Author: Lenny Rudow

The Sailfish 270 CC is primed and ready for bay, coastal, and oceanic action. It’s no secret that center console fishing boats rule the roost when it comes to outboard-powered saltwater fishing machines, but naturally, there’s a huge difference between casting light tackle in a bay, trolling off the beach, and making long runs to blue water hotspots – so center consoles that can do all of these things, like the Sailfish 270 CC, are incredibly popular. True, when you make those long offshore runs you’d be more comfortable in a big convertible. Yes, ideally, you’d also own a mid-sized…

The Mako Pro Skiff 190 CC is an ideal choice for light tackle anglers on a budget. Shop the market for a new center console fishing boat and you’ll see some rather mind-blowing price tags. Sure, there was a time when you could buy a decent if small fishing machine for less than the average price of a new car. But that time is long gone, right? For the most part it certainly seems so – until you run across a boat like the Mako Pro Skiff 19 CC, which shakes out at $24,390 for a complete package with a 115-hp…

Before you lay down your hard-earned cash for a new boat, be sure to check for these 10 signs of quality boat construction. Whether you’re looking at a small center console like a 15-foot Whaler, a mid-sized boat like a Defiance or a big center console yacht like the Grady-White Canyon 456, one thing is for sure: you want to make sure you buy a high-quality boat. And while some things are easy to assess with your eyes, other aspects of boat construction often go unnoticed. You want to be dang sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck? Then…

Which is the best fishing boat design: the center console, the convertible, or could it be the express? Let the debate rage on. We all know that different boat designs are better or worse for different anglers depending on a myriad of variables, so it’s no wonder that there’s an ever-present debate over which is the best: center consoles, convertibles, or express boats. The right way to frame that debate is not to ask which is “best,” however, but to ask which is best for you and your specific needs. And whatever type of angler you might be, there’s a…

Modern technology can keep your boat safe, secure, and easy to check on – no matter where you may be.  It’s a great era for boat security. Many people don’t think of the marine industry as a place where tech thrives, but truth be told, when you consider advancements like digital switching systems on boats, the latest in marine electronics, and new outboard technology, it becomes clear that our watery world is evolving technologically at quite a rapid pace. One-way tech is playing a bigger and bigger role: boat monitoring and boat security. That’s a good thing, because unfortunately, boat…

If you’re running on the stock prop that came with your boat, trying a new prop may gain you some speed and/or efficiency. Your propeller is a critical element of your fishing boat, the element that turns your engine’s power into thrust, thus moving your boat through the water – which is why props earned an entire section in our Spring Boat Checklist, and why ultimately the propeller you choose has a huge impact on your boat’s performance. Wait a sec – you did choose your prop, didn’t you? We certainly hope so, though we also doubt it. Unfortunately, the…

You like fishing from bay boats but you also like fishing blue water? Meet the Everglades 273cc. While it may be true that the center console design is the undisputed champion of outboard-powered fishing boats, there’s an argument to be made for the superiority of bay boats versus blue water designs. Naturally, which side of that argument you come down on depends on where and how you do your fishing; those of us who enjoy prowling around docks and passes for snook will most likely tilt towards bay boats, while die-hard offshore aficionados are going to lean the other way.…

Best Convertible Fishing Boats When it comes to serious offshore sportfishing, the convertible is a tough design to beat – if that convertible has what it takes to be a hard-core fishing machine. We love center console fishing boats, outboard engines, express boats, and walkarounds, but if you fish purely offshore and have a budget that can handle the expense, a convertible sportfishing machine probably going to be your boat of choice. Convertibles have the beef to keep you as safe and comfortable as possible in big seas, their rumbling inboard diesels are excellent at raising fish, and their large…

If you want a center console that can run with the big dogs while placing you squarely in the lap of luxury, the Scout 420 LXF is a must-see model. There was a time when center console fishing boats were all about blood, guts, and glory, but boats like the Scout 420 LXF take things a step farther. Actually, this quadruple-outboard, 16,800-pound, high-tech center console yacht takes several steps beyond what most people think of, when they imagine today’s fishing boats. Powerful Pleasure Those of you with sharp eyes and a solid background in boats may have raised an eyebrow at…

