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I remember when a run to the offshore fishing grounds went something like this: Get to the boat the night before to load up gear, bait and tackle. Once we cleared the breakwater, we’d settle in for a long, slow chug through the inky darkness. If there was any weather, the inability to see approaching waves meant slowing down even more. After eight or 10 hours of creeping along and taking turns at the helm, a faint horizon would materialize along the hem of the purple-gray sky, and our fishing day would officially begin.

Today a new breed of high-speed fishing boats has created a new paradigm for serious offshore anglers coast to coast. Owners of these powerful fishing machines are likely to hop on board in the morning, fire up the four or five high-­performance outboards sitting shoulder-­to-shoulder across the ample transom, and motor out of the harbor to the oohs and aahs of onlookers and envious anglers. 

When the captain reaches open water and opens the throttles on up to 3,000 hp of outboard power, the true appeal of these speed machines becomes apparent. With a jaw-dropping amount of available horsepower, high-tech mono- or multihulls rocket to the offshore destinations in a fraction of the time required in yesteryears. The concept of comfortably running 100 miles or more, catching a load of fish, and returning home on the same day is not just possible but also common. 

Fishing-boat brands such as Contender, Freeman, Invincible, Regulator, Scout, SeaVee, Yellowfin and others have broken the mold on what a ­center-console outboard-­powered fishing boat can achieve, blasting through size and performance barriers. This new crop of boats offers the dimensions and seaworthiness of old-fashioned sport-fishing yachts, but can also reach 60 mph and cruise all day at 40 to 50 mph without breaking a sweat. And they do this with surprisingly good fuel economy, providing the range to go long and fish hard all day.

However, there’s a lot more to this new class of boats than just size and speed. Boatbuilders are competing to introduce more comfortable and capable offshore machines, adding new features, ­interior comfort and amenities without compromising on the open layout and unfettered fishing access that define the breed. Owners are attracted by these vessels’ versatility as well. These boats can be supersize (with corresponding price tags well over $1 million), but a center-console is still a center-console. If the mood strikes, owners want the ability to pull up on a sandbar with everybody else, kick back with a drink, and enjoy the party with their smaller cousins.

When you first see one of these sleek and stylish boats, your eyes are inevitably drawn to the gleaming engine ­cowlings seemingly filling every inch of transom space. It’s clear that the entire class of vessels couldn’t exist without quantum leaps in outboard motor power and ­technology from builders like Mercury, Suzuki and Yamaha. There are different theories about which came first, this growing number of high-powered outboards from 350 to 600 hp, or the ever-­larger hulls designed for outboard power. Conventional wisdom is that the evolution of more-powerful outboards led to the development of wider, longer and more-advanced hulls. However, there are also those who believe that evolving consumer demand for simplicity and ease of use was simultaneously pushing builders to redefine the center-console and walkaround fishing-boat classes. 

Perhaps we should call it a tie. “The evolution of outboard motors has resulted in even more-powerful, reliable and feature-­rich powerplants, enabling boat sizes in this popular segment to grow to overall lengths of 40 feet and beyond,” says John Caballero, sales and marketing director for SeaVee Boats. At the same time, he acknowledges an existing preference for simpler boats. “The market discovered long ago how practical a center-console boat is in terms of its utility and ­generally lower maintenance requirements.” He highlights the company’s 42-foot 420Z and 45-foot 450Z as ideal models for meeting this need, providing the amenities to enhance the fishing experience and the safety and comfort for all on board. Additionally, both models can be highly customized to suit the owner’s needs and preferences. 

“While supersize center-consoles are by no means simple machines, they are undoubtedly less complex than multi­stateroom sport-fishing yachts,” says Rob Sabin, southeast sales manager for Contender Boats. “This typically translates to lower maintenance bills and less time in the yard. It also gives owners the ability to run and maintain their own vessel.” 

Contender considers its 44-foot 44FA (Fisharound) the perfect fishing platform for extended adventures. Built on the center-­console 44ST hull, the 44FA features a large berth, enclosed head and kitchenette. It carries 575 gallons of fuel along with 70 gallons of fresh water and can be equipped with a generator, air conditioning, ice makers, water heaters and gyrostabilization.

