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Best pilothouse boats: 12 of the best boats for year-round adventures

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In the last few years, we’ve noticed an explosion of interest in adventure boats that you can use all year round. Here’s our pick of the best pilothouse boats on the market right now…

From Axopar to Viggo, the new boat market seems to be overflowing with pilothouse boats right now and the appeal isn’t hard to fathom.

With enclosed wheelhouses that offer great all-round visibility as well as protection from the elements, the best pilothouse boats have outgrown their Scandinavian roots.

Yards from Italy and Turkey are getting in on the action too, and we’ve recently experienced the joys of boating around the Seychelles in a pilothouse boat .

If you’re looking to try this style of boating, read on for our essential guide to the most exciting pilothouse boats on the market right now…

12 of the best pilothouse boats

Twin-stepped hull gives the Axopar 37 XC first rate performance, efficiency and sea-keeping

Axopar 37 XC

The Axopar 37 XC is a great-looking multi-purpose adventure platform with a range of flexible indoor and outdoor spaces plus the option of authentic four-berth accommodation.

With its second-generation twin-stepped hull, it handles like a proper sportsboat too, while still returning cruising efficiency of around 2.3l/nm at 28 knots with a pair of Mercury 300s on the transom.

It also offers the option of gullwing doors for uprated access and ventilation in the forward cabin, and the options elsewhere are just as rewarding. You can upgrade to twin 350s for 48-knot performance, or spec the aft deck with a stern bench, a wet bar module, a storage compartment or a brilliant aft cabin .

You can also augment the styling with the Brabus Line package or you can add extra functionality with a forward heads compartment and a pilothouse kitchen module. For full-on adventure, it’s very tough to beat.

Axopar 37 XC specifications

LOA: 37ft 9in (11.50m) Beam: 9ft 8in (3.35m) Engine: Twin 225-350hp outboards Top speed: 48 knots Starting price: £278,000 (inc. VAT)

Read more about the Axopar 37 XC

The Dale 40 makes light work of big seas

Introduced in 2019, the award-winning Dale 40 is a pilothouse boat unlike any other. As you would expect of a Dale , it gives you a steady trim angle throughout the rev range and a perfectly judged balance between forward buoyancy and softness of entry, but it supplements that with extra bow flare and deeper freeboards for an even drier ride at sea.

It’s also a great boat for adding flexibility to your nav plans. The fore-and-aft ensuite cabins enable two couples to cruise for weeks on end and the wheelhouse is easily converted for a third couple.

In terms of range, a combined fuel capacity of 2,300 litres delivers 350nm at 20 knots – and if you want to leave the open sea behind and explore Europe’s inland waterways, the Dale 40’s wide side decks, open aft helm and arrow-straight tracking make it perfect for that too.

Dale 40 specifications

LOA: 44ft 2in (13.48m) Beam: 13ft 10in (4.23m) Engine: Twin Volvo Penta D6 340-480s on shafts Top speed: 28 knots Starting price: £987,777 (inc. VAT)

Read more about the Dale 40

The Dromeas D33 SUV is a stylish 50-knot weekender

Dromeas D33 SUV

As the larger of Dromeas’s two pilothouse boats, the very latest D33 SUV takes the same thoroughbred underpinnings as the D33 WA but adds an enclosed cockpit with twin side doors for uprated year-round practicality.

Available with inboards or outboards , this 50-knot offshore platform also uses aggressive spray rails, thickset rubbing strakes and elevated forward gunwales for a safe, dry ride.

There’s a range of options to help configure the aft deck to your needs, and down below, an open-plan layout provides bright, comfortable sleeping for four. Easily customised and inherently versatile, the new Dromeas D33 SUV is a seriously impressive piece of work.

Dromeas D33 SUV specifications

LOA: 27ft 1in (10.50m) Beam: 8ft 10in (3.15m) Engine: Single or twin outboards up to 800hp Top speed: 50 knots Starting price: £211,200 (inc. VAT)

This is the Daddy of the Nimbus pilothouse boat range, complete with fully enclosed wheelhouse and a pair of Volvo’s 4-cylinder 320hp sterndrive diesels for good measure.

