If you’re boating to saltwater fish, Yamaha offers motors perfect for your way of fishing.

Yamaha—known worldwide for building powerful, reliable outboards—has a lineup of outboards richer than ever, with models matched to all saltwater anglers.

It has perfected superior ­corrosion-resistant finishes and watertight connections for installation or re-powering. Plus, operation and navigation are easier, smoother and more precise—especially with the digital controls available in 150 to 425 hp outboards.

No wonder you see the Yamaha brand on the transoms of so many boats.

For the Flats: Light and Fast

To get to the hotspot swiftly and efficiently on one of these skinny-water boats, you can’t beat these 90 to 115 hp, four-stroke Yamaha “Midrange Rock Stars.”

At just 377 pounds, the 1.8-liter, inline four-cylinder F115 is a lightweight powerhouse in its class. And that means everything in the light, swift skiffs that prowl the skinny water.

The F115’s powerful design means fast acceleration needed for the flats.

The F90 is 24 pounds lighter yet. The F115 and F90 share 1.8-liter displacement and four-valves-per-cylinder designs, with a single, on the F90, or double, on the F115, overhead cam.

They have 35-amp alternators to power gear and maintain batteries, are available with mechanical remote or tiller control, and can be equipped with 20- or 25-inch shafts. You can even access variable trolling revolutions per minute via the CommandLink® tachometer.

Inshore, Big Bays and Coastal

These waters call for more power. Maybe a lightweight, efficient Yamaha inline-four between 150 and 200 hp is perfect for you?

The “fours” provide light, efficient, versatile power, with your choice of mechanical or ­digital control—or even Yamaha’s next-gen Helm Master® EX boat-control system. 

With several different models of 150, 175, and 200 horsepower, Yamaha’s proven 16-valve, DOHC inline-four design maximizes power and fuel efficiency with features like precision multipoint fuel injection and long-track intake systems. There’s even variable camshaft timing on the F200 and V MAX SHO® 150 models, for added acceleration and midrange punch.

Shifting is quiet, thanks to Yamaha ­propellers available with Shift Dampener System. All but one—the 2.7-liter, 150 hp mechanical 35-amp—of the inline-fours have 50-amp alternators to keep electronics, including digital controls, well-fed.

Offshore? For Sure!

When the land drops out of sight—especially if the seas build—the outboard seems even more important, with the goal being safe and reliable fishing. Here, the bigger Yamahas (V6 4.2-liter Offshore outboards, from 225 to 300 hp) do more than just step up to the plate.

These award-winning outboards, now in both mechanical and digital control ­versions, have been offshore favorites for more than a decade, prized for power, ­efficiency and ­reliability.

With a fresh new look, the 250 and 300 boast digital controls and electric steering to make them incredibly responsive and simpler to install, lacking hydraulic pumps and lines.
The Yamaha 4.2-liter V6s feature harder-than-steel plasma-fused, sleeveless cylinder walls, producing larger cylinder bores without decreasing weight and outer-cylinder dimensions. This means more displacement and torque from the same-dimension powerplant.

Electronically controlled throttle valves work in concert with precision multipoint fuel injection to ensure a precise mix of air and fuel, while six sensors monitor vital ­atmospheric and engine conditions so the engine-control module can make adjustments for best ­performance. Variable camshaft ­timing increases power and throttle response.

And Now: The Ultimate Offshore Yamaha

The crown jewel, the state-of-the-outboard-art, the pinnacle of Yamaha engineering: The 425-horsepower XTO Offshore® has integrated electric power steering, electronic digital controls and integrated autopilot systems.

Purpose-built from the ground up to ­withstand the rigors of offshore boating, the XTO Offshore introduces a new class of extreme offshore power and reliability. Boatbuilders often replace three 300 hp outboards with two 425s, saving maintenance.

Boating’s first direct-injection four-strokes adopt the proven fuel-delivery system of the automotive industry. Idle speed and reverse thrusting are improved by the automatic diversion of exhaust above the cavitation plate. For efficiency at high speeds, it is diverted to the prop hub at 2,500 rpm. 

Originally thought to be the exclusive domain of multioutboard boats, the Yamaha XTO Offshore has found a home on large single engine craft as well.

Never content, Yamaha engineers have added to the XTO Offshore a new charging system with the highest net amps: 96 amps of net charging power in neutral. Called the Phase Angle Control Charging System, it won one of the International Boatbuilders’ Exhibition and Conference’s Innovation Award honors in 2020.

At the Helm, an Improved Master

Yamaha’s Helm Master EX integrated boat-control system is the conduit for all anglers’ needs and abilities.

From a single engine—an industry first—to quintuple installations, the Helm Master EX expands on the functionality, ease of ­maneuvering, single-button fishing and positioning functions within the SetPoint® suite (including StayPoint®, FishPoint® and TrackPoint®). Helm Master EX further broadens inmode joystick adjustability for the autopilot and SetPoint; offers more automated essential boat operations; and in most Yamaha outboards from the 2.8-liter F150 and up, allows the addition of fully electric steering. (The XTO Offshore 425, of course, already boasts built-in electric steering.) 

You can even add digital electric steering to most existing Yamaha outboards with digital controls. With the Helm Master EX, boating and fishing are simply easier.

Maintenance Matters

Even maintenance is easier with Yamaha: The MyYamahaOutboards app tracks both dealer-completed service and do-it-yourself ­maintenance. Your complete maintenance history is at your fingertips, along with ­custom trip logs and checklists, service requests, and more.

For many—if not most—saltwater anglers, there’s more than one species to seek, perhaps more than one perfect boat to do it in, and maybe even a choice among a handful of powerplants. But on that last detail, there’s just one brand: Yamaha.

If you’re a saltwater angler, it won’t be a tough decision. This company’s got you ­covered.

The post Saltwater Anglers: Yamaha’s Got You Covered appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

But this year—the ninth—we decided it was time for us to make a change.

Instead of putting the responsibility on you to nail down the top attributes, best running boats and hardest fishers on the water, our editorial team is stepping up to share its insight on the best boats for 2022. 

Our team has over 120 years of combined experience on fishing boats, and we aren’t lying when we say we’ve been on the best—and the worst—of them. In this compilation of top fishing boats, you’ll see the established names of iconic boats such as Grady-White, Contender, Invincible, Pursuit, Yellowfin, and many more of the top-shelf names that win awards every model year.

Our editors will tell you what they thought did best, how the boats handled and what options were most appreciated.

You’ll find some fresher boat brands in the list too, such as Caymas, Barker, Solace, Sea Cat and Yamaha. These brands are building a track record of success drawing on a massive treasury of talent from the boatbuilding industry. Our teams have skippered these boats and found they measure up to your consideration.

This guide is not just about individual boats, either. It is also an outstanding reference tool for shopping boats that you can use to peruse models we may not have reviewed.

Topics Include:

How to spot quality in a boat for both inshore and offshore boats. Reading this gives you the knowledge base you need to browse boat shows and dealer showrooms, armed with the ability to evaluate specific points of construction for yourself.

“Expansion Plan” will guide you through the maze of electronics selections, offering insight our editors have gained from thousands of hours on the water and dozens of hours with each brand presented.

“Control Freaks” identifies a popular new steering mechanism swiftly making its way to many helms for 2022. Some of it is so simple that you can add it to your existing boat.

The coolest gear for 2022—we’ve touched this stuff and even fished some of it, and you’re definitely going to want these items for your boat.