Ever since the first Seven Marine outboards hit the water at the 2012 Miami International Boat Show, these monstrous engines have been causing American boaters to crave more power. Based on the supercharged and intercooled GM LSA Gen4 6.2 liter V8 developed for the Cadillac CTS-V, to call these outboards “unusual” may be the understatement of the year. Seven Marine Background This company may have seemed to pop up out of nowhere, but it was actually founded by industry long-timer Rick Davis (along with his sons Eric and Brian), a former Mercury Marine chief of technology. After initially testing the…

The Viking 37 Billfish may be one of the smallest new convertibles around, but it’s an eminently capable sportfishing machine. Whether you’re following the Bisbee Offshore, checking out the results of the Los Suenos Signature Triple Crown, or reading up on the Blue Marlin World Cup, you’re going to notice one common thread: quite often, there are Viking sportfishing yachts dominating the fleet. Vikings commonly make up more of the competitors that any other single production-built or semi-custom boat, and they show up in the winner’s column with great regularity. When it comes to convertible sportfishing machines, as a brand…

Though few will remember, the first fishfinder to claim 3D visual abilities was introduced to the market in the early 90s. We all know that marine electronics evolve at a break-neck pace, but in this case of relatively old tech the capabilities were very limited, the utility was low, and in truth it seemed more like a marketing gimmick than a useful tool. Fast-forward a quarter of a century, and the market is literally being flooded by new-tech 3D fishfinding units. Are these things for real, or are they just newer, fancier-looking gimmicks? Will they help you find and catch more…

There’s no doubt that the hardest of the hard-cores who prefer outboard power will almost always favor center consoles fishing boats, but for many anglers, buying a dual console makes a lot more sense. This design retains 90 percent of the fishability of a center console, while gaining 30 or maybe even 40 percent of the family-friendliness cruisers and sportboats offer. And while we might hate giving up one single iota of fishing prowess, anyone who has a family knows this one truth: If mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy. A dual console can put a smile on the face of…

When Mercury Marine introduced its new FourStroke outboard engines the entire Mercury line-up took a major shift. Once dominated by the Mercury Verado, a supercharged 2.6 liter engine, the popular power sizes from 175 to 300 horsepower shifted to naturally aspirated V6 and V8 models. Just two of the original Mercury Verados remain: the 350 and the 400R (sold under the Mercury Racing banner), power levels that the new outboards simply couldn’t obtain. Don’t be confused: Mercury is recycling the Verado label with its 250 and 300 horsepower models, so you’ll still see the Verado name, but these are not…

It’s often said that every design element of a fishing boat has trade-offs, and that’s true whether you’re talking about a monstrous offshore center console like the Grady-White Canyon 456, or a svelte little fishboat like the Boston Whaler 230 Outrage. Neither of these boats, however, incorporates a design element that’s become quite popular in recent years: hull steps. Understanding Stepped Hulls Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation out there about exactly what a step is and how it works. For starters, a notch carved into the side of a hull is not a step, even though you will see…

Suzuki V6 outboards have some impressive offerings for both offshore and inshore fishing boats. The 4.4 liter V6 Suzuki DF350A 4-stroke outboard grabbed a lot of headlines when it was introduced a couple years ago, but that powerhouse – the biggest Suzuki outboard ever produced – isn’t the only V6 in their line-up. Far from it, in fact. Suzuki has two more V6 platforms, producing from 225 to 300 horses. The next-biggest model in the line-up is the DF300AP, which tips the scales at 639-pounds with a 25-inch shaft. That means it shaves down 88-pounds, as compared to the DF350A. Displacement is…

