Top 10 Center Console Boat Buying Guide 2023

If you’re in the market for a CC that fuses cutting-edge technology with functional amenities, you’ll love the Boston Whaler 350 Outrage. Its unsinkable hull design, spacious cockpit, and onboard bait-prep center make this particular boat every angler’s dream.

If you want to invite friends to spend a day out on the water, the 350 Outrage is intuitively designed for entertainment. It has an optional summer kitchen – which comes equipped with a grill, sink, fridge, and storage, thoughtfully-placed sitting space that’s ideal for large parties, and a Fusion stereo system that’s SiriusXM-ready.

The boat has triple Mercury® FourStroke Verado® engines that come equipped with joystick piloting for intuitive commands and easy docking. The performance of this offshore machine is second to none.

Starting price for a Boston Whaler is around $269,000. You have so many options available like aluminum outriggers, you can easily build this up to over $600k so be aware you have a lot of wiggle room in terms of pricing. 

On the water she handles smoothly and easily. A trio of Mercury outboards had us cutting through some chop at a nice clip around 35 mph. You’ll have no trouble chasing down sailfish or marlin, at least not with the layout and function of the Outrage. The 370 may be larger but I’d say the 350 is definitely made more with fishing in mind. That doesn’t mean you can deck it out with all kinds of options to make it a great day cruiser, but if you’re an angler at heart and are stuck on the 350 and the 370, go 350 for sure. The layout and features just make it easier. 

Transom, helm, gunwales and console all have rod storage for over 30 rods in total. There’s a 40 gallon pressurized live well and a second 25 gallon to port. There’s plenty of space for people as well, with comfortable seating and a sense that you can move around with ease and not step on any toes. 

Pound for pound, you won’t find a better center console for fishing, for relaxing, and for having a good time all around. That’s why this gets our best overall recommendation.

The 3200 Century Center Console is a true beauty. But its appeal isn’t just superficial. It is every bit as functional as it is luxurious. It is packed with loads of fishing features that make it perfect for both recreational and tournament anglers alike. And, when you’re not using it for your fishing expeditions, the 3200 CC is chock-full of comfort and convenience features that make it ideal for entertaining.

It is designed with an open fish deck that comes with ample storage, a 2-pump baitwell system with a 62-gallon capacity, and four forward fish boxes. It also comes with a host of amenities, including an entertainment table, enclosed electric head, bow bolsters and cushions, gunwale rod holders, tilt-out tackle trays, and lots more.

Straight from the manufacturer you’re looking at a price tag of around $319,000 for the 3200. But if you’re not a stickler for straight off the factory line, these boats have been in production for a few years and you can find some great deals online for used models that are just a couple of years old. 

You’re getting a pretty smooth ride on the open water, though in my experience it handled chop a little worse than the Outrage. That’s not to say it was bad, just noticeably a little bumpier of a ride.

If you’re looking for a center console boat that combines luxury, high performance, and fishing hacks into one eye-catching package, then you will love the new Cobia 350 CC. It is designed with a host of tournament-ready features, including a full onboard bait-prep area, a tackle station, a lockable below-deck rod holder, in-floor fish boxes that can pump overboard, and 42-gallon twin bait tanks.

It also has plenty of room to host a group of anglers at the same time or rein in a hot catch that’s swimming around the boat side. When you’re not using the 350 CC for fishing, the boat converts into a smooth-cruising pleasure vessel. Its elegant seating space can comfortably accommodate 11 people and comes with an integrated chaise lounge that has ample room for two.

You might also like the hideaway bow table that raises out of the floor electronically any time you need it for your party-spread or a simple picnic lunch.

The starting price for the Cobia is $360,395 with Triple Yamaha F300NSB engines. You can upgrade easily enough and a pair of Yamaha 425 XTOs will see you hitting about 65 mph depending on the load you’re carrying. 

Console layout is intuitive and welcome and you won’t feel lost looking for anything. She handles rough seas like a dream and it’s actually really fun to pilot this boat around. If you’re on the water to fish as much as you are to just have fun when you open her up, you won’t be disappointed with the performance here.

My biggest criticism? The steering is weirdly offset. Not a ridiculous amount, but enough that it’s noticeable and takes a bit of getting used to. But beyond that the handling is solid, the performance is what you’d expect and more and the storage and amenities ensure this one really hits the marks.

The Contender 44ST Center Console is built for sportfishing enthusiasts. It combines high performance and fuel efficiency without compromising on the hallmark of Contender rides.

It is powered with triple/quadruple engine configurations to deliver the raw chest-pounding speed you need to get to a hot offshore fishing site before anyone else does. So, whether you’re looking to venture into the Atlantic Canyons to hunt for big tuna, or hit the South Florida waters for a bit of kite fishing, the 44ST will get you there in style.

