From the early 1960s to today, many still love this versatile SUV of the water.
Center console boats are easy to identify. The basic ingredients include the steering wheel console on the centerline, cockpit space and engine aft, open bow forward and mid to high gunwales. The salt-and-pepper items include a leaning post for the driver and co-pilot, bow and aft seating, a T-top, rod holders under the gunwales, and even a head.
Yet, today’s boat owners want even more. Now the center console recipe spices up the offering with a forward cabin, more comfortable seats, side doors for easier boarding, swim platforms, air conditioning, and even Seakeeper stabilizers, and two, three, four, or more 400-hp outboard engines.
The center console evolution began in the late 1950s, when Boston Whaler founder Dick Fisher began experimenting with fiberglass and Styrofoam, two new materials. The Unsinkable Boat made its way into the boating lexicon and became the poster child for a new era of boating.
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The center console, however, was borne out of innovation and experimentation, as Fisher was messing about with boats and trying to find the sweet spot of nautical balance. He had a bare hull outfitted with an outboard engine and a driving station that he could move around the bottom of the test boat to find the right place for proper balance and performance.
“Aha!” Fisher must have cried on that fine day when all the nautical stars aligned and the first true center console was launched. For Boston Whaler, it was the Nauset 16, first built in 1961. Other builders like C&S Boats (later renamed AquaSport) came out with a similar design, and by the mid-1960s, variations of the center console were popping up everywhere. Why? Because of the simplicity and utility of the design.
“The steering wheel needs to be at or close to being in the middle of the boat, and what it gives you is the ability to move all around the boat,” said Jeff Vaughn, a past vice president of marketing and customer service worldwide for Boston Whaler, and currently a paid Boston Whaler consultant. “If I have a fish on, I can fight the fish all the way around.”
That singleness of purpose has grown into center console boats 40 feet and longer, powered by quiet and powerful four-stroke engines. While the good old 20-footers with a single engine are by far the largest part of the market, the bigger center console boats showcase the best the marine industry has to offer.
For example, Grady-White Boats has a large lineup of 10 center console models from the Fisherman 180 all the way to the flagship Canyon 456, designed with the fishing family in mind.
“Our heritage lies in rugged saltwater fishing boats, and through the decades, we have prioritized customer feedback to refine these models to stay true to their fishing roots while adding touches of elegance and comfort throughout,” said Christian Carraway, senior product designer at Grady-White. “That’s why you’ll see a Grady center console everywhere from the offshore canyons to the local sandbar. They are built for versatility and family fun.”
An early Grady-White center console model was the Hatteras 204, launched in 1975. The brochure says: “The Hatteras is a center console boat with a spacious all-fiberglass cockpit built to handle all the rough water the captain can give her.”
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Fiberglass and Styrofoam: Humble Beginnings
When Fisher started building Boston Whaler boats out of fiberglass and filling them with Styrofoam, he helped launch a new age of recreational boating. Most boats were made from wood. With fiberglass, there was a way to produce different hull shapes and sizes faster.
“Fisher realized that if he was going to build a business, he needed more than a thirteen-footer,” Vaughn said. “He began to develop a sixteen-footer, and here’s where the center console comes in. He builds a test hull, then had the steering wheel on a platform he could move around the hull. He moved it fore and aft and sideways to understand the proper center of gravity. Today, we do that with computers, but back then you had to physically do it.”
After the Nauset 16 and a slew of other Boston Whaler models were launched, other boatbuilders crafted an entire host of models out of the lightweight, rugged fiberglass material that performed well, lasted just about forever, and allowed for market-specific specialization.
From the 1960s to Today
As boating became more popular in the 1960s and 1970s, the demand rose for more versatile boats, and the center console was right in the sweet spot.
The fiberglass hulls took shape in all varieties: ski boats, fishing boats, runabouts, and cabin cruisers from manufacturers across the U.S., and indeed, worldwide. Innovation led the way to more complex hull designs, and the popularity of the center console grew.
"The center console evolution began in the late 1950s, when Boston Whaler founder Dick Fisher began experimenting with fiberglass and Styrofoam..."
In the 1980s and 1990s, builders focused on improving comfort and amenities, reaching out to a larger audience beyond fishing. This is when the cushioned seating, built-in coolers, and enhanced storage options started to become standard, appealing to families and more leisurely boating.
