Pathfinder, a Maverick Boat Group brand, proudly calls itself “angler-­driven,” explaining that it believes the further a fishing-boat builder gets from its dedicated anglers, the more their product suffers for it.

That’s why Pathfinder values the ideas and input it gets from its angler-driven design team, pro guide staff and local core of consumers. The result is a line of eight Pathfinder models designed from the ground up, focused on putting anglers on fish, in comfort and safety, with sensible, proven technology and craftsmanship.

Each Pathfinder model is carefully designed for specific inshore and nearshore fishing applications, from coastal tarpon to prowling marshes for redfish to chasing trophies such as freshwater muskies or stripers in big water. The company makes bay boats, opens and hybrid craft—the latter two styles blending shallow- and deeper-water fishing applications.

Most of Pathfinder’s boat models are built with the company’s Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion System, which precisely applies resin for the best possible strength-to-weight ratio.

Pathfinder 2200 TRS

Pathfinder helped popularize the bay boat with the Pathfinder 2200 and steered that model to its status as the most popular bay boat of all time. With the new 2200 TRS they’ve ­redesigned it to run even better in open water, adding interior space, enhancing seating comfort and expanding its family-friendly fishing legacy. 

The 2200 TRS, the company says, raises the bay-boat standard in versatility, performance and build quality. Standard features include trim tabs, a GEM stainless-steel steering wheel, a leaning post with a cooler, full-forward center-console access with Dutch doors, guttered and gasketed locking dry-storage compartments, a mounted cooler forward of the console and a boarding ladder. 

Angling features include locking rod storage, two console rod racks, four flush-mounted gunwale rod holders, undergunwale rod storage and a 35-gallon aft port livewell.

Yamaha engine choices range from 150 to 250 hp, with a jack plate optional. With the 250 it tops out at nearly 54 mph, and at a thrifty 24.9 mph (3,000 rpm), it squeezes more than 230 miles of range from its 65-gallon tank. 

Options include a Weblon T-top or fiberglass hardtop, sunshades bow and/or aft, a tilt hydraulic helm, an Edson steering wheel, a trim-tab indicator, chair-cushion colors and additional cushions, JL audio and speakers, and raw-water and/or freshwater washdown.

Angling upgrades include rod racks, bolt-on kingfish rod holders for the hardtop, bow and aft bass seat plates, Garmin electronics systems, a trolling motor, Power-Pole shallow-water anchor systems, underwater lights, release wells, and recirculation pumps and bubblers. A tandem trailer is also available.

Editor’s Tip 

I used to use a length of metal pipe to stake out my boat. It worked, but not very effectively. Outfit your boat with one of the modern shallow-water anchors, or, even better, a pair, and quietly position your boat in feeding lanes without disturbing the fish. -Joe Albanese, Executive Editor Salt Water Sportsman

Performance Data

• Test Power: Yamaha VF250XB
• Test Props: Yamaha Saltwater Series II, stainless steel, 15 ¼ x 18
• Test Load: Two people, three ­batteries, trolling motor)
• Test Speed: 24.9 mph at 3,000 rpm
• Max Range: 234 mi.

Specifications

Pathfinder – Fort Pierce, Florida; pathfinderboats.com

The post Pathfinder 2200 TRS: 2024 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Minn Kota has announced an updated Riptide Terrova and a new Riptide Instinct trolling saltwater motor featuring new technology called Quest. At the heart of the new bow-mount motors is brushless technology that offers 30 percent longer runtime and 50 percent more torque than previous brushed motors, according to Minn Kota.

The motors will operate on 24 or 36 volts, providing up to 115 pounds of thrust (at 36 volts) and 90 pounds (at 24 volts). The lengths of shafts (which are made from carbon fiber) will include 60, 72, 87 and 100 inches for applications on a wide range of saltwater fishing boats. A redesigned and upgraded mount accommodates the additional thrust and torque.

Auto Guidance

The new Riptide motors also feature enhanced GPS guidance, including a new Drift Mode that automatically adjusts speed and direction to keep the boat on a true drift, acting like as a virtual drift sock amid waves and currents. There’s also improved Follow-the-Contour functionality that integrates with Humminbird’s CoastMaster electronic charts. Minn Kota’s Dodge Mode allows anglers to quickly leave auto navigation to manually steer through waves and around objects, then resume navigating without resetting a route.

