The Barker 26 Calibogue Bay and 26 Open, both custom-built to order, were created by renowned naval architect Michael Peters. These models are based on Peters’ patented Stepped Vee Ventilated Tunnel hull design. 

The company says that this hull has one of the ­lowest drag coefficients of any ­monohull in the world, producing ­increased speed, better ­handling, better fuel ­economy, and a ­smoother ride than ­conventional ­step-hulls. 

These two breakout models were joined later by the Barker 40 HPC (High Performance Cat) twin-hull boat.

Created more than a dozen years ago with the goal of building the world’s best boats, Barker has built a reputation for best in class yacht-quality fit-and-finish. 

Sarasota, Florida-based Barker Boatworks is now part of Strike Force 7, which also includes Canyon Bay BoatWorks and Perry Composite Manufacturing, builders of fiberglass and carbon-fiber boats.

Barker 26 Open

Like its stablemate the Barker 26 Calibogue Bay, the 26 Open has become an instant classic.

A hybrid bay/offshore boat, the 26 Open traded the Calibogue’s fly-fishing-style casting decks for a deeper cockpit with maximum open space for seeking, fighting, and boating big fish on both offshore and inshore waters.

The wide helm is tended by a leaning post with a guide helm seat with storage beneath; twin teak-back helm chairs are among options. The tackle station houses a generous window-topped 45-gallon livewell. 

Standard is a Key West hardtop with rear support legs for extra strength and 11 rocket-launcher rod holders. A sunroof or fully equipped half-tower with a second ­station is optional.

A 15-gallon livewell in the bow is matched by one in the transom, which also houses a 15-gallon transom cooler. ­Macerated, insulated fish boxes of 140 and 50 gallons each reside under the forward deck. 

Also standard aboard the Barker 26 Open are Garmin electronics, JL Audio, Odyssey AGM batteries, dual fuel fills, and eight Gemlux gunwale rod holders.

A Mercury 350 hp V-10 on a set-back bracket is standard power, along with a Mercury Vessel View 4 display. Twin engines are optional. An 8-foot Power-Pole keeps this boat in place when stalking fish in shallow water. An optional Seakeeper 1 gyrostabilizer reduces up to 95 percent of boat roll.

The 26 Open comes standard as an open fisherman; add optional forward seating for the perfect blend of fishability and family. 

Editor’s Note

Based on my experience, I know that the 26 Open represents one of today’s most versatile and well-crafted hybrid boats. With this boat, we were able to run offshore for mahi in the morning, then zoom back in to fish for snook in the afternoon. -Jim Hendricks

Performance Data

• Test Power: Mercury 400 V-10 Verado
• Test Props: REVX 21P
• Test Load: 6,800 lb.
• Test Speed: 56 mph
• Max Range: 180 miles at 40 mph

Specifications

Barker Boatworks – Sarasota, Florida; barkerboatworks.com

The post Barker 26 Open: 2025 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

With boat models stretching from 22 to 40 feet in length, Blackfin proudly proclaims itself the boat brand that offers the best of all worlds, whether headed out to the Gulf Stream or over to the Bahamas in search of adventure and big fish, or dropping anchor at the sandbar to take a dip and party with friends—or anything in between. Blackfin boats has you covered.

Each Blackfin model—­spanning from center consoles to dual consoles—is designed by anglers and built from the highest-quality materials, including carbon-fiber-reinforced hulls. Designs are classic, but Blackfin also adds such modern features as digital engine monitoring, integrated storage, insulated coolers, and posh seating, plus the highest-quality sound systems to rock the tunes.

Blackfin 400CC

Fans of the Blackfin 332 CC asked for a boat with even more space and even more features, and Blackfin answered their requests—emphatically—with its biggest-ever center-console, the 400CC.

Space? Start at the bow, big and wide, with large sun pad and high freeboard.

Aft, a massive cockpit is served by a large tuna door to make it easy to boat a big fish, or for accessing the water when it comes time for a swim. There’s also a walk-through transom door for access to the integral swim platform.

