Overview

Twenty-knot winds stirred the seas to a frenzy and the bay to a choppy froth rough enough to spill a Yeti—but not in this center-console. EdgeWater boasts a single-piece infusion hull system (SPI) that employs vacuum infusion to perfectly saturate fiberglass cloth with optimal resin and fuse it to the integrated deck and stringer system, which is then foam-filled. The result is a single-piece hull that serious weather can’t shake. The boat rode softly through chop on a 23-degree deadrise hull, turned smoothly in tight channels, and kept our crew comfortably confident all day. Yamaha power with Helm Master controls, a joystick and the Full Maneuverability integrated autopilot is a pleasure to operate. The autopilot will take you to your spot, slow down, and stand over the hole like a faithful steed while you set your lines.

Interior and Accessories

A three-panel tempered-glass windshield is set in sturdy, weight-saving fiberglass struts supporting a durable hardtop. The hardtop has an electronics box and a handy mesh compartment for life jackets. The dash holds dual 16-inch Garmin displays, and the hidden Icom black-box VHF exposed only the Command mic on the dash. “Keep it clean” is EdgeWater’s motto, and we think it did a good job of making sure everything on board is easy to see, use and maintain.

There are three livewells: two in the transom, one extra-large and long at the center, and another one on the port transom. There is also one available in the rigging station aft of the leaning post. All the wells are fed from a sea chest to maintain optimal flow and pressure while on the sometimes-rough voyage to the grounds. The expertly designed network of wells and pumps keeps baits lively, and allows different types to be carried separately and easily accessible.

Four shotgun rod holders, rigging-station rod holders, locking rod racks under both gunwales, and cup/rod holders line the gunwale from transom to bow. You can peg a rod with barely a glance.

Dual bucket seats pamper the skipper and mate. Stowable bow sun-pad cushions include forward and aft seatbacks to create an ­intimate seating circle on the bow deck. A cocktail table can turn the bow seating into a sun lounger. The double lounge on the ­console front adds even more comfort. Stow away the bow cushions and table for a clean battle deck ready to load the insulated fish boxes in the center foredeck and under the seats. The long livewell on the transom can also be used as a fish box if not needed for bait.

EdgeWater’s cockpit is roomy when the transom seat is stowed and converted to a leaning bolster. It is roomy enough for an angler and wireman to maneuver easily when billfishing, or for letting four or more crew handle lines for bottomfishing.

In the console is an electric head and ­freshwater sink. It’s a couple of steps down to it with hand grabs for support. The headroom is generous, and LEDs and natural light keep it cheery. The full circuit-breaker panel with battery switches is easy to see and use, and above it is a hatch to the back of the ­electronics “back office” rigging. There’s also convenient access to batteries and onboard chargers. EdgeWater builds its boats knowing that service going forward should be ­convenient and accessible.

Engines

It’s not hard to find a competitive 31-foot center-console in the bulging center-­console marketplace, and there’s one just down the street in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. ­Everglades makes a 315 CC ($522,409) that shares virtually the same footprint as the EdgeWater 325CC. The Everglades is coincidentally the brainchild of the same EdgeWater founder but differs in ­construction techniques. Rather than the SPI hull-­construction process, Everglades employs a process it calls RAMCAP, which molds high-density foam modules to fit the hollows ­between the stringers, hull and deck. The modules are fused into the deck under pressure until cured, and the result is a ­super-tough boat. The Everglades is 4 inches shorter than the EdgeWater but shares the same beam dimension. The Everglades outweighs the EdgeWater by 3,000 pounds and calls on dual Mercury V-10 400s to make over 56 mph, while the EdgeWater makes 55 mph with dual Yamaha F300s. The most visible feature boasted by Everglades is the popular side boarding door, a feature not found on the EdgeWater.

Read Next: Boating On Board: EdgeWater 340CC

Clearly, the EdgeWater 325CC ranks as a top-shelf model with abundant creature comforts to seat and pamper large crews. It’s superb fishability comes from a combination of its seakeeping capabilities and well-placed rod holders, rigging accommodations, and foldaway seating in the cockpit. What’s more, it is all packaged together with so much gracious style, the 325CC will turn heads at the sandbar, or waterfront restaurant, or while plying the Gulf Stream for trophies.

