Month: June 2016

The hull of your boat is one of the most important design features. When it comes to performance, efficiency, smoothness, and stability, everything is riding on the hull.

Whether you’re a nautical expert or you’re considering your first boat, understanding the basics of hull design and the value of a top-quality hull is very important. Here is a simple guide to help you find the best hull design for your needs.

WHAT IS A HULL?

Before we dive into the details of hulls, we need to understand exactly what a “hull” is, and what it is not. The hull is basically the lower shell of the boat, the section that touches the water. It is the watertight body that varies in shape depending on the type of vessel. Another important term to know is the “waterline,” which is the line where the water surface touches the hull.

HULL DESIGNS AND PERFORMANCE

While each manufacturer and designer (including Scout) has their own hull designs, there are some basic hull templates that cover the vast majority of boats.

• Flat bottom. Shaped much like a box, these are shallow boats that have a flat hull, which makes them easier to plane and allows them to travel through shallow waters. They do not handle rough and choppy waters well, so you won’t see many flat bottom boats in saltwater. However, they are great for fishing in shallow rivers, narrow channels, ponds, and small lakes.
• Vee bottom. The vee-bottom hull has an angled design that cuts through the water and provides a smoother ride in rough conditions. They do require more horsepower than a flat bottom, as the hull largely rides through the water, not over it. Scout boats have a vee bottom design, as do most coastal and offshore vessels.
• Round bottom. This is the hull design that you will see under canoes and sailboats. The rounded hull allows a craft to move smoothly through the water. The round bottom is often the most unstable hull design, however, and most prone to rolling.
• Multi-hull. Pontoons and catamarans are considered “multi-hull” boats. Some boats also have multiple vees, which provide stability. Multi-hulls are very stable but often create increased drag, reducing performance and efficiency.

UNIQUE DESIGNS FOR YOUR BOATING NEEDS

At Scout, we use three unique hull designs for the different size classifications in our lineup. Many manufacturers use a single design for all sizes, which compromises performance for either the smaller or larger crafts. Having a specific hull for three different size categories allows us to fit the design to the purpose of the boat.

• Air-Assist. This design is used for our 15 to 19-foot boats. It’s the design that launched the company and is completely unique to the brand. The Air-Assist hull provides a stable, fuel-efficient ride that planes with less horsepower. It’s a great all-around hull that makes smaller Scouts extremely efficient and reliable.
• NuV3. This multi-dead rise running surface is made from variable degree angles in the hull. This creates a soft ride that keeps the deck dry and creates superior fuel-efficiency in our mid-sized boats.
• Stepped Hull. Giving our larger boats roughly 10 to 15 percent in enhanced fuel economy, this design lowers the waterline, creating a faster, dryer ride while increasing performance. The stepped hull helps create the fastest boats in the market segment and allows a vessel to ride with twin engines as opposed to triple engines.

FIND A BOAT WITH A WORLD-CLASS HULL

You can get the boat you’ve always dreamed of with Scout!

Check out our full selection of high-quality vessels or fill out a contact form and we’ll reach out to you with more information!

If you are looking for an incredible 17 foot boat that you can use for fishing, cruising, and all of your water sports, the 175 Sportfish is a great option.

With a lighter profile and smaller size, it is able to handle shallow waters while you explore remote, hard-to-reach destinations. It has comfort, convenience, and all the fishing features you could need, making it one of the most versatile boats in the Scout lineup.

17 FEET OF PURE BOATING EXCELLENCE

The 175 Sportfish has the perfect size for boating with a smaller group. Some people might enjoy taking large parties on the water, but if you want to go fishing with a few friends or pull the kids on a tube, the 175 Sportfish is an excellent choice. From front to back, the boat measures 17’5”, giving you plenty of space to be comfortable while keeping a light profile. The boat holds a maximum of six people, making it one of the best options for a small group of boaters.

CENTER CONSOLE DESIGN FOR BALANCE AND VERSATILITY

Like other XSF models, the 175 Sportfish has a center console design that delivers better balance and versatility. With the console located in the center, you can cast lures and fight fish from all sides.

SPACIOUS BOW CASTING PLATFORM

Adding to the fishing versatility of the 175 Sportfish is the large casting platform. This platform lets you cast at all angles while maintaining balance and footing. You can reach any angle off the bow, helping you increase your casting advantage for more successful fishing adventures.

SUPERIOR FISHING FEATURES IN AN INTELLIGENTLY-DESIGNED CRAFT

Like all Scouts, the 175 Sportfish comes with superior fishing features that add convenience and utility to your outings. These features include flush mount rod holders, an aerated live well, and rod holders near the console.

REACH HIDDEN FISHING SPOTS WITH A 10-INCH DRAFT

The draft on the 175 Sportfish measures only 10 inches. This means you can reach remote areas that larger boats simply can’t. You can go up shallow streams and channels to access fishing spots that have been nearly untouched for months. The shallow draft makes the boat an especially great option for fishing intertidal saltwater areas.

OPTIONAL FEATURES TO ENHANCE YOUR BOATING EXPERIENCE

The 175 Sportfish has plenty of top-notch standard features, but you can enhance your boat by adding the optional features that fit you best. Functional options include a trolling motor plug, full bow rail, console cover, and more. You can also add comfort features to enhance your boating experience like bow cushions or an AM/FM stereo with iPod jack.

THE RIGHT BOAT IS WAITING FOR YOU

Everyone has different boating needs, so use our Build Your Scout feature to create the exact boat for all of your adventures.

You can get the colors, features, and technology you prefer, so visit Scout Boats today!

