Best Center Console Boats: Top Picks And Reviews

Center console boats are a popular choice for anglers, offering a convenient helm location, open passageways, and sturdy hulls built for rough waters. But which are the best center console boats on the market?

Well, it depends on your needs and preferences. Center console boats come in a variety of sizes, from compact 18-footers to massive vessels over 50 feet in length. They can be outfitted with various features, such as rod holders, outriggers, bait wells, and high-end electronics. Some are designed for fishing, while others cater to cruising and lounging.

- Boston Whaler: Known for their unsinkable construction, Boston Whaler offers a range of center console boats, including the 280 Dauntless and the 380 Outrage.

- Grady-White: Renowned for quality and resale value, Grady-White's Canyon 456 is their largest center console yacht, offering a spacious cabin, a Seakeeper gyro-stabilization system, and powerful Yamaha outboards.

- Contender: The 44ST CC blends high performance, fuel efficiency, and a spacious deck layout, making it a favorite among sportfishing enthusiasts.

- Everglades: The Everglades 285CC appeals to both families and fishermen, featuring a hardtop, a Garmin digital switching system, and ample fishing amenities.

- Valhalla: The V-55, Valhalla's newest flagship, stands out for its impressive size and broad beam, offering ample fuel capacity, a roomy cockpit, and generous on-deck seating.

- Invincible: The Invincible 33 Catamaran, with its twin-stepped hull design and vacuum-infusion construction, can reach speeds of up to 70 mph and boasts an array of fishing features.

- Caymas: The Caymas 401 CC, their flagship model, impresses with its 11'6 beam, capacity for up to 1,800 horsepower, and massive livewells and fishboxes.

- Cobia: The Cobia 350 CC blends luxury, performance, and angler-friendly features, including a bait-prep station, tackle center, and in-floor fish boxes.

- Yamaha: The Yamaha 255 FSH Sport H is the company's first boat to feature Helm Master EX and their new four-stroke, 1.9-liter High Output marine engines, providing precise control and low-speed maneuvering.

- Axopar: The Axopar 29 Sun Top offers modular construction, allowing consumers to customize their boat with an open aft deck or a primary cabin for overnighting.

- Marlow: The Marlow Prowler 375 Havana, with triple Yamaha 300-hp outboards, promises speeds of up to 40 knots and features a spacious console, gyrostabilization, and a full interior.

These are just a few examples of the best center console boats available. When choosing the right boat for you, consider your intended use, budget, and desired features to find the perfect match for your boating needs.

Center console boats are versatile and can be used for fishing, speed boating, and adventuring

One of the key characteristics of center console boats is their single deck design, with a center-mounted console and steering station. This layout provides ample space and seating in the bow, allowing for easy movement around the boat. Center console boats also offer excellent performance, handling rough waters with ease, and delivering a smooth ride.

When it comes to fishing, center console boats provide a range of features tailored to anglers' needs. Livewells, fish boxes, and ample rod storage are standard on many models, ensuring that anglers have everything they need for a successful day on the water. Some boats even offer tournament-inspired fishing features, blending performance with comfort and style.

For those seeking speed and performance, center console boats have evolved to meet the demands of power boaters. Advances in propulsion technology, such as high-horsepower outboards and innovative hull designs, have pushed the speed capabilities of these boats to impressive levels. Center console boats are now capable of reaching speeds comparable to those in the competitive offshore racing world.

Additionally, center console boats offer versatility for adventurers. They can be used for leisure cruises, water sports, and family outings. Many models include features such as spacious cockpits, comfortable seating, and swim platforms, making them ideal for a day on the water with friends and family.

With a range of sizes, from 14 feet to over 50 feet in length, center console boats cater to various budgets and preferences. Whether you're an angler, a speed enthusiast, or an adventurer, center console boats provide a versatile platform that can be customized to suit your needs.

They are initially designed for saltwater fishing but have a generous deck space and rugged construction

Center console boats were initially designed for saltwater fishing, but their generous deck space and rugged construction make them perfect for a wide range of activities beyond fishing. They are versatile, with some models being used for speedboating, watersports, and family cruising.

The center console boat generally has a single deck with a center-mounted console and steering station, with open space or seating in the bow allowing for freedom of movement. They are usually made with sturdy materials such as Kevlar-reinforced hulls, tempered glass, and stainless steel hardware.

The boats are also designed with fishing in mind, with features such as livewells, fish boxes, rod holders, and baitwells. Some models even have towers with a second station for spotting fish.

In terms of performance, center console boats can be quite powerful, with some models having up to 1,800 horsepower. They are also built for stability and fuel efficiency, with some models incorporating innovative hull designs to reduce drag and increase speed.

Overall, center console boats offer a great blend of style, creature comforts, and fishing features, making them a popular choice for a range of activities on the water.

