Walk the Walk - boats.com

You can measure success in many ways but, in the marine industry, any boat builder that has been in business for more than four decades is obviously doing something right. It was just 10 years after World War II that a small trailerboat company with the brand name Seaswirl opened in a Portland, Oregon, suburb to take advantage of the newfangled fiberglass technology. Not only have they prospered and grown over the years, but they are now under the corporate umbrella of the huge outboard and boat conglomerate, OMC.

No small factor in the success of Seaswirl has come from their birth in the Pacific Northwest, where the worst of weather in other boating areas is considered a fine day for boating. In the Northwest, a good beach is covered with only 4-inch rocks, a mild sea is when the harbor entrance doesn't have breaking 20-footers, and a fair breeze has only a single red flag flying at the Coast Guard station.

Seaswirl not only overbuilds their boats for the conditions in most boating waters, but they listen carefully to their dealers and customers and that is why the 2600 Walkaround is new to the Seaswirl line for 1996. There was a 21-foot cuddy already in the Striper series of offshore fishing machines, but there was a need for a larger boat to venture farther, carry more anglers and, hopefully, return with more fish.

The starting point was a clean sheet of paper, and everything about the 2600 is new. The basis, of course, is Seaswirl's V Trac hull design that has an interesting combination of features that add up to comfortable running in choppy seas as well as good stability at trolling speeds. The V-hull has a transom deadrise of 20 degrees, which isn't far from the deep-Vs of ocean racing powerboats, and the reverse chine improves the acceleration as well as making for a dryer ride. Two strakes are on each side, one running all the way to the transom and the other stopping amidships. The most interesting feature, however, is the notched hull at the transom, which puts the prop into clear water for a good bite and also helps stabilize the boat at rest with a nearly flat section well below the waterline.

Design width is another feature of the 2600 and, while many boats have a maximum beam of 8 feet 6 inches to slide under the highway width requirements, the 2600 carries that beam down to the waterline rather than slanting inward. The result is added stability that is easily felt.

Step aboard the 2600, and there's no question that this is one serious fishing machine. The all-molded cockpit is wide and open, with plenty of room for fishing action. Rod holders are built into the cockpit sides both port and starboard, and a pair of shallow fish holds are under the sole to port and starboard. The helm and companion seats are mounted atop twin fiberglass boxes, and the helm side conceals an oval 26-gallon bait tank with pump. The companion side can be plumbed for a second bait tank, but it is fitted standard as a big storage locker.

Aft on each corner of the transom are hatches that reveal molded fiberglass tubs that can be used for storage or as ice chests. These lift out to provide access to the oil injection reservoir and battery with switch to starboard and a second battery to port. Smaller inspection ports in the side of the outboard well give access without removing the tubs. The splashrail for the outboard is removable, opening up the cockpit to the transom.

The helm is well-planned, with a vertical dash panel amidships that holds the OMC tach, speedo, trim, battery and fuel gauges. Teleflex Sea Star hydraulic steering is standard, an array of rocker switches control the electrical circuits, and Seaswirl has thoughtfully provided a spacious area for mounting electronics directly in front of the helm. The single lever OMC shift/throttle is properly placed, a footrest folds down at both seat and, all in all, this would be a comfortable office to spend a long day fishing. The aluminum framed windshield is curved, giving a European sleekness that is a pleasant relief from the usual bolted-together windshields.

A bifold door opens to the cuddy, which has a vinyl-covered V-berth with filler to make a double, a compact toilet with pump-out capability, and a small console with sink and single-burner alcohol stove. The headroom is surprisingly good and the fully molded liner makes for easy maintenance.

Unlike many boats of this style, the walkaround deck is actually wide enough to use comfortably. The non-slip gave sure footing, and the 4- to 6-foot bulwarks added extra security, along with the stainless-steel bow rail that extends to the two steps from the cockpit. Forward, a bow platform holds an anchor roller and there is a locker for your anchor gear.

Construction is sturdy to the point of being overbuilt, and Seaswirl obviously takes care in the construction of the boat. The stringers are foam cored so there is no wood below the waterline to rot, and balsa coring adds strength under the deck and cabin top. The hull is entirely hand-laid fiberglass with isophthalic resin, using alternating layers of 24-ounce woven roving and mat. The hull-deck joint is not only mechanically fastened with stainless-steel screws but also secured with adhesive sealant to make it solid and leakfree. Showing Seaswirl's concern for longevity, the 134-gallon fuel tank is plastic to eliminate corrosion problems, and it is also easily inspected either through an access port or by removing a molded panel in the cockpit sole. All open spaces in the hull are also foam filled, so the 2600 will float level even when swamped, exceeding both Coast Guard and NMMA recommendations.

Our test boat, supplied by Sea Witch Marine in Vista, California, had the optional hardtop, a sturdy unit with aluminum supports and a fiberglass top that also included an additional electronics box with locking Lucite cover. The hardtop, a $3,500 option, includes full see-through front, side and aft curtains, allowing you to button up in cold or wet weather. If you don't opt for the hardtop, the 2600 is delivered with a standard Bimini top which can also be enclosed. Sea Witch Marine, by the way, is the largest Seaswirl dealer in the country and they delivered more than a dozen 2600s before the summer season even warmed up. Family owned and run, they've been Seaswirl dealers for more than 17 years, which further attests to the quality of both companies.

Every Seaswirl is pre-rigged at the factory to accept OMC engines, and Sea Witch recommends the 200-horsepower Johnson V-6 Ocean Runner, which gives a good combination of top speed and economy. If you're devoted to twin engines, you can also fit the 2600 with twin 150s, but the added cost is likely to eliminate all but the most devoted belt-and-suspender kind of boater. As part of the package, you get the comprehensive alarm system of horn and lights that warns of low oil, overheating, or fuel flow problems.

With Curt Stanworth of Sea Witch, we launched the 2600 in Oceanside Harbor and ran out through the always-lumpy seas of that entrance, which can be impassable in rougher weather. The 2600 climbed quickly onto plane with little fuss and, once the power trim brought the nose down, the deep-V forefoot knifed through the chop with ease. As you'll see from the performance chart, we topped out at 36 mph, but I'd expect to see a bit more when the engine loosens up after a few hours.

At trolling speeds in the cross swell, the 2600 proved her stability with a comfortable and predictable roll that had none of the whippiness of some fishing boats. Backing down into the seas brought a little water over the transom, but not enough to wash into the cockpit. All in all, I found the 2600 to be a pleasant boat with no bad habits.

Priced at under $35,000 with the Johnson 200 and on a trailer, this is a lot of fishing machine for the money. Rugged and likable, it comes with a long list of standard equipment and features.

If you finance a 2600, just think of your monthly $300 payments as a way to reduce the grocery bills by putting fish on your table!

Boat Specifications