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin Yamaha F300s
• Drive/Props: Outboard/Yamaha SWS II 14.25″ x 18″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 150 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 450 lb.

High Points

• Ample access to electrical and mechanical systems through generous hatches in the cockpit and head compartment.
• High-capacity livewells let you carry plenty of bait.
• Plentiful, comfortable seating for cruising or moving between fishing spots.

Low Points

• Gunwale entry door is not available, but its absence allows for more undergunwale rod storage.
• Livewell lids are not clear acrylic for bait inspection, a feature we miss.
• Larger hatch to access the electronics suite would ease service when needed.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

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Join us as we walk ‘on board’ EdgeWater’s 2024 340CC at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. 

Walkthrough Summary

The 2024 EdgeWater 340CC is luxurious, built to fish, and easy to maintain. This boat is equipped with an adjustable upper station, the Seakeeper 2, double wide helm and console seats, flush switches, a bonded glass windshield, Yamaha Helm Master control system, and more. See why this beautifully built boat is a great choice for your fishing adventures. 

Key Features

• Adjustable upper station
• Seakeeper 2
• Double wide helm and console seats
• Yamaha Helm Master control system

Quick Specifications

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Build Your 325CC in Minutes.

The EdgeWater 325CC stands as a testament to superior craftsmanship and thoughtful design. It all starts with Single-Piece Infusion, a closed-molded vacuum resin infusion process that combines foam composite structural stringers, engineer knitted fiberglass, and vinylester resins to create a perfect glass-to-resin ratio and optimize the strength, weight, and flexibility of the hull. It’s powered with white, twin 300hp Yamaha engines and outfitted with DES and Lumitec underwater lighting.

This boat boasts a standard 66-gallon transom livewell and a remarkable 300-gallon fuel capacity, ensuring extended journeys without interruption. The extra wide helm features flush mounted Garmins and a dash that is easy to clean after a long day of fishing. Even the helm seats are extra wide with flip-down arm rests and bolsters for added comfort.

The entire cockpit is surrounded with thick, padded bolsters. Toe rails and raw water washdowns under the gunnels keep a safe and clear deck, while freshwater sink and shower heads can be found at the rigging station. The EdgeWater 325CC presents itself as a compelling option for those seeking a boating experience that stands out in its class.

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Build Your 262CC in Minutes.

The EdgeWater 262CC is a state-of-the-art center console boat that seamlessly blends innovation with functionality. With a plethora of integrated features, this boat guarantees a one-stop shop for all your boating needs. It’s powered by white, twin 200hp Yamaha engines and includes Lumitec underwater lighting for both aesthetic charm and practicality. One of its latest enhancements is the Seakeeper Ride, and it’s a standard inclusion. This novel upgrade automatically reduces up to 70% of underway pitch and roll for an even more comfortable ride.

This boat features an extra wide helm, one of the biggest in its class sitting at 9’3”, with flush-mounted Garmins and a dash that is easy to clean after a long day of fishing. Even the helm seats are extra wide with flip-down arm rests and bolsters for added comfort. The premium stereo, coupled with 7.7 speakers, ensures top-tier sound quality for onboard entertainment and the circuit breaker panel and battery switches are conveniently placed below the wheel.

A smooth, no-rattle dive door with a conveniently placed freshwater washdown station makes life easy for families. Similarly, the large, accessible head provides ample storage for all the fun equipment needed for outings. The EdgeWater 262CC is a remarkable choice for an unparalleled on-water expedition.

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”Nimbus Group has a clear growth strategy where expansion in the important North American market comprise one of the cornerstones. The acquisition of EdgeWater adds a strong and successful brand to our House of Brands. The market for powerboats in the US is the single largest in the world and to support Nimbus Group’s expansion in the US and increases our presence in the North American market EdgeWater Power Boats adds an important experienced local organization and production capacity in the US”, says Jan-Erik Lindström, President and CEO of Nimbus Group.

Every brand has a story. EdgeWater Power Boats’ story just added a new chapter to its long history in the boating world.