“Boats are getting bigger and more powerful, but that’s not all,” says Matt Arnholt, marketing manager for Yellowfin Yachts. They have been able to maximize efficiency and fishability while incorporating various features, electronics in particular, Arnholt points out. 

While the 36 Offshore continues as Yellowfin’s most popular model, anglers are also turning to the 39 Offshore, 42 Offshore and 54 Offshore, Arnholt ­observes. The 54 delivers the brand’s styling, stepped hull, fuel efficiency and construction with features like a fully equipped galley, queen berth and a ­diesel generator. Its long list of available options includes a bow thruster, a Quick dynamic stabilizer, and a range of hardtop and tower possibilities.

“Many of our customers used to own large sport-fishermen,” says Alan Lang, director of sales and marketing for Scout Boats. “They are ready to move to a center-­console for the ease of operation and the ability to drive it themselves and take care of it themselves. Outboard power not only makes our boats fast and ­agile, it also makes maintenance much ­easier.” Multiple high-horsepower engines also provide owners with peace of mind. According to Lang, Scout’s current flagship—the 530 LXF—will easily get on plane and get you home at 50 mph, even with one engine down. 

Scout raised eyebrows across the industry when it first previewed its 670 LXF, a 67-foot LOA cross between a center-­console and a superyacht due for launch in 2024. Scout’s 530 LXF (Luxury Fish) is a 53-footer built almost entirely of lightweight yet strong carbon fiber and epoxy resin, and it’s packed with amenities like dual hydraulic beach platforms that lower for family water play, heated helm seats, a standard Seakeeper gyrostabilizer and luxurious interior options.

“The biggest things driving these supersize center-consoles are high horsepower, along with the great weight-to-horsepower ratio,” says Dan Freer, senior director of engineering for Invincible, which offers both monohull and catamaran models. 

Invincible’s 46-foot cat is offered in both a center-console and pilothouse configuration. Even with the added comforts of two sleeping berths, interior seating, air conditioning and a generator, the 46 Pilothouse stays true to the brand with 360-degree fishability. The new flagship of Invincible’s monohull fleet is the 43 Open Fisherman. While the cockpit layout emphasizes all-around fishing room, the design includes a cabin with a full sleeping berth, a vanity sink and a head for ­extended angling journeys.   

Builders pretty much agree that the trend will continue, even if the overall size of the boats eventually tops out. Consumer demand and outboard engine development will continue to drive future innovation. What this future will look like is anyone’s guess, but it will certainly be a hell of a ride. 

Outboard Muscle

Powerful and efficient outboards are helping drive the trend for larger boats. Here are the top dogs in horsepower from three manufacturers.

Mercury: The Mercury V-12 600 hp and Mercury Racing 450R and new 500R are popular choices for twin, triple, quad and even quintuple installations.

Suzuki: Suzuki’s V-6 DF350 pioneered twin contra-rotating propellers for the added torque to push heavy loads, making this 350 a solid and efficient choice for catamarans in quad applications.

Yamaha: Yamaha’s new V-8 450 XTO Offshore outboard is a popular power option for the new breed of XL-size open fishing boats.

The post Supersize Center-Consoles Expand Angling Horizons appeared first on Salt Water Sportsman.

Rooted in performance handling, in 1998, Yellowfin entered the premium center-console category. It remains among the most recognized and coveted brands in that segment, drawing customer praise for fishability, comfort, speed, and fuel efficiency.

Still committed to making the best offshore fishing boats, as well as bay boats, hybrids and skiffs, Yellowfin is now part of Warbird Marine Holdings.  

Florida-built Yellowfin offshore models display classic Carolina Outer Banks style influences in wide flared, high bows. They pop onto plane on stepped hulls, and are noted for their strong, lightweight construction. 

Yellowfin 36 Offshore

The Yellowfin 36 Offshore has long reigned as the company’s most popular model thanks to its chop-taming twin step-hull design, and its balanced, efficient and dry ride.

