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46’ Pilothouse

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The game hasn’t just changed, it’s been revolutionized.

With the introduction of the 46’ Catamaran in 2020, it raised the cat segment to a whole new level. Now we’ve upped the stakes again by unveiling the first-ever production pilothouse catamaran. Offering the same range, performance and 360-degree fishability of the center console 46’ Catamaran, but equipped with the sleeping space and comfort of a comparably-sized sportfish. Introducing the 46’ Pilothouse: the new pinnacle of innovation

Specifications

Length overall, dead rise at transom, weight with power*, standard fuel capacity.

1,000 GALLONS

3,785 LITRES

Maximum Horsepower

*weight is listed as “ready to fish” which indicates full fuel and livewells..

Insulated Fish Box

Anchor Locker

Bilge Access

Photo Gallery

Highlighted features.

• Enclosed Pilothouse
• 360-Degree Fishability
• Patented Catamaran Hull Design

STANDARD FEATURES

• Air Conditioning
• Finished Bilge
• Above and Below Deck Livewells
• AGM Sealed Batteries
• Built-In Anchor Locker
• Under Gunnel Lighting
• High-Speed Pickup for Livewell Seachest
• Interior Console Lighting
• Saltwater Washdown
• Three Automatic 2,000 GPH Bilge Pumps
• Waterproof Switches and Circuit Breaker
• Protected System
• 100% Vinylester Resin Hull
• 316 Stainless-Steel Hardware
• Vacuum-Bagged Cored Hull Construction

POWER OPTIONS

• Quadruple 400 Mercury Verado
• Quadruple 425 Yamaha XTO
• Quadruple 450R Mercury Racing (5.44”)

CUSTOM TOP OPTIONS

• Pilothouse Hardtop
• Center Console Extended Hardtop
• Rear Entry Tower w/ Dual Station
• Hard Buggy Top Upgrade
• LED Spreader Lights (each)
• Rupp Top Gun Revolution Outriggers
• Rupp Carbon Fiber Outrigger Upgrade
• Gem Deluxe Outriggers w/ Carbon Fiber Poles
• Gem 22′ Outrigger Upgrade (pair)
• Single Rod Rack for Hardtop (5)
• Kingfish Rodholders (pair)
• Full Pilothouse Glass Windshield
• Double Rod Rack Upgrade (needs rear support)
• Tigress Electric Outriggers w/ Gemlux Poles

FISHING ACCESSORY OPTIONS

• Rod Holders on Side of Gunwale Additional (each)
• Rod Holders on Console Vertical (each)
• Rod Holders on Coffin Box (each)
• Heavy Duty Swivel Rod Holders (each)
• Livewell Seachest 2 pumps
• Livewell Seachest 3 pumps
• Livewell Seachest 4 pumps
• Large Livewell Seachest 6 pumps
• Additional High Speed Pickup
• Above Deck Livewell Connections (each)
• Clear Plexiglass Lid for Livewell (Floor Well)
• Under Gunnel Rod Racks (each)
• Under Gunnel Gaff Holders (each)
• Electric Reel Outlets (each)
• Colored Livewell (each)
• Livewell Light (each)
• Built-in Tuna Tube Upgrade (each)
• In Floor Livewell – 70 gallons (each)

SEATING OPTIONS

• 4 Helm Chairs & Small Rear U-Shape
• 2 Helm Chairs & Large Rear U-Shape
• ShoXS Pedestals (per helm chair)
• U-Shape Table (requires large U-Shape)
• Cockpit Rear Mezzanine Seat
• Cockpit Rear Prep Station
• Leaning Post Chill Plate
• Front Fold-Out Storage Lockers
• Rear Fold-Out Jump Seats

