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Brief Summary
The 285 XL is a combination of performance and design with your budget in mind. This is a rig you will be happy to enter into the local tournaments. The 285 offers outboard power up to 150 hp and is all composite, no wood construction with excellent stability. Don’t be afraid to get up on the gunwale to help your buddy pull in the winning fish!
Key Features
- All composite construction
- Minn Kota® Maxxum 70SC lb 42" trolling motor 24V
- 34 gallon divided aerated livewell
- Lowrance X-52
- Heavy duty 8 gauge TM wiring
- Flush mounted remote throttle control
- All composite transom
- Trailer
- N.M.M.A. certified
Test Results
RPM | MPH | Knots | GPH | MPG | NMPG | STAT. MILE | NM | dBa |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
650 | 3.4 | 3 | 1.2 | 2.96 | 2.57 | 96 | 83 | 68 |
1000 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 2.23 | 1.94 | 72 | 69 | 70 |
1500 | 6.1 | 5.3 | 3 | 2.03 | 1.77 | 66 | 57 | 74 |
2000 | 6.7 | 5.8 | 4.9 | 1.38 | 1.2 | 45 | 39 | 79 |
2500 | 18.1 | 15.7 | 5.7 | 3.18 | 2.76 | 103 | 89 | 84 |
3000 | 26.7 | 23.2 | 7.8 | 3.44 | 2.99 | 111 | 97 | 89 |
3500 | 34.3 | 29.8 | 8.7 | 3.94 | 3.42 | 128 | 111 | 92 |
4000 | 40.4 | 35.1 | 10.9 | 3.72 | 3.23 | 120 | 105 | 96 |
4500 | 46 | 40 | 13.2 | 3.48 | 3.03 | 113 | 98 | 99 |
5000 | 50.1 | 43.6 | 16.6 | 3.02 | 2.62 | 98 | 85 | 101 |
5500 | 54.8 | 47.6 | 20.1 | 2.73 | 2.37 | 88 | 77 | 103 |
5900 | 58.4 | 50.8 | 22.2 | 2.64 | 2.29 | 85 | 74 | 101 |
Specifications
Length Overall | 18' 6'' |
---|---|
Beam | 91'' |
Dry Weight | 1,500 lbs. |
Draft | N/A |
Deadrise/Transom | N/A |
Max Headroom | open |
Bridge Clearance | N/A |
Fuel Capacity | 36 gal. |
Water Capacity | none |
Acceleration Times & Conditions
Time to Plane | 2.5 sec. |
---|---|
0 to 30 | 5.5 sec. |
Ratio | 2.0 : 1 |
Props | 23M Stainless Steel |
Load | 2 persons, 1/2 fuel, no water, min. gear |
Climate | 78 deg.; 37% humid.; wind: 7 MPH; seas; calm |
Engine Options
Tested Engine |
1 x 150-hp Yamaha V150 |
---|---|
Std. Power |
Not Available |
Opt. Power |
1 x 150-hp Yamaha V150 |
Warranty
Gelcoat Warranty Extended | No/ Only by review |
---|---|
Hull Warranty Extended | Lifetime (original owner) |
Captain's Report
A Great Combination of Performance & DesignBy Capt. Bob Smith
I just got back from Bull Shoals Lake where I had the pleasure of working with three friends from Stratos. They brought three boats that are destined to get many of you into bass’n with the pros. By building the 285XL, Stratos has taken a sharp target at the aluminum boats to bring you a tournament capable rig that hits the ramp at less than $23,000. Now, before you scoff, it is complete with just about everything but the gas in the tank. The gas and bait are up to you, but, wow, what a rig!
Bow Casting Deck
The bow casting deck is large and gives you plenty of room and comfort. When you reel in the Big One, your buddy can safely join you on the gunwale to net the catch cleanly into the livewell because this boat really has stability built in. Over on the port gunwale a Minn Kota Maxxum 70SC 42” 24V trolling motor is riding high. The foot control is set in a well in the bow so it is always waiting where you need it. The anchor light and big motor trim switch is located on a panel in the peak. Running from hot spot to hot spot is quick since you can lock your sticks in bungee straps on either side. No need for pop-up cleats on the 285; Stratos has the cleats recessed and canted in to keep the gunwale top clear of line snags. Lockers on the starboard and port side offer rod storage holding 7’ sticks fit neatly in these carpeted lockers with reinforced lids. The anchor and bow lights fit in clips in the starboard locker so they will not get wrapped up in the rod and lines when you store them in here. The center locker is gigantic. I am sure you could keep a 5 gallon bucket upright in here.
At the Controls
Stepping down into the cockpit there is a in-step built in cooler to store cold drinks. The cockpit is very comfortable with plenty of room to stretch out, even for a long-legged guy like myself. The fiberglass helm has a low-glare cover and a quick release windshield for storage in low overheads. No-feedback steering is standard as well as the three-spoke wheel. Analog gauges are spread over the dash for easy view underway and include speed, tach, fuel and trim gauges.
A handy Lowrance X-52 depth finder with temperature sensor is standard and is mounted to the right of the dash. Stratos grouped all the power control rocker switches to the right of the wheel under the depth finder. These switches have push-button circuit protective breakers. A 12 volt socket is just below the switches so you can bring along you personal GPS or charge your cell phone. Leg room under the dash is great; you aren’t going to have leg cramps after driving this rig!
Next to the passenger seat is a four-rod running rack with handy reel pad. There is a grab handle and a charger cord outlet in the port wall above the running rack. The helm and buddy bucket are very well padded and on the gunwale walls on each side is a drinkholder. A center step pad leads you to the stern deck between the seats.
Stern Deck
Though smaller than the bow casting deck, the stern deck offers plenty of room to fish a tournament. Beneath your feet are port and stern dry lockers for your gear. Between these lockers is a 34 gallon divided and aerated livewell to keep your catch lively and ready for the weigh-in. All your important mechanicals are easy to check beneath a beam width lid across the aft of the stern deck. From starboard to port are the cranking battery, bilge and livewell pumps, trolling motor batteries, main breakers, and the on-board battery charger.
Specifications
The 285XL measures 18’6” length overall and has with a beam width of 91”. On the trailer, the rig measures 20’6” with the swing-away tongue swung away. The 285 weighs in at 1500 lbs with the single fiberglass helm. If you opt for the buddy console, add another 50 lbs. The 285 is rated for up to 150-hp outboard engines on her composite stern and she carries 36 gallons of fuel in her tank mounted under the cockpit seats.
I tested on Bull Shoals Lake in Arkansas with two people on board. I found this model got on plane quickly at 2.5 seconds and reached 30 mph in 5.5 seconds. Her most economical cruise speed was turning 3500 rpm at 34.3 mph for a full tank range of 128 miles. When I pushed her to the limits, the 150-hp Yamaha VMAX delivered a top speed of 58.4 mph.
What is left to say? If you are looking for a stable rig with great performance, tournament features, and composite construction then you should to look at the 285XL from Stratos!