Top Benefits of Center Console Boats

Lately I have been noticing an increase in the number of center console boats on my home lake, Lake of the Ozarks, and I wanted to learn why. So I posed the question “What are the benefits of center console boats?” on the boating Facebook group, Passion for Powerboats and received a boat load of responses.

One group member summed up the current tide of popularity in four words: Fish, party, go fast.
Like the reverse of the famous 80’s mullet haircut, a center console boat is a party in the front and business (fishing) in the back. Once mainly found on coastal waterways, center console boats are now readily found on fresh water lakes and waterways. The growth in center console boat popularity speaks to what many believe is their versatility and amenities that begins to rival cruisers and bow riders.

Fishing & Flexibility

Center console boats are designed for both fishing and the excursion life. With multiple rod holders, power-packed electronics, ample storage and wrap around access, a center console boat can be a fisherman’s dream. The open layout allows for multiple anglers and the ability to move about the boat when battling that big one! Whether casting, bottom fishing or trolling, a center console boat can do it. The larger tri and quad outboard center consoles are best suited for large lakes and saltwater boating, while the smaller single and dual engine center consoles will work well on freshwater lakes, rivers and near shore saltwater boating. While the anglers are at work in the back, the rest of the group can hang out an party in front!

New Larger Hull Formats

Center console boats have entered into the “bigger is better” stage of their life cycle. The once common single and dual outboard versions are now joined with triple and quad outboard formats with lengths exceeding 40 feet and the longest center console boat topping out at 57 feet (MTI V 57). These larger hull formats give the ride of a cruiser but with the openness of a bowrider. As such, boat owners who once felt they had to move from bowrider to cruiser for a larger more stable platform, now have the option to retain the openness of a bowrider in these larger center console boats. The larger “crossover” center console boats share some amenities of a cruiser, such as a cuddy cabin with AC, water, a head, refrigerator, microwave and small bunk. With larger hulls comes space for on-deck cook stations, sinks, refrigerators, and massive storage. A large center console will never match a cruiser for live aboard comfort, but the new larger models offer a getaway space that can get you out of the sun, offers some privacy and a place to have some comforts of home.

Ease of Clean Up

With fishing comes a mess and with partying, often comes a mess. Fish guts, blood and gore can get everywhere and from a hard day’s or night’s partying the same can be true! Center consoles are built to take a beating, so just hose out the interior, wipe down and you are ready to go.

Open Design

With bow riders, often everyone wants to sit in the bow and sitting on the bow of a cruiser can be a safety issue. A center console offers 360 degrees of bow seating with ample room for guests to sit next to and across from each other as well as easily move from bow to stern.  If you like to lay out on the boat, that can be tricky on a center console. The larger formats have sun pads in front of the console and sometimes on top of the Bimini cover, while smaller formats seats that fold down or side benches for sun lovers. One major drawback of the center console boat is the loss of the stern as a swim/party platform. With 2,3 or 4 outboards hanging off the stern, that area is now off limits and access to the water is offered via a side entrance. In a party cove situation, where tying up along side other boats is common, the center console owner will need to pick an end spot or hang out alone so that access to the side door to remains viable.

Outboard Motor Benefits

Whether single, duals, trips or quads all center consoles have the benefit of running outboard motors. Outboards offer better fuel economy than I/O, take up less space in the center of the boat and push the motor noise farther away from the occupants. Additionally, outboards can be fully tilted up out of the water when docked or moored, which helps reduce corrosion plus allows the boat to navigate shallower waters than and I/O. Lastly, outboards typically do not need to be winterized to the extent of I/O’s which can lower operating cost and increase usability.

For all the benefits listed above, there are also offsets and many boaters will have strong opinions against center consoles in favor of traditional starboard console watercraft. The bottom line is to match boat design, performance, styling, features and amenities to your boating lifestyle.

When you find the boat that’s right for you, whether center console, cruiser, bow rider or pontoon and you give it a great name, contact Stern Memories for all your personalized boating gear at the Lake of the Ozarks! We can help accessorize your boating crew, dock, and home with all of your custom boating accessories in Missouri. Visit our website to see what we can create for you. Happy boating!

THE MOST UNIQUE BOATING GIFT YOUR WILL EVER GIVE OR RECEIVE!

www.SternMemories.com

314.403.2142

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