Clever uses of space include features such as a roomy bilge compartment that can accommodate a gyrostabilizer. Two additional 160-gallon in-floor hatches can be used for cold storage or as macerated fish boxes, and like all bilge and storage compartments, they’re fully finished. Very classy.

The spacious and air-conditioned cabin features a skylight, smart TV, LED lighting and a forward convertible couch/berth. A mini galley features a sink, refrigerator and microwave; there is a separate head and shower as well. Plus, there’s storage inside for six rods.

The helm is attended by two rows of heated seats, the second row elevated so that its occupants get full view forward. The helm console houses a pair of 24-inch Garmin multifunction displays, bow-thruster joystick control, trim-tabs control, a JL Audio source unit, and Mercury controls, including JPO joystick for easy docking.

The standard fiberglass hardtop features a powder-­coated aluminum frame,  a tempered-glass windshield, and LED overhead and spreader lighting. An integrated molded step accesses the top’s roof and the standard Gemlux carbon-­fiber telescoping outriggers.

Fishing-focused, the 400CC’s transom contains a 70-gallon livewell with a light and aquarium-style viewing window. Another illuminated livewell of 30 gallons resides in the bow. A dozen stainless-­steel rod holders line the ­gunwales, six more the ­transom, and 14 the hardtop. An aft bait-prep and refreshment station ­includes two pull-out Yeti ­coolers, a sink, a faucet, and storage drawers, plus an ­electric grill.

Options include canvas side weather curtains, Palm Beach helm package of six Release marine helm seats with wood accents, and an aft-facing seat to replace the standard prep station, if desired. 

Editor’s Note

You can forget about needing to haul aboard and finding a place to stow cumbersome ­beanbag seats on this boat. The two rows of luxurious helm seats, plus the transom seat and forward console lounge, result in amazing comfort for crewmembers whether underway or at rest. -Jim Hendricks

Performance Data

• Test Power: Quad Mercury 400 hp V-10 outboards
• Test Props: Mercury Revolution X 4-blade stainless steel
• Test Load: 23,750 lb., including fuel, ballast, water, people and gear
• Test Speed: 45.4 mph at 4,500 rpm
• Max Range: 318 miles (with 10% reserve)

Specifications

Blackfin Boats – Williston, Florida; blackfinboats.com

The post Blackfin 400CC: 2025 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Within their family’s ­70-year boatbuilding legacy, Bill and Gary Kenner created K2 Marine, which builds Frontier Boats and BlackJack Boats. BlackJack is a line of ­esteemed saltwater center-­console bay boats. Frontier is also a line of dry-riding bay boats but with a focus on value. 

Each BlackJack is assembled by hand, its Carolina-flare hull built with molds designed by Bill and Gary Kenner. The concave-­design bow slices into chop and waves and, combined with the reverse flare of the hull chines, turns spray down and away for a smoother, drier ride. Large lifting strakes reduce the hull’s wetted surface for more ­efficiency at speed. The tumblehome transom hearkens back to classic wood hulls. Handmade touches include traditional hand-laid laminates to 57 individual pieces. 

BlackJack owners, many of them guides and captains, praise the boats’ ride, shallows-friendly draft, abundant dry storage and generous fishing room. These boats hop onto plane quickly and stay there, even at slow speeds.

BlackJack 256 Coastal

The 256 Coastal—the newest addition to the BlackJack line—combines offshore- and bay-boat elements in a model that lets you decide how you want to fish on any given day. Its three-piece design, deeper casting deck, and open aft deck support comfortable fishing in bigger waters, without sacrificing inshore effectiveness. 

Fishing-ready, the BlackJack 256 Coastal has a fiberglass leaning post with anodized ­backrest, four rod holders, storage, and a livewell. The boat features dual forward fish boxes plus a third in-floor center fish box, all insulated, with a through-hull drain. The rear bilge-access compartment includes storage for a 5-gallon bucket. A six-gauge trolling-motor harness with circuit-breaker protection and tilt trim switch is standard. The large console dash stands ready for the addition of ­aftermarket electronics. 

