Center Console Buyer's Guide Checklist

 130 Items To Check On Center Consoles

1. Is there a windshield?
2. Is the windshield plexiglass or glass?
3. Is there distortion in the curve of the windshield?
4. If the windshield is freestanding, does it have a protective header?
5. If there is a T-Top, does it join the overhead?
6. Does the windshield have a wiper? Does it have a washer?
7. Does the windshield have a vent to let in fresh air?
8. Does the top of the console have molded-in lockers or compartments?
9. Are these containers deep enough and are they self-draining? 
10.    Does it have a compass and is it in line with the steering wheel?
11.    Is the dash large enough for the screens you want?
12.    Is the dash white? Dark colors have less glare.
13.    Are there grab rails reachable while sitting for each person at the helm?
14.    Is there at least one 12V and USB charging outlet?
15.    Are these charging outlets near or in a cubby?
16.    While standing at the wheel is there enough room to handle your girth?
17.    Can you easily see over the console? If not is there a fold-down platform?
18.    Does the wheel tilt and how far?
19.    Is there a steering knob on the wheel?
20.    How many turns are there lock to lock?
21.    What kind of steering does it have — cable, hydraulic or power steering?
22.    Can you reach the wheel while seated?
23.    Does the helm have a leaning post or more expensive seating?
24.    Are the seats adjustable fore and aft? Are they vented in back?
25.    Does the seat have a bolster that stays where you put it?
26.    Is the bolster comfortable when you sit on it? Some are not.
27.    Is the throttle/shift lever at 45 degrees or less? Or is it unhandy?
28.    Does the boat have a bow thruster? If so, is it in an ergonomic position?
29.    If it has a joystick, is it convenient and not too close to the wheel?
30.    Is there room for the VHF on the dash? Is the mic handy?
31.    Is the radio, etc., in a box in the hardtop, which will be a pain in the neck?
32.    Is the ignition in the knee strike zone? 
33.    Is the kill switch in a convenient location for use with a lanyard?
34.    Are the breakers handy or do you have to get down on your knees to see them?
35.    Are any instruments down low, which will make reading them problematic?
36.    Where are the battery switches located? Are they handy?
37.    Are there cubbies in the console where stuff will stay put?
38.    Is there a molded-in footrest? Does the distance fit your legs?
39.    Do cup holders here and everywhere on the boat drain overboard?
40.    When you sit in the seat do your legs dangle or is there a footrest?
41.    What kind of T-Top does the boat have, cloth, fiberglass, composite?
42.    Do the supports for the T-Top screw down to the deck or to the console?
43.    Are the supports for the T-Top integral with the windshield? This is best practice.
44.    What is the size of the piping T-Top supports? Are there good handholds?
45.    When going forward, do the T-Top have railings to hold on to?
46.    Does the overhead of the T-Top have a dark color or is it white?
47.    Does the top have pads for outriggers, radar and sat domes?
48.    Are the aluminum supports raw aluminum or powder coated?
49.    What is the width of the passage forward — can you easily get through?
50.    Is the door to the compartment in the console large enough for your entry?
51.    How much trouble is it for you to get in and out of the console compartment?
52.    What amenities are in the console compartment?
53.    Is the back of the instrument panel easy to get to?
54.    What is the covering over the back of dash access: canvas, plastic or wood?
55.    Does the boat have a porta-potti or an electric head?
56.    If it's an electric toilet, does the brand have a good reputation?
57.    What is the headroom of the compartment?
58.    When sitting on the toilet, what is the headroom? (Don’t assume you will fit.)
59.    Inside is there a fiberglass liner, vinyl glued to the bulkheads or painted raw glass?
60.    Does the head have a sink with pressure water? 
61.    Does the head sole have a drain?
62.    Is there an opening portlight or exhaust fan?
63.    Is there a mirror and cubbies for stuff?
64.    Does the door lock from the inside? And the outside?
65.    Is there an electric light in the compartment?
66.    Can fishing rods be stowed in the compartment?
67.    What is the depth of the cockpit aft? (ABYC standards are 24”/60 cm.)
68.    What is the square footage of the cockpit — can two people fish from it?
