Yellowfin Yachts 24 Bay Boat
It's Here As promised on Feb. 21st
of 07' I went to go get our brand new Yellowfin 24 Bay Boat
designed and built by Wylie Nagler of Yellowfin Yachts.
Equipped with Mercury Racing 300 xs, Yellowfin Yachts
Custom Throttle Controls and Smart Craft gauges and
complimented with Power Pole, Motor Guide and Odyssey
batteries this should be a package hard to beat.
There are many
things a new boat owner feels when he takes delivery of
a brand new boat. One of the notable things I felt when
I was trailering home my 24 Yellowfin was confidence.
Confidence that this boat was right for what we were
looking for in a shallow water bay boat. Confidence that
we could splash the boat and run it the day we get it.
Confidence that the company that built the boat, should
anything go wrong, would stand behind it. My feelings
did not steer me wrong.
Yellowfin as a whole
and more notably Wylie and Kevin have been great to work
with. I am a particular person and they managed my needs
professionally, timely and accurately. I am amazed at
how much goes on in that facility building (from what I
can tell) seven different models for every sort of
fishing enthusiast imaginable from a 17ft Flats boat to
a 42 ft Behemoth offshore fish killer or Caribbean
cruiser not to mention the projects not off the drawing
board, one can definitely see a well oiled machine that
is Yellowfin Yachts.
Update 10 / 2007
We have just
received our second Yellowfin 24 bay boat. This one is
black in color and powered by Verado from Mercury. We
received the same impressive service from Yellowfin that
we got the first time.
About the boat...
Bay Boats
are a funny critter. Most of the
different brands look pretty much the same. I have been
in almost all of them. Each brand has its own features
where it shines and some areas that they don't. This is
true with every boat and the things people like or
dislik
e greatly
differs from one person to the next, so saying that one
boat is the best boat of all the boats is crazy. A
consumer has to weigh out what he feels is important in
his purchase decision. In this article I will point out
the areas that (after 125 hours as of March 22) I have
found to be the best about the Yellowfin 24 Bay Boat.
My Yellowfin
Bay Boat was a boat
show queen for Miami International Boat show 07'
so many would say, "your boat should be perfect." Well
they are right. The rigging, fit and finish in my boat
was "perfect." In fact the rigging resembled some of the
finest offshore center consoles out there like
Yellowfin. The same rigging detail in their big boats
goes into the 24 as well. Wow, is what I hear most often
when I lift the forward seat so you can see the total
access to everything with out having to be a
contortionist. Just to make a comparison I climbed into
a customers boat that was being finished at the
Yellowfin plant that day for pickup. That boat was
perfect as well and could easily have been the Show
Queen.
I would really like
to bring some attention to the electronic control
processor that Yellowfin puts in the 24 for the switch
board circuitry. This thing was daunting to me as I had
never worked with one before. I was almost upset that I
would have to add extra switches to wire in some
accessories such as the raw water pump
(see Note A) as well as my underwater Ocean LED
lights and my Furuno electronics
(see Note B). I called the factory when I was
playing Tim Tool Time and spoke to Kevin who then put me
on with some kid named Hooper. Hooper walked me through
the steps and overnighter the pieces to do it
professionally and all was very easy and good. I was
able to utilize that snazzy switch panel that Yellowfin
Yachts is noted for to run my accessories. Very Cool.
Pumps and stuff - no
sweat. The pumps are just under a little seat behind the
rocket launcher. Here you can quick change a pump in a
matter of a minute. (see Note C).
There is this cool little box back there that has the
pumps with this special little connector plugs right in.
Bilge is super clean of rigging wires and hoses by the
rigging tube that goes through to the engine. In the
very back there is a removable inspection plate that is
glued down you can get into if need be. Should be no
need though.
Accessories -
the
boat comes with Power Pole standard (who does that?)
with the XL with remote. Very functional piece of
equipment. I was originally wanting the Power pole on
the motor mount thing that Power Pole makes but there is
no need as the transom install that Yellowfin does is
tight and very strong. Works well.
Trim tabs
are
forbidden. Needed? Well, I am a firm believer that all
boats over 20 ft should have them. However, this boat
does not scream out, " I need tabs." I will not put them
on my next boat as they would not offer this boat enough
improvements to make up for the ugly they would create
on the transom.
