Boating ran a preview of this boat for you two issues back. Here, now, we present it for you to consider whether it was worth the wait and lives up to the hype. Certainly, the 530 LXF proved itself a magnificent craft. Is it right for you?
We recorded a 67.9 mph top speed at 6,000 rpm with five Yamaha 425 XTO outboards. Max horses stand at 2,700, with several different power options available. While the 530 LXF hits 57 mph and cruises at 39.6 mph with four 425 Yamahas, according to Scout, the next two 530 LXFs will, due to owner request, boast six engines each, making them capable of 75-plus mph speeds, Scout says. Whoa!
Netting 0.5 mpg, and with a full 805-gallon fuel cell, that translates to a 387-mile range with 10 percent reserve. It feels like a big boat but handles like a smaller one. The epoxy-infused hull did not shudder, and it carves turns nimbly. The speed sensation is nullified by the sheer size coupled with the enclosed pilothouse; at the helm, we were on plane and hurtling through Charleston Harbor at 55 mph before I even knew it. (I thought I was doing 38!) Only at velocities above 60 mph do you feel the sensation of speed.
While there are many who will use this boat as a yacht tender and day-tripper, those considering it for a big-water boat should have no qualms about heading offshore for some serious angling or crossing to the Bahamas. Design and construction are state-of-the-art. The epoxy-infused carbon-fiber layup affords maximum weight savings and strength, while the epoxy creates a gelcoat profile so smooth, it reflects like a mirror. There’s no wood coring, stringers or bulkheads to rot. Fasteners are through-bolts — no wood screws to vibrate and pull out. My inspection of the hull and deck revealed zero flaws.
The five big Yamahas mount using Scout’s massive offset bracket system. Integrated into the 530’s transom, this system gives the outboards a lever-arm-like lift advantage along the hull, even at lower speeds. That’s reflected in the performance, with little to no bow rise at any speed and excellent efficiency from on-plane to wide-open.
At the bow, just behind the concealed windlass compartment, there’s a huge party bowrider area with plush lounges surrounding twin electrically rising cocktail tables that can be positioned higher for dining , or lowered and fitted with rigid-back center cushions to form a huge sun pad. Just forward of the center console, we discovered body-contoured bolster loungers with foldable armrests. A recessed, stylized powder-coated security grab rail encircles the deck, within easy reach yet not obtrusive. Dry stowage aplenty exists for cushions, towels, life vests and all the other onboard clutter.
A roomy cabin lives beneath the huge center console. It’s well-appointed for overnights and even extended stays. The forward master suite features a 7-foot-long berth. This lifts on gas shocks to reveal cavernous stowage. This forward stateroom and separate shower and head can be closed off from rest of the cabin for privacy. The aft cabin sleeps two more. In between is a galley with a freezer, refrigerator, wine cooler, electric cooktop, microwave and dining area. The dinette table lowers electrically to form a third berth, great for kids. A touchscreen control center (same as topside, but smaller) allows control of all the craft’s functions. Cabin decor by Genesis Interiors, an Italian firm known for luxury yacht interiors, features surfaces of white-oak veneer with Italian marble, granite and backlit onyx , and Italian leather seating.
Topside, the console’s completely electronic command center provides functional control of all systems via twin flat screens (with another overhead, and one more — five total — just abaft of the portside copilot seat). Scout wired in redundant traditional switches as backup. Smart.
Take control of the quint outboards using Yamaha’s new electronic steering and digital throttle/shift. The entire console is surrounded by Scout’s stylized, powder-coated hardtop frame and windshield enclosure, with electrically retractable side windows and a tinted glass sunroof, along with an electrically deployed sunshade. The digital dash cool factor is upped to the nth degree by Scout’s patented bow camera, which provides the captain with a view under the bow as well as forward.
Helm seating features heated Ultraleather upholstery. On the backside of the seating is an entertainment center complete with an open-air bar and bar stools — a natural gathering spot with fridge, ice maker, grill and tackle drawers, and even dedicated stowage for those bar stools. There’s abundant rod stowage under the gunwales, along with twin in-sole 65-gallon fish boxes, with more dry stowage abaft and twin 30-gallon aerated baitwells. Twin walk-through transom doors with unique, Scout-engineered cantilevered hinges allow quick access to the full-width transom bracket/platform with Armstrong dive ladder.
In the center-console market, in this size, price and power range, HCB Yacht’s 53 Suenos compares, though its cabin is smaller; rigged with four Seven Marine 627 hp outboards, it weighs in at 31,500 pounds dry and runs in the high 60s. The price tag is comparable, starting at $1.9 million rigged with four Yamaha 425 XTOs, and $2.3 million with four Seven 627s.
High Points
- You will never grow tired of Scout’s proclivity for innovative features.
- Drop-down portside and starboard-side aft doors are an engineering marvel and really transform the boat into a larger open platform for entertaining and water play.
- Private forward master suite with shower and head, along with the second, aft cabin, is unique among mega-consoles.
Low Points
- Galley stowage is plentiful, but needs improvements to securely stow dishes, silverware and other onboard necessities.
- Retractable safety-glass side windows produce glare when closed in bright sunlight.
- Passenger-side glove-box lid needs stiffer supports to stay open.
Price: $2,336,714 (base); $2,536,032 (as tested)
Available Power: Outboard
How We Tested
Engines: Five Yamaha 425 hp XTO Offshore four-stroke V-8 outboards
Drive/Props: Outboard/Yamaha XTO 16.5″ x 23″/23″/25″/23″/23″
Gear Ratio: 1.79:1
Fuel Load: 600 gal.
Crew Weight: 700 lb.
More Information
Scout Boats – Summerville, South Carolina; 843-821-0068; scoutboats.com