The 36 handles twin or triple outboards, and as a semicustom build, it can be fine-tuned in design to perfectly match hardcore offshore tournament fishing, weekend family sandbar outings, and anything in between.  

Standard is a canvas T-top with five rod holders, two kingfish rod holders, hydraulic steering, Gemlux Belloca stainless-steel steering wheel, Livorsi trim tabs, C-Zone digital switching, and spreader lights. 

To keep things in order and tidy, there are 14 Gemlux titanium rod holders, titanium cleats and through-hulls, and a saltwater washdown.

The two livewells—one each in transom and leaning post—are plumbed, and the insulated fish box is served by a reliable gulper pump.

Better fishing elsewhere? The 36 Offshore comes with an AmeraTrail aluminum trailer with electric-over-hydraulic braking.

Popular fishing options include hardtops and towers, coffin box, livewell pump box, and additional livewells. For comfort, one might consider several console designs, forward seating, head within console, and gyroscopic stabilizer. 

Performance Data

• Test Power: Triple Mercury 400 hp Verado
• Test Props: Four-blade Mercury REV4s, 21” pitch
• Test Speed: 70 mph at 6,000 rpm
• Max Range: 703 miles at 3,000 rpm, 1.25 mpg, 19.6 gph 

Specs

Editor Says

Serious anglers can name a Yellowfin on sight without a nameplate by its sleek lines, generous Carolina flare and lustrous gelcoat. Its stepped-hull ride is second to none and maximizes fishing range with efficiency. The 36 is the brand’s most coveted model. -Randy Vance, Editor-at-Large Boating and Fishing Group

More Info

yellowfin.com

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Rooted in performance handling, in 1998, Yellowfin entered the premium center-console category. It remains among the most recognized and coveted brands in that segment, drawing customer praise for fishability, comfort, speed, and fuel efficiency.

Still committed to making the best offshore fishing boats, as well as bay boats, hybrids and skiffs, Yellowfin is now part of Warbird Marine Holdings.  

Florida-built Yellowfin offshore models display classic Carolina Outer Banks style influences in wide flared, high bows. They pop onto plane on stepped hulls, and are noted for their strong, lightweight construction. 

Yellowfin 39 Offshore

Built to handle seas that send many similar-size boats back to the dock, and while outperforming larger boats on the rip, the 39 Offshore is described as a brawny, wide-beamed boat that’s surprisingly fast and efficient.

The 39 Offshore welcomes triple or quad outboards up to 1,800 hp total. With its 11-foot-6-inch beam, it boasts plenty of fishing room and massive storage, and it offers a long list of standard features and options.

Standard is a canvas T-top whose frame carries five rod holders, along with hydraulic steering, C-Zone digital switching, spreader lights, Gemlux Belloca stainless-steel steering wheel, and Livorsi trim tabs. 

Fishing is assisted by two kingfish rod holders, 14 Gemlux titanium rod holders, a plumbed transom livewell with a second in the leaning post and, anticipating success, an insulated fish box with gulper pump and saltwater washdown. 

Among fishing and comfort options are forward seating, hardtop and tower selections, coffin box, several console choices, livewell pump box, additional livewells, console head, gyroscopic stabilizer, and second-row seating. 

Manufacturer’s Remark

The 39 performs in a fast, dry and efficient manner, offering fishermen the best of both worlds: big-league real-world performance in the open ocean.

Performance Data

• Test Power: Quad Mercury 400 hp Verado
• Test Props: Three-blade Mercury Eneretia ECOs, 21” pitch
• Test Speed: 70 mph at 6,500 rpm
• Max Range: 721 miles at 2,500 rpm, 1.28 mpg, 18.0 gph; or 549 miles at 3,500 rpm, 0.97 mpg, 37.0 gph

Specs

Editor Says

My experience aboard the 39 was a run from Key West to the Dry Tortugas during a weather-shortened kingfish tournament. Seas were up, but we ran fast and hard, and arrived ahead of everyone. -Jim Hendricks, Staff Editor, Boating and Fishing Group

More Info

yellowfin.com

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Yellowfin is now part of Warbird Marine Holdings, but Wylie Nagler is still at the helm as its president, and that means his pledge of personal responsibility for the quality of each boat stands—from a 17-foot Yellowfin skiff to the new 54-foot center-console.