So, pull your fishing cap a little tighter, settle back into your favorite chair, and let us do the hard work of boat selection for you. 

Editor’s Guide to Buying Fish Boats

You should notice a distinct difference in this guide from the previous eight we’ve done. Most noteworthy, the Sport Fishing, Salt Water Sportsman and Marlin editorial teams have taken up the task of reviewing 28 boats and offering personal insight into each.

On every boat profile, you’ll find an editor weighing in with their personal perspective. See below for a lineup of our expert editors.

We also asked each manufacturer to size up its boat as to application, customer or noteworthy design characteristics.

Our editors don’t stop at just boat reviews, either. Our editorial well is filled with advice from our editors on researching the boat you need and wading through the quagmire of marketing materials to get to the truth on their favorite boats. Nearly every page features a tip from one of our editors to help make your boat-buying task a pleasure. We hope you enjoy it!

About the Editors

Randy Vance

Editor-at-Large
Boating and Fishing Group

Vance’s credits include a decade as a professional fisherman, marine sales, and public relations for Bass Pro Shops and Outboard Marine Corp. Author of Power Boating for Dummies, Vance is a popular video boat-review host with millions of combined views, and is a 30-year veteran of outdoor and boating journalism. 

Glenn Law

Editor-in-Chief
Salt Water Sportsman

Law has written about fishing for longer than he can remember. Despite a broad background, his fishing ­interests are ­specific and narrow: flats-­fishing for bonefish, dead-bait trolling for white marlin and sailfish, fly-fishing for tarpon, plugging for tuna, cubera snapper and roosterfish, and live-chumming offshore.

Kevin Falvey

Editorial Director Boating, Fishing and
Watersports Groups

Falvey is a ­boatbuilder, a former boatyard manager, a tournament-­winning fishing captain, and the author of Falvey’s Guide to Fishing Long Island. With a degree in journalism, he resides in eastern Long Island with his two daughters, where they live the boating life.

Jim Hendricks

Staff Editor
Fishing Group

Hendricks has spent 45 years as a boat captain, saltwater angler and marine/fishing journalist, and has served for 10 years as the West Coast and electronics editor for the Bonnier Fishing Group. Over his career, he has tested and reported on hundreds of fishing boats, marine engines and equipment, including his vast knowledge of marine electronics.

Sam White

Editor-in-Chief
Marlin

White grew up offshore fishing in southeastern North Carolina and the famed Outer Banks before moving to Florida’s Gulf Coast in 2002 to pursue his two biggest passions: fishing and writing. An avid tournament angler, he’s won several events in Mexico and Central America, and his love of travel has taken him around the globe to chase big-game fish.

Steve Griffin

Freelance Writer
Builder Showcases

A full-time outdoors writer for several decades, Griffin has written extensively about boats large and small—the latter including his grandfather’s 1959 12-foot car-topper, in which Griffin now boats with his grandson. Griffin’s many writing awards from state, regional and national writing organizations include several in boating-specific categories. His work appears in newspapers, magazines and several books. He currently resides in Michigan.

Chris Woodward

Executive Editor
Fishing Group

Woodward joined Sport Fishing as an editor in 2001. Along with writing and editing fishing articles, she shoots photos and video, manages SF’s website and social media channels, and specializes in marine electronics and boat coverage. She primarily fishes inshore waters near her home in coastal Georgia.

Alex Suescun

Executive Editor
Salt Water Sportsman

A former fishing-travel specialist, pro tournament angler, freelance outdoor writer and TV-show host, Suescun has worn many different hats in the sport-fishing world over a career that spans more than 30 years. He joined the Salt Water Sportsman staff as an editor in 2014.

The post Shaking Up Nine Years of Boat Buying appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

“If you can dream it, you can do it. That’s the way we used to look at it when all we had was a 17-foot Aquasport,” says Michael Currey, regional manager for Skeeter Boats. “And we made it work for everything we wanted to do. Then they invented the flats boat, and then the bay boat, and we were into an evolution.” 

That evolution includes designs with the capability to handle a variety of fishing styles, such as hunting inshore shallows and offshore blue water. The range of models in modern bay-boat evolution represents not so much a particular identifiable design but rather a spectrum of possibilities. 

At one end of the spectrum lies the mission-specific boat for inshore waters: low gunwales, casting platforms fore and aft, and shallow draft but still eats up chop. On the other end, the offshore-oriented hybrid or crossover retains the features that make the bay boat utilitarian while incorporating elements more familiar on an offshore center-console. 

In the world of boat design, the compromise cliché has traditionally been baked in, but in no category of fishing boats is “compromise” so minimized as on the bay-hybrid spectrum.

Do It All

Versatility is certainly the bench mark in the broad popularity of this class of fishing boat. In addition to adaptability that ranges from flounder fishing along the shoreline to nearshore reefs and beyond, the functionality and safety features make the bay-hybrid class a comfortable adapter among fishing demands, family-and-friends cruising, and just hanging out. 

“Customers for our crossover 251 CE represent 10 percent hardcore fishermen; 10 percent who use the boat for family and cruising and don’t fish at all; and everybody else, who does both,” says Shelley Tubaugh, vice president of marketing for Grady-White Boats. 

Even among dedicated anglers, versatility has its appeal in both function and economics. 

“As the price of boats has gone up, anglers responded by looking for a boat that does more than one thing,” says Keith Ammons, VP of sales and marketing for Regulator Marine. “In the past, someone would have had a 28 offshore and a 16- or 18-foot inshore boat. Now they are looking for boats that truly cross over.”

As well as appealing to anglers who know what they are looking for, the category represents a perfect entry point for first buyers.

“First-time buyers may not have the experience to know if they will be fishing 90 percent of the time or hanging out, so they need a boat they can learn from and figure out what they want to do,” Ammons says.

Comfort and Utility

In a hybrid destined to do family as well as fishing duties, higher gunwales and coaming bolsters go a long way toward comfort and safety, especially when children are part of the crew. 

Typically, the hull combines the best qualities of an offshore deep-V and a float-in-dew flats skiff, meeting somewhere in the middle.

“Our hybrids are wide, and while maybe not the ideal offshore boat for everyone, the bow has a chop-eating Carolina flair,” Currey says. “We meet the needs of anglers who ride the razor’s edge to float shallow and handle bigger water.” 

That combination of sea handling and shallow-water operation lies at the heart of the hybrid hull design. “Even on inshore waters, it can blow up in the afternoon, and you can be facing 3- to 4-footers. That’s when a hybrid design is nice,” says Christian Carraway, product-design engineer for Grady-White Boats. “For that reason, in our 251 CE, we have retained the SeaV2 hull of our offshore models, with a flatter deadrise toward the transom.” 

Interior layout steps up to a higher standard in a hybrid. 

Foremost is seating. Die-hard anglers may be content to get by with a grab rail, but multiple-use buyers look to assure comfort on nonfishing days. 

“Secure, safe seating you can settle into is important to buyers,” Currey says. “Prospective buyers pay a lot of attention to the arrangement of the seating, comfort and security. I see buyers snuggling in, seeing how it feels. Seating is very important.”

Hand in hand with seating goes modularization. Even in a 26-foot boat, space must be dual-purpose, and what is fishing and fighting space on a Saturday likely needs to be a comfortable social area, complete with a table, on Sunday. 

