by Go Boating Test Team

The Everglades 240cc is a well-thought-out offshore fishing platform made for serious anglers
 

We’ve never met Everglades Boats founders Bob and Stephen Dougherty, but we can guarantee they’ve spent a lot of time on offshore fishing boats taking notes about the features and functionality serious bluewater anglers require. While taking a close look at the Everglades 240cc we couldn’t help but say to ourselves, “Wow, this boat really focuses on what offshore anglers need.”

The 240cc is near the middle in Everglades’ line of seven deep-V offshore fishing boats that range from 20 feet, 7 inches to 28 feet, 7 inches. Its deadrise of 21 degrees ensures a good ride in bumpy offshore conditions, and its array of fishing features gives you the tools you need to put fish in the box.

Rod storage is always a major concern, and the 240cc has room for 22 rods between the under-gunwale StarBoard rod racks, the eight stainless steel flush-mount rod holders and other areas. A large baitwell is also a necessity, and the 240cc’s leaning post features a circular 45-gallon well adjacent to a pressurized sink with a 45-gallon tank and special holding areas for knives, pliers and other tools. The leaning post also houses Plano tackle trays on each side, so you’ve got plenty of room to keep your hooks, sinkers and lures organized.

You’ll be challenged to fill the craft’s fishboxes, which include a 50-gallon box in the rear and a huge 129-gallon box up forward. Each includes an overboard drain with a macerator for easy cleanup. While you’ve got a live one on the line, you’ll be thankful for the padded coamings and the leverage the tow kicks provide.

After lines-out is called your passengers will be taken care of with plenty of comfortable seating. The helm features a doublewide seat with substantial bolsters and an equally substantial footrest. At the transom a large bench seat folds out to accommodate two or three more crewmembers. Up front, the 104-quart fiberglass Engel cooler has a padded lid to provide two more seats (and there’s a padded backrest on the forward side of the console). Bow cushions provide more seating (and there’s plenty of dry storage under the bow seats).

The console is robust and features customary instrumentation as well as a large amount of room for additional flush-mount electronics. One nifty device that we’ve never seen before on a boat like this is its automatic sliding windshield. This is a nice touch that allows you to vent the cockpit when the heat and humidity become more than you care for. The entire console swings aft to give you easy access for wiring and electronics installation, and inside is a Dometic head with a macerator and holding tank.

You’ll also be glad to learn that the fiberglass hardtop is standard and is matched to the color of the boat. This feature allows you to get even more serious with rocket launchers, outriggers, spreader lights and additional electronics, not to mention the protection from the elements it provides.

Performance

Our test of the Everglades 240cc took place on the waters outside Miami. We had two people aboard and a half tank of fuel (about 82 gallons or 513 pounds). For power we had a pair of 150 hp Honda BF150s spinning Power Tech 15.25x19 three-blade stainless steel props.

Acceleration was expectedly crisp with a time to plane of 4.4 seconds and a 0-to-30-mph acceleration of 9.8 seconds. We topped out at 46.5 mph at 6,100 rpm, which is within allowable range of the Hondas’ WOT limit of 6,000 rpm. Dialing it back, we locked in on an efficient cruising speed of 21.8 mph at 3,500 rpm, which will yield a cruising range of 390 miles -- that’s world-class range.

The ride was dry and handling was responsive. The 240cc’s hull tracked well through the water and it took aggressive turns without complaint. The ride was also solid and free of creaks thanks to Everglades’ rapid molded core assembly process (RAMCAP). This process basically crates a solid-core foam and fiberglass hull, which also means very little flex and no hollow hull for the water to slap against and make noise.



Overall

The Everglades 240cc is the kind of boat that’s going to pass muster with any serious offshore angler. Even though it’s not that large in terms of length, it’s wide 9-foot, 3-inch beam gives the craft a noticeable amount of interior space (85 square feet in the cockpit) as well as enhanced stability.