The new Cobia 240 CC is the latest to bring style and family comfort to a fishing tournament capable boat.
The Cobia 240 CC has a proven hull design that provides superior fuel efficiency and open water running performance. She is powered by twin Yamaha 115-hp outboard engines that open up to 44 miles per hour. She cruises at 27 with a 375-mile range.
The open cockpit carries twin 40-gallon, in-floor fish boxes, a 28-gallon livewell, and a standard aft tackle station. All of this is sure to satisfy most hardcore anglers. The Cobia 240 CC is equally adept to host an elegant sunset cruise or spend a casual day sandbar-hopping with the family.
Options include a below-deck portable or electric head (with port window), a three-sided, full windshield with electric wiper and vent. There is an available upgrade cushion package that includes double-bolstered helm seats, and forward-facing backrests for the bow as well as choices for windlass systems, audio, electronics, color combinations, and trailers.
The Regulator 28 is a performance fishing machine built for offshore action.
The Lou Codega- designed hull with a sharp bow entry provides a soft ride. The standard upholstered console seating on the Regulator 28 is comfortable for two. There are armrests and folding footrests along with a Garmin Premium Fish Package.
Additionally, seatback rod holder and optional T-top rocket launchers create an efficient rigging station. Spacious forward storage, an oversized transom fish box, and transom livewell deliver everything needed for fishing.
Twin Yamaha F300 outboard engines push the Regulator 28 to a top speed of 60.3 mph. The transom walkthrough tuna door provides easy access for both boarding and fishing.
Also, to keep family and friends comfortable, consider the optional sunbed table, removable forward seat backrests, and new optional forward sunshade. Plus, the Regulator 28 now features an optional watersports tow bar.
The Sea Force IX 56.5 is a whole new take on the center console.
The Sea Force IX 56.5 Center Console “Inboard Diesel” Sport Yacht is the second launch in the line of cutting-edge center consoles from the Palmetto, Florida-based builder.
Hull No. 1 of the Sea Force IX 56.5 is scheduled to hit the water later this year.
She is equipped with twin MAN D2862LE436 marine diesel engines offering 1,400 horsepower. When equipped with the big MAN engines, the boat is expected to run at a top speed of approximately 48 knots and cruise at 40 knots. Additionally, the boat has a 1,400-gallon fuel tank.
The 56.5 Sport comes standard with a 900-gallon-per-day watermaker, carries 150 gallons of fresh water and has a 30-gallon holding tank. The boat is loaded with standard features such as a 23kW generator and cabin air conditioner.
Forward cabin accommodations include fully functioning head, compact galley, dinette/single berth, and a double berth. The custom double-helm pedestal seating includes four more riding seats mounted to the prep center and full powder-coated aluminum pipework.
Altima Yachts 38 Xcape Sport Family Edition appeals to the serious angler as well as families that enjoy entertaining and overnights.
Altima Yachts 38 Xcape has a wide beam provideing a stable platform that’s powered by triple Evinrude E-Tec GE 300-hp engines. Three seats with bolsters and armrests provide comfort at the helm, while the centerline cabin offers a V-berth, enclosed head and shower, refrigerator, two-burner cooktop, microwave, and flat-screen TV.
Anglers will utilize abundant tackle storage, an aerated transom baitwell, and port and starboard in-floor fish boxes. Cockpit features include a transom stern seat, starboard console storage for a boat brush, gaff and lines, twin dive doors with a ladder, a shower, raw/freshwater washdown, and a summer galley with refrigerator, icemaker, sink, and grill to maximize the outdoor space.
Central heat and air conditioning are powered by a 7.5kW generator with sound shield. For eye candy, indirect blue LED rope lights illuminate the cockpit and cabinets, and three LED underwater lights add to the nighttime ambiance.
The Grady-White Fisherman 257 is designed with Grady-White’s exclusive SeaV2 continuously variable vee hull.
Also, she’s full of fishing and family features. Powered by twin Yamaha 200-hp outboard engines, the Grady-White Fisherman 257 has a top speed of 52 mph. At 30, her cruising range is nearly 360 miles. That’s more than enough for a full day of fun on the water.
