WEBVTT

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<v ->The following opinions are solely those of</v>

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BoatTEST.com and it's test captain.

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<v ->Hi, Captain Steve for BoatTEST.com and</v>

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today I'm on Robolo's R242.

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Now this can be rigged with either single

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or twin engines up to 400 horsepower.

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Let's start by getting right into the test numbers

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and then, we'll take a look at the features.

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(upbeat music)

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<v ->The Robelo R242 has a length overall of</v>

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24 feet, a beam of 8 feet 9 inches

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and a draft of 20 inches.

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With an empty weight of 4,800 pounds,

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40 percent fuel, and 2 people on board,

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we had an estimated test weight of 5,660 pounds.

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With a pair of Yamaha F150 XV outboards

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powering our test boat, we reached a top speed

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of 45.6 miles per hour at 6,000 PRM.

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Best economic cruise seemed to be

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reached at 4,000 RPM and 28.1 miles per hour.

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At that speed, the fuel was 11.6 gallons per hour,

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giving us a range of 327 statute miles,

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all while holding back a temperate set reserve

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of the boat's 150 gallon fuel capacity.

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As expected with the extended v-plane hull

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that carries the running surface well

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past the engine mounting point on the transom,

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we had good times to plane and acceleration.

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We reached planing speed in an average 3.3 seconds,

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accelerated to 20 miles per hour in 5.6 seconds,

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and 30 came and went in 7.1.

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Thanks to her 22 degree dead rise and sharp entry,

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she cut well through chop,

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and turns are equally predictable with a

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firm track, and she comes around with no

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chine lock, and an aggressive hold.

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We have the standard SeaStar hydrolic steering with a

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timer linking the 2 engines,

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as always, and consider the optional power assist steering.

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During a quick offshore run, we found

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her skipping across waves with a clean reentry,

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and, try as we might, experienced

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no pounding or hull slap,

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as we encountered the head seas at full throttle.

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This really is an exciting boat to drive, and

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a well mannered boat when the seas start to build.

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Safety is enhanced with her 33 inch freeboard aft,

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and 43 inch forward.

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Now, let's go back dockside, and go

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over some of her features.

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(upbeat music)

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<v ->As we step inside, we'll start with</v>

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taking a look at the fishing features.

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It is the center console, of course.

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So, we've got long boxes, black caulking,

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rod holders in the cap rails.

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Let's take a look at this.

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There's a lot of features right over here.

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Where we usually see the competitors cut out

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the bull works and put in an insert in

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for rod holders here,

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everything is molded in.

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We've got 3 rod holders with tubes in

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each end to protect the rod guides.

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Notice the padding to protect your expensive reels.

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Padded bolsters started at 19 inches and go up to 27 inches,

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and down below, there's a toe rail to give you a little

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extra security while fighting the fish.

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All the way in the back, we've got a plug

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for the standard battery charger.

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On the aft deck, we've got optional

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cup holders that also double as rod holders.

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In the transom, we've got a 27 gallon live well

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that's divided into 2 sections.

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Hatches are held open with friction hinges,

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and I do appreciate the lift and lock latches.

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<v ->Now I noticed that this is divided so that</v>

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this can be a live well, or a fish locker.

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Or, we can use it as a full length fish locker,

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and even, because it's insulated, use it as a cooler.

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<v ->I noticed the internal blue LED lights.</v>

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Looking forward, we've got a 70 quart cooler,

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5 rod holders, and a powder coated rail

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going all the way across.

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Looking up, we've got the optional T-top.

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Robolo only goes with fiberglass, no canvas.

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This one has 4 rocket launchers in the back.

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It's pre-rigged for Taco grand slam outriders.

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LED spreader lights to both port and starboard.

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There's a molded in radio box, and,

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that's lockable, and notice again,

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white powder coated supports that include

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an integrated hand rail that goes both high and low

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so it's good for sitting or standing.

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And, it integrates nicely into the side of the console

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so we have 20 inches of side deck clearance.

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Now, as we make our way forward,

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notice the bolsters go 360 degrees around the boat, plus

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the bow is surrounded by stainless steel grab rail

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that is recessed so it's not going to snag your gear.

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Fully forward, we have an elevated casting deck

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17 and a half inches off the deck.

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30 gallon fish lockers to both sides and

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a 20 gallon live well in the center.

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Now, while we're at the bow, we'll begin to

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transition over to operational features, beginning with

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the ground tackle, which is handled by handled by

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a Lewmar windlass, leading out to a anchor roller

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mounted on top of the bow.

