxes in the bow and an 80-gallon insulated fish locker below the aft deck—all discharge overboard with pumps to evacuate ice melt, blood and slime.

I also discovered built-in rod and tackle storage on both inwales of the aft cockpit. Buyers can also order built-in tackle storage in the leaning post, accessible from the aft side, but this negates the leaning-post livewell, so I don’t recommend this option.

Ride It Out

With the Atlantic festooned with white-capping 7- to 8-foot rollers, we diverted to Biscayne Bay where seas ran 2- to 4-feet to put the 320 CC through its paces. The hull sliced through waves at speed, producing a smooth ride without taking on a drop of spray. Handling proved crisp and predictable, and electric-power-assist hydraulic steering made turns fingertip easy.

In the more sedate waters of the Intracoastal Waterway, the twin Mercury 300 hp Verado V-8 outboards propelled my test boat to a top speed of 51 mph. (In previous testing by Mercury in even calmer seas, the boat reached a top speed of 56 mph.) In my test, the lift generated by the VDS design help vault the 31½-foot hull from zero to 30 mph in six seconds flat.

The 320 CC achieved its best cruising efficiency at 26.4 mph (3,500 rpm), where the outboards burned 16 gallons per hour for 1.65 mpg. Offshore anglers will love the cruising range of 423 miles based on 90 percent of the 285-gallon fuel capacity.

All Decked Out

The 320 CC features a level deck, diamond “dot-matrix” nonskid and a center-console layout with plenty of room to follow a hooked fish while moving between the console and gunwales. With the seating pads removed from the elevated forward area, you can easily step up to battle a fish around the bow or man the anchor.

I found that the optional transom bench ($1,844) quickly tucks against the bulkhead to open up the aft cockpit for fishing, and the standard transom door in the port quarter enables the crew to haul aboard a big tuna or swordfish.

For all of its fishing prowess, the 320 CC can offer a softer side for those who order the optional Comfort Package, which adds an inviting sunpad and lounges in the bow area. There’s also a comfy seat on the forward console with a removable cooler underneath.

Read Next: Sailfish Boats 236 CC

Whether miles offshore or just on a harbor cruise, everyone will appreciate the comforts afforded by the console interior. Accessible via a companionway on the port side, the interior features an electric marine head, vanity with sink and freshwater faucet/pull-out shower fitting, mirror, port light and comfortable SeaDek flooring. I also discovered easy access to the backside of the helm rigging.

I like the style of the 320 CC, particularly the subtle sweep of the shearline and bold Carolina flare. Ultimately, Sailfish Boats’ 320 CC merges a wave-taming hull design, state-of-the-art construction, and a versatile offshore fishing layout in a package that offers superb performance, fuel efficiency and comfort.

Performance

Hull

Sailfish Boats – Cairo, Georgia

The post Sailfish 320 CC Boat Review appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Nor-Tech built this 39-foot fishing platform on a double-stepped performance hull. With 1,800 hp in the form of four Mercury Racing 450 outboards, the 392 Superfish posted a top speed of 81.9 mph in my December test, even with the heavy upper-station superstructure.

The 10-foot-beam hull, equipped with SeaStar all-electric steering and digital throttle and shift, powered around turns like a barrel-racing horse, exhibiting zero side slip—a feat not all step-bottom boats can claim. Even though the flat-running attitude of the Nor-Tech gave us a butter-smooth ride, the design can accept a gyrostabilizer to add even more comfort for the offshore fishing crew.

The aircraft-quality acrylic windscreen at the helm flared out on the sides to deflect wind away from the aft passengers. Carbon-fiber dash panels complement the true carbon-fiber-Kevlar hull construction; they add strength and rigidity to the dash panels to secure dual 22-inch Garmin displays. A 12-inch Garmin display on the upper station delivers data to the captain when he or she goes aloft, and two more 17-inch screens over the rigging station face aft, keeping the anglers engaged.

Belowdecks, a roomy compartment with a double berth and porcelain head also offers service access to the dash and battery switches for the four starting batteries, three trolling-motor batteries for the Rhodan trolling motor—a popular virtual-anchor choice for offshore bottom-fishing—and three more batteries for the electronics and stereo system with nearly three dozen speakers.

On the transom, two 65-gallon oval livewells and two tuna tubes keep baits lively. An enormous sea chest, with pre-installed spare pumps, feeds the pressurized tanks and the onboard raw-water washdown. I counted more than 80 Gemlux rod holders on my test boat as well as a pair of carbon-fiber outriggers with internal lines to reduce tangling and drag.