The Auto Stow/Deploy feature on the new Riptide Instinct Quest allows for hands-free deployment and retrieval of the motors with with a single button press, and a Power Trim system adjusts the motor angle for best performance. What’s more, updated propellers on both motors maximize torque throughout the speed range, according to Minn Kota.

A new wireless remote with a simplified keypad, ergonomic design, and four programmable One-Boat Network buttons allow for easy control the motor from anywhere in the boat. In addition, anglers can connect the motors to a Humminbird multifunction display via the One-Boat Network; all necessary adapters required for networking are included. With the One-Boat Network programmable button, anglers can customize presets to include stow and deploy of Minn Kota shallow water anchors, mark a waypoint, or engage autopilot. You can also control the motors with the One-Boat Network app.

Battery Monitoring

To stay posted on available power, Real-Time Battery Monitoring lets anglers know “time until empty” at a given speed setting and prompts them to enter a power saving eco mode when batteries reach 20 percent capacity.

The new Quest saltwater motors will be available in both black and white, with availability scheduled for September 2023. MSRPs will range from $3,799.99 to $5,499.99. To learn more, visit minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com.

The post Minn Kota Including New Quest Technology in Saltwater Trolling Motors appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Bay boats were once considered practically anything you wouldn’t take outside the inlet. Today’s anglers expect them to be 19 to 23 feet, with a shallow deadrise of 12 to 14 degrees and a draft of under 14 inches—12 inches being ideal—and a freeboard of 18 to 22 inches at the transom. 

They should be capable of varying from flats to big-water bays and inlets.

An angler might take one outside the inlet now and then, but most are used inshore and often in water as shallow as will float it. Increasingly, bay boats double as family fun boats, and owners often opt for convertible seating comforts such as forward-deck sun pads, stowable front and aft lounge seats, head compartments with fresh water for sinks and transom showers, and more.

Tip: Every rod holder, cup holder, hatch gutter and cockpit drain should be plumbed to run overboard. Some rod holders and cup holders drain to the deck, which in turn drain overboard.

Big Picture 

A bay boat should have fore and aft casting platforms, much like a bass boat. That gives anglers a better casting position and better vantage point for sight-casting to fish. The aft deck often has jump seats that fold down, completing a larger deck. A step to the forward deck is essential for easy access to it.  A center console is essential, and many owners deliberately omit the T-top or hardtop to make overhand casting or fly-fishing easier.  

Livewells 

In most of Florida, live bait is king, and hundreds of baits are carried to the fishing grounds, requiring two and sometimes three livewells. One should be just deep enough to keep a few shrimp or crabs. While live bait is growing in popularity in the mid-Atlantic states and in the Northeast, some boatbuilders targeting those buyers still make livewells optional. 

Tip: Select all the livewell options available, and ensure that the wells are insulated. Then, if there’s one that you don’t need, it makes for a handy cooler—and enhances the boat’s resale value.

Rod Storage

The foredeck should cover one or two rod lockers with locking latches. Typically, a portside locker will have racks to hang rods, and the starboard locker is only optionally so equipped. Many have four gunwale rod holders, and standing storage on the sides of the console and the leaning post might sport four to six rocket-launcher rod holders. If you opt for a leaning post and hardtop, rocket launchers add to your quiver.

Tip: When choosing the number of rod holders, count the number of anglers you’ll usually fish with, then multiply that by three.

Horsepower  

There is a mathematical equation for calculating theoretical horsepower needed to properly move a boat. By the time that boat hits the water, horsepower needs have been confirmed or refined by real-world performance. Choose the lower horsepower only when your fishing crew and gear will be limited. Choose more horsepower for better midrange handling and improved performance under full load. Manufacturers once targeted a lower price by offering a boat with too little horsepower. The practice is largely abandoned now—boaters are too savvy to be suckered by that play.

Tip: Don’t choose a smaller motor to save fuel. To achieve the same speed, you’ll run it harder, usually burning as much fuel as a larger engine at a lower throttle setting. More horsepower also means better resale or trade-in value. Further, top speed is not the most important function of horsepower. Torque is of utmost value, allowing better control at slow speeds, along with the ability to lift the boat onto plane at lower speeds. Think of top speed as a marker of performance, not the goal to achieve. A higher top speed at comparable rpm to a smaller motor will likely mean that the boat will achieve better handling characteristics at lower rpm settings than a smaller motor might. The extra torque of higher horsepower is invaluable in handling rough conditions more comfortably.