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Robolo provides a cleat for securing the anchor

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road and taking the load off of the windlass,

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there's also a latch to hold it in place once it's stowed.

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The rope comes up the windlass and down through

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this notched hatch into the compartment alongside,

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and we can get into it to manage tangles easily enough.

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<v ->For the designer, foot control switches, and we</v>

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also have controls at the helm.

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<v ->Notice we have the optional pull up</v>

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cleats and they're logoed.

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(upbeat music)

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There are deck drains to both sides, adding a measure

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of safety, plus easing the cleanups.

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But more to the point, notice how these are integrated.

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Most often we see just a hole cut with a hose

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attached to that and a steel grate over it.

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These are molded right into the deck.

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<v ->The helm console starts</v>

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with an acrylic glass windshield that has

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no distortion at the edges.

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There's 2 storage compartments at the top for

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your cellphone, and they're self draining on the side.

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A shaded brow covers the panel,

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which is set up for 2 12 inch displays.

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<v ->Rocker switches below are all back lit and</v>

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noted with icons and labels.

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Digital gauges in the center,

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and to the side, we've got Lenco trim tabs

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with LED indicators, and notice that they're just

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ahead of the throttle so we can manipulate

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them while our hand is still on the throttle.

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The steering wheel is mounted to a tilt base.

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And I like that Robolo included the steering knob.

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The Clarion stereo is standard and is also

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Bluetooth and USB capable. Both plugs right alongside here.

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<v ->Down below, we've got a covered glove box,</v>

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open storage and a foot rest.

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<v ->We've also got the forward spreader light,</v>

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and I also appreciate that the supports

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don't come across the windshield like we see

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in a lot of competitor's models.

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The helm seat is double wide with

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separate cushions and bolsters.

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I'd like to see a single set all the way across.

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With the helm centered mounted, we're sitting

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in the middle of the 2 cushions.

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I do like that the end is padded, because,

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most often we'll be sitting sideways to keep an

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eye on the lines while trolling.

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<v ->At the stern, to get into the mechanical component,</v>

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I expected the usual open up the bench and there's

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a hatch in the back, but not so on Robolo. Look at this.

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(upbeat music)

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The entire transom opens up for full, unencumbered access

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to the holding tank, pumps, filters,

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bilge pump, all easily accessible.

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Now, we can transition into family features which

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begins right here, with this transom seat 5 feet 2 inches

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across, and notice how easy it was to deploy.

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Plus, it's got an angled backrest to

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get a little bit more comfort.

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Safety is an easy concern. Of course, when you're

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facing forward, you can brace yourself into position,

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and hold on easily enough.

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Of course, there's dual platforms, one to each side, but

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to the starboard side, we also have a pull out swim ladder.

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And, before people come aboard, there's the

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all important freshwater shower.

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Now, while we're talking about family comfort,

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it bears note that there's a couple of creative

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items going on with this console.

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First of all, it's a lot lower so you can see both standing

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and sitting and, the kids will love it.

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But, more to the point, it's on average 18 inches smaller

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than the usual console, so we've

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got more room to walk around.

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Side access is not an issue because Robolo has a patent

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on this door, that allows forward access to the

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head, 22 and a half inches across.

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Inside, we've got a head with a vacuflush toilet,

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lighting, ventilation to the side.

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I also appreciate the towel rack on the back of the door

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because it's convenient for opening and closing.

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(upbeat music)

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We've got the usual seat ahead of the console,

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with ground handles to both sides.

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And this allows easy access to the index storage just

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ahead that's got dedicated space for a 5 gallon bucket.

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Notice that the opening is guttered to keep water away

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from the interior and keep items dry.

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Of course, the bow seating is all

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padded and very comfortable.

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There are seat backs that can go in place if

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you want to go with that option.

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Now is also a good time to talk about

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some of the quality you see here.

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Firstly, notice the double tone to the upholstery,

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custom embroidery, it's triple french stitched with a

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backing along the seam for added strength.

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And this is 36 ounce vinyl. It's among the

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thickest in the industry, and this one has a 10 mil topcoat,

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for stain and UV protection.

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And, of course, the filler cushion turns

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the entire area into a sun pad.

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So, clearly the design team at Robolo has come up with

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a 24 foot center console that's got a lot of

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functionality for fishing, and it easily

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transitions over to family features.

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And that's my look at the Robolo 242.

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For BoatTEST.com, I'm Captain Steve.

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We'll see you on the water.