Why Center Console's???
 

Went to the Miami Boat show and was amazed everybody that is building center consoles that use to do performance boats. I'm curious why is this the trend? Is there more profit building these? Personally I'm just not there yet Trying to figure out what I'm missing, maybe in few years I will be there?

Good speeds with a multi purpose use boat. At a "reasonable" price

We're looking to sell our Formula and get a performance CC, they're easier to beach, clean and maintain down here and lots cheaper on fuel too, all around better boat for Florida boating.

Yup.

Me and the GF had a long talk. Even after getting this boat just this past Oct. After the summer I think we too are going to make the switch to a sport CC.

For what we do and how/where we boat it just make a lot more sense.

I just sold our Velocity and bought a Concept 30 CC. 2 primary reasons, with gas prices they way they are I wanted the fuel efficiency of the OptiMax outboards and the other reason is more room to move around. My Concept will run 65 (when propped for it) and looks fast standing still, even has a small cuddy to sleep in when the time comes. Plus with outboards, I can take it into very shallow water (sand bar) and not worry about the stress on my transom of having my lower unit buried in the sand and a wave rocking the boat (when at our sand bar). I will miss the sound of my Big Block, as it has been replaced by the sound of angry bees.... But worth it

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put a boat load of people on them.

also, if you opt for a rounded cover, can be great fun for over-nighting



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That's my GF only real request is a nice cuddy space. I get to plan out the rest.

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Here's an interesting build thread for a hi-perf CC

https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/...oat-30-cc.html

I am looking to come up with a plan to put a nice camper cover on mine. Obviously wouldn't drive with it on, but when docked or anchored, It will be nice. My goal is to enclose the entire cockpit with the camper. probably put some screens/windows in it. At minimum, my goal is to make at least a camper that will extend the cuddy to the helm.

I don't get the move towards massivly blinged out C.C's.Seem to defeat their purpose,

Not me. I'm just not that old yet. Still don't mind wrenching on em.

I understand the stripped fishing ones, but when you add all that other bling, then want a cuddy to sleep in and on and on, sounds like a small cruiser would fit the bill better!

Or better yet a outboard cruiser.

I myself enjoy them cause I get the features and comforts I want

I will never use my CC to fish as I am really not into fishing.

However I am into having 6-10 of my buds on board, music loud, seats for all, cup holders for all, a toilet and area for if it rains for my GF and her friends, and ext.


A "fancy" or "blinged out" CC does all that for me and is easier to trailer, better in fuel, gets me in and around the shallow islands we hang at, and more.

I put 7 people including me on my Sonic for the New Year run and we all fought for elbow room till we got to our stop.

Wrench isn't my issue, space is.

**** bud I am newly 32 and am "too old". Only thing I would miss is the noise but in the long run that is not enough to keep me in a boat like my current one.

I have no desire to fish. So mine is basically a pleasure craft with a large seating area. Another reason I went outboards is I have had two back surgeries since 2009. I also am somewhat OCD, so keeping things clean and tidy is something I can't stop from doing.... When I had my Velocity, I spent too much time in my engine compartment cleaning and maintaining, which is not good for my back but also caused a great amount of pain. So being able to wrench on my motors (when needed) in an upright position is a huge benefit to me. I usually only have myself, my wife and daughter on the boat, but even with just us 3 I found the cockpit to be way too small to relax in. Center console allows plenty of room for us and my 2 dogs to spread out and relax. Plus the Sport CCs like Concept, Renegade, Glasstream, Scarab, etc just look freaking cool.

You find me a stylish and large enough outboard cruiser, that does 50mph+, trailers with ease, and gets in the flats/islands, and isn't terrible on gas........and i will show you someone with interest in one.

Don't get me wrong, I'll miss my Formula, but when I see how much easier the clean up is on the CCs and how much harder it is to beach a heavy V-hull and to navigate the shallows, the negatives out weigh the positives and when you have to buy all your fuel on the water at $4.75 per gal. and twin 300 mercs go as fast as my Formula at half the cost, it's something to think about.

Plus, there's some cool looking CCs on the market nowadays, call me old fellas, but in my eyes being sensible isn't getting old, you can fit more chicks on a CCs than my Formula..................lol

I'm certainly not dogging I/O powerboats, it's like everything, it's what fits your boating habits and lifestyle.

We just put up a pole in the center up front and tie a tarp to the side rails up front and the grab rails about the center console. Put down inflatable mattresses and go to sleep! Sometimes a little noisy with the wind though.

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Here are some Sunbrela canvas ideas:

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...1901719471.jpg

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...3221624161.jpg

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...1911104371.jpg

I am looking at doing something similar to pic #3, but that will go back as far as the Helm, and has a zipper door. Sometimes we get a lot of bugs at night, so being able to close things up a bit helps.

Low-psi take it to red at american canvas in brownstown. He can make anything you want

I will check him out. I can tell you where I won't ever go again.. Bohemian Canvas in Wyandotte. The guy does great work but is a total D-Bag and is completely on his own schedule, and doesn't give a damn when he completes a job....

