Robalo R260: Review

The second-biggest centre console in the renowned Robalo fish-boat stable, the R260 is a big-boat beater. The deep-vee hull has been designed from the word get-go for fishing, comes loaded with inbuilt features and class-leading storage space. With twin Honda 225hp VTEC outboards on the test boat and a large fuel capacity you can reel in long runs and get to where the game fish are snapping. Fast.

OVERVIEW
- A serious canyon runner with performance that’s hard to refute
Robalo has an excellent reputation and a very high customer-satisfaction rating in the US. That's saying something in the hotbed of centre-console and walkaround outboard-powered fishboat competition.

Keen angler Buck Peck, owner of Chaparral boats and a Robalo fan, bought the brand back in 2000. The centre console range now includes some very serious offshore offerings. Certainly, the R260 puts anglers’ needs foremost in its design and application.

In the most positive of ways, this R260 struck us as being something of a timeless centre console sportsfisher founded on traditional values. Our instincts were later confirmed when a search reveals the R260 dates back to at least 2006. For Robalo, this boat could be a classic.

There’s very solid GRP construction with Kevlar reinforcing to the point that this is a heavy 26 footer, which is a good thing when you are charging offshore, and a very sharp 23 degrees of deadrise from a patented Hydrolift hull with variable deadrise with big reverse chines.

That deadrise puts this boat right up there with the sharpest deep-vees on the market. Competitors like, say, Regulators run 24 degrees but the Boston Whaler of this length has 22 degrees. Other big brands like the excellent Grady White boats are lighter in this size class and carry less fuel.

Such competitors are benchmark boats and the Robalo is batting in the same serious fishboat league. On the water, you certainly get the impression and the feedback that this boat likes to be given its head on the wide blue paddock. A bit of a thoroughbred.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Well set-up for fast offshore fishing
As tested, the R260 will cost you $199,950 with the engine upgrade, trick alloy trailer with stainless-steel running gear and options as detailed below. The “from” price is about $150K with twin Mercury 150hp FourStroke outboards, sans trailer.

A dual rig, the R260 will be perform OK with a pair of the latest high-torque 150hp outboards. But most anglers will demand more grunt for hauling a full load — this boat sure has a lot of storage and fish boxes to fill.

Our test boat had the twin Honda 225s, but the 200hp engines are perhaps a more common pairing. Maximum horsepower is twin 250hp. In all cases, the boat runs 25in shaft lengths and the powerheads ride nice and clear of the water. Upgraded power-assisted hydraulic steering added to the beautiful drive.

Standout options included a Shark Grey hull colour that matches the silver Honda cowls rather nicely. The Australian Robalo importer added some comforts so the boat will placate families, including Vacuflush head with holding tank and OB discharge, aft-lounge backrest, windlass package, and a battery charger in case you want to park her at a marina.

The T-top with Taco Grandslam outriggers, four-rod launcher and aerials is a must on this boat. On road, on the special trailer, this is a whopping 3750kg rig. Pared back with base engines and no T-top might get your under 3500kg. It’s certainly a big 26 footer on and off the water. Keeping it on an airdock out the front of home or drystack would be the ultimate.

LAYOUT AND FISHING KIT
- Exceptional fishing features, storage and integration
All good fishing boats are designed from the keel up. The R260 is a case in point. This boat has some brilliant inbuilt storage to the point Robalo reckons no other 26-footer can come close. For example, the boat comes with storage for 20 rods, six of which are in fully lockable ‘cabinets’.

As we came aboard, we noted a swim ladder at the transom that should really be concealed to prevent any chance of fouling lines. But the non-skid raised platforms flanking the engine well are welcome, as they let crew reach out with a tagpole or gaff.

Once through the portside marlin door, the self-draining cockpit unfolds. As you move around you can’t help but notice stability underfoot with this heavy hull with big chines is exceptional. Not that you ever would, but the 12-person passenger rating points to its load-carrying capacity.

The near full-width transom rigging station includes a huge live well (with adjustable aerator head) right where you want it for pitching baits. There’s also a cutting board with knife and plier holders and a removable bait box ideal for cubing and bottom fishing. There are four rod-storage holders on the back of the leaning post, while a portable Igloo cooler sits underneath the post on deck.

Padded bolsters and toe kicks assist leaning outboard and fighting fish around the R260. Other times, you might call on the flush flip-down transom lounge, which doesn’t impede fishability when stowed, and create some extra seating.

Underfloor is a veritable catacomb of storage space and three fishboxes with overboard drains, with the biggest one including a macerator. They are all foam insulated. Create an ice slurry and the dressed tuna, mahi mahi and reef fish will appreciate their home.

The hull-side gaff racks are beautifully executed with first class clips. Further forward, roughly amidships, are waterproof lockable rod racks so you can stow gear when going ashore or pack the heavy-tackle for those occasions when it’s required.

Plenty of stainless-steel grab rails assist your passage forward to the casting platform, which is built upon more concealed storage. You can pitch baits or fight fish up here with reassuringly good footing. Après fishing, convert the area to a sunpad with the cushions and infill or use the small table for sitting around and doing lunch. The table base and cushions all have their own places to stow.

In the step-down centre console, there’s the upmarket Vacuflush marine head, sink with freshwater (cold) shower, and more storage space. You could easily stash rods on aftermarket racks down here.

