Scout calls the 281 XSS its flagship bay boat, and the construction earns the title. Hull, deck and hardtop superstructure are epoxy-infused with carbon fiber and e-glass, which is how a 28 foot boat carries 126 gallons of fuel, a 600 horsepower rating and two full casting decks while still drawing 19 inches.
The fishing brief is unambiguous. Large casting platforms sit fore and aft, dual stern bait and fish boxes are built in, rod storage runs the length of the boat, and dedicated fender lockers keep the cockpit clear of the gear that usually ends up underfoot. Beam is 9 feet 4 inches, wide enough that two anglers can work the bow without negotiating for space.
Fifteen and a half degrees of deadrise is a deliberate compromise: enough to take a chop on the run out, flat enough to hold the boat steady once it stops. Bridge clearance to the top of the T-top is 7 feet 8 inches, and dry weight without engines is 5,457 pounds.
Scout documents the Mercury 400 V10, the 425 V10 and the 450R on this hull, and quotes 315 miles of range on the 425. For a buyer looking at a large center console but unwilling to give up shallow water, the 281 XSS is the model that removes the choice. It is built in Summerville, South Carolina, on the same line as the yard’s 40 and 50 foot boats.
