sea fox 226 Traveler

Designed and built at the Sea Fox facility in Monck’s Corner, South Carolina by an elite team of craftsmen, artisans and naval engineers, the 226 Traveler is the most compact vessel in the current Sea Fox fleet. But no matter. Good things really do come in small packages. A rugged salt-water hull crafted from reinforced fiberglass with a custom gel-coating of your choice, a high freeboard, a flared bow entry and a 19-degree transom deadrise doesn’t just look stylish but performs admirably on the salty deep-water seas for which it was designed. Expect immense agility, a relatively dry ride, balance on the turn and a smooth approach to tackling waves as you head out to the oceanic horizon or negotiate jagged and spectacular coastlines.

A true joy to ride, you can expect a little friendly rivalry between guests who want to take the wheel and man this exceptional performer. Position yourself at a pedestal seat lined in marine-grade upholstery and face a starboard helm station with everything needed to confidently captain this vessel to tuna-rich fishing grounds or that hidden cove you have always wanted to visit. Nestled beneath an Ultima hard-top roof with a brushed aluminum frame there is a tilting Seastar hydraulic steering wheel in shimmering stainless steel joined by essentials like Lenco trim-tab switches, single-lever controls, room for a 7-inch display screen and an optional Garmin 64CV Echomap, all carefully hidden behind a curved windscreen that deflects spray and keeps you dry. A range of digital or mechanical Yamaha outboard engines are on offer to propel the 226 Traveler to top speeds of up to 38 knots, with a top-of-the-range single F200XB or sole F250XCA motor among the pick of the bunch. You will cruise through salt-water seas at a smooth pace of 19 knots to achieve a fuel-efficient 4.5 miles per gallon, while a 106-gallon fuel tank should keep you out on the water from dawn to dusk and beyond.

There will come a point, a couple dozen miles out to sea, when the coastline disappears from view, and it seems like the entire world has vanished. It is just you, your crew, your boat and the water. Not even the spartan desert or the highest peak can compare with this sort of sublime solitude. And that’s the point at which you will grab your rods and begin the hunt for prize catches. As well-equipped as any tournament-ready sportfisher, but with a more relaxed approach to tackling gamefish, you will find unique touches on this boat like a 19-gallon aerated livewell with an aquarium window beyond the transom wall to port, ideally positioned to keep mess away from your self-draining cockpit. There seems to be fishing storage and amenities just about everywhere you look across the deck, with six rod-holders built flush in the gunwale, a hidden cooler by the transom, a fish-box concealed beneath the bow seating, rocket launchers mounted on the hard-top roof and padded coamings that allow sturdy fishermen to lean hard against the bulwark as they grapple with mature red drum, zebra-striped sheepshead or the ubiquitous bonito. Whether you are heading far out to sea or stalking shallow estuaries and lazy backwaters, this is the perfect yacht in which to land your prey.

An in-sole storage box, meanwhile, can be used for everything from tackle and line to watersports equipment and diving tanks. When the kids want to get wet, they will head out beyond a transom door to a starboard swim platform placed far enough away from the single outboard to give parents peace of mind. Lined in marine-grade, teak-effect decking and with a swim ladder for ease of re-boarding, the platform is matched by sloping gunwales to stern that are low enough for the kids to launch themselves into the water from port or starboard. Both fresh-water and raw-water showers are on offer back here to keep guests and decking clean, while to stern there is also a towbar that can be used to pull adrenalin-junkies on wakeboards or water-skis. Buyers who wish to explore difficult-to-access inland waterways like vast lakes and winding rivers, meanwhile, can conveniently tow this compact yacht on a trailer overland.

The pick of the seating on this model is the spacious, U-shaped bow-lounge that is large enough to gather all the generations together in one stylish and comfortable area to enjoy hours of convivial conversation. Pillow-soft curved cushions will ease backs sore after a day of fishing, while a pop-up removable table will host evening bites or perhaps a card game or two. A set of six cupholders, meanwhile, have been built into the gunwale to keep those beers, or perhaps something a little stronger, always within reach of the thirsty. Then, long after the sun has dipped below the horizon, and the sea takes on the magical moonlit tones of dancing silver and steel, you will listen to your favorite tunes piped through a pair of Fusion stereo speakers built into the bulwark. Yet more space for relaxation is offered in the cockpit, where a flip-up transom sofa, a pair of aft seats and a forward chair that turns into a reclining chaise-longue to port impress with marine-grade upholstery in the plush and classy colors of cream, sand and mocha, with upgrades to oyster grey or two-tone titanium also on the agenda. A conveniently placed head behind a lockable door is located to port of the helm station, and features a freshwater sink, an electric porcelain toilet with a capacious holding tank and solid countertops.

An exquisite example of the secure build quality and high-class finish that has sealed Sea Fox’s reputation, the 226 Traveler is not only a boat for each age to enjoy, but a yacht to be passed on down the generations.