The overall finish
was 10 out of 10. On three passes I found nothing. The
boat was perfect and so were two others I saw at the
factory. Now, for those that know me you can take it to
the bank, nothing, not even a smear mark from a buffer
or a cut zip tie piece in the bilge could be found.
Really cool is the
throttle. I hate that this throttle was made by Honda.
The guys at Yellowfin put the trim and the jack plate in
the grip under these huge buttons. I hated it at first
but now I am huge fan of it. Throttle is really nice
too.
Ergonomics
Console -
Console is very comfy, keep in mind I am 6' 6" and it
fits me well (see Note D). I
love the landscape on the dash, plenty of room for any
overzealous gadget freak but not too wide. Rod holders
not only look nice but work and drain out a
tube...pretty neat. Lots of room inside the console. By
lifting the forward seat I can get in there to do
wiring, and I am sure that most guys' wives can get in
there to use a bucket or small porta toilet without much
issue. However, I would not say there is room for a
head. Use your imagination and it will work. Front seat
is awesome. My folks love to sit there while they are
riding. In my other bay boats they like the back because
it offers a smoother ride. In this boat it does not
matter. Console is attached to the inner liner of the
boat so I don't suspect there will ever be an issue here
as I have seen in other boats coming out of the floor.
Some folks would want the forward seat to be a critter
tank, bait well or cooler. I have put a lot of thought
into this and have decided I like the access and the
very dry storage, not to mention a place to put my
extras.
Leaning post
-
I changed mine for personal reasons (long legs). I
know Yellowfin is coming out with a leaning post that
has a storage box and typical flip seat which will be
real nice. There is not a ton of room behind the leaning
post to the back casting deck. I find this area in all
boats to be dead space so it's really no issue. There is
enough room for rear seated passengers to feel safe and
hang on to the leaning post for a rail. Pretty cozy with
3 inch cushion and very safe.
Console to
gunwale room -
Fantastic! Not to mention the
gunnels are wide enough for an elephant to walk down
them. I am a huge fan of the gunnels; they are just high
enough, definitely wide enough and very stylish adding
to the interior lines of an already sexy boat. I would
feel very comfortable using this boat as a mini tower
boat. The framing of the tower is not an issue.
Forward
Casting Deck -
Its HUGE! I have had 3 grown men
up there casting away and not killing each other. I
think it may be the largest in the industry. Nice big
toe rail for fly fishermen and for those who don't see
where the deck ends. Plenty of room for a 60" Motor
guide trolling motor. everything is flush mounted as
well. I love the deck space on this boat and it was a
huge selling point for me.
Storage
-
How much do you need? This boat has a bunch
of it. Either the console or the forward compartment you
will have truly dry storage. Forward there are three
hatches, one of them being quite large for access. I
have put a 47 quart cooler up there and strapped it with
bungees. Works really well and out of the way.
Battery
Compartments -
The main starting batteries are
in the console nice and tidy. The trolling motor
batteries are under the deck in the front storage
compartment, VERY COOL. What an awesome way to put these
batteries because they are not only out of the way but
protected from the harsh environment and forward to help
counter the weight of the motor.
Bait wells
-
The main center well on this boat is really well done;
its in the very back of the boat. There is a clear lid
that closes with a hatch on top. My baits love it in
there, often throwing pool parties while they wait to be
fed to hungry tarpon. The well is perfectly plumbed and
fills up to the top creating a pressure out which is key
in bait saving. Standard is the recirculation aerator
which works great. I will say one thing, pin fish are
smart, they know where to go to stay away from my net.
The lid opens to the starboard portion of the well only
leaving the little rascals to the port side to avoid me.
Release
wells -
I don't use them for release, but I
find it to be a great place to keep crabs and bucket or
other items for wet storage. Mine are plumbed and I am
sure they work really well but have no reason to keep a
fish alive any bigger than will fit in my bait well. All
the wells look nice and are finished inside.