“In our [Skeeter] 2550, our model—the table in the bow, the seating, the fishing deck—is all convertible. And we can drop the forward step down for tarpon fishing or to accommodate kids and older people,” Currey says.

“Our legacy is fishing, so we never sacrifice those features in our boats,” Tubaugh says. “But what we really see is a combination use, because it is so easily converted between fishing and cruising.”

Never Enough

When it comes to storage on any boat, experienced anglers know—and new buyers learn—that there never seems to be enough. 

“However the storage is arranged, ‘the more the better’ is a good rule thumb,” Ammons says. “You want as much as you can get.” 

Access hatches to systems is never going to be easy enough, and should be as efficient and frustration-free as possible. 

As well as abundant, storage should be efficient. Hatches for storage should be placed where they are most useful. Fish boxes should be easy to load in the heat of action, in either the casting decks in smaller boats or the cockpit sole in larger boats for mid- and offshore fishing. Any removable cushions should fit in nearby compartments so transformation remains easy and quick. 

Well-designed and properly placed hatches are not limited to places to put stuff. They also come into play when regular system maintenance or repairs are required, or when accessorization is in order. Access hatches to systems (such as pumps, filters, and batteries and electrical components) should be large enough to work through easily and well-placed, to allow both regular maintenance and troubleshooting when needed—without requiring contortions or uncomfortable working positions. “Hatch access is very important, and buyers should be looking for that,” Ammons says.

Check for an access plate over the fuel-tank sender, a common maintenance point. The little things don’t matter until they do, then they matter a lot. Consider the long horizon of your ownership of that boat. Look 15 years down the road: Can you access the fuel tank, should it need to be replaced, without cutting up the deck? The best boats are built with an eye to the future.

Hatches, especially those that lie flat in the sole or on the casting desks, should be guttered to drain water that makes its way onto the deck. Errant waves and rainstorms aside, this is a day-to-day consideration as well, when it comes to washdown and cleanup. Hatch lids should be gasketed to close with a tight, rattle-free seal, which also keeps everything inside dry. Lids should be well-supported or engineered to stay open on their own to allow two-handed loading and unloading. Heavy hatches may need gas rams for support when opened. 

Waterworks

Livewells become a highly personal matter for serious anglers. Options may even be dependent on the where the builder finds their primary market, or where you ultimately buy the boat. 

“Our [Skeeter] 2550 comes standard with a 50-gallon livewell in the leaning post,” Currey says. “In South Florida, anglers always appreciate that, but in Alabama and along the Gulf Coast—where it’s mostly a dead-bait or jig fishery—they’d rather have a cooler.”

Another consideration is a head in the console compartment. A marine head system has its own maintenance demands, so as a prospective buyer, you should decide if it’s worth it. 

“Everybody wants a head in the console when they are shopping,” one builder remarked. “Most of them will use it just once. After the first time, they are through with it.” 

In any size boat, keeping the water out is the No. 1 job of any plumbing system, which includes overboard drainage. Self-bailing cockpits should be sufficiently guttered to drain water quickly and thoroughly through scuppers that exit the hull above the waterline when the boat is loaded and at rest. Belowdecks, check through-hull fittings. They should be as robust as possible, and bronze is the preferred material for critical fittings. 

All drainage lines should run straight, without sags, and all connections should be double-clamped for a margin of security.

Editor’s Tip: Whether your fishing requires nothing more than a crustacean well (to carry live shrimp or crabs and keep them lively and healthy for inshore pursuits) or demands a high-capacity or multiwell sea-chest-supplied system (for intensive live-baiting and chumming offshore or over reefs and wrecks), the time to make sure you have the system and setup you need is before you buy—so with the first launch, you’re ready to fish. 

Tech Considerations

Marine electronics are a veritable candy store for boat buyers and, as such, demand a realistic assessment of your genuine needs. 

Some manufacturers include an electronics package in the original build, while others leave it up to the buyer. 

Grady-White leaves the electronics suite to the buyer and dealer. 

 “Some of our dealers prefer particular brands,” Tubaugh says. “As well, each coastal area has its own little tweaks when it comes to the preferred electronics. We make sure they have plenty of space to work with.”

Skeeter, on the other hand, takes an active role in supplying electronics. 

Case in point: “We offer dual transducers in our hulls: one transom mount for side and one through-hull for deep water,” Currey says.

Other than regional preferences, the size of the boat and the type of duty demanded of it are the best guidelines for wise choices in an electronics suite.

“We see a mix of products installed, based on how people will use their boat,” Ammons says. 

If you are fishing or cruising mostly inshore, don’t probably don’t need radar. And for the chart plotter and sounder, a single screen may be enough. Offshore, you might want VHF radio or an autopilot; the things you would seldom see and rarely need inshore.

Bridging the categories of electronics and fishing accessories, anchoring systems—such as Talon or Power-Pole—and trolling motors go hand in hand in most bay boats and some hybrids. 

Trolling motors now often include a GPS link, which allows you to follow a predetermined course or depth contour, or hold in place, with a push-button anchoring function. 

Functionality is often integrated with the suite at the helm.

“Younger buyers expect instantaneous action,” Ammons says. “It’s the way we are on our computers, on mobile devices, and there’s no reason to expect any less from our boats.” 

Again, it’s important to select and install these accessories based on how you’ll use your boat. 

“We mount our trolling motor on a slide,” Currey says, “which allows you to pull the head and the gear case inside the outline of the hull, which prevents it from getting beat up when docking or tied up when you go to a restaurant.” 

In lieu of a factory installation, an important consideration is a boat ready to have the accessories installed. 

“For trolling-motor and anchoring systems, we supply a prep package—prewired and supplied with mounts—then let the dealer make the installation,” Tubaugh says. 

Get Up and Go

The original bay-boat configuration featured a single outboard, but not all builders conform. Especially in offshore-oriented hybrids, twin outboards are not unusual. 

Long passed are the days when a second engine was a necessary backup. Reliability is seldom an issue, but twice the maintenance may be a deterrent. 

“We’re accustomed to putting the most amount of fuel capacity possible in our bay boats,” Currey says. “We know the customers for those—just like our bass-boat customers—are anglers, and they are going to burn fuel.” 

Grady-White is well-attuned to the fuel needs, Tubaugh says. “Our 251 CE carries 78 gallons of fuel. That’s not a small tank. All of our fuel considerations are in line with our offshore models.” 

Editor’s Tip: Newcomers to boating, as well as experienced, discerning hands, find the bay-boat model an ideal choice. In 2019, first-time outboard-boat buyers represented 9 percent of total outboard-boat sales. In 2020, that number rose to 22 percent, a 144 percent increase, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

Bay-Boat ­Quality Checklist

This 10-point checklist is a good start on quality. If they have these points right, what you can’t see is likely also done well.

1. Scuppers are positioned in lowest points on the sole and well above the water line, so water doesn’t back flow into the boat.

2. Wiring is logical and easy to trace, and wires are labeled at each end within 6 inches of the terminals.

3. Helm station wide enough to offer protection for two behind the windshield

4. Steps to the forward deck ease access and knee strain. 

5. Livewells have ­redundant pumps, strainers and ­seacocks that can be easily shut off in an emergency.

6. All hatch lids are gasketed and guttered to keep water out of compartments. Gutters drain overboard, not to the bilge.

7. Deck plates give access to fuel-tank sending units for needed service, tanks are ­beneath removable deck panels for future replacement.

