BUDDY DAVIS

42 CC

On test day, we ran with a crew of four on a fully loaded Buddy Davis 42 CC. We charged out of the inlet into tightly stacked 4-foot swells with the occasional 6- to 8-footer rolling through, bolstered by steady 20-knot winds. The mega center console handled the sporty conditions like a true offshore battlewagon.

With a higher-thanaverage 3.3-to-1 length-tobeam ratio and a sharp entry that tapers to a 24-degree deadrise at the transom, this 42 is designed to slice through waves. Its stout resin-infused fiberglass construction helps the boat handle the conditions without rattle or shudder. The wide Carolina flare at the bow helped to deflect spray down and away from the cockpit. The deep-V hull performed better at faster speeds — settling into a comfortable rhythm at around 36 mph at 4,500 rpm.

One thing about long, skinny boats is they tend to rock and roll a bit on the drift or slow troll. That’s why we highly recommend the optional ($65,000) Seakeeper 5 gyrostabilizer, if it’s in your budget. Once deployed, it made the boat gently rise and fall with the rhythm of the swells rather than snap and roll. It made a four-hour fishing trip in rough seas seem like no big deal.

Ready to fish? Twin 40-gallon transom livewells keep the bait fresh. With six flush-mounted holders in the gunwales and nine welded into the hardtop piping, bring the quiver. The cockpit sole hides twin 156-gallon insulated fish boxes, with two additional up in the bow. The entertainment center/ bait-prep station behind the helm leaning post comes complete with the requisite tackle drawers.

While this boat will please the hardcore crowd, we should not discount its family-friendly amenities. The console hid a wellappointed cabin with a full galley and a dinette that seats four, a separate head with a shower and VacuFlush toilet, plus sleeping accommodations for two. Throw in the flip-down transom jump seats, the triple helm chairs, and the lounges in front of the console and there are plenty of creature comforts. Oh yeah, the diesel generator and air conditioner come standard. —Pete McDonald