There is a place where time stands still. It’s a place where social status updates don’t change with the second hand on a clock and where the smartphone goes away altogether. It’s where you trade your devices for a rod, a reel, some line, a hook and the wonderful simplicity that comes with it all. You hear water lapping against a hull. You see birds. If you’re lucky, a screaming drag disrupts the sublime scene, bringing with it the fish of a lifetime. That’s when you reach for the smartphone, so you can share the picture later. Here are 16 fishing tenders ready to take you to that place.
Fountain 38CC
Fountain Powerboats has always been known for speed, and the 38CC keeps the tradition alive. This center console cruises at 36.5 knots with standard triple 350 hp Verados. Top-end is 64 knots. With optional triple 400 hp Verados, that top hop jumps to 70.5 knots, making the run to the fishing grounds quick. Quads are also available for those who need even more speed. Part of the builder’s Bluewater Sport Series, the 38CC is aimed at anglers, and some fishing upgrades include six additional rod holders, Taco GS-280 outriggers, electrical outlets for dredge and deep-drop reels, and a tackle center. Would-be owners can “build ” a 38CC on Fountain’s website.
Regal 33 SAV
Regal has been building family-oriented cruising craft for 49 years, and its outboard-powered 33 SAV (Sports Activity Vessel) takes the builder in a new direction: fishing. An optional angling package adds a cockpit livewell aft to port, telescoping outriggers, a macerated fish box, transom rod holders and a saltwater washdown. For owners who prefer spearfishing, there is in-deck stowage for dive tanks and a side-boarding door for easy in and out of the water. The cockpit also has a space for a TV and a grill. Power comes from twin 300 or 350 hp Yamaha four-stroke outboards. Owners can choose among eight hull colors and boot-stripe options. For overnighting, there are a California queen berth and a head belowdecks.
Everglades 273CC
With 108 square feet of fish-fighting space, a bait-prep center with a 31-gallon livewell, and an 82-gallon fish box, Everglades‘ 273cc is designed to chase fish. Pop-up cleats forward keep the deck flush when tossing a cast net for the pilchards or menhaden. The 273cc’s deep-V, variable deadrise hull form with 20-degree transom deadrise should slice through most chop. That form is supported by the builder’s Rapid Molded Core Assembly Process, which molds the structural foam prior to being placed into the hull. Power for the center console is twin outboards to a maximum of 500 hp. The helm station has bolster-style seats, and the console has room for two 16-inch displays.
HCB 6500 Estrella
At 65 feet length overall, the HCB 6500 Estrella can be a superyacht fishing tender or a dayboat. HCB Center Console Yachts, formerly Hydra Sports Custom Boats, penned the design in the wake of its 53-foot Sueños. The 6500 Estrella is powered with five 627 hp Seven Marines. It seats five people at the helm and 10 for dinner under the hardtop. Hull No. 1 is expected to launch this summer.
Grady-White Freedom 325
Grady-White‘s Freedom 325 dual console has an anchor locker with a windlass and a 180-quart insulated fish box forward, a 254-quart insulated transom fish box, 32-gallon livewell, an electrically adjustable helm seat, and a hardtop that comes standard with a SureShade. Options include a generator, wet bar and refrigerator. The 325 has the builder’s SeaV2 hull with an ever-changing deadrise from bow to stern, making the boat seakindly. Even with a 33-foot-1-inch length overall, the boat’s 2-foot draft makes her skinny-water friendly. The hull and deck are hand-laid fiberglass. Power is twin 300 or 350 hp Yamaha four-stroke outboards. Optimum cruising speed with the 300s is about 25.5 knots, making 42 knots on the pins, according to the builder. With the 350s, best cruise speed is around 27 knots with a 47.5-knot top-end.
Carolina Skiff Sea Chaser 27 HFC
The “build now” feature on Carolina Skiff‘s website lets prospective owners dial in the Sea Chaser 27 HFC center console to suit their needs. Choices include hull color (there are nine options) and power plants (there are four options) with single or twin outboards to a maximum of 500 hp. HFC stands for Hybrid Fish & Cruise, so this craft could work for the avid angler or the gentleman fisherman who likes to wet a line when the weather and, hopefully, the fish cooperate. For pescadors who like to troll for pelagics in the deep, Taco Grand Slam telescoping outriggers are optional. Standard fishing amenities include 30- and 40-gallon livewells, a leaning post with tackle trays, and a 208-quart in-sole fish box with macerator. The 27 HFC is built in 100 percent composite (no wood), and the boat’s hull has a five-year transferable warranty.
Insetta 45C
Are you time-broke but like to fish? The Insetta‘s best top-end is about 63 knots, so getting out for some fast fishing is doable on this 45-footer. Engine options include twin 300 hp or 627 hp outboards, quad 300 hp or 400 hp outboards, or even twin 370 hp Yanmar diesels. The Insetta 45 has offshore racing DNA with a stepped-and-tunneled hull design. The boat is built via vacuum-infused fiberglass with PVC coring. Bulkheads are full-beam and infused as well, adding strength and rigidity to help the 45 handle the rigors of rough water. For anglers, four 175-quart in-sole fish boxes will hold the catch and then some. Some options include a fighting chair, a second livewell and a 5 kW generator.
