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| The Judge Yachts 27 Center Console: a fishing boat among fishing boats. |
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Judge Yachts 27 Center Console
Fishing boats with a run and gun attitude.
As I stepped aboard the Judge Yachts 27 center console, the first thing I noticed was an ability to drop my rod into any one of over a dozen holders. Gunwale holders? Check. Leaning post rocket launchers? Check. T-top launchers? Check, and double check. Now look at the whopping-big transom fishbox. There’s no doubt about it: the Judge 27 is a fishing machine, first and foremost.
So, where’s that run and gun attitude come from? A relatively modest 12-degree transom deadrise combined with a 26’4” LOA and an 8’6” beam, propelled by a Honda 225-hp four-stroke. We ran through a two foot chop at 25-mph without any serious thumping or bumping, then kicked it up to 30-mph when the waves calmed down a bit. Yet the Honda sips down a mere seven gallons per hour at a slow 3500 RPM cruise and around 12 at a fast 4500 RPM cruise, providing very economical performance. You think there’s better fishing at hot-spot B? You won’t have to worry about running the 110-gallon fuel tank dry and crushing your boating budget with fuel costs, to get there.
Once you arrive at the fishing grounds, the 27 has gobs of casting room. We had five people tossing jigs and plenty of space to maneuver at all times. The aft cockpit isn’t huge since the helm is relatively far aft, but on the flip side, this leaves an expansive bow area with room for several people. More about that bow: it has an enclosed Bimini cuddy, which provides gobs of stowage space and enough room for an intimate couple to doze off during a slow evening of night fishing. Other comfort-oriented features include a head compartment inside the console, and a forward console seat.
Construction of the Judge is all-composite, and the boat is put together tough; you won’t hear any rattles or vibrations, while cutting through the seas. Fit and finish is closer to utility than luxury, with a gray nonskid deck and no coaming bolsters (though these could be easily added), but this is exactly the finish you want in hard-core fishing boats. Spray it down, scrub away the fish blood, and put it away wet. Besides, some things provide the best views when they aren’t made with looks foremost in mind. Just take a gander at the picture below—you’ll know exactly what I mean.
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