Made In North Carolina – Onslow Bay Boatworks
Onslow Bay Boatworks 27 XS inherited the clean lines and proven hull of the 23 TE.
Designing a top quality, semi-custom center console that runs as well as it fishes was at the forefront of Hampstead boatbuilder Brad Knightâs mind when he created the Onslow Bay 20 six years ago, and itâs still Onslow Bay Boatworkâs mission statement as they sit on the cusp of their fourth model, the 32â Offshore.
Knight, whoâs had his hand in the marine industry since he helped his father build boats as a boy, succeeded at his goals with the 20 footer, building a sharp-entry, low-deadrise boat thatâs ideal for many of North Carolinaâs coastal waters, combining the ability to run smoothly into a chop with a miserly draft perfect for many of our shallow inlets and backwaters.
After a brief hiatus from making the 20, Knight has it back in the lineup alongside his 23 TE, 27 XS, and the soon-to-be unveiled 32.
The 23 TE is what put Onslow Bay on the national stage. Knight set out to design the ultimate SKA Class of 23â vessel, and four years after its unveiling, the 23 TE has three Class of 23â Championships and a second place finish notched into its belt.
The 23 TEâs rough water capability and speed combined with its fishability are the factors that have made it the dominant force in the SKAâs small boat competition, and Knight is incorporating all the features that have made the 23 a success into his latest and greatest model.
A Ginsu-sharp 49.5 degree entry and 24 degree transom deadrise are what give the 23 TE its smooth ride in rough water, but numbers like those often translate to a loss in stability at rest, drift, or troll for other center consoles. In designing the 23âs hull, Knight incorporated wide 5 degree reverse chines that stabilize the boat when itâs not running, and teamed with a wide bow flare, it knocks spray down to make the boat not only ride smooth but dry as well.
While the 23 features a flat, level deck for uninhibited fishing, a requirement for many tournament anglers, the 27 is the same hull with the addition of forward seating and storage compartments, making it a more family-friendly model that can still fish with the best.
The Onslow Bay Boatworks 32 Offshore dwarfs the already sizeable 27 XS below in this line drawing of the new model.
The new 32 Offshore expands on the design elements of the 23 and 27, and with a very similar, albeit substantially larger hull, itâs sure to take the now-famous ride of the 23 to a new level.
As mentioned before, the ride isnât the only amazing thing about Onslow Baysâ 23 and 27âthese boats are designed to fish. The 23 features a standard 75 gallons of livewell capacity, satisfying the bait-keeping demands of SKA crews making full-tilt 70+ mile runs in less than ideal conditions. A staggering 1340 quarts of insulated, below-deck storage means anglers can likely even bring the kitchen sink along without a single item cluttering up the deck.
The 23âs level deck is a huge asset for many anglers, but as mentioned, the family-conscious angler may choose the XS forward seating model to accommodate a crew focused more on a relaxing day on the water than on hauling a money fish back to the scales.
In that spirit, anglers ordering the 32 Offshore have the ability to choose from level deck and forward seating models.
The 23/27 boats are rated for a maximum 600 horsepower, and a pair of 300 hp Mercury Verados will push them to nearly 65 mph, but the boats will also run well with a pair of 175âs for the fuel-conscious fisherman.
The new 32âs are rated for anywhere from 600-900 horsepower, and with a running surface tweaked for speed, a pair of 350 hp outboards will give it similar performance to the 600 hp 23/27.
All Onslow Bay boats boast a list of premium materials from cleats to composites far too extensive to be listed in this article, and the list of standard features is tremendous, meaning that anglers are getting a 100% tournament-ready fishing machine before they add the first option to a new Onslow Bay.
Interested readers can find out far more information about Onslow Bay Boatworks at their website, www.onslowbay.net, or discuss a factory tour or demo ride with Brad Knight at (910) 270-3703.