Undergunwale storage cradles three rods on each side, and a forward insulated baitwell is topped with a clear acrylic lid and equipped with a recirculator and fill. 

The front-open console houses batteries, and a seat at its front contains a 70-quart cooler. Optional forward seating with removable cushions and backrests create a day cruiser perfect for family trips to the sandbar or an island beach.

Editor’s Note

Many offshore boats can handle rough conditions but draw too much water for inshore waters. Many inshore boats can run skinny but are out of their element when running offshore. ­However, few boats can handle both environments as well as the Blackjack 256 Coastal. -Alan Jones

Performance Data

• Test Power: Yamaha F350
• Test Prop: 15 ¼” x 21” Yamaha SWS XL
• Test Load: 1,293 lbs
• Test Speed: 32 mph at 3,500 rpm
• Max Range: 249 miles

Specifications

BlackJack – Knoxville, Arkansas; blackjackboats.com

The post BlackJack 256 Coastal: 2025 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Legendary marine-industry veteran Early Bentz—founder of Stratos and then Triton Boats, both premium lines of saltwater and freshwater fishing boats—created fishing-focused Caymas Boats in 2018. 

Caymas models are designed and built for hardcore offshore and inshore anglers, while also pleasing families with cruising and entertaining attributes. They’re built on the Michael Peters double Stepped Vee Ventilated Tunnel running ­surface for top performance and fuel economy.

A former national champion boat racer and bass-boat-manufacturing ­pioneer, Bentz has always aimed to engineer and build the most durable and best-­performing boats in their class, all featuring dry rides, outstanding  speeds, and superior safety and comfort. The Caymas line of center-console boats lives up to that vaunted reputation.

Caymas 291 

The new Caymas 291 is the largest and most robust member of the Caymas Hybrid Series, boasting an open bow and higher freeboard, as well as exceptional stability and handling. 

The 291 is a hardcore fishing boat that enables anglers to fish both inshore and offshore, with plenty of fishing room and easy angling access all around the interior. With bay-boat and center-console parentage, it’s capable of floating in less than 16 inches of water.

Fishing features include four gunwale-mounted stainless-steel rod holders, a 35-gallon livewell, a 328-quart forward fish box, a pair of 100-quart in-floor fish boxes, and 250 quarts of insulated storage below a chaise longue at the console front. 

The chaise has six more rod holders, as well as grab rails and cup holders. All upholstery, including the cockpit bolsters, helm seating and aft bench, features premium Sunbrella Horizon marine vinyl.

The console’s interior is accessed through a large door, the console itself sheltered by a three-sided glass ­enclosure within a D-shaped hardtop frame. That hardtop has LED dome and ­spreader lights, speaker pods and, across its back, seven rod holders. Other LED lights are located in console interior, compartments, livewells, and under the gunwale. The dash welcomes a pair of 19-inch multifunction displays.

A fiberglass leaning post supports helm seats with backrests and flip-up bolsters, plus four rod holders and cup holders.

Editor’s Note

Caymas covers the shallow and the deep with a well-­appointed and high-quality hybrid, with great seating throughout, a well-organized console, an abundance of fishing room, and functionality all based on a performance hull from Earl Bentz. -Karl Anderson

Performance Data

• Test Power: Twin Mercury Verado 300
• Test Prop: Eco Enertia SS 21, 3-blade
• Test Load: 4,050 lb.
• Test Speed: 33.5 mph at 3,500 rpm
• Max Range: 407 miles

Specifications

Caymas Boats – Ashland City, Tennessee; caymasboats.com

The post Caymas 291: 2025 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Cobia has crafted boats for more than 60 years. Acquired by the respected Maverick Boat Group in 2005, it joined the group’s other industry-­leading brands: Maverick, Hewes and Pathfinder. Now Cobia is one of the country’s bestselling lines of ­saltwater fishing boats, blending ­tournament-grade performance and family ­amenities.

