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Tiburon ZX-25 (2017-)

1 x 300-hp Evinrude E-TEC G2

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Brief Summary

With a draft of just 6" and a weight of only 1,400 lbs. (less power), the Tiburon 25 ZX floats remarkably shallow for a 25-footer, making her an effective flats boat. She also has the length and width to function as a capable bay boat in calm conditions. The elevated console gives the skipper a better view of the shallows ahead, and standard Lenco tabs help her to get on top quickly and keep her there at low rpms.

Key Features

  • VLS High Performance Hull
  • Dual 33 Gallon Fuel Tanks
  • Lenco Trim Tabs w/LED Switch
  • ArmorCoat White Gelcoat
  • Bobs 10" Jack Plate with gauge
  • Smooth Glide Pull Up Cleats
  • Gas-assist Hatch Lifts
  • 28 Gallon Recirculating Release Well

Test Results

RPM MPH Knots GPH MPG NMPG STAT. MILE NM dBa
600 3.1 2.7 0.3 10.2 8.8 641 557 N/A
1000 5.8 5 0.9 6.8 5.9 430 373.8 N/A
1500 7.8 6.7 2.7 2.8 2.5 179 155.5 N/A
2000 9.5 8.3 5.2 1.8 1.6 116 101.1 N/A
2500 16.3 14.1 5.7 2.9 2.5 181 157.6 N/A
3000 22 19.1 7.1 3.1 2.7 197 170.9 N/A
3500 29.3 25.4 9.1 3.2 2.8 204 177.1 N/A
4000 35.7 31 11.8 3 2.6 191 165.7 N/A
4500 41.6 36.1 16.3 2.5 2.2 161 139.6 N/A
5000 46.4 40.3 19.1 2.4 2.1 153 133.4 N/A
5500 48.6 42.3 21.5 2.3 2 142 123.8 N/A
View the test results in metric units
tiburon_zx25_chart_2017.jpg

Specifications

Length Overall 24' 8" / 7.52 m
Beam 8′ 6"
2.59 m
Dry Weight 1,400 lbs.
635 kg
Tested Weight 2,717 lbs.
1232 kg
Draft 6"
0.15 m
Deadrise/Transom 24 deg.
Max Headroom Open
Bridge Clearance N/A
Weight Capacity N/A
Person Capacity N/A
Fuel Capacity 70 gal.
265 L
Water Capacity N/A
Total Weight 2,717 lbs.
1232 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane 5.7 sec.
0 to 30 8.3 sec.
Ratio 1.85:1
Props N/A
Load 2 persons, 7/8 load, no water, 50 lbs. of gear
Climate 78 deg.; wind: 5-10 mph; seas: medium chop

Engine Options

Tested Engine 1 x 300-hp Evinrude E-TEC G2
Std. Power Not Available
Opt. Power 1 x 200-hp Suzuki
1 x 250-hp Evinrude E-TEC G2 HO
1 x 250-hp Mercury ProXS

Captain's Report


Tiburon ZX-25 runstar

The Tiburon ZX-25 is a hybrid design that blends the shallow water agility of a flats boat with the stability of a skiff.

Mission Impossible -- For Most Boats

Many boats built today are designed to be multi-functional. On the other end of the spectrum is the Tiburon ZX-25, which is laser-targeted for fishing in ultra-skinny water. The main feature of this boat is that she allows a shallow water angler to access areas of the flats that other boats simply can’t. The hull design that affords this craft an extremely shallow draft is patent pending. It was computer-designed to be extremely efficient and reduce drag while providing lift.

Tiburon ZX-25 shallow water run

Running the boat in shallow water from the elevated position of the console riser gives the captain a better opportunity to spot shoals, channels, or underwater obstructions.

Tiburon ZX-25 outboard transom

At rest, it’s easy to see how high the outboard is positioned on the transom. The hull design feeds water flow up into the pocket where the lower unit is.

Major Features

    • Patent Pending Hull Design

    • Shallow Draft

    • Console Riser

    • Stand on Top Console

    • Bolster Bucket Seats

    • Trolling Motor Pre-Wire

    • 100% Composite Construction

    • 28-gallon Recirculating Release Well

Hull Design

Tiburon Boats utilized aerospace CAD and CAM software to design their hull, deck, and console. They were able to send that digital information to a CNC machine to make precision-cut plugs and molds.

