Sailfish 316 DC (2022-)

Brief Summary

The Sailfish 316 Dual Console follows the manufacturer’s reputation for building fishing-focused boats with cruising features that everyone in the family will appreciate. She’s powered by twin 300-hp Mercury outboards with an upgrade to 350s as an available option.

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	32'6" 9.91 m
Beam	9'9" 2.97 m
Dry Weight	8,100 lbs. 3,674.09 kg
Tested Weight	11,478 lbs. 5,206.33 kg
Draft	22" 55.86 cm
Deadrise/Transom	22-24°
Max Headroom	82" 208.28 cm
Fuel Capacity	265 gallons 1,003.13 L
Water Capacity	19 gallons 72 L
Total Weight	11,478 lbs. 5,206.33 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	5.0 seconds
0 to 30	8.8 seconds
Props	19" Rev 4
Load	4 persons; 199 gal. fuel; 19 gal. water; 50 lbs. gear
Climate	69 deg.; 66 humid.; winds: 10-10; seas: 1'

Engine Options

Tested Engine	2 x 300-hp Mercury Verados
Std. Power	2 x 300-hp Mercury Verados
Opt. Power	2 x 350-hp Mercury Verados

Captain's Report

Captain's Report by Eric Colby

Mission Statement

The Sailfish 316 Dual Console’s mission is to be a boat that’s built to the same standards as the company’s bluewater fishing boats so a family will be comfortable heading offshore even when conditions aren’t perfect. Her fishing DNA is felt mostly in the cockpit while more cruising-oriented features include the head in the port console and deep bow seating area.

Sailfish 316 Dual Console Major Features

• Variable Deadrise Step bottom
• Sailtech construction with Kevlar and carbon fiber in key areas
• Hullside door to port
• Seating for seven in the cockpit
• Head in the port console
• Fiberglass hardtop
• Full-height walk-thru windshield
• Large bow seating area

Sailfish 316 Dual Console Features Inspection

Sailfish provides two ways to board the 316 DC, from the swim platforms at the stern or through the port hullside door that opens inward. Step aboard the swim platforms that are 42” (106.68 cm) deep fore to aft and an average of 22” (55. 88 cm) wide. Forward of the splashwell in front of the twin outboards, there’s a 5” (12.7 cm) deep walkway. In the port platform, there’s a wet storage locker and to starboard, there’s a four-step ladder in its own locker with the freshwater fill forward. There’s also a freshwater flush fitting for the outboards to port. Our test boat had the optional remote control for the stereo to starboard.

The Cockpit

A gate to starboard opens for passengers to transition into the cockpit. In the caprail just ahead are a pull-up shower, rod holder and a pull-up cleat. Battery switches are easily accessed in the passageway and the nonskid step is hinged. A label underneath reads “seacock access.” Lift it up, pull out a small storage bin and there’s access to the seacock. Across the transom are six rod holders flanking the optional pull-up ski tow pylon. In the aft port corner, the 30-gallon (115.56 L) circulating livewell has a clear acrylic top, rounded corners and blue paint.

On the inboard side of the transom is a fold-in bench seat that has a clip for the optional table. When the seat is folded down, there’s a flexible storage net on the transom. Additionally, the entire seat structure can be pulled up to access the batteries, charger and the livewell and bilge pumps. The stern rod holders have drainage hoses that lead to the bottom of the bilge so water doesn’t drip down on the batteries and connections.

There’s another fold-in seat in the starboard bulwark just ahead of a locker that has hooks for stowing dock lines. The cockpit measures 7’6” wide by 6’8” (2.29 m x 2.03 m) fore to aft and the port side has a single fold-in bench seat just ahead of the hullside door that measures 21” (53.34 cm) wide at its narrowest part. As we saw throughout the 316 Dual Console, the hullside door opens on heavy-duty stainless-steel hardware. A pivoting grabrail is just inside the opening to make reboarding easier and the click-in-place ladder stores in the base of the aft-facing seat just ahead. To keep fish fresh on the way home, there are insulated fishboxes on each side. The openings measure 76” long by 11” (193.04 cm x 27.94 cm) wide and the lockers conform to the hull shape.

At the front of the cockpit, there’s an aft-facing seat to port that’s 28” (71.12 cm) wide. The heavy-duty ladder, which clips in place in the hullside door opening, stores in a dedicated rack in the base. A single jumpseat folds in from the port gunwale, bringing the total cockpit seating capacity to about six or seven, depending on the size of the guests. Cockpit depth, something Sailfish prides itself on, is 31” (78.74 cm) at amidships. There’s 6’10” (2.08 m) of headroom under the fiberglass hardtop that has zippered lifejacket storage aft, LED lights in multiple colors and aft-facing spreader lights. Our test model had the optional upgrade of painting the underside of the hardtop to match the hullsides. The metal framework for the hardtop is powder-coated to better withstand the elements.

To starboard on the backside of the helm seat, our test boat had the optional bar with a Corian counter, sink with fold-up faucet, a recessed bottle rack, Isotherm refrigerator and storage drawers.

The Helm Deck

Moving forward, there’s a doublewide companion seat abaft the port console. It can be manually slid fore and aft. A glovebox with a locking hatch is in the door to the portable head. A window on top of the console lets natural light enter the head and there’s a vent in the passageway to the bow. Inside the compartment, headroom is 55” (139.7 cm) and it’s 34” (83.36 cm) above the Dometic toilet. The two steps that lead into the area are 10” (25.4 cm) tall. A sink is recessed in the Corian countertop and there’s a mirror as well.

