dashtrash400

Evening everyone. I’ve been looking at boats for a while and these are two that I am trying to decide between. I’m looking at both the 2600 and the 256. Any real pros or cons on one vs the other? Would one be a better inshore nearshore boat vs the other? And lastly resale which would sell faster and hold its value better. Thanks in advanced!

kdenap

bump this one. I think mostly you will get here is brand loyalty on the answers but informational just the same. I know both are good boats might be a toss-up.

dashtrash400

thanks for your feedback. I have to say my opinion feels like the fit finish on the pathfinder is superior to the non skid. But again that’s just an opinion. I wasn’t super impressed by the ride on the pathfinder but I must say it was a very rough day.

wcffish

I have seen the Blackjack 256 Costal and think it has a nice layout with a lot of lower deck walking space. I always felt Pathfinders had to much upper deck and I don’t like always having to fish jumping up and down all day. How did the Blackjack 256 ride in the same conditions. Boat tests in calm water is useless.

dashtrash400

for sure I agree. I have yet to ride on the blackjack have only heard they ride really well. The pathfinder I would say rode ok but still had a slam every now and then. Did feel solid under your feet. I agree and blackjack even has a coastal model with more deck space.

Dylwalmal

I have a 256 coastal so I am biased but I do think its the best looking bay boat out there and while I haven't been on the Pathfinder it is hard to imagine a better ride than the 256

wcffish

Looking at the bottom it flairs wide very quick. What’s the roughest conditions that have a decent ride?

scflats

First time I fished a 26 Pathfinder I had two guys sitting on the back corner seats on a rough day in Charleston harbor with outgoing full moon tide and a strong NE wind. We rode at every angle including doing turns and crossing the harbor at the worst angle possible as far as staying dry in any boat. I looked back and the guys were completely dry without even a drop of spray on their sunglasses. On most boats those guys would have been soaked and I've run that harbor for my whole life in lots of different boats. Now I run a 25' Patfhinder and couldn't be happier with the fit, finish, and quality of the wiring and construction. And the Pathfinders have great resale around here, people call me asking to buy the boat when I'm not trying to sell.

dashtrash400

Thanks for all of the feedback. I’m thinking make a move on the pathfinder next week. I feel like it will be the better resale like some have mentioned and it rides well. Well enough to do what I’m looking to do with it. I believe it would be a great all around bay boat drifting and hoping out and wading along with jetties etc. I also believe it will do a good job on nice offshore days and on the beachfront looking for tarpon. I hope I don’t have any issues with it. I have heard the tops have been known to have fiberglass or aluminum cracks.

cp5899

I looked at buying both and demoed the blackjack 256. The new coastal is hands down the best layout I have seen. The 2600 is a bigger boat. The 256 is 24’ long on center line. The 25’6” comes from the pods on the back of the boat (port and starboard). That was a little bit of a hang up for me.

They are both nice boats. Like I mentioned the coastal has the best layout of any bay/hybrid I have been on next to the Jupiter 25 and Floridian 28 open.

I did not buy either and instead bought a Bluewave 2800.

good luck with the search.

WhiskeyRiver

I’ve been on two different 26 PF

on both the center floor hatch gutters drain on top of equipment
forward drains on top of the fish box macerator.
the rear drains on top of the bus bar going to the bilge.

sure it can be fixed but why rig this way
also there is very little room to install things inside the console almost everything is single skin

also heard rumors about the fuel tanks having issue due to transducer placement

the ride I thought to be exceptional

the BJ I’ve been on rode ok. Could have been operator. He was all over the trim tabs

havent had a chance to dig and snoop around..... yet

Filet Show

Just skip them and upgrade to the 26 malvado that just got listed on here.

IPA1

I have a good bit of time on a 2019 26 HPS and none on your other choice. The HPS has an impressive ride offshore, driven properly its ride rivals a true 24 degree deep vee like a 25 SeaVee, Contender, WW, etc. Where PF loses it is the details and rigging. Way too many poor rigging issues for such a nice boat. They are not obvious up front on casual observation but, live with the boat for a few months and they will rear their ugly not easily fixable heads. PM if you care to hear the details. The PF is a really nice boat, just plan to fix a lot of little and not so little aggravations over time.

Dustin

Blackjack Coastal is a real winner. I’m about to put my Triton up for sale and order one. The HPS is a bigger boat but the layout of the Coastal is tremendously better if you intend to spend a large percentage of your time offshore.

dashtrash400

beautiful a little more than I’d like to spend though. Pretty good boats?

patro

As a previous owner of a ‘14 2400 TRS and current owner of a ‘19 Blackjack 256 I would probably give the nod to the Pathfinder. Haven’t been on a 26 HPS but the storage layout of my 2400 was a lot better than the 256. IMO, the lines on the Blackjack can’t be beat and it rides extremely well for a bayboat. Better than 2600?, that I can’t say but does have a better ride then the 2400 which could be expected but the 2400 was a nice ride and very dry.

My one complaint about the PF is the small console. That’s where I give the nod to the BJ. I like having dual 12” screens compared to one on the PF and the BJ has plenty of room inside the console for 5 batteries plus storage. Resale will probably go to the PF, they just seem to hold their value over time.

Uts

Both are really good boats. I own a Blackjack 224 and have been on several Pathfinders but not the 2600 so not sure how they ride. Imo, could be a little bias, the blackjack has the better ride vs the pathfinders I rode on. The BlackJack hull can handle some pretty snotty conditions and it rides with a proud bow. You need to wet test each hull and make a decision, can't go wrong with either one. I'm about to order a 256 Coastal from Metro Marine first of next month because the layout is better suited to meet my needs for offshore and inshore fishing and it will be my 6th Kenner built boat. If you run offshore a lot you need to take a look at the Coastal the set is spot on. I'll say one last thing, when I take someone fishing on my Blackjack for the first time they always comment on how good the boat rides, always. Good luck.

dashtrash400

i agree a hundred percent. I guess they fixed that with the trs but like the features on the hps a little more. Maybe an hps with trs console. I agree blackjack is beautiful. I think resale may go to pathfinder also. Hardly any 26 on the market. Two I believe one trs one hps. And then one hps with a tower

dashtrash400

yea for sure. Your probably right I do need to set foot on that blackjack on the water see how she handles. Thank you for the reply.

wcffish

It would be nice if some Blackjack 256 owners would put so video up running some rough conditions. All the videos show is ideal conditions. A friend looking said it is hard to get a feel for the conditions they can handle.