All Cobia models 26 feet in length and up are built with Maverick’s proprietary ­vacuum-assisted resin infusion system, aka VARIS, producing a single, fused hull structure that is incredibly strong and has the highest strength-to-weight ratio ­possible in fiberglass construction. This helps ensure long-term reliability and ­durability for safely fishing offshore for years amid ­challenging sea conditions.

Cobia 265 CC Open

The Cobia 265 Open’s roomier center-console layout designed with ample deck space for fighting big ones builds on innovative features of its stable mate, the 265 CC. These elements include an inward-opening tuna door, user-friendly helm, an optional integrated hardtop, and an updated Garmin marine electronics package. The new ship adds full walk-up access to the bow and stern. 

Multiple helm-station configurations accommodate dual 16-inch multifunction displays. A great option is a Seakeeper 1 gyrostabilizer within a dedicated helm seat. A forward console jump seat is there when you need to take a load off, but it also tucks out of the way when the fishing action heats. The principle applies to a fold-down transom bench seat in the aft cockpit. Returning up front, the family will love the cushy bow seat on days when fishing takes a back seat to a leisurely cruise. Within the front-opening console, the head has 6 feet of headroom, a freshwater sink, a mirror, and a shower. 

The 265 Open has cockpit coaming pads, two 46-gallon insulated cockpit fish boxes, stainless-steel gunwale rod holders, bait-cutting board, and undergunwale rod racks. An optional deep-drop setup consists of reinforced gunwales and electric-reel outlets. The boat is ready for outriggers and kite-fishing, and can also be equipped with kingfish rod holders. Optional amenities include a 30-gallon livewell and bow and aft sunshades. 

Power up with twin Yamaha 150, 200 or 250 hp engines with Helm Master EX DES. A joystick is optional. You can order your 265 Open prepped for a trolling motor, or with a Garmin Force Kraken 90 on a rotating mount.

Editor’s Note

Spacious seating in the bow area, with the option to add an electrically adjustable table with full-sun-lounge ­capability and forward-­facing backrests, enables the 265 CC Open’s sister design, the 265 CC, to perform double duty as a family day cruiser. -Jim Hendricks

Performance Data

Test Power: Twin Yamaha F250 outboards
Test Prop: Yamaha 15 ¼” x 19″ SWS II 3-blade stainless steel
Test Load: 2,482 lb.
Test Speed: 26.3 mph at 3,000 rpm
Max Range: 301 miles (161 gal. x 2.08 mpg x 10% reserve)

Specifications

Cobia Boats – Fort Pierce, Florida; cobiaboats.com

The post Cobia 265 Open: 2025 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Contenders are built by a staff who are aware that serious fishing calls for serious boats that can go anywhere, anytime, no matter the weather. You join the design team when you buy a Contender boat because you select many of the details that make the semicustom sport-fishing boat your own. 

The first Contender was the 25 Classic, introduced by freediver, spearfisherman, and still company owner and ­president, Joe Neber, who founded the company in 1984. Admittedly competitive by nature, the Miami native has ­consistently pushed the ­envelop in boat performance. (Neber is also a strong supporter of the sport-fishing community who also possesses a strong ­conservation ethos.)

Contender offers models from 23 to 44 feet, on both step-hulls and deep-V hulls, and in tournament, bay, and fish-around models. Each boat awaits your specifications, from engine power to electronics to upholstery, including teak packages, power-actuated hatches and coolers, livewells and rigging, and forward and rear seating options.

Contender boats 35 feet and larger are built in Homestead, Florida, while those 32 feet and smaller are built in a new facility in Fort Pierce, Florida. 

More tournaments are won on Contenders, the company says, than by any other brand.

Contender 39ST

One of the most advanced and thought-out fishing platforms on the water is how Contender describes its 39ST. It has also described the center-console boat, powered by triple Yamaha XTO 425 outboards, as “a ­rocket ship on water.” 