Other cockpit features include tackle storage via removable Plano drawers, freshwater shower (83-litre water tank) and raw-water washdowns, and back up front we noted a big anchor locker for at least 70 metres of rode. All of this creates some serious bluewater fishing intent.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Exceptional layup, big-boat plumbing and systems
The R260 gives the impression it’s built for a long life in the water. The hull has Kevlar reinforcing, a composite transom, reserve foam flotation, stainless-steel through-hull fittings, through-bolted rod holders and deck gear, a one-piece welded stainless-steel bow rail, and heavy-duty alloy T-top alloy piping.

As you can see from the transom hatch photos, we were impressed by the access to the boat’s triple pump and battery system. There’s a cast bronze sea-water strainer, twin bilge pumps, with 1100gph forward and 2000gph aft. The 12V battery system with charger uses direct component (tinned-copper)wiring to a buss bar with waterproof ring terminals.

There are also 12V DC plugs on deck for downriggers, trim tabs with indicator lights, LED deck lights, and a Premium Sirius sound system with MPS and iPhone connectivity. It’s all very well executed, accessible and offshore rated. The twin rig outboard-engine setup was nice and clean, too.

ON THE WATER
- Powerful twin rig with seriously good performance
The R260 looks the goods, talks the talk, and walks the walk. It’s a big, buoyant bluewater boat with a deep-vee hull that you can load and go. The helm presents purposefully, with overhead dry radio box, Garmin VHF, light switches and outrigger bases under the hardtop.

The helm seat has flip-down bolsters and flip-up footrests that together let you create leaning posts for the high-speed runs or seats when trolling and cruising. The stainless-steel wheel with crank adds to your control and there’s storage for personal effects nearby.

The dash is big enough for large displays. Our test boat had three Honda multifunction engine gauges, Lenco tabs, switches for windlass, pumps and so on. But it needed fish-finding electronics, which are always an owner’s choice thing. You might easily burn up $20K on a full suite.

Besides exceptional stability underfoot, you get the feedback that the hull is built as a monocoque or one-piece structure. There aren’t many rattles.

Spinning 18in Solas four bladers, the R260 jumped out of the blocks without cavitation in even tight turns. Moreover, the cruise figures were very attractive…

At 3050rpm we found a low-speed, heavy-weather 17 knots for 24 litres per hour on each engine with some tab to button the bow down where it can do its thing.

The eco settings of 3500rpm give 23-24 knots for 37lt/hr per side, while 4050rpm returns 29 knots using 47lt/hr per side for a 200nm cruising range. Not that you’re running that long that fast, but the boat certainly has tournament fishability.

On the pegs, we hit 32 knots at 4500rpm fast cruise for 52lt/hr per side, 38 knots at 5000rpm for 60lt/hr per side with nominal trim so we were pretty much skipping across the top, and 43 knots at 6000rpm WOT where the valves were open and the Hondas sounded like 747s as they drank 142lt/hr.

The twin-rig was perfectly set up, a credit to the local Robalo boys, as these boats are more often fitted with Yamaha outboards in America. The way it was, we had all the trim ranges on tap and the rig was ready, bar electronics, to complete whatever fishing mission was thrown its way.

VERDICT
- A terrific centre console and fitting Robalo flag bearer
The twin auto-inspired 225hp Honda VTECs (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) are designed with multiple camshafts for high and low-end performance, which is what you want in an offshore boat.

Underway, the impression we got was of a traditional deep-vee boat that likes to be driven flat and at speed. It’s familiar performance that is accessible and predictable in a desirable way.

We didn’t get wet on test, but you will at some point heading home in crosswinds in an open boat like this. What you won’t get is seriously pounded. Trimmed just right, the sporty R260 ran hard and fast, dry and determined.

There’s also sufficient deck space and inbuilt storage to comfortably carry a keen crew and all their fishing kit. Here’s your ticket to the canyons, kinks, sea mounts and wide grounds. Gortex jacket extra.

LIKES
>> Excellent build quality, fit and finish, and a serious saltwater fitout
>> Terrific ride from a deep-vee hull bred for offshore boating
>> Twin lean-burn Honda 225hp outboards and decent fuel capacity give a good range
>> Abundant inbuilt fishing features, class-leading storage, and big boat engineering

NOT SO MUCH
>> Swim ladder looks like a bit of line snagger
>> Not big fans of plastic spin-off inspection ports in splash wells

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.78/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.8/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water Performance: 4.8/5.0
Value for money: 4.7/5.0
X-factor: 4.8/5.0

Specifications:
Price as tested: $199,950 with the Honda 225hp outboard-engine upgrade, trick alloy trailer with stainless-steel running gear T-top and options as detailed above.
Priced from: About $150K with twin Mercury 150hp FourStroke outboards (sans trailer).
LOA: 8.05m
Beam: 2.74m
Deadrise: 23 degrees
Dry weight: 2640kg dry boat, no engines
Weight on trailer: About 3750kg as tested
Fuel capacity: 719 litres
Water: 83 litres
Holding tank: 23 litres
Passenger capacity: 12
Maximum HP: 2 x 250hp
Engines on test: 2 x Honda 225hp VTEC outboards
Engine configuration: 4-Stroke outboard, SOHC, 60° V6, 24 Valve, 3.47L, 5000-6000rpm WOT, 225hp @5500rpm, 25in, 272kg ea.

Supplied by:
Chaparral Australia
Anchorage Marina
The Strand Williamstown, Vic
Tel: (03) 9397 6977
www.robalo.com