Everglades 273CC (2019-)

Brief Summary

The Everglades 273CC is a premium sub-30’ (9.14 m) center console that offers cruising features like bow seats with removable backrests and a head in the console with plenty of angling-focused accessories so a family that likes to fish can enjoy a full day on the water.

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	27' 3'' 8.31 m
Beam	9' 3'' 2.82 m
Dry Weight	6,400 lbs. 2,903 kg
Tested Weight	8,415 lbs. 3,817 kg
Draft	18'' 0.46 m
Deadrise/Transom	20-deg.
Max Headroom	open
Bridge Clearance	7' 11'' 2.41 m (max)
Fuel Capacity	157 gal. 594 L
Water Capacity	20 gal. 76 L
Total Weight	8,415 lbs. 3,817 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	2.9 sec.
0 to 30	7.3 sec.
Load	2 persons, 1/2 fuel, no water, 50 lbs. of gear
Climate	72 deg., 89 humid; wind: 15-20 mph; seas: 1

Engine Options

Tested Engine	2 x 250-hp Yamaha
Opt. Power	1 x 425-hp Yamaha 2 x 200-hp Yamaha Digital inline 4 cylinder 2 x 250-hp Yamaha with Command Link

Contents of Report

• Mission Statement
• Major Features
• Features Inspection
• The Bow
• The Helm
• The Cockpit
• The Aft Cockpit
• Performance
• Handling
• Construction
• Warranty
• Options to Consider
• Observations

The 273CC measures 27’3” (8.31 m) long with a 9’3” (2.82 m) beam and can be packaged with twin 200- or 250-hp Yamaha outboards or a single 425-hp XTO Offshore motor.

Mission Statement

Many boats in this size range feel like a stretched version of a shorter model, but the 273CC is designed to feel more like a smaller offshore boat than a bigger inshore model. She has tall hullsides, a large livewell and fishbox, and a deep-V bottom design with 20-degrees of deadrise at the transom. The 273CC also has the versatility that a family is looking for with cruising amenities like bow lounges with removable backrests, seats that fold into the transom and a private head in the console.

Major Features

• Large bow seating area
• Power center section of windshield
• Patented Ram-Cap construction
• Private head in the console
• Choice of single or twin outboards

From the floorplan, we can see that Everglades has placed a premium on passenger comfort with seating at the stern and in the bow.

Features Inspection

The Bow

As we’ve seen with many competitive center consoles, the bow is a great illustration of the 273CC’s versatility. On each side, there are adult-sized lounges with backrests that can be removed quickly. The console also has a seat for two on the front. The gunwales on each side have stainless steel beverage holders, connectivity plugs, and speakers.

The bow has a cruising feel with the forward-facing backrests and wraparound coaming pads powder-coated grabrails.

These standing beverage holders can accommodate more of a variety of bottles or can designs.

The console seat has space for two and notice how the outboard bolsters are raised to help keep occupants in place.

There are also grab handles on each side of the seat to enhance passenger security.

Bow Storage. The bottom cushions for the bow lounges are hinged and fold up to access lockers that are finished in gelcoat. Beneath the bottom cushion in the bow is an insulated 97-quart (91.8-L) cooler. In the foredeck, there are two 8” (20.32 cm) cleats, plus separate navigation lights, combination rod and cupholders and the anchor locker that houses the windlass and all related equipment. Adjacent to the console seat, gunwale compartments fold inward to provide extra capacity. Two bungee-style latches hold down the console seat bottom cushions that opens to access the cooler in the base. Just ahead in the deck is an 82-gallon (310 L) fishbox.

A smart design, the hinged bottom cushions in the bow open without requiring the removal of the backrests.

Much like the deck hatches on a high-performance boat, the lid for the forward fishbox is hinged at the front so onrushing winds will help hold it down when the boat is underway.

Release the bungee-style latches and the bottom cushion for the console seat raises on its own and stays up thanks to the stainless-steel gas strut.

In the 273CC’s anchor locker, we found the Lewmar windlass with a safety cable and cleat for tying off the bitter end, plus access to the 200’ (60.96 m) rode below.

