2021 Sea Fox 328 Commander review

South Carolina's Sea Fox Boats has continually evolved its Commander centre console line-up.

When we tested our first Commander model back in 2013, the flagship of the range was the 286 Commander. Today's range-topper is the stunning triple Yamaha-powered Sea Fox 365 Commander.

This beast of a sports day boat is yet to land in Australia, but we have now sampled the model just beneath it, the mighty Sea Fox 328 Commander.

This review of the second-to-largest Sea Fox Commander model follows in-depth reviews on boatsales.com.au of many of the current boats in the range – including the entry-level Sea Fox 186 Commander, along with the 206, 228, 248 series models – and a former flagship, the Sea Fox 288 Commander.

The Sea Fox boat range is brought to us Down Under by JSW Powersports. This Gold Coast-based boat and jet ski dealer has package prices for the Sea Fox 328 Commander starting from a surprising reasonable (for a 10-metre boat) $452,000.

The entry price includes a pair of 300hp ultra-longshaft (30-inch) Yamaha four-stroke V6 engines along with a safety gear pack and Queensland registrations.

Sea Fox boats are generally very well appointed, and the Sea Fox 328 Commander is no exception.

Some of the key features include bow and stern seating/lounge areas; three helm bucket chairs in front of a large, tri-width centre console with overhead hardtop; console head compartment (with berth and electric toilet); two huge transom live wells; insulated underfloor fish and storage lockers; 36 rod holders; anchor rode and electric windlass; recessed, in-hull trim tabs; LED lighting throughout; a pair of Garmin 8616xsv touchscreen multifunction displays; and lots more.

Our test boat was upgraded with a $21,000 Simrad electronics suite incorporating dual NSS16 Evo3 16-inch displays with CHIRP sonar (with through-hull transducers), GPS chart plotting and 36-mile radar functions, an OP50 remote controller for the display, and an RS40 VHF radio.

Factory-fitted options included Silver Shark-coloured hull sides; twin 300hp Yamaha outboard engines finished in white; bow table; LED/Tech package (mood lights, underwater lights, upgraded courtesy lights and wireless phone charger); white powder-coating to framework; and an upholstery upgrade in Platinum with matching faux teak and offshore stitching.

Remarkably, with all the above features buyers walk away with change from $500K.

For the 328 series Commander, Sea Fox increased the deep-vee hull deadrise from 20 degrees in the smaller models to 22.5 degrees.

This sharper hull, combined with the high, Carolina-flared bows, chine steps and a broadened beam of 3.25 metres yield a very comfortable, dry ride without any loss of stability.

As with all Sea Fox models, the big Sea Fox 328 Commander has a timber-free hull; composite-cored materials are used throughout during the construction.

Foam-filled fibreglass stringers combine with foam buoyancy to provide flotation, while the cockpit is self-draining to shed water from the boat in rough weather.

An aluminium plate is glassed into the transom to support the engine mount and provide the strength needed to cope with the weight and thrust from dual Yamaha outboard engines of up to 350hp each.

Other safety features include two 5600L/h (1500gph) automatic bilge pumps, engine fuel/water separators, battery master switch, and dual batteries with pre-rigging for four.

Stainless steel fittings and quality fabrics and materials are used throughout.

The Sea Fox 328 Commander is designed for both offshore sportfishing and family day cruising, albeit with a definite leaning toward the former.

That said, there are plenty of features family and sport boaters will appreciate.

At the bow, for example, there is a large, moulded V-shaped seating area topped by removable, clip-on vinyl cushions and surrounded by comfortable backrests.

Square backrests also pivot out from the side decks aft of the side seats to convert each of them into a forward-facing chaise-style lounge.

An optional pedestal table slots into the floor to convert the seating area into a dinette.

Safety gear storage lockers are beneath the two side seats, as well as under the floor between them. Each is held open with a gas strut support.

Other features include multiple cup holders, built-in speakers for the included Fusion stereo system, and a hatch on the foredeck opening to the anchor well and included electric windlass.

The anchor is mounted neatly through the stem of the boat and deploys at the flick of a switch at the helm.

Bow features that anglers will appreciate include pop-up cleats and recessed bow rails that ensure there is nothing sticking up above the deck-line to entangle fishing lines.

Aft of the V-seating area at the bow there is a large storage box in front of the helm console, beneath a comfy chaise lounge large enough for two people.

Three large bucket helm chairs and a fold-out bench seat at the transom provide more seating options.

The starboard side transom door also doubles as a corner seat squab, although it is best suited to youngsters.

The transom layout on the Sea Fox 328 Commander is excellent for fishing once the aft seats are folded away or down.

There's plenty of freeboard and you can tuck your feet under the bottom of the bench seat cushion for security when fishing in rough weather.

Fishing features abound.

Across the transom there are two pressurised live wells. An aquarium-style 132-litre live well on the port side transom corner is the smaller of the two. Yep, that's the small one.

Alongside it is a wide, narrow, but deep live well with a mammoth 208-litre capacity.

To keep your catch fresh there are several insulated sub-floor kill tanks and storage boxes, two of them with built-in rod racks.

The Sea Fox 328 Commander's self-draining cockpit stretches 2.75 metres aft of the centre console and 1.05 metres behind the helm seat box/leaning post.

This uncluttered space is not all that long, but the boat is so wide that there is still ample space to move about freely.

