Launched earlier this year, Sailfish’s new 226 DC hits the sweet spot in the marketplace for a vessel that’s large enough to handle a day with the family in open water, and small enough to trailer and power with a single 200 outboard for maximum range and fuel efficiency.
Family Layout
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| LENGTH | 23 feet |
| BEAM | 8 feet, 6 inches |
| WEIGHT | 5,150 pounds |
| DEADRISE AFT | VDH hull, 22-23-24 degrees |
| DRAFT | 18 inches |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 108 gallons |
| WATER CAPACITY | 12 gallons |
| MAX HORSEPOWER | 200 HP (single outboard) |
The family friendly layout on the Sailfish 226 Dual Console can fit a minimum of seven crew without breaking a sweat, and probably more if you want to squeeze a few extra onboard for a fun day out on the water — just make sure you have enough PFDs for everyone. Starting aft and working forward, there’s a wave gate and a three-step folding stainless steel boarding ladder set in the starboard corner of the transom, with a convenient 18-quart Baja Beach Cooler in the port corner of the platform down at sea level and a 21-gallon circulating baitwell up above. A quartet of stainless steel flush mount rodholders are installed in the transom corners and on either side of the outboard well.
Stepping into the cockpit area, your passengers will feel secure no matter what the sea state with 27 inches of thigh-high cockpit depth. There’s a convenient flip-up aft bench seat in the transom bulkhead that rises to reveal convenient access to the bilge and batteries. This is complemented by a front/back lounge seat to port that is equipped with a gas-assist retracting backrest that converts it into a full-length sun lounger, along with insulated storage down under. To starboard, the optional deluxe captain’s chair features an up/down seat bolster for max comfort, with a pair of vertical rodholders set into the seat back, a cushioned aft-facing rear seat, with a pair of cupholders and dry insulated storage in the fiberglass base. There’s a finished fiberglass head area set under the portside console, with a lockable access door, Porta Potti and vinyl flooring for easy clean-ups. Stepping forward through the flip-up, tempered glass centerline windshield, the bow area features a U-shaped seating arrangement that will allow two crew to stretch out and lean into the port and starboard cushioned backrests when underway and enjoy the ride. There are twin insulated fishboxes set under each of the forward bench seats to chill out the catch of the day. Another pair of recessed cupholders is set in the forepeak, as is a handy anchor locker that’s accessed via a lockable flush deck lid.
Other standard features on the Sailfish 226 DC include trim tabs with an auto retract function and angle indicator; cushions for all of the aforementioned seating including backrest in the bow area; marine compass; accessory switch panel with circuit breakers; dual USB charging ports; a split forward bow rail; a quartet of flush-mount S/S pull-up cleats; a 2000gph auto bilge pump; raw water washdown; plus a freshwater washdown system that feeds off a 12-gallon internal tank. Other standard goodies include storage under the starboard console, an in-floor ski locker set under the fiberglass cockpit sole between the consoles on the centerline, plus a tilt steering wheel with hydraulic steering. Desirable options include a Bimini top, cockpit and bow covers, a retractable ski tow pylon, underwater LED lights, a removable bow table, five hull color options and much more. However she’s tricked out, this dual console will allow family and friends to really enjoy the coastal lifestyle in a variety of enjoyable ways.
Water Time
Max horsepower on the Sailfish 226 DC is 200 Sea Ponies and owners can have their choice of Suzuki, Mercury or Yamaha outboards. She can be rigged with either 150s or 200s from these manufacturers. If this were my rig, I’d definitely go with a 200, since the more folks you add for a day of sun, sand and surf along with their gear, the more load she has to carry. According to recently factory tests with a Suzuki DF200, she’ll hit a top speed of over 42 mph at 6200 rpm with 70 gallons of fuel in the tank and two people onboard, spinning a 20-inch pitch stainless steel propeller. Dialing it back to a more sedate four-grand, she turned 25.6 mph at 7 gph, for a net of 3.66 mpg, which is very impressive for a boat that tips the scales over 5,000 pounds with nobody onboard. Bumping up the throttle to 4500 rpm, she hit 30.8 mph at 9.3 gph, for a bottom line of 3.32 mpg. If you have a need for speed and simply must be the first ones to the watering hole, cranking her up to 5000 revs will push the speedo to 34.8 mph at 12.2 gph, which translates to 2.85 mpg. These are great fuel-efficiency numbers for a hefty 23-footer. The generous 108-gallon fuel capacity will take you and the crew a long way between fill-ups. Her unique Variable Deadrise Hull (VDH) design incorporates a trio of deadrise angles at the transom and contributes to her stability and fuel efficiency, also making her a smooth operator when crossing the bay in an afternoon wind chop.
Like the other Sailfishes in the fleet, the 226 Dual Console employs Sailtech construction that unites science, materials and human engineering to build lasting structural integrity into every hull. The process incorporates materials including Kevlar, quad axial fiberglass, spray core and Trevira to ensure the reliability, strength and durability that boater’s need for peace of mind in any weather or sea conditions.
For more info, visit www.sailfishboats.com.
