Innholdsfortegnelse for Fishing Boat Buyers Guide 2026 i Salt Water Sportsman

The way I see the world, your saltwater fishing boat should serve as an extension of you. Your personality. Your way of thinking. Your ambitions. And your style of fishing. The type and size of the boat certainly plays a huge role in achieving this matchup. And there are plenty of models to choose from, as exemplified by the 18 models featured in the pages of this—the 2026 Boat Buyers Guide, as compiled and written by the editors of and editorial contributors to Salt Water Sportsman and Sport Fishing. Here you will discover and be able explore everything from flats skiffs to bay boats to the most awesome offshore fishing machines the world has ever witnessed. It’s a great time to be a saltwater angler, especially one looking for a…

The benefits of gyrostabilizers are well known among owners of V-hull offshore fishing boats. They provide roll control for bluewater anglers while anchored, drifting, or trolling in a beam sea. In these conditions, a V-hull boat can roll strongly from side to side, and a stabilizer’s ability to counteract this uncomfortable motion can make all the difference between a fun day of fishing or a nauseous mutiny. Gyrostabilizers are not as common on offshore power catamarans — essentially two narrow V-hulls positioned feet apart and connected by a deck structure. This design presents two challenges for installing a gyro. The first is finding a location with the structural strength to install a gyro, and the second is the kinetic energy required to counteract the roll of a twin-hulled boat. And…

Without boat trailers, many anglers might not be able to own boats. Marinas would fill to capacity, and prospective new-boat buyers would be out of luck. That, of course, is not the case. An estimated 11 million boats—including some pretty big boats—ride to and from the water on trailers in the United States. Yet a trailer for a saltwater boat faces a tough life. It requires rugged construction and corrosion-resistant finishes and equipment to keep it safely rolling down the highway. Here are factors to keep in mind when choosing a trailer for your new boat. Weight Rating Your boatbuilder, dealer or trailer shop serves as an invaluable source in helping you find just the right trailer for your new boat, ensuring that the trailer is rated for the weight…

Carrying as much fuel as possible ranked as one of my most devout boating beliefs, especially in the days of twostroke outboards and heavy, overbuilt offshore hulls. I thought I could never have too much fuel capacity—that extra fuel would help me run farther offshore, extend my day and catch more fish. While greater range is no doubt a benefit of carrying extra fuel, a recent fuel-tank retrofit project on my boat led to an epiphany and a reevaluation of that thinking. The old aluminum fuel tank in my 22-foot center-console had begun to leak, so a couple of years ago, my youngest son and I drained and tore out the old 88-gallon tank. True to my old form, I wanted to go bigger, but I discovered that the new…

A new saltwater fishing boat represents not just a major financial investment, but a deep emotional investment, as well. It becomes your pride and joy, your ticket to adventure and creating treasured memories with family and friends. With more than 45 years of fishing boat ownership under my belt, I know the feeling. And that’s why I would sometimes wake up with a start, anxious about my boat, worrying about my ticket to adventure as it bobbed in the slip unattended, miles from my house. Was it taking on water? Was the bilge pump working? Were my batteries charged? Were thieves removing my electronics or, worse, stealing my boat? Today, advanced app-based boat monitoring and security systems eliminate sleepless nights and provide comfort that things are OK, no matter how…

Whether specifying a hardtop, T-top or even a tower on your new saltwater fishing boat, you might need to choose a finish for the aluminum pipework. The decision will hinge on your taste in aesthetics and how hard you like to fish. Here’s what’s available. Anodized An anodized finish on aluminum pipework is accomplished by immersing metal into an acid electrolyte bath and passing an electric current through it to convert the metal surface into a corrosion-resistant finish. Anodizing can be done in various colors, but most marine pipework is clear-anodized. It stands up well to salt water and rough use, and does not show fingerprints. However, if it is scratched, anodizing cannot be easily repaired, and the damaged area can foster corrosion. Polished Polishing raw aluminum results in a…

The 16 Classic launched the Cape Horn brand 39 years ago, after Chris Fabbro and his father, Bob Fabbro, recognized the need for a fishing boat powerful enough for tournaments yet comfortable enough for family outings. That first 16-footer and a long line of larger premium offshore, tournament and bay models that followed were designed to meet the demands of hardcore fishermen while remaining affordable and easy to maintain. Huge floor plans provide uncluttered workstations when the bite is on. Most offshore models are equipped with two enormous live wells and what may be the largest fully insulated fish boxes available on the market. The newly designed Cape Horns boast a dry ride and soft entry, while reverse chines direct any spray down and away from the hull. More benefits?…