Rigging 

Hydraulic Steering: Most boats under 23 feet will have hydraulic steering, not power steering. With 250 to 300 horsepower, it’s time to consider power steering. With some motors such as Mercury Verado or Yamaha XTO Offshore 425, it is standard.

Voltage: A 24-volt trolling motor will need two dedicated batteries, with a third for starting. A 36-volt motor will require three, plus one for starting.

More Voltage: If you plan to use all pumps, stereo AMP and GPS systems at once, dual starting batteries might be needed. While motor alternators are designed to give great output in the face of the greater demand of vessel systems, trying to run them through one battery might result in system overload.

Charging: Onboard chargers are a must for today’s bay boats. When you get back to the dock, plugging in one 120-volt extension cord charges trolling-motor batteries, house batteries and starting batteries. Onboard chargers such as JL Marine Charge system are designed to monitor voltage on all batteries while fishing or underway and direct alternator current to the battery banks that need it most. Emergency starting is one major advantage of the Charge, and at the touch of a button, battery power from the stronger trolling-motor bank can be transferred to the starting battery to get you going.  

Electronics: The dash should be large enough to accommodate at least a 12-inch built-in GPS/sonar display and a VHF radio. Larger or more displays are getting more common. A stereo source unit on the dash is desirable too.

Topless or T-Top?

In the South, anglers often opt for a canvas or fiberglass T-top, the latter often called hardtop. The shade is essential. However, many serious and competitive anglers skip the expensive option in favor of open overhead space to make accurate casting a breeze. Fly-fishers in particular fish topless to avoid having to make side-arm casts or snagging the top on the backcast. Analyze your fishing style and quarry carefully before deciding whether you want the shade or free overhead casting space. 

Editor Says: Convertible seating is a popular option, but unless the cushions can be easily removed and stowed or retrieved to install, you’re unlikely to use them as much as you think. Built-in (and standard) seatbacks such as those on Boston Whaler’s Dauntless series or Grady-White’s Coastal Explorers make their use easy. Optional deck seating can cost more than $2,000, so carefully consider whether you’ll use it. -Randy Vance, Editor-at-Large,Boating and Fishing Group

The post 2023 Boat Buyers Guide: Bay Boats 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

The post World Cat 260CC-X First Glance appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

“If you can dream it, you can do it. That’s the way we used to look at it when all we had was a 17-foot Aquasport,” says Michael Currey, regional manager for Skeeter Boats. “And we made it work for everything we wanted to do. Then they invented the flats boat, and then the bay boat, and we were into an evolution.” 

That evolution includes designs with the capability to handle a variety of fishing styles, such as hunting inshore shallows and offshore blue water. The range of models in modern bay-boat evolution represents not so much a particular identifiable design but rather a spectrum of possibilities. 

At one end of the spectrum lies the mission-specific boat for inshore waters: low gunwales, casting platforms fore and aft, and shallow draft but still eats up chop. On the other end, the offshore-oriented hybrid or crossover retains the features that make the bay boat utilitarian while incorporating elements more familiar on an offshore center-console. 

In the world of boat design, the compromise cliché has traditionally been baked in, but in no category of fishing boats is “compromise” so minimized as on the bay-hybrid spectrum.

Do It All

Versatility is certainly the bench mark in the broad popularity of this class of fishing boat. In addition to adaptability that ranges from flounder fishing along the shoreline to nearshore reefs and beyond, the functionality and safety features make the bay-hybrid class a comfortable adapter among fishing demands, family-and-friends cruising, and just hanging out. 

“Customers for our crossover 251 CE represent 10 percent hardcore fishermen; 10 percent who use the boat for family and cruising and don’t fish at all; and everybody else, who does both,” says Shelley Tubaugh, vice president of marketing for Grady-White Boats. 

Even among dedicated anglers, versatility has its appeal in both function and economics. 

“As the price of boats has gone up, anglers responded by looking for a boat that does more than one thing,” says Keith Ammons, VP of sales and marketing for Regulator Marine. “In the past, someone would have had a 28 offshore and a 16- or 18-foot inshore boat. Now they are looking for boats that truly cross over.”

As well as appealing to anglers who know what they are looking for, the category represents a perfect entry point for first buyers.

“First-time buyers may not have the experience to know if they will be fishing 90 percent of the time or hanging out, so they need a boat they can learn from and figure out what they want to do,” Ammons says.

