2021 Pathfinder 2600 TRS

Overview

Pathfinder’s 2600 TRS is like a fishable, high-performance SUV with handling that a sports car would envy.

Engine

Thank Pathfinder’s proprietary VARIS resin-infusion system for light, robust construction and its High Performance Step hull for speed and sure-footed performance. Unlike some stepped hulls, our test boat stayed on our twisting course during tight maneuvers. Fuel efficiency with its Yamaha F300 impressed us, as did its wide range of useful cruising speeds, plus a top-end of over 50 mph. Up to 400 hp is available, but we think 300 hp is plenty. Pathfinder’s extensive experience shapes the 2600 TRS into a robust package that floats shallow but can still work offshore waters in the hands of a prudent skipper with a good weather eye.

Interior and Accessories

Input from owners and Pathfinder’s hard-fishing employees helped produce thoughtful features such as slots in the hardtop for rods placed in the vertical holders. Fly anglers have a choice of those or undergunwale racks to carry up to eight long rods. A deep compartment holds two cast-net buckets. Three deep-cycle batteries and a charger for a 36-volt bow-mount electric motor are fitted so they enhance the hull’s balance. We found grab handles in all the right places.

Not fishing today? Fit the bow casting deck’s cushions. Hinged backs in the fish-box lids create forward-facing lounges. An elegant teak table fits securely. Three lids in the stern casting deck lift to reveal cushioned seats for four—the TRS in the 2600′s model name refers to Third Row Seating—with stowage and mechanical access below. A ski pylon fits into the stern deck, while the transom mounts a swim platform.

The boat’s construction impresses. The crowned cockpit sole drains water quickly. Grated scuppers inhibit clogs, and the drains are sized to ensure that spray or rain coming aboard drains quickly through double-clamped hoses served by seacocks fitted slightly below the waterline. Gasketed hatches latch tightly over guttered openings. Such attention to detail, both large and small, makes the 2600 TRS a winner.

How We Tested

• Engine: Yamaha 300 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/15.25″ x 18″ Saltwater Series II SDS 3-blade
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 81 gal. Crew Weight: 360 lb.

High Points

• VARIS resin-infusion system builds a strong, light hull for speed with efficiency.
• High Performance Step hull adds speed without compromising maneuverability.
• Spacious casting decks fore and aft convert quickly to comfortable seating.
• Elegant teak table for the forward cockpit stows away neatly in the console at fishing time.

Low Points

• Entry to the console compartment is tight for adult males, but adequate for everyone else. Headroom inside is 5 feet.

Toughest Competitor

Sportsman’s Masters 267 (MSRP $113,295), though riding a nonstepped hull, compares well on dimensions, performance with a Yamaha 300XSB, and a combination of fishing and family features. The MSRP includes features such as electronics that are optional on the Pathfinder.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Pathfinder Boats – Fort Pierce, Florida; 888-SHALLOW; pathfinderboats.com