Sea Hunt’s Gamefish 26 is a fine-riding, economical classic in the making. The hull shape mates a razor-sharp 60-degree entry with lots of bow flare and a rising sheer. With the bow trimmed down, the entry splits the seas; the flare’s buoyancy prevents stuffing waves; and its high Carolina sheer keeps spray outside the boat. The Gamefish 26 proved its stuff as I ran a roiling inlet, challenging opposing wind and tide, and it gave me the confidence of a bigger boat while operating offshore.
Top end was 51.2 mph. at 3,000 rpm, speed and economy were noteworthy, traveling 21 mph while burning 8 gph for 2.6 mpg, and the time to plane was a scant four seconds — all good numbers even if the boat had sported another hundred horses. Because the Gamefish 26 runs well on the Yamaha 150s, you can save more than $8,000 versus buying a pair of four-stroke 200s, a more commonly offered package on a 26-footer. Fuel use topped out at around 33 gph, compared with the 40 gallons you’d burn per hour with 200s.
Rugged construction is another benefit. The boat’s hull is supported by fiberglass stringers, glued to hull and deck with Plexus adhesive. The transom is a Coosa Composites sandwich, harder than plywood and rot-proof. The deck is cored with Nida- Core for stiffness without efficiency-robbing weight.
Standard coaming pads extend all the way around the boat. Beneath these, aft, two bulk stowage drawers hold gloves, reels, spare spools and more. These complement the stowage and rigging tray incorporated into the leaning post. The 30-gallon livewell is small, but those who feed live bait to gamesters will appreciate its clear lid. For offshore work, the bow layout is ideal. Having port and starboard raised fish boxes instead of an entirely raised casting deck means you can fight a fish right up to the bow and still be hip deep in the boat while doing so.
Contact: 803-755-6539, www.seahuntboats.com
Comparable model: Sailfish 2660
