Recently introduced as a 2021 model, NorthCoast’s new 315HT is now the largest member in their growing cabin fleet, joining the 285HT, 255HT, 235HT and 215HT models. NorthCoast engineers took the basic shape of the 285HT Cabin, which features a 23-degree aft deadrise, three-strake per side deep-vee running bottom that sports a 10-foot two-inch beam, and lengthened it out to an LOA of 35-feet, which includes the standard bow pulpit and Armstrong outboard bracket aft. The net result is a canyon runner with overnighting capabilities, plenty of room to wrestle a four-banger of bigeyes, a spacious area under the hardtop to protect the crew when underway, plus room down below in the cabin for a head and sleeping for four.
According to NorthCoast’s owner Jose DaPonte, “The 315HT design is inspired by the success of the 285HT hull form and incorporates the open cockpit layout of the new 255HT, but with more fishing and cruising amenities. The 315HT opens up a whole new world of comfort, while maintaining NorthCoast Boat’s heritage of rugged, versatile, fishing performance. For those looking to find the exception to the rule, we provide more boat for the money, with more room to social distance, more range and a more comfortable, dry ride. The new 315HT defines the next generation of NorthCoast Boats, with more fishing and cruising performance, minus the over the top amenities that boaters pay for but never seem to use.”
Go Fish
The fishing cockpit of the NorthCoast 315HT is all business, with a number of improvements over her 285HT sibling. The NorthCoast engineering team increased fuel capacity to 316-gallons, which translates to over 500 miles of cruising range, depending on sea conditions and load. Her fishability was enhanced by removing the L-shaped bench in the pilothouse, which allows captain and crew to quickly access the action in the cockpit. There’s plenty of seating for the crew when underway courtesy of standard cushioned bench seats, both on the port and starboard sides aft of the helm and companion seats. There’s a pull-out refrigerator and standard cockpit grill in the portside fiberglass module, with a freshwater sink and expanded tackle drawer storage center to starboard. Lengthening the cockpit on the 315HT created enough space for a pair of 58-gallon in-deck fish boxes, each of which is individually macerated. The full transom design includes a pair of blue-walled recirculating livewells, with one a 26-gallon oval design and the other a smaller 19-gallon well for specialty baits. When it’s time to either jump onboard at the marina or to wrestle the big ones aboard offshore, the portside cockpit door combines with the starboard corner walk-through transom door to give the crew some great options. The full height transom bulkhead will help to keep big seas outside where they belong, complemented by a doublewide Armstrong swim platform/twin engine bracket and the cockpit gutter system with oversized scuppers.
Creature Comforts
The new 315HT is far from a Spartan, one-dimensional fishing platform. She offers a long list of family creature comforts too. The cabin features a spacious twin vee-berth forward, with a second two-person sleeper set under the forward cockpit sole. The standup head offers an electric-flush system with a 29-gallon holding tank, plus a shower, vanity and freshwater sink. Rigged with a pair of Yamaha F300s, factory tests have indicated a top speed in the high-50s, with optimum cruise at 3500 rpm, where she hit 31-mph on the GPS burning 19-GPH, for a net of 1.6-mpg.
A popular option for taking a crowd for some summer fun at the beach is the full 60-inch triple-wide folding cockpit bench seat set into the transom bulkhead, plus twin aft-facing fold down seats. For anglers looking for more fishing capability, optional accessories include a six-pack of rocket launchers, both on the hardtop and the transom’s outboard bulkhead, Rupp Top Gun outriggers, plus an additional pair of flush-mount rodholders in the gunwales. Other popular options are your choice of hull color; Dometic 16k BTU A/C; a domestic hot water unit; 1.5kW bow thruster; a 3.5 kW gasoline generator and more. Like all other NorthCoast boats, the new 315HT is backed by a structural hull warranty. For more information, visit www.northcoastboats.com.