Downsizing From Battlewagons (Everglades)
Flotation Requirements for Boats Over 20 Feet (Everglades)
Let Your Imagination Soar to the Heavens (Everglades)
Misconceptions about Flotation (Everglades)
The Doughertys - Father and Son (Everglades)
The Most Expensive Center Consoles in Class (Everglades)
The Placement of Fishboxes is Important (Everglades)
Will All Everglades Float Level if Swamped? (Everglades)
Will Your 35 Footer Float Level? (Everglades)
 "Pin it"){kind=small}
Fish All Day 
Nice Features 
Space Saving Design 
Standard Sink Captain's Report
A Solid InvestmentBy Capt. Bob SmithBow Layout and FeaturesUp front you have a huge area to relax and to fish. Even though the bow has benches with cushions, you can put them away and use the benches for a great casting surface. Interior gunwale heights are high enough to keep the little ones inside, and the gunwale tops have aggressive grip surfaces. Gunwales are nice and wide with pop-up cleats to keep the lines from getting snagged when a fish drives down the sides. Speaking of the forward benches, the seat bottoms create huge spaces for gear and the seat backs are hinged to reveal rod racks inside. A very good idea to keep the gear out of site and well organized. In the floor is a large 129-gallon fish locker with pump-out system. The best seat in the house, outside of driving, is the forward signature Everglades seat on the front of the console. This throne has powder coated side rails for safety grips, headrests and well cushioned seats.Creature ComfortsThe head is inside the center console and is fully finished. At six feet and over 200 lbs., I found it easy to get into this space and move around. Mom and the kids will really appreciate that! The head does offer some storage, a toilet, sink and easy access behind panels to the electronics connections.Console FeaturesThe helm itself was really laid out well. We had the comfort of Honda digital information gauges to tell us how the engines performed. The console offers lots of room for flush mount electronics, and the power-assisted hydraulic steering came in handy in the heavy traffic and rough chop we ran into. Our test boat had the T-top which offered a lot of protection from the elements, more electronics gear space, but did cut down on forward visibility somewhat, due to the cross bracing requirements across the windshield. Not a bad trade for the benefits, though.Fishing AmenitiesEverglades’ Command Leaning Post Station will keep the driver and the one in charge of the bait very happy. The bench seat has two comfortable positions, with a flip-down footrest just below when you do choose to sit, and it easily moves out of the way for standard stand up driving. The fire extinguisher is prominently placed right behind the driver’s left leg in a pocket. I really appreciate that as most get placed where they can’t be found in a hurry. Everglades does pay close attention to safety aboard. The sides of the leaning post have Plano tackle boxes organized behind a door for easy access and good order. Behind the seat is the workstation for the bait person, with two tool/knife organizers to help keep the tips and blades out of the way. The sink on the starboard side is well placed to rinse off after cutting bait on the cutting top to the left. Live bait is kept fresh in the center baitwell, which has a rounded interior with blue lighting to calm the bait before they become a big fish’s dinner. The clear lid lets you keep an eye on them, and there’s also a magnetic catch to hold it open while you chase them with the dip net. Pump and baitwell controls are located on the rear port corner, out of the way and within easy access.Good-Size Cockpit The rear cockpit offers the prime casting space on board. If you need seating underway, Everglades’ ingenious flip out bench seat is easily deployed. To service the batteries, the seat stows and another handle allows you to simply lift the stern wall up to reveal the batteries arranged in a row on a tray that is well out of the bilge. Once again, they have done it right with placement and secure tie downs. In the floor, when you don’t use the auxiliary fuel tank option, this space is a 66-gallon fish box. To port is a slide out Igloo cooler with another prep box on the top of the stern.SpecificationsThe 295 registers 28’7” length overall and rides on a stable wide beam of 9’9”. Her draft with the outboards trimmed up is only 20” so getting into the shallows doesn’t mean you have to have an outfielder’s cast to reach the fish. She can carry up to 14 people, but comfortably can carry around ten. Her fuel tank holds 200 gallons and you have an option to add an auxiliary tank for another 70 gallons, but you forfeit the rear fish box to do it.Performance and RideAs I mentioned, the water was pretty choppy when we tested. Mixed 1-3 foot chop was not uncommon. We waited for smoother water to get the speed numbers done, but even with the chop, proved she was a dry ride and would not break your back when coming down off the big waves. The 295CC pushed through them with ease. She achieved a top speed of 49.8 mph, and was cruising at 21.6 mph for a range of 401 miles. Everglades seems to be building a solid boat with a great offshore ride. They have features to make fishing with the family enjoyable as well as fishing for a tournament easy. These boats seemed to be solid performers, and the fit and finish was good. I believe the 295CC is a solid investment that will deliver many years of fishing and family cruising fun.Test Result Highlights
- Top speed for the Everglades 295 CC (2013-) is 47.3 mph (76.1 kph), burning 39.7 gallons per hour (gph) or 150.26 liters per hour (lph).
- Best cruise for the Everglades 295 CC (2013-) is 21.7 mph (34.9 kph), and the boat gets 2.30 miles per gallon (mpg) or 0.98 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 415 miles (667.88 kilometers).
- Tested power is 2 x 225-hp Honda 4-stroke (outboards).
Standard and Optional Features
Systems
| Battery Charger/Converter | Standard |
|---|---|
| CD Stereo | Optional |
| Head: Fixed | Standard |
| Shore Power | Standard |
| Washdown: Fresh Water | Standard |
| Washdown: Raw Water | Standard |
Exterior Features
| Hardtop | Standard |
|---|---|
| Outlet: 12-Volt Acc | Standard |
| Swim Ladder | Standard |
| Transom Door | Standard |
Warranty
| Certifications | |
|---|---|
| NMMA Certification | Yes |
(It's quick and FREE!)
Member Log In
Join BoatTEST.com as a FREE Member.
You will also get access to our videos and test numbers, the weekly newsletter, access to our comparison feature and much more.
Member Log In