We take pride in using the best possible materials on all Scout Boats. This includes premium vinyl on the seats, whale board for holding screws tight, and superior gel coat for an outstanding finish.

One of the most important materials used on a Scout is fiberglass. It might not sound as sexy and appealing as “Italia cushion upholstery,” but when it comes to a great boat, fiberglass is the unsung hero. One of the main alternative boat materials is aluminum. Although this metal has it’s place on aquatic vessels, we strongly believe that fiberglass is a superior choice. Let’s take a quick look at fiberglass and aluminum and you’ll see why we choose this material for our vessels…

THE ADVANTAGES OF FIBERGLASS OVER ALUMINUM

First of all, fiberglass is much stronger and more flexible than aluminum. This allows us to create boats that maintain superior strength throughout decades of use. They can stand up to the abuse of crashing waves and high speeds while giving you the confidence to reach even the most remote fishing holes.

Fiberglass is also more flexible and versatile, which means it can be made into unique shapes and designs that would compromise the structural integrity of aluminum hulls. You can add details to the hull, contour lines to the overall profile, and smooth flowing curves to the boat’s shape. By adding specific details, fiberglass boats can be more stable at high speeds and rough waters. Thanks to fiberglass, we are able to create boats that are true marvels of hydrodynamic design.

SCOUT BOATS USE BETTER FIBERGLASS AND AN ADVANCED BUILD PROCESS

While fiberglass is naturally a superior material over aluminum, at Scout Boats we use only the finest fiberglass products from the best vendors in the industry. The result is a hull that is even stronger and dependable. We use “multidirectional fiberglass,” which is woven from every angle, giving the material a stronger overall profile. Essentially, the fiberglass is not just woven from top to bottom and left to right, but from all different angles.

The build process we use for our boats is also more advanced, and it all starts with our laminate schedule. Every hull is built on a meticulous laminate schedule, which allows our engineers to build the same thickness and consistency every single time. While everything we create is hand-laid, the laminate schedule takes the human element out of the hull-building process and results in boat hulls with variations that are practically non-existent.

It’s also important to note that our fiberglass boats are 100% hand-laid. That’s important because some boats are sprayed into a mold, which brings less strength, with a few layers of hand-laid fiberglass added. While these boats are technically “hand-laid,” they are not 100% hand-laid and are not as strong and reliable as a Scout!

THE RIGHT BOAT FOR FAMILY AND FUN

Whether you want the perfect family boat or a luxury fishing vessel for weekend adventures, you need a Scout. Use our Build Your Scout feature and you’ll be able to create a world-class boat that meets your exact needs.

The Scout 275 Dorado is one of the best boats for families. With plenty of space, a convenient, comfortable layout, and family-friendly features, the 275 Dorado is excellent for cruising the water for a couple hours or an entire day. Thanks to an innovative design and advanced boating technology, this boat will make everyone in your group happy for hours on end…

PERFECTLY SIZED FOR YOUR FAMILY!

The Scout 275 Dorado is the largest boat in our Dorado lineup. At 27 feet, 6 inches in length, and a 9-foot beam, it has all the space you need for a wonderful experience on the water with all of your family members. Because it is the largest of the Dorado family, the boat can carry a 9-gallon waste tank, a 14-gallon freshwater tank, and a 25-gallon bait well. It can also cruise with a maximum of 400 horsepower, giving you all the speed and acceleration you need for confident boating.

BUILT-IN HARD TOP: STUNNING AND SHADY

With a built-in custom fiberglass hard top, which is probably the most visually-recognizable feature on the 275 Dorado, the boat gives you and your passengers plenty of shade during a sunny day. This is especially useful for boating with young children who are often more sensitive to harmful UV rays.

PERFECT FOR ALL OF YOUR WATER ACTIVITIES

No matter what activity your family enjoys, the 275 Dorado will meet your demands. It has luxurious comfort for casual cruising, but with a telescopic swim ladder, you can easily enjoy skiing, wake-boarding, and swimming off the back. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Scout without excellent fishing features, including a live-well, rod holders, and lure drawers at the helm.

PLENTY OF OPTIONS TO CREATE THE EXACT BOAT FOR YOUR NEEDS

Like all Scouts, the 275 Dorado has a large assortment of optional features that help you create the perfect boat for your specific needs. You can choose optional cushion colors like Brisa or Italia, or select a hull color that suits your style, such as Rascal Blue or Silver Anniversary.

You can choose accessories like the cockpit cover and hardtop aft curtain, which shield the cockpit from outside elements such as rain, wind, and ocean sprays. You can enhance the handling and performance with hydraulic or Optimus steering, or increase the overall boating experience with a deluxe stereo system, a 12-volt refrigerator, or anything else you might need for comfort, convenience, and luxury!

Whatever type of boat you desire, you can get it with the Scout 275 Dorado!

SAFE, UNSINKABLE BOATS

Like the vehicles you drive, you need to trust your boat to deliver safety and reliability for your family. Scout Boats are designed to be completely unsinkable, and we achieve this through at our clamp-up department, where we foam the boats while they are still in the mold.

We use 20% more foam than U.S. Coast Guard regulations. Add in reliable engines and a meticulous quality-control process, and the result is a boat that you can use for family outings with complete confidence.

FIND THE PERFECT BOAT FOR YOUR FAMILY

Whether you want to take your large family for a weekend on the water or you want to spend a casual Sunday morning fishing with your son or daughter, Scout Boats has the perfect vessel to meet your needs. Large or small, our boats are built to enhance the experience and create family memories that last a lifetime!