In today’s world, when it comes to spending money on a luxury item, there is a niche for just about everything these days. Want a car that also has all-wheel drive, a convertible top and gets 30 mpg? No problem. Want a pick up truck that can tow 6,000 pounds, five full sized adults, ford a river, and still manage to have a power moon roof and heated seats? Done. So it should come as no surprise that that same level of choice and options stems into the aquatic arena as well. Boats are considered to be almost exclusively a luxury item in most cases, although there is a strong argument that they are a necessity to those of us born with sea legs. Either way, manufacturers are getting just as creative when it comes to building boats, as their land-going cousins, which brings us to the Tiburon ZX-25.
The Tiburon ZX-25 is a superb flats boat, as evidenced by its remarkably tiny draft of only 6 inches, and equally impressive svelte weight of a mere 1,400 pounds. The propeller runs above the planing surface, so as not to run rough shot over a shallow sea bed. The hull was meticulously designed using CAD/CAM software to channel water up to the propeller without causing excess drag. The ZX-25 can get up to planing speed quickly too, another helpful characteristic of a good flats boat. With a single Evinrude E-TEC G2 motor making a respectable 300-horsepower. This boat can hit nearly 50 mph at around 5,500 rpm, and can cruise nicely at 3,500 rpm at 30 mph which equates to an economical fuel burn of only 9.1 mph and gives it a range of just over 200 mph, conditions permitting of course.
Yet, the Tiburon is not just a flats boat. Interestingly, with a healthy length of 24 feet 8 inches and a beam of 8 feet 6 inches, its size also lends itself to being a very useful bay boat as well. Starting up at the bow, you’ll notice a large casting deck and trolling motor location, as well as a myriad of hatches all looking like a geometry test gone mad. There are two dry storage areas and an anchor locker, while the forward seat actually doubles as a padded cooler to help maximize space.
The console is simple enough, with plenty of room for an infotainment screen, gps screen and audio controls. Below the displays are the requisite fuse switches and throttle controls, along with twin cup holders (also a necessity). The helm has a tilt wheel that makes driving while standing or sitting easily navigable (no pun intended). The large, well bolstered seats are very meaty and feel like your favorite easy chair giving you a hug. They manage to toe the line between sport and soft almost flawlessly. The folding foot rests are well positioned while the back of the seats hide four rod holders and three stainless cup holders, while six additional rod holders sit high along the edge of the T-top. Other smart features are things like lockable rod compartments and you might not notice right away, but the console actually sits up higher off the deck to help give the captain a bit better vantage point when navigating those very shallow waters.
Out back, the stern casting deck again continues the geometric puzzle game with a large padded rear seat that is flanked on either side by two smaller hatches, all three of which open up to reveal plumbed wells, while the two trapezoidal hatches that flank the outboard motor serve to allow for access to the mechanicals below deck. You might not notice it, but that outboard is mounted to a hydraulic jack plate that allows the motor to be raised several inches, to once again help the ZX-25 tiptoe through even the shallowest of water.
So in a world where options are endless, and niche marketing is all the rage, the Tiburon ZX-25 is a more than just versatile, it is full-blown dual option threat. You can take it out on the bay and run it up to top speed and then settle in and inch your way into the most secluded areas of no-mans-land with not a care in the world about anyone else getting in the way, simply because, they couldn’t get back there in the first place. The ZX-25 takes niche to a whole ‘nother level!
