Sailfish's new 218 WAC compact cuddy proves it isn't the size of the
dog in the fight that counts ' it's the size of the fight in the dog. When the grouper hits, the
angler strikes hard and misses ... again. So far, the angler on the starboard side has more swings
and misses than a professional baseball pitcher at the plate with a throbbing hangover.
Denny Warren, vice president of sales and marketing at Sailfish Boats, has already put two
nice gag grouper in the box and offers to switch sides, reasoning that he must be right over the
reef's hotspot. Of course, he promptly gets a hit on the other side and apologetically wrestles a
keeper red grouper to the surface.
Earlier that morning, the crew of the Bimini blue Sailfish 218 WAC is grateful to be pulling
away from the dock in Carrabelle, Florida, not only in anticipation of the day's fishing, but also
to escape the cloud of no-see-ums that's merrily tormenting its occupants. Carrabelle appears to be
one of the last communities on the Gulf Coast that can lay claim to actually being a 'sleepy
fishing village.' But while this panhandle community of 1,500 Carrabelleans ' about an hour south
of Tallahassee ' is largely unknown to the outside world, area anglers know that it's a great place
to fish for a wide variety of species.
Settling into the helm for the 20-mile offshore run, it suddenly occurs to the driver that
the hefty, stainless-steel wheel, complete with spinner knob, is on the 'American' side rather than
the usual starboard-side placement. This setup seems to give you more room by allowing the whole
helm station to be placed as far left as possible. The throttle control is mounted on a dash
pedestal, which puts it in perfect position. There's plenty of room to mount two big-screen
electronics displays on the fairly upright console that provides an ideal platform for optimum
visibility. But perhaps the first thing you notice (besides the no-see-ums) is that a single Yamaha
F150 4-stroke powers the Sailfish. Although it's a great engine, it doesn't seem like it could
possibly be enough power to get the job done. Wrong again.
Once out of the no-wake zone, the pilot jams the throttle, and the Sailfish pops on plane in
just under four and a half seconds and accelerates to 30 mph in a respectable time of just less
than seven seconds. At this cruise speed, the Sailfish registers at 82 decibels, which is extremely
quiet, largely due to the masterful job Yamaha has done to dampen noise. But credit also goes to
Sailfish for creating a windshield that effectively blocks the wind without creating
noise-producing vortices.
OK, now for the moment of truth: top end. Cracking the whip on the herd of 150 ponies, the
driver trims it up as far as possible, and they reach 40 mph by the skin of their teeth. Probably
shouldn't have had that second McGriddle before the test, not to mention the boat being fueled to
go offshore. Most of the time, the conditions offshore dictate the speed you can run, and often you
can't even go 30 mph without chiropractic intervention. Although Warren says about 70 percent of
the people who buy this boat get it with the F150, you can power it up to 225 hp. And since
Sailfish only uses brand 'Y' outboards, it's hard not to picture a Yamaha F225 on the transom of
this boat, which should net a top speed in the mid to high 40s.
Unfortunately, for testing purposes at least, the Gulf of Mexico is as flat as an Iowa
cornfield, so the 20-mile ride is uneventful. In short order they reach the reef, where they
prepare to anchor in the clear 62-foot-deep jade water. Those tossing out the hook for the first
time on the Sailfish 218 are in for a pleasant surprise because you can actually get to the bow
without climbing over the windshield, going up through the overhead cabin hatch, or doing a 'Flying
Wallenda' tightrope act along a narrow gunwale. On both sides of the cabin there are a pair of
steps that lead to the 12-inch-wide walkways that give you plenty of room to leisurely stroll to
the anchor locker or even head to the bow to chase a fish. This is more room than you typically see
on even some 30-foot cuddy cabin boats. No wonder WAC (walk-around cabin) is capitalized. Another
pleasant surprise is that there's both a roomy, flat, non-skid area to stand on as you open the
hanging anchor locker to toss out the hook, as well as a knee-high bow rail, which provides extra
security. Although there's no bow cleat, there's a pair of extra-large optional pop-up cleats not
far off the centerline.