Founded by Nagler in 1998, Yellowfin pioneered the premium center-console category and has become the most recognized brand in its segment. Its customers have long praised its boats’ fishability, comfortable rides, speed and fuel efficiency.

Built in Florida, Yellowfins display classic North Carolina Outer Banks design influences in wide flares and high bows and pop onto plane on stepped hulls.

Yellowfin 54 Offshore

Available with quad or quint outboard power, Yellowfin Yachts’ new 54 will provide the exem-plary level of stepped-hull performance that has made Yellowfin an industry leader with previous center-console models—but taken to a new level. 

Double-row seating provides plenty of space and comfort for the passengers and crew, while a massive helm area affords excellent visibility, with generous space for three 24-inch displays. V-lounge seating in the bow has backrests; the console-front lounge seats two or three. In all, there’s seating for at least 14.

Beneath the console, a spacious cabin area with stand-up headroom houses a queen berth, a fully equipped kitchenette, wraparound seating and a head. 

Up top, hardcore fishing features include 150  gallons of livewell capacity that can be configured as one massive well or split into two 75-gallon sections. A huge, transverse fish box in the cockpit sole contains more than 800 quarts of space. 

A diesel generator comes standard, and major options include a bow thruster, a quick dynamic stabilizer, and numerous hardtop and tower possibilities.

Manufacturer’s Remark

Whether you choose one of the smaller Yellowfins, or the largest boat in the fleet, you’ll get the same quality, efficiency and performance.

Performance Data

• Test Power: Quad 600 hp Mercury V-12 four-strokes
• Test Load: Two persons, full fuel.
• Test Speed: 67 mph @ 6,400 rpm
• Max Range: 470 mi., 0.58 mpg @ 40 mph, 4,000 rpm

Specs

Editor Says

I love the Yellowfin 54’s high-capacity 100-gallon transom livewell. With two lids, it can be configured as a single well or divided into two separate types of bait. – Jim Hendricks, Staff Editor, Fishing Group

More Info

yellowfin.com

The post Yellowfin 54 Offshore: 2022 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Salt Water Sportsman.

Yellowfin is now part of Warbird Marine Holdings, but Wylie Nagler is still at the helm as its president, and that means his pledge of personal responsibility for the quality of each boat stands—from a 17-foot Yellowfin skiff to the new 54-foot center-console.

Founded by Nagler in 1998, Yellowfin pioneered the premium center-console category and has become the most recognized brand in its segment. Its customers have long praised its boats’ fishability, comfortable rides, speed and fuel efficiency.

Built in Florida, Yellowfins display classic North Carolina Outer Banks design influences in wide flares and high bows and pop onto plane on stepped hulls.

Yellowfin 21 Bay

Do you like the incredible acceleration, fuel economy and stunning speed of Yellowfin’s 21 Hybrid but wish it stood a bit taller? Like the Yellowfin 24 CE bay boat but wish it was powered by a single, smaller outboard? 

Then you’re sure to love Yellowfin’s 21 Bay, a conventional bay-boat layout—compared with its hybrid flats-boat sibling—and a 70-plus mph speedster ahead of a single Mercury Verado 350.

The 21 Bay has a higher-profile console than the 21 Hybrid, moved slightly forward. That console is served by rocket-launcher seating, or the captain can stand. Like the 24 CE, the 21 Bay has a recessed step with a large fish box located beneath it, leading up to the spacious bow casting platform.

The ride and performance will feel familiar to those who know the 24 Bay and its speedy stepped-hull design. The 21 Bay carries plenty of live bait, there’s dry storage for loose gear, and the large livewell and release well welcome your catch.

