Discovering the Best Boat for You.
The idea that there is any boat out there that is better than all the rest is simply a myth. Likewise, there is no such thing as the best fishing boat, best family boat, best center console, or best bay boat.
What does exist, however, is a “best boat” for you – for your fishing needs, your cruising needs, your comfort, and your budget. In fact, somewhere among the 60-plus boat manufacturers featured in our 2016 Boat Buyer’s Guide, you’ll probably find more than one “best boat” that can provide many seasons of enjoyment on the water.
Viking Yacht has celebrated five decades building luxury performance sportfishing and cruising yachts.
Started by brothers Bob and Bill Healey in 1964, Viking Yachts has grown to become a world leader in semi-custom fiberglass yachts, with over 4,000 Vikings delivered. The New Jersey-based company offers a wide range of models in part because they design and manufacture all of the molds in-house. To celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2014, Viking premiered the world’s largest convertible sportfishing yacht with a resin-infused composite hull, the incredible Viking 92 EB.
The new Viking 52 Sport Tower is garnering plenty of attention as it demonstrates the company’s relentless commitment to excellence. The boat runs strong on the popular resin-infused Viking 52 Convertible hull, while incorporating a stylish three-sided fiberglass deckhouse that features a command bridge deck with helm and companion seating, plus U-shape lounge seating aft with a teak table. A molded fiberglass console to port includes a refrigerator with an icemaker. Overhead rod lockers are built into the fiberglass hardtop. The 142 square-foot cockpit is a versatile work space for fishing, with a walk-through transom door and lift gate, recessed in-deck fish box and stowage bins, a transom fish box, insulated coolers, and twin mezzanine seating.
More than 50 years of boatbuilding expertise makes Wellcraft the landing place for fun, fishing, family time, and more. Saltwater or freshwater fishing, Wellcraft has a model to fit your style. The lineup includes Coastal sportfishermen, Fisherman center consoles, Sportsman bowriders, and Scarab Offshore tournament-class center consoles. You can find a Wellcraft to handle every type of fishing in the Northeast, from trolling Lake Ontario for salmon to heading offshore for tuna. New features, upgraded amenities, and distinctive styling are the marks of Wellcraft Boats.
Wellcraft’s Coastal sportfishing boats are crafted for luxury offshore fishing and family time. The largest boat in the lineup, the 340 Coastal, comes with standard features to rival a fully loaded competitor: generator; air conditioning; windlass; large windshield for weather protection with walk-through to foredeck; port and starboard pilot berths for additional sleeping capacity; and a full galley with refrigerator, microwave, stainless sink, Corian countertops and even a coffee maker.
In 2015, the World Cat brand consolidated, with Carolina Cat folding into World Cat, and Glacier Bay becoming Glacier Bay Edition. Fans of the company’s time-tested catamaran hulls can expect more of the same precision crafting from the World Cat facility in North Carolina. Each boat is a reflection of World Cat’s mission to deliver the smoothest ride on the water—making boating more enjoyable and giving boaters the comfort and confidence to cruise, fish, and explore.
At 32’2″ with a 10’6″ beam, the 320CC is a versatile performer you can run flat-out to your favorite fishing spot or just cruise around with family and friends. It combines generous deck space with hard-core fishing features, all made more enjoyable with World Cat’s smoother, more stable, drier ride. Highlights include 12 gunwale-mounted rod holders fore and aft, over 1,300 quarts of insulated storage, 105 square feet of cockpit space, and comfortable seating for 12.
Yellowfin Yachts builds some of the most well-respected open offshore fishing boats on the market, designed to reliably get you to the fishing grounds and back with speed. The Sarasota, Florida, company builds 11 boats in their lineup, from a 17-foot skiff to a 42-foot center console. Yellowfin’s philosophy is to offer serious fishermen the best fishing boats money can buy by using high quality materials and the best construction methods regardless of cost.
Built for ultimate performance in conditions that keep most other fishermen at the dock, the Yellowfin 39 Offshore is a premier large center console. Designed for triple or quad outboard power, hard-core anglers will appreciate the extra-wide beam of 11’6″, which allows the 39 to offer a spacious and well-designed platform. It also comes with all the storage space you will ever need, while creating a layout that is as functional for fishing as it is for entertaining. In addition to being a serious fishing machine, the 39 features a standup head and shower and a surprising level of comfort.
The On The Water staff is made up of experienced anglers from across the Northeast who fish local waters year-round. The team brings firsthand, on-the-water experience and regional knowledge to coverage of Northeast fisheries, techniques, seasonal patterns, regulations, and conservation.