April 07, 2015
By David Conway
Power, room and workmanship for shallow water fishing.
American Marine Sports of Groveland, Florida has been building boats for more than 30 years, everything from racing boats to bass boats to flats boats. One of the company's brands, Shearwater, has always made bay boats in the 22-foot range, but the 23TE is the new addition to the fleet. It's the go-anywhere inshore and nearshore vessel, built strong for fishing hard in adverse conditions and also accommodating easy-going family trips inshore.
Shearwater 23 TE Specifications:
Length: 22 feet, 6 inches
Beam: 8 feet, 2 inches
Draft: 12 – 13 inches
Max HP: 300 hp
Fuel Capacity: 81 gallons
Hull Weight: 1900 pounds
Deadrise: Variable, 17 degrees at the transom
Retail price with Yamaha 250 SHO is $63,900
AMS Shearwater
20150 Independence Blvd.
Groveland, Florida 34736
(352) 429-8989
www.americanmarinesports.com
The 23 TE has the same basic build as the Shearwater LTZ but with different features and finishing. The LTZ is the Luxury version, and has a variety of features for comfort, including hardtop, stereo, lights, cushions, but the 23 TE is the one for the hard fishing guy—it's the Tournament Edition.
It's a top performing boat in its class, with its construction of high-strength, closed-cell foam injected between outer and inner fiberglass hulls, for a better cushioned and quieter ride in rough conditions. At the Yamaha media event in Sanibel in June, we checked a 23 TE rigged with a Yamaha 250 SHO (Super High Output), but the boat will take 150 hp to 300 hp. The 200 to 250 SHOs are the most popular engine for the vessel, says Nils Ackerbloom of Shearwater. With that power package, the 23 TE will run at about 62 m.p.h., fully loaded. These are shallow water boats with a lot of power from their Yamaha motors, says Nils, meant for versatile fishing applications.
“The Yamaha 250 SHO is a great package for our boat, whether you're a weekend angler or a redfish tournament circuit guy. It's also a great family boat for weekends at the sandbar with the wife and the kids. Just pop down the Power-Pole and you're set.
“The engine will get you up on plane in about 3 or 4 seconds, and you're off. It's one of the lightest motors out there for its power, and it's a four-stroke. It's fuel efficient, and it gives you everything you could get in a two-stroke but in a four-stroke package.”
Shearwater puts a lifetime structural warranty on its hulls and a five-year stem-to-stern warranty on its construction.
Deluxe console with plenty of room for flush mounted electronics.
The front deck is a great fishing platform, with mounting and prewiring for the trolling motor. The forward casting deck is spacious, wide and unobstructed.
The step up deck makes the transition a bit more gradual for anglers.
There's sizeable anchor storage and a spacious front storage box, open here, all fully finished fiberglass inside and out, with gasket seals. All of the storage compartments are locking.
The two, 10-foot rod lockers and rack system will hold six rods on each side.
Front console seating, with cooler. Console has handrail, windshield, rod holders.
Leaning post with room for cooler underneath. Self-bailing cockpit.
Fishing platform in the back with removable cushion for seating option.
Livewells—45 gallon main release well and a 25 gallon rear baitwell. All the Shearwater boats come with two livewells standard, and the LTZ has three livewells.
Great holeshot, powerful and fast. Hydraulic jackplate with recessed trim tabs.
Bilge access.
All the pumps are on interchangeable connectors, so changing them out is a simple, quick fix if you're traveling away from your home dealer.
The Shearwater family of boats are handsome vessels with guaranteed craftsmanship proven by the test of time.