Gunwale lockers open into the passageway and the cables keep the hatches from dropping to the deck.

The Private Head. Passageways on each side of the 273CC’s console are 19” (.48 m) wide and a hatch in the port side provides entry to the private head. Inside there’s 5’3” (1.6 m) of standing headroom and 3’10” (1.19 m) from the toilet to the overhead. The 273CC’s head has a porcelain toilet, a screened opening port, expandable netting and open and closed storage. Two hatches make it easy to access the helm rigging.

The head door has vent slots cut into it to help keep fresh air flowing through and the snap strap is used to hold it closed.

The china bowl toilet adds a comfort of home as well as a touch of class.

The screened port works with the ventilated hatch to keep fresh air circulating.

The locker provides closed storage and access to the head plumbing.

Two hatches on the forward bulkhead provide access to the helm rigging.

The Helm

A feature unique to the 273CC is the power front windshield. It raises and lowers with the push of a button and can be stopped short of the top frame to let fresh air pass through. The helm has a compass in line with the port side steering wheel. Centered in the top of the angled panel is the 7” (17.78 cm) Yamaha Command Link Plus display.

Our test boat had optional twin 16” (40.64 cm) Garmin GPSMap 7616xsv dual multifunction displays with push-button style accessory switches in a row across the top. The VHF radio is below the steering wheel and to starboard are the digital controls with trim tab buttons just ahead. Adjacent to the trim switches are the Optimus joystick, connectivity plug-ins and two cupholders.

Ahead of the companion seat are a stainless-steel grabrail and a glovebox below. The angled footrest and helm deck are finished in the optional fatigue-reducing foam and the seat has individual fold-up bolsters. Overhead in the hardtop are the autopilot and other electrical accessories forward. The top is built on a powder-coated aluminum frame and it contains speakers and courtesy and spreader lights.

The 273CC’s power windshield can be closed completely or left open partially to let breezes pass through.

Our test boat had the optional 16” (40.64 cm) Garmin multifunction displays, the largest screens available on the 273CC. Yamaha’s 7” (17.78 cm) engine management screen is centered above.

Trim tab buttons just ahead of the digital controls make it easy to adjust the tab position while keeping one hand on the steering wheel. For easier dockside maneuvering, the joystick is within easy reach.

Ahead of the companion’s knees is a locking glovebox.

To reduce the chance of it accidentally being kicked, we would move the VHF radio microphone from this location.

We prefer to see the autopilot, VHF radio, and other instruments that are constantly used to be mounted on the instrument console. Looking up constantly can become a pain in the neck.

The Cockpit

The Prep Station. On the aft side of the leaning post, the prep station has an open sink to port with a cutting board in the center and a 31-gallon (117 L) livewell to starboard. Grab handles are integrated into the countertop and outboard to starboard, there’s a beverage holder. To port below the helm seat is a locker with slots for Plano-style tackle boxes.

The prep station has a straightforward feel with the sink, open center counter and livewell. It should be easy to keep clean.

The livewell is finished in blue and has rounded corners and an aeration system. The acrylic hatch makes it easy to take a peek at the bait.

Four tackle boxes slide in place beneath the helm seat.

The Aft Cockpit

The 273CC’s cockpit has 108 sq. ft. (10.03 sq. m) of space. There are two rod holders on each side with 8” (20.32 cm) cleats in each aft corner and racks for rods or long-handled accessories in the gunwales. Fresh and raw-water washdowns are in each corner. Across the stern, two seats that fold down when not in use flank a 45-quart (42.59 L) cooler.

To get to the stern, it’s easy to step on the cooler hatch. A swim platform with a boarding ladder underneath is to port and to starboard, our test boat had the optional 8’ (.30 m) Power Pole.

With the back seats folded in and the center cooler hatch closed, it creates a raised casting deck.

When the aft seats are up, the recesses create a bucket-like arrangement that should make passengers feel more secure. The nonskid cooler hatch is also the easiest way to get to the stern.

