Sea Born FX25

Sea Born FX25

Sea Born FX25

Sea Born FX25

Sea Born FX25

Sea Born FX25

Sea Born FX25

We Say: Long relegated to bays and estuaries, the bay boat style is undergoing a sea change. In a crossover market, builders are striving for the ideal blend between fishing machine and family runabout. Sea Born’s FX25 is the latest in this new hybrid category, and its balance is a good one. Sporting a modest bow flare, single-step hull design and an integrated engine bracket, the FX25 is capable of deepwater duty as well as running shallower flats. Different packages let the owner customize for select fishing scenarios with features like the 66-gallon release well, molded cast-net well, trolling motor and 8-foot Power-Pole anchor with remote.

For those times when you leave the rods at home and grab the mask and flippers instead, a cushion package, console port-a-potty, hardtop mister and folding transom bench seat will satisfy the family needs. Our test boat was powered with a 300 hp Mercury Verado, and it gave a respectable 50-plus mph performance. The optional hardtop was well built but just a tad low in the stern for taller types. The company has since added a few more inches of headroom.

Who’d Want One: Anglers will enjoy this craft’s impressive versatility, while families can relax during day jaunts to the beach or back bays.

Another Choice: Sea Hunt‘s hybrid BX 24 BR ($61,285 nicely loaded with a Yamaha F300 four-stroke) offers comparable capability and layout.

Bottom Line: $66,107; seabornboats.com