Overview
Crevalle’s 26 HBW represents one in a growing legion of craft that have evolved from strictly bay boats to hybrids suited for fishing offshore waters as well as shallows. The 26 HBW’s deep cockpit affords greater offshore security. A SeaStar jack plate on our tester elevated the outboard to traverse shallows. At rest, the boat drafts 12 to 14 inches. We discovered built-in covered tackle and rod storage within both gunwales.
An abbreviated stern casting deck conceals a pair of 28-gallon livewells and a foldout 40-inch-wide bench seat with a cooler underneath. A step up to the wide forward gunwales lets you stand tall to fish in calm conditions. Our test boat had an optional bow-mounted Minn Kota Terrova Riptide 36-volt iPilot trolling motor ($2,923), as well as a 10-foot Power-Pole shallow-water anchor on the transom ($3,961).
Engine
With trim tabs deployed, the Suzuki DF300B outboard with a contra-rotating propset shot the 26 HBW to 30 mph in 9 seconds en route to a top speed of 51 mph at 6,000 rpm. The 26 HBW is adept at smoothing out rough water, with 16 degrees of deadrise at the transom sharpening to a deep-V-like cutwater.
Interior and Accessories
Our 26 HBW boasted a pair of optional, super-comfy helm seats with flip-up bolsters and fold-down armrests. The optional powder-coated hardtop ($12,883) featured three-sided embedded glass for protection, overhead LEDs for night boating, and a misting system for cool comfort, as well as stereo speakers and four rod holders. An optional 74-quart coffin box ($6,384) on the foredeck served as insulated cold storage, but also had a backrest and inviting lounge.
A single Simrad NSS evo3S 12-inch multifunction display comes standard, but our tester had a second MFD ($5,769 upgrade), and these controlled onboard systems thanks to a Dometic DCM digital-switching module. The 26 HBW also showcased Dometic’s Optimus all-electric steering system for super-easy handling while running at speed or maneuvering around a crowded marina.
How We Tested
- Engine: Suzuki DF300B
- Drive/Prop: Outboard/Suzuki 15″ x 21″ 3-blade stainless-steel propset
- Gear Ratio: 2.29:1 Fuel Load: 20 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.
High Points
- This boat excels at angling versatility, serving equally well as an inshore or offshore fishing machine.
- Composition materials (no wood) and resin-infused construction help ensure years of durability.
- Deep, self-bailing cockpit provides safety and security on all waters.
Low Points
- The 26 HBW eschews the wraparound bow seating that’s popular on many of today’s center-consoles.
- Console’s side door and interior are a tad tight if you intend to use this for a portable marine head.
- No conventional forward casting platform, just wide bow gunwales.
Toughest Competitor
Regulator’s 26XO ($184,665 base similarly equipped with a white Yamaha F300) is another hybrid that offers wraparound bow seats, three fold-down seats in the stern platform, and a 32-gallon livewell abaft the helm seats. In testing, it was about 6 mph slower at top-end than the Crevalle 26 HBW.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $182,000 (as tested with Suzuki DF300B outboard) |
|---|---|
| LOA: | 25’6″ |
| Beam: | 8’6” |
| Draft: | 1’0″ to 1’2″ |
| Displacement: | 4,000 lb. (without power) |
| Transom Deadrise: | 16 degrees |
| Bridge Clearance: | 7’10” |
| Fuel Capacity: | 90 gal. |
| Max Horsepower: | 400 |
| Available Power: | Mercury, Suzuki or Yamaha outboards up to 400 hp |
Speed, Efficiency, Operation
Crevalle Boats – Wildwood, Florida; 352-400-4222; crevalleboats.com