As a well appointed sport fishing boat, the Contender 44 ST is not for most casual boaters. Starting prices get down to about $749,000 depending on where you’re buying it from but with some options and customization it’s not unheard of to crack $1 million. 

For the price, rest assured you’re getting a solid vessel that can handle whatever the ocean throws at it. This boat takes punishment and delivers. The control and performance is close to perfect here.

Deck space is open and uncluttered so you can manage your fishing with ease. Forward seating layout will make you wish every boat was designed like this, spacious and intelligent and perfect for a crew of several anglers working together. 

A 340 gallon storage compartment can hold just a ton of gear, and the rest of the smartly placed storage is just as easy to access. The visibility and user-friendly console design and layout is a step up from some lesser brands and, honestly, it’s just an all around fun vessel.

If you’re looking for a center console boat that combines a ton of family-friendly and fishing features into one sleek package, you’ll like what the 340 CC boat from EdgeWater has to offer. It is powered by dual Yamaha XTO 425hp engines and comes with an optional Seakeeper to keep it stable even in the roughest of sea waves.

The console head comes with ample room and plenty of storage, and the deck has several rod holders – all visible every way you look. If you plan to take your family out on the water, the 340 CC has an easy-to-use stowaway bow table that’s perfect for hosting dinners, and a plush sun pad lounge to provide a comfortable seating area.

With a starting price of about $395,000, the 340CC is actually a little more affordable than many comparable boats. That makes it a solid value because you are getting a lot for your money here. 

It’s not the most over the top fishing boat on the water, and by that I mean it does strike that balance between a family friendly boat for a fun day on the water and a fishing vessel. But don’t doubt that it can still hit one or the other as well as most of us will ever need.

You’ve got a 32-gallon transom well, and a 38-gallon pressurized well at the helm. There’s also options for a sink and freshwater faucet and tons of bait and tackle storage.

On the flip side there are options for some more luxurious and comfortable seating, pedestals tables, and more.

Twin Yamaha F300s are standard but you can upgrade to twin Yamaha 425 XTO with Yamaha CL7 engine monitor, a standard Fusion stereo (controlling eight JL speakers, including two subwoofers), and Yamaha’s Helm Master joystick for about $65k.

In terms of construction the boat is composite and foam structural stringers with knitted fiberglass and resins. EdgeWater uses a process it calls Single-Piece Infusion and the end result is a boat that is as smooth as silk on the water and makes as little noise as anything I’ve ever been in.

The custom-designed blue metallic hull of the Everglades 243 CC makes a great first impression. The interior is pretty impressive and decked out with fine upholstery and rich wood accents. Its standard features include life jacket storage nets, dry storage, a tackle unit, flush-mounted rod holders, walk around gunwales, and a 32-gallon Livewell.

It also has rear seats that fold down and lock, creating a huge aft casting deck. If you want to cast-net live bait, you’ll enjoy the bow seating/casting platform combined with the low-profile pop-up cleats and powder-coated bow rails that make fishing a breeze.

The 243 CC also comes with an upper station that has a helm seat, four poly cup-holders, a sliding sunroof, and a Garmin-powered wired handset.

These boats can start at around $189,000 but get up to $800 k or more depending on how you play with your options, so the sky’s the limit here. 

With a Yamaha 300 HP you can expect to crack 50 mph. Thanks to the high-density 6 lb. foam that is chemically and permanently bonded between the hull and deck these boats are often advertised as unsinkable. Don’t let that tempt you to get reckless, but they’re definitely safe and reliable on the water. 

At speed I found this boat a lot of fun but I have to warn you, if you’re up in that top seat at high noon you will feel like you’re in an oven. Wear sunscreen and get a hat, because they really need to include some kind of sun cover on that thing.

The Grady-White Fisherman 216 CC boat combines outstanding functionality and superior comfort for the crew onboard. The vessel is not only designed for fishing; it is great for water skiing, swimming, or simply day cruising for a relaxed weekend afternoon out on the water.

The boat comes with standard fishing amenities, including starboard insulated and forward port fish boxes, flush mount cleats, rod holders, rod storage racks, tackle trays, ample storage, and lots more. It also has swim platforms with starboard extensions, a 4-step swim ladder, and an aft port.

You’re looking at a price of around $119,000 for the Fisherman 216. Again, lots of upgrades, packages and options can really alter your end price so always make sure you get a full quote for everything you want.

The entire vessel is self bailing which is a nice feature. Gravity just helps everything find its way right off the boat. The steering wheel is to port, which might be a little off putting for those used to a center console that is literally designed to be centered, but it’s not a terrible adjustment. Otherwise the design of the helm is very smart and convenient, such as kill switch and ignition placement and even the compass.