ENHANCEMENT AND CONVENIENCE

• Fancy Rigid Rubrail with Stainless Insert
• Hull Side Dive Door w/ Ladder
• Dive Ladder – Transom Pullout Style
• Fresh Water Washdown
• Hose Coil Kits for Fresh and Salt Washdowns
• Additional Hose Coil Kit for Salt Washdown
• Additional Hose Coil Kit for Fresh Washdown
• Deluxe Electric Head in Console
• Windlass in Hull w/ Custom Anchor and Bracket
• SS Towing Eye Strike Plate Package
• Under Water Lights LED – Blue & White (each)
• PC1800 Battery System Upgrade
• Battery Charger with Galvanic Isolator
• Stainless Steel Cupholders on Gunwale (each)
• Ultra Junior Float Switch Upgrade (each)
• Upper Console Keeper

COLORS AND CANVAS OPTIONS

• Custom One Color Gelcoat for Hull
• Full Coaming Bolsters

COVER AND SHADE OPTIONS

• Forward Bahama Shade
• Aft Bahama Shade
• Motor Cover (each)
• Second Station Box Cover

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Best pilothouse boats: 12 of the best boats for year-round adventures

• Top stories

In the last few years, we’ve noticed an explosion of interest in adventure boats that you can use all year round. Here’s our pick of the best pilothouse boats on the market right now…

From Axopar to Viggo, the new boat market seems to be overflowing with pilothouse boats right now and the appeal isn’t hard to fathom.

With enclosed wheelhouses that offer great all-round visibility as well as protection from the elements, the best pilothouse boats have outgrown their Scandinavian roots.

Yards from Italy and Turkey are getting in on the action too, and we’ve recently experienced the joys of boating around the Seychelles in a pilothouse boat .

If you’re looking to try this style of boating, read on for our essential guide to the most exciting pilothouse boats on the market right now…

12 of the best pilothouse boats

Twin-stepped hull gives the Axopar 37 XC first rate performance, efficiency and sea-keeping

Axopar 37 XC

The Axopar 37 XC is a great-looking multi-purpose adventure platform with a range of flexible indoor and outdoor spaces plus the option of authentic four-berth accommodation.

With its second-generation twin-stepped hull, it handles like a proper sportsboat too, while still returning cruising efficiency of around 2.3l/nm at 28 knots with a pair of Mercury 300s on the transom.

It also offers the option of gullwing doors for uprated access and ventilation in the forward cabin, and the options elsewhere are just as rewarding. You can upgrade to twin 350s for 48-knot performance, or spec the aft deck with a stern bench, a wet bar module, a storage compartment or a brilliant aft cabin .

You can also augment the styling with the Brabus Line package or you can add extra functionality with a forward heads compartment and a pilothouse kitchen module. For full-on adventure, it’s very tough to beat.

Axopar 37 XC specifications

LOA: 37ft 9in (11.50m) Beam: 9ft 8in (3.35m) Engine: Twin 225-350hp outboards Top speed: 48 knots Starting price: £278,000 (inc. VAT)

Read more about the Axopar 37 XC

The Dale 40 makes light work of big seas

Introduced in 2019, the award-winning Dale 40 is a pilothouse boat unlike any other. As you would expect of a Dale , it gives you a steady trim angle throughout the rev range and a perfectly judged balance between forward buoyancy and softness of entry, but it supplements that with extra bow flare and deeper freeboards for an even drier ride at sea.

It’s also a great boat for adding flexibility to your nav plans. The fore-and-aft ensuite cabins enable two couples to cruise for weeks on end and the wheelhouse is easily converted for a third couple.

In terms of range, a combined fuel capacity of 2,300 litres delivers 350nm at 20 knots – and if you want to leave the open sea behind and explore Europe’s inland waterways, the Dale 40’s wide side decks, open aft helm and arrow-straight tracking make it perfect for that too.

Dale 40 specifications

LOA: 44ft 2in (13.48m) Beam: 13ft 10in (4.23m) Engine: Twin Volvo Penta D6 340-480s on shafts Top speed: 28 knots Starting price: £987,777 (inc. VAT)

Read more about the Dale 40

The Dromeas D33 SUV is a stylish 50-knot weekender

Dromeas D33 SUV

As the larger of Dromeas’s two pilothouse boats, the very latest D33 SUV takes the same thoroughbred underpinnings as the D33 WA but adds an enclosed cockpit with twin side doors for uprated year-round practicality.

