Sea Fox 286 Commander

The centre console market in this and other countries has a staunch following and those who don’t mind the wind in their hair will surely like the subject of this review.

The 286 Commander is a lot of boat and will be ‘everyone’s cup of tea’ but the bottom line will ensure that only a small portion get to take a sip! A big boat with equally big price tag is big on performance... we loved it!

Options on the review boat were the black-and-gold coloured hull, the pair of cushions and backrests in the bow-riding lounge area, the infill board and cushion in the same area, electric toilet and holding tank, and an extensive lighting package which includes blue mood lights, underwater illumination, live-well lights and upgrade to the courtesy lights. Also optional was the overboard discharge system (macerator) as well as cushioned foot mats and gas struts on fish box lids.

Another nice option was the new style Taco telescopic outriggers and their kits. This optional fit out raised the recommended retail price to $198,700 for what is a superb example of the look-at-me Yankee centre console.

That seating took the form of a pair of scalloped back cushions for aft facing loungers and side bench lounges with backrests should the occupants want to face forward. The latter two backrests are removable as they have pole kits inserted into mounts in the superstructure.

With the side lounge cushions removed, one finds under-bunk stowage with raised sills on the apertures to prevent water ingress and rubber pads on the hatches to prevent any gelcoat wear and tear and reduce rattles.

The anchor well is a large void for rope and chain and the neatly-mounted winch motor. The plough anchor may be removed from the bow sprit roller and stowed in the well while the chain is still threaded through the gypsy via a rebate in the lip of the well sill. Should owners opt for a Danforth anchor, a purpose-designed mount is installed inside the well on which to hang the pick to alleviate damage to the fibreglass finish inside. And you could rig-up a a reef pick with dan buoy.

Pop-up anchor cleats on the forequarter coamings keep the lines smooth and uncluttered, assisted by the fact the bow-riding lounge grab rails are rebated into the liner and below the coamings.

This forward lounge is the entertainment centre piece with another two seater arrangement sculptured into the front of the centre console to complete the ‘chat’ circle. Underfoot here is a large gas-strut operated hatch lifts that reveal a stowage area with a pair of buckets that sit in individual rebates to prevent them rolling around in rough weather.

In the portside of the console, a door leads down into the head. The wiring looms for the extensive electronics installed at the helm are hidden behind a number of flush-mounted hatches. Stepping down inside, one has access to a hand basin and a toilet plumbed to a holding tank equipped with a macerator. To give an idea of how large this head is, two adults could easily stand inside without being cramped -- it’s just huge.

The companionway down each side of the console is wide and fishos could comfortably do battle here with some serious stand-up tackle. The hard top supports offer a safety grab while walking around, while the inside of the coamings are upholstered for a comfortable lean.

In the aft port and starboard corner of the deck, long fish kill boxes are installed and will be a comfortable length for the average Spaniard or wahoo. Each of these boxes is fitted with their own macerator to clear the drains to sea. Above them and tucked under the coaming, rigged rods with large reels may be hung on racks out of the way of foot traffic.

The transom bulkhead has a huge livebait tank with nearby rod rack, making this system ideal for having livies rigged and ready for switch baiting.

The covering board for this area is perforated at its rear corners for the purpose of hanging rigged terminal tackle and lures and there are spots for holding knives in purpose-built sheaths. One really couldn’t think of anything more practical than this set up other than the helm station seating module, an wonderful creation that we will get to shortly. 

At each side of the central live-biat tank is a walk-through transom 'door' for easy of passage of man and billfish; the tread area lifts up to form backrests for further seating whilst blocking off the transom from transom wake and waves.

The boarding platform is clutter-free each side of the big Yammies, as is the stern that has the trim tab rams fully rebated into the hull.

Turning our attention to the helm station, we found a plethora of electronics with the show stealers being the large screen Simrad units. The helm is set to port of the layout to enable twin seating on the module. That seating is as plush as it is ever going to get with one sitting very high with feet on the fold-up footrail or on the non-slip pads on the aft wall of the console. You are certainly comfortably supported when standing thanks also to a folding bolster.

Behind the backrests, a live-bait tank is fitted into the rigging station starboard of a cutting board that opens to reveal a plumbed sink.

The aft wall of this module has a door that will ajar only partially to reveal knife and hook scabbards and racks as well as trace roll retainers, hanging tackle bag and a large pigeon hole for line spools.

The portside of the module has a rebate in which a 51-litre icebox lives catering for both refreshments and frozen bait. The filling ports for the under-deck fresh- and raw-water tanks are also here.

And then there was the hard top; another work of art to be sure! It was fitted with lights for the deck, speakers for the cockpit and bow-riding lounge area, operating handles for the outriggers and misting atomisers which the manufacture refers to as ‘climate control’ to cool those below. All this was installed in an impeccably finished moulding. A rocket launcher is located across the hardtop's aft end as well.

The deck is bonded to the stringer tops and closed-cell foam floatation is injected into key areas of the boat, which provides excellent sound dampening as well.

Trolling for pelagics on both motors running at 1100rpm and 6.95 knots the engines were consuming 13.6lph. Cutting one off says consumption fall away to 9.9 lph.

The Commander climbed out of the hole at 10.4 knots and 2000rpm using 31.8 lph and held a slow cruise of, get this, 30.4 knots and 3600rpm for 71.3 lph.

If you want to get home sooner rather than later then 4300rpm will give you 40 knots using 110.5lph. That's flying. But if you are not worried about fuel consumption, WOT of 5900rpm will peel the eyelids back at 55.6 knots and the level in the 757 litre tank will be dropping at 191lph! Adrenalin-producing stuff from this flagship Sea Fox.

All that aside, the Commander is aptly named and it sits at the top of the largest trailerboat field with those running second being a long way behind.
The quality of finish on this boat is second to none and really needs to be seen first hand to be appreciated.

Mechanical/equipment: 5.0/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 5.0/5.0
On the water Performance: 5.0/5.0
Value for money: 4.8/5.0
X-factor: 4.8/5.0