Century keeps confounding me. They take a small express-style boat that I freely admit an aversion to, then tweak it and improve it, and by the time I run it, I fall in love. I am so conflicted!

Performance
It couldn't have been a more beautiful day in Placida, Florida,  just north of Boca Grande. We left out of the incredible Ingman Marina and ran out through the infamous Boca Grande Pass. (Yes, the tarpon were in residence.) Seas ran one foot out of the   southwest — a glorious day for boating and fishing.

With a pair of Yamaha 350 hp outboards on the transom, this 29 lifts onto plane effortlessly and with remarkably little bow rise. I still wish that Yamaha would alter its throttle-control binnacles, though. When  you run in rough water and rest the heel of your hand on the binnacle top, you often inadvertently trim one engine and cause a change in vessel running attitude.

In the calm Intracoastal Waterway on the way to the pass, I topped   out at 58 mph, turning 5,950 rpm and burning a two-engine total of 67.5 gph. Optimum cruise proved a very respectable 32 mph at   3,500 rpm (with the engines barely working), using a scant 22 gph,   providing an economical 1.45 mpg.

On small boats with dual stations, I always worry about someone cranking the wheel hard-over below while I'm steering from the upper station. In the case of the Century 2900, such a maneuver results in a sharp turn with the stern sliding enough to prevent anyone from being thrown off balance — a welcome safety feature.

Fishing
Century placed a 65-gallon fish box as well as a 30-gallon livewell with a tensioning latch, clear Lucite top and hefty gasket in the transom. You can easily adjust the flow of the livewell to pressurize it slightly, preventing your delicate baits from sloshing around and being damaged.

In addition to standard storage, you'll find excellent tackle and leader compartments that provide you with lure tubes and hanging tackle bags under the gunwales. Century also offers a rigging station with a sink in the back of the helm-seat module as standard equipment.

For those who take fish home, twin 30-gallon in-deck fish boxes with macerators combine with the transom box to coolly handle your limit, while another insulated drink box, holding 15 gallons, in the port module holds your hydration tools in the process.