NauticStar 265 XTS Bay Boat Review

Although they were originally designed for saltwater anglers as a way to bridge the gap between shallow-water flats boats and offshore centre consoles, bay boats have really caught on with saltwater and freshwater anglers alike. Their ability to sneak into super skinny water while still absorbing a healthy chop gives bay boats a lot of appeal, along with their versatile layouts and minimal maintenance requirements. Among the most popular bay boats on the market right now is the NauticStar 265 XTS – the biggest bay model in its extensive lineup.

The company describes the boat as “the beast” and that’s a fairly apt description. This is one boat that’s clearly made for serious fishing, and that’s blindingly obvious from the moment you step onboard.

With its elevated bow and stern casting decks and deep cockpit, the NauticStar’s layout basically screams fishing.

The overall layout of the boat basically screams fishing, with its large elevated stern casting deck, deep central cockpit and expansive, raised bow deck complete with a mounting pad for an electric trolling motor. Comparatively low freeboard makes it a cinch to land fish without a net or gaff, saving room in the boat and making life a bit easier for the fish as well, especially if they’re to be released.

Loads of storage space for gear, a big live well and three jump seats hide within the stern deck.

Beginning at the stern of the NauticStar 265 XTS, six lids in the smooth aft deck open to reveal large storage compartments inboard of each gunnel, one of them complete with a removable 35-quart Yeti cooler. There’s a 42-gallon aerated live well in the center of the deck – one of three live wells onboard – plus three jump seats located along the front edge of the deck, all with surprisingly comfortable upholstery. Flush-mount stainless steel rod holders along each gunnel are a nice touch, as is the provision of arm rests with integrated drink holders between the jump seats.

The removable 35-quart Yeti cooler is a wonderful standard feature.

NauticStar offers an acrylic swim platform with a stainless steel boarding ladder as an option for the 265 XTS, and it’s one upgrade a lot of anglers will likely spring for.

The aft side of the leaning post offers four rocket launchers and a second live well.

The cockpit is fully self-draining, allowing easy end-of-day cleanups and for any overnight rain to simply run out the drains with no bilge pump required. Rod storage in the gunnels is neatly designed, with foam padding along the gunnels to protect pricey gear from scratching.

Helm seats feature pull-down arm rests and pull-up bolsters.

The center console is very much the business office on the NauticStar 265 XTS, and is served by a large leaning post with four rocket launchers and a second 21-gallon live well across the back, plus tackle storage drawers in each side. The helm seat is double-wide with fold-down arm rests and pull-up bolsters for comfort underway.

The helm console offers space for twin 12-inch multi-function displays.

The helm itself is neatly laid out with room up top to accommodate a pair of flush-mount, 12-inch touch-screen displays. The stainless steel steering wheel mounted to the port side of the dash includes a standard turning knob, while to right of the throttle are two drink holders and a double row of back-lit, push-button controls for electrical accessories like the bilge pump, live well pumps, lights and so on.

The Infinity PVR350 stereo with Bluetooth streaming capability comes standard, as does the flush-mount compass. So does the T-top, offering much appreciated protection from the sun or the occasional afternoon shower.

To the right of the throttle are two rows of illuminated switches for electrical accessories.

The big door on the port side of the helm console reveals another surprise in the form of a spacious head compartment.

Overhead the standard T-top houses lighting and more storage space.

One of the nicest features on the NauticStar 265 XTS helm is the acrylic windshield, with its fold-down upper half – a smart design that maintains protection from spray without impeding the driver’s visibility while underway.

The big bow deck conceals a ton of storage space for still more gear. There’s a third live well under the console-face seat.

Up in the bow, that massive elevated casting deck conceals its own surprises in the form of a 43-gallon fish box, tackle storage, rod storage, and storage for bulky items in a big port-side locker.

Facing the bow deck is a console face seat, with yet another live well – in this case a 13-gallon one – located in its base.

With everything closed up the bow deck is huge, with plenty of room for multiple anglers to fish in comfort without bumping elbows.

The NauticStar 265 XTS is well designed to bridge the gap between shallow water and deep water environments. The stepped hull draws just 14 inches of water, allowing this boat to easily navigate even the shallowest back bays, while its 40 degrees of deadrise at the entry point neatly cuts through whitecaps, yielding a surprisingly smooth ride in even sloppy chop.

The 265 XTS is rated to handle outboards of up to 350 horsepower.

Rated to handle outboards of up to 350 horsepower, the NauticStar 265 XTS will hit top speeds in the range of 57 mph with a Yamaha 350 horsepower V8, while planing in under three seconds. Although top speed and planing time with the Yamaha 300 V6 that’s also available are a touch less – about 3.5 seconds to plane and a top speed of around 53 mph – the lighter 300 delivers 3.4 mpg at cruising speeds and 3,000 rpm, while mileage with the bigger V8 drops to 2.6 mpg. In view of the boat’s 74 gallon fuel tank, the 300 might just be the better match in the long run, but NauticStar at least gives buyers the choice.

A 300 horsepower Yamaha V6 delivers top speeds of about 53 mph and planing times under four seconds, with excellent fuel economy of around 3.4 mpg.

Regardless of which engine one opts for, the six-inch Atlas hydraulic jack plate comes standard, allowing drivers to easily dial in the ride for optimal performance and comfort.

NauticStar has long enjoyed a reputation for well designed, well-built boats that do a lot of things well. Its 265 XTS is no exception, and one fiberglass fishing machine that any serious angler has to consider.