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Pilothouse boats are not a new design, and these sturdy vessels hold their origins in the workhorse fishing boats of colder climes such as Scandinavia and northern United States. Yet their popularity as recreational or sport fishing boats is certainly on the rise, and today there are many excellent brands from which to choose.
So what makes the pilothouse boat so appealing?
As the name suggests, pilothouse boats have an enclosed wheelhouse, with the helm station completely sealed from all sides. This allows for weather protection in cold or adverse weather and can therefore extend the fishing or boating season. The pilothouse offers all-round visibility, it can be heated (or air conditioned), and some models have surprisingly spacious cabins, heads, and small galleys, too. The hard top allows for the mounting of radar domes and antennae, and the enclosed area provides a quiet area for socializing.
There is a lot of crossover between pilothouse boats and other categories of boat, plus many different designs and sizes. Many are center consoles, with a pilothouse built around the console and many are walkarounds, while others could also be trawlers, tugs, RIBS, sportfishing boats, yachts, cruisers, and even cabin boats. While there is no hard and fast rule on the size of a pilothouse boat, there are many around 30 to 35 feet and others ranging from quite a bit smaller up to large yacht sizes as big as 80 feet). In this article, we’ll focus mostly on smaller pilothouse boats for cruising, fishing, offshore, and a few in the luxury category. We'll also share some of the best brands to look out for when choosing which to buy, whether it’s a new pilothouse boat or a used one.
Defiance Boats 250 Admiral EX. Defiance photo.
The Best Pilothouse Boat Brands for Cruising
- Ranger Tugs: One of the biggest names in the American boating industry, Ranger Tugs, is renowned for their robust, safe, well-designed tug boats, which thanks to their enclosed helm stations can also be classified as pilothouse boats. From the compact R-23, complete with a forward cabin, to the impressive R-43 Command Bridge, their current range retains the traditional styling of their workhorse ancestors. You’ll find plenty of Ranger Tugs on the used market too, with the success of previous models inspiring the current range.
- Raider Boats: Raider has been producing an impressive range of strong, reliable aluminum boats for over 30 years. Their range of 15 models—most of which are trailerable as they're under 30 feet in length—are versatile and can be easily configured to suit any use, from cruising to offshore, and fishing. Their construction methods are extraordinary, ensuring that every part of the vessel is as tough as possible, and that makes these one of our top choices for cruising.
Raider Boats 250 SeaRaider. Raider photo.
The Best Offshore Pilothouse Boat Brands
- Parker Offshore: Parker Offshore is another big name in the pilothouse sector, and to this day, the company continues to build hand-crafted, high-quality boats for commercial and governmental use, as well as recreational and sportfishing boats. With its origins in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Parker has built a reputation for strong, simple, seaworthy vessels, and their range Sport Cabins—all under 30 feet—exemplify everything we look for in a sturdy offshore pilothouse boat.
- Kingfisher: With seven models in the Offshore Series alone, ranging from 25 to 35 feet (and another five in the Coastal Series), you have plenty to choose from when it comes to serious offshore pilothouse boats. Kingfisher’s popularity is rising at a rate of knots and today it’s the fastest growing brand of welded heavy-gauge boats in North America.
Parker Boats 2320SC. Parket Boats photo.
The Best Pilothouse Fishing Boat Brands
- Steiger Craft: Steiger Craft was founded in 1972—on the site of Alan Steiger's grandfather's bakery, which is still its home to this day—and their range of robust, functional, and trailerable fishing boats are all constructed by hand. While not all of Steiger's fishing craft are pilothouses, models such as the 28 and 31 Miami offer the chance to extend the fishing season and have more space for mounting of rods. These are undoubtedly some of the best offshore-ready fishing and family-friendly pilothouses on the market.
- Defiance Boats: Defiance describe their boats as the “ultimate sportfishing machine” and these compact, sturdy boats are able to take you safely 50 miles offshore to fish for tuna, Pacific Halibut, or Alaskan king salmon. Built with a 100% composite construction (no wood used), their boats are tough as nails, and the brand subsequently offers one of the most aggressive lifetime hull warranties on the market today. From the no-frills Admiral Series, to the family-friendly San Juan Series, there are plenty of sizes, styles, and accessories available.
Steiger Craft 28 Miami. Steiger Craft photo.
The Best Small Pilothouse Boat Brands
- Osprey: Several of the brands on this list fall within the small pilothouse boat category, but one of the best-known brands in this size range is the excellent Osprey line of boats. The brand has been around since 1989 and has a range of five current models (built on the success of older models that can be found on the used market). Ranging from the 24-foot Talon to the 30-foot Destination, these rugged fishing cruisers pack in a plethora of features including an insulated cabin, galley counter and sink, and 56-square-foot deck—and all that is on their smallest model.
- SeaSport: The sleek lines and sheer ruggedness of the Sea Sport range makes these one of our favorite brands of small pilothouse boats. In fact, SeaSport says that their smallest model, the Sportsman 2200, is their most popular. With a dinette, sleeping accommodation for four, tons of storage space, and room to cook simple meals in the galley, it can easily transport a family on overnight cruising or fishing expeditions.
Osprey 24 Talon. Osprey photo.
The Best Affordable Pilothouse Boat Brands
- C-Dory: At Rightboat we feel that what is “affordable” is impossible to quantify absolutely and is different with each boat buyer. So we focus more on value for money, and for that reason we include C-Dory boats on this list. Not only do you get the high performance, impressive cabin space, and all the fishing extras you could need, but the classic styling makes these boats seem like much more expensive brands. The 25-foot Tomcat fishing catamaran in particular offers excellent value for money thanks to the increased interior space you get compared to a monohull of the same length.
- North Coast: Again, when we classify North Coast in this category, we don't mean these are cheap boats. What we mean is that you're getting bang for the buck with impressive speed, tons of fishing extras, plus sleek lines and a spacious cabin. They offer exceptional hydrodynamic efficiency, innovative hulls, and reliable offshore capabilities. Until recently the 315HT (which can sleep three and has a separate head) was their largest pilothouse model, but the new flagship 415HT under construction now offers sportfishing and weekend cruising in a very attractively priced package.
C-Dory 25 Tomcat Catamaran. C-Dory photo.
The Best Luxury Pilothouse Boat Brands
- Axopar: Finnish brand Axopar is a name to watch as they continue to expand their already impressive range of luxurious day cruising and adventure boats. In the latter group are their XC Cross Cabin boats ranging from 28 to 45 feet in length, with sleek, elongated lines, and innovative designs that include features such as a gullwing door opening the cabin onto a foredeck with seating or large sundeck. They've been awarded some of the most prestigious awards in the industry, showing just how much of a stir they're making with these new ruggedly handsome and downright luxurious adventure boats.
- Nord Kapp Boats: Another Scandinavian brand is Norwegian Nord Kapp whose Coupe and RS Series offer some seriously luxurious and adventurous pilothouse models. They describe their boats as “more than just muscle—they're practical, efficient, and spacious” but we think they're being a bit humble. These are bold, high-performance powerboats that look as cool as they are cutting edge, technologically. Able to handle cold weather (thanks to Webasto heaters in the cabin), the Coupe 830, 905, 905 V12, and RS 800C are capable of extending your season significantly.
Axopar 37 XC Cross Cabin. Axopar photo.
