Captain’s Report by Dan Armitage

Mission

Sea Hunt has designed the Gamefish 25 specifically for avid blue water anglers who want to fish offshore aboard a boat that is comfortable for both the Alpha Angler and family members who want to share the fun. As with all Sea Hunt boats the management's credo of giving the most boat for the money applies here as well.



The Gamefish 25 displays classic center console lines. Hull color is one of 10 things on the boat's option list.

Distinguishing Features

Carolina flare. The Gamefish 25 has it and although some other center consoles have delveloped it, too, over the last few years, few price-point boats have.

Sharp entry. The Sea Hunt Gamefish 25 has a progressive-V bottom that starts with 60-degrees of deadrise at the bow, then warps to 24-degrees amidships, and then finishes with 21-degrees at the transom. What is noteworthy here is the sharp entry which will make slicing through waves fun with a minimum of pounding. Most boats that start that sharp finish with a slightly deeper deadrise at the transom, but Sea Hunt has gone for more speed and fuel efficiency there.

Optional bench seat in stern. Sea Hunt wasn't kidding when they said they wanted the Gamefish 25 to appeal to more than just mad anglers. This bench seat is a great place for Mom and the kids to sit while cruising.

A plethora of amenities as standard. In going down the boat's list of standard equipment we are obviously impressed. We found no fewer than ten items that we normally don't see on boats in the low and mid price-point range, and some not even on the most expensive boats as standard. Certainly the folks at Sea Hunt have tried hard to appeal to anglers that are doing their boat-buying research.



The Gamefish 25 comes standard with a Vapor Mist high-pressure water misting system built into the fiberglass T-top (shown here on another Sea Hunt model). When actuated, three outlet nozzles located over the console and fed by a 19-gallon freshwater holding tank, spray a fine mist from overhead to cool those in the helm area -- at least when the boat is not making way or a breeze blowing. This device can be a God-send on intensely hot days in the baking sun.

Bow Features



The Sea Hunt Gamefish 25 model is designed to be both an able angling rig and comfortable for non-fishing passengers. Note the standard bolsters all around. Bow cushions are standard, and a filler cushion is optional.

The boat’s bow area comes with thick-padded bolsters and seat cushions standard, to keep non-anglers – or those fishermen taking a break -- comfortable. A filler cushion insert to create a forward sunning deck is an option. Insulated storage areas are found under each side seat and there is a non-insulated compartment beneath the sole, the latter accessed by an oversized hatch for ease when stowing bulky items. Note the other large hatch over the anchor locker built into the bow.

Helm Features



Sea Hunt’s all-stainless-steel Vision Wheel is standard on the Gamefish 25, complete with SeaStar tilt steering and a “suicide” turning knob for single-handed, close-quarters maneuvering. The console shown here is fitted with an optional flush-mounted Raymarine C90 package with chart-plotter, radar and sonar features. Note the molded-in angled foot-rest below and the binnacle-mounted compass centered atop the console.



Yamaha Command Link digital gauges are standard fare aboard the Gamefish 25.



A JBL waterproof stereo is standard on the console as well – which is a good feature with the Vapor Mist looming overhead!



The center console encloses a compartment, complete with vented port and ceramic head. Mom and the kids will prefer this to the normal standard plastic porta-potti.



A more traditional freshwater source is the boat’s standard FloJet pressurized washdown system. A raw water washdown system is also a standard feature offered aboard the Gamefish 25.

Cockpit Features



The standard leaning post features a four-rod rocket launcher and an integrated 30-gallon aerated baitwell. The fiberglass t-top suspends another four rod holders and standard LED lighting overhead. Hey, anglers can use the bench seat, too.

2 Livewells. There are two baitwells within reach of the cockpit: one 30-gallon behind the helm seat and a 27-gallon well aft in the transom. Both are topped by opaque lids and rubber gaskets. An optional bench seat (shown in the pictures) spans much of the aft end of the cockpit.



Tackle drawers are built into the starboard side of the leaning post.

Transom Features

The Sea Hunt’s transom comes rigged with a pair of Yamaha outboards, recessed trim tabs and a four-step, flip-down telescoping boarding ladder accessed via a walk-though from the cockpit.



A pair of OceanLED 3 underwater fishing lights come standard on the 25’s transom.



The layout from overhead shows the wide, 360-degree access around the console for fighting fish. This view also illustrates a feature of the Carolina Flare hull which flares out from the beam at the waste of the boat at the top of the gunwales.

Performance Features



The boat’s progressive-V hull is designed to get on plane quickly and with a minimum amount of bow rise.

We have not tested the Gamefish 25 but the builder tells us that rigged with the standard pair of F150 Yamaha outboards, she can reach 52 mph burning 31.5 gph while getting 1.66 mpg. Sea Hunt says the rig has a best cruise of 28.4 mph turning 3500 rpm, burning 10.1 gph and getting 2.81 mpg.

Price of the Sea Hunt Gamefish 25

The boat is priced at about $85,000 without a trailer with the twin 150-hp Yamaha outboards. While that may not be a rock-bottom price for a 25' center console, we are hard-pressed to find one with so many amenities baked in at that price. The company's stated goal is to give its customers good value and only a close comparison of boats in class by the consumer can verify that, but clearly the company is trying hard.

Observations

Sea Hunt was founded in 1995 in Columbia, SC and has come a long way since that time. The boats are now built in a 170,000 sq. ft. factory and are distributed all over the U.S. east coast and beyond. By being a low price-point product the brand has grabbed large chunks of market share from a number of older brands that seem to have lost their way in the last turbulent ten years.