You need an absolute top-quality boat that spares no expense in either the fishing or engineering departments, right? Edgewater’s new 388 CC is the new flag bearer for that credo. This boat even includes a bow thruster and a joystick control in its standard package. Because this boat is outfitted with triple Yamaha F250s, some may call the thruster overkill, but it was a godsend when putting the 388 CC back into her stall with a strong current running.
Need some help while swinging around all that iron on the transom? Good thing power-assisted steering comes standard on the 388 CC, too. Another standard feature that’s usually a high-cost option is the concealed stainless-steel windlass on the bow. There’s even an extra raw-water washdown up there so you can hose off the mud before stowing the hook.
Even if you’re a jaded boater, chances are you haven’t seen a cockpit video system on a center console. Put another tick in the 388 CC’s “spare no expense” column: My test boat had one, and I found it surprisingly useful. Normally, if the captain of a center console wants to see the rods, he merely has to turn around and look. But as we ran the boat, the logic of a center console camera system became clear: I could continually scan the horizon for breaking fish and diving birds, yet at the same time keep a seasoned eye on the bait while watching for crossed lines, fouled rigs, or a waving marlin bill.
Naturally, you need the cake to be on par with the icing. And in this case, the boat’s engineering and construction are also no-holds-barred. It’s an all-composite boat with Penske X-Treme high-density foam in the transom, plus Airex foam sandwich construction on all decks and hatches. And it’s unsinkable, thanks to foam in every conceivable crevice belowdecks.
The 66-gallon livewell ensures frisky baits, and flip-up bolsters will keep you feeling frisky as well, no matter the conditions. I tested the boat with seven people onboard and a full load of fuel. With that large a load, I wasn’t optimistic about top-end speed, but the boat didn’t even notice the extra weight. The top speed broke 56 mph. Considering all the displacement those Yamahas were feeding, fuel use wasn’t bad either-1.4 mpg at a 35.7-mph cruise.
