Everglades 375CC

The running surface of the 375CC slices through nasty waves for an amazingly smooth ride. Courtesy Everglades Boats Visit Everglades Build Your Everglades Find an Everglades Dealer

Solid is an inadequate word to convey the smooth, graceful performance of the Everglades 375CC. When I thumped from dock to deck, creased through a shrimp-boat wake and cut hard turns in seas, this boat felt like it was machined from a ­solid block, not assembled from a thousand pieces.

Everglades designed and built the 375CC with all the rugged performance and fishability necessary for the angler who’s going out no matter what, then added comfort and fun for the crewmembers who are a little more discriminating about easy luxury. 

The performance comes from a combination of reliable Yamaha power and Everglades’ legendary RAMCAP construction. Everglades builds an extremely ­durable hull, and then it adds high-density foam modules cast under immense pressure. They are bonded into specific areas, forming an unsinkable vessel with unwavering sea-cleaving capabilities. The foam doesn’t compress under stress and doesn’t absorb water like foam injected in the hull after assembly often will. When we encountered the intimidating wakes of a large shrimp trawler, I respectfully avoided them in deference to the boat’s yet-to-be-identified owner until the factory exec enabling our test suggested we go wake jumping.

“Seriously?” I asked.

“Seriously,” he said.

The helm of the 375CC practically begs you to grab the wheel and throttles and roar offshore. A pair of flush-mounted Garmin 19-inch displays guide the way. Courtesy Everglades Boats

I made for the wake and braced for subsequent air and a too-firm reentry. There was no need. While the wakes rolled toward us, I maintained our speed of about 35 mph, and when I expected a certain amount of shock, there was none. Instead, the 375CC sliced through ­softly and took the opposite wake with equal grace. In turns, the 375CC held on in any speed, even when driving in increasingly smaller circles trying to get the boat to skip, trip or bog down. It did none of these. Some of that credit might go to the all-new Zipwake Pro Interceptors on this boat, which automatically react instantly to changes in inertia, then adjust at lightning speed for automatic pitch-and-roll control underway. Heeling was reduced, the outboards held better grip on the sea, and crew enjoyed comfortable turns. They do the same in quartering seas, softening the boat’s roll into the trough. 

Our power package—triple Yamaha F300s—was the lowest offered, horsepower we’d usually argue against, but the 52 mph top speed, the 2-second tip over to plane and the 9 seconds to 30 mph were impressive and satisfying. And at its best cruise speed of 26 mph, the boat made 1.1 mpg, providing a range of more than 400 miles to support any angling adventure. 

The manufacturer’s testing with triple Mercury 400s showed a wide-open throttle of 62.5 mph at a cost of 10 percent more fuel, but its 1 mpg cruise comes at 37.9 mph. If you run that with the patented sliding windshield open, you and two passengers at the helm should prepare to pick bugs from your teeth.

The helm setup was beautiful with a black finish and twin 19-inch Garmin flush-mounted displays. Digital switching, control of the optional Seakeeper gyrostabilzer and genset (we never fired up either), as well as all other functions are addressable through the touchscreen displays. Most commonly used functions have push-button switches. Everglades looms its own wiring harnesses in the factory for custom reliability. 

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Triple captain’s chairs offer posh and supportive comfort for the helmsman and two other lucky crewmembers aboard the ­Everglades 375CC. Courtesy Everglades Boats

The helm station and cabin below are air-conditioned. Two steps to the cabin sole leads to a starboard-side head with a door, freshwater shower, sink and flushing porcelain toilet. Toward the bow, a couch converts to a berth, and a portlight keeps the area softly lit. On the port side is a locker, and below it is the power distribution panel. It employs digital switching for reliable operation of all systems. That switching can be ­accessed via the dash displays.

There are two 25-gallon transom livewells with clear acrylic lids. A fish box in the transom separates them and can be refrigerated with an optional cold plate. Lift the lid on the transom locker to reveal a table that hinges down for cutting bait. It can also be moved and inserted into one of 18 rod holders. There are also two fish boxes with drain pumps in the ­cockpit sole. The rigging station is enormous, featuring a covered sink, three drawers, and a large cabinet below. On each side are fresh- and raw-water recoil hoses that reach all the way to the bow. 

In addition to the 18 rod holders on the deck, there are eight in the hardtop, and while their mounting bar is powder-­coated, the rod holders themselves are not, to avoid chipping or scratching during use. The hardtop structure is powder-­coated too, and as you move from stern to bow, there are grab rails all along the passageway. Powder-coated gunwale grab rails are recessed. There are also handrails molded into the hardtop above, doubling as gutters to divert water from the helm.

Back on the deck, ahead of the console is a double lounger with fold-down armrests, handy grab handles and cup holders, all upholstered with comfortably firm foam and thick acrylic-coated, mildew- and stain-resistant vinyl. Equally comfortable are the forward-facing lounges with removable backs, offering two first-class seats for the crew. Come to think of it, the 375CC itself represents a first-class ticket to angling success. 

The versatile transom area includes a pair of 25-gallon livewells, a fish locker and a rigging table. Bench seats fold out when you’re ready to relax. Courtesy Everglades Boats Specifications Length:40’1″ (w/ engines)Beam:10’10”Draft:3’4” (engines down)Fuel:403 gal.Weight:19,900 lb. (w/ options)Max HP:1,200Price:$823,800 Contact Everglades

Everglades Boats – Edgewater, Florida; evergladesboats.com

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