Tiburon ZX-25 running surface

The hull’s running surface was designed to direct water flow up to the propeller without inducing additional drag.

Tiburon ZX-25 hull design

The hull design was computer-optimized before it was machined, enabling Tiburon to anticipate the hull’s draft prior to building the prototype boat.

Tiburon ZX-25 precision plug

CNC machines were used to cut a precision plug to 1/1000 inch, resulting in tight tolerances.

Tiburon ZX-25 composites and polymers

Tiburon uses space-age composites and polymers to build their boats for both strength and durability. The result is a very lightweight hull. The four vertical stringers give rigidity to the hull and support the deck.

Shallow Water Performance

It’s not enough for a boat to just float shallow for exceptional shallow water performance. It also needs to have the ability to jump up on plane in the same water it drafts. If not, an angler may be faced with having to travel a great distance with the electric trolling motor in search of a channel or hole deep enough to take off and clear the flat.

Tiburon ZX-25 draft

The low sheer line of the boat reduces effects from wind for better control while fishing and keeps the boat lighter, which allows her to float higher.

Tiburon ZX-25 sternhull

The propeller and skeg can be trimmed completely above the planing surface. The hull design allows the engine to be trimmed even higher than shown in the picture.

Tiburon ZX-25 tab pocket

The hull extends past the transom. These two areas not only house built-in trim tabs, but the additional displacement in the stern helps the boat to float shallower and plane off quicker.

The Center Console

The same CAD/CAM process used for the hull also created the console, which is a “stand-on-top” design. This allows the angler to climb up and actually stand on the top of the center console, gaining a better vantage point for seeing fish in shallow water. If used in conjunction with a remote-controlled bow-mounted trolling motor, one could actually fish from that elevated position.

Tiburon ZX-25 console shape

The overall shape of the console is simple and functional. To climb on top, the area with the two cup holders becomes a step.

Tiburon ZX-25 t-top

The forward face of the center console has a large acrylic door to gain access for storage and rigging for controls and eletronics. The T-top diagonal supports are in the captain’s view when looking forward, which can be annoying. We’d prefer to see some other arrangement.

Tiburon ZX-25 storage

With the door open, gear is easily stowed, and systems including wiring, switches, and breakers can be maintained.

Tiburon ZX-25 cooler

The forward seat of the center console is a high-tech cooler with a padded seat cushion. This feature allows for more deck space, if needed, by relocating the cooler.

Tiburon ZX-25 flat dash

The flat dash has room for flush-mounted electronics and has dual switch panels with rocker actuators embossed with icons. We’d like to see high fiddles on the top of the console so that it can be used to hold cell phones, a handheld VHF radio, and other stuff.

Tiburon ZX-25 tilt helm

The helm is mounted to port on a dedicated extrusion. The mounting angle, along with the wheel’s tilt helm, can be positioned at any desired height.

Steering Platform Riser

Much like how a sportfish with a flybridge gives the captain a better view down into the water column, the use of a riser to mount the center console on has the same effect for this flats boat. Navigating in shallow water, the higher the captain is at the helm, the more easily he will be able to stay in the channel or spot fish up on the flats.

Tiburon ZX-25 riser

Another advantage of a riser is additional storage below for gear such as a PFD bag, tackle, or soft coolers.

Tiburon ZX-25 aluminum base riser

This riser has an aluminum base that saves weight over a fiberglass box that some other builders use.

Tiburon ZX-25 riser stern

Aft of the riser, under the helm seating, is enough room for a cooler that wouldn’t take up any additional deck space.

Casting Decks

For any boat to be used as a serious fishing boat, it must have fore and aft casting decks. Fishing from the elevated deck gives an angler a better view and an unobstructed area to cast from.

Tiburon ZX-25 front deck

The bow casting deck has wide wrap-around gunnels that serve as a good landing area for a bow-mounted trolling motor. The raised lip becomes a toe rail, which warns anglers fighting a fish when they are near the boat’s edge. The twin gas fills in the cut out to port lead to dual 33-gallon fuel cells.

