Story and select photos by DinaRella / Professional photos courtesy of Scout
It’s been four years since the revered South Carolina boat builder Scout outed its aptly-titled “MEGA” 530 LXF center console at the 2019 Miami International Boat Show. Dressed in five Yamaha 425 hp outboards for the debut, the portfolio leader was next outfitted with quint Mercury Racing 450s doling out 150 more ponies. Going bigger yet, two years into the future the 53-footer appeared on the docks of the 2021 Fort Lauderdale Show with horsepower ramped to 2,400 by way of quad Mercury Marine 600s; wide open throttle jumped to 70 mph, and the hammer price tag was jacked to $2.9 million.
Built under the command of brainchild Steve Potts, who has owned and operated the company with his family for over three decades, just like the powertrain packages grew in size, so did customer demand. Really, the continual one-year-plus waitlist for the MEGA marine masterpiece came as no surprise, due to the influx of timeless touches and functional upgrades integrated together with enough angling amenities to make any saltwater sport fisherman giddy.
Staying true to the brand’s lofty performance constraints, construction of the phenomenally crafted, double-stepped hull is due to a borrowed technique taken from the aerospace industry combining epoxy-infused carbon-fiber and E-glass. This, along with the absence of wood stringers and bulkheads, improve the 530 LXF in that, it fortifies structural stability, provides maximum weight savings, and ensures lasting reliability.
Considering every bit of the beast’s superstructure is carbon fiber, handling and efficiency of the streamlined hull is spot on, notably achieving a half-mile per gallon of fuel burn when cruising at a sweet spot of 50 miles per hour. As I discovered when Alan Lang, director of sales and marketing, cordially walked me through this boat (actually, on more than one occasion) to examine its endless niceties – fit and finish are as equally flawless as the construction.
Mezzanine Makeover
Anchoring the helm under the powder-coated hardtop frame is a 24-inch Garmin touchscreen multifunction display (MFD) enclosed in glass bezels, joined by another on the port console, a 12-inch screen overhead, and one more above the rear port mezzanine seat; not to mention a set of traditional switches is also wired in as a safety back-up. Screens are not the only feature in abundance, ticking all the boxes for versatility and entertaining, the Scout 530 LXF provides the perfect combination of comfort and practicality offering more than 20 chill-out spots to sit from the enormous party-bow to the stern, including the neat swing-out bar stools and fold-out bench, both easily tucked away for tournament days.
In 2021, a new pilothouse option whereby placing the leaning post under the covered cockpit came into play, as Lang tells me, “The reversal mezzanine galley placement facing the stern with seating further aft has been an absolute success. With this version, whoever may be in charge of preparing the food or cocktails can do so under the air-conditioned cockpit, and out of the way of guests enjoying themselves on the stern. Of course, the traditional set-up with the bench facing forward inside the cockpit with the galley on the outside remains an option.”
Reeling in adoration for its flexible use of spaces on board, the 530 LXF literally spreads its wings with dual electronically-actuated hydraulic platforms on the port and starboard sides. When deployed, besides facilitating easy boarding, de-boarding, and being used as a spring board into the sea for water activities, the folding sides increase the beam of the deck to 17 feet 10 inches paving the way for 150-square-feet of aft entertainment space.
Apart from the perks of the resourceful patents, the LXF is beaming with hotness and coolness you can feel all around. Just like sinking into that warm and cozy car seat – Scout brings the heat – adding the same creature comfort to its enclosed cockpit area. The independently controlled port, starboard and rear seats are ideal during chillier spring or fall boat outings, in addition to those days on the water in the northern colder climates. Turning up the heat also happens on the hardtop – here another forward-thinking concept lets you save battery life by using the integrated solar panels which provide a trickle charge down to AGM batteries.
Next, on those sticky summer days, a double dose of coolness in the cabin is just a push button away. As you descend down the sturdy steps that first blast comes compliments of the 16,000-BTU air conditioner. The second spell hits in a visual sense. Design firm Genesis Interiors took on the role of introducing a slice of Italy to the inside décor elevating the living quarters into a modern sanctuary bedecked in marble and white-oak veneer surfaces (for buyers choosing the grigio color palette).
A 32-inch LED television enhances the lounge area, as does, a special wine chiller steps away in the galley equipped with fridge, freezer, microwave and an electric cook top. More than capable for overnighters, the master suite boasts of a private head, backlight illuminated onyx paneling, another 32-inch flat-screen, and a remarkable rod storage rack for six big rigs hidden underneath the bed. And while talking rods, there's more in store for the anglers.
When it’s time to come out of the cool cabin and flipflop from lounging to fetching a fresh catch, key gear to get your game on start with generous tackle storage compartments, twin 30-gallon livewells and a pair of 65-gallon fish boxes for the big prizes. The new upper tower flybridge which fits eight comfortably and the standard Seakeeper 6 gyrostabilizer also come in handy no matter your activity while navigating the good life on the Scout 530 LXF.
