Robalo Robalo R272
A genuinely overbuilt, fishable mid-size center console that earns its reputation on the water but is dogged by maddeningly inconsistent factory finishing.
Best for: Coastal and nearshore saltwater anglers who want a tough, dry-riding 27-footer with serious fishing features and a protective hardtop, and who will commission a thorough pre-delivery inspection.
The good
- Genuinely overbuilt hull: multiple layers of hand-laid fiberglass and heavy hardware (massive stainless hinges), with a 23-degree deadrise that rides well offshore
- Strong fishing package out of the box: 30-gallon livewell, 100-gallon fishbox, six flush-mount rod holders, raw-water washdowns
- Integrated hardtop with fixed windshield gives real weather protection for venturing further from the coast
- Spacious, fishing-friendly layout with a minimal console footprint that opens up casting room
- Honest performance on standard twin F200s: mid-30s mph cruise, ~50 mph top end
The bad
- Recurring poor finishing in 'out of sight' compartments and bilges
- Documented manufacturing debris: one owner found the bilge full of screws, plastic bags and wire ties, and it refilled a second time as more fell down
- Reports of water intrusion into the hull, and wet/rotting foam core via the fishbox area on older models, which also adds weight and saps performance
- Owners report difficulty getting warranty/customer support; the company is noted for being hard to reach (no phone number on the site)
- No published MSRP; opaque dealer-only pricing makes apples-to-apples shopping harder
The R272's hull and fishing layout are the real deal: reviewers consistently call out the overbuild-it construction, and on standard twin F200s it cruises in the mid-30s and tops out near 50 mph. The recurring knock is quality control, not design: owners across forums report sloppy finishing in hidden compartments, manufacturing debris in the bilge, and water intrusion that can rot the core on older boats. None of that is invented marketing fear; it is a documented pattern, which is exactly why a thorough pre-delivery inspection (and a survey on any used hull) is non-negotiable here. Buy the boat for the hull and the fishability, but go in with eyes open about the build inconsistency and the thin customer support.