Opposite to starboard, our test boat’s helm had the upgrade to twin 12” (30.48 cm) Garmin multifunction displays. There’s a compass on top of the dash panel in line with the tilt steering wheel and accessory switches are in a row between the helm and the MFDs. The Fusion stereo and Garmin VHF radio are to port of the steering wheel and to the right are the control panel for the Uflex power steering, windlass buttons and the spotlight. In the starboard gunwale, the Bennett trim tab switches with a built-in indicator are positioned so the driver can adjust them with his/her throttling hand. Aft of the controls, there’s a storage compartment with USB ports. The helm seat has a flip-up bolster, folding armrests and it adjusts fore and aft electrically. There’s an angled footrest on the base of the console finished in nonskid.

Between the helm and companion seats, there’s under-deck storage in a locker that measures 6’8” (2.03 m) long and 17” (43.18 cm) deep with varying inside. Folding racks would be good for securing a boat hook, gaff or brush. There’s also a storage drawer that pulls out of the base of the companion seat. A hatch in the starboard console opens to reveal storage, the optional stereo amplifier, circuit breakers and two access panels for the helm rigging. The optional table and two legs store in dedicated racks that can also be accessed from the bow.

The Bow

Moving forward, there’s 29” (73.66 cm) of space between the helm and companion seats. An air dam for the walkway folds aside and the center section of the windshield slides open to provide access to the 316 Dual Console’s bow. It has 6’2” (1.88 m) of headroom and can be secured in an open position to let air through on a nice day.

The bow seating area has 40” (101.6 cm) of depth and the side cushions are 4’8” (1.42 m) long with 24” (60.96 cm) of space in between. The backrests are reclined at a comfortable angle on the console fronts and the bolster wraps all way around the bow. Each gunwale has grab handles, beverage holders and USB ports plus 4’10” (1.47 m) long stainless-steel grabrails. Our test boat had an optional shower to starboard with pull-up cleats on each side. In the center beneath a hatch are the Pro-Fish windlass with access to the rode underneath. The stainless-steel anchor and windlass come standard.

Bow storage has an insulated cooler to port and more space under the forward-most bottom cushion. The starboard lounge is hinged at the top of the backrest and it opens to provide easier access to the table and posts for mounting it in the bow or cockpit. There’s also storage beneath an in-deck hatch in the bow.

Sailfish 316 Dual Console Construction

Sailfish calls its construction process Sailtech. The bottom is laid up with the gelcoat followed by a ceramic-based spray core and then two layers of quad-axial woven mat that are laid at opposing 90-degree angles. Kevlar is used to tie in the transom that’s made of up composite Coosa panels and reinforces the bow eye. Stringers are hand-laid fiberglass and injected with closed-cell foam. They form a grid structure with the bulkheads and transverse supports. To keep the deck from feeling spongy, Sailfish takes the extra step of using Prisma composite beams that run across the bottom side of the deck to provide additional support.

Sailfish 316 Dual Console Performance

Sailfish calls its bottom design VDS for Variable Deadrise Stepped, but it’s not stepped in the way that most builders say because it does not have steps that force air under the bottom. The step is in the degree of deadrise. There’s a steep 48 to 58-degree deadrise at the bow, but then at the stern, the V has three different degrees of deadrise. At the keel, the deadrise is 24 degrees that gives the boat the ability to cut through waves. As we move out from the keel, the bottom goes to 23 degrees and then between the outer strake and reversed chine, the measurement is 22. This provides stability when at rest for trolling or just hanging out on the hook.

The Numbers

The 316 Dual Console measures 32’6” (9.91 m) long with a 9’9” (2.97 m) beam and a draft of 22” (55.86 cm). Our test boat weighed 8,100 lbs. (3,674.1 kg) without engines and with four people, 199 gallons (753.3 L) of fuel, 19 (71.92 L) gallons of water and test gear, we had an as-tested weight of 11,478 pounds (5,206.3 kg).

Powered by twin 300-hp Mercury Verado outboards, the 316 DC hit a top speed of 50.2 mph at 5950 rpm. We recorded best cruise at 3500 rpm where she ran 23.9 mph and burned 15.8 gph. This translates to 1.1 mpg and a range of 362 statute miles with 10% of her 265-gallon (1,003.13 L) fuel capacity held in reserve.

In acceleration tests, our test boat planed in five seconds and hit 20 mph in 5.8 and ran through 30 in 8.8.

Handling

In calm conditions, the 316 Dual Console felt smooth and predictable in turns. We made tight turns at 40 mph and she held her line through the maneuver, leaning comfortably and not scrubbing off much speed. The props felt properly hooked up without barking.

When we headed offshore, we were the only boat shorter than 50’ (15.24 m) thanks to 4’ to 6’ (1.2 m to 1.8 m) seas with occasional 8’ (2.4 m) holes. Running in following seas, we trimmed out the engines so the propellers were level with the bottom and lowered the trim tabs to keep the bow in the water. We made good progress, running about 25 mph. We had to slow a little in head seas, but she still made good progress and the tall windshield and hardtop kept us protected from the elements.

Base Price

• Retail price with twin Mercury 300 Verados: $302,914
• Retail price with twin Mercury 350 Verados: $309,918
• Upgrade to white engines: $4,540

Popular Options Packages

• Entertainment Package — Ski tow, removable table with bow and cockpit legs, Fusion stereo transom remote and underwater LED lights: $2,982
• Galley/Bar Package — 12V refrigerator, sink, storage drawers, wine rack cooler, countertop storage and two-tray storage: $3,429

Observations

Sailfish took its approach of building a quality fishing-focused dual console with plenty of family and cruising-focused features. The 316 Dual Console can head offshore to go after fish on Saturday or pull up to the sandbar to hang out with family and friends. Her tall windshield and hardtop give her a well-protected feel in less-than-ideal conditions. She would do well in New England and the Pacific Northwest, but the opening center section of the windshield and the air dam can open to let in plenty of air for warmer climates as well.