On the way out to the grouper grounds, they stop at a grass flat and put two dozen pinfish
into the 24-gallon livewell located in the transom. And when they arrive at the reef, rigging is
easy with the built-in three-drawer tackle box. Several nice touches include the trio of rod
holders on top of the transom (in addition to the pair on each gunwale) and even a pair of
cupholders back yonder that sees considerable use because of the near-90-degree temperature.
There's a 145-can Quick and Cool Igloo cooler under the leaning post that has to be pulled out in
order to open the lid. To keep it secure when running, there are a pair of prongs that fit into
rubber receivers, but pulling it out requires a sharp jerk to disengage it, making it a little
awkward to use. There's no in-floor fish box, but you can either use the Igloo or a 30-gallon
compartment under the leaning post that drains overboard.
There's loads of fishing room in the cockpit, and its 26-inch depth proves to be perfect:
tall enough to brace your thighs on when wrestling a grouper out of its hole, and low enough to
lean over and grab the fish if need be. A popular option for divers is the freshwater shower at the
stern that's not too far from the telescoping stainless-steel boarding ladder that hides underneath
a cover on the ample swim platform.
Fortunately, the wind freshens on the ride home, and when the Sailfish gets close to the
coastline, a strong tide creates a nasty little chop ' although if you had your eyes closed, you'd
never know because the ride is extremely soft. A lot of small cuddy-cabin boats don't do so well in
rough water, but the Sailfish 218 has a true offshore hull design that features an ultra-sharp
50-degree entry that tapers off to 24 degrees at the center of the stern and softens a little to
become 22 degrees as you move outward from the centerline. This can be a tricky thing for small
cuddy cabins because if you don't do it right, you'll end up with a boat that's tippier than
Mayberry's Otis on a Saturday night, but the 218 doesn't display this trait. Weighing 3,000 pounds,
the 218 has a wide, 8-foot-6-inch beam and reverse chines. Placing heavy items like batteries and
the fuel tank deep into the hull's centerline helps give the 218 WAC good side-to-side stability,
although the test boat doesn't have the popular hard-top option like many buyers choose. The
Sailfish comes with standard Lenco trim tabs, and when heading into the chop, they are used to
bring the bow down while simultaneously lifting the stern, so the boat rides level and uses its
ultra-sharp entry to deliver a really soft ride. One of the few things this boat lacks is a
leaning-post grab rail for those passengers who want to stand behind and ride shotgun ' the best
place when conditions are rough.
This is one of those boats you can't fully explain. It's barely longer than 21 feet, so it's
much smaller than most cuddy cabin boats on the market, yet it has a roomy, fully equipped cabin
with lots of headroom. With the standard filler cushion in place, two adults can sleep comfortably
on the firm surface ' even those more than six feet tall, provided they don't mind a little foot
overhang when fully stretched out. There's a sink with a freshwater spigot that is fed by a
six-gallon tank with a countertop and storage beneath. In addition, the standard package includes a
butane stove, portable head, carpeted header, cockpit table and even a pair of racks to store six
fishing rods. A nice, inexpensive option is the pair of twin 36-can Igloo coolers, which stow away
neatly in the cabin or can be placed in the stern corners of the cockpit, using the handles to
cleverly secure them in the molded-in slots. Despite its size, the 218 WAC meets the requirements
to allow you to claim it as a second home, enabling you to deduct the interest from your payments
(as always, see your tax professional first).
Sailfish has done a masterful job of space utilization in order to make this a small cuddy
cabin boat that doesn't feel small. Although serious anglers might eschew this boat for the newly
introduced center console model that boasts the same hull, they might be surprised to learn that
from the leaning-post back, the two boats have identical fishing cockpits. The 218 WAC is easily
trailerable with most mid-sized SUVs or pick-ups and would be a great choice for those who like to
take their boat where the action is and be near the fish when dawn arrives.
Sailfish boats are constructed with premium components, feature good fit and finish, and are
backed with a 10-year warranty. But the best part might be the price. When it's configured with the
Yamaha F150 4-stroke, along with the Pro Fishing package and Yamaha gauge package, the 218 WAC has
a base price of $41,320. And even when it's equipped with the F225 outboard and a host of popular
options like the colored hull and hard top, you still don't crack the $50,000 mark, not counting
shipping, taxes and dealer prep. Small cuddy cabin boats are versatile and open up a large amount
of options, but when you find one that doesn't feel at all small, then you have the best of both
worlds.