Best Center Console Boats: The Best Brands Across the Spectrum

Center console boats are a wildly popular type of fishing boat, and they’ve also become quite widespread for use as day cruisers, family boats, and for general recreation on the water. Stated simply, a center console boat has its helm in the center of the boat. It provides a comfortable position for sitting or standing, typically with the protection of a windshield, offers ample 360-degree deck space and fishability, and often provides shade from a T-top. Most center consoles for sale on the market today have outboard power and are wonderfully versatile, available from trailerable 17-foot models up to 50 feet and over with cabins and heads. In past articles, we’ve looked at the best center console boats under 25 feet and the best luxury center console boats over 40 feet. Here we shine a spotlight on the top-selling center console boat brands and models for fishing and recreation in categories across the spectrum including:

Best Center Console Fishing Boats

We’ll dispense with this category quicky, because with very few exceptions all of the brands we’ll be talking about could also be categorized as fishing boats. Center consoles have long been a favored choice for fishing enthusiasts, and they line the marinas up and down the coast with their impressive set-ups, meaty outboard engines (two, three, or four are not uncommon), and a range of integrated fishing gear like rigging stations, tackle boxes, and livewells. Take your pick from any of the following center console boat brands, as they’re all primed and ready for the anglers in your family.

Best Center Console Bay Boats

Bay boats are designed for inshore and backcountry anglers, and hybrid bay boats are intended to also be offshore capable for jaunts away from the coast when the weather is nice. They have modified-V hulls to minimize draft, low-slung gunwales for easily landing fish, and elevated casting platforms for maximizing casting distance. Finding the best bay boat for you can be tough simply because there are so many different models out there to choose from, but here are some of our top picks.

Caymas

Caymas is a relative newcomer having launched in 2018. They also have a relatively limited lineup, including 26’ and 28’ hybrid bay boats. They’re standouts, however, thanks to an impeccable fit and finish and the fact that they ride on the unique Stepped Vee Ventilated Tunnel (SVVT) hull, which has twin steps feeding an aft tunnel. This boosts speed and efficiency by around 15 percent over standard-issue hullforms, and some of their boats are capable of 70-plus-mph speeds.

The Caymas 281 HB is a particularly unusual model in that it runs with twin outboards, up to a total power of 600 hp. The vast majority of bay boats stick with a single engine. In this case, however, it delivers the redundancy many anglers want when running into the ocean or deep into the backcountry, as well as hat-stripping speeds that can exceed the 70 mph mark. 

Caymas 26 HB. Cayams Boats photo.

Pathfinder

Pathfinder boats were born and bred for the bay, with their entire lineup consisting of bay boats with the exception of one hybrid model. In all cases, these are high-performance fishing machines that often turn in top-end speeds in excess of 60 mph. They offer all the expected fishing features like livewells, casting decks, and integrated fishboxes, and several of their models also have family-friendly comfort features like additional seating and freshwater systems.

The Pathfinder 2200 TRS is their latest model, yet it’s also one of their originals—the boat was their most popular existing model but had been out for years, so Pathfinder redesigned and improved it. The 2200 TRS now has a slightly larger footprint, larger rod boxes and forward seating, and a flip-up bench seat integrated into the aft casting deck. And yes, in its new form it remains at the top of the popularity charts.

Pathfinder 2400 TRS. Pathfinder photo.

Ranger Boats

Ranger earns a spot in this roundup (and also in our article Best Aluminum Center Console Brands) not only because they have a well-deserved reputation for building great boats, but also because they offer both fiberglass and aluminum bay boat models. This gives anglers the choice of which type of construction material will serve them best, whereas most competing brands offer only one or the other. Also note that Ranger delivers complete turnkey boat-motor-trailer packages at clearly advertised pricing.

The RB190 is the least-expensive bay boat in their lineup yet it’s also a standout, with all the trappings and accessories of a larger, more expensive boat but at a fraction of the price. It even includes high-end features like a trolling motor, fishfinder, and Rawhide interior coating all as standard features. Added bonus: with a weight of 1,325 pounds, the RB190 is easily trailered with a modest tow vehicle.

Ranger RB190. Ranger Boats photo.

Best Offshore Fishing Center Console Boats

Offshore center consoles are built with two purposes in mind: making long runs through the ocean and catching fish. Period. And while any center console of competent size might be able to reach the offshore grounds, boats that are dedicated to the task will make the run more pleasant and faster. If hunting for big game pelagics is your speed, these are some top sport fishing boat brands to check out.

