Yeah, size does matter. At least, it does when it comes to center console fishing boats that you’ll want to run in snotty seas and open oceans. But size isn’t everything. The way a boat’s built has a huge impact on how it handles rough seas, and that’s exactly what sets an Edgewater apart from its competition.

edgewater 34 cc running
The Edgewater 34 CC is designed to crush the waves, and keep you comfy while doing so.

If you’ve read any of our previous reviews of Edgewaters, you’ll recognize the term “SPI.” That stands for single-piece infusion, which in a nutshell, vacuum-infuses the hull and high-density foam-cored stringer grid to form one single piece of mega-fiberglass, with the optimal glass-to-resin ratio. Edgewater claims that this allows them to hit an ideal 63.5-percent to 36.5-percent ratio, while open molding results in more like 40-percent to 60-percent. We can’t vouch for their numbers, but we know one thing for sure: at 11,800 pounds of displacement (with a pair of Yamaha F425s hanging on the transom), their 340 CC weighs around 10-percent less than most boats its size. But when the bow meets a wave at a relatively spectacular cruising speed of 42 mph (top end: 58.8) you can expect to hear a solid ker-chunk rather than the vibration-inducing drumming sound of so many other boats.

What about other aspects of the 340 CC’s construction? Rails and hardware are all 316-grade stainless-steel, wiring is tinned-copper, hatches are gasketed and swing open on gas-assist struts, the windshield is tempered glass, and lights are LEDs. The only complaint we can come up with is that the underwater lights are blue, and die-hard night anglers know that green attracts the baitfish better. We’d say swap ‘em out.

Speaking of die-hard angling: flush-mount rodholders line the gunwales and transom; the hard top supports six rocket launchers; the leaning post houses a slide-out cooler, rigging station, and tackle drawers; the forward in-deck fishbox holds 155 gallons; and the transom livewell holds 32 gallons and is fed by dual 2000-gph pumps. Fresh and raw water washdowns, cockpit toe rails, and a port side dive door are all standard features. More surprisingly, this boat offers a few of the perks usually seen only on larger models. Locking rod lockers are also on the list, and the anchor locker has a freshwater washdown so you can spritz off the hook before snugging it against the stainless-steel roller and strike plate.

There’s also a bunch of frou-frou stuff you can get, just in case you want to do some cocktail cruising instead of fishing (shame on you). A Sure Shade, bow table, and electric grill are all options. One comfort-giving option we’d recommend getting is the Seakeeper. While it may seem like a luxury at first glimpse, the fact of the matter is that you’ll be so much more comfortable on the boat that you’ll last longer before feeling tired, and your fishing trips will be extended.

You say you want to fish the Bay even when the breeze is up, and you want to run your boat down to the beach for some offshore action as well? Then we say have at it and get yourself an Edgewater 340 CC. Just remember that we’re waiting for the invite, okay?

Edgewater 340 CC Specifications

LOA – 33’4”

Beam – 10’6”

Displacement – 11,800 lbs.

Draft (min.) – 2’2”

Fuel Capacity – 340 gal.

Max. Power – 850 hp

Area Dealers – Annapolis Yacht Sales, Annapolis, MD, (410) 267-8181; Stevensville, MD, (410) 941-4847; Deltaville, VA, (804) 776-7575.