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You’ll notice on the front of many of Scout’s center console boats, a nice, heavy-duty tow-eye. The reason why is about 50% of these boats are used as tenders for large yachts. In the industry, Scout Boats is known for being one of the best yacht tenders in the world– a major endorsement, considering that yacht tender captains put these boats to the test. Towed all over the world and used in the roughest of seas, Scout Boats has become a favorite among captains everywhere, on some of the biggest yachts.

Luxury Yacht Tender Market

Initially used to transport supplies, there has been increased development in the luxury yacht tender market with tenders used for the entertainment and pleasure of the yacht’s passengers. Water sports enthusiasts may use them as a speed boat for waterskiing and wakeboarding, or to service scuba diving sets. In short, these elite pleasure crafts are to designed to complement your lifestyle. 

High Marks. Low Premiums. 

Scouts offers a slightly lower insurance premium than competitors, due to their consistent reliability. This is just another great reason to buy a Scout and one more thing that sets Scout Boats apart from the competition.

Scout Boats Accountability 

To ensure the quality that Scout demands, you have to have an incredible amount of accountability. Every Scout Boat has a “birth certificate,” a tag that hangs on the back of the boat and several pages of paperwork. These records include checklists, dates, times, and signatures of who did the work and when, which batch numbers the gel coats and resins were formulated from, the temperatures and gel times, and information that can be used to guarantee that everything was done perfect and to the standards that we demand here at Scout Boats.

The luxury center console fishing boat market has been fueled with dozens of manufactures over the past few years. Featuring limitless performance, passenger maneuverability, and room for all your gear and fish, luxury center console boats provide the best overall vessel for practically all applications.

Scout Boats, the leader in manufacturing luxury center console fishing boats for decades, offers the LXF luxury center console fishing boat. Available in five different models including the 255, 277, 305, 330, and 350, the LXF offers higher quality, more performance, and increased fuel economy compared to other luxury center console boats manufacturers.

255 LXF

Unmatched Quality

When considering the best luxury center console fishing boats, the first thing one needs to look at is the overall quality of the vessel. President of Scout Boats Steve Potts, who has thirty plus years of boat building experience, knows that it takes more than a good designer and a drawing board to build the right boat.

For example, over years of seeing what designs do and don’t work on the open seas, Potts learned that many companies use a two part construction where the deck lays over the hull and then screws into place. This isn’t the best practice. Due to rough sea conditions, water can get between the joints which causes extensive damage. Since then, Potts and Scout Boats pioneered the industry’s first reverse-shoebox hull/deck design.

Also, thanks to years of understanding the elements and their effects on boats, Potts and Scout Boats have always used composite stringers and transoms instead of wood. Why? Overtime, wood rots. No matter where wood is installed or used on the boat, it will eventually rot and cause damage that is often unrepairable.

277 LXF

Additional Performance

One reason people choose a luxury center console fishing boat is because of its performance. Whether you’re scooting around your local lake or the cape, time is of the essence when tracking down your prize fish. With Scout Boats LXF luxury center console fishing boats, all models come standard with two high performance outboard Yamaha motors ranging from the F150 installed on the 277 LXF to the large F305 found on the 350 LXF.

Based on your needs, all Scout Boats LXF luxury center console fishing boats also have a wide variety of engine choices, including twin Yamaha or Mercury 200-horsepower outboards for total horsepower output, 400-horsepower on the 277 LXF, and triple 300-horsepower engine upgrades on the 350 LXF for a total of 900-horsepower!

305 LXF

Improved Fuel Economy

Scout Boats knows that once you’re out on the water, fuel economy is a concern. Even when equipped with the largest motors available for your specific vessel, Scout Boats uses diverse technology for higher performance and increased fuel economy.

For example, the Scout Boats 277, 305, and 330 LXF luxury center console fishing boats are built using the revolutionary Nu-V3 hull. This high performance, fuel saving “convex” hull design is constructed with different degree angles that offer increased fuel efficiency without loss in performance. While the larger Scout Boats 350 LXF luxury center console fishing boat does not utilize the Nu-V3 hull, it does offer Scout Dual Stepped Hull Technology that also allows for higher performance and optimal fuel economy.

When researching the best boat for your needs, consider the LXF line of luxury center console fishing boats. You’ll enjoy higher quality, more performance and increased fuel economy compared to other options on the market today. Contact a representative for more information.