The 21 Bay comes standard with a single Power-Pole and an AmeraTrail aluminum trailer. Among options are a trolling motor, second Power-Pole and range of electronics.

Manufacturer’s Remark

Whether you choose one of the smaller Yellowfins, or the largest boat in the fleet, you’ll get the same quality, efficiency and performance.

Performance Data

• Test Power: 200 hp, 3.4 L Mercury four-stroke
• Test Props: Mercury Enertia Eco 21P
• Test Load: 1 person, full fuel
• Test Speed: 57 mph @ 5,600 rpm

Specs

Editor Says

In my test of the Yellowfin 21 Bay, it blasted out of the hole and streaked to speeds in the low-50 mph range, while riding on a cushion of aerated water thanks to its stepped hull. – Jim Hendricks, Staff Editor, Fishing Group

More Info

yellowfin.com

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While known for offshore performance, Yellowfin is no stranger to inshore boats. With technology advancing in larger craft, an improved flats boat was only a matter of time. Enter the Yellowfin 17 CE (Carbon Elite), with materials and construction that yield a hull 17 percent stronger and 20 percent lighter than the precursor 17 Skiff.

Fishability

The cockpit, fore and aft raised decks, and the seating are roomy enough for a crew of three to ride and fish and stay out of each other’s way. At the aft end of the cockpit, the bench helm seat is fitted with a contoured cushion that allows easy access to the 35-gallon livewell in the casting deck. Racks on each gunwale carry a pair of rigged. For quicker access, there are holders on the frame of the optional casting and poling platforms. Integrated racks on the console sides carry a flush-mount rod holder and a drink holder.

With an Atlas jack plate and 8-foot ­Power-Pole, both standard, and the addition of a trolling motor or push pole, the Yellowfin 17 CE makes a competent package for shallow water and flats enthusiasts.

Amenities

Our test boat sported a flip-up backrest built as an extension of the poling-platform frame, a welcome comfort on long rides. The forward console seat includes an insulated cooler. Three large, in-deck compartments provide plenty of dry storage. The forward compartment has room for trolling-motor batteries, life vests, and a wealth of other gear and a dedicated locker holds the anchor and rode. As in most skiffs, the console is a study in efficient use of limited space. Our test boat carried a 12-inch MFD, a pair of gauges and switches for trim tabs and a jack plate.

Handling and Running

On our test cruise from Crystal River, Florida the Yellowfin showed admirable agility and handling executing a number of turns—at varying angles and speed—with the precise tracking required to safely and efficiently navigate tangled marsh waterways and dodge obstacles spotted at the last second. The new skiff features a single-step hull that improves speed and fuel efficiency, and a slightly steeper deadrise and sharper entry provide a more comfortable ride in open water

Both the 60- and 70-hp engines provides sufficient muscle to scoot around ocean­side flats or the backcountry while enabling the shallow draft that lets a pair of husky anglers pole into skinny water after tailing fish and belly crawlers. For covering a lot of ground in a hurry, the 17 CE is rated to 115 hp.

Performance

Reduced weight, thanks to vinylester resin, proprietary Kevlar fabrics, E-glass and carbon in a quad-axis weave, results in a high-floating skiff, devoid of hull slap, so you’ll remain undetected when stalking skittish shallow-water game. Integrated splash rails curtail spray when on plane. The Yamaha F70 on our test boat proved an efficient pairing for the 17-footer, which, at 4,000 rpm, easily cruises at 22 mph for the better part of a day. At 6,300 rpm, wide-open throttle, the Yellowfin surpassed 36 mph while burning an economical 6.5 gph.

Test Conditions

• Location: Crystal River, Florida
• Weather: Partly cloudy, 85 degrees
• Wind: SE 6 mph
• Sea State: Smooth
• Test Load: One adult, one child, 18 gallons of fuel

Pricing and Specs

Contact: Yellowfin Yachts, yellowfin.com

The post Yellowfin 17 CE appeared first on Salt Water Sportsman.