Contender

Contender boats are known for riding on an uber-aggressive deep-V hullform to slice through rough seas at high speeds in comfort. Their offshore fleet ranges from a 24-footer all the way up to a 43’10”, 1,800-hp, twin-stepped oceanic beast that can run at speeds in excess of 60 mph. Note also that Contenders are highly customizable and can be outfitted and rigged to match specific types of fishing.

The latest offering from Contender is their 24S, a model that brings some family-friendly features to a hard-core fishing boat. It includes additional seating, a head in the console compartment, a four-speaker stereo system, and a swim platform with a telescopic ladder. On the angling front, the fish-hauling capacity is a huge highlight, with a whopping 94 gallons of capacity in the main box, a second box that can hold 43 gallons, and a pair of 30-gallon boxes in the aft deck.

Contender 39 FA. Contender photo.

Everglades

If you’re looking for the top of the market, consider the Everglades range of sportfishing center console boats, tournament-ready for offshore fishing with exclusive and luxurious finishings. Versatile and powerful, their offshore boats have Yamaha outboard engines, large integrated fishboxes, and helms kitted out with the latest technology.

While Everglades has a wide-ranging lineup, their largest offering, the 455cc, has made an indelible mark on the center console market. Introduced in 2021, the 455cc combines the fishability of a offshore center console with the luxury level of a yacht and the space of a large sportfish. Highlights include an upper station with room for three; two-row helm seating; a console cabin with berth, galley, and head; and air conditioning both inside and out.

Everglades 395CC. Everglades photo.

Regulator

Regulator Marine builds a lineup of deep-V offshore center consoles up to the 41’3” quad-engine Regulator 41, but it also builds some of the smallest offshore-capable boats around. They’re designed around aggressive deep-V hulls and feature bracket-mounted outboard power to attain an ideal balance and the smoothest ride possible in a deep-V monohull. Regulators also have a well-earned reputation for being built exceptionally tough.

The Regulator 23 is a standout, as it’s every bit as able to handle the ocean as many boats with far more LOA. The 23 also has a range of hundreds of miles and is designed to ply the same waters as big sportfishing machines for the likes of tuna, billfish, and wahoo. Many would consider this boat to be the most capable offshore fishing machine of its size.

Regulator 23. Regulator photo.

Best Catamaran Center Consoles

This category could be combined with offshore center consoles to some degree, because catamarans offer the smooth ride and long range that offshore anglers demand. Yet they have a number of other unusual traits, like carrying the full beam forward (creating more space aboard) and maintaining excellent stability.

Freeman

Freeman’s line is unquestionably among the best catamaran fishing boats around, and their boats are all designed for long runs through the ocean at high speeds. All of their models are capable of cruising through rough seas more smoothly than monohulls of the same size, too, and all are rigged to the teeth with livewells, fishboxes, tackle stations, and angling accouterments that serious offshore fishermen demand.

Freeman’s 42LR is a model that made this company famous for long-range fishing abilities. Able to cruise at speeds in the 50 mph range for hours on end, in comfort even when the seas are choppy, this boat quickly became something of a cult classic when it was launched in 2017. It also became a favorite among anglers making 60-, 80-, even 100-mile cruises into the ocean and was adopted by much of the long-range charter fishing fleet.

Freeman 37VH. Freeman Boatworks photo.

Invincible

One of the rare builders that offers a full lineup of both monohull and catamaran boats, the Invincible line of 33- to 46-footers are all oriented to offshore angling. Each and every one also offers customizable rigging, so you can choose how many livewells to get and where they’re located, what sort of outriggers you want, and so on. Also note that Invincible boats have topnotch fit and finish, and are just as well known for their great looks as they are for their offshore fishing prowess.

The newest model in their lineup, the 38 Catamaran, will be an eye-opener for any bluewater angler. This boat has been recorded topping 79 mph and runs on a pair of twin-stepped hullforms. With over 600 nautical miles of range there are no coastal fishing grounds outside of its capabilities, and once on-site it offers virtually every fishing accouterment and accessory known to man.

Invincible 33 Catamaran. Invincible photo.

World Cat

The World Cat brand is one of the oldest production-built catamaran brands around, building only powercats since its founding. Today they offer one of the widest ranges on the market, starting with a 22’7” bay boat style cat and ranging up to the potent 400 CC-X—which can be rigged with quadruple outboards up to 1,200 horsepower. World Cat also lays claim to being the largest builder of outboard-powered catamarans in the world.