I don’t know about you, but I enjoy the making the most of an investment. For example, if my wife is planning another vacation, we usually take a few minutes to see what major activities or attractions we plan on partaking in and iron out the details a little later on. Furthermore, when we decided to purchase our last vehicle, we took our time building one online by picking out our desired color, trim, and options.

Thanks to Scout Boats, you can now build your own Scout. With one of the most comprehensive boat customizers in the industry, you can view a wide selection of Scout Boats, select various colors, and choose additional options for your preferred watercraft. Let’s take a look at some of the great features of the Build Your Scout Customizer from Scout Boats.

Approximately 20 different boats to customize

While some manufacturers only let you customize a handful of models, the Scout Boats Build Your Scout offers an extensive list. Starting with the basic center console 177 series, Scout Boats currently lets you configure all their models, including center console luxury fishing boats, dual console boats, and bay boats.

Dozens of options with actual prices

Whether you’re pricing out one of the top of the line 350 LXF or one of the more entry level 175 Sportfish, with the Build Your Scout, you can choose from dozens of options and see up-to-date pricing. On some, you can even view current specials, various packages, and an assortment of colors.

When taking a look at Scout’s 251 XS Bay Boat, you can select between three different engine options such as the Mercury 300XL or the powerful F300XCA from Yamaha, choose from four colors including Azure Blue, Flag Blue, Anniversary Silver, and Black, and select as many additional options as you want including the Full Hull Color Upgrade and Fresh Water Wash Down.

100% accurate follow up

If you’re interested but not quite ready to make the commitment, simply fill out the contact form located just under the Build Your Scout customizer.

Once you’ve submitted your boat customizer selections and contact info, a representative from Scout Boats will follow up shortly. They will answer any questions you might have about current boat options and promotions, while ensuring your information is not shared outside the Scout Boats team.

Scout Boats Build Your Scout lets you configure your next boat just the way you want it. Whether you’re interested in the largest, most powerful boat or a midsize boat for cruising with the family, the boat customizer will meet your needs. It has the ability to select dozens of options with specific pricing and includes an expert consultation with the exact information you requested.

Start building your boat today!

While Scout boats feature a perfect finish, they all start with expertly engineered foundations. Top quality construction, wiring, drainage, and power are just some of the fundamentals that make Scout Boats a leader in the sport fishing industry.

Construction Precision

At Scout, we cut all our foam patterns for the layout processes within the company and have over 300 different patterns for small parts. We use polyurethane foams and PVC foams depending on the application and design them with strategic cutouts for reinforcements such as hinges, lids and the bow cleat. One of the reasons for using a polyurethane foam or PVC foam is it’s much lighter than marine grade plywood which helps produce a lighter, stronger boat in the long run.

Electrical Wiring

We currently use all 10 wiring on all of our main distribution harnesses and switch panels, as well as the AC side and DC side for all our boats. We also have safety features that are built into our electrical systems such as different relays that allow you to run multiple systems on your boat without running down the engine batteries.

We use all Deutsch plugs on all of our wiring. These plug-in-place systems allow us to have accuracy within our manufacturing process and out in the field when something needs to be maintained or repaired.

When it comes to larger boats, the backside of an AC DC panel sports aircraft quality wiring while the front panel features readings for port battery, starboard battery banks, house battery, and AC voltage for battery chargers.

Drainage

For every boat we build, we plumb everything we do. For example, at the bottom of a rod holder, there’s a hole that can allow for rain or salt water to come in. At Scout, we apply a reinforced two-hose that drains that water and takes it where it’s supposed to go. Anywhere that’s there’s an opening on the boat, it’ll have heavy duty plumbing. Even on a cup holder (where you a have a tiny ¼ inch hole), you’ll have a draining tube that’s connected to the backside of it.

Yamaha Power

One of our partners, Yamaha Motor Corporation, is probably the most sought after outboard motors in the industry today. They own about 80% of the salt water market and consistently showcase engines that run like a top. They build one of the best-looking, fastest running, lowest emission, lightest engines on the market and they do it all at a great price.

For a hands-on overview of these components and more, check out our videos or feel free to request more information.

Each Scout boat is built with the highest attention to detail and features state-of-the-art innovations that adhere to a rigorous quality control process. Here are just a few of the factors that make Scout Boats world class fishing boats.

