SCOUT 255 LXF - The Fisherman

SCOUT 255 LXF

Scout has certainly carved out a market niche for their unique fishing boat line over the past quarter century and for 2015, Steve and the Scout engineering team have introduced their latest prodigy, the mid-sized 255LXF, a 25-foot luxury center console sport fishing machine that will appeal to a wide cadre of coastal anglers.
DEBUTANT
The unveiling of the new Scout 255 LXF happened at the recent Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show last month and this newbie made a big splash with the local crowds and media. They had not one or two of these 25-footers on hand, but four of them in a quartet of different hull colors, including flag blue, silver, basic white and black gelcoat colors. The first three were tied up at the docks at the Bahia Mar, while the black hull was moored in the convention center where I was able to jump aboard and give her a closer inspection. The jet black gelcoat gave this sportfisher a racy look and I wasn’t the only one at the Scout booth eyeballing this very attractive ride.
The layout of the 255LXF is typical Steve Potts, which is to say that she provides everything that you would need in a 25-footer for any type of day out on the water, but she does so in a very out-of-the-box manner that doesn’t follow conventional norms. This yearling showcases Scout’s singular patented T-Top/Hardtop design that features a sturdy tempered glass enclosure for enhanced weather protection at the helm. The Fusion stereo is a nice touch and includes an iPod jack or USB flash drive input. The deluxe fiberglass leaning post offers companion seats that fold up into backside bolsters for max support when underway, plus a removable 128-quart Igloo cooler down below with a quartet of vertical rodholders up top. A rear panel in the leaning post/rocket launcher flips down to reveal a quartet of Plano tackle trays, as well as some storage for leader wheels and other odds and ends. The leaning post is finished with a sturdy hand rail on the back side for your crew when underway, plus a pair of beverage holders to keep cool drinks from spilling on deck when racing to the next fishing spot. Going forward and working aft, some of the other notable standard fishing features on the 255LXF include twin 70-quart cooler boxes that are set under raised forward bench seats in the bow; a 220-quart insulated fishbox under the cockpit sole forward, with optional ($806) overboard discharge diaphragm pump; pop-up cleats that won’t snag any fishing lines when not in use; a 20-gallon recirculating livewell in the port transom corner; a total of seven flush mount rodholders, which include two in the gunwales and five across the transom bulkhead; under gunwale rod racks for a quartet of offshore outfits; plus raw water washdown.

LET’S RIDE
Although the 255LXF is brand spanking new, the engineers were able to fast-track some factory performance data on this hull just in time for the Ft Lauderdale boat show. Rigged with one of Evinrude’s new fire-breathin’ G2 E-TEC 250 HP next-gen two-strokes, this platform will hit a top speed just north of 50 mph at 5545 rpm spinning a 15D x 19P Rebel 3-blade stainless steel propeller. The Scout’s Nu-V3 hull is very responsive to minor throttle changes with the Evinrude’s G2 outboard, getting up on step at 18.2 mph at only 3000 rpm. The 3500-4500 rpm optimum cruising range is excellent for a 25 foot deep-vee, essentially getting 3+ mpg through this bandwidth, with 27.4 mph at 8.8 gph for a net of 3.11 mpg at 3500 revs; 35.3 mph at 11.3 gph netting 3.13 mpg at 4 grand; and 41.5 mph at 13.9 gph for 2.99 mpg at 4500 rpm. It’s hard to find a better competitive performance package on a wide-body 25½ footer that tips the scales at a substantial 4,300 pounds dry without power.
The secret to this exceptional performance is Scout’s Nu-V3 hull design, that milks maximum miles per gallon out of every tankful of fuel. This “convex” design is comprised of variable deadrise angles in the hull, offering increased fuel efficiency and one of the softest, driest rides in its class without sacrificing performance. But the good stuff doesn’t stop there. Scout also pioneered the first reverse-shoebox hull/deck design, which increases overall hull strength and prevents water from penetrating through the hull/deck joint in rough conditions. The eradication of all wood in the manufacturing process is also a Scout trademark, as it produces rot-free composite stringers and transoms that don’t “go soft” over time.
Other notable standard features on the Scout 255LXF include a vertical windlass with polished S/S anchor, roller, rode and chain; a Garmin 8208 multi-function display; marine compass; twin Eco teak swim platforms; a forward console cooler with seat cushion; hydraulic steering with tilt helm; forward seating in the bow with cushions and bolsters, plus much more.
The Scout 255 LXF is offered with your choice of Yamaha, Mercury or Evinrude outboard powerplants. Rigged with a single Yamaha F300, the MSRP is $114,143 and about $1,000 less if you go for the Mercury 300XL Verado. Twin Yamaha F150s will raise the MSRP to $120,518, but provide the safety benefit of twin power if you venture far offshore. Pricing on rigged with the aforementioned Evinrude G2 250 E-TEC was not available as of this writing. The Scout’s 132-gallon fuel tank should take you a long way between fill-ups, especially with her efficient hull design. To learn more about Scout’s new 255LXF center console sportfisher, visit www.scoutboats.com.

Specifications:
Length- 25-feet, six-inches
Beam- eight-feet, 11-inches
Weight- 4,300-lbs, dry without power
Draft- 17-inches (engine drives up)
Deadrise aft- 21.5-degrees
Freshwater Capacity- 15-gallons
Holding Tank Capacity- 9-gallons
Fuel Capacity- 132-gallons
Max Power- 400 HP, single or twin outboards