WEBVTT - This file was automatically generated by VIMEO

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The following opinions are solely those

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of BoatTEST.com and it's test captain.

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Hi, Captain Steve for BoatTEST.com.

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and today we're taking a look at a brand new boat from Robalo

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designed to serve as a crossover

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between family fun and weekend fishing.

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It's the dual console Robalo R207.

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Boarding is from either swim platform

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and then stepping onto non-skid platforms created

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by the folded down aft seats.

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Once on board, the seats quickly convert

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to four across seating with storage underneath two of them.

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The R207 serves as a crossover boat. Family

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fun is easy on any boat,

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and that picture's completed here

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with an optional ski tow frame surrounding the outboard

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and a wakeboard tower with kneeboard holder

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as seen here on her bigger sister, the R226.

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This, in addition to the large sole storage locker.

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As for fishing features,

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the open cockpit measures 3' by 6'

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with padded bolsters to either side.

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Toe rails are just below the under gunnel rod

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storage. Rod holders are in the cap rails

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with the aft rod holders doubling as drink holders.

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Two self draining coolers behind the bucket

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seats also serve as fish boxes,

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and a third is in an insulated compartment in the bow.

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A 13-gallon aerated LiveWell is underneath the center

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of the aft bench seat.

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With the bow cushions removed,

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the entire foredeck becomes a wraparound casting platform

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with storage underneath the seats

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and the entire deck is fully fiberglass lined

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for easy hose down cleanups.

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The port console lends itself more to storage

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because it's a bit cramped,

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but it can be converted to a head

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by adding an optional porta-potty.

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This is somewhat unusual in a 24,

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but it's one of the details that make this a family boat.

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The helm console is completely uncluttered thanks to the use

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of dual optional Yamaha command link multifunction gauges

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that serve as the only information display

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in the panel. There's a space to the right

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to accommodate an optional GPS.

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The five spoke stainless wheel is mounted to a tilt base.

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The walkthrough between the two consoles measures 19"

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and a door in the helm console opens to serve as an air dam

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below the closed windshield.

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The bow was a little cramped but served its purpose.

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My legs stretched forward to the wraparound bolster.

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Stainless steel rails serve as comfortable grab handles,

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but speakers are side mounted into the bulkheads.

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Additional storage is under the aft seats.

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A hatch in the foredeck covers an anchor locker

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that is self-training, and anchor keepers are

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to either side of the opening.

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Our Robalo R207 had a length overall of 20' 7",

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a beam of 8'4"

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and a draft of 30". With an empty weight

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of 3,400 pounds, 40 gallons of fuel,

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and two people on board,

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we had a test weight of 4,060 pounds.

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With a 150 horsepower Yamaha four stroke,

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turning a 19 inch salt water series two propeller,

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we reached the top speed at 6,000 RPM

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of 42.2 miles per hour.

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At that speed, fuel burn was measured

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to be 16 gallons per hour, giving us a range of 142 miles.

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Best cruise came in at 3,500 RPM and 24.5 miles per hour.

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That reduced the fuel burn to 5.6 gallons per hour,

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and the 207 could keep that speed up for nine hours

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and 36 minutes and 236 miles while still

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maintaining a 10% reserve.

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We had a quick time to plane of 3.8 seconds,

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Continued accelerating to 20 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds,

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and we reached 30 miles per hour in 9.2 seconds.

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The R207 was a fun boat to drive.

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She had a firm feel thanks

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to the standard SeaStar hydraulic steering,

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so there wasn't a lot of cranking

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and banking going on. That firm

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steering will also have an effect at the dock,

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make approaches slow because cranking the wheel from one

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side to the next is not something that happens quickly.

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She has high top sides

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and a wide flared bow, qualities

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that would make her a good offshore boat.

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She also has a cockpit that's 28" deep. On plane,

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she throws water well out to the sides,

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which creates a dry ride.

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Upon accelerating, the bow comes up 11 degrees. Once on plane,

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don't be shy about using the trim

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to get her onto her cruising attitude.

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Adding too much trim results in ventilating the propeller

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as opposed to generating bow oscillation.

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With her built-in fishing amenities,

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optional water sports capabilities,

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and her 42 mile an hour performance,

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I think this dual console serves as a very capable crossover

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between family fun and fishing.

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And since she's a Robalo, affordability is a given.

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That's my full review of the Robalo R207.

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For BoatTEST.com.

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I'm Captain Steve. We'll see you on the water.