It's here
as promised, right on schedule and we are sure pleased with the result.
The Inshore Slam edition Dorado 23 built by Dorado Holdings of Ozona
Florida is equipped with Mercury Optimax 225, custom Morse Throttle Controls and
Smart Craft gauges. The accessories include an 8 foot Power Pole, Lencos
trim tab mounted trolling motors, odyssey
batteries, stealth charging system and a Custom and one of a kind Dorado Exclusive "Universal
Welding Tower" built by Dale Strickland. We think this boat is the
ultimate inshore and near shore package, which is going to be hard to beat.
There is a lot
of excitement, choices, decisions and even emotions when purchasing a
new boat. I would like to say that this was one of the best experiences
that I have ever had in the purchase of a new vessel and subsequent
follow-ups to date. Of the most notable feelings leaving the factory,
was the feeling that I had just purchased the most suited inshore and
near shore platform available on the market. Many bay boats tout the
fact that they can handle the chop and the offshore conditions but few
of those same boats are comfortable in less than 12 inches of water.
Dorado as a
whole and more notably Matt Bathon and Chris Wolchok have been great to
work with. I am a particular person and they managed my needs
professionally, timely and accurately. I am amazed at how much goes on
in that facility building (from what I can tell) seven different models
for every sort of fishing enthusiast imaginable from a 20 ft Flats boat
to a 40 ft offshore fish killer or Caribbean cruiser.
About the
boat... Well I like it a lot.
Bay Boats are
a funny critter. Most of the different brands look pretty much the same.
I have been in almost all of them. Each brand has its own features where
it shines and some areas that they don't. This is true with every boat
and the things people like or dislike greatly differs from one person to
the next, so saying that one boat is the best boat of all the boats is
crazy. A consumer has to weigh out what he feels is important in his
purchase decision. In this article I will point out the areas that I
have found to be the best about the Dorado 23.
My boat was a
boat show queen even though it was not at a boat show, it was completed
like it was meant to be. The rigging, fit and finish in my boat was
"perfect." In fact the rigging resembled some of the finest center
consoles out there. The same rigging detail in their big boats goes into
the 23 as well. Wow, is what I hear most often when I lift the console
you can see the total access to everything with out having to be a
contortionist. Just to make a comparison.
Pumps and
stuff - no sweat. The pumps are just under the live well seat.
Here you can quick change a pump in a matter of a minute. Bilge is super
clean of rigging wires and hoses by the rigging tube that goes through
to the engine. In the very back there is a removable inspection plate
that is rubber snapped down so you can get into if need be.
Accessories
- I had Dorado place an 8 foot Power Pole on the transom of this bad boy
and remote. Very functional piece of equipment.
Trim tabs are
present because of the LENCO atop. Well, I am a firm believer that all
boats over 20 ft should have them. However, this boat does not scream
out, " I need tabs." I will not put them on my next boat as they would
not offer this boat enough improvements to make up for the ugly they
would create on the transom.
The overall
finish was 10 out of 10. On three passes I found nothing. The boat was
perfect and so were two others I saw at the factory. Now, for those that
know me you can take it to the bank, nothing, not even a smear mark from
a buffer or a cut zip tie piece in the bilge could be found.
Porte Bracket
lift and Engine Tilt angle are adjusted via blinker style controls with
no need to take your hands off the wheel at anytime.
Console - Console is very comfy, keep in mind I am 6' and it
fits me well. I love the landscape on the dash, plenty of room for
any overzealous gadget freak but not too wide.
Console to gunnel room - Fantastic! Not to mention the gunnels
are wide enough for an elephant to walk down them. I am a huge fan of
the gunnels; they are just high enough, definitely wide enough and very
stylish adding to the interior lines of an already sexy boat. I am very
comfortable using this boat as a mini tower boat. The framing of the
tower is not an issue.
Forward Casting Deck - Its HUGE! I have had 3 grown men up
there casting away and not killing each other. I think it may be the
largest in the industry. Nice big toe rail for fly fishermen and for
those who don't see where the deck ends.
Storage - How much do you need? This boat has a bunch of it,
just look at the floor hatches.
Battery Compartments - The main starting batteries and the
trolling motor batteries are in the console nice and tidy. What an
awesome way to put these batteries because they are not only out of the
way but protected from the harsh environment.