Comfort and Utility

In a hybrid destined to do family as well as fishing duties, higher gunwales and coaming bolsters go a long way toward comfort and safety, especially when children are part of the crew. 

Typically, the hull combines the best qualities of an offshore deep-V and a float-in-dew flats skiff, meeting somewhere in the middle.

“Our hybrids are wide, and while maybe not the ideal offshore boat for everyone, the bow has a chop-eating Carolina flair,” Currey says. “We meet the needs of anglers who ride the razor’s edge to float shallow and handle bigger water.” 

That combination of sea handling and shallow-water operation lies at the heart of the hybrid hull design. “Even on inshore waters, it can blow up in the afternoon, and you can be facing 3- to 4-footers. That’s when a hybrid design is nice,” says Christian Carraway, product-design engineer for Grady-White Boats. “For that reason, in our 251 CE, we have retained the SeaV2 hull of our offshore models, with a flatter deadrise toward the transom.” 

Interior layout steps up to a higher standard in a hybrid. 

Foremost is seating. Die-hard anglers may be content to get by with a grab rail, but multiple-use buyers look to assure comfort on nonfishing days. 

“Secure, safe seating you can settle into is important to buyers,” Currey says. “Prospective buyers pay a lot of attention to the arrangement of the seating, comfort and security. I see buyers snuggling in, seeing how it feels. Seating is very important.”

Hand in hand with seating goes modularization. Even in a 26-foot boat, space must be dual-purpose, and what is fishing and fighting space on a Saturday likely needs to be a comfortable social area, complete with a table, on Sunday. 

“In our [Skeeter] 2550, our model—the table in the bow, the seating, the fishing deck—is all convertible. And we can drop the forward step down for tarpon fishing or to accommodate kids and older people,” Currey says.

“Our legacy is fishing, so we never sacrifice those features in our boats,” Tubaugh says. “But what we really see is a combination use, because it is so easily converted between fishing and cruising.”

Never Enough

When it comes to storage on any boat, experienced anglers know—and new buyers learn—that there never seems to be enough. 

“However the storage is arranged, ‘the more the better’ is a good rule thumb,” Ammons says. “You want as much as you can get.” 

Access hatches to systems is never going to be easy enough, and should be as efficient and frustration-free as possible. 

As well as abundant, storage should be efficient. Hatches for storage should be placed where they are most useful. Fish boxes should be easy to load in the heat of action, in either the casting decks in smaller boats or the cockpit sole in larger boats for mid- and offshore fishing. Any removable cushions should fit in nearby compartments so transformation remains easy and quick. 

Well-designed and properly placed hatches are not limited to places to put stuff. They also come into play when regular system maintenance or repairs are required, or when accessorization is in order. Access hatches to systems (such as pumps, filters, and batteries and electrical components) should be large enough to work through easily and well-placed, to allow both regular maintenance and troubleshooting when needed—without requiring contortions or uncomfortable working positions. “Hatch access is very important, and buyers should be looking for that,” Ammons says.

Check for an access plate over the fuel-tank sender, a common maintenance point. The little things don’t matter until they do, then they matter a lot. Consider the long horizon of your ownership of that boat. Look 15 years down the road: Can you access the fuel tank, should it need to be replaced, without cutting up the deck? The best boats are built with an eye to the future.

Hatches, especially those that lie flat in the sole or on the casting desks, should be guttered to drain water that makes its way onto the deck. Errant waves and rainstorms aside, this is a day-to-day consideration as well, when it comes to washdown and cleanup. Hatch lids should be gasketed to close with a tight, rattle-free seal, which also keeps everything inside dry. Lids should be well-supported or engineered to stay open on their own to allow two-handed loading and unloading. Heavy hatches may need gas rams for support when opened. 

Waterworks

Livewells become a highly personal matter for serious anglers. Options may even be dependent on the where the builder finds their primary market, or where you ultimately buy the boat. 

“Our [Skeeter] 2550 comes standard with a 50-gallon livewell in the leaning post,” Currey says. “In South Florida, anglers always appreciate that, but in Alabama and along the Gulf Coast—where it’s mostly a dead-bait or jig fishery—they’d rather have a cooler.”

Another consideration is a head in the console compartment. A marine head system has its own maintenance demands, so as a prospective buyer, you should decide if it’s worth it. 

