pathfinder 2200 xl te

April 2011
P ATHFINDER 2200 XL TE
By Mike Holliday
What do you do when you have a proven winner—
one of the most versatile hulls in saltwater? You
improve on the foundation by designing a deck
and fishing friendly features that cater to the
serious angler and in particular, the live bait
enthusiast. The XP Tournament Edition is an
expanded version of the Pathfinder 2200 XL, one
of the most popular bay boats ever built. Make no
mistake, this is a live bait barge that follows the
Florida-based tradition of catching massive
volumes of bait in one location, taking them to
the fish in another location, whether that’s on the
flats, in the bay or offshore, and then starting
S PECIFICATIONS
Beam
8’ 06”
Draft*
Fuel Capacity
LOA
Maximum capacities
Maximum HP
Weight (approx. w/ engine)
11”
60 gal
21’ 10”
7 persons or 1,400 lbs
250 hp
2,850 lbs (w F250)
are often wet (and occasionally stinky). If you’re
like me and carry three or four nets at a time, you’ll
be glad to see the extra space and that it drains for
your own feeding frenzy.
easy cleaning.
The 8’ 6” beam, 60 gallon fuel capacity and 250
Port and starboard of the cast net locker are
h.p. maximum horsepower ratings are common
ground with no reason for expansion, but once
you look at the deck configuration you know
there’s more to come. For instance, forward of the
console is a below deck cast net locker with drain,
the perfect place to put nets and other gear that
locking storage boxes with strap down rod holders
and rod tubes that can be utilized for carrying
extra rods up to 9’ in length (including fly rods) or
other gear you’d like to keep below deck and dry.
The advantage of locking rod boxes will allow you
to safely store your rods in the boat at home or on
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Pathfinder 2200 XL TE
the road, which is a great feature if you like to get
anchor hangs suspended with the line below, and
the boat ready for your trip the night before, but
the hatch has a groove for the line so you can feed
leave it in the driveway ready to go in the predawn
more line out without having to open the hatch
hours.
cover.
Raised forward and aft casting decks really
My favorite feature on the Pathfinder 2200 XL
provide a fishing advantage by positioning
Tournament Edition is the aft casting deck, which
anglers higher up so they can see the fish around
features a livewell and release well, which actually
the boat easier and look deeper into the water
spends time doing double duty as second aft
column. It also keeps the angler away from
livewell. These 40-gallon wells will hold more bait
anyone else in the cockpit, while providing an
than you can use in a day, and the main livewell
expansive open area to cast.
center also comes with a recirculating pump
standard, which is a huge advantage when
It’s the attention to detail that really sets these
navigating through water with low oxygen levels or
boats apart from the rest of the bay boat market.
transporting bait from one location to another on
The forward storage compartment on the raised
the trailer. If you do a lot of live bait fishing like
front casting deck is huge, with enough room to
me, you can’t have enough livewell space, but with
carry all your safety gear and any tackle, clothing
95 gallons dispersed across three livewells, it’s
or gear you want on board. You’ll immediately
difficult to go through all the bait you can carry.
notice that all the storage areas are guttered and
gasketed to keep the water out, and have
Three livewells also means you can diversify your
drainage tubes to help channel the water out of
bait options, putting one type of baitfish in one
the area. You just don’t find that feature on a lot
well and a different type in the others. They also
of boats.
come with different sized standpipes, with a small
standpipe for low water volume in the well for
Also on the forward casting deck is a 15 gallon
crustaceans like shrimp and crabs, and a full-sized
livewell for convenience of not having to move aft
standpipe for baitfish.
every time you need another bait and for quick
access to your bait when fishing off the bow.
There’s nothing worse than standing on the front
deck running the trolling motor and having a big
fish swim up with the only available bait in the
back of the boat. Here, you simply reach down,
grab a bait, hook it on and flip it to the fish, all
without taking your eyes off your quarry.
The forward anchor locker holds enough line,
chain and a large enough anchor for fishing
offshore or inshore, and keeps it away from the
other storage areas unlike other boats where the
anchor is bouncing around with your gear. The
Pathfinder 2200 XL TE
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All the livewells are quick release-style 800 gph
The ergonomic console is a mixture of comfort and
pumps with individual plumbing for ease of
style while taking advantage of the space to include
replacement. They take advantage of the below
the most fishing and comfort features possible.
water sea chest system recessed into the running
The forward console seat flips up to allow access to
hull surface which strains and forces water into
a 48 gallon cooler, while the main console door
the livewells when running, yet exposes no
provides access into the console storage which has
hardware that can be broken off.
enough room for trolling motor batteries and
battery charger. In addition, the forward backrest is
Pathfinder Boats spent considerable research time
removable, providing great access to the backside
using dyes to track the water flow inside the
of the helm area including the switch panel and
livewells, and has come up with a livewell system
your flush mount electronics. Four rods can be
that flows water in through both the bottom and
stored in each of the port and starboard rod racks
top of the well, which results in no dead zone
on the sides of the console, and the first time you
areas that don’t get oxygenated or cleaned of
have to run hard in the rain or chop you’ll love the
waste products. The system incorporates a
console windshield and sturdy grabrail.
recessed standpipe with a Plexiglas grate in front
of it which is ported with more and larger holes in
Anyone who spends a lot of time standing when
the bottom of the glass to allow more drainage
boating knows how nice it is to have a cushioned
from the bottom of the livewell where baitfish
leaning post to rest against when running, and this
wastes such as ammonia tend to collect and
one comes with a foot bar, four rod holders and
decrease the efficiency of the livewell to keep
two cup holders. Underneath the seat is a spacious
large volumes of baitfish alive and in top shape.
bucket allowing storage for those items that want
to be kept close at hand like terminal tackle,
Access to the livewell and bilge pumps, along with
rigging materials and pliers. Even nicer is having a
the fuel water separator and four position battery
second cooler on board, this 100 gallon cooler
switch are through the large hatch on the
located underneath the leaning post can be utilized
starboard side of the aft casting deck. If a livewell
as a fish cooler or additional dry storage.
pump goes down, simply close the check valve,
unplug and spin off the pump, plug a new pump
Performance features that come standard on this
in, open the check valve and you’re ready to go,
boat include a jackplate (and blinker style control),
often quickly enough that you don’t lose the baits
hydraulic steering and 12-inch electric trim tabs.
in your livewell.
There’s also additional features that you’ll find
standard on the Pathfinder 2200 XL tournament
Edition, like flush mounted cleats (including a set
of spring cleats), four gunwale mounted rod
holders, backing plates built into the deck for
mounting a trolling motor or T-top. The self
bailing cockpit really stands out whenever you get
water in the boat, whether wanted or unwanted or
even when cleaning up after a long day on the
water.
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Pathfinder 2200 XL TE
For those that want to trick out their Pathfinder
the hull on this boat. It eats up the chop when
and make it even more fishing and family
running, has an 11 inch draft, and is the same
friendly, there’s the optional swim/dive
no wood no rot construction that has made
platform for convenience of getting in and out
Pathfinder a household name among boaters
of the boat, a leaning post tackle station for
and fishermen. With all these fishing and family
storing your gear, aft deck seating with backrest
features, you can spend the morning fishing like
and cushions and the professional fisherman
a hardcore pro then grab the family and head
upgrade that includes a battery charger and
for the sandbar in the afternoon. Whatever you
eight foot Power Pole Shallow Water Anchoring
decide to use this boat for, the Pathfinder 2200
System.
XL Tournament Edition will get you and your
baits where you want to go safely, comfortably
There’s not much that needs to be said about
and efficiently.