Deck
-
The non skid is great. Cleans nicely after a bloody
day. Drains well once you are moving. However, while
sitting still the scuppers are plugged up so whatever
water you take on the deck will be at your feet until
you move or slosh around. No issue here, just the means
of design to keep water out of the boat while you are
sitting. I have not had a wet foot yet.
Performance
Everyone asks me,
"How Fast Is It?"
Life has taught me
many lessons but none more than about speed, especially
in the bay boat and offshore market of center consoles.
He said, they said, it ran, I know it will run, this
boat can do, that boat is faster, my boat will run
empty, loaded it turns this... Its all a bunch of crap.
Boats are getting really fast, too fast for many weekend
warriors and tournament Vikings to have the experience
to handle them. My Yellowfin 24 Bay boat runs between 64
and 73 mph WOT. Loaded its fast, empty its even faster.
If I change props it gets REALLY fast. There you have
it. If you want to know just how fast, go for a ride
with me or better yet bring a (single engine comparable)
boat and lets line them up the old fashioned way. You
will not outrun me. Tops speeds on boats matter when it
comes time to outrun the other guy with the same
conditions as you to the same spot to win.
Lets talk about the
things that truly matter.
I am running a 300
XS from Mercury Racing. My fuel economy is absolutely
heavenly for a 24 ft boat at 4.45 MPG at my cruise of
almost fast. I have found the right prop for all things
considered making the package awesome. There are still a
few more things to test but I am confident this is the
most fuel efficient bay boat on the market with this
power. The noise is a bit stronger than Verado with the
jack plate a bit elevated but I take no matter here as I
love the weight of that motor.
The Ride
The Yellowfin Bay
Boat 24 rides flat! Flat as a board. And cuts like a
knife. It planes in amazing time with very litle bow
lift and will do it in 2 feet of water without hurting a
thing. If you are running a 24 Yellowfin and you feel
the chop, go faster and it goes away. Wylie has taken
offshore racing ideas and design to this boat; it runs
like no other boat I have ever been in. Trim has little
to do with ride after 3 degrees positive, your not going
to yank the bow way up with any prop it runs the way it
runs. Like any boat it has its bad spot, avoid it,
change your angle or adjust your speed to fit. I am
amazed every time I take it out especially in the wind
about how this boat rides. My customers love it. They
like my other boats too but this one seems to yield the
most comments about its ability to eat chop with not
effect. Nice work Yellowfin.
Fishing Performance
We all fish
different ways so I will keep this simple. My Yellowfin
is shallower than any other bay boat and easier to
handle on the flats. It acts like a flats boat. Dead
silent on the flat. I never thought I would ever try and
fly fish for permit on the flats in anything but my
flats skiff. This boat does it well and the fish did not
even know we were there. I was truly amazed. Like I said
when I started this section, we all fish different but I
bet this boat will handle your needs very well whatever
they are. In shallow water a whole new world has been
opened to me.
As a bay boat guide
I like to be able to offer my clients the ability to
fish 4 persons. Fishing 4 persons is not my favorite
thing but this boat will do it well.
On a side note, I
really hate to compare boats but there is a definite
difference in this boat to others. The others are boats
that fish. This is a great fishing boat.
Durability
T
his boat is strong
as all hell. I have beaten it across to the Marquesas in
water that would have sent other boats home. If there is
going to be a stress crack it would be there already and
if something were going to break it would be broken or
come lose by now. The best part is there are no rattles
or washiness in the hull. You hit wave, wave leaves. I
will stand by this boat with my reputation to say, that
you cannot hurt it. I am looking forward to a long
history with my first 24 as it has passed the test of
the Ides of March here in Key West.
Mercury Racing 300XS
or Mercury Verado Power?
That's a tough
question. I love them both.
The choice here is
obviously yours. Let me share with you some of the
differences I have experienced. These days most bay
boats are capable of handling the torque and weight of
Verado power and the Yellowfin is definitely leading in
this field. I think you will notice very little
difference in the weight of the Opti Versus the Verado.