8. Decks molded with diamond-plate nonskid are superior to other surfaces.

9. Rub rails should have stainless-steel rims for durability and utility.

10. Cup holders and casting-deck-chair sockets should be plumbed to drain overboard or to the deck, not the bilge.

The post 2022 Boat Buyers Guide: Bay Boats appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Light-tackle and fly-fishing aficionados drawn to the challenge of targeting the likes of bonefish, redfish, permit, snook, stripers and tarpon in skinny water will be happiest aboard a flats boat. Nowadays, however, flats boats are more than stable, shallow-draft fishing machines; they also encompass specialized models designed with an even narrower focus, such as technical-poling skiffs—16- to 18-footers primarily intended to quietly stalk shallow-water game propelled by a push pole—and microskiffs, which have a similar purpose but are somewhat smaller and can access skinnier water. 

But the once clear, distinguishing lines are becoming increasingly blurry, with more boatbuilders incorporating key design features from microskiffs into technical-poling models and vice versa. Recent poling skiffs benefit from reduced weight and a narrower wetted surface (the portion of hull in contact with the water), which improve performance with smaller outboards—thereby requiring smaller fuel tanks and allowing extra storage or cockpit space. Many microskiffs—originally minimalistic and designed for tiller motors—now come with walk-around gunwales with rod racks underneath, and offer small side- or center-console helms as options. The size of microskiffs also seems to be expanding, with some companies introducing 17- and 18-footers under the designation initially reserved for models of 16 feet or less. 

The leading brands in the flats-boat category do a great job of updating their lineups, taking advantage of new materials, building methods and innovative features to revamp the hulls and layouts. Hewes recently redesigned its entire Redfisher series, which includes 16-, 18-and 21-foot models. Maverick now offers three HPX models: the 17- and 18-foot versions of the HPX-V, and the HPX-S 17, a 17-footer for skinnier-water duty. And in 2021, Yellowfin launched the 17 CE, an improved version of its popular 17 Skiff. 

Meanwhile, Beavertail Skiffs, East Cape Boats and Chittum Skiffs continue to grow their families of superb 16- to 21-foot flats models. Dragonfly Boatworks offers striking skiffs and microskiffs with classic lines and the latest in design and construction. Ankona Boats has four terrific 16- to 17-foot choices that won’t break the bank. Xplor Boatworks is raising eyebrows with its X7 and X13 models. And Sabine Skiffs, Floyd Skiff and Matecumbe Skiffs have also added to the fray their takes on the ideal flats skiff and microskiff, with Sabine’s hulls built entirely out of aluminum. 

Though draft is top of mind for most flats anglers looking for their next ride, hull slap—or rather, the lack thereof—should be high on the list of requirements. “Hull slap,” the noise created by water ripples striking a flat surface, is notorious for alerting fish of a boat’s approach, and hard chines and running strakes that extend beyond the waterline are common culprits. If you’ll often cross open water to reach your fishing spots, spray rails will help keep you dry. But not all are created equal. “Our X13 is our big-water skiff, and the spray rails are cap height—not real low like some other boats—because of the opportunity for hull slap in rough conditions,” says Frankie Marion of Xplor Boatworks.

Editor’s Tip: Once you narrow your search to a half-dozen or so candidates, it’s time to get a look at them in person. Because many flats-skiff builders sell factory-direct, you may not find local dealers carrying the boats you’d like to check out. It’s best to contact the companies to learn about shows and events where they will exhibit the models on your shortlist. That often enables you to see similar offerings from competing brands at once.

The post 2022 Boat Buyers Guide: Flats Boats appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

In a virtual tsunami of popularity, outboard-powered center-console boats have swept the offshore-fishing market. What’s more, boatbuilders are scrambling to satiate the unrelenting demand from buyers for new boats, even as COVID-19-related supply-chain shortages constrain factory production.

There seems to be no end to the number of anglers stepping up with buying dollars, a testament to the versatility of the center-console’s full walk-around capabilities for wide range of offshore techniques. They’re seriously versatile machines, suitable for everything from kite-fishing to bottomfishing, outrigger trolling to downrigger trolling, and deep-dropping to drift-fishing. Center-consoles can do it all with the added benefit of smooth riding performance to transport anglers swiftly and safely to the offshore grounds and back home again.

Some of the most dramatic developments in recent years have focused on new and improved interior amenities, as designers and builders seek to further refine angling effectiveness and add greater comfort for crewmembers on long offshore runs. In addition, center-console designs are expanding in form and function to serve as luxurious cruising platforms for family and friends on days when fishing is not a priority. Many of these developments have been made possible by the growing size—and power—of offshore center-consoles. Boats in the 40-foot LOA range are not unusual, with some stretching to 65 feet.

Here are some relatively new developments in layouts and interiors that have contributed to the burgeoning popularity of this boat genre.

Second-Row Seating

As center-consoles have grown in size, two rows of helm seating have become the next big thing. Having fished offshore aboard center-consoles with two rows of helm seats, I can tell you that this option is well worth the investment. With room for anglers nestled in comfy seats sporting supportive footrests, it’s like flying first class without the seat belts—or masks. One example is the new Contender 44CB, available with a second row of Llebroc bench seating for three to complement the three main Llebroc helm seats. All six seating positions feature fold-down armrests, and all are protected by the console windshield while underway. Other center-console brands offering models with available double-row seating include Invincible, SeaVee, Valhalla, Yellowfin and more. With this kind of seating comfort, you’ll leave the beanbags at home.

Editor’s Tip: When shopping for a new center-console boat for offshore fishing, take a close look at the deck itself. Make sure the deck is level from the transom to the bow platform. This minimizes any possible tripping hazards as anglers move about the boat to fish. Also, look for an aggressive nonskid sole to ensure traction and safety when the deck is wet. Finally, make sure the deck is self-bailing to quickly shed water in rough seas.

Transom Benches

The helm is not the only area in which seating has expanded and evolved aboard today’s offshore center-consoles. Models of all sizes are available with versatile bench seats that integrate into a full transom bulkhead. Take, for instance, the SeaVee 340z with an optional folding transom bench seat that deploys in seconds to comfortably accommodate three crewmembers. It’s great for taking a load off while cruising to and from the offshore grounds, or during harbor cruises on more-casual outings. Most important, from an angling point of view, it folds away in an instant to clear the decks for action.  

Forward Lounges

An increasing number of offshore center-consoles now feature lounges that are integral to the forward portion of the console itself and can accommodate two or more people. These have angled backrests, fold-down armrests and rich upholstery that invites crew to stretch out, kick back, relax and enjoy the ride. But beyond comfort, forward console lounges create valuable space. Some offshore center-console models, including the Valhalla 33, use it as dry storage for gear such as jackets, buckets and safety equipment. Valhalla’s lounge exterior is also lined with eight vertical rod holders. Invincible offers an optional forward console lounger, but it doubles as a large coffin box, which is insulated to serve as cold storage for ice, provisions, frozen bait and fish you wish to keep; dividers help keep cold goods separated. The space below these lounges can alternatively allow for forward expansion of console cabins, as is the case in the Contender 44CB (more about console cabins later).