“Everybody wants a head in the console when they are shopping,” one builder remarked. “Most of them will use it just once. After the first time, they are through with it.” 

In any size boat, keeping the water out is the No. 1 job of any plumbing system, which includes overboard drainage. Self-bailing cockpits should be sufficiently guttered to drain water quickly and thoroughly through scuppers that exit the hull above the waterline when the boat is loaded and at rest. Belowdecks, check through-hull fittings. They should be as robust as possible, and bronze is the preferred material for critical fittings. 

All drainage lines should run straight, without sags, and all connections should be double-clamped for a margin of security.

Editor’s Tip: Whether your fishing requires nothing more than a crustacean well (to carry live shrimp or crabs and keep them lively and healthy for inshore pursuits) or demands a high-capacity or multiwell sea-chest-supplied system (for intensive live-baiting and chumming offshore or over reefs and wrecks), the time to make sure you have the system and setup you need is before you buy—so with the first launch, you’re ready to fish. 

Tech Considerations

Marine electronics are a veritable candy store for boat buyers and, as such, demand a realistic assessment of your genuine needs. 

Some manufacturers include an electronics package in the original build, while others leave it up to the buyer. 

Grady-White leaves the electronics suite to the buyer and dealer. 

 “Some of our dealers prefer particular brands,” Tubaugh says. “As well, each coastal area has its own little tweaks when it comes to the preferred electronics. We make sure they have plenty of space to work with.”

Skeeter, on the other hand, takes an active role in supplying electronics. 

Case in point: “We offer dual transducers in our hulls: one transom mount for side and one through-hull for deep water,” Currey says.

Other than regional preferences, the size of the boat and the type of duty demanded of it are the best guidelines for wise choices in an electronics suite.

“We see a mix of products installed, based on how people will use their boat,” Ammons says. 

If you are fishing or cruising mostly inshore, don’t probably don’t need radar. And for the chart plotter and sounder, a single screen may be enough. Offshore, you might want VHF radio or an autopilot; the things you would seldom see and rarely need inshore.

Bridging the categories of electronics and fishing accessories, anchoring systems—such as Talon or Power-Pole—and trolling motors go hand in hand in most bay boats and some hybrids. 

Trolling motors now often include a GPS link, which allows you to follow a predetermined course or depth contour, or hold in place, with a push-button anchoring function. 

Functionality is often integrated with the suite at the helm.

“Younger buyers expect instantaneous action,” Ammons says. “It’s the way we are on our computers, on mobile devices, and there’s no reason to expect any less from our boats.” 

Again, it’s important to select and install these accessories based on how you’ll use your boat. 

“We mount our trolling motor on a slide,” Currey says, “which allows you to pull the head and the gear case inside the outline of the hull, which prevents it from getting beat up when docking or tied up when you go to a restaurant.” 

In lieu of a factory installation, an important consideration is a boat ready to have the accessories installed. 

“For trolling-motor and anchoring systems, we supply a prep package—prewired and supplied with mounts—then let the dealer make the installation,” Tubaugh says. 

Get Up and Go

The original bay-boat configuration featured a single outboard, but not all builders conform. Especially in offshore-oriented hybrids, twin outboards are not unusual. 

Long passed are the days when a second engine was a necessary backup. Reliability is seldom an issue, but twice the maintenance may be a deterrent. 

“We’re accustomed to putting the most amount of fuel capacity possible in our bay boats,” Currey says. “We know the customers for those—just like our bass-boat customers—are anglers, and they are going to burn fuel.” 

Grady-White is well-attuned to the fuel needs, Tubaugh says. “Our 251 CE carries 78 gallons of fuel. That’s not a small tank. All of our fuel considerations are in line with our offshore models.” 

Editor’s Tip: Newcomers to boating, as well as experienced, discerning hands, find the bay-boat model an ideal choice. In 2019, first-time outboard-boat buyers represented 9 percent of total outboard-boat sales. In 2020, that number rose to 22 percent, a 144 percent increase, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

Bay-Boat ­Quality Checklist

This 10-point checklist is a good start on quality. If they have these points right, what you can’t see is likely also done well.

1. Scuppers are positioned in lowest points on the sole and well above the water line, so water doesn’t back flow into the boat.