Standard equipment on this rocket ship includes a sport console with a clear enclosure and console side-entry door, 40-gallon freshwater system, 105-gallon aft fish boxes at port and starboard, forward fish boxes of a generous 145 and 260 gallons, forward oversize in-deck bilge access, cockpit coaming pads, forward underdeck rod lockers port and starboard, two pressurized 40-gallon clear-topped transom livewells with separate pumps, full transom with dive platform and transom dive door, and Livorsi trim tabs.

The menu of options is rich: hardtop, tackle center station, stand-on tower and second station, coffin box, additional rod holders, outriggers, electric-reel outlets, third transom well, kingfish rod holders, extra-large walk-in lined and finished console with head compartment, fish-box diaphragm pumps, lockable storage, and more. There’s even additional fuel capacity of 50 or 100 gallons more. Lebroc helm seating is available, as are many other comfort additions. A coffin box/forward lounge option provides convenience while maintaining an open fishing area forward. The aft cockpit offers abundant fishing room as well.

The 39ST is big, but big doesn’t mean slow. The boat turns in a blistering 72.7 mph top end, at 6,000 rpm, at a respectable 0.64 mpg. And with its generous 500-gallon fuel capacity, at 36.6 mph (3,500 rpm) it has a range of 450 miles.

In the decade since its introduction, the 39ST has become a sea-taming, wide-ranging, tournament-winning classic.

Editor’s Note

I kite-fished for sailfish off the upper Florida Keys and Miami aboard the ­Contender 39T with Capt. Jon Cooper, and I found this boat to be one of the best-suited platforms for this popular technique, especially with the tower and second station. -Jim Hendricks

Performance Data

• Test Power: Triple Yamaha XF 425
• Test Props: 16″ x 25″ XTO OS
• Test Load: 5,686 lb.
• Test Speed: 36.6 mph at 3,500 rpm
• Max Range: 450 miles (with 10% reserve)

Specifications

Contender Boats – Homestead, Florida; contenderboats.com

The post Contender 39ST: 2025 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Contenders are built by a staff who are aware that serious fishing calls for serious boats that can go anywhere, anytime, no matter the weather. You join the design team when you buy a Contender boat because you select many of the details that make the semicustom sport-fishing boat your own. 

The first Contender was the 25 Classic, introduced by freediver, spearfisherman, and still company owner and ­president, Joe Neber, who founded the company in 1984. Admittedly competitive by nature, the Miami native has ­consistently pushed the ­envelop in boat performance. (Neber is also a strong supporter of the sport-fishing community who also possesses a strong ­conservation ethos.)

Contender offers models from 23 to 44 feet, on both step-hulls and deep-V hulls, and in tournament, bay, and fish-around models. Each boat awaits your specifications, from engine power to electronics to upholstery, including teak packages, power-actuated hatches and coolers, livewells and rigging, and forward and rear seating options.

Contender boats 35 feet and larger are built in Homestead, Florida, while those 32 feet and smaller are built in a new facility in Fort Pierce, Florida. 

More tournaments are won on Contenders, the company says, than by any other brand.

Contender 29Bay

Contender’s new 29Bay represents the largest bay boat in its three-bay-boat line, the marine version of a terrestrial SUV. Feature-packed, it can, the company says, do it all in meeting the needs of a growing hybrid-boat market.

There’s no need to sacrifice performance and fishability for comfort in this big fishing machine. And with the standard Seakeeper Ride dynamic attitude-control system and a standard fuel capacity of 185 gallons, the Contender 29Bay is ready to take you to waters inshore, offshore, and ­everywhere in between.

Standard on the 29Bay is a heavy-duty jack plate for adjusting to shallow waters, where the 15.5-degree deadrise step-hull draws just 16 inches. Casting decks beckon at both the bow and the stern of the Contender 29Bay.