In the deck I found dual gear lockers with bucket racks and thousands of pounds of fish-box capacity. Interior cockpit height measured 24 inches aft, allowing a mate or angler to reach down to wire a fish.

Nor-Tech’s hulls are laid up in North Fort Myers, Florida, and shipped to St. Augustine, Florida, where the fishing team, led by billfish tournament champion Alden Thornton, rigs them to the exact specifications of a serious tournament angler. When Nor-Tech’s reputation for quality engineering and layup meets the talent of a committed tournament angler, we can be assured the 392 Superfish will live up to its name.

Read Next: More Saltwater Fishing Boat Reviews

Hull Specs

Performance

• Engines: Quad Mercury Racing 450s
• Load: Two crew, 200 gal. fuel, 50 gal. water
• Time to 30 mph: 6.3 sec. Top speed: 81.9 mph @ 6,400 rpm Best MPG:  0.75 mpg @ 43.8 mph (4,000 rpm)

Nor-Tech Boats – Cape Coral, Florida; 239-567-5030

The post Nor-Tech 392 Superfish Boat Review appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

I had previously tested the World Cat 400DC-X, a dual-console catamaran made for family fishing and fun. So when I saw the new 400CC-X cat last month in South Florida, I was amazed at how modifying the deck to accommodate a center-console design also created a fishing war wagon.

From the foredeck with its own lockable rod stowage to the 60-gallon aquarium-style livewell and the cooler with Dometic chiller plate in the transom, anglers will appreciate the 400CC-X. The cockpit features more than 200 square feet of space, and the side passageways with padded coamings are wide enough at 30 inches to chase fish forward. The standard hardtop comes loaded with rod holders and is designed to minimize overhead obstructions. 

With all that deck space, World Cat included multiple cavernous fish boxes. A pair of 115-gallon insulated boxes lie aft (with overboard Gulper Grouper pumps), another pair of 154-gallon insulated boxes that can be optioned as livewells lie forward.

I found ample coolers, too, including a 70-quart cooler under the cockpit bench seat and a 68-quart cooler forward. The portside tuna door opens inward for dock use, and a bait rigging station folds down from behind the helm seat.

The forward-entry console door when opened doesn’t block the skipper’s view, and the fully-lined head inside features a sink and freshwater electric toilet. At the helm, I found vented windows in the tempered-glass windshield, footrests at two levels, and a pair of Garmin 22-inch displays, which are protected by a reflection-blocking eyebrow.

World Cat lists twin Yamaha XTO 425s as standard power, but our test boat ran with quad F300s which, with the hammer down, gave me a top speed just shy of 60 mph. I found a cruising speed of 27 mph at 3,000 rpm, where the outboards consumed just 24 gph for 1.125 mpg and a range of more than 600 miles (with a 10 percent margin).

No question: The World Cat 400CC-X checks all the boxes for dedicated anglers.

Read Next: World Cat 400DC-X Boat Review

Hull Specs

Performance

• Engines: Quad Yamaha F300s
• Load: 800 lb.
• Time to 30 mph: 6.7 sec.
• Top Speed: 57.4 mph @ 5,900 rpm
• Best MPG: 1.125 mpg @ 27.5mph

World Cat – Tarboro, NC; 866-485-8899

The post World Cat 400CC-X Boat Review appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

The Aquila 28 Molokai Power Catamaran is an agile and fast wave-slicing fishing platform that’s stable whether you’re trolling, drifting over a reef or sitting on the hook bottom fishing over a wreck. The vessel’s 9-foot-8-inch beam carries from bow to stern and aids in the vessel’s stable-as-a-table nature. The 28 Molokai’s hull design is based on a form from Hawaiian Cat designer Kirk Clark.

The powercat’s notable fishing features include two 94-gallon insulated fish boxes, a 30-gallon livewell, 15 rod holders, and Taco outriggers. There’s also a removable cutting board, a sink, pullout tackle boxes in a console on centerline and under-gunwale rod stowage. For live-bait fans, the bow’s cast-net space measures about 4 feet wide with unimpeded room to throw.

Powered with a pair of 200 hp Mercury outboards (twin 150s are standard), my test boat jumped on plane quickly, motors spooling up with dog-sees-squirrel urgency. I saw an average top hop of 46.5 mph at 5,500 rpm on a choppy winter day off Pompano Beach, Florida, with Aquila brand manager Alain Raas.