I guess I'm lucky that my wife still likes performance and the sound of the big blocks. She did say maybe when were older (like 80's) we may be interested in a center console? Someone did tell me they are less expensive to insure. I also really wonder if there is a better profit margin for the builder in today's economy?

My GF and me love our power boat and the sound.

But past that your not getting any leg up on a sport CC....at least not on this coast.

Also love the old guy comments.

You can fit at lot more poon on a CC than you will on a equal size I/o powerboat.

Would luv to see what you come up with.

Please start a thread when you do start the cover project.




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They are so popular that its ridiculous in South Florida. I must admit I will never have a mixed use sport boat with a cuddy again. Seriously thinking about a cruiser right now and I can guarantee I will never buy a performance boat in anything but a poker run config next time. More than likely sit down as well.

I am to worn out right now but I do recall Sea Ray doing something with that, and if AT would have moved ahead on their concept.

Yeah, might have been thinking about Pursuit. They have an outboard boat with a cover/cowling over the engines designed into the boat. You really cant even tell its outboard.

I can deffinately unsterstand the popularity of center councils, especially concerning the ease of maintenance, fuel savings, and ability to put 8 bikini clad babes on board. Im sure many on here have no desire to fish but I am, and will always be a fisherman. I can tell you first hand that it sucks trying to fish off of a "cigarette style" boat. With that being said i would love to have a CC to fish off of and for all around cruising the Connecticut river and Long Island...

However, i could never give up my big block! I dont care how economical or maintenance free outboards are. I will forever love my rude, crude, and loud as f**k big block chevy! Lets face it, the 12 year old versions of ourselves would kick our ass for ever considering a CC!!!!

We know a lot of people that have both CC's and High performance boat. Center console is a good dinner/ lunch or canal cruise boat and the High performance is good for the fun runs, Poker runs.....Etc. Also the CC is nice to have when the High performance boat is broke lol!

Center consoles are great. However, regardless of power, not high performance. And they never will be.

The FPC Key West Poker Run in a CC is like hanging on to a pole in a cat #2 hurricane for a day. I will take my bolster, drink-holder and quality friends, not quantity. If the sound of 3 or 4 EPA compliant egg-beaters firing up at the dock instead of two big-block Mercs sucking gas gets you hard, get a sailboat.

so the 80-90 mph CC's now a-days aren't high performance enough? I love how this "niche" site even segments further to "real" high performance boats and "not real" high performance boats, seems pretty childish.

I went the CC route for all the reasons above, at a raft up just see where all the people hang out, and it's usually a CC, they fit more people, dogs, try having a 3 year old run around in a cockpit of a go fast, there easier to clean, outboards are built for extended high rpm running, you could run my old optis at 5500 rpm for hrs at a time, they are built to handle salt water A LOT better than a I/O, you can fish, dive, crab, surf etc....and I think they look cool.

There is a reason almost all the major mfg's are making them, it's what many boaters are buying

I love the old comments too, too funny

If Poker Runs are the main reason you have a boat then I would agree with you AT, but I would say MOST boaters enter 1-2 a year. Maybe not in the FPC but I would argue the rest of the country isnt doing a Poker run every weekend.

Get back with me in the next year or two when the market is flooded with bling-bling CCs. I live in south Florida. Do you think these things were just invented? Basically they are fishing boats.

The manufactures are building center consoles because that is what the general public is buying,i don't think the profit margin is any better probably a little lower over the conventional go fast,i personally own both ,over the past couple years i have put more hours on the center console and really enjoy it,but i still like my zrc better and would have a hard time getting rid of it unless i replaced it with something better(way too much$ to upgrade)I have owned go fast boats for the last 30years and not ready to give it up,the center consoles are great boats and very pratical easy to use less maintance,less fuel,better party boats but still not the same as a hard core go fast,my 2c

And there is a website called "thehulltruth.com" where a bunch of my friends post. Honestly that is where the MIBS fishing rodeo boat pics should be posted.

At age 35 I would have kicked myself in the nuts for even thinking about it. At age 45 I see the utility of a performance CC like Concept as a positive. Can take the kids and family out. Throw the dog onboard and not worry about elbow room or spilled drinks and food. Just house it all down. Swim off the back platform without having to be an acrobat to get back in and if the itch hits, dump them all on shore and punch the throttles and still crush some waves with the rest of the average powerboats out there and look good doing it. Fuel costs also lower.

Pete, everytime you post you ran your old optis at high rom for hours at a time I cringe... And that because I THE BOAT YOUR OLD OPTIS ARE HANGING OFF OF!!!!!


By the way guys, plenty of the "performance" center consoles have bolster style seats at the helm. I am probably going to be adding one to my Concept.

I recall that boat but it was not too small and not a boat I want to try and get around the islands with.

I have no plans to do any Poker runs really. Maybe 1-2 a year at best.

The sound to my current boat...your right. It's not beatable but that is really it. I can get a sport CC to do 70mph just like my current boat.

Quality if friends? I guess I just got a LOT of quality friends then. I rather bring them all then draw straws for who gets the cabin for the ride to island.