Available with inboards or outboards , this 50-knot offshore platform also uses aggressive spray rails, thickset rubbing strakes and elevated forward gunwales for a safe, dry ride.

There’s a range of options to help configure the aft deck to your needs, and down below, an open-plan layout provides bright, comfortable sleeping for four. Easily customised and inherently versatile, the new Dromeas D33 SUV is a seriously impressive piece of work.

Dromeas D33 SUV specifications

LOA: 27ft 1in (10.50m) Beam: 8ft 10in (3.15m) Engine: Single or twin outboards up to 800hp Top speed: 50 knots Starting price: £211,200 (inc. VAT)

This is the Daddy of the Nimbus pilothouse boat range, complete with fully enclosed wheelhouse and a pair of Volvo’s 4-cylinder 320hp sterndrive diesels for good measure.

It is, being a Nimbus , incredibly practical and well thought out. There are guardrails all the way along the side decks and wherever there isn’t a guardrail you can guarantee there is going to be a hand hold.

The side decks are deep and safe and there is bespoke storage for the boat’s fenders on the transom and a dedicated slot for the wooden boat hook outside the cockpit doors. These are the sort of practical details that Nimbus’s designers chalk off in their sleep but they make life on board so much easier.

Nimbus C11 specifications

LOA: 40ft 7in (12.4m) Beam: 11ft 4in (3.46m) Engines: Twin 320hp Volvo Penta D4 Top speed: 40 knots Starting price: £361,549 (inc. VAT)

Read more about the Nimbus C11

The Nordkapp Gran Coupé 905 is available with twin 225hp outboards or a single 600hp V12

Nordkapp Gran Coupé 905

The Gran Coupé 905 is a practical, versatile (and rather beautiful) four-berth adventure companion but the V12 model ramps things up in a serious way.

For a start, there are no optional extras here because everything is included. That extends from the Webasto heating, hot and cold water, stern anchor and electric soft top to the bow and stern thrusters, forward sundeck, convertible cockpit and fully featured heads.

And then there’s the engine. While the base 905 is available with a 300hp outboard or twin 225s, this top-of-the-line variant comes with Mercury’s 7.6-litre V12 Verado 600hp outboard motor for ferocious pick-up and speeds in the region of 55 knots.

With sociable outdoor zones fore and aft, plus convertible pilothouse shelter and class-leading performance, this unashamedly high-spec four-season family cruiser is a boat you simply can’t ignore.

Nordkapp Gran Coupé 905 specifications

LOA: 29ft 11in (9.12m) Beam: 9ft 9in (2.98m) Engine: Mercury Verado 7.6-litre 600hp V12 Top speed: 55 knots Starting price: £240,450 (inc VAT and 300hp engine) / £319,950 (inc. VAT and 600hp engine)

Modified chines make the Nord Star 33+ an even smoother ride than its predecessor

Nord Star 33+

The Nord Star 33+ uses the existing 32 hull with modified chines to make it even softer and more forgiving at sea. It also comes with bonded windows and smaller mullions for uprated visibility, plus revised bulwark boarding gates and twin side doors for extra practicality.

The optional Cruiser package looks particularly well judged. In addition to French doors that bring the cockpit and saloon into easy union, it offers some useful flexibility in relation to the way the galley and lower atrium interact.

You can spec each side of the atrium with a heads and separate shower; you can swap the port space for a lower galley; or you can leave the galley up top and use the port compartment as a massive walk-in wardrobe.

Either way, with a pair of D4 270s, this practical four-berth Nordic pilothouse boat offers a really satisfying combination of fuel efficiency, performance and living comfort.

Nord Star 33+ specifications

LOA: 36ft 5in (11.40m) Beam: 11ft 1in (3.40m) Engine: Twin inboard diesels up to 872hp Top speed: 45 knots Starting price: £365,000 (inc. VAT)

Read more about the Nord Star 33+

Pardo has eased back the power to give the Endurance 60 extra efficiency and range

Pardo Endurance 60

The Pardo Endurance 60 might look more like a mini superyacht than an all-action pilothouse boat, but its credentials are very strong. At 59ft in length with a fully enclosed wheelhouse and deep walkaround side decks, it uses a compact, low-slung flybridge to keep the centre of gravity as low as possible.

