EdgeWater’s 335 EX is a big, brawny, do-it-all boat that runs great with just two outboards, albeit big ones. Combining Yamaha’s V-8 F350s, a full list of amenities and cutting-edge construction techniques, EdgeWater delivers a boat that cruises as well as it fishes while meeting the criteria of experienced boat owners.
The 335 EX’s construction starts with a resin-infused hull, a process EdgeWater calls Single Piece Infusion. SPI incorporates layers of bi-, tri- and quad-axial knitted fiberglass. The glass is impregnated with resin applied under a 14.7 psi of vacuum pressure squeezing the fabric against the mold, guaranteeing complete saturation and no excess resin, resulting in maximum strength at optimum weight. That gives the boat more mph per horsepower. Also adding strength without excessive weight is urethane foam coring in the hullsides. The transom is cored with fiber-reinforced foam board, a material most often associated with offshore racers. For the 335 EX’s backbone, EdgeWater employs a molded box-beam system of stringers and bulkheads glued into the boat and filled with foam. Within this grid are dedicated pods for the fuel tanks and genset. Our test revealed the benefits of these techniques.
We liked the twin F350 configuration compared with the triples other builders use, because the setup simplifies rigging, gives a better horsepower-to-weight ratio and snappier performance. The 335 EX sports a performance-oriented keel pad that runs six feet forward from the transom. The pad, most commonly found on performance boats, provides added lift and lets EdgeWater mount the motors higher, reducing drag and improving the boat’s top-end speed. I recorded 49.7 mph at 6,100 rpm with the most efficient cruise coming at 29.4 mph and 4,000 rpm. Four lifting strakes and 21 degrees of transom deadrise give it plenty of lift plus wave-cutting ability. At trolling speeds it remained stable, offering anglers a confident fishing platform.
Another advantage afforded by the big Yamahas comes from the dedicated Command Link digital instruments. With them, you can customize readouts to provide speed, trim, fuel flow – all on one gauge or in any combination the owner prefers, making it easy to monitor engine functions at a glance. The digital plug-and-play installation uses just one buss from engines to instruments, which makes the rigging aboard the 335 EX the cleanest we have seen.
Aboard the 335 EX, access to all the service items is provided via a large, centrally located in-sole hatch. The fuel tanks are outboard, with the genset centered for balance. For routine maintenance, the underdeck area is well laid out with the batteries, charger and electrical connections outboard and to port; the water heater and holding tank are to starboard. Access is convenient for quick inspections, and all bulkhead penetrations are lined to prevent chafing of wires and hoses.
The 335 EX isn’t the only big boat utilizing twins instead of trips or quads. Grady-White’s 330 ($334,940) and Boston Whaler’s 345 Conquest ($336,721, with twin 300 hp Mercury Verado outboards) are its most direct competitors. At a trimmer 2,000-pound weight advantage, the Grady’s has a slight efficiency advantage, though both handily beat the Whaler, which achieves its best range at 25.9 mph at .83 mpg. In fact, Grady liked the big V-8 engines so well, it just introduced its 366 with twin 350s.
The key to the 335 EX’s versatility is, as with any walk-around, good traffic flow throughout. The cockpit accomplished that by giving an open-deck plan with minimal or no pinch points to slow down passage fore to aft. It’s fitted with three circular livewells (28, 45 and 60 gallons), a 600-quart insulated fish box and enough rod holders and rocket launchers for a quiver of outfits. Switches for the livewell pumps and spreader lights were moved from the helm to the fighting cockpit, so crewmen can access them without bothering the captain – a detail that showed the designers knew offshore fishing.
Belowdecks, the layout prioritizes ease of movement. The head is roomy and the galley is wellequipped for this size boat. Convertible dinette seating adds a berth with minimal effort. The V berth has a flip-out cushion that adds 18 inches to the length. In all, the 335 EX sleeps five.
You can see the quality and even the fluid lines of the boat in the showroom. But to see for yourself why we think the 335 EX cruises and fishes equally well, you need to schedule a test ride. **
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Contact: 386-426-5457, www.ewboats.com
