Scout 240 XSF Boat Review

Scout Boats has long been a leader in center console boat design, and its all-new Scout 240 XSF raises the bar with comfort amenities like heads, plush upholstery, and more refined interior appointments. Stretching just a few inches shy of 24 feet in overall length, the Scout 240 XSF is a “right-sized’ family runabout, being spacious enough for a family yet still easy to tow and launch.

It’s impossible to not be impressed with the new Scout’s generous freeboard and ample interior depth, along with the full-sized fiberglass T-top with its elegant powder-coated frame and full, three-sided glass windshield – a standard feature on the 240 that’s typically a pricey upgrade on competing boats.

A retractable transom bench provides comfortable seating on the way to the fishing spots, then folds neatly out of the way for more space when you arrive.

There’s also the smooth gunnel top with its six retractable, pop-up cleats that stow out of sight when they’re not being used, to avoid snagging fishing lines or jabbing unwary hands. But perhaps the biggest eye-opener is right at the back, where the Scout 240 XSF includes a full-width swim platform, complete with a retractable stainless steel boarding ladder.

Entry into the cockpit is through a transom door on the starboard side of the swim platform.

Useful amenities like an aerated bait well integrated right into the transom set the Scout apart. Note the use of retractable cleats, to avoid snagging fishing lines.

For a 24-foot boat, the Scout 240 XSF is amazingly spacious inside, with a larger cockpit than one might expect. Part of that is to allow space for the fold-down bench seat that’s concealed in the transom just ahead of the engine, providing comfortable seating on the way to the fishing or diving spot then stowing away upon arrival to leave more room in the cockpit for the day’s activities.

The standard floor treatment in the 240 XSF is fiberglass non-skid, and that speaks to the boat’s low maintenance ideal. The cockpit is fully self-draining, meaning that any water which does make its way onboard (most often in the form of rain) simply runs down the deck and out of the boat through a pair of stainless steel floor drains. This capability also makes the 240 super-easy to clean at the end of the day – just use the included washdown hose to spray the boat down and walk away.

The bow seating area is very well appointed with comfortable upholstery, stainless steel drink holders and a couple of stereo speakers. There’s loads of storage space for gear in the seat bases, accessed by simply lifting the lids.

Up front in the bow, a double-wide, forward-facing lounge seat on the front face of the center console offers plenty of comfort with its integrated arm rests, along with plenty of room to stretch out in pure, unadulterated relaxation. There’s also a large cooler in its base, accessed by lifting up the seat cushion.

Facing it is a U-shaped, wrap-around bow seat where a couple of adults can put their feet up facing aft, creating a wonderful spot for conversation over drinks or lunch. Removable back rests that install in the aft end of the bow loungers allow them to be used for forward-facing seating, or the whole area can accommodate a larger group seated hot tub-style. The arrangement is incredibly versatile, and that’s a big part of this boat’s appeal.

The console face seat houses a large insulated cooler in its base, with drainage.

The bow of the Scout 240 XSF also accommodates a pair of weatherproof, six-inch speakers connected by the standard Fusion stereo, providing audiophile-quality sound with full Bluetooth streaming capability. Kudos to Scout for going high-end on the stereo here, since it adds so much to the experience.

The bow also features a couple of drink holders, plus storage space beneath the seat cushions. One of these compartments features a drain with an overboard pump, allowing it to be used as a convenient bow cooler, or as a fish box for the catch of the day. There’s also a low profile, split railing up front, providing seated passengers with a little more security when underway.

The stylish helm includes loads of space for a large flush-mount display while still allowing an oversized glove box that’s big enough for binoculars.

The primary focal point on any center console boat is that central console, of course, and this is where Scout’s imaginative engineering truly shines. The 240 XSF makes full use of that space with an integrated, private head compartment. That’s quite a feat of engineering for a boat of this size, but the 240 XSF is a boat designed to raise eyebrows.

The console itself is quite stylish, with its sculpted fiberglass core neatly integrating the powder-coated framework for the overhead T-top. The design gives the 240 XSF a more finished look, where the top is clearly part of the original design rather than a bolt-on accessory. The top comes with integrated overhead lighting, with fishing rod rocket launchers and a gear storage bag for lighter items like PFDs available as optional upgrades.

The aft face of the leaning post offers a handy grab bar, rocket launcher-style rod storage and a couple of drink holders.

Scout’s neatly designed helm features a stainless steel steering wheel with a turning knob and tilt function to port, facing a standard Garmin 943XS touch-screen, multi-function display which can be upgraded to an even larger Garmin 8610 XSV or 8612 XSV display if desired. A central panel of toggle switches provide convenient control over electrical accessories like lights, pumps and such, while to the right side of the helm is a large glove box with a 12-volt power outlet and a pair of USB ports inside, providing a safe spot to not only stow cell phones and other devices, but keep them fully charged.

The driver and their companion enjoy a bit of luxury in the form of Scout’s powder-coated Elite leaning post. The aft face of the seat provides four integrated rod holders, a stainless steel grab handle, three stainless steel drink holders, and a large, removable cooler in its base.

With a 250 horsepower outboard the Scout 240 XSF will cruise like a champ at 30 mph while delivering excellent fuel economy.

The standard engine for the Scout 240 XSF is a Yamaha F250 which will push the 3,655-pound Scout to 50 mph at wide-open throttle, and cruise along like a champ at near 30 mph and 3,500 rpm while delivering excellent fuel economy of 3.6 mpg.

Families on the hunt for a safe, versatile, comfortable and stylish boat that can do just about everything while offering a comfortable ride, great rough water capability and super-easy upkeep should look carefully at the all-new Scout 240 XSF. It’s a boat that’s very easy to like, and very hard to walk away from.