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Everglades Boats‘ new 285cc is built with the company’s unsinkable RAMCAP variable-deadrise deep-V hull for high durability, top performance and superb fishability. With twin Yamaha F300 outboards and a 200-gallon fuel capacity, the 285cc offers a range of more than 312 miles while cruising at 30.1 mph. This model is available with the optional Yamaha Helm Master EX joystick system, which boasts a host of features that boost its fishing and cruising capabilities and simplify docking in tight quarters. Standard features include an exclusive rotating helm/mezzanine seat that Everglades first introduced on its 235cc, and a hardtop with a three-sided windshield and six rod holders. Other amenities include a 25-gallon transom livewell, an insulated transom cooler, and a leaning post with a rigging surface and tackle storage. A spacious bow with upholstered lounges and recessed in-deck storage quickly converts into an immense casting deck or spacious sun pad. This model also offers Garmin digital switching. A Seakeeper 1 gyrostabilizer can be added for greater comfort in rough seas.

Everglades Boats – evergladesboats.com

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Everglades—a leader in the development of the center-console fishing boat for decades, and the builder of fine dual-console and bay boats—offers  best-in-class fishing amenities, refined fit-and-finish, and unmatched hull performance. Everglades’ patented, closed-molded RAMCAP construction features a precisely molded high-density, closed-cell structural foam block that fits perfectly between hull and liner, creating a rigid one-piece construction that provides a stable ride and superior handling. Unsinkable Everglades hulls carry a lifetime warranty.

Everglades 285cc

Everglades’ new 285 Center Console is a bluewater-ready, family-friendly fishing boat. 

Dual helm seats rotate into mezzanine seating, facing two folding transom bench seats to create a social zone aft. The versatile bow offers a bow casting platform, sun pad with filler cushions, or bow table.  The console, beneath its integrated fiberglass hardtop, has a patented sliding tempered-glass windshield; within the console is a fully furnished head compartment.

Boosting fishability are full coaming bolsters and a 25-gallon insulated circulating livewell. Forward is a 60-gallon in-deck fish box with macerator pump-out. The transom contains a 35-gallon fish box, and 11 rod holders line the gunwale, plus four combination rod/cup holders. The leaning post has a rigging surface and tackle-tray storage; rod and storage racks beneath gunwales stretch 8 feet long. 

A Gemlux outrigger package is an option, as is a second livewell. Other options include a Seakeeper 1 gyroscopic stabilizer and an automatic engine-flushing system.

Standard power is a pair of Yamaha 300 hp outboards with digital electric steering and several Yamaha Helm Master and other control options.

Manufacturer’s Remark

The 285cc offers an exciting combination of innovative features, performance, fishability and comfort.

Performance Data

• Test Power: Twin Yamaha F300HP
• Test Props: 19″ x 15 1⁄4″ Yamaha HP SSII
• Test Load: 135 gal. fuel, 20 gal. water, Seakeeper SK1, and 810 lb. gear and people
• Test Speed: 55.4 mph at 5,800 rpm (WOT)
• Max Range: 312 miles at 30.1 mph, 3,500 rpm

Specs

Editor Says

Luxurious upholstery and teak accents give this fishing boat a yachtlike feel. There’s also plenty of comfortable seating to go around, with full-beam retractable seats that disappear quickly to provide plenty of fish-fighting space. -Joe Albanese, Executive Editor Salt Water Sportsman

More Info

evergladesboats.com

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Not that long ago, if you told me that I could run to the canyons on a 45-foot center-console with four outboards totaling 1,700 hp, I would have taken away your car keys. Today, however, big center-console models launch with increasing regularity. Even so, the Everglades 455cc stands out.

With its sweet ride, plush layout, and extreme fishability, this 45-footer is one serious sled.

Let’s start with the 40 rod holders on board, which let you equip the boat for a variety of fishing situations and always have a rod at the ready nearby.