The Fisherman 216 comes standard with a single 200-hp 2.8 L in-line 4-cylinder Yamaha engine. With good weather and a boat that’s not overloaded you’re looking at 40+ mph. Upgrade to the 250 and you’re getting around 48+ mph. The downside here is that these engines don’t seem to be the most fuel efficient, especially when pushed.

If you’re looking for a boat that’s specially designed for both inshore and offshore fishing, then you’ll love the performance of the Scout 251 XSS. This hybrid center console boat has a prominent bow and a hull design that provides the depth necessary for slicing through offshore waves with ease without getting you wet in the process.

Some of its standard features include a leaning post with rod holders, trim tabs, a transom ladder, lockable storage, and a large anchor locker. If you want, you can also get an aerated baitwell and rear deck jump seat cushions installed. This boat is stunning in every way, and its price isn’t too bad either.

The base price here is around $110,000. As usually, options can really jack the price up. But, as with some other vessels, if you’re not a stickler for brand new, you can get good deals on models made over the last couple of years.

She comes with a standard 300 hp ­Yamaha and it offers all the power you’d hope for. With the clean hull design and sleek lines you can open the engine up and easily cut through the waves at speeds reaching close to 60 mph.

Drawing just 13 inches, you’ll find this boat adapts well to all manner of fishing locations. I tried this one out on the ocean and I have heard from some anglers working inshore that the design can be a little tight around that T-top console, depending on what you’re fishing for, so be aware of that.

It’s no secret that CCs cost a pretty penny. But it is possible to get a decent boat for under $55,000. The Bayliner Trophy T22CC delivers outstanding value for its price. It has a V-hull that’s designed to minimize draft, maximize stability, and cut through open waves with a fairly flat attitude.

While it may not have all the amenities you would expect from pricier boats, its list of standard fishing features is pretty impressive for a brand new boat of its price range. It has fore and aft casting decks, rocket launchers on the leaning post, under-gunwale racks, and flush-mount gunwale rod holders.

It also has a few comfort features like a 120-Watt FM stereo with two speakers, cup holders at different positions on the boat, and swim platforms with ladders on the transom extending on either side of the motor. With a few extra bucks, however, you can jazz up the boat with extra features to your liking.

This is where affordability really comes into play as the Bayliner is not a bank-breaker like some of our other models here. Prices start at $51,440 and can go up from there as you expand your options.

If you max out with a 300-hp FourStroke you’re looking at a top speed of around 53 mph. Honestly, for my money, I’d stay at the 250 or maybe even the 200. The price savings is a lot and if you’re just looking for a casual and fun boat that works for you as a fishing boat and a family gun boat, those will probably provide everything you need.

For the price and the solid showing across the board as both a fishing boat and a family boat, this takes the recommendation for our budget pick. Great value for the money and while it’s not the best of the best, that’s not what we’re striving for here, either. This boat gives you everything you want at a price most of us can afford and that’s great.

The Midnight Express Pied-a-Mer is like a piece of art and you’ll be torn between thinking this is a small luxury yacht and a center console fishing boat. There are two cabins below deck that space the 15 foot beam and offer more space than you’d think at first glance.

If you crave speed, two 1,900-hp MAN diesel engines will see you cutting through the waves at 90 miles per hour. If you’re not looking to put it all into engines, that’s okay, too. The 6 Mercury Racing 450R outboards are a far more common set up and those will still see you passing 60 mph.

In terms of price, you’re not buying this if you’re a casual boater and we get that. You can customize so many parts of this boat but your base price is $1.6 million. So this is definitely meant for those who want the best luxury, the best fishing, and the best speed and have the money to invest in it.

Features can include:

The layout is perfect for pretty much anything you can want to do on the water from fishing to entertaining to spending a night under the stars. You can sleep, you can cook, you can do it all. And you’re paying for it, so you better, right?

I got a taste with a six pack of engines and hit speeds over 70 and it was as thrilling as you might expect. Overall, a smooth ride with great handling. If you’re going fishing, you’ll definitely want to get your layout and storage organized and probably not bring a full 17 people out with you. But it can really comfortably accommodate a good number of anglers at the same time in a way that ensures you’re not stepping on toes.

You’re paying for this boat as we can see but man, it does not let you down. It’s so rare for a boat to manage to merge a luxury comfort family-style boat and a fishing boat in a way that doesn’t make one or the other seem lacking, but you get it here as well as I’ve ever seen it done. This wins our premium recommendation because, for the money, you are getting the best that Midnight Express could produce.