2. Wiring is logical and easy to trace, and wires are labeled at each end within 6 inches of the terminals.

3. Helm station wide enough to offer protection for two behind the windshield

4. Steps to the forward deck ease access and knee strain. 

5. Livewells have ­redundant pumps, strainers and ­seacocks that can be easily shut off in an emergency.

6. All hatch lids are gasketed and guttered to keep water out of compartments. Gutters drain overboard, not to the bilge.

7. Deck plates give access to fuel-tank sending units for needed service, tanks are ­beneath removable deck panels for future replacement.

8. Decks molded with diamond-plate nonskid are superior to other surfaces.

9. Rub rails should have stainless-steel rims for durability and utility.

10. Cup holders and casting-deck-chair sockets should be plumbed to drain overboard or to the deck, not the bilge.

The post 2022 Boat Buyers Guide: Bay Boats appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Skeeter has expanded its SX series of bay boats with the new SX2350, bringing the number of models in this line of serious fishing machines to seven. At 22 feet, 9 inches length overall, this bay boat boasts a 250 hp rating and a layout with easy bilge access and twin rear-deck 20-gallon livewells. The center console features a recessed battery compartment and a 14-gallon livewell resides under the forward console seat.

Storage Aplenty

The Skeeter SX2350 offers abundant storage under the spacious forward casting deck. This includes two rod lockers on each side of the deck, as well as a central dry storage locker. An insulated fish box lies below the main deck just forward of the console. The SX2350 also features nine vertical rod holders. To supplement the leaning-post helm seat, a rear jump seat with a backrest folds out from the aft casting deck. 

Command Center

The helm aboard the Skeeter SX2350 features a wide dash panel that easily accommodates a flush-mounted 12-inch multifunction display. SeaStar hydraulic steering with a tilt-and-lock helm comes standard. There’s also a footrest to brace yourself while underway.

A removable, clear acrylic windshield reduces the height of the boat to facilitate garage storage. A portside companionway offers access to the console interior, helm rigging, batteries and more storage for gear. Skeeter also provides a variety of T-top and tower options.

Power Play

Outboard power options for the Skeeter SX2350 range from a Yamaha F200 to a Yamaha 250 VMax SHO. You can order this bay boat equipped with an optional 12-inch hydraulic jackplate for greater shallow-water capabilities and performance.

Read Next: Skeeter SX 2250 Review

Other options include 8- and 10-foot Minn Kota Raptor shallow-water anchors and a Minn Kota 36-volt Terrova or Ulterra Riptide bow trolling motor for precise positioning while fishing for species such as redfish and tarpon. 

The base MSRP for the Skeeter SX2350 with a Yamaha 250 VMax SHO outboard and Skeeter Built tandem-axle aluminum trailer is $72,684.

The post Skeeter SX2350 First Glance appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

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

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

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

Multi-Role Machine

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

Roomy, Protected Helm

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

Room to Relax

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

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

Beaucoup Bait

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

Read Next: Robalo 226 Cayman First Glance

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

Specifications

The post Robalo R266 Cayman First Glance appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

At first glance, the new 250 Dauntless from Boston Whaler seemed too pretty to fish, too comfortable, too dandy to get bloody. With all the fine day-boating features, its fishing armaments are nearly concealed, like a professional gambler’s pearl-handled derringer. Never assume this Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless is unarmed.

Whaler had powered my test boat with a Mercury 250 hp V-8 outboard that pushed it to a top speed of 51.9 mph. If it wasn’t propped for speed, it was definitely propped for the hole shot, coming on plane in 2.6 seconds. Anglers with a big crew or fishing skinny water will appreciate that quick acceleration. But Whaler built this boat for more than just bay fishing. With its 25 feet of running surface and that renowned unsinkable status, the 250 Dauntless undoubtedly will find its way offshore.

Serious anglers will appreciate the ample 35-gallon livewell with its blue painted interior, lighted for night fishing. It is hidden beneath a hatch flush in the center of the aft casting deck and flanked by stowaway seats also tucked beneath flush-mounted hatches. For even more casting room, Whaler placed the boarding ladder in the extended aft casting deck and, you guessed it, tucked beneath a flush hatch on the starboard side. The port side hatch provides access to the battery, battery switch, fuse block, pumps and other rigging elements in bilge.

Whaler also thoughtfully engineered the rod holder placements. One pair flanks the leaning post and two additional pairs are set in the aft deck, one pair per side. They could be used for shotgun rods or flat lines. Even the leaning post features six rod holders in the sleek pod and beneath them, I found space for utility boxes, tools and gear.

