Fresh Catch

NEW CENTER CONSOLE BOATS ARE BUILT FOR FISHING AND FUN WITH THE FAMILY

The center console has been the fishing and family fun machine for nearly 60 years. Here’s a look at nine new-on-the-scene models.

There’s plenty of debate about which boatbuilder constructed the first commercially viable center console boat. Some people argue it was the 16- foot Boston Whaler Nauset, which launched in 1961. Others say Aquasport created the category in the early 1960s with its 22- 2. More than a few people claim Chris- Craft was first with its iconic 1964 Dory. No matter which model came first, modern center consoles now range from practical, no- nonsense fishing machines to 50- plus- knot speedsters with plush, air- conditioned cabins. Some builders are pushing the limits even further. HCB, for instance, is building the 65- foot Estrella and it has more than 3,000 horsepower strapped to the transom. The 2019 center console models featured here are under 55 feet, among the newest on the market and built for fishing and family fun.

JUPITER 43 SF

The 31 Open was the boat that started it all for Jupiter back in 1991, built as the brainchild of Carl Herndon, a former president of Bertram and the founder/ CEO of Blackfin Yacht Corp. Today, Herndon’s son walks the factory floor everyday. Another milestone for Jupiter came late last year, when it introduced its largest center console ever: the 43 SF. Built with an eye toward fishing, offshore performance and luxury— in that order— the boat floats on a deep- V hull with a whopping 24 degrees of transom deadrise for excellent rough- weather running. A draft of just 3 inches over 2 feet is shallow enough for cast- netting bait in skinny water, or for getting into most any coastal fishing hot spots. Quad 425- hp Yamaha XF425 4- strokes push this big center console up to around 50 knots, according to the builder. Though the 43 SF does have luxury features, the deck layout is uncluttered, giving the boat a classic sportfishing feel. There’s room for 360- degree fishing, thanks in part to the 12- foot, 6- inch beam. Owners will have at least 21 spots for rods around the deck, along with a livewell, fish lockers, and port and starboard dive doors for boating large fish or getting spearfishing divers into the water. The Jupiter also should prove comfortable for weekends with family and friends. Seating areas with diamond- point embroidered upholstery are forward and aft, and the under- console cabin has an enclosed shower and head, a vanity, and a U- shaped lounge that converts to a berth.

LOA: 43’ 1” Beam: 12’6” Weight: 18,175 lbs. Power: (4) 425-hp Yamaha XF425 4-strokes Price: $899,995

BLACKFIN 332CC

Once upon a time, Blackfin Boats produced some of the most iconic fishboats on the water. That legacy ended temporarily in 2003, but today the brand is back, having introduced numerous center- and dual-console models during the past few years. The latest is the 332cc, the biggest boat yet in Blackfin’s revival. Built with a double-step hull designed by Michael Peters, and with a deep entry and an aggressive 23-degree transom deadrise, the 332cc’s genetics are all about rough-water performance and handling. There’s also a number of fishing features on the 332cc, including a rigging station with a livewell and slide- out coolers, a port- side dive door, fish lockers, rod holders and stowage, outriggers and see-through transom livewells. Passengers can relax on bow seating that includes a two-person console lounge and two chaises, or they can head for the flip-out seating in the cockpit. USB chargers and 12-volt receptacles are strategically placed for keeping gadgets and gizmos charged. Standard power is a pair of 300-hp Mercury Verado 4-strokes. Owners can opt for Mercury or Yamaha power plants up to 850 total horsepower. The 332cc at the Miami International Boat Show had joystick steering and Skyhook, Mercury Marine’s station-keeping system.

FOUNTAIN 43 NX

Most people equate Fountain with gofast boats and copious horsepower, but the North Carolina builder also has a notable center console and sportfishing component to its lineup. New is the 43 NX, Fountain’s biggest center console to date and one of the most opulent boats it builds. Buttery- feeling upholstery with custom Fountain embroidery and stitching is throughout, and seating in the cockpit and bow lounge has soft bolstering. The cockpit social zone centers around an alfresco galley abaft the helm seats. The cabin has a berth, an enclosed head/shower and a galley with a sink, microwave and refrigerator under the center console. Fishing goodies include rocket-launcher rod holders on the hardtop and transom, and flush-mount rod holders around the gunwales. There are also outriggers, a dive door, three fish boxes with macerated overboard discharge, and three multifunction displays at the helm with fish- finding capabilities. A rack of four 350-hp Mercury Verado 4-strokes is standard, while four 400hp Mercury Racing 400R 4-strokes are optional for a reported top speed around 50 knots. That performance is due in part to the boat’s double-step, deep-V hull and a dry weight of 15,800 pounds.

LOA: 43’ Beam: 12’3” Weight: 15,800 lbs. Power: (4) 350-hp Mercury Verados Price: $692,400

SCOUT 530 LXF

Scout Boats Founder and President Steve Potts built his first boat, a 14- footer, in the 1980s. Today, the West Summerville, South Carolina, builder has a 21-boat lineup that includes its new flagship, the 53-foot 530 LXF. There’s a quintuple rack of 425-hp Yamaha XF425 outboards on the stern (they can push the 530 LXF to 52 knots) along with port and starboard teak beaches that fold outboard from topsides with the push of a button, creating an entertaining area in the cockpit. Close those teak beaches and the area turns into a secure space for angling. Forward of the cockpit is a bar with integral, swiveling stools, granite countertops, an electric grill, a sink with a freshwater mixer, a refrigerator and stowage. Forward of there, abaft the helm, is a conversation area with forward- and aft-facing benches. Far forward are a three-person chaise and a bow lounge for six people—perfect for libations and snacks when the action in the cockpit cools down. Below the center console is a cabin with an L-shaped dinette, a galley, a stateroom forward and an amidships berth. A touchscreen panel controls appliances, lights and machinery.

LOA: 53’ Beam: 14’8” Weight: 26,500 lbs. Power: (5) 425-hp Yamaha XF425 4-strokes Price: $ 2.4 million

SAILFISH 360 CC

The new flagship of the Sailfish fleet, the 360 CC is best described as a comfortable offshore sportfish. The cockpit has fold-down benches that form what feels like a sectional couch in a home. Stow the seats and the space expands for fishing. There’s an 80-quart cooler and a 32-gallon baitwell under the cockpit mezzanine seats, with tackle stowage drawers behind the seat back. Seven rod holders line the transom, which also has a 42- gallon pressurized livewell. Larger species such as wahoo, kings and tuna can come aboard through the port-side cockpit dive door. There’s another “just like home” social area in the bow, which has chaise console seating and a Ushaped lounge with an electric table that lowers and stows flush to create a casting platform. The 360- degree fishability of this platform should help with chasing jacks or tuna around the boat on light tackle. Below the console is a cabin with a head, shower and convertible berth. Twin and triple power options from Yamaha and Mercury are available. Triple 300-hp Yamaha F300s are standard and configurable up to 1,275 horsepower via three 425-hp Yamaha XF425 4-strokes. Top end with the standard power package is around 45 knots, according to the builder. For a long journey down the coast or out to the canyons, 20 knots provides the best fuel burn.

LOA: 36’ Beam: 11’2” Weight: 12,700 lbs. Power: (3) 300-hp Yamaha F300 4-strokes Price: $ 429,429