EdgeWater Power Boats’ story started in 1992 with a vision from the legendary engineer, Bob Dougherty, that wanted to build boats with integrally stable hulls. This was the foundation of what was to come — Single-Piece Infusion (SPI). EdgeWater pioneered this game-changing boatbuilding process. Beyond the build of the boat, EdgeWater prides itself on the luxury, family mindset that it designs into the bones of every boat.

“With this collaborative partnership, we will set a strong standard for boatbuilding,” says Jennifer Butera, President, and CEO of EdgeWater Power Boats. “Our companies share the same sensibilities geared towards providing sincere commitment to our customers and their families. The Nimbus Group is aimed at growth, and it seems limitless.”

With luxury and family in mind, Nimbus Group is the perfect partner with EdgeWater Power Boats. Nimbus Group was founded in 1968 by brothers Lars and Hans Wiklund with their first Nimbus 26 and went on to created Scandinavia’s leading boat building company and one of the most recognized brands on the market. Nimbus Group today is comprised of 7 brands and approximately 70 different models with manufacturing facilities in 9 locations throughout Sweden, Finland, and Poland. Nimbus Group creates a Scandinavian thoughtful design for the conscious customer by designing, producing, and deliver leisure boats for the global market.

This agreement brings together two iconic companies in the marine industry, both established and readied for the future boating market. This partnership will give the ability to better share resources and technologies that will push their products to the next level and the future of boating.

About EdgeWater Power Boats

EdgeWater Power Boats produces luxury-driven, utility boats that include center console and dual console boats made for families and anglers. 

EdgeWater Boats

About Nimbus Group

Nimbus Group produces and markets powerboats which includes the brands Alukin, Aquador, Bella, Falcon, Flipper, Nimbus and Paragon Yachts.

Nimbus Group

The post EdgeWater Power Boats Acquired by Nimbus Group appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

Remember the 50/50 bars you got from the ice cream truck? Vanilla ice cream on the inside and orange popsicle on the outside, they were the perfect treat on a hot day.

EdgeWater’s new 340CC hearkens back to the 50/50 with an artful blend of fishing features and cruising. It doesn’t seem to sacrifice either, striking a balance that makes the 340CC an easy sell to families looking for satisfying tastes of both.

Interior and Accessories

For example, some family-centric center-consoles offer only a modicum of bait capacity, but the 340CC features a pressurized 32-gallon transom well in the starboard quarter, plus an optional built-in pressurized 38-gallon livewell ($3,873) abaft the helm seating that includes a full-height aquarium-style viewing window. Our test boat, however, had the optional Super Leaning Post Package ($3,230) with a sink and freshwater faucet, a basin for stashing rigged trolling baits, three drawers of tackle stowage and an Isotherm fridge. The standard leaning post includes adjustable helm seats with flip-up bolsters, a 48-quart cooler, pull-out shower with sink, and cutting board. A pair of insulated in-sole fish lockers flanked the aft deck, and two more are tucked under the 23-inch-wide walkway aside the console.

Looking for comfort? Gaze forward, where the optional Bow Comfort Package ($3,495) includes backrests that turn the wraparound seating into a pair of inviting loungers. A cantilever-style pedestal table lets you serve a mean charcuterie, while recessed drink holders keep beverages secure. Lose the table and seat upholstery, and anglers have a great place to fish off the bow or man the anchor line that deploys from an in-stem anchor roller and retrieves using an electric windlass.

Ready to relax again? Settle into the lounge for two on the forward console. Underneath resides a cavernous step-down garage that include racks for scuba tanks, six fishing rods, and room for a pair of 5-gallon buckets.

In the stern, a foldout transom bench offers a seat bottom that extends far enough to offer good thigh support. It quickly folds away to clear the deck and get to fishin’ using the five rod holders that line the transom. The aft cockpit deck measures more than 9 feet wide by 6 feet long, giving you room to dance, be it with a significant other or a leaping sailfish.

A standard inward-opening portside dive door eases the embarking process, and the removable boarding ladder offers a graceful means of reboarding after swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving. A transom gate in the starboard quarter provides another way to embark.