The 235TE is a one-of-a-kind boat, offering anglers an easily trailerable, affordable, compact catamaran that can handle offshore waters. While most catamaran builders focus strictly on larger, more expensive offerings, World Cat doesn’t leave the rest of the world behind in its wake. The 235TE also features creative design and exceptional fishability for both inshore and offshore, with raised casting decks, integrated fishboxes and tackle stations, livewells, and more.

World Cat 260CC-X. World Cat photo.

Best Center Console Deck Boats

The best deck boat brands offer models with more interior room and more versatility than most other types of boats, and while there aren’t a huge number of deck boats designed with a center console, many builders offer a model or two. If you want a deck boat and you also want a center console, these top picks should be on your must-see list.

Starcraft

The SVX OB CC series from Starcraft offers up three center console deck boats from 18’11” to 22’8”. They’re a relatively new fiberglass offering from the brand (which builds both aluminum and fiberglass boats) and are designed with an eye on sporty performance as well as mixing fishing and family time. 

The 231 CC is sure to be a hit with family fishermen who feel the need for speed; it can go in excess of 55 mph with a 250-hp outboard and is rated for another 50 horses if you so choose. The boat has all the basics for fishing, like rod holders, an option for a trolling motor, and bow and stern livewells, yet it also has the family favorites like forward lounge seating and fore and aft swim platforms. 

Starcraft SVX 231 OB CC. Starcraft Marine photo.

Stingray

One of the largest lines of center console deck boats comes from Stingray, with six models from 17’3” to 27’11”. All are designed with fishing and family comfort in mind and feature a complete complement of fishing options. What really separates Stingrays from the pack, however, is the bow design, which incorporates forward seating but trims it a bit from the deckboat norm to boost the available deck space in the bow. If a center console deck boat is appealing and you want it to lean a little more towards fishability as opposed to seating, a Stingray fits the bill.

The 173CC Stingray is a standout, as it’s one of the smallest center console deck boats on the market today. Yet despite its diminutive nature, this model has dual livewells, a pair of integrated coolers, seating both fore and aft, and elevated casting decks. If you’re looking for a boat of this design that’s easy to trailer and easy to afford, the 173CC may well be just the ticket.

Stingray 206CC. Stingray Boats photo.

Tahoe

The Tahoe line of deckboats includes the 2150 CC, which is all about mixing fishing in with family fun. It has the aft layout of a center console with the forward design of a deck boat, and boasts a livewell and tackle stowage—but also a ski tow pylon and a bow swim platform.

The 2150 CC is the only one of Tahoe’s deck boats to boast a center console design, yet although this builder is focused more on pleasure boating than fishing they clearly did their homework with the design and equipment. But be sure the optional fishing features are included, which gets you a fishfinder, fishing seats and pedestal bases, and an electric trolling motor on the bow.

Tahoe 2150 CC. Tahoe photo.

Best Small Center Console Boats

Small center console boats are an excellent choice for those who have modest tow vehicles, a limited budget, or an empty garage just waiting to have a boat parked inside. 

Carolina Skiff

This builder is famous for crafting boats that are small, simple, easy to maintain, and nearly indestructible, and it should come as no surprise they also made an appearance in our roundup of the best center console boats under 25 feet. They offer four different lines with dozens of models in all, from 15’11” to 26’. Many are very customizable, and Carolina Skiffs is also one of the few builders around that will sell a boat in kit form allowing you to customize it as much or as little as you’d like.

Speaking of having a boat however you’d like it, the E21 DLX is going to be tough to top. You can start with a bare hull and add forward or aft decks, or not, as you prefer. This is the style and flexibility that made Carolina Skiff famous, but after improving many of their models they stopped building the DLX. Now, it's been reintroduced—back by popular demand.

Carolina Skiff 21 LS. Carolina Skiff photo.

Parker Boats

Parker Boats has a reputation for building hardcore fishing machines, but has undergone a renaissance of sorts in the past few years and their models are now built with more consideration given to comfort, fit, and finish. Still, they remain eminently fishable and currently have seven boats under the 26’ mark down to the 185SE, an all-new model for 2024.

That 185SE is indicative of new-generation Parkers, with a slew of improvements over previous models of the same size. It’s now a two-piece construction, has more comfortable seating and a redesigned console, and it has an optional foredeck platform that can be added or removed to fit the plans for the day.

Parker 18SE. Parker Offshore photo.

Scout Boats

Although Scout Boats is best known today for its huge luxury models, this brand’s roots are in building small center consoles, and they continue to produce multiple models under 26’ today, all the way down to a diminutive 17’5”. Even the smallest, however, is built with the same dedication to quality and fit and finish as their million-dollar yachts.

