Why a center console?

Basketcase · #1 09-05-2018, 08:48 AM

I have a 20' potter center console boat that I've been restoring for quite a while now. As some of you know, I purchased a 20' Sceptre at the beginning of this season to replace my Aquasport center console. I'm in love with the Sceptre. It rides great. Windshield keeps me dry. LOTS of storage. I can place 10' pieces of lumber right down the middle. Comfy seating. Lots of space for fighting fish. The motivation is dwindling to finish the other 20 now. lol. I literally didn't touch it this year. Its actually very close to start rigging, but I'm having so much fun in the Sceptre, that I just wonder why?

So what is the advantage of a center console boat? I know they're super popular but I struggle to see the advantage over something like a Sceptre. Maybe it's just me, and how I use the boat, but I'm looking for some reasons to finish the other boat.

Thanks!

Locke N Load · #2 09-05-2018, 09:31 AM

I am hoping I am going to feel the same as you. I have a 20 Seafari I am restoring. I have only ever fished on a CC. The open bow area is nice for the added space; casting as well as bottom fishing. Three people can be along the side of the boat. Three people can be rotating through casting. Anchoring and retrieving is easy. Docking is easy. When you want a little space someone can be out back and the other can be up front.

NoBones · #3 09-05-2018, 11:05 AM

Another infected CSC member !!

Every man should have a minimum of two boats....

One for when you need that center console and one for that
family comfort cruising....

At one point there were a total of 9 boats in my yard !!
Obviously not all running.. 6 of them were usable.

In Florida, you need many different models..
1 for flats fishing
1 for light offshore fishing
1 for gator hunting
1 for shrimping (cast / dipping & bully netting)
1 for family cruising to the favorite water side restaurant..
1 for offshore fishing..

You get my drift, only one boat cannot do all of the above

Need more convincing look at flying frizzle's sig & four boat theory sig..

Blackfin26 · #4 09-05-2018, 01:52 PM

In my mind purely for the fishing room and having a little better ride as you are standing more aft. When chasing fish it is super helpful to have that space...especially on a three piece boat without forward seating. My ideal is a center console with a fiberglass doghouse that has sides coming about ten inches beyond the console for protection.

bobr338 · #5 09-05-2018, 03:17 PM

All about preference. I had a Tsunami with 2 small kids. For the type of boating we do the cabin never got used. We like to fish and it’s hard to deny the benefits of a CC. Getting to the bow to drop anchor wasn’t my favorite task. Also feel the CC is a bit friendlier to handle lines.

Also the aesthetics, some might prefer the look of a CC over the Sceptre/Tsunami or vice versa.

flyingfrizzle · #6 09-06-2018, 07:27 AM

I like my little 20 sceptre as well. But like No Bones said, you need at least 2 or 3...lol

The sceptre is a good all around boat. Drier riding, better balanced with an heaver outboard, lots of open space, good amount of storage and sometimes you can find them cheaper. Lots of people like the cc's and having one has became a popular craze. A cc dose has its advantages. They work great for fishing in any position or walking that big fish around the boat when he is still green at the side circling around. Having the lower front casting area in a cc is nice when fishing. It feels safer with the sides even though I do stand on the nose of my sceptre and cast fish (haven went in yet but been close). I think if you going out on your own or with just one friend a cc is nice most days but more than 2 people a sceptre may work better. Need a place to lay down out of the sun, a seafari may be better.

I was in the open part of the NC sound a few weeks ago and it got ruff enough I couldn't keep the nose up and got fairly wet in the 20 sceptre due to the cross winds. The bow pushed most of the spray water away but with the following sea the bow was plunging in fairly deep when I couldn't get a good angle approaching the bay. I remember thinking "glad im not further back in a cc right now in the middle of all that spray" I also remember thinking: "I didn't think I really needed that windshield but right now it would be nice". It was still a good ride being I was in a SC, soft entry even though it was a washing machine that evening.

I think what hull a person chooses has a lot to do with where you are located and what you want to do. Here in NC you can do some offshore stuff with a 20 but really you need a 23+ to be safe. You may want a 25 seafari if you want to overnight comfortable. A 20 is great inshore and in the rivers. The big SC 27 would make a beast of a offshore battle wagon. You got to be prepared for what you want to do. You cant have too many SeaCraft's is what im trying to say.lol

strick · #7 09-06-2018, 07:57 AM

Nothing really to add that has not been said already. The CC is a fishing boat. Easier and faster to get around the boat. The ride is a better. You will get wet if windy and rough. Ive had/have both boats you described...and loved them both for different reasons.

strick

Basketcase · #8 09-06-2018, 08:21 AM

Thank you for all the thoughtful responses. I see a lot of what you're saying. I am curious to see how the ride would be a bit farther back. The Sceptre is already pretty smooth.

I'd be curious to see how much better it is to fish from a SeaCraft CC than my aquasport. The aquasport was only a 17.5' boat, so it was cramped. The Sceptre is much easier to fish from, even when having to work fish around the boat. With the windshield and hatch open, bow access is pretty easy.

Thank you for providing some motivation to get back to work on this boat. I'll finish it up and rig it. If I like fishing it, I'll keep it. If not I guess I'll sell it. I agree that you cant have too many SeaCrafts!

NOLA Riverrat · #9 09-06-2018, 12:37 PM

I am personally attached to the Bowrider. With its canvas top and side curtains it offers a lot of protection from the weather and sun, especially with aft curtains. With the top lowered onto the windshield, it opens the boat for fishing from the bow, side and stern. While a little inconvenient for handling a large fish running around the boat, the rod can be passed on to the person in the front. Without a fish on, the access to the front through the open windshield is not that hard. JMHO

kmoose · #10 09-14-2018, 07:29 AM

Definitely a user defined preference. Because I am a diver and need more room in the in the aft the Tsunami is a far better platform for what I do as it has way more usable room than the CC. I also like it for comfort due to the windshield and oversized top. This format has also worked well for offshore trolling the past few years without any need to walk fish up front. I figure you don't see too many folks on the front of big sportfish boats but what do they know...

All that said I do have a smaller CC skiff for inshore, gigging and netting. You definitely need more than one boat to get it all done.