Warbird Marine Holdings, formed by EagleTree Capital to invest in category-leading boat builders and managed by industry veteran John Dorton, announced it has completed the acquisition of Yellowfin Yachts. Yellowfin will be a separately managed sister company to Invincible Boat Company, which Warbird acquired in 2019. With this acquisition, Warbird becomes the largest and best capitalized designer and builder of custom offshore fishing boats.

Founded by Wylie Nagler in 1998, Yellowfin pioneered the premium center console category. In the 23 years since, Yellowfin has established itself as the most recognized brand in its segment and synonymous with the saltwater lifestyle.

“We are delighted to add Yellowfin to our Warbird platform. Yellowfin is at the pinnacle of their segment both in product line up and brand prestige,” said John Dorton, CEO of Warbird. “The Yellowfin team will remain in place at their Sarasota headquarters with Wylie Nagler as President. Wylie will continue to focus on the products and relationships that have made Yellowfin a legendary brand.”

“At Yellowfin, we have always strived to build the best boat by using the best materials — the best hardware, the best systems,” said Wylie Nagler, Founder and President of Yellowfin Yachts. “Joining forces with Warbird and John Dorton gives us the scale and resources of the Warbird platform, without changing Yellowfin’s DNA or our relentless focus on quality.”

Warbird will invest in Yellowfin’s facilities, people, and new product development – the same playbook that has made Invincible one of the fastest growing brands in the industry. Yellowfin and Invincible will continue to be managed independently.

“Both the Yellowfin and Invincible brands have their own personalities and design philosophies, and we intend to keep it that way,” Dorton said.

Mr. Dorton stated, “the center console category is split between volume builders that can’t deliver the customization, quality and performance the premium buyer demands, and small prestige brands that build quality boats but lack the scale and investment to become truly state-of-the-art.”

“By combining the resources of these two great businesses, Warbird will be able to accelerate innovation, invest in quality and customer service, expand capacity and ensure timely deliveries to our valued customers and distributors,” Dorton said. “Our goal is to set a new bar for the premium center console segment – world-beating boats with a complete customer experience to match.”

Jones Day provided legal counsel to Warbird Marine Holdings. Barrett Evans of Montecito Capital served as financial advisor to Yellowfin Yachts and Katz Barron provided legal counsel.

About Warbird Marine Holdings

Parent company to Yellowfin Yachts and Invincible Boat Company, Warbird Marine Holdings brings together the discipline and business rigor of a larger company with the entrepreneurial brands of premium sportfishing boats. In doing so, Warbird strives to create a higher level of craftsmanship, build quality, durability and customer experience for brands in its group. For more information, please visit warbirdmarineholdings.com.

About EagleTree Capital

EagleTree Capital is a leading New York-based middle-market private equity firm that has invested approximately $2.7 billion of equity capital since inception. The Firm has completed over 35 private equity investments and over 70 add-on transactions over the past 20+ years. EagleTree primarily invests in the following sectors: media and business services, consumer, and water and specialty industrial. For more information, please visit eagletree.com.

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We tested the boat rigged with four Yamaha 425 XTOs, ample muscle even for a boat this size. The Yellowfin got on plane and accelerated quickly and evenly, and I never lost sight of the horizon. We reached cruising speed in no time at all, and hit an honest 60.8 mph at wide-open throttle, burning 152 gph while turning 6,000 rpm. The motors were propped for carrying a full load of gear, live bait and crew, which could tally 14 or 15 members, if you filled every seat on the boat.

Speaking of seats, our test 54 had two V-bench seats forward, three lounge seats on the forward cabin top, four Release varnished-teak helm chairs, dual-row seating for four or five behind the helm, and a single aft-facing seat at the tackle center. No need for space-eating beanbags on this rig.

On each end of the dual-row seating are tackle-drawer storage units, with a Mase 4 kW generator under the aft-row seating, which can be customized. The back of the aft-row seating includes an aft-facing seat with two underlid work surfaces on each side ideal for bait and rig prep, and there’s also an Isotherm fridge and freezer strategically located on the rear of the back-row seating.