With a 64-square-foot, a self-bailing cockpit, feature-rich transom, and stand-up head, the Fisherman 257 is a class leader in the 25-foot center console market. Optional features include:
An anchor windlass with bow pulpit or bow roller
Casting platform insert
Port convenience package with battery charger and dockside power with galvanic isolator
Engine flush system with hose attachment aft (one per engine),
If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, but if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. Just ask the team at St. James Boatworks.
Throughout the year, St. James Boatworks teams up with several non-profit organizations to provide food and shelter for orphans and widows throughout South Florida and the Caribbean.
“Providing shelter, a clean water source, a renewable food source, and education equips these women and children with the resources they so desperately need to become self-reliant, and provides them the opportunity of helping others throughout the islands and beyond,” says owner Jim Roberts.
Those efforts are supported by some serious center consoles. The St. James 24 Open (24’ LOA, 8’5” beam) is the latest tool to help anglers get out to the fishing grounds. A versatile platform that performs equally well in the shallows or open water, the St. James 24 Open is outfitted with stainless steel hardware throughout, and the custom console features a varnished teak helm pod and handrail with the electric pop-up instrument panel. Under gunwale LED courtesy lighting keeps the teak deck visible at night, and her hull design combines a sharp 54-degree entry and a stable 9-degree deadrise stern that allows her to run in steep chop while optimizing shallow-water performance.
Another boat from St. James, the 20 Open.
You’ll find ample deck space and clean lines on the St. James 24 Open.
Lots of space for fishing (and sunning).
The copious forward casting deck easily accommodates two anglers and boasts a cavernous dry-storage compartment and a dedicated anchor locker. A traditional faux teak toe rail keeps fly lines at bay even in a stiff breeze, while the 23-gallon crustacean well is in a convenient location to keep pitch bait at the ready. The aft casting deck houses a 43-gallon livewell with tempered glass window, a large lazarette and two large storage compartments with secondary hatches below that allow access to ball valves and pumps.
The St. James 24 Open runs 60 miles per hour when powered with a 300-hp outboard, cruises at 43 miles per hour, carries 87 gallons of fuel, and drafts just 10 inches fully loaded. With a choice of five different hull colors, luxurious refinements and exhilarating performance, the boats created at St. James Boatworks are a work of art.
When it comes down to it, the real question remains: Sportfish or Center Console?
There is certainly no shortage of offshore fishing boats suited for bluewater missions. But a notable change over the last few years is the number of larger, outboard-powered center consoles that now compete on the fishing grounds with similar-sized convertibles, which, in the past, were the benchmark for many boat owners. So which is the king? Sportfish or Center Console?
The Convertible
A convertible with a flybridge command station, sizeable cockpit, and mezzanine, spreader supported outriggers, and available tuna tower covers all the bases a serious angler could possibly need. The flybridge offers unobstructed visibility for spotting tailing fish, slicks, rips, bird activity, and protection for navigating in all weather conditions, and there’s ample room for electronics. A centerline helm often has flanking lounges that conceal rod stowage below. Visibility to the cockpit is good for watching baits in the wash, beneath the kites and monitoring angler action below.
This sportfish has decidedly more space than a center console.
In the cockpit, there’s a bait rigging station, a freezer, tackle stowage, an ice chest, a livewell, below deck fish boxes, and a transom door. If the livewell is built into the transom, it also can serve as another fish box or rigged as a reservoir for live bait tuna tubes. A fishing chair or a rocket launcher adds more to the arsenal, and square footage allows the angler to fight his fish from the transom, while the crew has total access for landing or releasing the catch.
After hours, the convertible typically offers a full-featured, air-conditioned salon with entertainment systems. Nearby, a dinette and an adjacent galley—with refrigeration and other appliances powered with an auxiliary generator—makes the boat totally self-sufficient underway and at the dock.
Below, a private and self-contained head with a shower complements overnight accommodations in the staterooms. If the weather turns sour and your fishing plans change, the convertible gives you the opportunity to spend the day aboard the boat enjoying these amenities. Similarly, with its accommodations, the convertible serves as a moveable vacation home for the family that wants to both fish and cruise.
Years ago, the convertible was the step up for boat owners wanting the next best big thing. But it also meant learning more about maintenance and internal ship systems such as running gear and diesel engines, and understanding how an inboard boat handles differently from one with outboards.