The 28 Molokai’s hull tunnel is wide and deep, creating a pocket of pillowlike air that provides a sense of liftoff. Shooting across an aquamarine sea, it felt more akin to flying over the water than riding atop it.

Dialing the controls back to 4,000 rpm made for a comfortable 33 mph cruise speed. At this velocity, the engines consume 16.9 gph, or 1.95 mpg. Considering the boat’s 150-gallon fuel capacity (keeping a 10 percent reserve), the projected range is 263 miles. Bring the speed down to 23.5 mph, where fuel burn drops to 9.4 gph (2.5 mpg), and the range jumps to 337 miles.

The 28 Molokai’s layout includes forward-facing foldout seats in the aft cockpit that measure 22 inches wide and 17 inches deep. The coaming lifts up, the seats fold out and down, and then the coaming forms a backrest. The helm bench accommodates a skipper and companion. The forward section of the helm console features a built-in bench seat for two. A head is inside the console and is accessed abaft the seat.

The 28 comes with another bench at the bow, and abaft it to port and starboard lie two more lounges with removable backrests. All the cushions can be removed when it’s a fish day.

Boaters who want more protection from the elements can choose the 28 Molokai with a cuddy-cabin layout. Sprinting offshore to chase billfish or sitting on the hook to catch dinner, the Aquila Molokai 28 is a solid blend of form and function.

Hull Specifications

Performance

• Engines: Twin Mercury 200s
• Load: Two crew, 75 gal. fuel, water
• Time to 30 mph: N/A
• Top Speed: 46.5 mph @ 5,500 rpm
• Best MPG: 1.95 mpg @ 23.5 mph (4,000 rpm)

Contact

Aquila Boats – Sold exclusively through MarineMax.

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Parker constructed its first boats during the late 1960s in coastal North Carolina. After more than 60 years, the company knows what it takes to design and build fishing vessels that can handle big water and whatever Mother Nature devises. Strength, simplicity and seaworthiness drive every Parker build, and my first glance at the new 2200 CC on a November test day in South Florida, quickly revealed its Carolina roots.

The hull’s V-design, with its proud bow and flare, perfectly tames a considerable chop. Raised bow compartments to port and starboard provide seating and dry storage. Both are insulated to double as fish boxes. A pedestal table fills the gap between them to form either a forward casting deck or a picnic area with a view.

Center Console and Helm

The 3-foot-wide console features a roomy head compartment inside, as well as seating for two forward with a backrest and a cooler designed to also serve as a livewell. The business side of the console offers sufficient real estate for all must-have electronics, including a pair of 10-inch multifunction displays. Should you run out of mounting space, the optional hardtop package includes an overhead electronics box.

An aluminum leaning post affords standard helm seating for the skipper and a companion, but Parker offers an upgraded version featuring flip-up bolsters and a fiberglass module that incorporates tackle storage to port, plus a larger 33-gallon livewell and a pair of flush-mount rod holders aft.

Cockpit and Fishing

Rod storage includes four flush-mount holders on the gunwales, two more on the optional fiberglass leaning post, and a four-rod rocket launcher as part of the optional hardtop package. Hiding behind a pair of removable jump seats on opposite aft corners, transom doors provide direct access to twin swim platforms that also make it easier to board trophy fish.

The single Yamaha F250 on my test boat proved an excellent match for the 2200 CC, which remained nimble and responsive during a number of turns and maneuvers, and exhibited the desired power and quickness on the straightaways. The Parker sped from zero to 30 mph in 9.4 seconds, and flirted with 49 mph at wide-open throttle. At 3,500 rpm, the Parker achieved its best fuel efficiency, running at 28 mph while burning a scant 9.3 gph (3.01 mpg).

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The 2200 CC kept me comfortable running in 4-foot seas and winds of nearly 20 mph. And while the boat has plenty of fishing features and comforts to offer, for many boat buyers it’s the smooth, dry ride — an integral part of Parker’s DNA — that’s likely to seal the deal. 

Hull Specs

Performance

• Engine: Yamaha F250
• Load: Two crew, 79 gal. fuel
• Time to 30 mph: 9.4 sec.
• Top Speed: 48.9 mph @ 6,000 rpm
• Best MPG: 3.01 mpg @ 28 mph (3,500 rpm)

Parker Boats – Beaufort, North Carolina; 252-728-5621

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