Factory Tour & 328 Commander Review

Michael Brown

To put things in perspective, I am a boater of 37 years (grew up on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and now live in Charleston, SC) , have purchased 6 boats to date of various sizes, styles & brands. I am an engineer whom has audited manufacturing plants in the past, so I was diving a bit deeper into the manufacturing aspect more than your average boater.

Plant tour was amazing!
The boats of today are certainly not the same as they were in the 90's and early 2000's.

Quality:
The quality / build process / material choices are top notch.

Design:
The design choices are practical and functional. (I was pleasantly surprised on quite a few options), as well as composite core stringers and aluminum transom. (no wood = no rot!)

Test Drive:
Test drove the 328 commander, powered with twin Yamaha V6 F350's with Yamaha EX Helm-Master & Joystck & digital fly-by-wire steering.
Throttle response was instant.
Steering was smooth and easy.
The boat tracked perfectly.
The single step on the outside chine allowed the boat to turn sharp at moderate / high speed. (for a 32 footer, it felt more like turning a 18-footer - that easy)

Factory & Dealer Support:
I purchased through Cove2Coast Marine in Charleston, after the factory tour. The dealer (shout out to Hal) and his staff have been extremely helpful for service work and follow ups - post sale. I do not own a trailer, and my 1500 Ram is not quite enough to pull the 328 Commander - Both C2C and Seafox (ie.. the Factory) have provided a trailer and driver for routine service work.

The factory direct employees have been extremely supportive with feedback to help build a superior product. (ie.. Ryan / Alex / Scott). I can honestly say - if you reach out to the factory - they will appreciate your feedback. (good & bad) Try that with any other boat manufacturer....

Conclusion:
When buying any boat - consider the type of boating you will be doing. For me - the 328 Commander was a perfect fit. (Fishing inshore / nearshore / offshore / day cruising and the occasional sand bar).