The Center Console
Meanwhile, center console builders are not anchored down by their designs. The center console first appeared in the early 1960s as a simple and practical fishing boat. It was a design not unlike a Swiss army knife that could pull off just about any type of inshore fishing assignment. As the style grew in size, more creature comforts such as T-tops and small heads in the console became the norm.
But nothing changed the complexion of the center console as much as the explosive growth of fuel-efficient outboard motors that exceed the 500-horsepower mark. Coupled with two, three, four, or even five outboards with available joystick controls, the operator enjoys fingertip ease maneuverability on center consoles exceeding 50 feet in length.
With design cues from convertible boat manufacturers, today’s center consoles are equipped with features for fishing and cruising. The appeal is broad. Everyone from tournament anglers to their families can appreciate a center console. First and foremost, multiple engine packages deliver heady cruising speeds in the 30- and 40-knot range. Some boats can blaze across the water at better than 50 knots. On the days you can utilize all this speed, an operator can be the first one to hit prime territory and stay there longer when the fish are still chewing.
The intrinsic beauty of the center console layout is the use of space. Working lines all around the boat and dunking live baits from kites are reasons why crews on big center consoles often win release tournaments. A midship-located helm station provides protection for the operator and generally good visibility. On acceleration, bow rise is mitigated with engine trim until the boat is up on plane.
More is More?
Larger boats also benefit with a tower helm above the hardtop. Windshield design varies from a wraparound plex or acrylic screen to an anodized or powder-coated frame. Get more protection against wind, spray, and rain with a clear vinyl enclosure. Engine instrumentation and multi-function display electronics fit neatly in the dash. Drink holders, stowage bins and aptly placed grab rails are a nice touch. There is more overhead stowage when the boat has a T-top.
Most center consoles have two or three seats or a leaning post. But sea conditions and speed over the water will determine whether you are sitting or standing when underway. Handholds are important in any case.
Inside the console of larger models, there is room for amenities. That could be a head compartment, a refrigerator, a cooktop, or a convertible dinette for a berth that’s cozy for two. Some smaller-sized center consoles are configured with lower compartments. However, space is better suited for stowing fishing rods and safety gear.
Abaft the seats is where the center console boat builder shows its expertise. There’s stowage for fishing tackle, a drink cooler, rod holders, and similar gear. This is a good location for a Seakeeper gyro stabilizer, space permitting, so consider other stowage and fish box areas. Some builders offer galley features in the cockpit, such as a freshwater sink, electric grill, and a refrigerator. If so, you will need a generator and a water tank to operate these items underway.
The stern is obstructed by outboards. This means fishing off the side. Considering you have the rest of the boat to walk around, it is hardly an issue. When you have multiple hook-ups, it can be an advantage in quick releases and tossing over fresh baits to a lit-up school of sails. Some center consoles have a small door to the swim platform and the engine mechanical. Others have a side door, often preferred when diving and swimming.
In the End
Both convertible and center console boats are adaptable, and each serves as an excellent platform for fishing. Center consoles without a lower compartment don’t offer a place to get out of the weather. Nor all of the amenities typically found aboard a convertible. However, they provide anglers space all around the boat. They can also be less expensive to maintain. And you can go home with you on a trailer at the end of the day to eliminate dockage costs. The key to choosing is to be sure you know how you plan to use the boat. So you tell us: what’ll it be? Sportfish or Center Console
The Blackfin 272 CC is a battlewagon of a ship, with built-in finesse. Prepared to take on the toughest seas, but with an elegance that will slice through any shred of a wave that is in front of it. All while still capturing the creature comforts for any ride you wish to take it on. Reach fishing grounds, sand bar hopping or to the local tiki bar. The large freeboard, flip-down transom seating and massive center console to name a few will do the job.
Photo Credit: Jim Raycroft Photography
Photo Credit: Jim Raycroft Photography
The versatile center console quickly transforms from an ideal fishing hub to the weekend hotspot for your family with yacht-grade hardware. Each boat also has a swim platform, comfortable seating for the entire family, including cushioned bow upholstery with removable back backrests tip-down, transform seating, an insulated cooler, and much more.
Blackfin – perfect for both family bonding and professional fishing.
The Intrepid 407 Panacea functions as the ultimate day boat as well as a fishing powerhouse.