The 340CC’s fiberglass hardtop, full-height glass windshield and center console integrate seamlessly. An electric vent at the top of windshield allows a cooling breeze. A built-in hardtop hatch offers easy access aloft in case you add a tower. A pair of high-back helm seats offer comfort, with footrests at the base of the console to brace yourself.

EdgeWater has engineered a standard visibility step that folds out from the seat base to add 4½ inches of elevation to the helm pad for those who can’t see over the console.

The 42-inch-wide dash panel on our test boat was filled with a pair of optional flush-mounted Garmin 8616 multifunction displays ($22,114), a Yamaha CL7 engine monitor, a standard Fusion stereo (controlling eight JL speakers, including two subwoofers), and Yamaha’s Helm Master joystick as part of the twin Yamaha 425 XTO propulsion package (a $64,894 upgrade). Twin Yamaha F300s are standard.

A tray atop the dash and another under the switch panel are handy for stashing mobile phones. An overhead electronics box housed a Garmin Reactor autopilot control ($4,538). There’s a redundant switch panel on the port side of the leaning-post module for the livewell pumps, washdown systems and fish-locker pump-outs.

Inside the step-down console interior, accessible from the portside companionway, is an impressive panel to control the onboard electrical system, as well as a sink, freshwater pull-out shower and electric-flush head.

Looking for a comparison boat? Look at Scout’s 330 LXF ($406,469 base with twin Yamaha 425 XTOs and Helm Master), which is similarly sized, but has a step-hull and a greater emphasis on cruising luxury.

The 340CC is built with composite and foam structural stringers with knitted fiberglass and vinylester resins in a closed-vacuum process that EdgeWater calls Single-Piece Infusion. That pays off in a solid-feeling boat that’s free of creaks and rattles.

Engine

The deep-V running surface knifes smoothly through rough seas, and corners at high speed with confidence-inspiring precision. The twin Yamaha 425 hp outboards on our test boat propelled the 340CC to plane in a head-snapping 3 seconds, reaching 30 mph in just 6 seconds. Top speed was 59 mph at 6,000 rpm.

They say a good compromise leaves all parties unhappy, but the EdgeWater 340CC seems to has achieved just the opposite. Both sides of its nature—the fishy part and family part—meld into a pleasing combination that will put a smile on everyone’s face. Just like a 50/50 bar.

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin 425 hp Yamaha 425 XTO V-8
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha XTO 16 3/8″ x 20″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.79:1 Fuel Load: 200 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

High Points

• Fold-down visibility step offers 4 inches of extra elevation at the helm.
• Enjoy 70 gallons of livewell capacity, with the aquarium well optioned in the rigging center.
• Abundant seating in the bow will please the socialites among family and friends.

Low Points

• Visibility step creates a tripping point if you don’t fold it back up.
• Gap at the bottom of the windshield drains the console top, but it can also let water in.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

EdgeWater Boats – Edgewater, Florida; 386-426-5457; ewboats.com

The post 2020 Edgewater 340 CC appeared first on Boating Mag.

There seems to be no end to the demand for dual consoles or, as EdgeWater calls its model, a crossover. It is the SUV of salt water, bringing the spacious seating of a bowrider to the fishability of a center-console EdgeWater’s Crossover 230CX is a bull’s-eye in that market both for its size and the features packed into it.

For creature comforts, there is ample seating forward with fold-down armrests. Cockpit seating wraps around from the port side to the starboard-side transom door. Adding more versatility is the sliding seatback that will convert the portside lounge from a back-to-back seat to a full-length lounge—just lay the seatback forward for that bonus arrangement.

The hardtop is standard on the 230CX, and it brings shade, a spot to hang some rocking stereo speakers, plus an overhead dashboard to hold the VHF and stereo head unit. At the helm, there is room for a factory-rigged Garmin chart plotter. Both the dash on the hardtop and the helm are trimmed in glossy black acrylic. ­Electrical switches for all systems are stretched across the dash, and the stainless-steel buttons are LED-trimmed for easy identification.

The captain’s chair is adjustable with a flip-up bolster and foldaway armrests. Just aft of it is a ­cockpit galley with a freshwater sink and a slide-away cooler ­below it.