An 85-gallon insulated ­in-deck fish box forward of the console is fish-ready. There’s an 80-gallon dry-storage compartment in the bow, adjacent to an 85-quart cooler within the forward step. There are also port and starboard 30-gallon storage compartments under the forward seating, which are topped with cushions. Aft, flanking the cockpit, are port and starboard 30-gallon fish boxes, and the transom sports a pair of 26-gallon livewells.

Seating includes full-size helm seats, a molded-in cushioned lounge at the console front, and port and starboard cushioned bench seating in the bow. There’s an aft center jump seat that opens for access to a spacious, lighted bilge ­compartment.

The helm features an oversize electronics face, a helm pod, a side-entry console door, and a blinker-style jack-plate control switch. Standard is a 38-inch fixed-back aluminum leaning post with backrest, four rod holders, a tray beneath the seat, a folding footrest, and a cooler base. A leaning-post upgrade, with a third livewell, is also available for the 29Bay.

Boathandling is made even easier and more pleasant with optional Helm Master autopilot and full maneuverability, second station, hardtop and soft T-tops with lighting, upgraded isinglass enclosure for T-tops, clear acrylic windshield, and an electric head inside the console.

Other fishing options include additional rod and rod/cup holders, electric-reel outlets, outriggers and bases, upgraded livewell system with pump box, trolling motors, and Power-Pole shallow-water anchors.

You can choose between single or twin outboards for the Contender 29Bay, which is rated for a maximum of 700 horsepower. The 29Bay ­offers a maximum cruising range of 400 miles to take you fishing far and wide.

Editor’s Note

The depth of the cockpit in the 29Bay offers enhanced safety when venturing outside the inlet, while the elevated fore and aft casting decks are ideal for fishing calmer waters inshore. Twin livewells under the aft deck offer immense bait capacity. -Jim Hendricks

Specifications

Contender Boats – Homestead, Florida; contenderboats.com

The post Contender 29Bay: 2025 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Celebrating two-thirds of a century of advancements in marine manufacturing, Formula Boats since 1976 has been owned and managed by the family of the late Victor B. Porter, whose children and grandchildren now direct the firm.

Formula had been founded in Miami in 1962 by Don Aronow, who created the original offshore-race-winning deep-V hull—a design impact that is still evident in Formula’s famed Fas3Tech hull.  

The Porter family, meanwhile, had been a pioneer in the manufacture of fiberglass boats, focusing on product improvement throughout the line, from the smallest bowrider to the superlative 500 SSC (Super Sport Crossover).

Formula 457 CC Fish

As its name suggests, the new Formula 457 CC (Center Console) Fish is angling-­focused, designed to roam far in comfort in pursuit of fun and fishing success. The 22-degree-­deadrise Fas3Tech hull delivers speeds up to 60 mph, powered by triple Mercury 600 hp  Verado V-12 outboards.

Aft, the boat houses twin 50-gallon pressurized livewells, macerated fish boxes with available freezer plates, and below-deck storage. The gunwales, transom, and hardtop are ringed with standard and optional rod and drink holders, with outriggers standard. 

Beneath the wide hardtop, electrically adjusted triple helm seats feature sit/stand/rest positions. The standard Seakeeper 6 gyrostabilizer eliminates up to 95 percent of boat roll. A full upper helm station is optional.  

The 457 CCF offers second-­row seating and a midstation with an aft-facing mezzanine bench that slides away to reveal a countertop, sink and cutting board. 

The open bow features dual forward-facing sun lounges, and an additional bench seat folds out from the sun lounges for dining in the round. 

The console cabin has 6.5 feet of headroom, U-shaped lounge/double berth, head compartment, galley, and dual-­height wood dining table and filler cushion. 

Port and starboard side doors, plus a starboard transom door, provide easy cockpit ­access for boating a catch or taking a swim. (Note the dedicated space for eight dive tanks!)

Playful touches in the Formula 457 CC Fish include multicolored LED lighting throughout and up to 29 music-synched, lighted drink holders.