BACKING PLATES
Everything we use is a 100% composite material. We don’t use wood anywhere in the construction of any Scout boat. Our backing plates are made with whale board, a highly compressed resinated paper. It actually has a higher screw retention than aluminum and is some of the best backing plate you can get. We install it where the cleat is going to go at the back of the boat and anywhere on the boat that is going to hold anything of substance (a swim platform, a T-top, any seating). It’ll be in place regardless whether that boat is ordered with that option or not. It’s also installed behind the hinges so all the little hinge screws are embedded in whale board material.

PREMIUM VINYL
One extra feature that we put in every standard Scout Boat is Syntec vinyl with nanoblock technology. The nanoblock technology has three protection systems. It protects against staining, fading, and mold. Substances such as fish blood, ketchup, mustard, lipstick, and wine that would stain a normal boat’s cushions can be wiped clean away on Syntec vinyl. These cushions are expensive but they’ll last forever and won’t be damaged by everyday use.

FIBERGLASS
All Scout Boats are 100% handlaid, all the way down to the smallest part on the smallest boat that we build. We use multi-directional fiberglass that’s supplied by the best vendors in the industry. This allows for strength to come from the fiberglass by the way that it’s woven and actually covers every direction (not just north, south, east, west) but every single direction by the way that it’s overlapped. That’s one thing that we do to ensure we have the strongest boats in the industry.

GEL COAT COLOR
It may not seem that the color or shade of a white is important. One of the things Scout wanted to create was a color that was aesthetically pleasing to the eye and identifiable as a Scout product. It’s also for a purpose. When you’re spending the day out on the water in the bright sunshine, the glare is minimized. Many of our competitors use a bright appliance white which may look nice in a showroom but won’t protect your eyes.

FINISH
Another key feature to Scout Boat’s attention to detail is our finishing department. They go through the boat entirely and look for any blemishes or nicks or dings. They’ll buff the entire boat out and make sure it’s completely polished with that perfect Scout finish before delivery.

LIGHT TUNNEL
We’ve invested in a special light tunnel. Once it’s turned on, it emulates the sunlight that you would see outside instead of just the factory lighting that you would normally find. We wheel each boat into this light tunnel and go over it with a fine tooth comb to ensure that all the blemishes are out of the boat and that the boat is perfect in its finish and quality once it’s delivered to you.

Want to know more or request a quote? Contact our team at Scout Boats. We’re always happy to help.

Scout Boats has been building award winning sport-fishing boats for over two decades and has earned a reputation for cutting edge design and quality. In May, Scout Boats announced that it is expanding its facility in Dorchester County, South Carolina. This expansion comes years after Scout introduced boats with a reverse-shoebox hull/deck design in order to increase the overall strength of the hull and improve safety. Scout Boats was also one of the first companies to move away from constructing boats out of wood. The companies fishing boats are made with composite stringers and transoms, as well as some of the leading technology in center consoles and boat design.

The Summerville expansion includes adding 30,000-square-feet to their 182,000-square-foot facility in order to build additional composite and component parts for their new boats. Officials say that the expansion will cost roughly $2.5 million and create 300 additional jobs in Dorchester County. This new expansion is indicative of the remarkable comeback the company has made since the 2009 depression when boat manufacturers were scaling down their businesses. The company recently passed its 25th anniversary and is happy to embark on the construction of its new facility in August.

The factory expansion will primarily be used to build composite parts for the newly designed LXF series model and parts for the new 275 and 230 Dorado series. The company will continue to provide sport-fishing, fish ‘n ski, walk-around, as well as bay boats from 17 to 35 feet to seventy-two dealers around the world. The Governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, has even applauded the company’s decision to expand their facilities.

The demand for Scout Boats is up across the board, according to CEO Steve Potts, and is significantly higher for boats longer than twenty-seven feet, which have already been sold out for the rest of the year. The expansion of Scout Boats and the demand suggests that there has been some comeback in the boating industry. Although recreational boating was hit hardest during the recession, the industry continues to grow at a modest rate. In addition, South Carolina’s Department of Commerce has an export assistance program, which has helped to connect the company overseas to Mexico, Brazil, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Colombia, and Australia. The global connections have also helped to improve business and increase sales.