Gemlux Titanium pull-up cleats at the bow form a stainless anchor chute accessed through the top hatch for deployment. It features a spool windlass to keep the rode and chain neat.

A recessed bow rail wraps around the foredeck area, and the standard V-seating with backrests has storage underneath, complemented by a giant locker in the forward bilge.

There are four rod holders on each side of the forward-console lounge seats. Under the gunwales, on both sides of the console, are recesses for five dive tanks, and multiple storage bins of varying sizes that provide extensive stowage for tackle and dive gear.

The air-conditioned console hosts a queen berth forward with two hanging lockers, a large stand-up shower and head with vanity, galley with stainless sink, Isotherm refrigerator and storage cabinets. Fully aft is a U-shaped lounge with high-low table that turns into a full berth with the table down. A Pullman bunk can be added as an option.

The aft seat lifts up to gain entry into the equipment room under the helm deck, which houses the batteries, wiring and electronics components normally found under the console. Our test boat also had a Quick Gyro X13 mounted on the centerline, with good access for servicing.

Back on deck, a three-sided glass windshield protects the helm, where the dash accommodates up to three 24-inch screens, like the Garmin black-box units on our test boat, with an integrated CZone controller to run bilge and livewell pumps, lights and other accessories from the touchscreens, eliminating the need for switch panels on the console. Once the batteries are turned on, the electronics units come on as well, offering access to all virtual switches.

The console also features a pair of glove boxes; two AC vents; four drink holders; centerline helm and binnacle; Side Power bow-thruster, trim-tab and engine-trim controls; and the start/stop buttons placed upside down under the helm pod to keep them dry and out of the way.

There are monstrously deep and long in-deck fish boxes in the cockpit sole. The largest aligns with the under-gunwale sliding tuna doors so that fish caught can be pulled in through the door and directly into the fish box. Access to the molded bilge is through a large hatch on the centerline.

The transom houses a massive 100-gallon livewell with dual lids for added convenience, and there are four vertical rod holders on each side. The entire deck is molded for inlay flooring. Our test boat had Ocean Grip, but teak or other flooring could also be inlaid.

The test Yellowfin came with a full-size, molded hardtop complete with Gemlux outriggers, 15 aft rod holders, and mounting surfaces for radar, antennas, nav lights and stereo speakers. A marlin tower or full-gap tower are available options.

Development of the 54 Offshore took several years, but clearly it was time well-invested. The attention to detail is evident everywhere, and its performance, stability, styling, comfort and fishing functionality are sure to place Yellowfin’s new flagship among the leading center-consoles in its class.

Specifications

Length: 54′ | Beam: 15′ | Draft: 28″ | Fuel: 900 gal. | Water: 100 gal | Max HP: 3,000 | Price: Upon request | Yellowfin Yachts: yellowfin.com

Test Conditions

Weather: Partly cloudy | Location: Sarasota, Florida | Wind: Northwest 10 knots | Sea State: 2- to 3-foot chop | Test Load: Four adults, 500 gallons of fuel, 90 gallons of water

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Yellowfin Yachts founder and president Wylie Nagler listens to his customers. They asked for a bigger boat; he’s launched a 54-foot center-console. They wanted a midsize boat that can perform a variety of tasks; he built a 26-foot hybrid. They ask and Nagler delivers.

Whichever custom-built boat one selects from an impressive Yellowfin lineup, from a 17-foot skiff to that 54-foot CC, Nagler pledges personal responsibility for standout quality. Every Yellowfin features the highest-grade materials and delivers a product skillfully assembled for the harsh demands of saltwater fishing.

Built in Sarasota, Florida, Yellowfin boats none-the-less clearly show their design influences in their wide flares and high bows. They snap onto plane on stepped hulls.

Yellowfin 26 Hybrid

Some boats have a single focus, but others, known as hybrids, are designed to excel at a variety of tasks. Yellowfin’s 26 Hybrid, with features of both the company’s larger offshore center-consoles and its legendary bay boats, is a splendid example.

