Other boat builders have been plying the dual console layout as the ultimate water borne family utility vehicle for decades, with myriad existing models from 17 to 37 feet. Sailfish has jumped into the dual console competitive fray with their new 275DC, which uses the proven hull and triple deadrise running bottom shared by their popular 275CC and 275WA models, but softens the hardcore fishing and overnighter layouts of her sister ships. The 275DC offers the ultimate family friendly deck plan that can perform a variety of day boat and water sports roles from skiing and wake boarding, bay and coastal sport fishing, water taxi trips to your favorite beach, plus cocktails at sunset for you and your friends. The 275DC achieves this with an intelligent crossover layout that puts every square inch of space onboard to good use.
For the family, the 275DC offers comfortable deep bow seating, plenty of freeboard from stem to stern, 30 inches of cockpit depth aft, a three position convertible port-side double-wide lounge, removable bow and aft entertainment tables, a built-in retractable ski pole set in the transom bulkhead, fold-up aft bench seating, plus a well-equipped cockpit galley positioned aft of the flip-up bolstered captain’s chair. There’s plenty of storage space onboard with a flush cockpit hatch on the centerline opening to reveal a convenient spot to stow your water skis or wakeboard, along with a trio of horizontal rod racks. A large step-down head area under the port console will provide welcome respite when nature calls, and a freshwater shower with 14-gallon tank will clean off the crew after a salty day at the beach.
But true to her namesake, this Sailfish can angle with the best of them too. Standard fishing features include a quartet of flush-mount rodholders, a trio of tackle storage drawers in the entertainment center, horizontal rod storage, a 30-gallon recirculating livewell set in the port corner transom cap, plus an addition four-rod rocket launcher if you spring for the optional powder-coated hardtop. Two under-cockpit fishboxes with macerator pump-outs are complemented by another pair of insulation fishboxes set under the twin raised forward bench seats and empty their contents directly overboard via gravity drains. The Sailfish 275DC is a turnkey water sports platform from the get-go, and notable standard features include twin auto bilge pumps, high performance trim tabs with auto-retract, a port-side transom door with retractable boarding ladder, flush anchor locker in the forepeak with anchor management system, low-profile powder-coated bowrails, bow cushions and more.
Power Options
What I like about the 275DC is that Sailfish is not married to any one engine manufacturer. Some of the power options include twin four-stroke 150-horsepower Mercs, as well as counter-rotating pairs of Yamaha’s proven F150 or F200 four-strokes. Mounting a pair of Merc’s big-block 3.0 liter in-line four cylinder four-strokes on the transom, the 275DC will hit a top speed of almost 48 mph at wide open throttle, spinning a set of 14 x 19 Enertia 3-blade SS props. The Merc 150/Enertia set-up gets the best fuel efficiency and fastest midrange (3,500 to 4,500 rpm) cruising speeds of the three aforementioned power options, generating 27 mph at only 3,500 rpm at just north of 10 gph, for a net of 2.67 mpg. Cruising speeds with the twin 150 Mercs are very snappy, hitting 33.5 mph/2.34 mpg at 4,000 rpm and 39.2 mph/2.07 mpg at 4,500 revs. This is excellent performance for a 27-footer, and many of today’s single engine and twin outboard powered 23- to 27-foot hulls would be extremely hard pressed to match fuel economy numbers like that. Looking at a specific real world comparison, my 23-foot center console running a single 225 four stroke gets 2.7 mpg at optimum cruise and it’s four feet shorter and a few thousand pounds lighter.
If you are more interested in faster hole shots for water skiing and wake boarding, Yamaha’s 2.8 liter F200s would win that contest, with a quick 4.0-second time-to-plane, courtesy of swinging lower 17-inch pitch Reliance SS props, different lower unit gear ratio and a top speed that approaches 50 mph. Optimum fuel efficiency for the Yamaha F200s also occurs at 3,500 rpm, where the 275DC will hit 24.3 mph on the GPS at 10.2 gph, for a bottom line of 2.38 mpg. No matter what your preferred power choice, the 275DC’s standard 190-gallon fuel capacity will take you a long way between fill-ups.
Made from 100 percent composite materials and using 316 stainless steel hardware, Sailfish boats are built to last. Kevlar and carbon fiber reinforcements are added to the hull and deck of the 275DC for greater durability and the entire stringer system is foam-filled for added safety. Each Sailfish boat comes with a 10-year hull warranty and a lifetime no-rot guarantee.