The expansion also comes after eight Scout Boats dealers were ranked in Boating Industry Magazine’s Top 100 Dealers Including Top Overall Dealer. The eight dealerships include Hall Marine Group, Legendary Marine, Paris Marine, Parks Marina, Payne Marine, Ltd., Quality Boats of Clearwater, Short’s Marine, and South Shore Marine Service. The Scout Boats sold through each dealership were made from true original hulls produced by an in-house team that worked in partnership with a group of engineers. If you are interested in purchasing a Scout Boat you can visit at www.scoutboats.com or call 843-821-0068.

Last weekend, South Jersey Marina hosted its fourth annual Strictly Boaters Boat Show, which features regional manufacturers, dealers and companies that produce boats and related services used in New Jersey. The boat show has been successful even though it was launched in 2009 during the nation’s recession. Boat enthusiasts and designers from across the country have flocked to New Jersey to sell and purchase a wide array of products.

The organizers of the boat show have taken a nontraditional approach, which involves focusing on the number of boats sold and not the number of people in attendance. Although most boat shows focus on the total number of people, the Strictly Boaters Boat Show focuses on drawing exhibitors with quality boats and connecting them to customers. This year the event attracted the attention of the nation’s largest marine retailers, including Marine Max and Comstock Yachts, which happen to carry boats like Sailfish and Scout models. In addition, the boat show brought in two ships that have never been seen in the northeast, including the SeaHunter and HydraSports Custom, which are equipped with center consoles and 300 horsepower Yamaha engines.

The boat show displays its products both on land and in the water. This year’s event had fifty boats displayed on the water and twenty additional boats on dry land. Each dealer at the show determined which boats it would allow for sea trial and which it would not. In addition, other high-end boat distributors that were present at the boat show last weekend, including Cherubini Yachts, Contender Boat Sales, and McKee Yacht Sales.

In addition to hosting some of the top boat distributors in the country, the show also had a vast array of products and services including electronics, boat financing options, as well as insurance and ongoing maintenance tips and programs. An example of this includes EZ Dock, which is a company that offers portable docks for use with jet skis and other personal watercraft. Although the main focus of the event is on boats, there will be a number of additional items for customers to browse.

The Strictly Boaters Boat Show is a premier experience that attempts to cut down on the wear and tear of boats that go through expensive trials and tribulations. The boat show uniquely allows visitors to take sea-trials to see if they like the equipment. If you are interested in more information about this year’s show or found a product you liked and would like to get in contact with the organizers you can call 609-898-9500 or emailmallen@strictlyboaters.com.

El Nino, which is the name of a current that warms the surface of the Pacific Ocean and causes significant weather changes, is a great opportunity for sport fishers to practice their skills. The oceanic phenomenon is well known for driving unique fish to the shorelines of California, including an increase in the number of albacore. Physical and biological changes that occur in the Pacific Ocean because of El Nino cause changes in fish distribution. El Nino and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO) have a reputation for specifically bringing albacore to sport fishers in 1998, 2002, and 2008. In part, this is caused by changes to sea-surface temperatures, changes in the vertical, thermal structure of the ocean, and altered coastal and upwelling currents. Researchers believe that the next El Nino could be greater than or equal to some of the past warm water temperatures and weather changes.

The oceanic changes impact the movement of cold water and warm water species in the Pacific Ocean. For example, during El Nino warm water species move north, which extends their range, and cold-water species move north into deeper water, which restricts their range. In general, surface fish move deeper in order to adjust to the warmer surface-level temperatures. The fish that stay in the affected area experienced overall reduced growth, reproduction, and survival.

Sports fishers see less cold-water species and more warm water species in the Pacific Ocean during El Nino. El Nino has brought a variety of rare fish, including, dorado, bluefin and yellowfin tuna. In addition, sport fishers off of the coast of California, Oregon, Washington, and in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea reported higher captures of equatorial game fish during the 1997 El Nino. These captures included a higher number of mahi mahi, swordfish, striped marlin, and blue marlin in the northern states, as well as pacific bonito, and albacore along the southern coast. In addition to moving north, the fish also move inland after living approximately 100 miles off shore.

The shifting population of fish species has impacts for both sport and commercial fishermen. In 1997, the California coastline was impacted when squid moved to cooler waters in the north and away from commercially established fisheries. Sports fishers will see a change in the fish population and potentially have to adjust their skills and bait accordingly. Despite changing fish migrations, river and stream sports fishermen may also see an increase in salmon due to warming temperatures both in the ocean and on land.

