Finally, buyers get to choose between a standard V-bottom running surface or, if you spend time in the Bahamas or poking your nose into shallow bays around the Chesapeake, you might opt for the tunnel hull that reduces draft to less than 4 feet to the bottom of the running gear.

Bridge
Our boat featured a flybridge enclosed with EZ2CY panels and cooled with air conditioning. An optional true enclosed bridge is also available. Our test vessel also sported an optional interior spiral staircase from the salon. The result is a safer design — especially for kids and the elderly. However, hard-core fishermen can request a conventional bridge ladder.

The elevated helm chair places the pop-up electronics console (with triple 19-inch screens) at your fingertips. I found visibility on the enclosed bridge version a bit limited to the tip of the bow and cockpit, despite the large, frameless windows — a small compromise for a bridge that's clearly the biggest I've ever experienced. The air-conditioned lounge forward of the helm is larger than most salons.

Interior
High-gloss teak and beautiful burl inlays accent-uate the interior. In the salon, a leather settee to port faces a 52-inch flat-screen television. I appreciate how the pullout fridge drawers, ice maker and bar, all situated just inside the salon door, make entertaining hassle-free. Farther forward, the roomy galley allows for more sociable dining thanks to a large table and leather settee, which affords guests the ability to visit with the chef without getting in the way. And with the ability to pull up additional chairs, you'll be able to spend hours with your guests chatting around the dining table — a rarity on a sport-fisher.

Kitchen appointments include a four-burner cooktop, dishwasher, bountiful storage, pullout SubZero refrigerator and freezer drawers, and custom granite counters. Those who venture far afield will appre-ciate the optional pantry/utility room with its storage lockers, washer and dryer, freezer and loads of custom rod storage. An alternative standard layout morphs this space into crew quarters complete with a full head and shower.

Heading below, a curved companionway yields access to the four-stateroom/three-head layout. For starters, the full beam master aft features a queen berth. But if you truly plan to spend time aboard, you'll be taking advantage of the executive "office space," including the matching his-and-hers heads with a huge tile shower/sauna and a 52-inch flat-screen television in the stateroom. And with the massive hanging lockers on board, you'll have no problem meeting any dress code, from beach bum to black tie.