The decking ahead of the flybridge wind deflector is a great place to sit with a view or ideal for stowing a couple of bikes or stand-up paddle boards . Back aft, in addition to a hydraulic swim platform big enough for a proper jet tender, twin fold-down bulwarks create an extra 180ft² of cockpit space with great access to the water.

Available with a pair of IPS 700s or 800s and capable of sleeping up to eight people, the Pardo Endurance 60 is by no means a fast boat, but if you want long-distance adventure with extra style, refinement and luxury, this is a fantastic way to achieve it.

Pardo Endurance 60 specifications

LOA: 59ft 3in (18.08m) Beam: 16ft 8in (5.13m) Engines: Twin Volvo Penta IPS 700-800s Top speed: 25 knots UK starting price: €2.83 million (inc VAT)

Read more about the Pardo Endurance 60

Despite the extra weight created by the pilothouse, the Quarken 27 Cabin still tops out at 43 knots

Quarken 27 Cabin

The Quarken 27 Cabin takes all the user-friendly day boating intelligence of the award-winning Quarken 27 T-Top and adds a pilothouse for extra multi-purpose flexibility.

Like the open models, it uses an asymmetric design with a full-width port walkway to keep fore-and-aft movement free and easy. It also factors in a full-size sliding door for simple single-handed berthing, plus a seating design that enables you to face out from a sheltered position.

Capable of sleeping two people and seating up to eight, the Quarken 27 Cabin employs the same twin-stepped hull and Yamaha F300 outboard with finger-light digital steering as the rest of the 27 models.

And while the pilothouse structure does incur a little extra weight, this model still manages to achieve a top end of 43 knots, alongside claimed running efficiency of 1.6l per nm for a cruising range of 150nm.

Quarken 27 Cabin specifications

LOA: 27ft 5in (8.35m) Beam: 8ft 6in (2.59m) Engine: Single Yamaha F300 outboard Top speed : 43 knots Starting price: £144,442 (inc. VAT)

Read more about the Quarken 27 Cabin

Rhea is known for its 1970s-style flared bow and classic frigate stern

Rhea Trawler 34

The Rhea Trawler 34 is a seriously flexible boat. It’s available as a flybridge or a sedan and with single or twin shaft drives hooked up to Nanni, Volvo or Yanmar engines.

Like the Timonier line, it’s easy to helm, easy to beach and very kind in a North Atlantic swell. With flat decks, raised bulwarks and a closed transom, it’s also ideal for exposed passages.

And it also comes with a spacious forward owner’s cabin , plus a bathroom with separate shower, a starboard guest cabin and an optional crew cabin for those who need a third double berth.

Rhea Trawler 34 specifications

LOA: 34ft 1in (10.40m) Beam: 13ft 1in (3.98m) Engine: Single 380hp – twin 270hp inboard diesels Top speed: 21 knots Starting price: €585,000 (inc. VAT)

Impeccable seafaring and fit-out make the Sargo 45 our pick of their pilothouse boats range

The Sargo 45 is a very easy boat to enjoy. From the quick-access fender stowage to the massive single-level side decks, the wide-gauge fuel fillers and the side-entry engine bay, the simple things are superbly executed.

With its adjustability, all-round views, skipper’s side door and whisper-quiet double-glazed refinement, the helm also feels like an object lesson in seafaring ergonomics.

And then there’s the accommodation. The fit-out is impeccable, headroom throughout is great and with a convertible dinette, an ingenious ensuite mid cabin and a pair of forward cabins with large day heads, you could easily sleep six to eight people in the utmost comfort.

Even the cruising efficiency looks good. Twin 480hp Volvo Penta D6-IPS650s will deliver 36-knot performance alongside four litres per nautical mile at 30 knots and a range in excess of 300 miles – and you also get the option of sterndrives and a flybridge.

