Let’s go fishing! That’s the unmistakable message delivered by the Dusky 33 center console open, especially one equipped with the innovative Geared Up propulsion system that marries an electronically controlled 480 hp Yanmar Turbodiesel to twin Mercruiser Bravo I sterndrives. This provides a unique combination of performance, reliability and fuel economy.

The open layout of the boat and its 10-foot, 10-inch beam ensures that serious anlgers will always have the room they need to win the battles they plan to fight. The totally clear stern will be appreciated when the big one is on your line. The center console houses a compartment that is more than adequate for a marine toilet, while providing a significant amount of stowage for the wealth of things that inevitably find their way on board any well-used fishing boat. Additional stowage is available in compartments forward of the console and under the deck aft.

Center console boats of this type are typically powered with a pair of powerful outboards, for example, Evinrude E-Tec 250s. A boat fitted with these engines will cruise at about 30-33 miles per hour at 4500 to 4800 rpm in relatively smooth water, delivering between 1.0 and perhaps 1.2 miles per gallon of fuel. At trolling speeds between 8 and 10 mph expect to average about 2 mpg. The Geared Up Yanmar Turbodiesel boat we tested delivered 2.43 mpg at 32.5 mph, a 2:1 fuel economy advantage when compared with the gasoline fueled engines. The diesel power package delivered 1.87 mpg even when running wide open at 40 mph. Running at 8 mph the Geared Up boat delivered 5.71 miles for each gallon of diesel fuel.

The innovative use of diesel power in a boat of this type is made possible by the relatively light weight of the combination of the Yanmar engine, the Geared Up drive and the Bravo I sterndrives. The total weight of the diesel power system, only 800 pounds more than the twin outboard installation, is more than offset by the diesel’s better than 2:1 fuel economy advantage. For instance, a full, 260-gallon load of gasoline weighs 1,560 pounds. The diesel powered boat can carry less than 130 gallons (910 pounds) of fuel to more than match the range of the gas fueled boat. Account for the miserly fuel appetite of the diesel when trolling and it’s likely that the maximum fuel load for most trips will be less than 100 gallons, making the boat lighter than the outboard powered version and further enhancing the fuel economy advantage.

The boat we tested was fitted with a 440 hp Yanmar 6LY2 engine, driving the twin Bravo I sterndrives through the Geared Up system’s precision gear boxes. The latest version of this engine, the 6LY3-ETP delivers 480 hp and will boost the top speed by a few miles per hour. Power controls consist of a single throttle and twin shift controls, one for each of the Bravo drives. The vectored thrust delivered by the twin outdrives delivers outstanding maneuvering performance. The straight tracking hull shape and the option of shifting one drive into neutral while proceeding on the other, precisely and positively controlling direction by steering the operating drive, takes the challenge out of the dead slow maneuvering required in many crowded harbors.

A successful offshore fishing boat must be able to cope with substantial seas while proceeding at the maximum safe speed allowed by conditions. The Dusky’s hull design, with a deadrise forward of 35 degrees, transitioning to 25 degrees amidships and 20 degrees aft, coupled with its bare hull weight of 6,700 pounds delivers a solid, safe and controlled ride. It’s important to note that the actual weight of our very well equipped test boat was 11,500 pounds.

The boat was comfortable at all speeds and cut through the substantial wake of a passing motoryacht with aplomb, other than thoroughly soaking Richard Mastry, our host for the trial runs. The helm station provides more than adequate space for the engine gauges, power levers, and trim switches for the drives and electronics. An optional overhead electronics compartment integrated in the T-top houses the VHF radio and a GPS chart plotter.

The Yanmar 6LY2 was installed immediately abaft the center console, an ideal position both with regard to weight distribution and access. An electrically lifted hatch assembly supports the twin helm seat, and when open provides excellent access to the engine for all routine checks. If desired, the entire hatch is easily removed to provide unobstructed access to the engine compartment. The well gasketed seal between the hatch and the coaming that surrounds the engine hatch is very effective in reducing engine noise.

The company that produces the Geared Up system produces more than 60,000 high-performance gearboxes per year. The drive’s sealed gearboxes are both highly efficient and very durable, requiring a change in their synthetic lubricant only after 1,000 hours. The gearboxes are cooled with top and bottom mounted external cold plates rather than the water/oil heat exchangers used in conventional gear cooling systems. This technique eliminates the possibility of lubricant contamination that can occur from the failure of a conventional oil / water heat exchange cooling system. The entire drive system is installed on a rugged aluminum mounting base to ensure precise alignment of the components.

The bottom line is that the combination of the diesel engine and twin sterndrives delivers a very “fishable” boat that is ideally suited for the type of fishing found when running from Florida to the Bahamas and to similar distant fishing grounds. A typical fishing expedition from Florida to Bimini in the Bahamas, a run of about 70 miles, would require about 77 gallons of gasoline in a Dusky powered with twin 250 hp E-Tec outboards. The Yanmar Geared Up powered boat will consume less than 29 gallons of diesel fuel. Once fishing begins the fuel economy advantage of the diesel Dusky becomes even more apparent. Overall, the combination of the Dusky 33 Open and the Yanmar diesel driven Geared Up drive system deliver an outstanding package of performance, reliability, durability and operating economy.

PERFORMANCE TEST REPORT Dusky 33 Open

Test results for the 440 hp
BASE PRICE $136,999 w/480 hp Yanmar Diesel
ENGINE.. ..Yanmar 6LY2 440hp
FUEL..........50 (holds 250 gal)
TRANS..........Bravo I Merc I/O
WATER..................10 gallons
PROP.....Mercury S/S Maximus
15 5/8 x 26 5 blade
Idle to 2500 in 5.5 seconds
Idle to 3000 in 6.5 seconds
700 rpm = 0. 2 gph @ 4.8 mph
800 rpm = 0.6 gph @ 5.8 mph
900 rpm = 0.7 gph @ 6.4 mph

Test results for the 440 hp
BASE PRICE $136,999 w/480 hp Yanmar Diesel
ENGINE.. ..Yanmar 6LY2 440hp
FUEL..........50 (holds 250 gal)
TRANS..........Bravo I Merc I/O
WATER..................10 gallons
PROP.....Mercury S/S Maximus
15 5/8 x 26 5 blade
Idle to 2500 in 5.5 seconds
Idle to 3000 in 6.5 seconds
700 rpm = 0. 2 gph @ 4.8 mph
800 rpm = 0.6 gph @ 5.8 mph
900 rpm = 0.7 gph @ 6.4 mph