April 16, 2018
By Florida Sportsman Editor
When you consider the staggering variety of boat styles produced over the course of boatbuilding history, builders might find it challenging to design and build something original looking, sporting its own personality. After two years in the design to build process, Bonefish Boat Works has come up with a fresh model that stands out in a crowd. The Malvado 26 is a departure from the typical Bay Boat design. This boat will appeal to serious anglers and cruisers alike. For the boater who demands a high performing, sporty looking ride, the Malvado excels. At the dock during our test days not a single person walked past this boat without questions or comments about her clean racy look. On the water she turned plenty of heads as well. Rather than the more common lowered freeboard and wide deck appearance associated with a Bay Boat, The Malvado lines are more reminiscent of a racy offshore center console with a more compressed gunnel height. The aggressive running surface features six lifting strakes running from the entry point back to the first of two ventilated steps. The twin step design works in tandem with a V-pad center line producing an exceptionally soft and remarkably dry ride. With a 350 HP Mercury Verado it was evident that this is a boat that wants to run. The boat cruised restlessly at 25-30 MPH (@3000 RPM) was much happier at 40 MPH (3800-4000 RPM) and was incredibly well behaved at speeds up to 60 MPH (5100 RPM) with plenty of throttle left unused.
The Malvado also posted some impressive fuel economy numbers at the Mercury testing facility achieving 4.1 MPG at 33-MPH and 3.32 MPG at 45-MPH on a full tank of fuel. The boat was extremely responsive and dug hard into the turns never losing her grip at any speed. I felt at times like I was testing a racing boat but the Malvado is a fishing boat at heart.
Set up in the Hybrid Layout with a recessed cockpit from amidships aft to the closed transom, this is a boat you'll feel comfortable in away from land. The foredeck offers a flush casting surface for inshore angling and rigged with a bow mounted trolling motor and PowerPole combo is at home sneaking around docks and jetties or mangrove shorelines. The two stage deck forward, features comfortable seating at the lower level that reveals an insulated fish box large enough for offshore duty. An additional cast net locker below the deck offers more storage ahead of the console. A forward seat on the center console sits above a 20-gallon live well. The rear cockpit is open behind a two person leaning seat and offers matching flip up jump seats in the corners. The transom casting/deck is large enough to fish from easily and a 45-gallon live well located in the transom provides more than enough capacity for a boat this size. This boat is designed to run and gun with a half tower/ second station but is fully customizable. For the boater who wants a serious fishing platform to pull double duty both inshore and offshore/near coastal, this rig will get your attention. For the fisherman who also likes to show off at the sand bar and doesn't like to get to the hot spot second, you too will not be disappointed.
26 Malvado Specifications:
Length: 25 feet 6 inches
Beam: 8 feet 5 inches
Draft: 13 inches
Deadrise at Transom: 14-Degrees
Max Horsepower: 557
Fuel: 74-92-Gallons
Base MSRP: $87,231.00 w/250 HP Mercury Optimax
The 26 Malvado sports a forward casting deck offering lots of real estate to move around on.
The two level foredeck hides room beneath large enough for a seriously offshore capable insulated fish box and plenty of dry storage for extra gear.
Boat Review - Bonefish Boatworks Malvado 26
The forward console seating hides a backup 20-gallon well for long days live baiting.
You’ll find space beneath the gunnels capable of fly rod storage trimmed out in SeaDek adds dock appeal and convenience.
Long wet storage compartments flank the center console adding even more storage solutions.
A console interior large enough to easily access helm systems and wiring provides added storage with room enough to add a head if necessary.
A clean vertical dash face sports blackout background and easy head up view ability.
This Classic Leaning Post design trimmed out to match the sport interior accommodates a large performance cooler/drink box nicely.
The aft fish deck combines sunken cockpit with raised casting deck for a nice balance of offshore/inshore capabilities.
The raised area aft features twin Large comfortable jump seats to Port and Starboard and a 45-gallon live well at center.
Storage for six offshore rods alongside the console to Starboard offer ready access to back-up tackle.
