Dorado 241 Centre Console 2018 Review

OVERVIEW

In the USA, there are dozens of manufacturers of fibreglass centre console offshore fishing boats, as this style and configuration is enormously popular with boaters and anglers there, particularly in the warmer southern climates.

Some of these centre console manufacturers are world renowned brands: think Boston Whaler, Grady White, Mako and Wellcraft. But there are plenty of other superb boats produced by smaller independent manufacturers, brands that are relatively unknown in Australia.

One such brand is Sailfish Boats built by the Seminole Marine Group out of the town of Cairo, Georgia.

Sailfish Boats was established more than 30 years ago and is well respected in the US and around the world. It has a 15-strong range, many of which are family-friendly centre console fishing boats. These quality craft are available throughout the USA and in many other countries around the globe.

Sailfish Boats are also now available in Australia. Official Aussie distributor, Queensland Marine Centre has taken delivery of the first three boats, all of which were on display at May’s Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.

Importantly however, the new Sailfish imports will be rebadged as Dorado Boats for sale in Australia. This is to avoid any conflict or confusion with the boats produced by well known local alloy boat manufacturer, Sailfish Catamarans.

And the first of the Dorado Boats is a big, trailerable centre console fishing boat called the Dorado 241CC. Queensland Marine Centre recently finished rigging the debut model for this first test in Australian waters.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

Our Dorado 241CC test boat has been set up for use as a demonstrator. It has therefore been outfitted with most of the options available - including the maximum power engine in the form of a Mercury Verado 300hp supercharged four-stroke outboard.

Entry Dorado 241CC packages can be purchased with a smaller Mercury outboards to keep costs down and yet still achieve good performance on the water.

The standard Dorado 241CC is also very well outfitted from the outset, which allows customers to pick and choose only the options that they really need.

Some of the standard features include a composite construction technique featuring carbon fibre and kevlar reinforcing and a foam-fill fibreglass stringer system (no timber to rot), along with hydraulic steering. The 241 also features a moulded bow seating compartment with storage lockers, high freeboard with padded cockpit coaming bolsters, fresh and raw water shower/wash-down and 95L transom live bait tank. Dual batteries are located in the console change-room/head compartment under the two-person-wide fibreglass console with acrylic windscreen. There’s an aft folding bench seat, multiple rod holders and more.

Packaged with a Mercury 200hp Verado four-stroke outboard, Queensland Marine centre has the Dorado 241CC priced from $134K not including a trailer. Add $15,000 for an Australian specification 3500kg rated Continental brand tandem-axle alloy trailer.

The list price for our test boat is significantly more at $200,991, but it is fitted with the larger 300hp Mercury Verado, along with the Continental trailer – and plenty of optional equipment.

We won't list all of the add-ons here, but the important stuff includes coloured hull, Offshore Tournament Pack (powder-coated, two-tone hard top), Comfort Pack (rear jump seat, bow cushions and bolsters), Entertainment Pack (retractable ski tow bar, Fusion stereo with LED lighted speakers, underwater lighting), fibreglass helm lean post with tackle storage and back rest, Grand Slam outriggers with 4.6m poles, trim tabs, and an anchor windlass with scuff plates, anchor, rode and chain.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT

The interior design and layout in the Dorado 241CC is in line with most other big, trailerable US centre consoles. Like its rivals, the Dorado has a U-shaped moulded seating area at the bow flanked by coaming bolster backrests and recessed, powder-coated hand rails.

There is a hatch to the anchor well on the non-slip foredeck, but this was sealed shut in the test boat as it was optioned with the anchor windlass. The anchor rode can still be accessed via a smaller hatch behind the forward seat cushion.

The seat cushions are optional, as part of the Comfort Pack. Beneath them you will find two sizeable gear lockers with gas-strut supported lids - so the hatches will stay open when you need them to.

There is an additional storage locker under the floor, forward of a moulded seat box at the front of the console which is insulated as a cooler/icebox.

Anglers may want to use the sub-floor locker up in the bow area as a fish box because it is the only underfloor storage area in the boat.

You can listen to music up in the bow area thanks to the optional Fusion stereo with bow speakers. Other creature comforts include cup-holders and an optional cocktail table which slot into place between the forward seating area.

When it is not needed, the dinette/cocktail table is stowed in the deep console change room/head compartment. This also houses the dual batteries, master switch, primary switch panel and additional storage lockers.

The test boat was not fitted with a toilet, but it can be optioned with a chemical porta-pottie or an electric toilet with holding tank.

The console itself is modest in size compared with some rival boats, but it is easily broad enough to shelter two people sitting or standing behind it.

The optional lean seat/post fitted is one of three available. The unit in the test boat has the skipper and first mate seats mounted on a big fibreglass storage box - instead of the regular model which has a more basic alloy frame.

Included with the test boat lean seat is an aft facing four-rod rocket launcher, aft facing removable cutting board with tool holder, side mount tackle cupboard, storage compartment beneath the helm chair (which can be optioned as a secondary live well), and a rear opening door to access a large storage cupboard.

The lean post also has folding front foot-rests for the skipper and co-pilot. These are useful, but we found they dropped down too easily and need a velco strap or similar to retain them in the up position.

The lean post and helm chairs in the test boat are well positioned with the tilt-adjust, port side offset steering wheel and throttle within reach. That said, the boat is easier to drive while standing up. Then the skipper's vision forward is unrestricted and the small acrylic windscreen provides shelter from the wind.

