315cc | Everglades 31′ Center Console Fishing Boat Sea Trial and Review
Smooth and Solid
I’ve always had an affinity for the look of an Everglades. From the powder-coated aluminum tower legs to the fit and finish and stout hardware, these boats stand out in the sea of center consoles. After taking the new 315cc for a sea trial, I now have an affinity for the ride of these boats as well.
The 315 is a new model from the keel up. The builder didn’t tweak an existing boat, they designed the 315 to fill a gap in their lineup between the 285 and 335. When mapping out this new center console, Everglades wanted to create a boat that fits the ever-stretching needs of the modern-day boater. With the 315cc, boaters don’t have to choose between a day-cruiser or a hardcore fishing boat, this vessel fits the bill for both camps.
315cc Walkthrough Video:
As we ran down the ICW in New Smyrna, Florida, I sat on the forward lounge seat with my feet up, enjoying the cool morning air. Up on the bow, I marveled at the quiet. I couldn’t hear the twin 400-hp Mercury Verado outboards as the bow softly cut through the water. Everglades uses what it calls RAMCAP (Rapid Molded Core Assembly Process) in the build, which fills the void between the hull and deck with foam. This not only makes the boat unsinkable, it also cuts down on noise and vibration. While it was calm in the ICW, we blasted through some large boat wakes without any creaks or squeaks whatsoever.
I turned around and was able to speak the captain without yelling thanks to the glass windshield that lifts open hydraulically with the touch of a button. Boating in Florida, this window is a game changer for those scorching hot runs out to the fishing grounds. It also makes docking way easier because you don’t have to shout to the person holding the bow line.
The bow area is multifunctional. Below the lounge seat forward of the helm is a massive storage space with integrated hanging hooks for lines and a designated spot for the bow table. The forward seating can be configured as a sun pad, or a V-shaped dinette with table. And when it’s time to fish, simply remove the cushions and backrests to create a snag-free casting deck.
Moving aft to the helm seat I was able to get a feel for how the 315cc handles. Pushing the throttles down on the V-10 outboards she jumps up on plane quickly. The boat went from 0 to 25 knots in less than 10 seconds. At a conservative 4400 rpm cruise the boat ran 32 knots, burning 25.2 gph with a half load of fuel on board. Bump that up to a 37-knot cruise and you have a range of 390 miles range with the 300 gallon fuel capacity. Everglades says the boat tops out at roughly 50 knots burning 66 gph. We got close to that, but didn’t quite hit it. I was impressed with the turning radius on the 315. We made several hard-over turns and the boat loved it, cutting sharp turns riding on the rails. The steering is so smooth you can drive it like a luxury car with two fingers on the wheel.
The black-and-teak helm is dominated by twin 22-inch Garmin MFDs. The screens are within easy reach and also support a virtual switching platform to run all of the boat’s systems. I’m a fan of cleaning up the dash with digital switching, but I like that Everglades uses actual switches for things like running lights, pumps and the horn that you may need to flip on in a hurry. The recessed area above the console is a great spot to leave your phone as it offers built-in chargers. Hull No. 1 had Mercury’s joystick piloting with integrated autopilot, another very handy tool. Visibility in all directions was wide open and everything was placed right where the captain would want it. Inside the console is a roomy head with access to the backside of the electronics. I was able to stand up without any issue, but this area can get warm, there’s no AC on board.
Seating is not an issue on the 315. At the helm owners can choose from twin captains seats with two-toned upholstery and teak armrests or a bench seat for three. Our test boat had two aft-facing mezzanine seats with a cooler space below. This can be swapped out for a tackle station for those more fishing-forward owners. Two fold-away aft bench seats run the full width of the 10-foot, 4-inch beam. The cockpit easily does double duty as an entertaining space or fishing area with minimal effort to switch from apps and drinks to casting and trolling.
The builder placed 25-gallon livewells in the corners of the transom and two 40-gallon insulated fish boxes in the deck equipped with macerators. The boat has 27-inch high gunwales that hit you right in the thigh for fishing and you can slide your feet under the toe rails to keep you nice and secure when you’re tight to a fish. The bilge houses an optional Seakeeper 2 stabilizer and provides unfettered access to pumps and thru-hulls, all of which are labeled — a smart touch that all builders should offer. Our test boat also had the Seakeeper Ride system on the transom but the boat comes standard with Zipwake interceptors.
The portside, molded-in dive door with a gate on top is ideal for snorkeling and swimming. Everglades smartly added two cup holders on the bottom side of the gate so you can rest a drink there when it’s open, and the door tucks away under the gunwale. I also liked the washdown hoses in the mezzanine that are on retractable reels; you can pull them all the way to the bow and easily recoil them back into their holders.
As for fishing, there are 22 standard rod holders on the boat and plug ins for electric reels. You can add outriggers to the oversized T-top but if you want a full tower you’ll have to move up to the larger 335cc.
When you put all of the pieces together, Everglades has created a capable vessel that will happily put you on fish or take out a group for a fun day at the sandbar. Either activity works for me.
Everglades 315cc Test Report
Everglades 315cc Specifications:
LOA: 33’9” (w/ engines)
BEAM: 10’4”
DRAFT: 36” (engines down)
WEIGHT: 14,250 lbs. (full)
FUEL: 300 gal.
WATER: 35 gal.
POWER: 2/400-hp Mercury Verados
View the original article to see embedded media.
