There's no better way to test a new boat than with new owners ' especially if those owners have just traded up from a different manufacturer's model. Boating World recently had a chance to hop aboard Chad and Cassandra Goodwin's shakedown cruise of their new Scout 260 Sportfish, and then followed up with the Brunswick, Georgia, family two months later, after they'd had a chance to really break in the Scout. The couple is pleasant and welcoming ' but when it comes to boating, each has their own idea about what works and what doesn't. Because Chad is an avid fisherman, he has definite ideas about what's necessary for a fishing boat ' and he isn't the least bit shy about sharing them. Cassandra, on the other hand, would rather be using the boat for cruises on the waters around their home. Family and fishing: Although a lot of boat brands claim to deliver both, the compromise is often a troubled marriage of opposing features. Can both really come together on this new Scout?

Goodwin had used his previous boat, a top-brand 22-foot bay boat, to fish every inshore tournament that he could in the waters near Brunswick. He loved the no-compromise fishing features of the boat, and that it could get through rough waters to distant flats on days when other boats had to stay home. His vessel's eight-inch draft let him explore areas that others could only dream about. He liked that there weren't grabrails behind the seats (no obstacles when he needed to move around the cockpit, though this left Cassandra reaching for air whenever the boat hit a rough spot). Cassandra says she liked the boat, but you get the sense that she had no regrets when they traded it in for the Scout.

When Boating World visits the Goodwins on Little Satilla River, they'd owned the boat all of two days. Cassandra is ecstatic about the deep freeboard of the Scout (about 37 inches high amidships and 26 inches toward the transom) and the fact that she can sit down on the seat in front of the console on more than an Igloo cooler. Chad also likes many of the features on the Scout (including several of its key selling points), even though he has some trouble maneuvering the twin 150-hp 4-stroke Yamahas after driving a single outboard for many years.

Sitting at the Goodwins' dock, Boating World takes an immediate shine to the 26-footer. The bow's Carolina flair and its color ''fighting-lady yellow' ' certainly give it a classy look, without being 'over the top.' During the three-hour cruise in the local waters on the Brunswick River and ICW, the Scout handles well (alas, no fishing and no rough water) and feels extremely solid during wake-crossings. The twin Yamaha 4-strokes are just the right amount of power for the 260, giving it a top end of 49.6 in the one-foot chop, but without bogging down the transom. Although the Goodwins' model has twin 150-hp Yamahas, the 260 Sportfish is equipped to handle up to 350 hp. Chad likes the fact that his boat has a 15-inch draft, allowing him to get into fairly shallow waters in the tributaries and wetlands for trout fishing. It'd never be able to get into shallows like his former bayboat, but it's better than most other boats in its class.

The 260 is more than a looker ' as Chad (and this writer) discover during an extensive walk-through of the boat. In fact, one of the reasons he bought the boat was because of the raised foredeck, which measures 52 inches by 76 inches and sits 10 inches higher than the rest of the cockpit. 'This makes a great casting deck for bait,' says Chad, noting that many other boats use a flush deck with a narrow forward step ' which could be an ankle-sprainer if a wave happens to knock you backward. The Scout has a broad upper step, too, that measures 20.5 inches by 58.25 inches, and if the water's very calm, the bow (34.75 inches by 63.25 inches) would make a good sight-casting platform. The boat's dimensions are evidence that Scout is definitely catering to fishermen. But Chad, thinking of his wife, had a huge cushion made for the foredeck ($300) to turn it into a massive sunpad. Scout: Take note, this could be a great family option.

Chad also had four rod holders installed in the forward gunwales (there are four other standard rod holders on the aft gunwales) so he could fish tournaments with multiple rods. His boat came loaded with options, including the bait-prep station with a 55-gallon baitwell, four rod holders and two cupholders. The baitwell has a clear plexiglass top (so you can see baitfish without having to raise the hatch) and a stainless-steel grabrail. Again, it's clear the fisherman comes first. The starboard side features another 27-gallon livewell and a freshwater sink (15-gallon system) in the gunwale. On the opposite gunwale is a 60-gallon fishbox.

The Scout has a barebones layout without compromising on features. The seat in front of the helm station doubles as a cooler with drain. The two in-floor fishboxes (120 quarts and on gas-assisted shocks) are insulated, and there's even storage in the center box compartment. (Its rubber latches, although effective as anti-toe-stubbers, seem inferior to stainless-steel latches, however.) Coaming runs all the way around the cockpit ' a nice touch that gives the interior a classy look.

The standard T-top, an 85-inch-high and 85.75-inch-wide structure, puts a capital 'T' in T-top. Besides the height it gives (no stooping required), there's a nice sense of protective space beneath the wide top. Plus, it allows for a 30.75-inch-wide, 13.5-inch-deep electronics box overhead. Chad opted for a powder-coating finish to give it an extra-fine look.

As mentioned, the boat is a pleasure to drive in calm water, which can be attributed to the power knobs on the stainless-steel wheel, its hydraulic steering, easy-view gauges, twin drink holders and a clever side chart drawer. The console also has space (in addition to the overhead electronics box) for electronics displays, and Chad even has a cover that lifts over the electronics, so he doesn't have to worry about weather damage or theft. A radio/CD player with four speakers is standard.

Overall, you sense the 'wide-open' in every space throughout the boat, even though it's only a 26-footer. The console underneath measures 35 inches by 39 inches, with 64 inches of headroom. The Goodwins' model has the optional porcelain toilet, holding tank and macerator. Trim tabs, internal cockpit lights and optional outriggers complete the package.

'I've always heard of these so-called 'family fishing boats,' but never knew what that really meant,' says Chad. 'Now, I do.' So does Cassandra. Chad says that after only a month of having the boat, he can't 'get her out of it.' She has organized cruises with the neighbors, and loves to spread out on the foredeck with her family. When Chad took the Scout offshore for the first time, he was impressed with the ride ' even in the three- to five-foot seas. 'I wasn't sure what to expect,' he says. 'There were other boats this size that were turning back. We got out near the Gulf Stream, about 90 miles away, and felt really comfortable. It rode like a much bigger boat.' The boat has what Scout calls a 'Nu-V3 hull,' which translates into a sharp entry, wide beam aft for lateral stability, and a 20-degree deadrise at the transom.

After making his purchase, Chad wondered if he'd made a mistake in passing up the special 'Guy Harvey Limited Edition' package, which includes the same options list as his boat, but with a special-edition fish graphic on the side and a blue color. But when he came across a boater from New Jersey, he was convinced he had made a good choice. 'At first, I thought he was lost and asking for directions,' said Chad. 'As it turns out, he wanted to know what kind of boat I had because he wanted to buy one for himself. You can't get a better compliment than that.'