Just launched and currently in the middle of her east coast intro tour, this Florida girl has a lot to offer and checks off all the boxes for a family-friendly, bluewater capable battle wagon that can entertain as well as she can fish.
The new Everglades 285cc is loaded with next-gen standard features that you would expect on a well-pedigreed sportfisher; but it draws a direct lineage from the founding father of center consoles back in the early 60s, naval engineer Bob Dougherty. Bob did most of this work as the head of product engineering for Boston Whaler for three decades. His next career evolution was to take the unsinkable gospel to EdgeWater boats in Florida, where he had the helm from 1990 through 1995. The last stop in his notable career was to start Everglades boats, where he stayed until his passing at age 85.
One of the most notable design features that all Everglades boats share in common is their RAMCAP (rapid molded core assembly process) construction, for which Dougherty won an innovation award in 1999 from the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Today, every Everglades boat from 23 to 45 feet is built using this patented process.
According to Everglades, foam is an essential building block in manufacturing unsinkable hulls which provides a bond that locks components together while providing buoyancy required by the US Coast Guard. Unlike many manufacturers that use a “blind foaming” technique to fill empty cavities between the deck and hull to create flotation after assembly, with RAMCAP Everglades custom manufacturers their foam first, building the boat around these high-density, pre-molded modules. Wet foam is poured into custom-made molds that cure under thousands of pounds of pressure, as the foam expands on top of itself. The result is precise foam units that line the hull of the boat. These foam pieces are bonded to the hull and liner under a vacuum to create a one-piece hull, resulting in a rigid, strong hull that provides a soft, quiet and smooth ride.
The new Everglades 285cc is more than just “another center console. The beauty of this debutant is in the details. Full-beam retractable transom seating turns this tournament-ready boat into an exciting day tripper with seating for a trio of your family or friends. An exclusive rotating helm/mezzanine seat with a built-in padded leaning post provides the flexibility to sit facing the bow or aft, wherever the action is at that moment. Dual Garmin 16-inch displays provide instant access to vessel status and performance through intuitive touch screen controls, putting information directly in front of the captain. All of the vessel’s functions are integrated into a single touchscreen digital switching system with redundant membrane switches.
Providing the ultimate offshore fishing experience, the single-level fishing deck provides 360-degree walkaround access for completely unobstructed fishability. The 285cc features 11 standard stainless steel rod holders, plus twin 25-gallon insulated circulating livewells (one is standard, the second is optional) that flank either side of the convenient 35-gallon insulated transom fishbox. If you need to ice additional catch, the 60-gallon in-deck forward fishbox will take care of business. For trollers, optional Gemlux collapsible 18-foot outrigger poles are equipped with deluxe adjustable bases.
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| LENGTH OVERALL | 28 feet, 4 inches (without engines) |
| BEAM | 9 feet, 6 inches |
| DRAFT | 24 inches (engines up); 35 inches (engines down) |
| DEADRISE AT TRANSOM | 23 degrees |
| TRANSOM HEIGHT | 25 inches |
| WEIGHT | 9,200 pounds (dry, with standard power) |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 200 gallons |
| WATER CAPACITY | 20 gallons |
| MAX POWER | Twin 300 hp outboards (600 hp) |
Up front, the spacious bow features plush upholstered lounges with teak accents and recessed in-deck storage that quickly converts into an immense casting deck or spacious sun pad. A roomy head area under the console features a marine toilet, holding tank, lighting, storage, flooring, opening portlight, wall mounted removable trash can and easy access companionway. The integrated hardtop and windshield frame includes a patented sliding windshield with tempered glass with an intelligent wiper and wash system.
Standard power on the Everglades 285cc is provided by twin Yamaha F300 V-6 four-strokes. Spinning 15.25 D x 19 P counter-rotating three-blade stainless steel SWS II props, she’ll hit a top speed of 55.4 mph at 5,800 rpm, which is the perfect rpm ceiling to get both max speed and fuel economy for this rig. The 200-gallon fuel tank will give her 100-fathom range and the speed to get you out there and back, with an optimum cruise of 30.1 mph at a relatively sedate 3,500 rpm, drinking 18.4 gallons per hour for a bottom line of 1.64 mpg. That translates to a range of 312 statute miles, if you factor in 95% of her available fuel tankage. She’ll go from 0 to 20 mph in a scant 5.3 seconds, so she can giddy-up with the best of them.
Other optional features for those looking to max out their experience are a Seakeeper 1 gyro-stabilizer, SeaDek flooring and a Yamaha Helm Master control. Everglade’s unsinkable hull construction is backed by a lifetime hull warranty and three-year component warranty. For more information, visit evergladesboats.com.