If you want a 17-footer that looks like a million bucks, the 175 Sportfish is going to be on your short list. It has all the expected fishing accouterments as well as comfy seating and a raised bowdeck, but where it really stands out is simply the high-end fit and finish. Few boats in this size range–or more specifically this price range–deliver a similar level of detail.

Scout 175 Sportfish. Scout photo.

Most Affordable Center Console Brands

Boats can be tough to afford, so for many people pricing counts in a big way. Just about anyone can find an affordable boat, however, either by searching used boats for sale or by doing their homework. This batch of boats may not be “cheap,” but they do undersell the competition.

Axopar

Launched in 2014, the Finnish brand Axopar created huge waves in the industry upon its introduction. Their boats have distinctive styling that many love, and they are built for all-around adventuring at sea. Many are not equipped for fishing but instead have cruising accessories. And they land a spot here because the company’s ethos is to keep their boats moderately priced to provide excellent value for the money. Their under-30-foot models have cabins and heads, enclosed helms, and a whole suite of features, all at enticing prices when stacked up against the competition.

The newest Axopar model, the 29 CCX, marks their first attempt at building a fishing-dedicated boat. While multiple cockpit layouts still allow for customizing the 29 CCX to be more or less inclined to serious angling, fish-specific versions feature an open cockpit, a 33-gallon livewell, a tackle station, raw water washdown, an insulated fishbox, and options for rod holders of various levels. The 29 CCX just recently hit the market so how it will be accepted by hard core anglers is yet to be seen, however, if Axopar’s previous level of success is any indication it should be a hit.

Axopar 28 T-top. Axopar photo.

Bayliner

With a range of models and styles at attractive prices, Bayliner boats are well worth a look if you’re just starting out your boating journeys or working hard to manage limited funds. The features you get as standard are akin to those you would get from high-end brands, including livewells, rod storage, and an enclosed head even on many of their smaller models. Bayliner specializes in smaller center console boats, and pricing is often a fraction of what some brands charge for similarly sized models.

Their largest offering, the T24CC, probably gets you more LOA for your money than any other new center console option in its class. With its 8’6” beam and 4,466-pound displacement, it can still be easily towed to various fishing locations and thanks to that LOA, cruise through open waters that might feel uncomfortable or dicey in a smaller boat.

Bayliner T20CC. Bayliner photo.

Sportsman

If you’re looking for an affordable center console that ticks a lot of boxes, consider the Sportsman range. They bring a lot to the table, whether it’s cruising the bay, tackling offshore seas on calmer days, fishing, or spending time with the family cruising and swimming. Sportsman thoroughly equips all their models for fishing and is open and upfront about their pricing, with simple packages and no hidden extras, so what you see is what you get.

The smallest Sportsman Open model, the 212, is also their latest introduction. A 21’ boat is ideal in countless coastal bays and inshore waters, and this model comes in turnkey form with a 12” touchscreen GPS/fishfinder, all the fishing features you could ask for, and also the Seakeeper Ride vessel attitude control system. That means the boat runs with far, far less pitch and roll, making everyone aboard more comfortable. For many anglers, this also means you can fish longer and run farther than you would in other boats of the same size.

Sportsman Heritage 261. Sportsman photo.

Best Luxury Center Console Boats

Once upon a time center consoles were rugged fishing machines with few frills. These days, however, the right center console can land you in the lap of luxury. 

Chris-Craft

The name Chris-Craft is synonymous with luxury, and after 150 years of boatbuilding they certainly know how to build a head-turning boat that will last. It probably doesn’t need to be said, but Chris-Craft boats don’t come cheap. Still, you’re getting some of the finest craftsmanship in the industry. With teak trim, booming stereo systems, and sun lounger style seating, all their models are things of beauty.

The Catalina series is their center console line, and while it includes three models between 26’10” and 33’9”, the Catalina 30 is the largest and certainly the most impressive. Above the livewell you’ll see diamond-stitched upholstery, under the leaning post you’ll discover a refrigerator, and casting from the bowdeck you’ll be standing on teak. Press a button and a sunshade extends out from under the T-top. Luxurious? You bet.

Chris-Craft Catalina 30. Chris-Craft photo.