It is, being a Nimbus , incredibly practical and well thought out. There are guardrails all the way along the side decks and wherever there isn’t a guardrail you can guarantee there is going to be a hand hold.

The side decks are deep and safe and there is bespoke storage for the boat’s fenders on the transom and a dedicated slot for the wooden boat hook outside the cockpit doors. These are the sort of practical details that Nimbus’s designers chalk off in their sleep but they make life on board so much easier.

Nimbus C11 specifications

LOA: 40ft 7in (12.4m) Beam: 11ft 4in (3.46m) Engines: Twin 320hp Volvo Penta D4 Top speed: 40 knots Starting price: £361,549 (inc. VAT)

Read more about the Nimbus C11

The Nordkapp Gran Coupé 905 is available with twin 225hp outboards or a single 600hp V12

Nordkapp Gran Coupé 905

The Gran Coupé 905 is a practical, versatile (and rather beautiful) four-berth adventure companion but the V12 model ramps things up in a serious way.

For a start, there are no optional extras here because everything is included. That extends from the Webasto heating, hot and cold water, stern anchor and electric soft top to the bow and stern thrusters, forward sundeck, convertible cockpit and fully featured heads.

And then there’s the engine. While the base 905 is available with a 300hp outboard or twin 225s, this top-of-the-line variant comes with Mercury’s 7.6-litre V12 Verado 600hp outboard motor for ferocious pick-up and speeds in the region of 55 knots.

With sociable outdoor zones fore and aft, plus convertible pilothouse shelter and class-leading performance, this unashamedly high-spec four-season family cruiser is a boat you simply can’t ignore.

Nordkapp Gran Coupé 905 specifications

LOA: 29ft 11in (9.12m) Beam: 9ft 9in (2.98m) Engine: Mercury Verado 7.6-litre 600hp V12 Top speed: 55 knots Starting price: £240,450 (inc VAT and 300hp engine) / £319,950 (inc. VAT and 600hp engine)

Modified chines make the Nord Star 33+ an even smoother ride than its predecessor

Nord Star 33+

The Nord Star 33+ uses the existing 32 hull with modified chines to make it even softer and more forgiving at sea. It also comes with bonded windows and smaller mullions for uprated visibility, plus revised bulwark boarding gates and twin side doors for extra practicality.

The optional Cruiser package looks particularly well judged. In addition to French doors that bring the cockpit and saloon into easy union, it offers some useful flexibility in relation to the way the galley and lower atrium interact.

You can spec each side of the atrium with a heads and separate shower; you can swap the port space for a lower galley; or you can leave the galley up top and use the port compartment as a massive walk-in wardrobe.

Either way, with a pair of D4 270s, this practical four-berth Nordic pilothouse boat offers a really satisfying combination of fuel efficiency, performance and living comfort.

Nord Star 33+ specifications

LOA: 36ft 5in (11.40m) Beam: 11ft 1in (3.40m) Engine: Twin inboard diesels up to 872hp Top speed: 45 knots Starting price: £365,000 (inc. VAT)

Read more about the Nord Star 33+

Pardo has eased back the power to give the Endurance 60 extra efficiency and range

Pardo Endurance 60

The Pardo Endurance 60 might look more like a mini superyacht than an all-action pilothouse boat, but its credentials are very strong. At 59ft in length with a fully enclosed wheelhouse and deep walkaround side decks, it uses a compact, low-slung flybridge to keep the centre of gravity as low as possible.

The decking ahead of the flybridge wind deflector is a great place to sit with a view or ideal for stowing a couple of bikes or stand-up paddle boards . Back aft, in addition to a hydraulic swim platform big enough for a proper jet tender, twin fold-down bulwarks create an extra 180ft² of cockpit space with great access to the water.

Available with a pair of IPS 700s or 800s and capable of sleeping up to eight people, the Pardo Endurance 60 is by no means a fast boat, but if you want long-distance adventure with extra style, refinement and luxury, this is a fantastic way to achieve it.