Glass Windshields

There was a time when new offshore center-console boats offered little more than a short plexiglass windscreen, and if you ordered the clear vinyl enclosure, you were riding in luxury. Today, the trend is definitely toward tempered-glass windshields, thanks to advancements in glass molding and adhesive technology, combined with the ingenious and dedicated work of marine designers. Glass windshields are not just strong and durable; they also afford more styling choices and superior visibility than acrylic, polycarbonate or vinyl. Glass is also easier to care for and far less likely to scratch. “These new glass glazings [industry term for glass windshields and windows] first appeared in the marine market on super yachts,” says Rob Kaidy, chief designer for SeaVee Boats. Yachts require sweeping high-strength windshields, and as Kaidy points out, today’s styling cues often demand complex curves. Center-console boatbuilders soon followed suit with windshields and windows that curve around the console from the front to sides. High-strength yet flexible bonding agents from companies such as Sika secure large glass windshields and can even eliminate the need for frames, using only the console top and hardtop as points of support.

Cabin Accommodations

Twenty years ago, few anglers could have imagined a center-console with enclosed sleeping accommodations, let alone one with a cabin that includes a gallery and berths—as well as a shower and head. But as center-console boats have grown and layouts expanded, the concept of the console cabin has taken shape. They are not exactly yacht-size cabins, but you can certainly overnight in comfort. Take, for example, the new Yellowfin 54, which features a spacious cabin area with stand-up headroom beneath the console that houses a queen berth, a fully equipped kitchenette, wraparound seating and a head. Accessed from within the cabin, an organized mechanical space also houses the gyrostabilizer, batteries, wiring and electronics. But the Yellowfin 54 is certainly not the only center-console with a cabin. You’ll also discover console cabins in offshore center-console models from brands such as Boston Whaler, Grady-White, Pursuit, Regulator, Scout, SeaVee, Valhalla and others.

Side Doors

Side doors have become very popular and available on offshore center-consoles as small as 28 feet or less in length. Intrepid Powerboats was one of the first to introduce this feature on offshore center-consoles. It was largely promoted as a dive door, but bluewater anglers saw the advantage of pulling a big tuna or swordfish through a side door versus over the gunwale or through a transom door. More often, however, side doors find use as an easy way to step aboard from a floating dock as opposed to clambering over the gunwale or using the swim step to access the transom door. For this reason, almost all side doors hinge inward to eliminate interference with the dock when swung open. In fact, side doors are so popular that at least two center-console brands—Barker Boatworks and HCB Yachts—have models with two, one on each side of the aft cockpit. This provides the convenience of boarding or landing a big fish from either the port or starboard sides. 

Aquarium Livewells

Aquarium-style windows on livewells might not add any luxury to a center-console, but they will help keep you more comfortable with state of your live-bait supply. You can tell at a glance if the goggle-eyes are great or the pilchards are faring poorly and, in the latter case, take action to fix issues such as poor water flow. For instance, the windows on twin livewells in the transom of the Valhalla 46 allow a crewmember perched on the aft-facing mezzanine seating to easily eyeball the bait population and ascertain its health without getting up and possibly stumbling while underway in rough seas. 

Editor’s Tip: Livewell capacity has become an increasingly important factor to successful offshore angling—be it ­
wreck-fishing for grouper, kite-fishing for sails or slow-trolling for kingfish. With this in mind, carefully consider livewell capacity when shopping for a new boat. If the standard livewells don’t meet your needs, ask about options such as deck wells that might expand live-bait capacity.

Gyrostabilizers

The impact of gyrostabilizers from brands such as Quick, Seakeeper and Smartgyro exceed the term “evolutionary.” They have, in fact, revolutionized offshore center-console fishing boats, rendering them far more stable than most boating anglers imagined possible. Spinning at high speed like a top, gyrostabilizing forces tame roll, essentially eliminating the boat’s side-to-side movement in virtually any sea condition. That’s why nearly all new offshore center-consoles are now available with gyrostabilizing systems. A new Scout 380 LXF, for instance, features a standard DC-powered Seakeeper 3, which offers plenty of stabilizing capability for this 38.5-foot boat. Yet, a new Scout 425 LXF with 42-foot-2-inch LOA features a more robust AC-powered Seakeeper 5 as standard equipment to control roll.  

Chill Out

Ice lasts only so long before melting when fishing on sultry days offshore. To overcome this issue, some offshore center-consoles are now available with refrigerator/freezer fish boxes. A prime example is the Grady-White Canyon 456 that comes standard with an aft 459-quart insulated refrigerator/freezer fish box with lights, a digitally controlled thermostat and an overboard drain. This 120-volt AC system is powered by the 456’s standard 12 kW diesel generator. Some offshore center-consoles also offer DC-powered systems, including the Wellcraft 352 Fisherman. The 128-gallon transom fish locker is available with an optional 12-volt chiller plate to keep your catch cold. Looking ahead to a future in which center-consoles continue to take over the offshore segment, there’s little doubt that even more innovation will take place within the layouts and interiors—as well as in the running surfaces and propulsion systems—of these supreme fishing machines. 

Throwing Shade

A growing number of offshore center-console boats now offer sun shades that offer crewmembers more UV protection than a hardtop or soft-top alone can provide. One common option is a sun shade extending from the aft edge of the hardtop. Some are motorized to easily deploy over the aft cockpit when relaxing at the sandbar or in the marina. They just as quickly retract when you are ready to fish and want to minimize overhead obstructions. Many boat brands also offer shade options for the bow area. These often consist of telescoping poles that insert in forward gunwale rod holders to support a custom canvas shade to protect crew in the bow seats.

The post 2022 Boat Buyers Guide: Center-Consoles appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

A good bit of brand value comes from the public’s perception of the boat’s quality in construction, but if a solidly built boat lacks the design attributes valued by anglers, they will seek another boat brand—and resale price will be low.

The best boatbuilders take their boats and visualize how they should look. They then visualize how the angler will sit in a seat, step past the helm, hold the wheel and throttle, move about to fight a fish, and use virtually every other feature on it. They look at what causes water to come aboard and how best to move it outboard. They consider how tackle can be stored, ready for action but secure for rough water. 

When you buy a boat, you need to think like a boatbuilder who fishes—hard.

What did you dislike about your previous boat? Make sure you have a full inventory of its low points. Did water stand in the corner because the drain was in the wrong place? Was it too hard to reach the rods in the T-top? Were the rod lockers long enough for a 9-foot fly rod? What will keep the rods from dashing themselves to pieces in rough water? 

Avoid a center-console boat that has a midship step near the helm; virtually all of your guests will trip on it. A level deck in a center-console has become a safety item, and most builders have removed the midship step. One who has not is behind the times and may use other outdated design features.

I’ve tested few boats that were uncomfortable to drive, but also many that were not as comfortable as they could be. Seat adjustments should be either electric or as easy to grab as a manually adjusted seat on a car. Bucket seats are nice as long as they can be individually adjusted fore and aft without climbing down to look for the adjustment lever.

Livewells should be round or oval. Square livewells will develop stagnant, oxygen-poor corners and trap bait in them. Pressurized livewells have become an important selling point because when the tank is full to the lid, water can’t slosh, jostle or pummel your bait with turbulence. That requires a gasketed lid and a pump system that can push water into the well faster than it can drain out. In fact, a gasketed lid is essential, in my opinion—especially if the livewell is near a seat that will get sloshed on. 