Thunderbird, maker of Formula Boats, is celebrating its 70th year building fiberglass powerboats. The family-owned company, located in Decatur, Indiana, employs its proven FAS3Tech hull design in its Crossover and Center Consoles as well as the Super Sports. In 1976, the late Vic Porter purchased Thunderbird/Formula, and today his four sons and a daughter actively manage the firm; third-generation Porters work in the business; and the fourth generation has joined as summer help. Vic Porter served as Chairman Emeritus until his 2021 passing. Formula 387 CCF & CCS Formula’s 387 Center Console Fish (CCF) and Center Console Sport (CCS) share the same hull, with each model meeting different but not exclusive needs: angling and dayboating, respectively. The Center Console Fish version features dual 40-gallon, pressurized live wells aft, port and…

Fort Pierce, Florida-based Pursuit Boats makes dual-console, open express and sport center-console boats, all high-quality, luxury offshore craft built to exacting standards from 24 to 44 feet. Pursuit introduced its first boat in 1977, when Leon Slikkers, then president of Michigan-based, sailing-focused S2 Yachts, had a vision to create a series of fishing boats. Six years later, Pursuit broke ground on the first of its two manufacturing facilities in Fort Pierce, where it steadily expanded further. The vaunted brand is still based in Fort Pierce today. In 2018, Pursuit became a part of the Tennessee-based Malibu Boats family (the Malibu Boat Group also includes Cobia, Pathfinder, and Hewes boat brands) and its steady stream of innovations and new models has continued with uninterupted success. In the last three years, two…

Family-owned Scout Boats, headquartered in Summerville, South Carolina, builds a line of fishing boats that, across a more than 30-year history, have consistently gained market share. Much credit goes to Scouts’s efficient NuV3, Air Assist, and Scout Stepped Hull Technology running-surface designs, and innovative manufacturing techniques. The NuV3 hull’s variabledegree angles improve performance and fuel efficiency, and provide a soft, dry ride. The Air Assist hull design creates static stability, adds buoyancy, decreases time to plane, and improves handling and fuel efficiency. The Scout Stepped Hull creates a faster, dryer boat, requiring less horsepower. Models 37 to 67 feet feature epoxy-infused carbon hybrid construction, creating hulls roughly 58 percent lighter than those made using traditional methods. Scout boats carry 10-year limited hull and three-year limited stem-to-stern warranties. In 2025 Scout…

Anchoring up to fish a wreck or a reef, or to spend a night in quiet cove on an extended fishing trip, is critical for saltwater anglers. Making the task of dropping and retrieving a heavy anchor and hundreds of feet of rode is the purview of an electric anchor windlass or an electric anchor winch. These labor-saving devices can forestall a mutiny among crew members who are asked too often to weigh anchor by hand. It is a back-breaking proposition. Before we move to the pluses and minus of each system, it is important to point out the differences between an anchor windlass and an anchor winch. To the uninitiated, they might sound like the same thing. You know—potato, potahto. But they are not. These systems look and operate…

Hydraulics powered the original shallowwater anchors, and hydraulic systems remain the preference for many saltwater anglers. It has been 25 years since Power-Pole revolutionized shallow-water anchoring. In that time, systems have advanced and new players have entered the market, but the original innovative idea — an automated stake-out pole or two mounted on or around the transom—was good enough to change the way anglers position their boats. “I was fishing the flats of Sarasota Bay using an anchor, chain and rope, trying to stop before I got too close and spooked the fish,” said John Oliverio, CEO of JL Marine Systems, the company that makes Power-Pole. “I thought, ‘If I could just hold right here, I could catch all those snook.’ That’s when I came up with the idea for…

Independently and still Brunson-family owned after 50 years, Bay Rider Boats manufactures inshore and offshore boats from 21 to 27 feet in its Skiff, Bay Boat, and Offshore Center Console series. The Wilson, North Carolina-based company’s hulls feature American-manufactured Polynt Premium gel coats and Ineos and AOC resins, and fiberglass products including biaxial and stitched combo mats, each matched to location and task. Fuel tanks are foamed-in, with drain channels within the foam to avoid closed compartments that could hold water next to the tank. Fish and storage boxes are also foam-backed to keep drinks and fish cold. Closed-cell foam elsewhere provides safety and sound dampening. Bay Riders provide easy access to anything in and on the boat. Each vessel goes through a 212-point inspection, and carries a 10-year transferable…

Founded in 2018, the build team at Caymas Boats is led by bass boat pioneer and NMMA Hall of Famer Earl Bentz, who before launching Caymas founded the noted bass boat brands Stratos, Javelin and Triton. He also raced boats successfully at the national level for eight years. Caymas’s Saltwater Division was founded with a commitment to build an uncompromising fiberglass fishing boat for both inshore and offshore anglers. Bentz partnered with Michael Peters Yacht Design and every Caymas saltwater monohull features Peters’ patented Stepped-Vee Ventilated Hull to increase speed and fuel economy by reducing drag and enhancing smoothness. Caymas hulls carry a lifetime warranty, and each boat gets an 86-point check before shipping out. Caymas 44 CT Newest and largest in the Caymas line-up, the 44 CT brings what…