Editor’s Note

The 457 CCF rides on Formula’s Fas3Tech hull featuring twin steps that aerate the water while underway to improve lift and enhance efficiency. This hull design also maintains a consistent trim angle with little input needed from the helmsman. -Jim Hendricks

Performance Data

• Test Power: Triple Mercury 600 hp Verado V-12 outboards
• Test Prop: Mercury V-12 propset 27.5″/26″/27.5″ pitch
• Test Load: 8,375 lb.
• Test Speed: 35.6 mph at 4,500 rpm
• Max Range: 277 miles

Specifications

Formula Boats – Decatur, Indiana; formulaboats.com

The post Formula 457 CCF: 2025 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

At its plant in Greenville, North Carolina, Grady-White produces 28 models, from 18 to 45 feet, in Coastal Explorer, center console, dual console, walkaround cabin, and express cabin boat ­designs. 

Grady-White’s signature SeaV² hull is a continuously variable V-hull design: At no two points is deadrise the same, from 20 degrees at the transom to 30 degrees amidships to more than 50 degrees at the bow. The result is stability at rest and trolling, with the ability to slice waves cleanly, creating a soft and stable ride.

Grady-White has been awarded every third party customer satisfaction award presented in the marine industry, including all eight J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Awards for the category, and consecutive Customer Satisfaction Index awards for the entire 22 years they’ve been ­presented by the National Marine ­Manufacturers Association. 

Since 1968, the company has been under private ownership by NMMA Hall of Fame member Eddie Smith, and is led today by another HOF member, Kris ­Carroll, with 49 years’ ­experience in the company.

Grady-White Canyon 326

A new integrated full-height glass windshield, bonded into the T-top, fronts the helm of this spacious, high-­performance center console boat. The new design provides better visibility from the helm, additional protection from the elements, and an even more sleek and stylish appearance.

Like its stable mates in Grady’s Canyon line, the 326 is ready for hardcore fishing, as well as memory-making with family and friends.

An expanded beam places the wheel on center. The helm includes three Command Elite captain’s chairs. The ­console features a large flush-mounted ­electronics area, remote windlass switches, and standard Yamaha Helm Master EX system with full ­maneuverability functionality.

Hardtop features include spreader lights, four rod ­holders, radar mounting pad, and outrigger plates.

Anglers will appreciate two lighted livewells and three insulated fish boxes, two of which are 180 quarts each and the third, a massive 318 quarts at the transom. Standard are 24 rod holders at the cockpit, bow, hardtop, leaning post and transom spots, plus undergunwale storage and console rod storage sites. The deluxe leaning post features a rigging station, freshwater sink and faucet, lockable storage, and removable trash can. 

To shift smoothly from fishing duty to family time, the Canyon 326 has a foldaway cockpit bench seat, plush bow seating with foldaway backrest, a pair of forward console seats, a bow shade, and a lockable console head compartment.

Built-in swim/boarding platforms on port and starboard, along with transom and portside doors, make boarding and deboarding from the dock or water—or hauling aboard a dandy fish—a breeze.

Standard and appreciated by both anglers and cruisers are freshwater and raw-water washdowns at bow and stern, and clear access to the anchor via a bow walk-through.

Options include bow thruster, electrically retractable SureShade with Sunbrella canvas, outrigger kit, bow table, and retractable ski pylon.

The Canyon 326 is built on the award-winning SeaV² hull design and powered by ­Yamaha F300 or F350 outboards.

Editor’s Note

A day of fishing the offshore canyons of the Northeast is a severe challenge for center console fishing boats. But Grady-White’s Canyon 326 can make this run a pleasure cruise with its luxurious appointments and offshore-capable SeaV2 hull. -Alan Jones

Performance Data

• Test Power: Twin Yamaha F350 four-stroke
• Test Prop: 15 ¼” x 19″ Yamaha SWS II SDS
• Test Load: 11,759 lb., including people, fuel, water, gear, engines and accessories
• Test Speed: 30.2 mph at 3,600 rpm
• Max Range: 418 miles (327 gal. x 1.6 mpg x 20% reserve)

Specifications

Grady-White Boats – Greenville, North Carolina; 252-752-2111; gradywhite.com

The post Grady-White Canyon 326: 2025 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

At its plant in Greenville, North Carolina, Grady-White produces 28 models, from 18 to 45 feet, in Coastal Explorer, center console, dual console, walkaround cabin, and express cabin boat ­designs. 