Sargo 45 specifications

LOA: 47ft 11in (14.60m) Beam: 14ft 0in (4.25m) Engine: Twin Volvo D6 440 / IPS-650 Top speed: 36 knots Starting price: €995,000 (inc. VAT)

Read more about the Sargo 45

The Targa 32 Coupe can reach speeds of up to 48 knots

Targa 32 Coupe

The Targa 32 is a fantastic all-rounder. It comes with a flybridge and second helm as standard but, as elsewhere in the range, you can also spec it with a flat roof, an aft door and a large roof rack for your kayaks and paddleboards.

Down below, two comfortable cabins make it popular for families, but you can also choose between a sociable foredeck cockpit or an optional raised bow for extra space in the forward double. It’s also the most versatile Targa in terms of engines.

Diesel options range from twin Volvo D4s right up to the biggest D6s for performance of up to 48 knots alongside a fast cruise of 38 to 40 knots. A pair of Mercury Verado V8 300 or V10 400 outboards are also an option.

But even twin D4 320s will deliver a top speed of 40 knots, while creating some handy extra space in the engine room for bulky baggage or folding bikes .

Targa 32 Coupe specifications

LOA: 35ft 4in (10.78m) Beam: 11ft 1in (3.37m) Engine: 640-880hp inboard diesels Top speed: 48 knots Starting price: £399,840 (inc. VAT)

Viggos are known for their tough aluminium construction and shallow draft

Viggo C10 Offshore

Viggo’s C10 Offshore employs the same deep-vee (24-degree) hull form as the 8m boats but uprates it for Category B use. It also benefits from a more acute bow shape, single or twin engines, separate fuel tanks, and a backup system for the power supply.

As on the Viggo C8 , the layout has been designed so you can pass freely from bow to stern through fore and aft doors and remarkably, up to ten passengers can sit underway in the shelter of the pilothouse.

It’s a seriously quick boat too, thanks to a twin 450hp outboard option that brings a rip-snorting 65 knots into play. And to harness all that power, it also uses a pair of central K-Plane hydraulic trim tabs, which do much the same job as a 200-litre bow tank – pinning that nose in a rough head sea and avoiding any unnecessary air time.

Viggo C10 Offshore specifications

LOA: 35ft 11in (10.95m) Beam: 9ft 8in (2.95m) Engine: Single 450hp / Twin 300-450hp outboards Top speed: 48-65 knots Starting price: £359,400 (inc. VAT)

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Boat Test: 2024 Bayliner Trophy T23 Pilothouse

• By Alan Jones
• March 21, 2024

The mission of Bayliner Trophy models has always been to give owners a capable boat at a ­reasonable price. That has never changed, and to prove it, Bayliner has debuted a Portuguese-built pilothouse design featuring a comfortable and dry ride even if sea conditions prove less than clement. It’s one of the five new cabin models in the Pilothouse and Explorer lines.

While pilothouse boats are common in the Northeast and Northwest US, this 23-footer would also be ideal in places such as the Great Lakes and large bodies of water in the Midwest. During my sea trial on a frosty Florida morning, I realized that the benefits of this design were not limited to Northern climes.

Interior and Accessories

The two Trophy Pilothouse models, which also include the T25 PH, are more fishing-forward than the three Explorer cabin-cruiser models, which are purpose-built more for cruising and entertaining. The most visible difference between the two lines is that the Pilothouse models have glare-reducing windshields that angle past vertical like the windows of an air traffic control tower, which gives them a rugged, ­mini-tugboat appearance compared with the Explorers, which have aft-raked windshields that lend them a sleek appearance. Both sport nearly ­vertical bows, which further cements their European lineage.

Our T23 PH test boat featured the Fish Package ($2,312), which includes port and starboard 30-gallon in-deck fish boxes, each with a pump for quick draining. Also included are toe rails, a raw-water washdown, a pair of extra rod holders, and a transom fish station with a smallish 10-gallon livewell. Thanks to the pair of flip-down bench seats in the cockpit, there’s plenty of room to move about when it’s time to fish. The bench to starboard is a $2,693 option that also comes with a ­table for expanding the T23 PH’s entertainment quotient. The minimum 27 inches of gunwale height in the cockpit allows anglers to lock in safely during a fight. Boarding from either side is easy thanks to the pair of standard swim-platform extensions with port and starboard transom walk-throughs leading to the cockpit.