69.    Are the coaming bolsters all around and well-padded?
70.    Is there a fold-out step to aid in getting into the boat?
71.    Is there a place for a dedicated cooler or is it built-in?
72.    Are there fold-down seats from the gunwales? How many?
73.    What is the capacity of the livewell? Is it big enough for your bait?
74.    Are the corners of the livewell rounded, does it drain overboard with a macerator?
75.    Does the livewell have full column aeration, an acrylic top and is it pressurized?
76.    Are the integral fish boxes insulated? Do they drain overboard and have a macerator?
77.    How many rod holders are there? How about under-gunwale rod racks?
78.    Are there pads in the gunwales to protect your reels?
79.    Are there foot rails so you can lock in your feet when fighting a fish?
80.    What size pipe drains your scuppers and do their cover plates restrict water flow?
81.    Is there a transom door? How wide is the opening and what is the door made of?
82.    Does the transom door open in or out? Out is best for emergency dewatering.
83.    Does the cockpit have an option for a table, deck or side mounted?
84.    If there is a provision for a table, does it have dedicated storage?
85.    Is there a handy rack for fishing tools and cutting boards?
86.    Is there adequate tacklebox storage? Some boats will surprise you.
87.    Are there raw- and freshwater outlets in the cockpit?
88.    Is there a factory-installed freshwater hook-up to flush the engines?
89.    How far do the swim platforms extend past the engines?
90.    Check the room between the transom and the engines, is there enough space to pass?
91.    Is the outboard well self-draining overboard? Probably not on small CCs.
92.    Is the swim ladder an afterthought, minimal, or a limited emergency device? 
93.    Does the swim ladder extend 22” (55.6 cm) below the water’s surface, per ABYC?
94.    Does the hatch to the mechanical room have a deep channel to keep out water?
95.    Are there port and starboard drains at the lowest end of the channels?
96.    Do these channels drain overboard?
97.    Are fuel-priming pumps easy to reach from the deck?
98.    Is the bilge pump in the deepest part of the bilge aft?
99.     What is the pump’s on/off mechanism? There are better solutions than float switches.
100.     Can you reach all through-hulls when reaching in from the deck?
101.     Is there a mechanical device that controls the through-hull lever?
102.     Is there a raw water sea chest to feed all equipment needs? We recommended it.
103.     Can fuel filters and shut-off valves be easily reached?
104.     Are the batteries firmly strapped down?
105.     Are the batteries located low in the bilge or higher up? Preferred.
106.     Are any side doors equipped with stout hinges and latches?
107.     Is the ladder for the side door easy to use and deep enough?
108.     Are there handholds to help someone out of the water and into the boat?
109.     Does the seat in front of the console have an easy-to-reach handhold?
110.     Do forward hatches have deep channels and rubber gaskets?
111.     Do these hatches have gas-assist struts to keep them open?
112.     If forward compartments are to be used as fish boxes, are they macerated?
113.     Do forward compartments have inner fiberglass liners?
114.     Is there somewhere on the boat provision to hold a 5-gallon (18.9 L) bucket?
115.     Is there a provision for a table forward? Is it deck or side mounted?
116.     Is there dedicated storage for the table?
117.     Is there a platform to put between the seats to make a casting deck/sunpad?
118.     Are there 2 pull-up cleats on the foredeck for mooring lines?
119.     Are there at least 6 pull-up cleats on the boat?
120.     Is there a dedicated cleat for the anchor rode on or near the centerline?
121.     Is there a fairlead for the anchor rode to exit the boat and no-chafe?
122.     Is the bitter end of the rode line attached to a pad eye in the anchor locker?
123.     Is there a turn-and-lock latch on the forward hatch or a lift-and-lock latch?
124.     Is there a device to keep the hatch open or can it lay flat when opened?
125.     Is there unfettered access to the anchor-rode locker, does it drain overboard?
126.     Is there a provision on larger CCs for an anchor windlass with a remote control in situ?
127.     Does the boat have basic flotation or level flotation?
128.     Does the boat have electric or hydraulic trim tabs?
129.      Is the steering system hydraulic or digital? 
130.     Is the fuel capacity adequate for your mission with a 10% reserve?