Scout Boats added the 231 XS to its bay boat fleet, a 23-foot shallow-draft fishing boat that joins the 251 XS and 177 Winyah.
The 231 XS has the high level of fit and finish that we expect from Scout, along with clever seating and stowage options. For instance, the transom seat hides under the aft casting platform, and a center deck hatch opens to morph into a padded two-person seat. The seat bottom is an access hatch to the bilge.
Beneath the bow casting platform are three stowage compartments. There’s room for three batteries in the center of these, with enough space remaining for life jackets, fenders, lines and such. The lockable side compartments provide rod stowage. An optional curved leaning post, which wraps around the skipper and companion for a more secure ride, was at the helm of the boat I examined.
The 231 XS hits 60 mph at full throttle with a single Yamaha F300. You can travel 3.7 mpg at a cruise speed of nearly 33 mph. “We work hard at designing planing surfaces that run efficiently,” says company owner Steve Potts. The boat rides a double-stepped hull that draws just 12 inches.
Base price is $67,737 with a single Yamaha F200, $72,067 with an F250 and $76,067 with an F300. Options include forward seating backrest cushions, a portable head, an Edson steering wheel, LED trim indicator switch and a T-top with a powder-coated frame.
Scout Boats, Summerville, South Carolina, (843) 821-0068. scoutboats.com
This article originally appeared in the February 2016 issue.
