The gel coat is isopthalic, a step above the orthothalic type seen on some entry-levels that is more prone to blistering. Deck hatches have stainless-steel latches, and there are gutters to sluice away water. Hydraulic steering is standard as are the raw-water and freshwater washdown systems. There are five 6" stainless-steel cleats, with only one at the bow, primarily for the anchor rode. A second one up here would make tying off in a slip a lot easier. The helm bench has a flip-down footrest and a nice wraparound rail to give standing passengers something to grab.
The biggest gripe we have with the 257 CC is that the wiring was a little sloppy in certain areas, looking as if rushed through during production. It held up fine during the season, but could lead to problems down the road. As with many boats of this type, the 257 CC could benefit from a battery selector/cutoff switch and better protection for the batteries. In fairness, though, we had no electrical problems during our four months of testing.
Overall, the Sea Fox 257 CC is a great boat for the price. It will get you to the fishing grounds and back, fishes comfortably, and has enough features to keep the family happy on a day cruise. There aren't many 25' center consoles you can buy for under $50,000 that will do that.
SECOND OPINIONS. The buck stops here. And with the 257 CC, it's obvious where that happened. The easiest part of boatbuilding is to lay up big fiberglass parts and join them. This gives you a basic boat, and the 257 CC is a good basic boat. The hull isn't a pounder and it doesn't surprise you with odd quirks in a turn. After running the boat in the rough waters of New York Harbor, the structure proved creak- and groan-free. I'm surprised that no toe recesses at the helm and inwales were molded in. They don't take much more work to lay up, and they let you drive and fish in comfort and safety. Yet the trim tabs are recessed-a nice touch.
So what separates this boat from the $90,000 center consoles of the world? Once you get beyond the basic structure, the costs of time and skilled labor add up in a geometric progression to what you actually get. The 257 CC's big, easy-to-install items such as hydraulic steering and washdowns are a plus. But when it came to the detail work, Sea Fox said whoa. Most obvious is the wiring. Open the less-than-watertight econohatch above and you see an exposed battery with wires in a tangle. No water or chafe protection, no support. Okay for our four months, but not for the long run. Buy a battery switch.
I like the family features: big console compartment and transom door. I didn't like coming away with bruised ankles from the leaning post's footrest hinges or that Mercury's Smart Gauges were hard to read in sunlight. I appreciate this boat for its honesty. You pay your money and you see exactly where it went-and where it didn't.
