The following review was written by John Page Williams, Editor-at-large, Chesapeake Bay Magazine. John, senior naturalist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, has been a regular contributor to Chesapeake Bay Magazine for 30 years, specializing in environmental issues, nature, wildlife, fishing and boats. He has been testing new and used boats for the magazine's Time-Tested and New Boat News departments since 1998.

JANUARY 2011

Length overall  20' 10" Beam  8' 4" Deadrise 19 degrees Draft  15" (engine up) Weight 1,980 lb Fuel 65 gal Base Price $43,756 with Yamaha 150

Scout's new 210 XSF is the latest take from this innovative company on how to build a competent, attractive 21-foot center-console. It's truly family-friendly but still has the tools to handle hardcore fishing. Consider the console's front seat and the bow casting deck. The console seat is a cushioned double settee with arms, covering a dry storage locker and a fishbox with a drain and macerator. The bow casting deck is large enough for throwing a cast net, with an insulated cooler below for icing down water bottles and soda cans. Lift the deck's lid and it becomes a picnic table for folks on the settee. Other family-friendly features include a head compartment in the console that is truly large enough for adults and a full-width transom seat.

Meanwhile, the center of the transom seat folds down or comes out so the wave gate can fold down to form a stern casting deck. The port stern quarter holds a livewell, while the leaning post rocket launcher, (optional) T-top, transom and starboard hull side together can hold 15 rods. The 210 XSF runs very well with Yamaha's tough, efficient F150 four-stroke. Our test boat handled well in short 2- to 3-foot seas at speeds of 20 to 30 mph, with a top end of 46 mph, and the windshield stayed impressively dry in this nasty chop. Scout Boats, Summerville, S.C., 843-821-0068, www.scoutboats.com.