Bait
well - The main center well on this boat is really well done;
its in the very back of the boat. There is a clear window at the back so
you can see all you bait trying to escape. My baits love it in there,
often throwing pool parties while they wait to be fed to hungry tarpon.
The well is perfectly plumbed and fills up to the top creating a
pressure out which is key in bait saving. Standard is a double
recirculation pump which works great. I will say one thing, pin fish are
smart, they know where to go to stay away from my net. The lid opens to
the bow.
Deck
- The non skid is great. Cleans nicely after a bloody day. Drains well
once you are moving. However, while sitting still the scuppers are
plugged up so whatever water you take on the deck will be at your feet
until you move or slosh around. No issue here, just the means of design
to keep water out of the boat while you are sitting. I have not had a
wet foot yet.
Everyone asks
me, "How Fast Is It?"
Life has
taught me many lessons but none more than about speed, especially in the
bay boat and offshore market of center consoles. He said, they said, it
ran, I know it will run, this boat can do, that boat is faster, my boat
will run empty, loaded it turns this... Its all a bunch of crap. Boats
are getting really fast, too fast for many weekend warriors and
tournament anglers, to have the experience to handle them. My Dorado 23
runs between 48 and 52 WOT, depending on the loaded.
Lets talk about
the things that truly matter.
I am running a
225 Optimax from Mercury. Fuel economy is absolutely heavenly for a 23
ft boat at 7.5 MPG at my cruise of about 35 mph. I have yet to find the
right prop for all uses but may leave it propped the way it is. There
are few I may test but I am confident this is the most fuel efficient
bay boat on the market with this power. The noise is a bit stronger than
Verado with the jack plate a bit elevated but I take no matter here as I
love the weight of that motor.
The Dorado 23
rides flat! Flat as a board. And cuts like a knife. It planes in amazing
time with very little bow lift and will do it in 2 feet of water without
hurting a thing. If you are running a 23 Dorado and you feel the chop,
go faster and it goes away.
We all fish
different ways so I will keep this simple. My Dorado is shallower than
any other bay boat and easier to handle on the flats. It acts like a
flats boat. Dead silent on the flat. I never thought I would ever try
and fly fish for permit on the flats in anything but my flats skiff.
This boat does it well and the fish did not even know we were there. I
was truly amazed. Like I said when I started this section, we all fish
different but I bet this boat will handle your needs very well whatever
they are. In shallow water a whole new world has been opened to me.
As a bay boat
guide I like to be able to offer my clients the ability to fish 4
persons. Fishing 4 persons is not my favorite thing but this boat will
do it well.
On a side
note, I really hate to compare boats but there is a definite difference
in this boat to others. The others are boats that fish. This is a great
fishing boat.
This boat is
strong as all hell. I have beaten it across Tampa Bay in water that
would have sent other boats home. If there is going to be a stress crack
it would be there already and if something were going to break it would
be broken or come lose by now. The best part is there are no rattles or
washiness in the hull. You hit wave, wave leaves. I will stand by this
boat with my reputation to say, that you cannot hurt it. I am looking
forward to a long history with my first 23 as it has passed the test.
This is always
a tough category for me as there are so many things about boats that can
be changed a little here and there to match what may be my perfect boat.
This may not be the boat for someone else though and a company like
Dorado builds a boat for the masses that fishes really well. So the
things I don't like will be partially my personal little thing. This
article would be incomplete without this section as there is no boat in
the world that will ever make one person TOTALLY 150% happy.
Steering -
I am accustomed to the Sea Star Systems of steering for my Mercury Opti
Max powered boats. My Dorado is so equipped and it seems to labor in
turning the engine in a high torque environment , more so than the power
steering option available with Verado.
Anchor
locker - It needs to be made about 1 inch deeper in order to fit a
decent holding anchor in it and close the lid. My anchor may be too
large for what they were considering when drafting that compartment,
however a smaller one just does not do the trick here in Tampa, even
with 8 ft of chain. To adjust for the issue I trimmed the wings or
flanges back on my anchor to make it fit better and seem to have lost no
performance. An anchor Hanger would be a benefit in this boat.
If you are in
the market for an awesome bay boat go to their web site and give them a
call.
www.doradomarine.com Ask for Matt or Chris and
tell them Jim sent you.