The sturdy hardtop provides an excellent anchor point for the pilothouse enclosure and grants 6 feet, 6 inches of headroom. This is similar to Jeanneau’s 24-foot-11-inch NC 695 Sport Series 2 ($95,000 base boat plus pre-rig, with a 150 hp Yamaha engine). Up top are four standard rocket-launcher rod holders and a rack for securing items such as paddleboards. The bridge deck can be fully enclosed thanks to the rear sliding glass door and side windows conjoined to the top. There are two more sliding glass doors on either side for ventilation and access to the twin passageways around the enclosure. Above, there’s a slidable hatch to let a little of the outside in. One nitpick is that the tall windshield could use a couple of vents to allow more direct airflow on hot days. Access around the cabin is minimal to create maximum indoor space, and despite having a cabin, you can walk all the way forward to attend to anchor duties. An electric anchor windlass is an option ($2,511).

Because of space allocation, the cabin is tiny and barely accommodated my 5-foot-10-inch frame when laying beam-wise, but kids will love its fortlike vibe. Taller owners might consider opting for the T25 PH model, which has a far roomier cabin, but the downside might be the 9-foot-6-inch beam, which might require wide-load towing permits. Our boat came equipped with the Cabin Comfort Package ($3,883), which included berth filler cushions, curtains, a sea toilet, a cabin door, a flip-down jump seat and a front-porch light. Adding an optional refrigerator will cost an extra $1,435.

Owners can choose a 175 hp or 225 hp Mercury FourStroke outboard. These share the same 3.4L V-6 powerhead. The upcharge for the additional 50 ponies is $3,220. With the max power option, our test boat planed in 3.8 seconds and accelerated to 30 mph in 8.2 seconds, even with five well-fed Americans on board. Top speed? 42.2 mph. Superb visibility comes from the tall windshield with a standard starboard-side windshield wiper. I felt most comfortable standing because of the throttle position: It’s mounted on a pedestal on the dash instead of being the usual side-mounted binnacle, made impossible due to the glass sides.

Read Next: Bayliner Trophy T24CC

The T23 PH proves easy to operate thanks to standard features such as Active Trim, which automatically sets the boat’s running attitude. Its happiest cruise speed? Around 30 mph, with the engine running at 4,500 rpm and burning 10.3 gallons per hour. At this speed, the inclinometer showed that it was running at 5 degrees bow-up, which inspired a confidence that it was resistant to wave stuffing and, along with being enclosed, added to the feeling that I was driving a bigger boat than its 23-foot-7-inch length would indicate. Its moderate 17 degrees of deadrise meant that when cranked over in a hard turn, it heeled over, but not to extremes.

With the T23 PH, fishing couples can cruise to their favorite fishing spot, throw out the anchor, watch the sunset, retire, then wake up at dawn in position for the morning bite.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 225
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 16″x17″ 3-blade stainless-steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.85:1 Fuel Load: 45 gal. Crew Weight: 950 lb.

High Points

• A four-speaker Fusion stereo comes standard.
• The tall transom makes a great place to lean against while fighting a fish in rough water.
• The bridge-deck sliding doors have large bolts that keep them securely open or shut as needed.  

Low Points 

• The flip-down cockpit bench seats have overly large metal grab handles that protrude into the cockpit, creating bumping hazards.   
• The livewell lid could use friction hinges or a dam to keep it partially open when grabbing a bait. 
• A trim-tab option would help level the ride when the human payload is unevenly balanced. 

Pricing and Specs

Speed, efficiency, operation.