Pursuit S 368
With some luck, the fish will be as plentiful as the angling amenities on the Pursuit S 368. Some standards include no fewer than 10 rod holders, a 28-gallon livewell, two 45-gallon in-sole fish boxes, bait-prep center with cutting board, tackle stowage, and freshwater and undergunwale rod stowage. Some fish-focused options include a hardtop rocket launcher, three transom rod holders and 18-foot telescoping outriggers. Notable options include a bow tow eye, choice of hull color and Garmin electronics. Power is triple 300 hp or 350 hp Yamaha outboards. Cruise speed with the 300s is around 28 knots, burning 35.9 gph. With 425 gallons of fuel, range at cruise is about 275 nautical miles. Top-end is about 42.7 knots.
Intrepid 407 Panacea
Intrepid‘s boats have long been popular tenders, and its vessels are known for style, solid construction and performance. The 407 Panacea continues the tradition with a single, stepped-hull form. It’s built with an infused fiberglass hull and PVC foam coring. Engine options include twin or triple outboards from Yamaha, Mercury or Seven Marine. There is an option to modify the transom for quad outboards. To set up the 407 for fishing, options include outriggers, hardtop rocket launcher, in-sole and transom livewells, gunwale rod stowage, and recessed dive tanks for spearfishermen. Some other options are a gyrostabilizer, LED lighting and double-welded tow eye.
Regulator 34SS
The Regulator 34SS has three fish boxes offering 892 quarts of space for your catch. Not enough? Add another 400-quart in-sole box. A 42-gallon transom livewell is standard too. The 34SS has a deep-V hull form with 24-degree transom deadrise. Power options are triple 300 hp or 350 hp Yamahas. Optimum cruise speed is about 25 knots with the 300s and 30.5 knots with the 350s.
Belzona 32CC
The Belzona 32cc is a Florida-built center console with an Easy Open sliding door to port that comes standard, designed to let spearfishermen and snorkelers easily get in and out of the water. Center console and walkaround layouts are available. Her cockpit has more than 55 square feet of space, as well as twin fish boxes and tackle stowage. A 60-gallon livewell and hardtop outriggers are optional for serious anglers. There are 20 rod holders scattered up and down her 32-foot-6-inch length overall, and a Fusion stereo system can blast tunes while the boat speeds back to the dock under the power of Mercury Verados with maximum 700 hp total.
Blackfin 272 CC
The Blackfin 272 CC is designed for casual fun fishing. Her high freeboard should help to provide a secure, dry ride, and her 3-foot draft (engines down) is intended to get her in and out of skinny water — especially helpful for boaters who cruise in the Bahamas or along Florida’s west coast. The deep-V hull has 22 degrees of transom deadrise and should slice through bristling chop with aplomb. Flip-down transom seating is standard, and owners get a choice of hull color. Anglers will appreciate the two 54-gallon in-sole fish boxes and 30-gallon transom livewell. The 272 CC can be outfitted with Mercury or Yamaha engines configured with up to 600 horses, depending on how fast owners want this 27-foot-2-inch boat to go.
Jupiter 43 SF
The Jupiter 43 SF is from the breed of larger center consoles that has become increasingly popular during the past few years. She is equipped to compete with larger convertibles when fishing, even to the point of being tournament-ready. The 43 SF can sleep two people down below and has a galley. She can be outfitted with a tuna tower, and features for fishing and other fun include a 75-gallon freshwater system with a washdown and transom shower, twin insulated 420-quart fish boxes, and port and starboard dive doors. The 43 SF is the builder’s new flagship. She will be powered by Yamahas in one of three configurations: triple 350s, quadruple 300s or quad 350s.
EdgeWater 370cc
For boaters who like speed, there is the EdgeWater 370cc. An evolution of the builder’s 368cc, the 370cc reportedly tops out around 52 knots and cruises at 31 knots while getting 1.3 miles per gallon. She also has an air-conditioned cabin that sleeps two, with a TV, microwave and refrigerator. Twin 200-quart fish boxes and two livewells (45 and 70 gallons) bolster her angling cred.
Scout 380 LXF
South Carolina-based Scout is known for striking boats with flowing lines, and the builder constructs a mean hull that can chew up and spit out most any chop. Scout boats range from a 175 to a 420, with this 380 LXF being part of the Luxury Center Console line. She has customizable hull colors, an optional 10-speaker JL Audio sound system, and a grill station abaft her console. Quad 300 hp or 350 hp Mercury or Yamaha outboards are available, driving what the builder says is a 50-plus-knot top-end. There is an optional Release fighting chair for big-game fans, and for deep-drop or kite-fish anglers, she is prerigged for electric reels. Three helm chairs and two lounges in the bow, coupled with seating at the bow peak, abaft the console and at the transom, should let everyone spread out. An optional portside hydraulic swim platform is available as well.
Boston Whaler 380 Outrage
For 60 years, Boston Whaler has been producing functional, unsinkable and fishable center consoles. The 380 Outrage follows the builder’s tradition for stout craft with its Unibond construction, using closed-cell foam-core set inside a hull liner and an inner liner, creating a monocoque structure. Power for the 380 Outrage is triple 300 hp or 350 hp Mercury Verados. The builder reports a 44.3-knot top-end with the 350s. The 380 has a deep-V hull form with 23 degrees of transom deadrise designed to slice the chop on tournament days, and get to the grounds in rapid fashion. Want even more comfort? A Seakeeper gyro is optional. Some fishing standards include a 60-gallon livewell, 15 rod holders, 3 in-sole fishboxes and under gunwale holders for downrigger weights. Some angling options include freezer plates for the fishboxes, hardtop-mounted radial outriggers and a deluxe leaning post with bait-prep center, talk stowage and 30-gallon livewell. Want to pull the 380 Outrage behind the big boat? A polished stainless-steel bow tow eye is available.