With its high freeboard, single-level deck, and wide passageways on both sides of the console, the Everglades is truly a 360-degree fishing boat, ­easily traversed from stem to stern while following a hooked fish. Aluminum toe rails keep you secure when battling a sounding pelagic or stubborn bottomfish along the gunwales, and there’s ­always a handhold in close proximity.

The 455cc boasts two 50-gallon livewells, both pressurized, recirculating, and with clear acrylic lids to easily keep tabs on your live bait supply. To keep your catch on ice, there are several ­insulated fish boxes—a 75- and a 40-gallon in the transom, two 22-­gallon wells in the main cockpit sole, and a 120-gallon one forward of the console. A built-in bait-prep station and tackle storage allow you to carry essential gear and tools, and rig up at the dock or out on the water.

A pair of 22-foot Gemlux outriggers let you troll a considerable spread, and port and starboard side doors in the main cockpit make it a cinch to bring in gaffed fish from both sides. The hardtop features a second helm station accessed via a ladder aft of the helm seats.

The helm setup features two-row seating accommodating the captain along with five crew. The forward row has three independent seats with flip-up bolsters and fold-down armrests, as well as footrests, so everyone can sit or stand on the way to and from the fishing. Three more independent seats ­reside just behind, so all get to cruise in comfort.

Equally impressive, the dash allows for vertically flush-mounting 22-inch multifunction displays, so everything from navigation and radar to sonar and the ship’s systems can be viewed easily.

In addition, the custom Garmin ­digital-switching system makes for seamless transition between functions, and pretty much everything on the boat can be controlled via touchscreen. The Garmin system can even be programmed to turn off and restart the livewell pumps every few minutes to prevent air lock.

Out on the water during our test, I noted how effortlessly the 455cc climbs onto plane, with no discernible squatting to impede the visibility at the helm during takeoff.

Yamaha designed its 425 XTO outboards for applications just like this, and the quad setup pushed the Everglades to a top speed of ­nearly 60 mph, quite impressive for a 28,000-pound boat.

With only three of the Yamahas fired up, the boat jumped on plane in about 5 seconds and reached 47.5 mph. And with just two of the engines, we were still able to plane in about 15 seconds and run at a decent clip of 23.3 mph.

With its RAMCAP close-molded and foam-filled construction, the “unsinkable” Bob Dougherty heritage is evident in the 455cc. The light chop we encountered during our test was ­practically unnoticeable, and no matter how much of a sea state we tried to manufacture by running in tight circles, we simply could not get the boat to register a concerning shutter or rattle. The big Everglades felt like a boat that would be right at home both crossing the Gulf Stream and island hopping or running out to fish the canyons.
With all the creature comforts and conveniences, long-distance trips or overnights would be no sweat.

Read Next: Fishability Test: Everglades 235 CC

Considering the aforementioned helm seats, flip-down transom benches and aft-facing cockpit seats, places to kick back and rest abound. There’s a sun lounge forward of the console, as well as removable cushions and ­f­orward-facing backrests in the U-shaped bow area.

Belowdecks, the ­cabin has 6 feet, 10 ­inches of maximum ­headroom and a surprising amount of space to stretch out inside. There’s ­also a ­functional galley and an enclosed head with a separate stand-up shower.

All said and done, the Everglades 455cc proved to be the real deal, a ­mega-center-console that is every bit as plush as it is fishable.

After spending time on the boat, saying that out loud doesn’t sound remotely crazy.

Test Conditions

• Weather: Sunny, 75 degrees
• Location: Bayshore, New York
• Wind: Southeast 10 mph Sea State: Light chop Test Load: Two adults, 342 gallons of fuel, 50 gallons of water

Specifications

Everglades Boats – evergladesboats.com

The post Everglades 455cc Fishability Test appeared first on Salt Water Sportsman.

Everglades crafts offshore center-console and dual-console boats the company describes as “engineered from pure fishing DNA for hardcore deepwater fishing,” as well as a three-model line of bay boats.