Bayliner Boats – Knoxville, Tennessee; 865-971-6311 ; bayliner.com

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Pilothouse Boats

Waypoint Boats is your Pilothouse headquarters! We are the exclusive Northwest representative for the highly acclaimed SeaSport boat line. We also carry the full line-up of other well respected Pilothouse brands including C-Dory, Campion, Osprey, Skagit Orca and Raider. All of these brands are known to be great cruising, fishing and diving boats. Regardless of your boating style we are sure we have the right boat for you. Once you have settled on the perfect boat for your application, let us help you rig your new investment with the best equipment available from manufacturers like Garmin, Raymarine, SIMRAD, KVH and a multitude of other systems manufacturers. Are you planning to go fishing? Let’s talk about a full line of Burnewiin deck equipment as well as pot haulers, downriggers, rocket launchers, built in tackle boxes, live tanks and cleaning stations.

We are representing the highest quality pilothouse boats built, as well as the service, upgrades and repairs that your boat may need in the future. We invite you to scroll through the many models and configurations available to find the one that best suits your boating activities. Call or email, and let us know how we can help you.

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The Best Pilothouse Power Boat Brands Extend the Boating Season

14th dec 2023 by samantha wilson.

Pilothouse boats are not a new design, and these sturdy vessels hold their origins in the workhorse fishing boats of colder climes such as Scandinavia and northern United States. Yet their popularity as recreational or sport fishing boats is certainly on the rise, and today there are many excellent brands from which to choose.

So what makes the pilothouse boat so appealing?

As the name suggests, pilothouse boats have an enclosed wheelhouse, with the helm station completely sealed from all sides. This allows for weather protection in cold or adverse weather and can therefore extend the fishing or boating season. The pilothouse offers all-round visibility, it can be heated (or air conditioned), and some models have surprisingly spacious cabins, heads, and small galleys, too. The hard top allows for the mounting of radar domes and antennae, and the enclosed area provides a quiet area for socializing.

There is a lot of crossover between pilothouse boats and other categories of boat, plus many different designs and sizes. Many are center consoles, with a pilothouse built around the console and many are walkarounds, while others could also be trawlers, tugs, RIBS, sportfishing boats, yachts, cruisers, and even cabin boats . While there is no hard and fast rule on the size of a pilothouse boat, there are many around 30 to 35 feet and others ranging from quite a bit smaller up to large yacht sizes as big as 80 feet). In this article, we’ll focus mostly on smaller pilothouse boats for cruising, fishing, offshore , and a few in the luxury category. We'll also share some of the best brands to look out for when choosing which to buy, whether it’s a new pilothouse boat or a used one .

Defiance Boats 250 Admiral EX. Defiance photo.

The Best Pilothouse Boat Brands for Cruising

• Ranger Tugs : One of the biggest names in the American boating industry, Ranger Tugs, is renowned for their robust, safe, well-designed tug boats, which thanks to their enclosed helm stations can also be classified as pilothouse boats. From the compact R-23, complete with a forward cabin, to the impressive R-43 Command Bridge, their current range retains the traditional styling of their workhorse ancestors. You’ll find plenty of Ranger Tugs on the used market too, with the success of previous models inspiring the current range.
• Raider Boats : Raider has been producing an impressive range of strong, reliable aluminum boats for over 30 years. Their range of 15 models—most of which are trailerable as they're under 30 feet in length—are versatile and can be easily configured to suit any use, from cruising to offshore, and fishing. Their construction methods are extraordinary, ensuring that every part of the vessel is as tough as possible, and that makes these one of our top choices for cruising.

Raider Boats 250 SeaRaider. Raider photo.

The Best Offshore Pilothouse Boat Brands

• Parker Offshore : Parker Offshore is another big name in the pilothouse sector, and to this day, the company continues to build hand-crafted, high-quality boats for commercial and governmental use, as well as recreational and sportfishing boats. With its origins in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Parker has built a reputation for strong, simple, seaworthy vessels, and their range Sport Cabins—all under 30 feet—exemplify everything we look for in a sturdy offshore pilothouse boat.
• Kingfisher : With seven models in the Offshore Series alone, ranging from 25 to 35 feet (and another five in the Coastal Series), you have plenty to choose from when it comes to serious offshore pilothouse boats. Kingfisher’s popularity is rising at a rate of knots and today it’s the fastest growing brand of welded heavy-gauge boats in North America.

Parker Boats 2320SC. Parket Boats photo. 