It’s been four years since the revered South Carolina boat builder Scout outed its aptly-titled “MEGA” 530 LXF center console at the 2019 Miami International Boat Show. Dressed in five Yamaha 425 hp outboards for the debut, the portfolio leader was next outfitted with quint Mercury Racing 450s doling out 150 more ponies. Going bigger yet, two years into the future the 53-footer appeared on the docks of the 2021 Fort Lauderdale Show with horsepower ramped to 2,400 by way of quad Mercury Marine 600s; wide open throttle jumped to 70 mph, and the hammer price tag was jacked to $2.9 million.
Built under the command of brainchild Steve Potts, who has owned and operated the company with his family for over three decades, just like the powertrain packages grew in size, so did customer demand. Really, the continual one-year-plus waitlist for the MEGA marine masterpiece came as no surprise, due to the influx of timeless touches and functional upgrades integrated together with enough angling amenities to make any saltwater sport fisherman giddy.
Staying true to the brand’s lofty performance constraints, construction of the phenomenally crafted, double-stepped hull is due to a borrowed technique taken from the aerospace industry combining epoxy-infused carbon-fiber and E-glass. This, along with the absence of wood stringers and bulkheads, improve the 530 LXF in that, it fortifies structural stability, provides maximum weight savings, and ensures lasting reliability.
Considering every bit of the beast’s superstructure is carbon fiber, handling and efficiency of the streamlined hull is spot on, notably achieving a half-mile per gallon of fuel burn when cruising at a sweet spot of 50 miles per hour. As I discovered when Alan Lang, director of sales and marketing, cordially walked me through this boat (actually, on more than one occasion) to examine its endless niceties – fit and finish are as equally flawless as the construction.
Mezzanine Makeover
Anchoring the helm under the powder-coated hardtop frame is a 24-inch Garmin touchscreen multifunction display (MFD) enclosed in glass bezels, joined by another on the port console, a 12-inch screen overhead, and one more above the rear port mezzanine seat; not to mention a set of traditional switches is also wired in as a safety back-up. Screens are not the only feature in abundance, ticking all the boxes for versatility and entertaining, the Scout 530 LXF provides the perfect combination of comfort and practicality offering more than 20 chill-out spots to sit from the enormous party-bow to the stern, including the neat swing-out bar stools and fold-out bench, both easily tucked away for tournament days.
In 2021, a new pilothouse option whereby placing the leaning post under the covered cockpit came into play, as Lang tells me, “The reversal mezzanine galley placement facing the stern with seating further aft has been an absolute success. With this version, whoever may be in charge of preparing the food or cocktails can do so under the air-conditioned cockpit, and out of the way of guests enjoying themselves on the stern. Of course, the traditional set-up with the bench facing forward inside the cockpit with the galley on the outside remains an option.”
Reeling in adoration for its flexible use of spaces on board, the 530 LXF literally spreads its wings with dual electronically-actuated hydraulic platforms on the port and starboard sides. When deployed, besides facilitating easy boarding, de-boarding, and being used as a spring board into the sea for water activities, the folding sides increase the beam of the deck to 17 feet 10 inches paving the way for 150-square-feet of aft entertainment space.
Heat, Seats and Safety First
Noted for its technological production facilities and commitment to pushing the bar, ground-breaking appointments improving performance, and more importantly onboard safety practices include: the patented bow anchor camera which shows what’s going on under the bow and in front of the vessel, and the placement of the stern staircase to the upper tower in the middle of the vessel, as opposed to using outer side ladders. Lastly, let me not leave out the praise-worthy, patent-pending articulating rocket launcher that functions together with the SureShade retractable awning.
Apart from the perks of the resourceful patents, the LXF is beaming with hotness and coolness you can feel all around. Just like sinking into that warm and cozy car seat – Scout brings the heat – adding the same creature comfort to its enclosed cockpit area. The independently controlled port, starboard and rear seats are ideal during chillier spring or fall boat outings, in addition to those days on the water in the northern colder climates. Turning up the heat also happens on the hardtop – here another forward-thinking concept lets you save battery life by using the integrated solar panels which provide a trickle charge down to AGM batteries.
Next, on those sticky summer days, a double dose of coolness in the cabin is just a push button away. As you descend down the sturdy steps that first blast comes compliments of the 16,000-BTU air conditioner. The second spell hits in a visual sense. Design firm Genesis Interiors took on the role of introducing a slice of Italy to the inside décor elevating the living quarters into a modern sanctuary bedecked in marble and white-oak veneer surfaces (for buyers choosing the grigio color palette).
A 32-inch LED television enhances the lounge area, as does, a special wine chiller steps away in the galley equipped with fridge, freezer, microwave and an electric cook top. More than capable for overnighters, the master suite boasts of a private head, backlight illuminated onyx paneling, another 32-inch flat-screen, and a remarkable rod storage rack for six big rigs hidden underneath the bed. And while talking rods, there's more in store for the anglers.
When it’s time to come out of the cool cabin and flipflop from lounging to fetching a fresh catch, key gear to get your game on start with generous tackle storage compartments, twin 30-gallon livewells and a pair of 65-gallon fish boxes for the big prizes. The new upper tower flybridge which fits eight comfortably and the standard Seakeeper 6 gyrostabilizer also come in handy no matter your activity while navigating the good life on the Scout 530 LXF.
