The 177 XSS is the smallest boat in Scout’s bay boat line, and it is built to the same standard as the yard’s larger hulls. At 17 feet 7 inches with a 7 foot 3 inch beam, it draws roughly ten inches, which opens up the shallow water where inshore fishing actually happens. The flared bow deflects spray and keeps the cockpit dry when the run home turns choppy.
Scout builds the 177 XSS in Summerville, South Carolina, and fits as standard a number of items that competitors sell as options: an integrated 20 gallon fuel tank, stainless steel flush mount rod holders, a battery switch, a bilge pump, and a sport seat with backrest that takes two at the helm. Six vertical rod holders sit within reach of the cockpit.
Power is a single Yamaha outboard, with the F70 fitted as standard and the F90 and F115 available. The hull is rated to 115 horsepower. Scout quotes a range of 192 miles on the standard 70, which is a long day afloat for a boat this size on 20 gallons.
For a buyer the appeal is straightforward. This is a serious small fishing platform with a low entry price, a capacity of four, and a dry weight of 1,000 pounds without the engine, so a mid-size vehicle tows it. It suits a first boat, a shallow-water second boat, or a tender for a larger yacht.