On its offshore boats, quality outrigger hardware handles rough conditions and hardtop-mounted kingfish rod holders are fabricated in-house to handle heavy hauls. Rod holders drain overboard or to the deck, not the bilge, and are placed out of traffic lanes, offset for easy livewell and fish-box access. 

Everglades 455CC

The biggest flagship in its 20-year history, Everglades calls its 455CC “first and foremost a hardcore, unapologetic offshore fishing machine.”

On its single-level deck are the company’s first-ever in-floor fish boxes, complementing transom-mounted boxes and livewells. Coaming pads wrap the entire boat. Gear drawers are strategically placed, and rod holders—40 in all—are conveniently arranged throughout. 

Though the boat is fishing-focused, the luxurious cabin invites overnight and weekend stays with a king-size berth, galley facilities, and a separate head with an enclosed shower.

At the massive helm, three 22-inch Garmin touchscreens convey the status of control and informational systems through a proprietary system on which the two companies collaborated. 

The captain and front-row companions perch on Release Marine teak ladder-back helm seats, mounted on Shox Traxs bases. A second row of forward-facing Release seats has its own pair of Garmin monitors. Three mezzanine seats face aft, toward a three-section, 12-foot-wide transom foldout bench. 

Air conditioning insures comfort at the helm, mezzanine seats and in the cabin. A Seakeeper 6 is standard.

Options include a full upper station, a two-position transom rigging station, a bow thruster, electronics upgrades and SeaDek flooring. 

Manufacturer’s Remark

The 455 is another example of Everglades’ commitment to making the most refined fishing boats in the world.

Performance Data

• Test Power: Quad Yamaha 425 hp XTO
• Test Props: 21Y 16 3/8″ XTO OS
• Test Load: 30,800 lb.
• Test Speed: 59.2 mph @ 6,000 rpm (WOT)
• Max Range: 363 mi. @ 41.1 mph, 4,500 rpm 

Specs

Editor Says

Everglades Ramcap construction runs all through its offshore line, and the 455CC is no exception, making it the largest unsinkable, level-flotation center-console on the water. The ride is smooth and the handling crisp. Adding Helm Master Ex makes the experience more exciting and easier to handle. – Randy Vance, Editor-at-Large, Boating and Fishing Group

More Info

evergladesboats.com

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Everglades has built its reputation on unsinkable RAMCAP construction, a process that begins with high-density, structurally durable, foam modules molded under pressure and shaped to fit snugly between the hull and liner. The blocks are bonded to the hull, providing unsinkable flotation, while the rigid, noncompressible foam adds structural rigidity.

During our test in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, the 235 was solid in the wind-swept chop of the Indian River, even when crossing wakes of larger vessels traversing the Intracoastal Waterway. With the Yamaha F300 powering us, our test boat reached a top speed of 46 mph at 5,800 rpm.

At rest, the 8-foot-6-inch beam provides the stability to step from gunwale to gunwale while following a hooked fish or keeping an eye on passing dolphins. The boat’s deep-V and 19-degree deadrise help tame a chop and modest seas, making for comfortable nearshore and offshore forays. The 15-inch draft, however, enables the pursuit of inshore species such as redfish, seatrout and snook on all but the shallowest flats.

Instead of a transom door, the 235 CC sports an inward-swinging portside door, which enabled the installation of a pair of dual seats/loungers that accommodate up to four on the transom. They fold up and away from the deck when fishing, serving as bolsters to brace against while fighting a fish from the roomy cockpit.

Anglers and cruisers alike will enjoy the swiveling, dual-seat leaning post. Flick a lever, and the seat pod swivels 180 degrees to face the transom loungers. Flick a latch, and out pops a footrest for added comfort.

There’s a jump seat on the front of the console, and stowable backrests on the forward seating enable converting either side of the sun pad to loungers. A removable table can be lowered to casting-deck level, affording extra fishing space for two anglers once the cushions are stowed.

A head compartment below the helm offers storage and privacy, both appreciated by all on a long day afloat. A deep compartment in the bow is ideal for carrying a cast-net bucket belowdecks. Storage under the bow seating is spacious, and it lets boat owners confirm that all rod and cup holders drain overboard, not into the bilge.