The cooler has a drain in the bottom and notice how thick the gasket on the hatch is. We saw that throughout the 273CC.

Racks in the gunwale on each side have space for long-handled accessories such as gaffs and brushes and the bungees help keep things in place.

Sometimes a picture shows everything that needs to be said. We would be hard-pressed to find better access to batteries, livewell, and bilge pumps than on the 273CC.

Performance

The Numbers. Everglades lists the 273CC’s empty weight at 6,400 lbs. (2,903 kg). With twin 250-hp Yamaha outboards, two people, 78.5 gallons (297.16 L) of fuel and test gear on board, we had an estimated test weight of 8,415 lbs. (3,817 kg).

Revving up the two engines to 6000 rpm, we hit a top speed of 51.5 mph.

Best cruise came at 3500 rpm, where the boat ran 32.1 mph and burned 17.2 gph. That works out to 1.9 mpg and a range of 264 statute miles. At 600 rpm, the boat ran 3.5 mph and at 1000 rpm, we recorded 5.9 mph.

In acceleration tests, the 273CC planed in 2.9 seconds and ran through 20 mph in 5.0 seconds and through 30 mph in 7.3 seconds.

We would imagine that most owners will opt for twin motors if they plan to head offshore.

Handling

Test day served up a 1’ (.30 m) chop with winds gusting to 20 mph. The 273CC’s sharp bow entry and deep V design with 20-degrees of transom deadrise cut through that chop easily. In turns, she held her line well and around the docks, the joystick and twin engines made maneuvering easy.

Even with 20-mph winds drying to blow her off course, our test boat tracked cleanly through turns.

Construction

Everglades builds the 273CC and all its boats with what the company calls the Ram-Cap process. Large pieces of 6-lb. (2.7 kg) density foam are molded to fit exactly into dedicated places in the hull, which has been prepared with glass and resin to create a bond. The foam tops are covered in resin and fiberglass and then the deck and liner are set in place and the hull and all are bonded under a vacuum, creating a single piece. Everglades is the only builder that inserts foam this way.

Everglades is one of the few brands that guarantee level flotation in writing if the boat is swamped.

During construction of an Everglades boat, pre-molded foam pieces are bonded into dedicated places before the deck and liner are positioned for bonding.

Warranty

• Lifetime Hull warranty
• Five-year component warranty

Options to Consider

• Docking lights
• 30” (76.2 cm) Rigid Light Bar
• Lee 16’ (4.88 m) or Taco 15’ (4.57 m) outriggers
• 8’ (2.4 m) Power Pole blade
• Additional swim platform with ladder
• Anti-fatigue pad at helm
• Optimus 360 electric power steering (joystick)
• Optimus 360 digital power steering

Observations

At 27’ 3” (8.31 m) long without the motors, a 9’3” (2.82 m) beam and an estimated test weight of 8,415 lbs. (3,817 kg), the Everglades 273CC is one of the biggest towable center consoles on the market, which further enhances the boat’s versatility.

For number crunchers, the difference in weight between the single 425-hp Yamaha XTO Offshore and twin 250-hp Yamaha F250s in the 25” (63.5 cm) shaft length is 150 lbs. (68 kg). The XTO weighs in at 952 lbs. (432 kg), giving the motor a weight-to-power ratio of 2.24 lbs. (1.02 kg) per horsepower.

The F250 weighs 551 lbs. (249 kg). Double that and the result is 1,102 lbs. (500 kg) for a weight-to-power ratio of 2.204 lbs. (1.0 kg) per horsepower so the difference is minimal. The F200 is a 4-cylinder and the 25” (63.5 cm) version weighs 489 lbs. (221.81 kg). Do the math and the weight to power number is 2.44 lbs. (1.11 kg) per horsepower, and of course, it does not have the torque of 6-cylinder engines.

We think that traditionalists who like redundancy will lean toward the twin 250-hp engines even though they will burn slightly more fuel than the single 425 and twins are easier to dock. Folks who prefer simplicity and plan to stay closer to shore might prefer the single 425-hp engine. Everglades only rigs for Yamaha engines.