The console is relatively standard in design, though it does have several storage nooks for stowing keys and phones, etc., along with a large foot-locker and a decent sized storage compartment on top of the dash, tucked under the windscreen.

On the fascia there is ample space for engine instruments and for flush-fitted multi-function displays. The test boat had yet to be fitted with electronics.

Overhead is the sturdy, optional, alloy framed fibreglass T-top. In additional to providing much need weather protection, this provides the base for radio antennas, the optional Grand Slam outriggers, LED lighting, and stereo speakers.

The T-top also has a radio box, aft facing rocket launcher and a netted-off storage area underneath in which you would likely stow a couple of life jackets.

Moving aft, the self-draining cockpit extends about 1.0m behind the lean seat post and roughly 2.0m back from the centre console. There is sufficient room here for two anglers to move about and to fish over the stern of the boat (providing the rear padded bench seat is folded).

There is also plenty of freeboard (minimum of 695mm) and the padded bolsters allow you to stand right up against the side and rear coamings to fish with some security and comfort.

Anglers will appreciate the fishing features which include a plumbed, semi-circular 95L port side transom live bait tank with blue-coat finish, lots of rod and cupholders, aft facing transom knife/tool racks, port and starboard side horizontal rod storage racks (under the gunnels). There is a starboard side transom door, and the lift-up rear bench seat hatch provides easy maintenance access to the bilge.

ON THE WATER

The Dorado 241CC can achieve a top speed of about 34kt (over 60km/h) with a 200hp Mercury Verado four-stroke outboard on the transom. This may be adequate power for offshore fishing applications, but for more performance-orientated applications (included family tow-sports), the big 300hp Mercury Verado is certainly the choice.

With the larger engine, the Dorado is agile, sporty and generally great fun to drive. The throttle response is immediate and the hull sling-shots onto the plane from a stand-still.

The top speed of 44kt (82km/h) is not overly quick, but the combo does reach its wide open throttle rpm of 6250 in hurry.

Underway the Dorado is not just a buzz to drive, but soft riding, very dry and stable at rest, thanks to the maker’s clever Variable Degree Stepped (VDS) hull shape.

From the photos you can see that the entry shape at the stem is very sharp, and this fine entry shape carves through choppy water with ease, shedding water out to the sides of the boat simultaneously. At the same time the boat feels solid, sure-footed and generally well planted.

Best cruise speed with the 300hp Mercury Verado can be found at 4000rpm at which point the boats scoots along at 23.2kt (43km/h). Fuel burn of 41.6L/h and a maximum range on the standard 410-litre fuel tank of 217.2nm (over 400km).

THE VERDICT

The Dorado 241CC by Sailfish USA, is an excellent new entry to the centre console family/fishing boat ranks. It is well priced and well outfitted against its rivals, performs admirably on the water, and the fit, finish and build quality is first rate.

We thoroughly recommend this terrific new boat for family day cruising and offshore sport fishing.

PERFORMANCE - SPEED
0.3kts (0.6km/h) @ 1000rpm
2.1kts (3.4km/h) @ 2000rpm
7.0kts (12.9km/h) @ 3000rpm
19.2kt (35.5km/h) @ 3500rpm
23.2kt (42.9km/h) @ 4000rpm
25.2kts (46.6km/h) @ 4500rpm
29.0kts (53.6km/h) @ 5000rpm
33.3kts (61.6km/h) @ 5500rpm
42.8kts (79.2km/h) @ 6000rpm
44.0kts (81.4km/h) @ 6500rpm (WOT

PERFORMANCE – ECONOMY
4.2L/h @ 1000rpm
11.7L/h @ 2000rpm
29.9L/h @ 3000rpm
39.3L/h @ 3500rpm
41.6L/h @ 4000rpm
67.0L/h @ 4500rpm
84.4L/h @ 5000rpm
109.4L/h @ 5500rpm
112.0L/h @ 6000rpm
112.8L/h @ 6240rpm (WOT)

MAXIMUM RANGE ON 95% OF 410L FUEL TANK: 217.2nm @ 4000rpm

How much does the Dorado 241CC cost?
Price: $200,991 including a single Mercury Verado 300hp extra-longshaft (25") super-charged in-line four cylinder four-stroke outboard with hydraulic steering, digital controls and a Continental tandem axle 3,500kg rated aluminium trailer with hydraulic break-away brakes. Key options include a coloured hull (blue), Offshore Tournament Pack (inc. powder-coated, two-tone hard top), Comfort Pack (incl. rear jump seat, bow cushions and bolsters), Entertainment Pack (incl. retractable ski tow bar, Fusion stereo with LED lighted speakers, underwater lighting), Fibreglass helm lean post with tackle storage and back rest, Grand Slam outrigger with 4.6m poles, anchor windlass with scuff plates, anchor, rode and chain, trim tabs, extra rod holders, fender cleats and more.

Priced from: $133,902 with single Mercury Verado 200hp extra-longshaft (25”) super-charged four-stroke outboard with hydraulic steering and digital controls. Add $15,000 for an Australian specification Continental tandem axle 3,500kg rated aluminium trailer.

Length overall: 7.92m
Hull length: 7.31
Beam: 2.59m
Draft: 457mm (hull only)
Deadrise: 22 - 24 degrees
Hull weight: Approx: 2,100kg
Weight on trailer (dry): Approx: 3,100kg
Maximum power: 300hp (25" extra-longshaft)
Engines as tested: Mercury Verado 300hp four-stroke outboard
Fuel: 400L
Freshwater: 50L
Live bait tank: 95L
Maximum persons: 10

Supplied by:
Queensland Marine Centre