The Key West 263 FS is just small enough for light tackle, just big enough for offshore, and just affordable enough for a dedicated American angler. Two or three casts is all we get before the frenzy ends and the uninhibited carnage momentarily ceases, but running and gunning each time the surface erupts is one heck of a fun way to go plugging for stripers and on at least half of those casts a fish explodes on someone’s lure. We spend three hours chasing the bite in Eastern Bay during our sea trial on the new Key West 263 FS and…

The Yamaha V6 outboards, covering from 225 to 300 horsepower, are some of the most popular powerplants on the market – and with good reason. Whether you’re walking the docks at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, walking the floor at the Fred Hall Show or just walking through a marina, you’ll notice that there are Yamaha V6 4.2L outboards all over the dang place. You’ll see 20-something center consoles with single F225s, bigger boats with twin F250s, and some bigger still with F300s. There engines are so prevalent it begs the question: Could the Yamaha V6 4.2 Liter four-strokes be…

You wish there was a fishboat that could handle SoCal tuna fishing, daytime sword fishing in the Florida Keys, and everything in between? One that can keep you dry in a downpour, and warm on chilly mornings? A boat with a wide-open cockpit, the ability to handle rugged sea conditions, and a full complement of fishing armaments?  Take a gander at the Parker 2820 XLD Sport Cabin – and do your best not to drool all over the place, will ya? We’ll stipulate right up front that the sport cabin design isn’t the first choice of every angler under the sun.…

Which is the better boat building material, aluminum or fiberglass? Aluminum VS. Fiberglass Get a snook sharpie from Florida, a walleye angler from Minnesota, a salmon guy from Alaska, and an offshore aficionado from New Jersey, then put them all in a locked room and pose the question: which are better, aluminum boats or fiberglass boats? You’d better stand clear, because the discussion might get a bit sporty. If, however, heads remain calm and people remain open minded (as though that were still possible in this day and age), everyone would probably agree on one thing – the one only…

Whether you’re talking speed, seaworthiness, or fishability, topping the Freeman 42LR is going to be tough. Very tough. The Freeman 42LR is very, very different from most of the center console fishing boats we’ve seen eclipsing the 40-foot mark in the past few years. Sure, many of those CCs offer excellent performance and plenty of fishing features. But most of them are yachts, just as much as they’re fishing machines. The Grady-White Canyon 456 is an excellent example – it’s one massive, beautiful, luxurious boat. But it also gives up quite a bit of fishable deck space in favor of a huge…

Several builders of high-end fishing boats now incorporate digital switching systems as standard fare, but there remains some argument as whether this is a good thing, or not. Fishermen can be ever so slightly opinionated and even argumentative on extremely rare occasions (no way), which we think is pretty evident if you spend any amount of time in a tackle shop, at a marina, or on the BDOutdoors forums. Anglers can also be quite traditionalist in their ways of thinking, and resistant to change. So it’s little wonder that new tech incorporated into fishing boats sometimes faces a bit of…

Mercury FourStroke – Mercury V6 Fourstroke Review It was just a few years ago that Mercury Marine introduced some eyebrow-raising engines like the 400R outboard and the Optimax diesel, yet their 2018 introductions are even more surprising: an entire new line of Mercury FourStroke outboards. We’re not just talking about one new block. At the Miami International Boat Show in February, Mercury rolled out 175, 200, and 225 horsepower V6 engines. Then just a few short months later, they dropped the curtain on an all-new V8, available in 250 and 300 horse models. Naturally Aspirated Outboards Unlike Mercury’s Verado line these…

The best center console fishing boats share a few prerequisite qualities like rugged construction, good seakeeping abilities, and strong performance – all of which will be found in the Boston Whaler 230 Outrage. Unfortunately, fishing boats also commonly share a few intrinsic inconveniences, like Spartan seating and a tendency to devalue faster than a Ming vase in mid-air – neither of which are issues on the 230 Outrage. Buoyant Attitude The first and most important trait to know about the Boston Whaler 230 Outrage, and any Boston Whaler for that matter, is the fact that their famous claims of unsinkability are…