The Best Pilothouse Fishing Boat Brands

• Steiger Craft : Steiger Craft was founded in 1972—on the site of Alan Steiger's grandfather's bakery, which is still its home to this day—and their range of robust, functional, and trailerable fishing boats are all constructed by hand. While not all of Steiger's fishing craft are pilothouses, models such as the 28 and 31 Miami offer the chance to extend the fishing season and have more space for mounting of rods. These are undoubtedly some of the best offshore-ready fishing and family-friendly pilothouses on the market.
• Defiance Boats : Defiance describe their boats as the “ultimate sportfishing machine” and these compact, sturdy boats are able to take you safely 50 miles offshore to fish for tuna, Pacific Halibut, or Alaskan king salmon. Built with a 100% composite construction (no wood used), their boats are tough as nails, and the brand subsequently offers one of the most aggressive lifetime hull warranties on the market today. From the no-frills Admiral Series, to the family-friendly San Juan Series, there are plenty of sizes, styles, and accessories available.

Steiger Craft 28 Miami. Steiger Craft photo.

The Best Small Pilothouse Boat Brands

• SeaSport : The sleek lines and sheer ruggedness of the Sea Sport range makes these one of our favorite brands of small pilothouse boats. In fact, SeaSport says that their smallest model, the Sportsman 2200, is their most popular. With a dinette, sleeping accommodation for four, tons of storage space, and room to cook simple meals in the galley, it can easily transport a family on overnight cruising or fishing expeditions.

Osprey 24 Talon. Osprey photo.

The Best Affordable Pilothouse Boat Brands

• C-Dory : At Rightboat we feel that what is “affordable” is impossible to quantify absolutely and is different with each boat buyer. So we focus more on value for money, and for that reason we include C-Dory boats on this list. Not only do you get the high performance, impressive cabin space, and all the fishing extras you could need, but the classic styling makes these boats seem like much more expensive brands. The 25-foot Tomcat fishing catamaran in particular offers excellent value for money thanks to the increased interior space you get compared to a monohull of the same length.
• North Coast : Again, when we classify North Coast in this category, we don't mean these are cheap boats. What we mean is that you're getting bang for the buck with impressive speed, tons of fishing extras, plus sleek lines and a spacious cabin. They offer exceptional hydrodynamic efficiency, innovative hulls, and reliable offshore capabilities. Until recently the 315HT (which can sleep three and has a separate head) was their largest pilothouse model, but the new flagship 415HT under construction now offers sportfishing and weekend cruising in a very attractively priced package.

C-Dory 25 Tomcat Catamaran. C-Dory photo. 

The Best Luxury Pilothouse Boat Brands

• Axopar : Finnish brand Axopar is a name to watch as they continue to expand their already impressive range of luxurious day cruising and adventure boats. In the latter group are their XC Cross Cabin boats ranging from 28 to 45 feet in length, with sleek, elongated lines, and innovative designs that include features such as a gullwing door opening the cabin onto a foredeck with seating or large sundeck. They've been awarded some of the most prestigious awards in the industry, showing just how much of a stir they're making with these new ruggedly handsome and downright luxurious adventure boats.
• Nord Kapp Boats : Another Scandinavian brand is Norwegian Nord Kapp whose Coupe and RS Series offer some seriously luxurious and adventurous pilothouse models. They describe their boats as “more than just muscle—they're practical, efficient, and spacious” but we think they're being a bit humble. These are bold, high-performance powerboats that look as cool as they are cutting edge, technologically. Able to handle cold weather (thanks to Webasto heaters in the cabin), the Coupe 830, 905, 905 V12, and RS 800C are capable of extending your season significantly.

Axopar 37 XC Cross Cabin. Axopar photo. 

Written By: Samantha Wilson

Samantha Wilson has spent her entire life on and around boats, from tiny sailing dinghies all the way up to superyachts. She writes for many boating and yachting publications, top charter agencies, and some of the largest travel businesses in the industry, combining her knowledge and passion of boating, travel and writing to create topical, useful and engaging content.

More from: Samantha Wilson

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