Sea chests and fiberglass boxes fitted to the bottom of the hull—rigged with two or more pumps and filled by one or two through-hull fittings—make sure water going to the livewell is not overaerated or foamy. This is especially important on stepped-bottom boats because they are designed to reduce hull drag by introducing air to the bottom of the boat to break surface tension. Unfortunately, a standard water pickup on those boats will pump the froth right into the livewell—or worse, lose prime and pump nothing into the livewell on high-speed runs.

Gunwale rod holders are often fastened from the top with screws or bolts. Better rod holders are fastened from the bottom, either using studs cast into the bottom of the rod-holder flange or, like Gemlux, by large locking collars that screw onto the threaded barrel of the rod holder. For saltwater applications, they should be cast of solid 316 stainless steel. Or they can be fastened from the bottom of the gunwale, giving a cleaner, easier-to-wash deck surface. They’ll also resist rust stains better.

Editor’s Tip: There are no boats of high reputation I’ve tested that didn’t live up to the reps. But some lesser-known brands bring a great deal of value to the owner. When looking at a boat, don’t get overenthused by the gloss; look down the side of the boat to see if the hull shows ripples or fiberglass print-through—a sign of a sloppy build. Even caulk seams, the precise fit of hatches and quality components mean the boat was built with care.

When boat shopping, take friends you fish with. Let everybody move around the boat at once and see how the traffic flows, how the tackle is accessed, and how the essential compartments work in the presence of a working crew. 

The most important point to consider in quality is future maintenance. Sooner or later, you’ll have to work on important components of the boat. How are the fuel tanks installed? Can they be removed without having to cut out the deck? The better boats have hatches fastened firmly above the tanks that can be removed and replaced should a tank fail—and after 10 or so years, they do. Same goes for gensets. Believe it or not, some boatbuilders don’t plan for having to remove a genset. 

Lastly, a thing about wiring: If that job is done poorly, and wires aren’t labeled at least at both ends, they don’t meet American Boat and Yacht Council requirements. Tinned wire is more corrosion-resistant than bare copper wire, and the best boats use it exclusively. Wire ends are sealed with shrink wrap, and connections are waterproof Deutsch connectors or similar brands. 

Just a few years ago, boaters were suspicious of digital wiring harnesses that operate components with a touchscreen switch and digital bus system. You can’t fix them in a pinch with paper clips and gum wrappers. The truth is, though, they don’t break often and are better prepared to deal with salty air. Don’t avoid them. In fact, embrace them. You won’t be sorry.

While brand value is influenced by good marketing—and that’s valuable to the owner at resale—quality construction is the best marketing tool in boating. Word gets around.

Editor’s Tip: The most important quality check will be the test drive. Most dealers won’t give you one until you’ve signed a contract with your right to refuse for any reason. If you can’t get it to rough water, run circles with it and double back over the wakes. Listen for drumming, oil canning and hatch rattles. Nothing should rattle or crack. Run every system on the boat. If work is still needed, schedule another test drive to prove the work. 

Quality Checkpoints

Quality is shown by how well all the small elements work together to make the vessel reliable and fun.

1. All deck hatches should be guttered and drain overboard, not to the bilge.

2. The deck should be crowned slightly to drain to corner drains with strainers.

3. Side boarding doors should open inward, and the boarding ladder should have secure storage.

4. The transom platform should allow optimal passage from port to starboard.

5. If fish boxes require ­pump-outs, choose reliable gulper pumps over macerators.

6. Belowdecks, rod-holder fasteners with locking rings are preferred instead of bolts in a flange.

7. Multidensity seat-cushion foam should be used to soften the ride and absorb shock without bottoming out. 

8. A tempered-glass windshield is more durable and scratch-resistant than plexiglass or acrylic.

9. Mezzanine seats should be slanted forward for a comfortable ride as the bow rises.

10. Rod and cup holders should all drain overboard or to the deck.

11. Deck scuppers and bilge-pump ports should exit the hull above the waterline.

12. Center-console decks should be one level from bow to stern.

The post 2022 Boat Buyers Guide: Offshore Quality appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Today’s makers of fishing boats and gear suffer from iPhone syndrome: They want to make the on-water experience as seamless and fun as playing with a new app. And in many ways, they’re succeeding.

During the past few years, we’ve seen everything from offshore trolling motors, digital electric steering and boat-control systems to assisted-docking software deliver the ultimate ease in navigation and station-keeping. Among those innovations, the two products that rank highest for anglers include the heavier-duty, longer-shaft trolling motors that can battle strong currents and manage waves, as well as DES, which opens up new possibilities for joysticks and dialable trolling speeds. 

Slo-Mo Control

Finally, more offshore anglers can enjoy what most inshore fishermen have long relished: pinpoint GPS-guided boat -control and the ability to hover quietly over a fishing spot—at a lower price tag than outboard-engine control systems.

Rhodan Marine and Minn Kota have rolled out electric motors with shafts measuring 84, 87 and even 96 inches—available for boats in the 40-foot range with bows towering 6 feet, 2 inches above the waterline. 

“It’s good for every type of fishing,” says Rhode Island captain B.J. Silvia, who runs a Parker 25 sporting a Minn Kota Riptide Terrova with an 87-inch shaft and 112 pounds of thrust. “Like for big stripers when you don’t want to drive over what you’re casting into. If I need a stealth approach with live bunker, I go on the trolling motor. Throwing plugs into rocky areas, I can go up to the rocks with the trolling motor.”

Silvia adjusts the drift speed with a remote control. If he needs to hover, he engages the Minn Kota’s Spot-Lock feature. That function becomes key for species such as tautog; he can settle above a spot, and his angler can fish vertically.

Capt. Jason Stock charters his Yellowfin 31 out of Bradenton, Florida, and frequently uses his Rhodan trolling motor, which delivers 120 pounds of thrust and is equipped with a whopping 9-foot-long (prototype) shaft. “Even when it’s really rough, the motor will hold my 31-footer,” he says, explaining that the longer shaft normally drops the propeller 5 feet or so below the surface. “In rough conditions, of course, the motor does work harder.”

Stock says the Rhodan helps him with time management. He’s not investing 20 or more minutes in anchoring and possibly resetting every time he stops to bottomfish. “I can pull up on a spot, check out the bottom. If they’re not biting, move on to the next location,” he says.

Rough Weather

Longer shafts flex more than shorter ones, and motors inherently work harder to keep boats locked in position when the seas build. “If you have a day when the wind and current are together, if it’s gusting, you use more battery life,” Silvia says. “That being said, I only had three or four days last year when the motor didn’t last the day.”

Silvia’s 87-inch Minn Kota motor draws a maximum of 52 amps. The 84- and 96-inch Rhodans draw a max of 42 amps. Amp draw measures how hard a machine must work in order to run; a higher amp draw drains batteries quicker.

These larger trolling motors operate off a three-battery 36-volt bank. Stock uses an onboard Power-Pole charger that can recharge his trolling-motor batteries when he cranks up his outboard. Such chargers—also called automatic charging relays and offered by other brands such as Minn Kota and Blue Sea Systems—sense the starting-battery charge. When the outboards’ alternators top off that battery, the available charge moves to the trolling-motor bank.

Silvia says he uses shore power and a three-bank charger that he plugs in at the end of the day. “For me, it’s a huge game-changer,” Stock says. “I use it when I’m catching bait around bridges, when I’m tarpon fishing. I can set up and [GPS] anchor so the baits aren’t drifting.”

