Intrepid has long been a popular yacht-tender option. The Intrepid 427 Nomad FE should keep the tradition going with its wave-slicing entry; single-stepped hull form; twin, triple or quad outboards (300 to 600 hp) from Mercury, Yamaha or Suzuki; and yacht-level finish. Serious craftsmanship is found in elements such as the standard powder-coating and the optional diamond-stitched upholstery. Anglers will find that the 427 FE has an uncluttered cockpit, 360-degree fishability, cockpit corner livewells (optional), and fish stowage in-sole and forward under an adjustable sun pad. Other angling options include outriggers, rod holders, undergunwale rod stowage, and prewiring for downriggers or electric reels. The helm has a triple-seat setup, and there is more seating forward of the console, on the foredeck sun pad and two more seats flanking the bow. A high-low table at the bow adds a place for lunch or cocktails after a day of catching.
“Robust” is a word that comes to mind when looking at the Scout 350 LXZ. It’s part of the builder’s S-class series, which means the boat has an epoxy-infused E-glass hull that’s oven-baked for eight hours and post-cured. The builder reports about a 34 percent weight savings compared with traditional build methods and about four times the stiffness. Add a deep-V, dual-stepped hull with 24 degrees of deadrise and an all-weather helm with a full glass windshield, and the 350 LXZ is ready to run deep. Power is twin or triple outboards to a maximum of 1,350 hp. The boat has a 31-gallon livewell and 49-gallon in-deck fish boxes to port and starboard. Other notable features are the lithium-ion power system and hardtop-mounted solar panels (read: no generator needed to power onboard systems). If owners want to eat the day’s catch for lunch, the cockpit has a sink, a cutting board and an optional grill.
Designed in Hawaii but built for all oceans, the Aquila 28 Molokai Power Catamaran has a wide, deep hull tunnel that creates an air cushion underway, providing the sensation of flying across the water at 40-plus knots, with optional twin 200 hp Mercury outboards on the pins. (Twin 150 hp outboards are standard.) At its 28.6-knot cruise speed, the cat’s range is about 228 nautical miles.
Aimed at anglers, the 28 Molokai’s notable fishing features include two 94-gallon insulated fish boxes, a 30-gallon livewell for frisky goggle-eyes, 15 rod holders and Taco outriggers. Need more live bait? There is about 4 feet of space forward for cast-net tossing. The boat also has a sink, a cutting board and pullout tackle boxes.
For hanging out on the hook, the 28 Molokai has forward-facing foldout seats in the cockpit, a bench seat forward of the helm console, and two more lounges and another bench seat at the bow.
Contender’s center-consoles are built for speed, running in a seaway and fishability. The Contender 44CB can harness the power of triple or quad outboards to a total of 2,000 hp. With triple 425 Yamaha XTOs, the builder reports a top hop of 58 knots. At 4,000 rpm, the boat’s cruise speed is about 34.6 knots. For anglers looking to keep their catch, the 44CB has two 110-gallon in-sole fish boxes to port and starboard, a 340-gallon fish box forward, and two 55-gallon livewells to keep live bait fresh for that sailfish tournament.
Based in Homestead, Florida, Contender works with owners to customize each 44CB, ranging from hull color and stereo systems to electronics packages, extra rod holders and more.
The Pursuit S 358 Sport is the builder’s first 35-foot center-console. Equipped for chasing pelagics, the S 358 comes standard with a 32-gallon in-transom livewell, a dozen rod holders, a tackle center and 27-gallon in-sole fish boxes. Owners who like to troll for big game can add 18-foot telescoping Taco outriggers or 20-foot carbon-fiber riggers. Powered with twin 425 hp Yamaha XTO outboards, the S 358 cruises around 26.7 knots at 4,000 rpm, for a range around 265 nautical miles with a 10 percent reserve on the 343-gallon fuel tank. Top speed is about 42.6 knots. Other notable options include air conditioning for the cabin and cockpit totaling 18,000 Btu, a Seakeeper 2 gyrostabilizer, and a 6 kW Fischer Panda diesel generator.
With its SeaV2 variable-deadrise hull form, the Grady-White Canyon 326 is a boat with fishing as its mission. Its broad 10-foot-9-inch beam and 20-degree transom deadrise create a stable platform when running, on the troll or when drifting. With just a 2-foot draft, the Canyon 326 can also access skinny-water areas for inshore angling.
When heading out to the deep, the trip should be quick. Twin 300 hp Yamaha four-stroke outboards provide a 26.2-knot cruise speed at 3,700 rpm. Range at cruise speed is 1.6 miles per gallon. Top speed: 43.2 knots.
Standard angling amenities include 16 rod holders, a 32-gallon lighted livewell, a cutting board, two 180-quart fish boxes, a 318-quart fish box, a lean bar with a 38-gallon livewell and more. Some options are a casting platform, outriggers, choice of five hull colors, a SureShade retractable shade with Sunbrella canvas, T-top side wing curtains and a bow thruster.