Pardo Endurance 60 specifications

LOA: 59ft 3in (18.08m) Beam: 16ft 8in (5.13m) Engines: Twin Volvo Penta IPS 700-800s Top speed: 25 knots UK starting price: €2.83 million (inc VAT)

Read more about the Pardo Endurance 60

Despite the extra weight created by the pilothouse, the Quarken 27 Cabin still tops out at 43 knots

Quarken 27 Cabin

The Quarken 27 Cabin takes all the user-friendly day boating intelligence of the award-winning Quarken 27 T-Top and adds a pilothouse for extra multi-purpose flexibility.

Like the open models, it uses an asymmetric design with a full-width port walkway to keep fore-and-aft movement free and easy. It also factors in a full-size sliding door for simple single-handed berthing, plus a seating design that enables you to face out from a sheltered position.

Capable of sleeping two people and seating up to eight, the Quarken 27 Cabin employs the same twin-stepped hull and Yamaha F300 outboard with finger-light digital steering as the rest of the 27 models.

And while the pilothouse structure does incur a little extra weight, this model still manages to achieve a top end of 43 knots, alongside claimed running efficiency of 1.6l per nm for a cruising range of 150nm.

Quarken 27 Cabin specifications

LOA: 27ft 5in (8.35m) Beam: 8ft 6in (2.59m) Engine: Single Yamaha F300 outboard Top speed : 43 knots Starting price: £144,442 (inc. VAT)

Read more about the Quarken 27 Cabin

Rhea is known for its 1970s-style flared bow and classic frigate stern

Rhea Trawler 34

The Rhea Trawler 34 is a seriously flexible boat. It’s available as a flybridge or a sedan and with single or twin shaft drives hooked up to Nanni, Volvo or Yanmar engines.

Like the Timonier line, it’s easy to helm, easy to beach and very kind in a North Atlantic swell. With flat decks, raised bulwarks and a closed transom, it’s also ideal for exposed passages.

And it also comes with a spacious forward owner’s cabin , plus a bathroom with separate shower, a starboard guest cabin and an optional crew cabin for those who need a third double berth.

Rhea Trawler 34 specifications

LOA: 34ft 1in (10.40m) Beam: 13ft 1in (3.98m) Engine: Single 380hp – twin 270hp inboard diesels Top speed: 21 knots Starting price: €585,000 (inc. VAT)

Impeccable seafaring and fit-out make the Sargo 45 our pick of their pilothouse boats range

The Sargo 45 is a very easy boat to enjoy. From the quick-access fender stowage to the massive single-level side decks, the wide-gauge fuel fillers and the side-entry engine bay, the simple things are superbly executed.

With its adjustability, all-round views, skipper’s side door and whisper-quiet double-glazed refinement, the helm also feels like an object lesson in seafaring ergonomics.

And then there’s the accommodation. The fit-out is impeccable, headroom throughout is great and with a convertible dinette, an ingenious ensuite mid cabin and a pair of forward cabins with large day heads, you could easily sleep six to eight people in the utmost comfort.

Even the cruising efficiency looks good. Twin 480hp Volvo Penta D6-IPS650s will deliver 36-knot performance alongside four litres per nautical mile at 30 knots and a range in excess of 300 miles – and you also get the option of sterndrives and a flybridge.

Sargo 45 specifications

LOA: 47ft 11in (14.60m) Beam: 14ft 0in (4.25m) Engine: Twin Volvo D6 440 / IPS-650 Top speed: 36 knots Starting price: €995,000 (inc. VAT)

Read more about the Sargo 45

The Targa 32 Coupe can reach speeds of up to 48 knots

Targa 32 Coupe

The Targa 32 is a fantastic all-rounder. It comes with a flybridge and second helm as standard but, as elsewhere in the range, you can also spec it with a flat roof, an aft door and a large roof rack for your kayaks and paddleboards.

Down below, two comfortable cabins make it popular for families, but you can also choose between a sociable foredeck cockpit or an optional raised bow for extra space in the forward double. It’s also the most versatile Targa in terms of engines.