But all that comfort doesn’t cut into fishability. There are two livewells: one on the transom and one under the aft seat. That way, you can carry crustaceans and mud minnows ­separately, or you can carry frozen cut bait in one and let it drain overboard. Four rod holders on the aft gunwales and a pair up front are well-placed. Lower the cocktail table for a beam-to-beam casting deck.

On plane, the boat was most comfortable near 30 mph. It possesses plenty of deadrise and a sharp stem to knock down seas. We tested it with 1,000 pounds of crew and a half-full fuel tank, netting about 42 mph—only losing 1 mph over a standard two-man test crew.

High Points

• Nonskid deck is textured for traction but slick enough for easy cleaning.
• Even with our large crew, the boat planed off quickly without tabs.
• Large compartment in the port console holds a head compartment.

Low Points

• At lower speeds, the 230 was tender and required tabs to level the ride.

Toughest Competitor The Boston Whaler 230 Vantage ($128,370 base with Mercury 250, hardtop and blue side colors) broke new ground, and we would characterize it as 60/40 family over fish, while the EdgeWater proves somewhat fishier.

Price: $127,600 (with test power)

Available Power: Outboard

How We Tested Engine: Yamaha 250 Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha SDS 15″ x 16″ 3-blade stainless steel Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 40 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

EdgeWater Boats – Edgewater, Florida; 386-426-5457; ewboats.com

The post EdgeWater Crossover 230 CX Boat Test appeared first on Boating Mag.

EdgeWater Powerboats has announced their brand new 230CX into their Crossover fleet for the upcoming 2019 Miami International Boat Show.

This new center console crossover is a single-piece-infused chameleon when it comes to all the uses it holds.

“The act of boating is about unlimited options,” said Edgewater Powerboats’ President and CEO Jennifer Butera. “We made a boat that delivers on all of them. With its integrated swim platforms and retractable bow table to the insulated fishbox and 12-gallon, LED-lit baitwell, it’s the perfect combo of fishability and family fun.”

In addition, the 230CX brings a new take to the industry on standard features.

“What some boat manufacturers call luxury or custom, we call standard,” said Butera. “There’s a need for all these features, why make that a special request? We want our customers to be more than satisfied the first time they take their boat on the water.”

The new 230CX standard features include:

• Gelcoat Hull Color
• Retractable Ski Pylon
• Powder Coated Package
• Integrated Swim Platform w/ Ladder
• Integrated Swim Platform w/ Anchor Storage, Bow Table, Bow Filler Cushion, Freshwater Washdown, Raw Water Washdown, Underwater Lights, Fully Finished Portside Head

See the new 230CX and EdgeWater’s Lineup at the 2019 Miami International Boat Show // Pier 5 Booth #575-578, 580, 582, 584, 586, 588

The post EdgeWater Powerboats Unveils the New 230CX at 2019 Miami Boat Show appeared first on Boating Mag.

The trends I see in recreational boats consist of increased sophistication, elegance in styling, and more features, both standard and optional. EdgeWater has always built classy, upscale boats. In recent years it has taken that philosophy to all new levels, targeting both hardcore fishing fanatics as well as their families. Impossible blend?

EdgeWater’s foundation is its construction method. Called single-piece infusion, it places knitted fiberglass and structural composite stringers into the mold before introducing the vinylester resin via a vacuum-bag process. The net is a single-piece hull with the perfect ratio of resin to glass, and no air bubbles or voids for maximum strength at minimum weight. EdgeWater boats also float level and upright if swamped.

When you board the 230CC, there’s no question that this is a family-oriented boat. So I was surprised to see a pair of rod holders along with two stainless-steel pop-up cleats in the bow — items normally associated with only the most hardcore fishing boats. Surely handy for fishing, but I discovered they serve triple duty as drink holders and receptacles for the carbon-fiber poles that support the standard sun awning. Another pair provides the same service for an aft sunshade.

Also forward, EdgeWater provides a standard table/sun-pad ­insert. This stows conveniently in the console. Fully insulated stowage/fish boxes hide beneath the forward seating and drain directly overboard. A seat on the front of the console door hides a large stowage area with a fixed marine head, access to helm wiring, dedicated stowage for two dive tanks or fenders, easy battery access, and portholes for cross-ventilating the head.