Editor’s Tip: When installing (or having the dealer install) your trolling-motor system, be sure to place the three batteries as close to the centerline as possible, and balance the load fore and aft, based on how your boat likes to run. Depending upon how much you plan to use the trolling motor, install either an onboard charger or one that plugs into shore power at the end of the day.

Smooth Steering

In the 1970s, many boatbuilders transitioned to hydraulic steering, then in 2012, to electrohydraulic—or power-assisted steering—particularly for larger vessels. In 2019, Yamaha changed the paradigm, delivering digital electric steering built into its 425 XTO outboards. 

Yamaha worked on DES in conjunction with SeaStar Solutions (now Dometic Marine). Today, both Yamaha and Dometic offer DES options for outboards as small as 150 hp; Dometic’s Optimus outboard electric-steering actuator works with all major outboard brands.

But what can DES do for fishermen, and why should they want it? DES means less equipment and weight; it’s more reliable, draws less electricity and requires less maintenance—all while delivering better steering and programmable features.

Despite those advantages, anything electric can fail. To forestall that, Yamaha built in redundancies to help ensure continuous operation, says product education manager Ry Landry. But if the boat’s electrical system somehow fails or its batteries die, captains can use an Allen wrench to loosen the actuator—the bar that houses the roller screw that pushes the engines—and manually turn the outboards.

For boatbuilders, an electric-steering system means a much simpler installation, and it easily integrates with a joystick. A Yamaha outboard with DES built into its bracket assembly—available for the XTO as well as new V-6 F250 and F300 motors—connects to the batteries and helm with a data cable. Those outboards start at $30,870.

Yamaha’s bolt-on DES accessory—for Yamaha outboards down to the F150—costs about $3,000 for the actuator and one harness, plus a few hundred more for a digital helm and additional harnesses. Installation costs vary.

Brian Dudra, an engineer and Dometic vice president, says anglers will pay about 25 percent more for an electric-steering system compared with electrohydraulic. Both companies agree that electric steering will guide the future of boating, though electrohydraulic and even cable steering won’t disappear. After all, not everyone can own an iPhone 13.

Why Digital Electric Steering?

Less equipment and weight: Having DES means no hydraulic pumps, hoses or fluid in the system. Dometic says its all-electric system on a ­twin-outboard boat provides 33-pound savings compared with its Optimus EPS electrohydraulic steering.

Better reliability: Eliminating hydraulics means eliminating hydraulic failure. “That’s one potential issue lost—the infamous ‘why is all that red fluid floating around my boat,’” says Ry Landry, Yamaha product ­education manager.

Less electrical draw: If you’re not actively steering your boat, these systems do not draw any power. That means you’ll have more amps available for other onboard electrical needs. With hydraulic systems, the pumps run continuously whenever the power is on.

Less maintenance: No inspecting seals, checking hydraulic-fluid levels or changing fluid. DES requires only periodic greasing. 

Quicker, more precise steering: “The user should notice way better vessel handling and a lot more precise steering that’s a lot faster,” says Brian Dudra, an engineer and Dometic vice president. “That means more comfort and less fatigue for the driver.”

Programmable lock-to-lock and friction settings: Both Yamaha and Dometic systems offer user-controllable steering settings. For instance, if you’re docking, you can tell the steering you want four turns lock-to-lock, ­meaning it takes four turns of the wheel to fully move the engines side to side—a better setting for maneuverability. If you’re running offshore and don’t want that much steering sensitivity, you can program up to nine turns lock-to-lock. Lock-to-lock settings can also be made variable, based on revolutions per minute. Anglers can adjust steering friction as well. If you like your steering a little loose, you can allow for a little play. If seas build and you want more friction, you touch the gauge to change the ­setting.

The post 2022 Boat Buyers Guide: Steering appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Growing up, I was a die-hard center-console fan. I loved the ability to fight king mackerel, sight-cast to cobia on light tackle from the bow, or manage a triple-header all the way around the boat with no obstructions. I enjoyed the wide-open feel of the design, and didn’t mind the fact that center-consoles usually offer little in the way of creature comfort or protection from the elements. 

Then my father brought home a new-to-us boat for the family: a 23-foot Grady-White walkaround. I dismissed it as more of a cruiser than a hardcore fishing machine but decided that I’d keep an open mind about the new boat. Our first trip found us slogging offshore in a stiff northeast breeze and some rough seas in late fall off southern North Carolina. Thankfully, Dad and I remained warm and dry because of the boat’s full windshield and spray curtains. “Not bad,” I thought to myself. “In the old boat, I’d be in head-to-toe foul-weather gear the minute we left the inlet—and still wet.” 

Once we arrived at our spot about 25 miles off Carolina Beach, we made a few drifts for bottomfish. No sweat—the spacious cockpit was a breeze to fish from. The boat had in-deck fish boxes as well as ample tackle storage, so reaching for a heavier weight or different hook was a snap. Once we located a sharp, rocky ridge along the bottom, it was time to drop the hook. I made my way forward to the bow along the deep alleys, aided by the Grady’s tall bow rail. I quickly had the anchor set and was back in the cockpit just as fast. 

That trip took place more than three decades ago, yet the fact remains that walkarounds are one of the most versatile designs on the water today. They can be outfitted as hardcore offshore-fishing machines or family cruisers—or just about anywhere in between. Thanks to the safety and security provided by the full windshield, full bow rails and high gunwales surrounding a deep cockpit, they are near-perfect boats for families with small children. 

Belowdecks, the arrangements can range from a simple V-berth to a fully outfitted space with bunks, a dinette, a galley with a microwave and refrigeration, and a full head with a shower—all the comforts of home

With them, you can cruise up and down the coast, visiting a different marina each evening. Plug in the shore power, and you’re all set. For offshore use, a small generator can be a worthwhile investment, while battery-powered inverters suffice for smaller boats. 

Outboard power is the most popular in this category, and options range from a single 150 hp outboard in a 20-footer to quad Yamaha 425 XTOs in a 40-footer. 

Even if it’s just a morning of trolling or bottomfishing and an afternoon of beachcombing, walkaround boats are a near-perfect fit, offering the right combination of amenities and fishability to handle just about any task.

Editor’s Tip: As you begin your research into purchasing a new or used walkaround boat, first carefully consider how you intend to use the vessel. Be honest with yourself, as well as your spouse and family. Will you really use that space belowdecks for overnight or weekend trips? How often will you need outriggers, a livewell or tackle storage? Define the most important features first, and that will help narrow your search later. 

The post 2022 Boat Buyers Guide: Walkarounds appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Some boat buyers like to equate cars with boats. Is it a Chevy or BMW? If you were to do that with a dual console, its automotive doppelgänger would be an El Camino with a full front windshield and, instead of an open truck bed, an open fishing cockpit. Instead of a bonnet—as the English say—an open deck with cushy seating.

Popularity of dual consoles is growing faster than a yearling dorado because it offers versatile cruising comfort when the windshield is closed and a spacious deck plan with forward seating when it is open. With a hardtop, the boat is fishable and protected from the blistering sun and unexpected storms. 

These boats give anglers what they need, give families what they want, and breed confident passengers in the protective enclosures. Though not all dual consoles have hardtops, in the over-20-foot group, most of them do. 

Bow seating is so demanded today that center-consoles are adding forward bench seats with stowaway reclining backs and coffin-box lounges with cup holders and armrests to compete.