With freeboard higher than a true bay boat but lower than an offshore CC, the 26 Hybrid can shift from fishing a shallow bay for redfish to running well offshore for such large pelagic species as tuna. Fish-box capacity is appropriately generous.

The 26 Hybrid’s livewell options match the needs of hardcore live-bait enthusiasts. Other choices include four leaning-post designs, T-tops (Key West, hardtop or soft-top) and second station, forward and/or aft seating and bolsters, and swim platforms. Its single or twin outboards are mounted on standard jack plates.

Survey Says: On Target

• Custom-built to owner specs and wishes
• Both fishing-focused and comfortable

Owners Say

• Most comfortable ride around
• Fast and fuel efficient; great hull design
• Best ride

Brand Says

• Serious fishing platform
• Unmatched attention to detail

Reader Response

• “Awesome ride in rough seas”

Specs

LOA: 26′

Beam: 8′8″

Fuel Capacity: 118 gal.

Dry Weight: 5,000 lb. with power*

Max HP: 450

More Info

yellowfin.com

The post Yellowfin 26 Hybrid: 2021 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Salt Water Sportsman.

Yellowfin Yachts founder and president Wylie Nagler listens to his customers. They asked for a bigger boat; he’s launched a 54-foot center-console. They wanted a midsize boat that can perform a variety of tasks; he built a 26-foot hybrid. They ask and Nagler delivers.

Whichever custom-built boat one selects from an impressive Yellowfin lineup, from a 17-foot skiff to that 54-foot CC, Nagler pledges personal responsibility for standout quality. Every Yellowfin features the highest-grade materials and delivers a product skillfully assembled for the harsh demands of saltwater fishing.

Built in Sarasota, Florida, Yellowfin boats none-the-less clearly show their design influences in their wide flares and high bows. They snap onto plane on stepped hulls.

Yellowfin 54 Offshore

Yellowfin’s biggest boat ever by 12 solid feet, the all-new 54 Offshore, the company says, “raises the bar in terms of what buyers can expect from a center-console boat.” What won’t change is the level of stepped-hull performance that has become synonymous with the brand.

Power options include quad and quint outboards which, along with a 900-gallon fuel capacity, provide the ability and range to reach the bluewater big ones—and at speeds of 60-plus mph.

A hardcore fisher, the 54 Offshore doesn’t skimp on comfort touches. Beneath the console, a spacious cabin area houses a full queen berth, fully equipped kitchenette, wraparound seating that converts to a bed, along with a head, sink and shower with stand-up headroom.

The helm seats four before a massive dash that can support three 24-inch displays. Behind the helm seats, a sumptuous bench—atop storage and mechanicals—provides more forward-facing seating.

Handrails provide gunwale security, and racks port and starboard hold five dive tanks each. A gyrostabilizer is optional. Forward seating is built-in, with a space at the bow between them to make fish-fighting easier.

Yes, this boat remains all about fishing, and proves it with aft livewell capacity totaling 150 gallons, installed as one massive well or divided into two 75-gallon tanks. That clever arrangement is a crowd-pleaser—69 percent of respondents said that they needed just one livewell, but 27 percent wanted a second to keep bait separated (52 percent of offshore CC anglers say that they use live bait at least half the time).

Six transom-mounted rod holders meet or exceed the needs of 68 percent of survey respondents, with more holders circling the boat’s gunwales.

A door at starboard provides access to crew, passengers and, in keeping with this boat’s purpose, big fish; it adjoins a transverse 800-quart fish box in the cockpit sole. A massive in-deck compartment forward provides storage for fish or gear.

Survey Says: On Target

• Custom-built to owner specs and wishes
• Both fishing-focused and comfortable

Owners Say

• Most comfortable ride around
• Fast and fuel efficient; great hull design
• Best ride

Brand Says

• Serious fishing platform
• Unmatched attention to detail

Reader Response

• “Awesome ride in rough seas”

Specs

LOA: 54′

Beam: 15′

Fuel Capacity: 900 gal.

Dry Weight: 28,000 lb. with power *

Max HP: 3,000

More Info

yellowfin.com

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