Pursuit

Pursuit’s Sport Center Console lineup includes seven models and from the S248 to the S428, each and every one designed to land the entire crew in the lap of luxury. Their over-stuffed seating with fast-dry foam, mesh backing, and lumbar support is so unusual the company has it patented, and many convertible items are electrically actuated so you can presto-change-o a seat into a lounger at the flip of a switch. These boats also feature an amazing attention to detail that results in an utterly flawless finish.

If you want the ultimate in luxury the 428 Sport will be the pick. This model has a center console cabin so large it includes a dinette that converts into a berth, a galley, and a full stand-up head compartment.The hullside folds down to create a “beach club” style swim platform, and adjusting the helm or passenger seating means merely pressing a button.

Pursuit S 358. Pursuit photo.

Valhalla

Valhalla Boatworks was established in 2019, and one might be forgiven for thinking this is a new boatbuilder. In fact, the brand was started by the famed Viking Yachts to enter the center console market. And they’ve made quite a splash since jumping in with a lineup of seven models from 28’1” to 55’7”. 

The V-55, queen of the fleet, is known as one of the most luxurious center consoles on the water today, period. Perks include a saloon/two-stateroom air-conditioned console cabin, two rows of helm-deck seating, and handcrafted interior woodwork worthy of an art gallery. And yes, it does have a full complement of fishing features, too.

Valhalla V-55. Valhalla Boatworks photo.

Best Family Center Console Boats

Center consoles are nothing if not versatile, and these days what is classed as a fishing boat can easily function as a very comfortable and roomy family boat, too. Having said that, there are brands out there whose focus is less on tournament-level fishing and more on recreation. These family center console boats will have more places to relax, plush and adjustable seating, and larger consoles with extra space dedicated to a head compartment. They are geared for family days on the water whether it’s inshore or offshore, and often have perks like stereo systems and ski tow bits as well.

Boston Whaler

One of the top names in the industry—they’re known as ‘The Unsinkable Legend’—Boston Whaler has an impressive range of center consoles designed both for fishing and recreation. The Outrage and Dauntless models offer huge open bows with generous seating, and their reputation for creating ultra-strong, dependable, high-quality boats has only grown stronger ever since they launched their first boat in 1958.

While Boston Whaler has a huge lineup of center consoles in different flavors (the Montauk, Dauntless, and Outrage models are all varieties of center consoles), the 250 Outrage holds a unique place as a boat that can be used inshore, offshore, and for family jaunts, and be equally at home in any of these situations. It can be rigged with twin 200 or 225 horsepower outboards and has the deep-V and safety features needed for bluewater adventures, yet maintains a draft of under two feet and is light enough to trailer. At the same time, it also has the comfortable seating, protected helm, and high gunwales that most families will want.

Boston Whaler 360 Outrage. Boston Whaler photo.

Grady-White

With 10 center consoles from the diminutive Fisherman 180 to the grandiose Canyon 456, plus three center console Coastal Explorer hybrid bay boats, the Grady-White lineup of fishing boats keeps a steady eye on serving the entire family. Their boats have touches like freshwater systems with transom showers, comfortable seating, wireless phone chargers, and integrated swim platforms and ladders to keep everyone aboard happy and smiling.

While all of the Grady-Whites are impressive, the queen of the fleet is simply jaw-dropping. On the Canyon 456 you’ll enjoy air conditioning both inside and outside, a cabin that most 40-foot cruisers would be jealous of, and the ride of a wave-squashing SeaV2 variable-degree deadrise hull. It would prove perfect not only for going out with the family, but also the kid’s friend’s families. We could go on and on here, people, but you’ve got to see this boat for yourself to believe it.

Grady-White Fisherman 236. Grady-White photo.

Robalo

From their 16-footer to the 29’2” R302, the Robalo lineup of center consoles is designed with family fishing in mind, and these boats have gobs of comfy seating, heads in the console, and all the amenities you need for a day on the water with the kids. They also have an edge in how they’re packaged and priced, because Robalo has a well-deserved reputation for offering complete and well-equipped boat-motor-trailer packages at reasonable pricing that won’t bust the family budget.

While Robalo has quite an extensive selection of models, the latest news is that they’ve brought the R160 back into their lineup. One of the smallest of production center consoles made by a major builder, it was out of production for several years. Now it’s back, creating an affordable starting point for young families searching for a fishing boat that also takes their needs into account.

Robalo R230. Robalo photo.

The universe of center console boats is a huge one, and finding the ideal model for you and your family is no small task. Hopefully by now, however, you have an idea of some top choices that fit the bill for your needs. Ready, get set, start boat shopping!

This article was most recently updated in November 2024 by Lenny Rudow.