EdgeWater did an exceptional job of integrating the T-top stanchions into the console so they don’t stick out and crowd the way ­forward when passing by. Another boat aboard which the console and T-top impressed me is the Everglades 230 CC ($120,538 with a 300 hp Yamaha). The EdgeWater’s helm handles a 16-inch MFD, Yamaha engine gauges and entertainment-system control head alongside the ship’s systems switches. The integrated electronics box in the hardtop and a nice three-sided glass windshield enclosure round out the command center. Built-in three-color LED lights bathe the helm and leaning post at the touch of a button while white LEDs flood the foredeck and cockpit. Finally, bowing to a mystical trend of recent years, EdgeWater even includes blue underwater lighting as standard fare.

EdgeWater supplies a mini coiled-hose holder, a storage bin and a rod holder under the port gunwale, and four undergunwale rod holders to starboard. Four more rod holders across the transom, two in each gunwale, and optional rocket launchers across the back of the T-top ensure you will have all the fishing weaponry you need.

The 230CC comes with one standard and one optional live baitwell in the stern. Also crossing the stern is a 33-inch-wide bench seat with cushions, bolster backrests and storage. In fact, this boat has amazing storage for a 23-footer. The gloss-finished bilge with LED lighting affords easy access to plumbing and fuel systems, just reach through the hatch in the bottom of the transom bench seat. Another excellent design feature extends the twin swim platforms aft past the engine’s lower unit, especially excellent since one has a swim ladder you can deploy while in the water. You don’t need to be old and/or overweight to have difficulty climbing out of the water without a ladder if you happen to fall in. The other houses a second anchor locker with hanger for when you want to beach your boat or anchor in a current without swinging. EdgeWater even supplies a 40-quart cooler on a sliding, easy-lock tray under the console seat. Touch that latch and slide the cooler out for unfettered access to your staples.

I especially appreciate the design of the recessed scuppers in the cockpit corners. These allow water to exit without leaving residual puddles around the scuppers that turn green and create gritty muck.

As the helicopter sat on the tarmac waiting for the rain to end, I took the opportunity to run the 230CC in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Winds were calm, but a large motor­yacht threw enough wake to test lateral stability. If you like drift-fishing, you’ll find the 230CC stable and remarkably quiet, without much wave-slapping noise. Underway, trim-tab response proved accurate and sensitive without being too aggressive. Wheel hard-over turns at cruising speed and trim blend quickly, finishing with a minor stern slide, so your precious passengers will remain safe and sound in semiradical maneuvers. Unlike some of its competition in this size range, the EdgeWater tracks beautifully at slow speed with no hint of wandering.

I love that just about everything comes standard: the powder coating, the luxury leaning post/helm seating with its integrated bolsters and armrests, bow table and hideaway towing pylon, all on board. After all, if they’re such good ideas, just include them.

High Points

• Commendable blend of family and fishing functions.
• Inspired multipurpose features — check out the rod-holder/drink-holder/sunshade sockets.
• Design and build features commonly found aboard larger boats include resin infusion, a gloss-finished bilge and more.

Low Points

• Zippered overhead life-vest storage would be better with Velcro.
• Crossmember on the windshield might obstruct vision for shorter operators.

Price: $122,603 (base with test power)

Available Power: Outboard

How We Tested
Engine: Yamaha F300
Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha 15 1/4″ x 18″ 3-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.75:1
Fuel Load: 55 gal.
Water on Board: NA
Crew Weight: 400 lb.

More Information
EdgeWater Boats – Edgewater, Florida; 386-426-5457; ewboats.com

The post EdgeWater 230 CC Boat Test appeared first on Boating Mag.

Sure, the solid-glass windscreen fitted to EdgeWater’s 368CC is so carefully crafted that it provides a panoramic view with no distortion, despite its curved sides. But the great visibility from the helm we noted while running this mega console is part of a much bigger story, one that weaves through the details of design and construction and propulsion. Find out what we discovered during our test of EdgeWater’s 368CC.