Diesel options range from twin Volvo D4s right up to the biggest D6s for performance of up to 48 knots alongside a fast cruise of 38 to 40 knots. A pair of Mercury Verado V8 300 or V10 400 outboards are also an option.

But even twin D4 320s will deliver a top speed of 40 knots, while creating some handy extra space in the engine room for bulky baggage or folding bikes .

Targa 32 Coupe specifications

LOA: 35ft 4in (10.78m) Beam: 11ft 1in (3.37m) Engine: 640-880hp inboard diesels Top speed: 48 knots Starting price: £399,840 (inc. VAT)

Viggos are known for their tough aluminium construction and shallow draft

Viggo C10 Offshore

Viggo’s C10 Offshore employs the same deep-vee (24-degree) hull form as the 8m boats but uprates it for Category B use. It also benefits from a more acute bow shape, single or twin engines, separate fuel tanks, and a backup system for the power supply.

As on the Viggo C8 , the layout has been designed so you can pass freely from bow to stern through fore and aft doors and remarkably, up to ten passengers can sit underway in the shelter of the pilothouse.

It’s a seriously quick boat too, thanks to a twin 450hp outboard option that brings a rip-snorting 65 knots into play. And to harness all that power, it also uses a pair of central K-Plane hydraulic trim tabs, which do much the same job as a 200-litre bow tank – pinning that nose in a rough head sea and avoiding any unnecessary air time.

Viggo C10 Offshore specifications

LOA: 35ft 11in (10.95m) Beam: 9ft 8in (2.95m) Engine: Single 450hp / Twin 300-450hp outboards Top speed: 48-65 knots Starting price: £359,400 (inc. VAT)

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OYSTER HP49 Pilothouse

What we say.

Holman and Pye created the 49 Pilothouse by utilizing an extended version of the Oyster 46 hull, to which they added a retroussé stern with sugar scoop and designing an entirely new deck. This is high enough to allow full standing headroom and a interior helm position, creating a motorsailer that sails beautifully. A proven circumnavigator, the 49 Pilothouse participated in the 1994 Europa  Round the World Rally and had class wins in two ARC rallies. 

The standard accommodation layout features three cabins with the owner’s stateroom aft. Guest accommodation is forward. All are masthead rigged, either as sloops or cutters. Nine were launched between 1991 and 1997. 

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Rawson Pilothouse 30

• By Richard Smith
• Updated: July 30, 2012

Ron Rawson built some of the U.S. West Coast’s finest workboats—tough and able gillnetters, long-liners, and others that ply the waters between California and the Gulf of Alaska. When he decided to build sailboats, he wanted to continue the firm’s reputation for building seaworthy small craft and commissioned Pacific Northwest naval architect William Garden to design the Rawson 30. Between 1959 and 1985, he built 288 Rawson 30s, of which 36 were pilothouse models.

Bluff-bowed and rugged, with a long keel encapsulating 5,000 pounds of boiler punchings and concrete, the Rawson 30 was intended strictly for cruising. The hull is hand-laid solid fiberglass, while the deck is of fiberglass and balsa sandwich construction. Its bulwarks, 6 inches high at the bow, are fit for wedging in seaboots whether you’re hauling in salmon or changing headsails when thrashing to windward, and its cockpit is small, as befits a bluewater boat, while still adequate for two. Hardware is robust and simple.

Rawson added the Pilothouse model out of respect for Pacific Northwest weather. An enclosed wheelhouse is a great boon because passagemaking through these island-studded waters, with their narrow channels and swift currents, entails a lot of motoring.

The wheel and navigation instruments are located to starboard under the sloping windshield. There’s a useful table and considerable storage aft of the helmsman’s seat. To port, a comfortable dining table converts to a double berth with storage beneath.

Two steps down, to starboard, is a small in-line galley with sink, icebox, and stove. To port, a 6-foot-6-inch berth tucked under the pilothouse and a diesel heater just forward of it form a sort of inglenook—a cozy space on chilly winter cruises. The full bow provides space for a 6-foot-6-inch double berth with plenty of shoulder room. The small head contains a sink, shower, and storage.