Its 72-square-foot cabin features luxurious appointments. Those include real wood veneers, solid surface countertops, lots of storage, head with separate shower, galley featuring a sink, microwave, and a pull-out refrigerator. A host of skylights that give the Intrepid 407 Panacea a light and airy feel.
Powered by standard triple 300-hp engines, the 407 Panacea runs to 65 mph on the deep-V, step-bottom hull and cruises up to 450 miles at 38 mph. The helm and dash offer space for electronics, and a multitude of seating options accommodate guests.
The boat also includes standard dual dive platforms with a boarding ladder, and this design fulfills the “means of solo reboarding,” which is a recommendation of the American Boat and Yacht Council.
The Regulator 41 offers a newly integrated wraparound windshield that offers more protection at the helm. In addition, the aft mezzanine seat with prep and tackle center and overhead SureShade provides additional cockpit seating without compromising fishing amenities.
Redesigned tower access makes the dual helm even more attractive and below deck, an expanded cabin features a galley, double berth and spacious head with shower. Serious anglers will love the optional Taco Grand Slam 380 outrigger bases with 20-foot carbon fiber telescoping poles and huge livewell and fish-box capacity.
Powered by Yamaha’s all-new quad XF425-hp engines, there’s added stability with the Seakeeper 6 stabilization system.
When the going gets rough in the BlackWater 43 SF, you probably won’t notice. Due to an aggressive bottom design and an overbuilt 18,000-pound dry-weight hull, the 43 SF (LOA: 43′, Beam: 11′ 11″) carves through the waves.
When powered by quad Mercury Verado 350-hp engines, the 780-gallon fuel tank has a range of 650 miles. Standard features include a dive door, second-row seating, oversized T-top, and air conditioning in the cabin and at the helm station. The console cabin has more than six feet of headroom and offers a large berth, toilet and shower. The helm can house up to two 24-inch Garmin screens along with all the electronics and features needed. When the sun goes down, custom color changing LED lighting sets the mood while the amazing sound system comes to life.
The Grady-White Canyon 306 center console (LOA: 30′ 6″, Beam: 10′ 7″) takes on bluewater fishing with her SeaV2® hull performance and true self-bailing cockpit, while offering more creature comforts than ever. The dynamic helm design is highly functional and versatile and has ample room for two 16-inch displays with dedicated space for multiple electronics.
Practicality continues in the bow with forward-facing, fold-away backrests adding to an already family-friendly lounge area. The re-engineered T-top with full-height windshield, dry-storage and LED lighting provides protection from rough weather conditions. Powered by twin Yamaha 300-hp outboard engines, the boat runs to a top speed of 50.5 mph on the SeaV2 hull, and cruises at 30.2 mph for a range of 478.5 miles using the 290-gallon fuel tank.
The Southport 33 ST (Sport Tower) builds upon the heritage of Southport as a stable, dry and seaworthy offshore boat, and now adds the advantage of the performance of triple engines and extra fishing capability of the Sport Tower. The 33 ST (LOA: 32′ 6″, Beam: 10′ 8″) is a variant of the 33 FE (Family Edition), which shows the versatility of the Southport 33 platform. Powered by triple Yamaha or Suzuki 300-hp engines, the Southport 33 ST reaches 63 mph and cruises comfortably anywhere between 25 and 40 mph, with no added motion from the all-aluminum and fiberglass fully customizable sport tower.
Like all Southport models, she corners like on rails and never shows any signs of confusion or uncertainty no matter the sea conditions. Once you arrive on the fi sh, the massive forward and aft cockpits leave plenty of room for setting up gear and working fish, with the helmsman high above it all.
The Florida builder’s 158CS (LOA: 15′ 1″, Beam: 6′ 7″) Center Console offers Perma-Grid construction and a deep-V hull design to give it the feel of a much larger o shore boat. Powered by a Yamaha 70-hp engine, the 158CS is expected to run to a top speed of approximately 33 mph.
The versatile EdgeWater 158CS features a huge cockpit with self-bailing decks, the unsinkability every EdgeWater is known for, and a full-beam bench seat. In the bow, there is a large insulated storage box, and the Center Console has a clamshell design for easy access and additional storage. A big transom platform with an aft boarding ladder makes beach days even more enjoyable.