The 368CC weighs less than competitive craft, displacing 8,200 pounds. Compare that with the 11,500-pound Everglades 355, the 12,850 pound Grady-White Canyon 376 or the 13,500 pound Boston Whaler 370 Outrage. As savvy boaters know, the power-to-weight ratio reigns as a determiner of speed and efficiency. At 9.2 horsepower-per-pound, the 368 CC boasts best in class for this spec.

EdgeWater builds the 368 this light without compromising strength and durability thanks to its Single Piece Infusion technology. The SPI process utilizes high-density fiberglass wetted with 50 percent less resin than conventional fiberglass lamination. The glass and structural elements, such as the stringers and transom, are placed in the mold dry, then a vacuum bag is applied and the resin pulled through. This helps to ensure complete chemical bonding and creates a stiff, strong, light boat.

Note that the 368CC, like all EdgeWater boats, is unsinkable. All structural components and spaces are filled with closed-cell PVC foam for maximum buoyancy and level flotation. Combined with SPI, the unsinkable quality makes the 368CC a safe boat in which to venture offshore.

As important as weight, the EdgeWater 368CC is also a stepped hull, a design element that enhances speed and efficiency. In this case, there are two steps that divide the running surface into three panels. While the lift-enhancing, drag-reducing aspects of steps are touted widely (and they are in full force on the 368CC), little is said of the fact that with a stepped hull, the designers can “build in” the trim of the boat; the steps are located and sized to present the ideal angle of attack in the targeted speed ranges.

All of the above is discussion. To experience the effects of combining an optimized power-to-weight ratio with a double-stepped hull, grab the helm and put the levers in the corner. With triple 300 hp Yamaha F300 outboards, our 368CC test boat tore out of the hole and reached a blistering 60 mph at wide-open throttle. At 36 mph, or 3,500 rpm, the 368CC cruises comfortably and achieves a stellar 1.3 mpg.

Check out performance results from a number of other boats that we’ve tested with Yamaha F300 outboards.

The 368’s ride proved impressive too. We threw the wheel port and starboard at speeds approaching 40 mph. The 368CC carved around those turns with a confident feel. Test day was flat, but the boat clove through the wakes we generated for test purposes. Notably, the 368CC stayed on plane as slow as 19 mph, which is a further testament to the hull’s efficiency and a nice ability to have in reserve should sea conditions truly deteriorate. It planes quickly and on the level, further contributing to the great visibility from the helm. We do wish the trim-tab switches were not right in front of the throttle levers where we discovered them cumbersome to operate.

Beyond design and construction, propulsion and performance, the 368CC delivers much to be proud of. Its cabin is the largest for a center console in this class and luxuriously outfitted with lots of finely carpentered wood.There’s room for six people to mingle in this cabin, the galley is a real kitchen, and it’s well-lit and well-ventilated. Similar to competitive center consoles, there is no enclosed head, despite this cabin’s large size and airy feel. Instead, the commode resides beneath a settee.

On the bow, the seating features removable backrests and houses massive stowage in the overboard-draining fish boxes inside the seats. We just wish the stowage lids were an inch shorter so we could open the boxes without needing to remove the backrests. A slick feature is the electrically deployed table that rises from the sole. Raise it halfway to create a filler and make a lounge out of the bow.

Aft, our tester sported a boarding door in the starboard side as well as one on the transom. Access to the dock, water or engines is safe and easy. This boat also boasted a grill aft of the hardtop, rather than the available seating. The grill features an automatic shut-off should something inadvertently close the lid while it’s on. All kinds of drawer and bulk stowage reside below, along with a refrigerator.

There are rod racks and two huge livewells aboard the 368CC, the latter colored a bait-soothing blue on the inside. And the boarding doors can allow whoppers as well as guests. Outriggers sprout from the high-tech carbon-fiber hardtop. Yep, you can really fish on this boat.

Service access to the bilge is via a hatch in the cockpit sole aft and centerline, through which I easily fit. The batteries are right there. Changing a fuel filter or servicing a pump requires more agility because these are located beyond a smaller cutout aft, under the engine splashwell.

For comparison’s sake, check out Boston Whaler’s 370 Outrage ($469,454, powered like our test boat). Two things are key when shopping for a boat in this class: Because equipment can vary so much, compare the prices of specific boats, not just models, and take a sea trial.

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