Scout 282 Sportfish CC Review

Lots of boats out there look similar enough that if you took the name or logo off the topsides, you couldn’t tell them apart. Not the case with Scout. The styling on these boats looks so distinctive that you can tell one from a distance with no problem. From the Carolina-style bow flare to the broken sheer line to the rounded tumblehome of the hull aft, this Scout 282 qualifies as totally unique in the world of production center consoles.

Performance
Optimum cruising speed equates to 32 mph turning 3,500 rpm. At that, you’ll be consuming a total of 15.3 gph for an economical 2.1 miles to the gallon. After planing in three seconds flat, top speed touched 58.1 mph at 6,100 rpm using 42.5 gph.

When maneuvering on a fish, you’ll find it better to run this Scout like a single-engine outboard boat rather than using the throttles and gears to pivot. For the sake of speed, the engines are mounted quite close  together, diminishing pivoting leverage.

Tampa Bay proved only mildly choppy on our way out to the Gulf of Mexico. The 282 didn’t notice. Even offshore, I had to find a Viking 58 (also on a test ride) to challenge the head-sea, drifting and down-sea abilities of the Scout. The 1- to 2-foot seas just didn’t register.

With no tabs, and with engines trimmed to cruising mode, the 282 rides light in the water. It’s certainly faster than its 28-foot predecessor (the 280). A touch of trim tab lowers the sharp entry to meet the oncoming seas, making for a very smooth ride.

In a hard turn, the 282 grabs the water, carving a 180-degree course change in less than two boatlengths. Drifting, the 282 exhibited a moderate roll moment with incredibly gentle transitions. Speaking of turning, Scout offers power-assist steering as an option. Being spoiled, I wouldn’t have a boat without it these days.

Yamaha’s new Command Link control system lets you calibrate your speedometer to match GPS speed readings for even more accuracy in speed and fuel-flow calculations.

Fishing
The wide expanse of forward gunwale area allows you to throw a cast net or fish from a higher point. Scout even mounts two rod holders in the foredeck as standard equipment. This augments the two under each midship gunwale, four around the cockpit and 10 across the backs of the leaning post and hardtop.

I found the height of the gunwales excellent for bracing while fighting a fish, and low enough to not interfere with the rod or reel in the process. The plush coaming pads encircle the 282’s interior and assure that you’ll be pampered   wherever you fish.

Each corner of the transom boasts a livewell with a smoked Lucite top, and hangers for knives, pliers and rigs. Though the transom seat doesn’t fold away (its lid opens for bilge access), the splashboard of the transom does fold down flush atop the seat for easier fish fighting over the stern.