Often the final decision about buying a boat comes down to the bottom line. You want to get out and chase the fish for as little money as possible, so you look for the least expensive center console you can find. There are a lot of bargain-basement boats out there, but that usually means settling for rolled gunwales and speckle-finished cockpits. With the Sea Fox 257 CC, though, you pay a low price yet still get some attractive amenities.
We ran the 257 CC for an entire season and got to know the true value of this boat. It's not perfect (what boat is?), but for the money the 257 CC has a lot of good points. It has important standard fishing features, a family-oriented layout, and makes a solid appearance-a combination package not often seen on entry-level center consoles.
PLAYING THE ANGLES. The 257 CC fished well over the course of our test. For bait fishing, there's an 80-gallon circulating livewell built into the transom. Some anglers don't like having to fight fish around the Euro-transom, but both gunwales have removable coaming bolsters that extend forward to the console. The recessed inwale rodracks hold two rods per side and can accommodate fly rods. Add the four vertical holders on the helm bench, the four stainless-steel rodholders in the gunwales, and the four rocket launchers on the optional T-top ($3,075), and we had plenty of spots to stow our gear. The solidly made T-top also sported an optional electronics box ($750). A tackle stowage compartment with room for three tackle trays is built into the helm just underneath the AM/FM/cassette player. (The optional CD player costs $350.)
THE HIGHS: Plenty of fishy features you don't always find standard. Mom'll love the roomy console, kids the swim ladder. Good offshore manners in waves; sporty and fast when it's calm.
THE LOWS: Flip-down footrest at the helm is an ankle buster. Wiring not up to snuff. Only one cleat on the bow for two docklines and the anchor rode?
The two hatches in the cockpit sole open to reveal 4'6"-by-1'-by-1' insulated fishboxes. Instead of equipping the fishboxes with macerators, Sea Fox creatively cut costs by making them removable so you can lift them out to wash away detritus and scales. Do it right on deck with the standard raw-water washdown system.
The elevated forward casting deck is low enough to keep you from tumbling while casting, but its U-shaped design limits standing room. Snap on the cushions, though, and the casting deck becomes a decent forward seating area. It's one of the ways Sea Fox tries to make the 257 CC more family-friendly. Others include the telescoping three-step swim ladder, walkthrough door in the transom, standard portable MSD in the roomy 5'9"-high head, and 94-quart removable cooler that doubles as a bench forward of the console.
