Last issue we looked at the new Kingfisher Great Fishing and Exploring (GFX) family, starting with the Kingfisher 3425 GFX. Now our attention turns to the slightly smaller sister, the Kingfisher 3125 GFX. As the acronym implies, this full-blooded fish slayer also has some of the comforts of home that make overnight island-hopping fun. The trend of these Pacific Northwest-built, aluminum hulled fishing boats to get bigger and more comfortable, a trend seen with similar boats like Hewescraft’s 290 Adventure, is giving rise to a hybrid class that we at Northwest Yachting shall dub “the aluminum fishing yacht” (AFY). You heard it here first, folks!
There’s a lot to love about the 3125 GFX and the growing AFY family. Kingfisher, based out of Vernon, B.C., has roots that go back to 1959 and is a mainstay in fishing derbies, marinas, and on trailers locally, up and down the coast, and beyond. Many of the dialed-in fishing features are found in the 3125: a huge 200-gallon cockpit floor and 52-gallon transom fish lockers, starboard-biased cockpit wing station, transom mounting space for a standard two outboard and one trolling kicker engine setup, and more. The structure should go the distance too, with a sleek shearwater bow design with the company’s patented Pre-Flex® hull technology. If you don’t limit out, it won’t be the boat’s fault.
Where the “Y” in “AFY” comes into play is the interior. You’ve got 6’ 10” headroom, so basketball players rejoice. Tan leather upholstery and solid wood finish looks more like something you’d find on a trawler than a fishing machine. A dinette for six that converts into a berth, a properly enclosed head, and galley all fit nicely in a simple interior layout behind the helm and two co-captain chairs. The V-berth forward will do the job and benefits from not having a head down there as some builders in the AFY family have opted for.
All in all, the Kingfisher 3125 GFX may be a hybrid of sorts, but compromises seem few and far between. If interested, you can find more information and your local dealer at kingfisherboats.com.