In fact, Everglades is fastidious about through-hull connections, double-clamping them and using sealant to ensure integrity and durability. The electrical work is as noteworthy as the plumbing. Everglades builds its own harnesses, ensuring reliability and resulting in a well-organized wiring setup that is easily traced from the circuit-breaker panel to every powered accessory on the dash. When servicing the panel is required, or navigation black boxes need firmware updates (some must be done to the box or back of the device), a large door opens within the head compartment for more generous elbow room.

While all of the above enhances fishability, it takes more fishing-specific amenities to please the serious angler. With that in mind, the Everglades 235 CC comes with rocket launchers for four rods on the leaning post, four more on the hardtop, a 17-gallon standard livewell—painted in calming blue and lighted for night fishing—with a clear acrylic lid to easily keep tabs on the live bait, plus a portside cooler in the transom, which can also be plumbed as an option.

The back of the helm seat has a rigging table that folds down, providing plenty of room to prepare tackle and bait. A large, four-drawer tackle cabinet is located to port of the helm seat.

On the starboard-side, there’s a similar cabinet that features slots for four utility boxes, another drawer and leader-spool racks. The bow can be wired independently for an electric trolling motor without interfering with the optional anchor windlass.

The center console is protected by a large hardtop, finished both on the bottom and top by sandwiching two sides and bonding them in the molding process.

Everglades integrates the hardtop as part of a super-structure that also includes the helm station, and leaves ample clearance for passage on each side of the console.

Touches with safety in mind include a molded grab rail on the top edge of the hardtop and additional thoughtfully placed grab rails, polished hardware and more.

The Everglades 235 CC is definitely fish-battle-ready, and if you score the pelagic of your dreams, don’t haul it over the gunwale. Instead, think of the boat’s boarding, portside door as a gateway for large tuna, wahoo or smoker kings.

Specifications

Length: 24′ | Beam: 8′6″ | Draft: 15″ | Fuel: 105 gal. | Weight: 5,600 lb. w/ power | Max HP: 300 | Price: $129,899 w/ Yamaha 300 | Everglades Boats: evergladesboats.com

Test Conditions

Weather: Clear, 85 degrees | Location: New Smyrna Beach, Florida | Wind: Southwest 10 mph | Sea State: Light chop | Test Load: Two adults, 25 gallons of fuel

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Unsinkable construction is one of the first things people ask for in an offshore center-console fishing boat. It’s at the core—pun intended—of an Everglades boat.

When Everglades came to market in 2001, with it came an award-winning Rapid Molded Core Assembly Process for crafting unsinkable one-piece, smooth-riding hulls.

Instead of filling hull voids with foam, Everglades molds its extremely dense, structural foam core first, and then bonds it to hull and deck. That, the company says, produces unexcelled safety and flotation and hull lines true to their engineering specs. Next come other components made in-house—console, hardtop, wiring harness—installed to yachtlike fit-and-finish.

Setting Everglades apart further are its hydraulic sliding tempered glass windshield and rotating leaning post—a comfortable helm seat facing forward, its back a secure leaning post when reversed.

Everglades 235 CC

Everglades refers to its new 235 Center Console as an “entry level” CC but proves that entry level, for fishing or cruising, can be at a high level indeed. With its RAMCAP hull and standard 300 hp Yamaha, the new 235 CC is ready for deepwater adventures well beyond shallow bays and intercostal waters.

Bow console seating is larger, more-contoured and richly detailed, with underseat insulated cooler storage—40 percent of center-console survey respondents call forward seating moderately or very important, and virtually everyone wants all the storage they can get. Twin seats with armrests are at the front of the console. Full beam retractable transom seating will please the 44 percent who require it.

The fiberglass hardtop has an integrated aluminum powder-coated support with molded handholds, LED and spreader lights, electronics box, four rod holders and a ski pylon. The head is enlarged.

