READY TO ROCK. We had plenty of time to see if the 257 CC cut the mustard on the chase, as we ran it both inshore and offshore from summer through fall. The boat held its own in rough water, though it sometimes took some spray over the bow. It had a tough time staying on plane in the 20-to-22-mph range and was sluggish out of the hole. That may seem surprising with twin 150-hp outboards, but we suspect that they were underpropped, because Mercury rates these outboards for a maximum of 5600 rpm but we reached 6000. Once on plane, the 257 CC zipped along, hitting a top speed of 51.6 mph and cruising comfortably in the 30s. In a nice touch of refinement, the standard trim tabs are recessed into the hull so when they're up, there's less drag and they're less likely to snag a line.
The 257 CC proved to be a deft-handling boat for a 25-footer, a fact we established during an afternoon of aggressive tubing. We carved tight turns, sped up, and slowed down with the grace of a smaller boat, validating the 257 CC's versatility. The boat tracks straight at idle speeds, which helps while trolling. The twin engine setup came in handy around the docks, although you can buy the 257 CC for only $34,900 with a single 225-hp Mercury EFI outboard-plenty of power if it's rigged right.The twin 150-hp Optimax engines, combined with the large 150-gallon fuel tank, gave us the ability to stay out all day on the water. Our test numbers back up the 257 CC's excellent range-460 statute miles while cruising at 32.7 mph and 3500 rpm. Scale the throttles back to 3000 rpm and 27.8 mph and the range peaks at 494 miles. That's a lot of running room when scouting for fish or taking the kids out for a cruise. All told, we had to fuel up just seven times over the season.
The Dusky 256, which sells for $44,900 with twin 150-hp Optimax engines, is one of the few center consoles that can match the Sea Fox on price. But it has a speckle-finished sole compared to the Sea Fox's molded diamond-pattern nonslip, and the Dusky has a rougher ride because of its flatter running surface. The Sea Fox also has that 150-gallon fuel capacity, compared to the Dusky's 110.
If you're willing to jump up a price bracket, consider the Cobia 254 CC, which sells for $60,700 with twin 150-hp Yamaha HDPIs. It has similar styling to the Sea Fox, with a Euro-transom and a head in the console, but it's built with a little more finish-details that appear in areas such as the anchor locker, wiring, and battery mounting.
BUILDING BLOCKS. The 257 CC is built using conventional construction techniques. It has a fiberglass stringer grid system injected with closed-cell foam. The transom and the deck are reinforced with Klegecell composite panels and the plastic fuel tank is glassed in place. (Some people prefer plastic fuel tanks over aluminum because they don't corrode in salt water.) Before the deck is joined to the hull, Sea Fox paints a fiberglass bonding agent every 16" along the stringers, so the deck becomes structurally bonded to the hull. The hull-to-deck joint is sealed with 3M's 5200 sealant and screwed.The hullsides and deck never flexed or rattled during our season of use. The stainless-steel grabrail around the bow platform is a one-piece welded unit, as opposed to the screwed-together rails seen on some comparably priced boats. It won't rattle.