April 2014 — The Fisheries Department of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that it was going to develop a national recreational fishing policy during the Saltwater Recreational Fishing Summit in 2014. The NOAA is responsible for managing marine species, especially from those who target them for consumption. The development of a new policy could mean a lot for recreational fishermen, especially those who are interested in saltwater boating and fishing.

The NOAA has a large constituency of recreational and non-commercial fishermen, which totals 11 million people who spent a total of $70 billion and sustained 450,000 jobs in 2011. Reformation of the current policies could benefit both recreational and non-commercial fishermen who are interested in saltwater boating and fishing. Through this commitment to developing a new policy, the NOAA has recognized the importance role that saltwater anglers play in managing marine wildlife. The voices of industry tackle companies, as well as motor and boat manufacturers, helped to raise the voice of sport fishermen across the country.

The policy has important implications for both marine wildlife conservation organizations, but also for tackle and boating industry leaders. A standard will be set for decision making regarding wildlife management that involves the voice and opinions from the recreational fishing sector, including angling groups. The anglers are not looking to harm the wildlife, but they believe that proper management involves the voice of both science and the fishing community.

The fishing community started to see movement from the NOAA after they held their first recreational fishing summit back in 2009. The sport fishing coalition, which was launched after a conference, published a report titledA Vision for Managing America’s Saltwater Recreational Fisheries, which included recommendations on moving forward with saltwater management.

Although the coalition published this report, the annual summit continues to address issues that are pertinent to the recreational boating and fishing community. The policy wins and continuing struggle come after many years of advocacy on behalf of individual consumers and industry experts. NOAA has publicly stated its committed to working with the recreational fishing community in order to find cooperative solutions to manage marine wildlife.

Boating Industry leaders, such as the owner of Maverick Boats, Scott Deal, and the founder of Bass Pro, Johnny Moris, served as the co-chair on a commission to reform the policy on saltwater management. Their positions have given them the opportunity to represent the voice of saltwater anglers, who are often left out of the conversation on marine management. The commission has pushed for full recognition of the benefits that stem from recreational saltwater fishing, including the economic and cultural advantages.

Recreational fishing has become an impressive industry complete with advancements in boating and navigation technology. In 2011, the National Marine Fisheries Service estimates that Americans spent $27 million on fishing-related goods, including both goods and services. Similarly, in 2011 saltwater anglers generated over $70 billion in economic output. Fishing, including boating and tackle, has become an increasingly important industry and is continuing to expand.

In 2013, the Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management, which was co-chaired by leaders of tackle and boating companies, met to strategize on ways to improve recreational fisheries management. The commission held a National Press Club event called “Saltwater Recreational Fishing’s Future,” which included speakers like John L. Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops. The unification of fishing and boating companies is working to make changes to improve fishery management for sports enthusiasts.

Currently, management of saltwater recreation is motivated by protection for commercial fishing and fisheries. The National Marine Fisheries Service, which is an arm of the Commerce Department, has focused on commercial fishing and fisheries since the Magnuson-Stevens Legislation of 1976. The major goal of the bill was to reduce foreign-fishing-fleet catch in United States’ waters. However, as the recreational saltwater industry has continued to grown, the National Marine Fisheries Service has been motivated to accommodate the boating needs of Americans. The saltwater creational boating industry is an asset to the American government, due to its large economic output, and is asking for a review of federal allotments for commercial fishing and fisheries. The allocation of territory is often cited as outdated and based on formulas that no longer apply to current times. Reallocating territory is difficult and may be a lengthy process, which has stalled officials from making and progress on federal fishery management.

In order to make the best decision, officials should consider the gains from saltwater recreational fishing versus commercial fishing and fisheries. The economic output of the boating and fishing industry may support the expansion of fishing territories. This year, the Magnuson-Stevens Act of 1976, which outlines the nation’s marine fisheries, is up for reauthorization in 2014. Although there are many factors to consider when thinking about expanding saltwater commercial use, the changes should ultimately reflect the way in which people are using the ocean.

Ultimately, the management of United States Fisheries is up to Congress in 2014. You can read more about the report entitled A Vision for Managing America’s Saltwater Recreational Fisheries to find out more information about current saltwater management.