Come fishing time, the 235 CC features a rigging station with tackle and tool storage and four rod holders. Six gunwale-mounted rod holders meet or exceed 68 percent of demands, with six more at the transom and four in the top. A standard portside door welcomes people and big fish.

Within the transom is a standard 17-gallon starboard circulating livewell—meeting 69 percent of respondents’ wishes—with a clear acrylic lid.

Survey Says: On Target

• Unsinkable, durable RAMCAP construction
• Structural foam is cast and then bonded to hull and deck
• Rod and tackle storage exceeds expectations for any boat in its class
• Rotating dual helm-seat swivel aft for mezzanine seating, also providing a leaning post for skipper

Owners Say

• Like the seating configuration at the helm and forward of the console
• Favorite feature: everything

Brand Says

• No compromise in materials or processes
• The timeless and true design leader in the “unsinkable” category

Reader Response

• “Great ride”

Specs

LOA: 24′

Beam: 8′6″

Fuel Capacity: 105 gal.

Dry Weight: 5,600 lb. plus power

Max HP: 300

Certifications: NMMA

More Info

evergladesboats.com

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A leader in premium offshore fishing boats, Everglades Boats was founded in 1999 by renowned marine engineer and marine industry entrepreneur Robert J. (Bob) Dougherty.

Dougherty’s company brought to market its award-winning Rapid Molded Core Assembly Process for making smooth–riding, one-piece unsinkable hulls, its foam core molded separately and then bonded to the boat’s hull and deck. (Unsinkable construction is the most valued boat attribute among our survey respondents.)

Each component of an Everglades boat—including console, hardtop and wiring harness—is handmade in-house, subjected to rigorous quality-assurance testing, and only then installed to Everglades’ demanding fit and finish standards.

Distinctive Everglades touches include sliding console windshields, and adjustable helm seats that serve as either seats or comfortable leaning cushions.

Everglades has received numerous industry awards, and has a reputation for superior safety, performance and quality of its variable-deadrise deep-V hulls.

Everglades 395 CC

Everglades’ new 395 Center Console is designed for those looking for something larger than the company’s 365 CC but not as robust as the 435 CC.

Packed with creature comforts, the 395 CC has standard mezzanine seating and full-beam-width folding transom seating, finished flooring within the opulent cabin, and an interior dining area that transforms into an oversize sleeping area. Air conditioning, TV and more are standard.

At the console is Everglades’ patented hydraulic sliding windshield, with tempered glass and built-in washer/wiper; an electronics mounting area ready for 16-inch flush-mounted displays; and, a first for a production boat manufacturer, Garmin’s digital switching system with touchscreen control.

Supremely fishing-friendly, the 395 CC comes standard with a single-level cockpit; two insulated fish boxes (112-gallon in-deck, 75-gallon in transom); two pressurized livewells (40 gallons each—together exceeding expectations of 63 percent of offshore CC survey respondents); undergunwale power ports; 39 total rod holders (also overdelivering on what our survey respondents require), with forward in-gunwale lighted rod-storage compartments; and outrigger quick-cam cleats. LED courtesy, cockpit, underwater and storage lights abound.

Survey Says: On Target

⋅Unsinkable Ramcap construction

⋅Tackle storage above expectations

⋅Raw-water and freshwater washdown

Owners Say

⋅Great riding boat both inshore and offshore

⋅Quality and ride

Brand Says

⋅A meticulously outfitted fishing machine

⋅Best-in-class fishing features and design

More Info: evergladesboats.com

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Leading Florida builder Everglades Boats hit it out of the ballpark with its 243CC, a hybrid inshore/offshore model that soon became a big seller. With the launch of the new 273CC, it now offers many of the same attributes on a larger, more seaworthy platform, with a skinny 18-inch draft and upgrades sure to tickle every die-hard angler’s fancy.

Hop aboard and you immediately recognize this boat is designed and equipped for serious fishing. For starters, the forward seating configuration allows unobstructed passage to the bow, where a crew member can easily climb to net bait from a higher, unobstructed vantage point, and where an anchor locker complete with windlass and generous space for rode hides.