Grady-White’s signature SeaV² hull is a continuously variable V-hull design: At no two points is deadrise the same, from 20 degrees at the transom to 30 degrees amidships to more than 50 degrees at the bow. The result is stability at rest and trolling, with the ability to slice waves cleanly, creating a soft and stable ride.

Grady-White has been awarded every third party customer satisfaction award presented in the marine industry, including all eight J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Awards for the category, and consecutive Customer Satisfaction Index awards for the entire 22 years they’ve been ­presented by the National Marine ­Manufacturers Association. 

Since 1968, the company has been under private ownership by NMMA Hall of Fame member Eddie Smith, and is led today by another HOF member, Kris ­Carroll, with 49 years’ ­experience in the company.

Grady-White 251 CE

Grady-White continues the refinement of its popular Coastal Explorer series, including the 251 CE, a family-friendly fishing machine that features forward and aft seat upgrades for 2025. 

The 251 CE resides in the middle of the three-boat, 23- to 28-foot Coastal Explorer series, all designed for ­shallow-water fishing and ­family fun in bay or inshore settings. At 25 feet, the 251 covers all the bases. To that is added the new seating format, borrowed from its siblings.

The bow casting platform transforms into cozy seating by adding bow cushions and adjusting the electro-­mechanical backrests. (A bow table package is optional.) Aft, remove cushions and center backrest, fold in side backrests, and you’ve got a splendid casting platform; reposition the ­cushions and pivot the backrests to forward or gunwale positions for grand lounging.

Grady-White says that the 251 CE earns its “Coastal Explorer” reputation, offering “more offshore capability and performance than any other inshore fishing boat.”

And it is a fishing boat, as evidenced in its built-in rod storage, including lockable horizontal rod storage, bow and stern fishing platforms, plenty of tackle storage, deluxe leaning post with lockable storage, and a 25-gallon transom livewell. At port and starboard are 74-quart fish boxes; there’s also a 29-quart insulated fish box under the forward console seat. Fishing options include trolling motor prerigging and an outrigger kit, and there is ample space for electronics at the helm. Not that the boating family is neglected: Family-friendly amenities include a stand-up ventilated head area within the console, lots of watersports-­gear storage, bow and transom ladders, and low gunwales for easy access to the water for swimmers, divers or, of course, anglers.

The painted aluminum frame hardtop contains a scratch resistant and full height integrated windshield, LED spreader lights, integrated electronics box, and storage net. The standard Yamaha F300 outboard is controlled via Yamaha’s standard Helm Master EX with Digital Electric Steering. You can upgrade to the optional Helm Master EX with Full Maneuverability ­functionality featuring ­Staypoint, Fishpoint, and Driftpoint to maintain position or heading while fishing, ­trolling, or family boating.

Editor’s Note

Grady-White’s 251 CE checks all the boxes, with a hull that can handle inshore and offshore waters with aplomb, is loaded with first-rate ­fishing amenities and gives those aboard a new level of seating comfort. -Alan Jones

Performance Data

• Test Power: Yamaha F300 V-6
• Test Prop: 15 ¼” x 18″ Yamaha SWS II SDS
• Test Load: 5,186 lb., including people, fuel, water, gear, engines and accessories
• Test Speed: 27.1 mph at 3,300 rpm
• Max Range: 228 miles (78 gal. x 3.66 mpg x 20% reserve)

Specifications

Grady-White Boats – Greenville, North Carolina; 252-752-2111; gradywhite.com

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