I had to sit down eight times to test out every seat in Scout’s 222 Abaco—if you’re sick and tired of a lack of seating in your fishing boat, this one has the solution. There are two helm seats, aft facing lounges, jump seats and a transom couch, and all are thickly padded so you won’t bottom out on your bottom while wave-hopping.
Warning: all that seating quickly eats up cockpit space. In fact, to be perfectly frank this boat isn’t likely to be the top choice of die-hard anglers. But we can’t always get what we want, and if what you need is a boat that’s equally good at entertaining, cruising, water play, and fishing, the Abaco should be on your must-see list.
Cruisers will focus more on the 6’2” V-berth, portable head, hydraulic steering and cabin reading lights. When entertainment is job number one the mini wet bar with sink, multiple stainless steel cup holders and three-step folding swim ladder will be of importance. And when you shove off without the wife and kids you’ll appreciate the four gunwale-mounted rodholders, the livewell under the jump seat, the integrated Hose Coil raw water washdown stowed neatly behind a pie plate, and the 72-qt. cooler under the lounge.
Whatever the mission of the day is, the ride is another thing you’ll like. I tested this boat in a busy Charleston harbor, while weaving through boat and tanker wakes as well as a two foot chop. There weren’t any rattles, slams, or thumps, due to construction techniques like a molded stringer grid that’s bonded to the hull and pumped full of foam, right up to the deck liner. Scout leaves the hull in the mold until the deck has been bonded and foamed into place, so it stays warp-free—just like your butt, when you ride on this boat. The bottom line? This is one boat that will make everyone’s bottom a happy one.
Check out Scout at www.scoutboats.com.
LOA - 22’2”
Beam - 8’6”
Draft - 2’2”
Dry weight - 2,400
Fuel capacity – 90
Max. HP - 250
Price – Between $50,000 and $60,000
Observed performance notes w/2 people and full load fuel, single 200 HP Yamaha F-200 four-stroke outboard, swinging a 15 1/4” x 17” three bladed stainless-steel prop:
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Cruise RPM
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Speed in MPH
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Gallons per hour
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Miles per gallon
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Slow cruise/3500
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23.7
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6.4
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3.7
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Fast cruise/4500
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33.2
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9.7
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3.4
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Wide open throttle/6000
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45.1
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16.9
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2.7
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| The Abaco's a capable fishboat, but there's a lot more to focus on, here. |
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