Designed for those who want a capable offshore fishing boat that’s also relatively easy to trailer and store, SeaVee’s 290B features a redesigned interior and a hull built using vacuum-assisted resin-transfer molding, which infuses the cored hull, stringers and bulkhead simultaneously. This fabrication process cuts weight and increases the rigidity of the hull, which allows SeaVee to reduce the number of hull stringers from four to two. That, in turn, creates more space belowdecks for stowage and larger fuel tanks. The 290B features a 251-gallon fuel capacity, up by 19 gallons from the original 290 model.
The helm provides enough space to flush-mount twin Garmin GPSMap 7616xsv multifunction displays. Behind-the-helm rigging and cable routing is immaculate. The center console’s forward lift-up hatch grants easy access to a step-down console interior and its 6 feet 4 inches of headroom. A new option is the Coastal leaning post with a stylized backrest that incorporates a grab rail, rod holders, drink holders, plus a tackle cabinet and a slide-out cooler.
There is one large insulated fish box and two smaller stowage lockers forward. The heavy-duty deck hatches close with an authoritative thump. A pressurized 50-gallon livewell resides in the transom and is fed by a pump box. You can add more bait capacity with an additional transom livewell in the starboard quarter and/or a well below the aft deck. A heavy-duty transom door in the port quarter eases the task of landing a big tuna or swordfish.
Powered by twin Mercury Verado 350 outboards, the 290B displays crisp handling that makes it fun to be behind the wheel. The boat’s deep-V hull knifes smoothly through chop. Turning 21-inch-pitch four-blade stainless-steel Merc Revolution 4 propellers, the twin Verado 350s pushed the 290B onto plane in 4 seconds, reaching 30 mph in 6 seconds. Top speed was a pleasing 63 mph at 6,200 rpm. The 290B achieved its most efficient cruising speed at 4,000 rpm and 35.2 mph, where the outboards consumed 18.5 gph for 1.9 mpg — remarkably efficient for a boat of this size with 700 ponies on the transom.
High Points
- Advanced vacuum-assisted resin-infused construction cuts 600 pounds off the original model.
- The redesigned interior features molded trays along each inwale to hold recoilable washdown hoses.
- Want a highly capable offshore center console that's relatively easy to trailer? This is it.
- The 290B carries 19 more gallons of fuel than the original model to give you greater range.
Price: $210,079 (as tested)
How We Tested
Engines: Twin Mercury Verado 350s
Drive/Props: Outboard/Mercury Revolution 4 14 5/8" x 21" 4-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.75:1
Fuel Load: 140 gal.
Crew Weight: 700 lb.
SeaVee Boats - Miami, Florida; 305-759-6419; seaveeboats.com