The gracious nature of the Dauntless’ cruising features conceals all those fishing armaments. The double lounge molded into the forward console is a luxury first in a fishing boat of this size. Underneath the lounge, I found more rod stowage. Passage between that and the casting deck is generous.

Read Next: Boston Whaler 240 Dauntless Pro Boat Test

Remove all the cushions, and your step up to the deck is comfortable, with secure footing, thanks to its non-skid surface. Backrests fold up from under the bow deck cushions, making for a pair of forward-facing lounges. Grab rails recessed into the gunwales provide safety for the seated (there are grab rails for the aft jump seats, too). Storage and an insulated cooler beneath keep the crew organized and refreshed.

And the captain gets a dual, thickly bolstered and upholstered leaning post seat that offers ergonomic comfort seated or standing behind the generously sized helm station and beneath the optional hard top. Combine all this with Whaler’s reputation for unsinkability, and you have a boat that each family member can truly enjoy.

Hull Specs

LOA: 24 ft. 9 in. (on centerline)

Beam: 8 ft. 6 in.

Transom Deadrise: 18 deg. Draft: 1 ft. 3 in. Dry Weight: 4,740 lb. w/engine

Fuel: 90 gal.

Max HP: 400 hp

Price: $128,153 (w/ engine, hardtop and side color)

Performance

Engine: Mercury 250 hp V-8

Load: Two adults, 80 gallons of fuel

Time to 30 mph: 6.2 sec.

Top Speed: 51.9 mph @ 5,900 rpm

Best MPG: 3.2 mpg @ 22.4 mph (3,500 rpm)

Boston Whaler

Edgewater, Florida

The post Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless Boat Review appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

I’m not surprised that one of the leaders in the bay-boat market — Pathfinder Boats — would bring its expertise to a larger edition capable of not only fishing inshore waters, but plenty of offshore situations with ease. The all-new 2700 would be ideal for Gulf of Mexico redfish and trout anglers and New England fluke, striped bass, and bluefish anglers, not to mention fishermen who ply the Chesapeake, Barnegat, Little Egg and Great bays, and those in Long Island Sound, Cape Cod and the Carolinas.

The 2700 features a comfortable-riding, twin-stepped V-bottom with higher freeboard than a typical bay boat. This hybrid comes with a hydraulic jackplate and trim tabs, and my test boat — powered with a single Yamaha F300 — featured the new Yamaha digital electric steering, which gave it a racy, technical feel. It turned without sliding while being fully trimmed for the optimal ride in a chop. Drifting beam to the wind, I felt no ill effects; the boat remained stable with little roll.

Read Next: Pathfinder 2700 Open First Glance

Pathfinder placed a 43-gallon livewell in the fully molded leaning post, and a 22-gallon tank lies on centerline in the transom. A nearly full-beam fish box drains overboard.

Under the gunwales, the 2700 can carry everything from fly rods to medium-heavy conventionals. I found a multitude of vertical rod holders for switching gear in a hurry.

The forward raised casting platform offers plenty of open fishing space for plugging topwater, jigging or bottomfishing. Ahead of the console lies a removable cooler seat.

The well-laid-out helm face accommodates a pair of 12-inch or a single 16-inch display. The binnacle and switches lie within easy reach.

But the thing that really gets my attention is the quality of the 2700′s construction. Pathfinder has mastered the vacuum-infusion process (with a proprietary system called VARIS), which turns out very clean, strong, precise fitted parts making for a well-engineered, tough, honest boat.

Hull Specs

LOA: 27 ft.

Beam: 9 ft. 4 in.

Transom Deadrise: 18 deg.

Draft: 1 ft. 5 in.

Dry Weight: 4,934 lb. w/ Yamaha 425 XTO

Fuel: 95 gal. (additional 31 gal. optional)

Max HP: 450 hp

Base Price: $136,784 w/ Yamaha 425 XTO

Performance

Engine: Yamaha 300 XCA

Load: half fuel, two crew, minimal gear

Time to 30 mph: 7 sec.

Top Speed: 52.1 mph @6,000 rpm

Best MPG: 3.09 mpg @27.2 mph (3,500 rpm)

Maverick Boat Group

Fort Pierce, Florida

888-SHALLOW

pathfinderboats.com

The post Pathfinder 2700 Boat Review appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.