I have run the boat with both. I like the steering of
Verado over the Optimax. Verado steering and DTS have
made boating soooo easy. Coupled with the System View
5000 from Mercury Smart Craft you will have a great
package. The Verado is much quieter than the Optimax and
the Verado needs no oil, just oil changes as it is a 4
stroke. With boats going to 4 stroke power in many
arenas the Verado is probably the best choice for the
consumer looking for an all round great package in a bay
boat like the Yellowfin 24. The only place I can see a
considerable difference is in the fuel economy. Opti max
has Verado beat by a small margin. Performance gains is
where Opti Max is my favorite the opti runs faster and
has a higher speed at best cruise MPG.
Why did I go with
the 300Xs over the Mercury Verado?
Fuel economy,
performance and to see if there would be a difference in
the draft of the boat losing 200 lbs in the transom.
Come to find out that the 300 XS had to be set further
back on the jack plate making the weight difference
negligible; however, the gains in speed and fuel economy
are notable and I am very happy with my selection.
Having both engines on several different boats I feel as
though I know both engines well. I am unsure of the
numbers concerning the speed of the Verado on the
Yellowfin Bay 24 but I bet if you call Yellowfin they
will be happy to share those numbers with you and I bet
you will find it to be in the "very fast" category.
Things I Would
Change
This is always a
tough category for me as there are so many things about
boats that can be changed a little here and there to
match what may be my perfect boat. This may not be the
boat for someone else though and a company like
Yellowfin builds a boat for the masses that fishes
really well. So the things I don't like will be
partially my personal little thing. This article would
be incomplete without this section as there is no boat
in the world that will ever make one person TOTALLY 150%
happy.
The latches that
Yellowfin uses tend to lock themselves under vibration.
Now, this could be a result from the vibration of the
300XS being a motor without soft motor mounts. The motor
mounts on a 300 xs are solid and do create more
vibration throughout the boat. Verado power will
probably not have this issue.
The Jack Plate - I
am not a huge fan of Bobs Machine jack plates and will
change mine when I have the chance, maybe during
re-power. I will note that there has been absolutely no
failure with my current jack plate that was installed;
however, it just doesn't seem as solid a piece of
equipment as the Stainless Marine Jack Plates I am
accustomed to using. Note- Stainless Marine Jacks are
pricey but you get what you pay for.
Steering - I am
accustomed to the Sea Star Systems of steering for my
Mercury Opti Max powered boats. My Yellowfin has a
different brand that just does not seem to have the same
quality. I am unsure of the brand name here. The
cylinder at the motor seems awesome but the helm has
jumped out of its setting for tilt and let my hand hit
the dashboard. It also seems to labor in turning the
engine in a high torque environment. I am looking into
this to see if it was faulty helm. I will append this.
Anchor locker -
It
needs to be made about 1 inch deeper in order to fit a
decent holding anchor in it and close the lid. My anchor
may be too large for what they were considering when
drafting that compartment, however a smaller one just
does not do the trick here in Key West, even with 8 ft
of chain. To adjust for the issue I trimmed the wings or
flanges back on my anchor to make it fit better and seem
to have lost no performance. Boat is a touch faster due
to less metal. JK.
All In All
The Yellowfin 24 bay
boat is unique to itself. It does not look like any
other product out there so it can not be called a knock
off. You will find the people at Yellowfin to be
friendly and professional. The boat will be done when
they say it will and ready to be splashed at the nearest
boat ramp. You will find the fit and finish impeccable
and comparable to any super high end yacht works. The 24
bay will stay together for you for years to come and
Yellowfin will stand behind their product. I think that
this boat is about the sexiest thing I have ever seen.
It is always nice when beauty comes with function.
I
f you are in the
market for an awesome bay boat go to their web site and
give them a call.
www.yellowfinyachts.com
Ask for Wylie or Kevin.
Note A -
Yellowfin
has a surcharge for the raw water pump installation. I
am not sure what it is exactly but the cost for my
install ran about $350 and about 2 hrs labor for
installation on my own. You may want to consider their
installation as it will be professionally done.
Note B -
Yellowfin
charges $600 for flush mounted electronics. Well worth
it in my opinion for them to install the transducers and
what not's you may have.
Note C -
Make sure
you also get extra pump cartridges with plugs installed
for quick release fast change bait pumps whatever the
cost.
Note D -
Get the recessed foot pad
for the wall of the wheel side of the console. Very nice
and well worth the $250 or so dollars for this option.
Also a great place to mount speakers.
