There’s no doubt that the new NorthCoast flagship model, the 41 HT, has stolen the spotlight in recent times. And that makes sense when one considers that it’s the largest NorthCoast ever, it boasts a yacht-level finish, it has every angling accoutrement known to man, and it runs like a scalded cat. Still, we were eyeballing one of their smaller offerings recently, the 255 HT, and felt that it deserves a closer look—a much closer look.
For the average Bay angler looking for a versatile boat that allows for fishing rain or shine (or snow!) and even provides weekending abilities, the choices are limited. Many builders only offer center consoles these days, and finding a fishing machine with a cabin that matches your specific needs has become tough. What’s even tougher is finding one that has a fully enclosed head rather than a portable MSD under a V-berth, seating for a half-dozen anglers, and a top-end that hits highway speeds. But the 255HT has all of these attributes and then some.
Unlike most cabin boats in this class the NorthCoast has helm and passenger’s chairs mounted atop large fiberglass bases that extend back to form center-facing seating behind them. That means you get gobs of stowage including tackleboxes, drawers, and an integrated cooler, but more importantly, it boosts your in-the-cabin crew protection. Four can sit and two more can stand just behind the seats while holding onto the grabrails on the back of the top’s supports. When it’s nice out, fold down the transom bench seat to expand the plop-down capacity. Still, it’s the lower cabin that’s a real highlight. The head is fully enclosed and has a sink plus a pull-out shower, rarities on boats of this size. And if you think you might spend long weekends aboard note that the berth is over six feet long.
Stock fishing features in addition to that tackle stowage we already mentioned include a 26-gallon livewell in the transom, a pair of 35-gallon macerated fishboxes in the deck, four flush-mount gunwale rodholders, six under-gunwale rodracks, and the option for rocket launchers lining the hard top and/or transom plus additional flush-mount rodholders. The fishing feature you won’t be expecting is found when you go on to the bow. Unlike some cabin boats of this size the NorthCoast is easy to get around, with a tall 1.25” thick 316-grade stainless-steel bowrail that reaches far aft, and grabrails running along the hard top. Once forward, you’ll find plenty of space to cast from the flush deck ringing the cabintop.
For a boat with a very traditional Downeast look, performance is very nontraditional. With a pair of F250s on the Armstrong bracket this boat can crack 60 mph and with 200s runs well above 50 mph. Cruising speeds with max power sit in the mid-40s at 4500 rpm, and with 100 fewer horses, in the upper-mid 30s. Another surprise is that the 255 HT can get up on plane and cruise in the upper 20s on a single screw, an excellent feature for those who fish where and when few others dare.
You say you’ve been looking for an all-weather angling machine, but haven’t yet found the ideal offering? Check out the NorthCoast 255 HT. Your choices may not be as limited as it seems.
NorthCoast 255HT Specifications
- LOA – 31’2”
- Beam – 9’5”
- Displacement – 7981 lbs.
- Draft (min.) – 1’7”
- Transom Deadrise – 22 degrees
- Fuel Capacity – 159 gal.
- Max. Power – 500 hp
- Area Dealers: The Pocket Yacht Company, Grasonville, MD, (888) 519-9120.