But how do they fish? Like masters. Look for livewells either in a seat base or the transom. Rod holders should be arrayed along the gunwales, transom and hardtop structures. Plexiglass livewell tops are important for keeping an eye on the bait’s liveliness. Larger dual consoles will have stowaway transom seating for comfortably making way to the fishing grounds and then sliding away for the fish fight. Dual consoles over 25 feet often have stowaway seats in the coamings too, creating a cozy conversation area during an evening cruise. 

Who wants a dual console? Serious fishermen with serious family members all competing for a different game. These boats also make great dive platforms. Optional tow pylons make them fun for towed sports. You may find bow boarding ladders for beaching the boat. 

Editor’s Tip: If your crew is varied and looking to play different games, look for convenient boarding ladders for watersports and diving. In larger dual consoles, side boarding doors are preferable, moving the swimmer away from sharp props. Make sure there is a tow pylon offered for board sports. Tie a tube to a stern eye—not the pylon—for safety. Have the factory add all the gunwale and transom rod holders you want; it’s a better way than DIY.

The post 2022 Boat Buyers Guide: Dual Consoles appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

For anglers, the helm area represents one of most valuable spaces on a fishing boat—aside from deck space itself. With the growing number of electronic angling and navigation tools, the helm—or dash, if you prefer—serves as a vessel’s nerve center, home to controls, displays, gauges, chargers, switches and more. Yet all of these items take up space, and eventually room on the dash can run out. The smaller your helm, the more quickly this occurs.

But boating anglers need not despair or do without. With a little creative thinking and utilization of multifunction displays, black-box systems and special mounting devices, you can squeeze in more marine electronics than you ever thought possible, be it aboard a new boat or one you already own. 

By using these tricks, in some cases, you may even have room for future expansion. Let’s look at seven ways to squeeze in as much electronic functionality as possible.

Multitasking

If your boat’s helm is equipped with a combo unit with limited networking capabilities, upgrading to MFDs lends more functionality. Touchscreen MFDs allow you to integrate new or additional functions—including scanning sonar, radar, autopilot, sea-surface-temperature readouts, AIS and more—just by using NMEA 2000 plug-and-play cables.

MFDs come in screen sizes ranging from 9 to 24 inches to suit virtually any saltwater fishing boat. Once plugged into the NMEA 2000 network, you are able to control all the integrated functions from the display, negating the need for any additional displays. 

Boat-Buying Tip: When buying a new boat, work with the boatbuilder and/or dealer up front so your new boat has all the electronics you want.

Lose the Gauges

Many engines are designed to use MFDs to display vital parameters, including revolutions per minute, cooling-water -pressure, engine temperature, oil pressure, voltage, trim angle and more. MFDs can also provide alerts, including scheduled maintenance and issues such as overheating. Again, this is made possible by an NMEA 2000 connection routed from the motor to a compatible MFD.

This capability eliminates the need for a conventional space-robbing instrument cluster. No longer do you need a gauge for every specific engine function. Networking the engine consolidates all of that information in one place, freeing up space at the helm.

Switch Out

Switch panels for elements such as lights, pumps and other accessories also occupy valuable helm space. However, digital-switching systems eliminate the need for physical switch panels. 

With these systems, most of the switching takes place on a touchscreen MFD. But there is a caveat here: Upgrading to digital switching is a complex retrofit and might not be practical on some older boats. Digital-switching systems are generally reserved for installations on new boats. So, when ordering a new boat from a factory-direct boatbuilder, inquire about the availability of digital switching if you are concerned about limited helm space.

Another space-saver is moving the switch panel from the helm to inside a console or cabin. This works for functions left in the “on” position for extended periods, such as livewell pumps or accessories that don’t require quick access. Switches for bilge pumps and horns should remain at the helm, where they can be immediately accessible. 

Overhead Space

If your boat has a T-top, consider adding an overhead electronics box on the underside of the top. Available from a number of companies—including Boat Outfitters, CE Smith, Fishmaster, Taylor Made and Todd—electronics boxes let you relocate VHF radios, stereo head units, and even small bracket-mount displays to free up helm space for other electronics. 

Prices for electronics boxes start at about $340 and are available in a choice of sizes to fit under most tops. Many feature water-resistant, upward-hinging doors. Spring-loaded mechanisms keep the door open, but make sure it can be locked when closed. 

DIY installation is easy on most T-tops and hardtops, but if you aren’t confident, ask a qualified service shop to help with the installation.

Boxing Match

Not all electronics need helm displays. For example, the Vesper Cortex V1P VHF (starting at $1,898) relies on a black box installed out of sight, often behind the helm, and wirelessly connected to a handset. The system incorporates a GPS and AIS transponder that connects via NMEA 2000 to other onboard electronics. Vessel monitoring and control capabilities, as well as real-time weather information, are available via a cellular connection to a smartphone. 

Some audio systems forgo displays as well. An example is the Fusion BB100 Black Box marine stereo ($299.99), which uses a small wired, waterproof remote to control the music. This saves a lot of room on the dash, and you give up very little. What’s more, the Fusion BB100 also lets you use a smartphone to select tunes from your playlist and control other functions, such as the volume of the Bluetooth-enabled system.                                       

On a Pedestal

Most anglers think in terms of bracket- or flush-mounting electronics displays or control systems at the helm. But there are other ways to add marine electronics that require minimal helm space or even no helm space at all. 

For example, Ram Mounts offers a pedestal-mounting solution, using a ball-and-socket system for easy viewing-angle adjustments. Ram Mounts’ bolt-on pedestal bases occupy just a 2 ½-inch-diameter footprint. Special plates let you bolt the display bracket atop the pedestal arm, which is available in 3- and 6-inch lengths, with extensions and swivel arms available as well. There are also mounting adapters for mobile devices. 

Using one or more of these creative approaches will avail you of all the electronic functionality you need to navigate safely and find fish.

Editor’s Tip: Rail-mounting solutions are available today from brands such as Edson, Ram, Scanstrut, Seaview and West Marine. One of the beefiest of such mounting systems is the Edson ball-shaped clamp-on rail mount ($127). It fits 1-, 1 ¹⁄₈– and 1 ¹⁄₄-inch-diameter rails, and is available with 3- or 5-inch-wide high-density polyethylene mounting bases for attaching a display bracket.

Latest Marine Electronics

Here are three of the newest marine-­electronics products for 2022.

Featuring a compact design with anti-fogging display, the MS-RA60 marine stereo from Fusion Entertainment lets you stream music via Bluetooth with the Fusion-Link app, and allows for wireless control with the ARX70 remote or
ANT-compatible smartwatch. There’s volume control for two audio zones, with Class D amplification to power up to four speakers, and a built-in tuner to access a wide range of radio stations. $1,099.99; fusionentertainment.com

A new app from Simrad’s C-Map charts offers advanced functionality, and mirroring and control of Simrad MFDs from your Android or iOS smartphone or tablet. The app lets you register your Simrad device(s), ensuring you have the latest software, manuals and product tips, plus the ability to sync waypoints and routes. The premium version has additional functions, including stand-alone navigation. Free download; simrad-yachting.com

Humminbird’s Mega Live Imaging displays fish onscreen in real time as they move about at ranges as deep as 150 feet. The system employs an optional transducer mounted on the shaft of a trolling motor and connects to a compatible Humminbird multifunction display. Mega Live Imaging won the Best Electronics category at the 2021 ICAST fishing-industry trade show. $1,499 for the transducer package; humminbird.com

The post Expansion Plan appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.