Sailfish 245 DC (2018-)

Brief Summary

Dual console fish boats have been experiencing a resurgence in recent years. Once relegated to being viewed as “not suitable for serious fishing,” today’s dual console layout has been coupled with a true offshore hull design and all the fishing accouterments that offshore anglers demand. The Sailfish 245 DC has an open cockpit, comfortable helm position, a large walkthrough windshield and a family-friendly forward seating arrangement.

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	24' 7.32 m
Beam	8' 6" 2.59 m
Dry Weight	4,788 lbs. 2,172 kg
Tested Weight	6,220 lbs. 2,821 kg
Draft	18" 0.46 m
Deadrise/Transom	22-deg.
Max Headroom	open
Bridge Clearance	8' 5'' 2.56 m
Person Capacity	12
Fuel Capacity	110 gal. 416 L
Water Capacity	14 gal. 53 L
Total Weight	6,220 lbs. 2,821 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	7.6 sec.
0 to 30	10.4 sec.
Props	15 1/2" x 17"
Load	2 persons, 2/3 fuel, no water, 50 lbs. of gear
Climate	96 deg., wind: 8 mph; seas: light chop

Engine Options

Tested Engine	1 x 300-hp Yamaha
Std. Power	Not Available
Opt. Power	1 x 200-hp Mercury XL 1 x 250-hp Mercury XL Verado 1 x 300-hp Mercury XXL Verado with white painted motor Four single Yamaha engine options from 200-hp to 300-hp

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Mission

The Sailfish 245 DC is designed and built to provide a flexible platform for families to enjoy time on the water. Primarily a fishing boat, the dual console with a walkthrough windshield is a configuration traditionally utilized in a runabout. This layout of the Sailfish 245 DC provides a generous, open cockpit (with the standard aft bolster seat and port side aft fold-out seat in the stowed position) for fish fighting. In turn, the 245 DC dual console design creates a highly social and comfortable seating area for up to 12 people.

Major Features

• Social and Adaptable Seating. The multi-position helm companion seat converts to a sun pad, forward seating, fold-away cockpit seating and helm seating with armrests.
• Well Appointed Helm. Comfortable helm seating and an ergonomic helm dash and controls layout.
• Carbon Fiber and Kevlar® Reinforced Deck and Hull.
• Sizable Head Compartment. Comes standard with a freshwater sink, mirror, and lighting.
• Highly Functional Cockpit. The cockpit area is replete with fishing features.

Performance

The Sailfish 245 DC has a length overall of 24’ (7.16 m), a beam of 8.6’ (2.59 m) and a draft of 18” (45.72 cm). With an empty weight of 5,350 lbs. (2,427 kg), 62% fuel (75 gallons / 284 L), two people and test gear onboard, there was an estimated test weight of 6,220 lbs. (2,821 kg).

The test was conducted with an ambient temperature of 96-degrees F at sea level, which is not optimal for the engine’ best performance. There was light wind (8 mph) and light chop.

Top Speed. With a single Yamaha F300, the Sailfish 245 DC reached a top speed at 5700 rpm of 46.4 mph.

Best cruise came at 3500 rpm and 24.5 mph. That speed produced a fuel burn of 9.1 gph, which the Sailfish 245 DC could maintain theoretically for 11 hours and 50 minutes and 267 statute miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Acceleration Times and Test Conditions

Handling

The Sailfish 245 DC with the standard hydraulic steering proved to be very responsive. The boat turned and tracked well. The acceleration was composed and the ride was competent in the light chop conditions we encountered.

Boat Inspection

Bow

Foreward Navigation Light. The Sailfish 245 DC comes standard with a LED bow navigation light. There is a pop-up LED bow navigation light available that folds down flush.

With this optional set-up, the anchor adds port and starboard LED navigation lights and an additional pop-up cleat for the anchor dog lanyard. The rode and windless electrical connections are accessible from the hatch on the forward bulkhead.

Forward Seating

Measuring 41” (1.04 m) deep and 17” (0.43 m) tall backrest for the lounge-style seating provides ample space to stretch out. The 59” (1.49 m) width across the forward seating and 18” (0.46 m) width of the foot-well, allows for plenty of space for four seated face-to-face and one facing aft while utilizing the optional bow table.

