Ocean Master 34 Center Console Review

Tell the truth: Don't you feel like you're cheating a little when you step into an air-conditioned salon? It's tough to keep up a Schwarzenegger image when you're lounging on a settee, munching biscuits and Brie off a lace doily, isn't it? Then those guys with their no-frills, pecs-and-biceps open boats roar past you with wind and mackerel scales in their hair. You know they're headed for water you'll never find. Envious? Then you're ready for a truly tough son-of-the-sea like the Ocean Master 34.

Ocean Master 34 Center Console

Nothing Will Shale Loose

This boat has a bottom with a solid, inch-thick running surface of woven roving and biaxial fiberglass. Compare that to the half-inch thickness of most of the competition. And the Ocean Master boasts 5"-wide, all-glass stringers. The inner liner and console are all glassed in, rather than tabbed, bolted or screwed in place. Nothing will shake loose, no matter how roughly it's treated.

The drawback to battleship-strength construction? This heavyweight tips the scales at six tons, almost double the weight of some competitors. If you want strength and a solid ride in rough water, the weight's good. But if you want speed and reduced fuel consumption, weight is bad.

More Cockpit Space For Anglers

The reverse chines on this boat are unique; they extend outward beyond the sides of the boat to create an integral spray rail from bow to transom. The result? We stayed dry despite 20-mph winds. The Ocean Master 34 is also very broad, more than 2' wider than some of its competitors, like the 9'4"-wide Marlin 35, which weighs 8,500 pounds. This translates into more cockpit space in the Ocean Master, which is great when three or four anglers are staggering around hauling blackfins or bull dolphin onboard.

Designed For Hard-Core Anglers

Interior finish is adequate - this boat is clearly designed for hard-core anglers more interested in function than in style. However, the console is huge, with sleeping capacity for two. There's even a portable MSD. In the race for the largest livewell, the 34 wins hands down. It holds 100 gallons, and is fed by a Rule 3800 pump. Your significant other could spend some tub-time in here, if she doesn't mind the mullet scales.

The Real World of Offshore Fishing

Do you want to step out of the salon into the real world of offshore fishing? If you're looking for a no-nonsense fish-fighting machine with Schwarzenegger strength, check out the Ocean Master 34.

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