No other boat brand is held in higher esteem among boaters and anglers than Grady-White. That is a tribute to this North Carolina-based company’s unflinching dedication to innovative designs, quality construction, unmistakable styling, and hulls engineered to safely navigate and fish the roughest wind-swept seas. With a boat-building heritage spanning 67 years, Grady-White today offers an astounding 27 models in five different lines, ranging from 18 to 45 feet in length. Grady’s unrivaled reputation is reflected in its innumerable NMMA Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Index Awards. Grady-White boats feature its exclusive SeaV2 hull that continuously sharpens from the stern to stem to ensure a soft and seaworthy ride, while wide chines enhance stability at rest. Grady-White Express 340 The Grady-White Express 340 represents one of the most spectacular new boats…

Regulator proudly engineers and builds center console fishing boats for high seas and to higher standards. It’s been that way since 1988, when Joan and Owen Maxwell built their first Regulator 26 in an abandoned grocery store in Edenton, North Carolina. From that classic has evolved a line of 10 offshore models, Regular 23 to Regular 41 as well as the XO Series of hybrid center console boats for lakes, bays and skinny waters and when conditions are right, offshore. Seakeeper Ride is now standard on all Regulators while other new features include magnetic cushions, black powder-coated rails, LED light bars and fish box refrigeration. Yamaha engines are factoryinstalled and Garmin electronics are rigged in-house. Regulator 35 The Regulator ride gets a new design and a long list of…

Sea Chaser proclaims itself the builder of the “most durable, versatile and affordable boats on the market,” a total of 14 models of fishing, pleasure and runabout boats. Durability comes thanks to an integrated fiberglass stringer system that creates a non-flexing, wood-free hull. The hull is filled with foam flotation beyond US Coast Guard requirements. Sea Chaser boats are built to American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and Coast Guard standards. Hull bottom construction is warrantied against delamination or separation for 10 years, barring misuse. Sea Chaser has been a Carolina Skiff brand for more than 30 years; its sibling brands include Carolina Skiff, Aggressor Boats and Fun Chaser pontoon and deck boats Sea Chaser 22 HFC This boat is ideal for a variety of settings, from tubing and cruising…

Georgia-based Yamaha WaterCraft Group, which sells, markets and distributes Yamaha boats and WaveRunner watercraft in the US, represents an industry leader in reliability, performance, technology, and customer service. More to the point, this brand is a leader in waterjet-powered marine innovation, and has held that status since Neil Kobayashi invented the WaveRunner in 1986. Yamaha’s patented jet-drive system uses an internal impeller rather than an external propeller, providing shallow-water operation, agile maneuverability, reduced maintenance, and enhanced safety. Patented clean-out ports, exclusive to Yamaha boats, allow for easy removal of debris caught in the jet pump. Yamaha CrossWave WaveRunner The revolutionary new Yamaha CrossWave WaveRunner combines Yamaha’s legendary jetdrive with walkaround angling ability, an expansive deck, and versatility. Nearly 13 feet long and 67 inches wide, the CrossWave is almost 2…

Today’s saltwater anglers rely heavily on sonar to locate fish, but a fish finder is only as good as the transducer it uses. When deciding on a sonar system, you need to put serious thought into what type of transducer will suit your needs best. One of the most common decisions revolves around transom-mount versus thru-hull transducer styles. To help boat buyers decide, we asked Craig Cushman, director of marketing for Airmar Technology Corp., to explain the upsides and downsides of each transducer style. Airmar builds many of the transducers offered by major electronics brands, including Furuno, Garmin, Lowrance, Simrad and Raymarine. Cushman focused on comparing two of Airmar’s most popular and advanced transducer families—the TM185 transom-mount series and the B175 tilted-element low-profile thru-hull series. Both are available with 1kW…

Until recently, the Seakeeper Ride system was largely reserved for mono-hull boats. Now, Seakeeper is offering specialized systems for power catamarans—systems engineered to offer the same benefits as with mono-hulls, and then some. While cats offer a few advantages over mono-hulls, they are still susceptible to wave action and their hull designs can present some unique handling quirks, including turns that are flat in nature or that often lean outward when cornering at speed; increased yaw or bow steering; and porpoising motions at speeds. To help correct for these adverse characteristics, Seakeeper Ride in 2026 will introduce systems with custom software specifically optimized for power catamarans. The software provides enhanced underway stabilization and enables catamarans to naturally bank inward during turns, much more like mono-hull vessels. We had a chance…