Tiburon ZX-25 hatches

Below the three molded fiberglass hatches are an anchor locker and two dry storage areas. The hatches have compression latches, cast recessed hinges, and are held open by gas-assist struts. The three athwarship bulkheads provide strength and rigidity to the bow running surface.

Tiburon ZX-25 rear deck

The stern casting deck has an odd multi-level shape with a center-mounted seat cushion. Fiberglass hatches lead to plumbed wells and systems access. The curved forward bulkhead has two recessed cockpit drains. Note that the outboard well is unencumbered by external hydraulic steering because the owner of this boat has selected an Evinrude E-TEC G2 engine, which has internal steering.

Tiburon ZX-25 release well

Below the stern hatches is a 28-gallon recirculating release well, an 18-gallon livewell, storage, and access to pumps and systems.

Tiburon ZX-25 rear deck hatch

This port stern hatch is typical, with a rubber gasket seal, stainless steel latch, and deep channel to drain deck water away from entering the compartment.

Seating

One of the biggest oversights on many boats is the seating. If the desired fishing spot requires a long run, a comfortable seat will make a huge difference with not being fatigued at the end of the day. From a safety standpoint, a seat that can help hold the occupants in place is a good choice, and the two seats at the helm do just that.

Tiburon ZX-25 bolster seats

These over-stuffed racing-style bolster seats give a secure feel, especially at high running speeds.

Tiburon ZX-25 aluminum seat base

The aluminum seat base has four rocket-launcher-style rod holders, as well as stainless steel cup holders. There’s plenty of room below for a cooler or removable livewell.

Gunnels

The ZX-25 is stable enough to walk the wide gunnels from bow to stern without having to step down into the cockpit. This is especially useful when fighting a large fish that runs around the boat.

Tiburon ZX-25 gunnel

As the gunnels go forward, they rise above the bow casting deck to form a toe rail. This makes it easier to know where the edge of the deck is without having to look down.

Tiburon ZX-25 gunnel storage

Under the port and starboard gunnels are horizontal storage compartments.

Tiburon ZX-25 wide walkway

The 8-foot 6-inch beam allows for a wide walkway down both sides of the console riser.

Power

Tiburon ZX-25 specialty boat

The Tiburon ZX-25 is a specialty boat dialed-in to one specific purpose: taking two anglers hunting in very skinny water on flats, in swamps, and in other protected-water locations.

The max horsepower rating for this vessel is 300, which was how our test boat was powered. The 300-hp Evinrude E-TEC G2 has a 25-inch shaft and a gear ratio of 1.85:1. It was propped with a 15 1/8” diameter by 20” pitch R4, 4-blade stainless steel propeller.

Performance Numbers

Top Speed. Our test boat had an estimated test weight of 2,717 lbs. (1,232 kg). We hit a top speed of 48.6 mph (42.2 knots) at 5500 rpm.

Best cruise was 29.3 mph (25.5 knots) with a fuel burn of 3.2 mpg. The boat got on plane quickly and hit 20 mph (17.4 knots) in 5.8 seconds and reached 30 mph (26.1 knots) in 8.3 seconds.

Ride and Handling

If there’s 8 inches of water under the keel, this boat can jump up on plane. Once there, the hull design can channel water flow up to the prop to keep the boat underway in less than 3 inches of water -- according to the builder (we didn’t try it!) -- just don’t come off the throttle. In a heavy chop, don’t expect the smoothest ride, but that’s not what this boat was designed to do. Its mission is to take anglers into the shallowest of places, where few boats dare to go.

Price

$99,000.00

Available Options

    • Raised Platform

    • 45-gallon Release Well

    • Pro Air System

    • 3 to 4 Bank Battery Charger

    • Bow Casting Platform

    • Poling Platform

    • T-top

    • Powder Coat

    • Wash Down System

Observations

We ran this boat across the flats on Biscayne Bay to see what its shallow water capabilities really were. At rest in 8 inches, we were still floating, with the wind able to drift us along without grounding. Running across that same 8-inch flat on plane, we did not leave any wheel ditches, the prop was not starved for water, and there was no cavitation.

Understanding the limitations of a flats boat, it’s not a boat we would take offshore and troll for dolphins. But if stalking a fish in ultra-skinny water is the mission, this boat could open up access to the backcountry, where fish get very little pressure simply because other boats can’t go there.