Once we entered the 21st century, there were huge improvements in propulsion systems, with the introduction of powerful four-stroke outboard engines that allowed for larger and faster boats. That expanded the possibilities, with much bigger and faster center consoles from builders such as Cigarette and Nor-Tech getting into the game.
Center console boats began to grow in size—30, 40, 50 feet—with more luxurious features and amenities. Enclosed cabins, advanced navigation, and state-of-the-art entertainment options became common.
“Fisher realized that if he was going to build a business, he needed more than a thirteen-footer...”
Fast-forward to today, where the use of materials like epoxy-infused carbon fiber has made center consoles more durable. The mega center consoles are equipped with multiple outboard engines, and that has expanded their use beyond traditional fishing and recreational activities. They are now often used for long-distance cruising, island hopping, and even as tenders for larger yachts.
“Our S-Class models, thirty-three feet and up, have a superior strength of around five times stronger and almost sixty percent lighter than traditional methods,” explained Alan Lang, marketing director at Scout Boats. “This allows for faster speeds and better fuel economy without sacrificing the ride because of the strength and rigidity.”
All these extra features don’t take away from the usability—what the luxuries accomplish is to smooth out the rough edges. Now you can get a center console purpose-built for whatever you’re into—diving, fishing, luxury cruising, water sports, and more.
Types of Center Console Boats
When it comes to center consoles, there are two types to consider: the standard and the T-top. There may be offshoots, such as dual center console boats, but you can’t really consider that a true center console because you have consoles on either side of the boat; therefore, not allowing you to fight a fish all the way around.
The standard center console is the most common. You see these boats plowing the waters in all corners of the U.S. On freshwater or saltwater or anything in between, this design offers easy access all over the boat, providing better maneuverability and visibility. It can be used for fishing, cruising, or water sports. The console typically includes a steering wheel, control panel, and storage compartments for essential items. The open layout makes it easy to move around the boat, fight fish, throw lines, or accommodate a lot of passengers.
The T-top console ups the game with a T-shaped roof structure that provides shade and offers something to hold onto in rough conditions. Additionally, the structure has a mounting place for useful options such as fishing rod holders or navigation devices. Often the T-top center console provides more space, allowing for more electronics and navigation equipment.
The Benefits of Center Console Boats
Spend a few minutes—or hours or days—aboard a center console and you’ll quickly see that it offers improved stability and maneuverability. You get the balanced weight distribution, which provides advantages in smoothing out the ride in choppy waves or when making sharp turns.
As noted, having the helm in the center allows for better visibility and control, enabling the captain to pilot through tight spaces and crowded areas with ease.
Enhanced Storage and Organizational Space
Another big benefit, especially with today’s ingenious designs, is the enhanced storage and organizational space. The actual center console itself often offers multiple compartments, drawers, and shelves, allowing you to store and organize your essentials efficiently. It’s easy to get to what you need, and the console keeps everything within reach and well-organized.
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Increased Safety and Comfort
The design of a center console simply lends itself to safety, as the skipper can see all around the boat and guests have plenty to hang onto if the going gets rough. The pilot’s unobstructed vision reduces the risk of collisions with other boats or obstacles, and on larger center consoles, there’s a host of GPS, radar, and sonar devices that can be added to help guide the way.
Guests on the larger boats also have lots of comfortable seating options, including cushioned seats and padded backrests. Advanced ergonomics provide ample cushioning, allowing guests to sit for extended time with ease, and maybe even take a nap.
Of course, you also get the latest in safety technologies through materials such as non-skid decks, stainless steel grab rails, and well-placed handholds.
Constant Innovation and Improvement
The best thing about a center console—the ability to fight a fish all the way around a boat—has simply been enhanced over the past five decades. Gunwales have gotten higher and side and transom doors have been built in to get larger fish inside the boat.
“As these vessels are becoming more and more seaworthy, livewell and baitwell technologies have advanced, along with all the electronics like sonar and radar,” Lang said. “More often than not, they’re typically outfitted with T-tops for protection and also something substantial to grab onto in rougher seas. While all these items offer functional features to the boat, the center console itself is symmetrical. It’s that symmetry that attracts the eye, and just another reason why I believe center consoles have come to be so popular over the years.”
-by Doug Thompson