Other fishing features include a floor-level stainless steel toe/foot rail to starboard; gunwale rod storage; transom rod rack; port side dive door; wide side decks with 23 in-deck rod holders; coaming bolster padding to the cockpit sides; sub-floor lazarette/bilge compartment; fresh and raw water deck wash; and more.

A number of fishing features are also built into the helm seat leaning post, including an excellent bait/rigging table above a pull-out Yeti-branded cooler/icebox.

There's also a series of tackle storage drawers on one side of the storage box/lean seat, while a rocket-launcher rod rack on the hardtop overhead caters for nine (well spaced) rod/reel outfits.

Some effort has gone into the layout of the console/fascia at the Sea Fox 328 Commander's helm to ensure all the instruments and electronics are well presented to the skipper.

Instead of a flat, wide fascia, fronting the skipper are two inward-angled panels, each designed to accept a large, flush-fitted electronics display; our test rig was fitted with two Simrad NSS16 Evo3 MFDs.

The two fascia panels are blacked out to reduce glare, and there is a full-width brow overhead for the same purpose, although it is also used as the mount for a compass.

The tilt-adjust steering wheel on the Sea Fox 328 Commander is centred on the dash, rather than being offset to the port side. Smaller Commander models run the port side offset driving position when there are just the two bucket chairs at the helm.

With three chairs fronting the helm station, it obviously works best to have the centre chair for the skipper, leaving the two outside chairs for the crew.

The skipper has everything close to hand from this central driving position; engine instruments, the touchscreen displays and switches are easy to read and to operate.

Key features here include a dual-level moulded console footrest; individual fold-out rail footrests beneath each of the bucket chairs; flip-up seat bolsters; multiple storage compartments; cup holders and more.

Overhead there is a clear sunroof hatch in the Ultima hardtop, along with a central storage box/compartment and port and starboard side panels for the VHF radio, and a switchboard for the LED and spreader lights.

Tucked away beneath the helm console is the head compartment/change room. This is a substantial space with full standing headroom, a full-length berth, electric head (with holding tank), washbasin with pull-out tap/shower, master switchboard, and storage cupboards.

The Sea Fox 328 Commander is a deceptively large boat.

In photos, the boat looks quite slim despite its raised sheer line and high topsides.

Only when you see the Sea Fox 328 Commander up close, in person, do you fully appreciate the 10.0-metre length and 3.2-metre beam.

That said, the Commander looks huge on a trailer, in photos and the real world.

Given the size of this boat, and the deep-vee shape of its hull, you would expect it to be pretty special out in the rough stuff, and you'd be right.

During our sea trial of the big Sea Fox 328 Commander, I struggled to find fault with it.

With twin 300hp Yamaha V6 outboard engines on the transom, this boat is fast, soft, dry and stable. We took barely a drop of water over the bow of the boat during our test – a testament to the effectiveness of the high bows and Carolina flare.

With smooth, light, power steering, the Sea Fox 328 Commander is great fun to throw about.

It's a little large to be likened to a nimble sports boat, but it does carve up turns pretty well; it banks heavily initially, before flattening out on the exit, and accelerating away in a safe, secure manner.

The Sea Fox 328 Commander is rated in Australia to accept a pair of 350hp Yamaha V8 four-stroke outboard engines, but for most applications, you'll find the dual 300hp setup will provide more than adequate performance.

Our test boat felt quick and responsive from idle and up through the rev range before topping out at 44.9 knots at 6100rpm.

The sheer size and offshore prowess of this boat allow you to use much of this performance capability as well.

Before closing off here, I should make note of the impressive range of this boat too. With its large 1184-litre fuel tank, the Sea Fox 328 Commander has a substantial maximum range of 447.8nm whilst cruising at 24.8 knots at 3500rpm.

Performance*

Range on 95% of the 1184L fuel supply at 3500rpm: 447.8nm
*Both engines

The Sea Fox 328 Commander is a mightily impressive fishing/family crossover boat. It's fast, soft, stable, nicely finished and wonderfully appointed.

Despite being relatively inexpensive for its size, the Sea Fox 328 Commander comes loaded with standard features including expansive bow and stern seating areas, a cleverly designed helm station, and lots of fishing features.

A big, multi-purpose sports boat like the Sea Fox 328 Commander is arguably best kept on a marina berth or dry storage rack, but you can trailer this boat, albeit with towing restrictions given its size and width.

Either way, the Sea Fox 328 Commander presents as an excellent day boat for a mix of bay cruising, family sports boating, and offshore game fishing.

Priced from: $452,521 with dual 300hp Yamaha V6 ultra-longshaft (30-inch) four-stroke outboard engines with power steering and digital controls. Price on application for a triple-axle aluminium braked trailer.

Price as tested: $499,266 excluding trailer. As above but with the addition of Silver Shark coloured hull sides; white outboard engines; bow table; LED/Tech package (mood lights, underwater lights, upgraded courtesy lights, and wireless phone charger); white powder-coating to framework; upholstery upgrade in Platinum with matching faux teak and offshore stitching. The $21k Simrad electronics suite fitted includes dual NSS16 Evo3 16-inch MFDs (upgraded from the included Garmin models); Halo20+ 36nm radar; B175L CHIRP and B175H CHIRP through-hull transducers; S5100 CHIRP sonar module; OP50 wired remote controller; GS25 antenna; RS40 VHF radio with 2.5m ultra glass antenna; Navionics Platinum Australia East and North map.

Supplied by: JSW Powersports