Underneath the forward seating, lockable storage incorporates racks capable of cradling as many as eight rods to port and another eight to starboard. Just a step back you find an 82-gallon in-floor fish box to hold the day’s catch, and under the forward console seat is a 97-quart cooler to keep drinks and snacks chilled. With a substantial 45-quart cooler aft, however, the larger one can easily be used as additional dry storage. Twin hatches provide immediate access to gear stowed inside sizable gunwale compartments, while horizontal racks, slightly farther down the gunwales, hold three rod-and-reel combos on both sides of the ­cockpit, which spans 108 square feet and includes fresh- and raw-water spigots under the covering boards.

Rod storage is augmented by four combination rod/cup holders flush-mounted on the covering boards and four rod tubes welded to the powder-coated frame of the hardtop, which comes with an electronics box, spreader lights, canvas life-jacket storage and LED lighting, and is designed to fit as an integral part of the center console, with an innovative hydraulic sliding tempered-glass windshield that lowers with the push of a button whenever extra ventilation is desired.

A Ritchie compass sits atop the ­console, and twin waterproof switch panels and a digital multifunction gauge between them line the top edge of the dash, leaving ample real estate for a pair of 16-inch displays, Fusion stereo and more. The steering wheel and controls are mounted on a lower level, along with accessory power and USB charging ports, trim-tab switches and position indicator, and the ­Optimus 360 electronic power steering for pinpoint maneuvering and easy docking.

Bolster seats for the skipper and a companion are nestled in a ­helm-seating module, the aft-facing side of which houses a nifty tackle-storage and bait-prep center, complete with a sink with pull-out sprayer to port and a lighted 31-gallon livewell with clear lid and friction hinges to starboard, where a hatch shields four large tackle trays from the elements, and perforations on the counter’s edge hold up to seven hooks or lures for ­rigging or quick changes of terminal tackle. With an eye on safety, ­Everglades also placed dual fire extinguishers in recessed niches on both sides of the module, where they remain at arm’s length but snag-proof. For added comfort and convenience, coaming pads run the length of both gunwales, removable backrests complement the seating up front, a china-bowl head with macerator and holding tank sits inside the console, additional power ports are strategically located at the bow and the stern, and there’s a retractable boarding ladder with grab rail at the transom for anyone wishing to take a dip.

Folding stern seats let a pair of crew members take a load off on the way to and from the fishing grounds, and quickly stow away by simply pulling the backrests down, clearing the back of the boat and creating a narrow but level and elevated deck from which to cast in conducive sea conditions. That same aft deck, by the way, lifts entirely to tend to batteries, fuses, battery switches, bilge and livewell pumps, fittings and seacocks.

Upon completing our detailed survey at the dock, it was time to take the 27-footer out for a spin and test its variable-deadrise deep-V hull, which places the deepest angle at the keel to lessen impact as the boat takes on waves, and increasingly flattens toward the chines for greater overall stability, faster planing and better fuel efficiency. It also enables the ­Everglades to achieve higher speeds with less horsepower.

Our test boat made both quick and tight turns a cinch. The turning radius was impressive, and no matter what the maneuver or the speed, I felt always in control. Rigged with twin ­Yamaha F250s, the 273 went from zero to 30 mph in 6 seconds and topped at 54.7 mph. And according to Yamaha performance data, owners opting for a single 350 hp outboard should expect a more-than-respectable 47 mph at wide-open throttle and a range of nearly 320 miles cruising at 4,000 rpm and 31 mph.

Taking into account the brand’s reputation, the boat’s design, unbeatable construction and fit and finish, and the smart, feature-rich layout, I say Everglades has another winner, one that anglers looking for a double-threat (inshore and offshore) fishing machine will treasure through many years of service.

The post Everglades 273CC Boat Review appeared first on Salt Water Sportsman.

Upon coming aboard, the superb fit and finish were obvious everywhere. So was the ergonomic design, which takes full advantage of the 435’s massive footprint to merge luxury and functionality without sacrificing storage or fishing room.