If you’re looking for a new saltwater fishing boat, odds are pretty good that most of the models under consideration will sport outboard power. And for good reason. Outboards prove responsive, convenient, simple to operate, and once they have provided a full and worthy service life, fairly easy to replace, adding life to your boat and getting you back on the water quickly. That being said, selecting the optimum horsepower from the many options available can be confusing and involves more than determining which is fastest. In fact, top speed is the least important criteria. Favorable low to midrange torque is most important. That’s what you need to keep your boat comfortably on plane in challenging head seas and to maintain control in tricky following seas. So, what do you…

Nowhere does traction take on a more critical role than on the pitching, heaving, rolling deck of a saltwater fishing boat. Without traction, a wet deck becomes a slip and slide, leading to poor footing, spills, injuries and even man-overboard situations. That’s important to remember when it comes to ordering your next new fishing boat. Most of today’s new center-consoles, bay boats and flats skiffs sport soles with textures such as diamond-pattern or grit-style nonskid, though some boat buyers opt for traditional teak decks or upgrade to an EVA foam nonskid such as SeaDek. Grip Test Based on the results of this experiment, da Vinci also defined the mathematical formula for calculating the coefficient of friction. I used my ramp to determine the relative traction of various common nonskids—both wet…

Calcutta Marine produces two catamaran fishing boats, the 263 and 323, building into both an emphasis on reliability and attention to detail. “The innovation incorporated into the 263 straight out of the factory is practically unheard of,” says the company. This ranges from the SeaGate fold-down transom to the efficient hull design and versatility of an offshore-capable boat with an inshore shallow-water draft of just 16 inches. Calcutta boats boast resin-infused hulls, liners, hardtops and cockpit liners or ring decks. CZone digital switching integrates with onboard electrical systems. With either Calcutta cat, you can customize your boat just the way you like. Calcutta 323 Calcutta started with its successful 263, then engineered what it calls “an absolute offshore battlewagon” in the form of the Calcutta 323. This models features two…

Contender Boats has proudly built semi-custom sportfishing boats for more than 40 years. The company says each vessel is “carefully engineered and meticulously handcrafted – not because it is the easy way, but because we have a reputation to uphold.” That reputation is all about building fishing-focused boats that outperform and outlast others, from its first Contender 25 Classic in 1984 to its latest models. The brand was launched by free diver, spearfisherman, conservationist and still-company-owner and president Joe Neber. Contender supports several fisheries conservation organizations. The company has two Florida manufacturing facilities—Homestead and Fort Pierce. The Homestead location serves as the company’s headquarters, and it is here where the larger custom Contender boats are built. The Fort Pierce facility produces boats in lengths ranging from 32 feet and under.…

The Parker Offshore line includes 10 models, from 18 to nearly 30 feet, in Coastal and Fathom center consoles and an Explorer pilothouse and sport cabin series. Parker’s roots are along the Outer Banks at Beaufort, North Carolina, an area long known for harsh coastal conditions, and for time-tested boat designs and a tradition of uncompromising boatbuilding craftsmanship. Parker was family founded in Beaufort in 1972 with a focus on quality, strength and seaworthiness, and in 2019 it was acquired by Florida-based Correct Craft. Parker stresses teamwork, talent development and promotion from within. It boasts a close partnership with a local community college’s boat-building program, preparing, as it says, “our next set of boat builders.” Parker adheres to ABYC and NMMA boat-building guidelines, and has won NMMA’s CSI award for…

Robalo builds center console, dual console and Cayman bay boats, and has earned NMMA CSI (Customer Satisfaction Index) awards for 17 consecutive years. Robalo boats are built in a single-site plant, totaling 1.25 million square feet, in Nashville, Georgia. Many of its employees are second- and third-generation boatbuilders. The company has been in operation for more than six decades. Robalo boats blend tournament-class fishability and yachtlike comfort, using materials that include premium gelcoat, vinylester resin, Kevlar reinforcement and stainless-steel hardware. Marine electronics are by both Simrad and Garmin. All 2026 Robalo models feature upholstery made from virtually maintenance-free, 100-percent SiO Silico, a silicone fabric that enhances durability, resists scuffs and scratches, and provides soft, comfortable seating. All 2026 Robalo models carry a lifetime limited hull warranty and a five-year limited…

Holland, Michigan-based Tiara is a well-established luxury cruising brand, but it has fishing chops, too, now offering an adventure module and other angling amenities on its outboard-powered Luxury Sport and Luxury Express series. The Adventure Module option replaces items in standard aft seating with rod holders, a transom livewell and additional work surfaces. Tiara’s founder Leon Slikkers’s passion for creating visually stunning, comfortable, technologically advanced yachts is carried on by three more generations of the Slikkers family who continue to build boats. Tiara was acknowledged in the Manufacturing Process/Supply Chain category of the 2025 IBEX EPIC Awards, recognizing innovation and impact on the industry, local communities and the global marketplace. Tiara 56 LS Everything about the new Tiara 56 LS is massive, from its 16-foot beam to its grid-reinforced composite…