You want to be king of the center consoles? Edgewater’s 388 CC will get you there. This bodacious bluewater beast is a canyon commando’s dream, decked out with angling goodies like a swimming pool-sized 66 gallon livewell, twin raw water washdowns, and cockpit coaming bolsters. Our test boat even had a cockpit video system, so the captain can watch the spread without turning his head. Rowdy.
Handling a center console this big can be a bear, so the Edgewater comes equipped with a joystick-controlled bow thruster. That may not seem necessary on a triple-engine boat but when I had to swing her into a slip while being broadsided by a two knot current, it made the difference between sliding in and slapping a piling.
Like the other Edgewaters I’ve tested the 38 is as strong as a bull; the boat’s all-composite, and the transom is cored with Penske high-density foam. Decks and hatches are cored with Airex. Standard features read like the optional items on most other boats, with gear that’s all high-end: Lenco trim tabs, an Edson tilt wheel, an electric head, and a windlass are some examples.
The layout of the boat prioritizes fishing above all. Wide-open is the only way to describe the foredeck, and working a fish from the bow will be a piece of cake. The in-deck boxes will hold a week’s catch, much less a day’s worth, and the console has vertical rod stowage. One more thing about that console: it’s relatively narrow for a boat of this size, and will only provide full cover for the captain and one passenger. On the bright side, however, the narrower footprint it makes leaves a lot more room then usual between the console and the gunwales; following a fish 360-degrees around the boat will be easier then the norm. It has gobs of headroom, too, and unless you’re taller then 6’6” you’ll be able to stand upright.
What about performance? By today’s standards we observed the 388 acting about average for a triple-screw mega-CC, with a cruise in the upper 30’s and a top-end of 56.4 MPH. Hold on a sec, though. That was with seven people and a full load of fuel, so in real-world conditions max speed should be notably faster. Efficiency was better then the norm even with our big load, and if you can stand cruising at 28.9 MPH you’ll get a respectful 1.4 MPG. Of course, when there are 750 horses slung on the transom it’s hard as heck to keep that throttle hand in check—especially when you’re the king of the center consoles.
Performance observed with 7 people onboard, full fuel, with triple 250-hp F250 Yahama outboards, swinging a 15" x 21" stainless-steel three bladed prop.
Cruise RPM
Speed in MPH
Gallons per hour
Miles per gallon
Slow cruise/3500
28.9
21.1
1.4
Fast cruise/4500
39.7
36.0
1.1
Wide open throttle/6000
56.4
62.8
0.9
King? Damn straight.
The Edgewater's console isn't oversized, but it is comfortable.
This is one foredeck that's wide-open and ready for serious action.
Contact HookedOnFishingBoats.com by e-mailing lr@geareduppublications.com. Copyright 2009, by Geared Up, LLC.