Add the optional forward mounted table and the forward seating area converts into a welcoming dining area.

Walkthrough Windshield

The walkthrough windshield offers 21” (0.53 m) of width when moving forward or aft, between the port and starboard consoles.

The powder-coated windshield frame with tempered glass inserts are standard.

With the windshield and air-dam both closed, together they provide significant protection from the weather as well as any spray.

Head Compartment

The ample head compartment has 54” (1.37 m) of headroom and a lockable door. A freshwater sink with faucet, lighting, a towel rack, toilet paper holder, storage and mirror are standard on the Sailfish 245 DC.

Sailfish offers an optional Porta-Potti or electric marine toilet with a holding tank, dockside pump-out access port and overboard discharge on the test boat, which is a desirable option for long days on the water.

Port Side Convertible Seating and Sun Pad

The convertible port side seating is a special feature of the Sailfish 245 DC.

Helm Console

It is apparent that the helm was designed by an experienced boat driver. The convenient cell phone storage and glovebox are well placed and the standard hydraulic steering and tilt steering wheel makes adjusting from seated or standing position handy.

Trim tabs and power-assist steering help make the Sailfish 245 DC receptive to varying waterborne activities.

The optional Ultraflex power-assisted steering, when engaged can be set to fishing mode, cruising mode, sports mode or manually adjusted.

The optional Lenco trim tabs offer a built-in auto-retract feature that returns the tabs to the start position when power is removed.

Helm Seat

The operator’s seat is adjustable for added comfort. An optional pedestal is available which allows the seat to be raised and lowered and swivel to face the port side when not underway.

Optional Hardtop

The Sailfish 245 DC comes standard with a Bimini top. The optional hardtop adds more protection and features.

The optional entertainment center with sink, freshwater faucet, Corian countertops, two cutting boards, LED strip lighting, and a removable cooler.

Cockpit

The cockpit measures 80” (2.03 m) across by 36” (.91 m) deep with the port side fold-out bench seat and the optional starboard side fold-out bench seat are in the stowed position and the aft bench bolster in folded-up position.

The coaming pads are mounted on the gunnels and transom. The gunnels are 28.5” (.72 m) above the deck and the freeboard of the cockpit is 34.5” (.87 m) to the water.

The transom door opens outward the way we like to see it, for quick emergency dewatering.

The standard livewell is mounted on the port side and has a 25-gallon (95 L) capacity. It comes with a light-blue bait calming gelcoat and LED lighting.

Standard recessed rod storage is located on the starboard side. The test boat had the optional starboard side fold-out bench seating.

Variable Stepped Deadrise Hull

By molding in three different deadrise angles from the stem to the transom, Sailfish is able to give a smaller boat like the 245 DC the ride and the stability that we might expect in a larger, heavier boat.

This design gives the hull more flexibility to handle varying conditions than a fixed deadrise hull may. The 24-degree component at the bottom gives better handling in heavy seas, allowing the 245 DC to carve better through waves, rather than launch over them. The lessening deadrise as we move outward towards the chines provides her with better stability, fuel efficiency and speed.

Kevlar and Carbon Fiber Materials

Sailfish is the only dual console builder we know of that uses carbon fibers in its deck laminate for stiffness. Carbon fiber is expensive and is not easy to handle but adds lots of strength with little weight. Kevlar is used in the transom corners and other places where the builder wants to inhibit flexing. It is puncture-resistant, strong, and lightweight.

Options to Consider

• Fiberglass hardtop
• Windlass
• Electric marine head with waste tank
• Removable bow table
• Bow filler cushion
• Windshield wiper
• Operator’s seat adjustable height pedestal
• Entertainment center
• Garmin GPSMap multi-function display
• Garmin radar
• Garmin VHF radio and antenna
• Fusion stereo with four speakers and USB port
• Built-in two-bank battery charger
• Trim tabs with indicator switch and built-in retractor
• Two transom Rod Holders

Observations

The Sailfish 245 DC is a flexible platform for fishing enthusiasts that need to appease family and friends that prefer to partake in other boating activities. More than that, we also think that she should appeal to boaters who are only casual anglers but want a robust and versatile boat for cruising and watersports.

Optioned properly, the Sailfish 245 DC can perform a myriad of on-water pastimes with aplomb.