BELZONA

27CC

An angler’s dream that leads the way in innovation.

MMiami-based Belzona Boats carved a brand-building course with one of the marine industry’s most unique features. The 32- and 40-foot models offer side doors that slide aft for wide-open access to the aft cockpit, be it at the dock or on the water. The compact new Belzona 27cc carries forward that tradition with a starboard side door that operates differently yet just as easily. More about that later. One of the smallest Belzonas, the 27cc ranks as the brand’s most angling-centric to date. Gunwales reach to midthigh for a superb combination of onboard security and fishing access, and coaming pads encircle the interior to cushion legs while fishing. A level self-bailing deck with

grit-style nonskid features wide walkways aside the console.

Recessed handrails bracket the bow for security when going forward. A cabinet abaft the leaning-post/helm-seating module can be optioned to accommodate tackle stowage. You can order the 27cc with a slide-out Yeti Tundra 75 cooler for the space underneath the module.

For keeping fish iced down, a pair of huge, insulated in-sole fish lockers flank the aft deck, with a third insulated fish locker under the foredeck. Deck hatches feature friction hinges to prevent them from slamming shut on your toes or fingers, and macerator pumps evacuate blood, gruel and meltwater overboard.

Five rod holders are built into the transom bulkhead, another four Mate Series combo rod/drink holders are recessed in the backrest of the helm seating, and five rod tubes line the aft edge of the fiberglass hardtop. These are in addition to three gunwale rod holders on each side of the boat for trolling, kite-fishing or drifting.

The 27cc is available with a pair of transom livewells, including a

standard 29-gallon well in the port quarter and an optional 18-gallon well in the starboard quarter. Both feature clear acrylic hatches that latch and seal, as well as friction hinges to keep them from slamming shut.

Belzona’s penchant for passenger comfort emerges with the optional bow seating with slide-on backrests that convert the seats to a pair of loungers. Underneath is extra storage.

You’ll find seating on the forward console (with a 45-quart insulated cooler underneath) as well. In the stern, a transom bench seat can be folded down or removed when fishing takes priority. You can option the upholstery to feature the colors you wish, and add features such as diamond- or honeycomb-accent stitching.

OK, now let’s look at that unique side entrance, which Belzona dubs its Jumper Door. It uses articulating arms that make it easy to open and close. Lift and then pivot the lightweight carbon-fiber door aft to open. To close, lift and pivot it forward. A locking arm and latch keep the door secure and sealed.

This feature makes it easier to board the 27cc from a floating dock and haul aboard a big fish. A telescoping boarding ladder lets you reboard easily through the doorway when swimming or diving.

Shopping around? No other boats have the

Jumper Door, but Scout’s 277 LXF centerconsole ($223,701) comes standard with a portside swing-in boarding door, transom door, integral three-sided windshield and a greater emphasis on family-friendly comfort.

Dash-panel options on the 27cc range from plain fiberglass to the racy carbon-fiber panel on our test boat. You can order one or two multifunction displays. This particular 27cc featured a pair of Garmin 15-inch touchscreen displays and a Garmin Fantom 24 dome radar. The carbon-fiber steering wheel complemented the techie dash panel.

Belzona offers an array of windshield choices that range from no windshield to a three-sided clear polycarbonate enclosure. Inside the step-down console we discovered an electrical control panel and access to the

Optional gray gelcoated hull sides on our 27cc were set off by black powder-coated aluminum pipework, and complemented by gray upholstery accents.

immaculate rigging behind the helm. You can order an optional permanent marine head or portable marine toilet to put inside.

The 27cc features 21.5 degrees of deadrise at the transom and carries a sharp entry forward. The sheerline sweeps upward from midship to a high, proud bow. A Euro-style transom melds pleasingly with the integral engine bracket.

Propelled by twin Mercury FourStroke 200 hp V-6 outboards, our boat charged from zero to 30 mph in 8.38 seconds, reaching a top speed of 51.7 mph at 5,800 rpm. The optional SeaStar Solutions Optimus 360 joystick steering system eased docking in tight quarters.

The hull knifed smoothly at speeds as high as 35 mph through the 2- to 3-foot waves in the bay waters outside Miami’s Matheson Hammock Park, offering a dry, level ride no matter what direction we attacked the seas. Hairpin turns were executed without skidding. The propellers held their bite during lateral acceleration. Construction felt solid, with nary a creak nor rattle as we charged through the waves.

The 27cc’s Jumper Door is sure to impress anyone. Yet setting that great feature aside, this is a great-looking center-console boat, and one that’s in league with larger models when it comes to performance, range, fishing and comfort.