RAMCAP, Everglades’ patented construction technique which bonds major components and compresses high-density foam between the deck and hull renders the hull unsinkable, minimizes the potential for creaking and rattling and makes every inch of the boat feel solid.

Up front, raised 80-gallon compartments on both sides stow gear or serve as secondary fish boxes. They also double as casting platforms or bench seats that, with the push-button electric table, make the bow a scenic picnic spot. Outlets with USB ports to starboard and port supply power for electric kite reels or phone chargers and iPods. A couple of steps back along the centerline, a 200-gallon in-deck fish box provides ample space to ice down the day’s catch. And should your crew require additional room for fish or gear, another 200-gallon box hides under the seat, in front of the console.

The extended console with forward seating facilitates an air-conditioned cabin below. In it, you find a galley with fridge and microwave, a queen-size berth that transforms into a settee or a dinette, and a private head with pump-out toilet, sink and a shower.

For added ventilation or wind protection at the helm, the console windshield rises with the touch of a button. The wide dashboard offers more than enough real estate for gauges, rocker switches and three 15-inch multifunction displays.

Two rows of seats remain shaded under the hardtop. The front one, a cluster of three bucket seats with bolsters and armrests sits over a pullout 110-quart cooler. The other is a fold-down bench seat with twin five-tier pull-out tackle drawers on the sides, a full rigging station with plumbed sink in the back, and a flip-up seat that faces the cockpit.

A hatch near the back edge of the hardtop provides access to the bridge with enough space for outriggers, radar antenna and an optional second helm with full electronics suite. A pair of 60-gallon baitwells finished in blue sit in the transom corners. And a roomy lazarette enables inspection and repair of all systems, fuel filters, pumps and the single seacock controlling water flow to the baitwells and all raw-water pumps.

Along the gunwales, a total of 11 flush-mounted rod holders allow anglers to take up battle stations anywhere. Two rod lockers under the gunwales midship house four outfits each. Horizontal racks store four rods on the port side and six on the starboard side, while hanging racks under the hardtop hold another six outfits; vertical tubes on the hardtop frame and the bridge accept eight more.

Leaving Miami Harbor entrance astern, we jumped on plane. Pushed by four Yamaha F350s controlled by Yamaha’s Helm Master Integrated Boat Control System (standard on the 435CC), it took the big girl just seven seconds to get up and settle down to the proper cruising angle. She performed beautifully in the slalom test, making predictable turns while visibility remained unobstructed.

We reached 60 mph at wide-open throttle (6,200 rpm), burning 138 gph. At 4,000 rpm, we burned 57 gph doing 37.2 mph, the ideal cruising speed. Since chasing a hooked billfish could require backing down, I kicked the quads in reverse and zigzagged after an imaginary sail. The 435CC turned well and was quick and responsive going backward without flooding the cockpit or gathering water in the bilge.

The folks at Everglades have earned a reputation for their uncompromising quest to build quality boats with innovative features. On the 435CC, that is glaringly evident. It’s a boat designed to please the hardcore offshore angler and anyone looking to enjoy creature comforts while cruising or fishing with family or friends.

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Everglades 295 Pilot

Everglades Boats has long been known as an innovator in outboard-powered fishing boats. From its exclusive Rapid Molded Core Assembly Process (RAMCAP) to creations like powered windshields and functional, stylish seating systems, Everglades constantly evolves and challenges the rest of the industry.

Everglades is never hesitant to try out a new design either, and from this philosophy, the new 295 Pilot was born. The company has built pilothouse boats before, and the configuration is a staple in cold-weather climates like the Pacific Northwest and New England, but this new pilothouse model offers more.

I tested the 295 from Plantation Boat Mart in Tavernier, Florida, not exactly the heart of cold-weather country. Admittedly, a pilothouse boat looks out of place in the Florida Keys, but after spending a morning running it around Florida Bay, I could see lots of practical applications for it in that part of the world and others.

