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Key Features
- Aluminum panel with weatherproof stainless steel toggle switches and circuit breakers
- LED navigation lights
- Wiring for 24 or 36 Volt bow trolling motor
- Forward console seat and bolster
- Aft doublewide seat with folding backrests convertible to large casting platform
- Bow center insulated 20 gal. livewell/fishbox with livewell pump, LED lighting, blue gelcoat finish, and directional aerator head unit with flow valve
- Powder coated leaning post with backrest and 4 rod holders with 72 quart cooler underneath
- Aluminum trailer with disc brakes and 14" tires with galvanized rims
Test Results
RPM | MPH | Knots | GPH | MPG | NMPG | STAT. MILE | NM | dBa |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
600 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 9.6 | 8.3 | 648 | 563.5 | N/A |
1000 | 5 | 4.3 | 0.6 | 8.3 | 7.2 | 557 | 484.2 | N/A |
1500 | 6.4 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 296 | 257 | N/A |
2000 | 8.7 | 7.5 | 3 | 2.9 | 2.5 | 195 | 169.2 | N/A |
2500 | 12 | 10.4 | 5 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 161 | 140.3 | N/A |
3000 | 19.3 | 16.7 | 5.8 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 224 | 194.8 | N/A |
3500 | 28.3 | 24.6 | 7.8 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 246 | 214 | N/A |
4000 | 32.5 | 28.3 | 9.8 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 225 | 195.7 | N/A |
4500 | 34.3 | 29.8 | 12.5 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 185 | 160.8 | N/A |
5000 | 41.5 | 36.1 | 14.5 | 2.9 | 2.5 | 193 | 168 | N/A |
5500 | 46.5 | 40.4 | 24 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 131 | 113.7 | N/A |
Specifications
Length Overall | 24' 6'' / 7.47 m |
---|---|
Beam |
9' 2.74 m |
Dry Weight |
3,700 lbs 1,678 kg |
Tested Weight |
4,480 lbs 2032.09 kg |
Draft Up |
12'' 30 cm |
Draft Down |
28'' 71 cm |
Deadrise/Transom | 16-deg. |
Max Headroom | open |
Bridge Clearance |
11' 1'' 3.37 m |
Weight Capacity |
1,350 lbs. 612 kg |
Person Capacity | 9 |
Fuel Capacity |
75 gal. 284 L |
Water Capacity | N/A |
Total Weight |
4,480 lbs 2032.09 kg |
Acceleration Times & Conditions
Time to Plane | 4.6 sec. |
---|---|
0 to 30 | 7.2 sec. |
Ratio | 1.85:1 |
Props | 20" x 15 1/8" - 4 blade |
Load | 2 persons, 4/5 load, no water, 50 lbs. of gear |
Climate | 74 deg., wind: 7 mph; seas: Med Chop |
Engine Options
Tested Engine |
1 x 300-hp Evinrude E-TEC G2 |
---|---|
Std. Power |
Not Available |
Opt. Power |
300-hp Yamaha 4.2L V6 Four Stroke 300XCA CL Plus |
Captain's Report
Learn More
Watch Our Video
Contents of Report
Overview
The flagship of the Robalo Cayman fleet, this 246 Cayman SD is a bay boat that can double as a family cruiser. While the hull was designed to fish the various depths and conditions found in estuaries, the 246 Cayman SD has a versatile interior design with a combination of features that would allow you to fish on Saturday and take the crew to the sandbar on Sunday, with very little compromise.
The 246 Cayman SD adds a sky deck with an upper station and plenty of fishing features. The added height allows for better sightlines for fish-hunting anglers or boaters who want to find their way in the shallows.
Power
Fine Tuning Your Control
Major Features
• Aluminum panel with weatherproof stainless steel toggle switches and circuit breakers
• Upper station
• Pre-wired for bow-mounted trolling motor
• Forward-opening front console door
• Stern seating that folds into casting deck
• Three plumbed livewells (insulated)
• Bow seating with backrest
• Locking rod storage
• Four-step telescoping boarding ladder
Overall Appeal
At the Controls
The steering on the console is just to starboard of center. This helm location puts the observer to the port side of the console and centers the driver between the steering wheel and the throttle control. The layout may look a little different when compared to other center console boats, but the ergonomics of it work.
Sky Deck
Typical bay boats have the upper-station operator stand on top of the center console, through the T-top. With the Robalo 246 Cayman SD, the top of the console is 3’6” (1.07 m), and the height of the upper station deck is 6’7” (2.01 m) above the main deck.
Robalo reinforced the cockpit’s deck to compensate for the added weights and moments of the upper deck, including the operator and a companion.
Both gates are mounted with tension hinges that keep the gates from slamming down. They also latch securely in the closed position.
The door is mounted with tension hinges so it won’t close without being closed. This is especially convenient when the operator needs to reach for something inside with one hand while driving with the other.
The stainless steel wheel is mounted on a fixed base. Robalo reports that on future boats of this model the wheel will be on a tilt base.
Features for the Crew
The bow of this boat is focused on the family. The U-Shaped settee is the perfect picnic spot with the optional bow table. For easy cruising, the port and starboard lounges have forward-facing backrests.
Storage and Convenience
Beneath the bow seating are hatches that provide access to lockers for stowing gear, and, in the smaller, center compartment, there are dedicated brackets to stow the bow table pedestals.
Cockpit Seating
A bench seat is built into the aft casting deck. When not in use, it folds flat and latches in place to give anglers more casting area on a level surface.
Fishing Features
Additional Performance Numbers
Our test boat was equipped with a 300-hp Evinrude E-TEC G2 outboard and had an estimated test weight of 4,480 lbs. (2,032 kg). We hit a top speed of 40.4 knots (46.5 mph) at 5500 rpm. Best cruise was 24.6 knots (28.3 mph) with a fuel burn of 3.6 mpg. The boat was up on plane in less than 5 seconds and hit 17.4 knots (20 mph) in 4.6 seconds and reached 26.1 knots (30 mph) in 7.2 seconds. The model tested was without the tower.
Ride and Handling
The hull has a stable ride and was comfortable navigating the medium chop of the bay. The bow flare kept us dry. Turns were smooth and the boat didn’t need a lot of attention to engine trim from planning off to high-speed runs.
Available Options
• Colored hull
• Dual battery charger
• Underwater lights
• Console head
• Bow filler cushion
• Bow table
• Leaning post with five rod holders and flip-up bolsters
• Freshwater shower
• Hydraulic jackplate
• Bow fishing chair
• Electronics
• Sound system
• Trim tabs
Observations