With tropical storm Barry making landfall just 100 miles from Biloxi, Mississippi, you wouldn't expect many boats to be heading offshore in the frothed up, nut-brown water. But one boat ' the Boston Whaler 255 Conquest ' is leaving the marina at the plush Beau Rivage Resort and Casino and greeting the steep three-footers as it clears a protective rock jetty. The familiar red harpoon logo is emblazoned on the side of the mid-sized walkaround, but something looks different.

For 44 years the familiar ruler-straight 'banana' shearline has graced all Boston Whalers, but the new 255 Conquest has a hull profile that rises up toward the bow in a most un-Whaler-like manner. The reason? In a recent focus group, Boston Whaler customers said they would like this adaptation to enhance family safety. And if a company was ever tied to the concept of bringing a family home safely, Boston Whaler is it ' even if it means a long-standing tradition goes by the wayside. In addition, the raised forward shearline gives the 255 a more graceful profile by reducing the perceived height of its tall cabin. The result is a stylish hybrid between a true walkaround and a cuddy cabin boat.

The 255 Conquest may be a new page in the history of the company Mr. Fisher founded back in 1958, but as the saying goes, 'The more things change, the more they stay the same.' And it doesn't take long to figure out that the newest Whaler upholds the company tradition of being able to handle rough conditions in stride. Running 30 mph into three-footers isn't a practice that's recommended if one wants to keep their fillings in and their back from going out, but the Accutrac hull does a good job of slicing through the heavy seas with minimal slamming. Equipped with twin 150-hp Mercury Optimax engines, there is plenty of power on tap to make quick speed adjustments. Blipping the standard hydraulic trim tabs to keep the bow down might cause it to plow up some water occasionally, but it is deflected down and away because of the reversed chines that are carried well forward. Mirroring this innovation is a new hull design concept that extends the delta surface farther forward to comprise 43 percent of the running surface rather than the usual 38 percent found on similar Whaler hulls. With this configuration you have a variable deadrise hull that makes a less abrupt transition from the ultra-sharp 45-degree entry to its more moderate 20 degrees of deadrise at the stern. The benefit of this new design is felt by the softer re-entry that doesn't feel like you're hitting the brakes every time the 255 lands after going airborne.

Although conditions are rough, these three-footers are nothing compared to the six- to eight-footers that are raging farther offshore. But, one of the features that makes Biloxi a great boating destination ' and also helps to keep things relatively calm ' is an archipelago known as the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Today, the Conquest 255 is pointed at the most famous of these barrier islands, West Ship Island, located 12 miles from the mainland.

As the island materializes on the horizon, the first thing you notice is Fort Massachusetts, a brick Civil War-era fort that still appears ready for battle. A large pier awaits those disembarking on a trip through time, but the rough-hewn dock isn't the sort of place you want to tie up to without an army of fenders, so the prudent thing to do is to anchor sternwise to the pier. Moving forward is easy because of the wide walkaround and thigh-high stainless-steel bowrail, and since it takes a few minutes for the boat to get into proper position, having a seat on the bow cushion on top of the cabin is a great place to wait in comfort. The Danforth rests in a standard stainless-steel roller assembly in the integrated pulpit, and just to the right is a large-volume rode locker. With the hook firmly imbedded in the sandy sea bottom, the 255 is backed up and a pair of crossed stern lines secure it to the pier.

Before going off to explore the historic island, the crew decides to do lunch. Heading down the twin steps into the lockable cabin reveals 5 feet 9 inches of standing headroom, and when seated around the optional dining table, there is plenty of headroom for a six-footer. Opening up the large hatch and pair of portholes ' that all feature bug screens ' a nice breeze ventilates the cabin. In the portside galley area, washing up before eating is easy with the freshwater sink, fed by a 20-gallon tank. To maximize cabin room, a standard head complete with deck pump-out is located under the starboard bench seat. After lunch, the table is dropped and the snug-fitting gray-and-white filler cushions are put into place, transforming the entire cabin into a comfortable double berth. Fishermen will appreciate the rod racks that point the rod tips abaft for protection, instead of forward into the rode locker like you see on other boats.

A tour of the fort teaches visitors that the strategic importance of Ship Island goes back to the War of 1812, when a British fleet was assembled here to invade New Orleans. Fortunately, however, Andrew Jackson preempted the strike and defeated them before they could wreak havoc on the 'Big Easy.' Just prior to the Civil War, in 1859, work was started on Fort Massachusetts to help defend this critical maritime crossroads, but the fort was captured and occupied by the Confederates before it was completed. Later recaptured by Union troops who used it to stage attacks on New Orleans, the fortifications were rendered obsolete before the war was over, due to advances in artillery technology. After the tour, a brief look around part of the three-mile island confirms that in addition to the history and pristine beaches, it's a great place for budding naturalists to explore.

Although the water is churned up, it would be a crime not to wet a line, since the boat is decked out with the fishing package that includes features such as the lighted livewell located in the port side of the faux transom. Rod storage is abundant with under-gunwale rod racks on both sides that have tubes to keep rod tips from breaking. The standard configuration has four stainless-steel rod holders in the gunwale with three more included in the fishing package. In these rough conditions, the stainless-steel toe rails come in handy to help keep anglers inside the 28-inch-high cockpit, and those who want to fish like the professionals can get the 255 factory-equipped with Lee Sidewinder outriggers.

The 255 Conquest has cockpit seating in spades, a feature a lot of fishing boats lack. The stern bench has a positive locking mechanism that prevents accidental drop-downs and allows you to fold the seat flush to the transom for extra cockpit room. Another unusual feature is the pair of molded-in jump seats. With comfortable backrests, captains might have a hard time waking up the crew when a fish finally bites. The starboard side seat flips up to reveal a huge, built-in drainable cooler, and under the other is dry storage. Bringing the catch home for dinner isn't a problem with twin fishboxes totaling 480 quarts, which can be equipped with independent macerating pumps.

The rough conditions have put off the usually excellent fishing, so the 255 is pointed north. The adjustable, padded bucket seat and molded-in footrest make settling into the captain's seat like sliding on a pair of well-worn loafers. The modernistic, ovoid gauge panel is automotive-like and holds the state-of-the-art Smart Craft gauges. The throttles are well-positioned, as is the five-spoke, stainless-steel tilt steering wheel.

Just to make the ride home more interesting, the twin 150-hp Mercury throttles are 'Optimaxed,' and reaching a top speed of 49.5 mph downseas takes the passengers on a real 'Boston sleighride.' Despite the rough conditions, the ride is thrilling but uneventful. The Whaler takes the beating in stride and demonstrates the solidity of the unsinkable, foam-filled Unibond hull.

Pulling into the marina at the 'Beau,' it doesn't take a lot of docking skill to back the Conquest into the giant slips that can accommodate 'boats' up to 200 feet long. Boston Whaler designed the 255 Conquest to also accommodate single engine installation, and with the standard 250-hp Mercury EFI engine, it goes for $65,142. What you get is an unsinkable, fishable weekender loaded with storage. So hook it up and get hooked up: The world is yours to conquer.