BlackJack 256 Bay | Salt Water Sportsman

BlackJack is a type of well-kept secrets and techniques you’d love to listen to about. BlackJack and Frontier Boats are the 2 manufacturers constructed by K2 Marine, headed up by Invoice and Gary Kenner. Although they’re a regional producer, they’ve been constructing boats hands-on for 70 years. A regional builder in Arkansas, they concentrate on purpose-built, devoted fishing platforms lengthy well-liked with guides and hard-core anglers who need a no-nonsense platform.

The keys to the prowess of BlackJack fashions just like the 256 Bay lie in fishability, efficiency, format and experience. Guides swear by them, and our testing revealed that the 256 is certainly spectacular. With a Mercury 300 Verado V-8 outboard, two aboard and 56 gallons of gasoline, the 256 Bay jumped on airplane in simply 4.5 seconds. A fast airplane is important for backwater angling. In any other case, it could actually the place can imply dragging the gearcase and propeller by the mud.

We clicked off zero-to-30 mph instances in simply 7.3 seconds, hitting a finest high velocity of 46.5 mph at simply 5500 rpm whereas turning a 21-pitch stainless-steel three-blade Mercury Enertia propeller. It’s price noting that the 300 Verado’s working vary is 5200 to 6000 rpm, so it’s possible efficiency may have been even higher (each acceleration and high velocity) had the engine been propped to run extra towards the 6000 rpm degree.

The BlackJack’s hull permits for sluggish planing, staying on airplane all the way down to 17.4 mph. The deep-V forefoot tapers again amidships to a virtually flat-bottom stern. It’s designed for a clean and secure experience mixed with good efficiency within the tough, although the hull is geared in direction of skinny water angling. We examined within the afternoon chop and heavy boat wakes, and we nonetheless had a clean and predictable experience. The BlackJack activates a decent arc with no skipping or sliding, even at a great flip of velocity. The bow rises when the throttle is dropped, but it surely shortly settles out with wonderful visibility throughout.

Finest gasoline mileage is achieved at a great cruise velocity. At 3000 rpm and slightly below 26 mph, we noticed 3.4 miles per gallon (7.6 gph). That provides as much as slightly below 244 miles of vary leaving 10 % of gasoline in reserve. It’ll take a pair days of hitting sizzling spots to empty the usual 80-gallon tank.

The 256’s hull has an outlined Carolina flare ahead within the shearline, which allows tough water working with out wave splash within the cockpit. Giant, strategically positioned lifting strakes present a clear experience mixed with stability and safe footing in tough seas and exhausting turns. Constructed with vacuum-bagged hand-laid fiberglass with foam-filled core and stringers, there’s no wooden within the boat to rot. The BlackJack’s gelcoat end is straight, clear and blemish-free; clearly the plant molds are well-built and meticulously maintained. The rubrail is substantial, with a stainless-steel insert, and put in straight and true with no dips or seen {hardware}.  

The bow contains a alternative of trolling motors, manufacturing unit mounted with through-bolts to the deck for a safe repair. The deck is fitted with a one-inch diameter anodized welded aluminum handrail. A bow anchor locker is flanked by 7-foot rod lockers, with a big heart locker in between. It’s deep for further storage and has a big perimeter lid seal to maintain water out. A ahead 30-gallon livewell, which is insulated and drains overboard, additionally serves as a step as much as the elevated bow platform. All storage and below-deck compartments are totally gelcoat completed and fitted with LED lighting inside, with gasoline shock assists for all lids.

The cockpit format revolves round a center-mounted helm with a ahead inside door for simple entry to the again facet of the dashboard. There’s quite a lot of room contained in the console, sufficient for a transportable marine head that’s provided as an choice. A 75-quart Yeti cooler is floor-mounted simply in entrance of the console. A black powdercoated T-top body surrounds the console, offering shelter for the pilot and navigator. The T-top itself is hand-laid and vacuum-bagged fiberglass, with loads of lighting and storage built-in. Triple vertical rod holders are mounted to every facet of the console, with three extra rod storage pockets per facet tucked into the recessed gunwhales.

The sprint panel affords loads of actual property to mount as much as two screens of the shopper’s alternative. The customized anodized, welded aluminum leaning submit sports activities customized black and gray diamond-stitched upholstery, a backrest and footrest, 4 extra rod holders. Beneath, there’s one other 75-quart Yeti cooler. 

Learn Subsequent: Bay Boat vs. Hybrid

On the stern, the deck steps as much as a big aft casting platform loaded with heart 30-gallon aft livewell and facet storage compartments. The lids for these compartments fold open to disclose jumpseats for crew members if wanted. Aft, there are three extra compartments throughout the strict to entry the bilge wiring and plumbing, hydraulic pump for the optionally available Energy-Pole anchors, and of course-more storage. The Mercury 300 is mounted to a regular Bob’s Machine Store hydraulic setback jack plate and rigged with hydraulic steering. 

BlackJack’s forte is bay and inshore fishing craft constructed to resist the pains {of professional} guides and anglers. Guides and professionals swear by them, not at them. For those who want a no-nonsense platform aimed toward bay and inshore fishing, the BlackJack 256 Bay deserves a glance.

Specs

BlackJack – Knoxville, Arkansas; blackjackboats.com