I thought about the countless days I have had to punch through thunderstorms on the way back to shore, having been cut off from land by black clouds. It certainly would be nice to have a solid 360-degree enclosure in which to hide in those situations. Add the option of air conditioning and heat, and the comfort level rises even more.

The solid fiberglass pilothouse features removable sliding fiberglass doors, so if you don’t want the AC option, you can still get plenty of airflow in the summer. Add to those the standard hydraulic tempered-safety-glass sliding windshield and the opening rear window, and plentiful ventilation becomes a given.

The helm area has the wheel mounted to port, with the switches arranged in a cluster in the center. The bolster-style helm and passenger seats are solid, and there’s a convenient footrest, plus storage space for drinks, cell phones and other loose gear. It’s easy to drive standing or seated, and visibility is excellent. There’s also a 140-quart cooler beneath the seat.

At the aft end of the pilothouse, a large rigging station features six drink holders and a centerline sink, with eight tackle drawers below. This area sits at the forward end of a spacious cockpit, making fishing easier by keeping all tackle items within reach. A 66-gallon in-deck fish box drains overboard via a macerator pump.

Our test boat came equipped with Everglades’ optional dive door, a massive gate built into the port-hull side. It swings inward on sturdy hinges and makes getting into and out of the boat a breeze. It can also serve as a handy and practical gate for boating big fish, even though it’s not technically a transom gate. Bring ’em in the side instead.

There’s a standard livewell in the port transom corner, and a fold-down passenger seat built into the transom bulkhead. Even if you don’t opt for the dive door, rest assured that ingress and egress is still possible through a starboard transom gate and a telescoping stainless-steel dive ladder built into the engine platform.

The 295 features pop-up cleats all the way around, so there’s little on which to snag a line, and wide alleys make it easy to pass from bow to stern. At the forward end of the console, two sturdy passenger seats feature powder-coated handholds and stainless drink holders. A portside door located just forward of the pilothouse door affords access to the surprisingly roomy compartment below, which offers considerable storage space and a standard marine head.

The bow, port and starboard passenger seats contain more storage. To starboard, there’s rod storage beneath the seat, with more lockable rod space in the hull sides above the seats. The port seat contains a second large fish box, which holds 105 gallons and drains overboard. A stainless-steel anchor and a windlass come standard, and low-profile bow rails provide a secure handhold even in rough water. There’s a huge storage box subdeck between the two forward seats.

Our test boat came powered by twin 350 hp Yamaha V-8 four-stroke outboards, but power options are available from Honda and Mercury as well. The big Yamahas got the 295 on plane quickly, in about five seconds, and we soon reached a comfortable cruise speed of 36 mph at 4,000 rpm. At that speed, the Yamahas burned 22.5 gallons per hour, and the 295 would have a range of almost 300 statute miles with its 200-gallon fuel tank.

We ran the boat hard in admittedly calm water, and it showed exemplary sea manners, even when put into unrealistically hard turns at high speed. The 21-degree transom deadrise and sharp bow angle (the average deadrise is 37 degrees) should cut down even the stiffest chop with little problem, and the RAMCAP build gives the boat an incredibly solid feel.

If you’ve never considered a pilothouse design, maybe it’s time to re-examine your preferences. This boat comes with a lengthy standard-equipment list, things like outriggers, a raw-water washdown, blue LED cockpit lighting, a spotlight, trim tabs, hydraulic tilt steering, numerous rod holders, a full marine head and much more. The 295 combines the best aspects of a conventional center console with a high-tech pilothouse design; it could be just the ticket for those days when inclement weather stands between you and the dock, no matter where you fish.

Everglades 295 Pilot

LOA: 31’3″
Beam: 9’9″
Draft: 20″ (hull)
Deadrise: 21 degrees (transom)
Fuel: 200 gals.
Water 25 gals.
Max hp: 700
Weight: 6,600 lbs. (hull)
Base price: $245,886 with twin F350 Yamahas

Everglades Boats: 877-902-6287 • www.evergladesboats.com

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