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