They can be categorised as inshore or offshore, affordable or luxury

Center console boats are versatile vessels that can be used for fishing, cruising, water sports, and family outings. They are popular for their moderate draft and average beam, making them suitable for both freshwater and saltwater fishing, as well as day cruising. These boats can be categorized based on their intended use, such as inshore or offshore, and their price range, such as affordable or luxury options.

Inshore center console boats are designed for fishing and cruising in protected waters, such as bays, estuaries, and rivers. They are typically smaller in size, ranging from 14 to 30 feet in length, and have features that cater to both anglers and recreational boaters. Inshore boats usually have a single outboard engine, with horsepower ranging from 60 to 350. Examples of inshore center console boats include:

• Barker 26 Open
• Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless
• Grady-White Fisherman 236
• Sea Fox 266 Commander

Offshore center console boats, on the other hand, are built for venturing into open waters and can handle rough seas and long-distance trips. These boats are generally larger, ranging from 30 to 50 feet in length, and have more powerful engines, with some models offering up to 2000 horsepower. They often include features such as larger fuel tanks, advanced navigation systems, and additional comforts for longer trips. Examples of offshore center console boats include:

• Barker 40 HPFC
• Boston Whaler 380 Outrage
• Grady-White Canyon 456
• Yellowfin 42 Offshore

When it comes to affordability, center console boats can vary significantly in price. Affordable options are typically smaller, with basic features, and may be used primarily for fishing. These boats usually have a lower horsepower engine and fewer amenities. Examples of affordable center console boats include:

• Bayliner Element F16
• Carolina Skiff JVX 18 CC
• G3 Gator Tough 17 CC
• Hobie Mirage Pro Angler

Luxury center console boats, on the other hand, offer more space, advanced technology, and additional comforts. They often have larger engines, more luxurious finishes, and features that cater to both anglers and cruisers. Examples of luxury center console boats include:

• Grady-White Canyon 271
• Robalo R272
• Scout 277 LXF
• Boston Whaler 380 Outrage

Whether you're looking for an inshore or offshore boat, or something that fits your budget or offers a more luxurious experience, there is a center console boat that can be tailored to your needs and preferences.

They can be powered by a single outboard or twin outboards

Center console boats can be powered by a single outboard or twin outboards, and they are designed to be versatile, catering to anglers, speed boat enthusiasts, and adventurers. The number of outboards depends on the size of the boat, with smaller boats typically having a single outboard and larger boats offering the option of twin outboards.

The Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless, for example, is equipped with twin engines and a substantial 160-gallon fuel capacity, making it capable of tackling both inshore and offshore adventures. The Everglades 285 CC, on the other hand, is powered by twin 300-horsepower Yamaha F300 outboards, allowing it to reach a top speed of 55.4 mph while cruising comfortably at 30 mph.

The Cobia 240 is another great example of a center console boat with twin outboards. It features twin 40-gallon insulated fish boxes and a 28-gallon livewell, as well as a forward-entry head and a full windshield. The Pursuit C 260 is yet another excellent choice, offering a blend of serious fishing features and family cruising amenities. It is powered by a pair of Yamaha F150 outboards and provides anglers with a 19-gallon livewell and a 31-gallon insulated fish box.

For those seeking a smaller option with a single outboard, the Grady-White Fisherman 236 is an excellent choice. This 23-foot boat combines the fishing features of a classic hardcore design with family comforts. It includes a roomy cockpit, rod and tackle storage, a 15.5-gallon livewell, twin 22-gallon insulated fish boxes, and foldaway backrests for bow seating.

Some of the best center console boats include the Everglades 285 CC, the Valhalla V-55, and the Grady-White Canyon 456

The Everglades 285 CC is a 28-foot center console fishing boat that combines tournament-ready features with exclusive yacht-like comforts. It is ideal for intercoastal and offshore journeys and delivers a smooth ride with sophisticated materials and intuitive technology. The 285 CC features a spacious bow, an advanced helm station, and a versatile aft.

The Valhalla V-55 is the newest flagship of the Valhalla fleet and sets a new standard for center consoles over 50 feet. It combines the speed, maneuverability, and convenience of an outboard-powered center console with the engineering, accommodations, and amenities of a Viking convertible. The V-55 is powered by Mercury's innovative V-12 600-hp outboards and offers a smooth, stable, and dry ride even in rough conditions.

The Grady-White Canyon 456 is a 45-foot center console boat that is spacious and technically sophisticated, built on Grady's trademark SeaV²® hull. It is ranked highest in performance and ride and is the driest, softest-riding center console on the market. The Canyon 456 is crafted with exceptional attention to detail and is more richly appointed than other big outboard sportfishing boats. It is also the largest unsinkable boat of its kind.

Frequently asked questions