The PH 30 is a masthead sloop with a single-spreader, deck-stepped aluminum mast supported by double lower and single upper shrouds, headstay, and backstay. A compression post is stoutly integrated into the bulkhead below. The mainsheet traveler sits atop the after end of the pilothouse. Early boats had a little too much weather helm; a stocky bowsprit was added to address it.

Rawsons have been powered by a variety of engines. When the dining table is removed, sliding hatches in the pilothouse sole provide good access to the engine and to other mechanical and electrical equipment.

It takes a little breeze to get the PH 30 going, but at 20 to 25 knots, it’s time to put in a reef and roll in a bit of genoa. In these winds the boat at first feels a little tender, but once settled down, its motion is steady. The boat tracks well and rarely takes any water over the bow or into the cockpit. In higher winds, the heeling effect makes steering from the inside helm station difficult on port tack. The pilothouse is at its best in quieter seas, on long treks, and at anchor.

It’s difficult to fault the Rawson PH 30 within its limitations. It’s slow and not very close-winded when compared with contemporary 30-foot racer/cruisers, and the pilothouse’s weight and windage make it a little tender. The side decks, to favor the accommodations, are a tad narrow, but altogether, the boat meets the requirements of all-weather cruising in the Pacific Northwest. The solid and commodious Rawson PH 30 will provide safe and exciting year-round voyaging for decades to come.

Architect Richard Smith and his wife, Beth, sail their Ericson Cruising 31, Kuma , on the waters of the Pacific Northwest.

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The CP 23 Pilothouse

The true delight of this boat is the brightness and view while in the pilothouse..

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The brand-new trailerable cruiser CP 23 Pilothouse offers a revolutionary combination of trailerability, cruisability, and livability. The CP 23 Pilothouse is designed with numerous well-thought-out features and Com-Pac's legendary attention to detail:

• Steering from inside the pilothouse during inclement weather, in addition to tiller steering in the aft cockpit
• Excellent natural light and visibility from inside the pilot house while under way or at anchor
• Abundant storage space, including 2 hanging lockers
• Draft of only 2'3"
• Twin cylinder freshwater-cooled diesel engine
• Dinette that converts to a berth
• Roomy v-berth
• Galley and enclosed head
• Mast is mounted in a tabernacle that allows it to be folded down for trailering
• Stainless steel handrails on deck (optional teak handrails available)

• Dec 12, 2020

Pilothouse Sailboats: The Myth of Inside Steering

Updated: Feb 2, 2021

Prior to buying my Cooper 416 more than 20 years ago I was a "traditionalist" when it came to sailboats. I thought Pilothouse sailboats had way to much windage, the big doghouse was hard to see over, the inside steering station added additional maintenance, and they were hotter than a greenhouse in the Mohave Desert when cruising in tropical climates. And, I had not seen too many that were aesthetically appealing. I also felt that "real" sailors should be out in the elements with the wind and rain and the occasional dousing of salt spray peppering your face.

First, and most importantly let me clarify a distinction between modern pilothouse sailboats and motorsailers. For example, the Cooper 416, the Sceptre 41, the Dufour 12000CT, and others are what I consider "modern pilothouse" sailboats that have raised doghouses with sleek lines. Compare these to motorsailers such as the Nauticat 33 & 44, the Cabo Rico PH, and Fishers that look like someone took a sailboat and threw a giant window box on top of the coachroof. I am not a fan of motorsailers as theses types of sailboats embody all the negative connotations of pilothouse designs.

But, as my father was getting on in years, and after sailing (motoring) in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) for a few years where the winds are fickle, the currents strong, and the rain virtually constant...I decided that perhaps a pilothouse was the way to go for the PNW. The pilothouse layout would be more comfortable for my father than the full-keeled True North 34 sailboat that I had prior to my Cooper 416. And besides, if the weather was inclement with no wind and we were motoring (which is quite common in Puget Sound) it would be nice to be able to go below, throw some hot water on the stove for some hot chocolate, and keep watch in the warmth of the cabin while continuing my voyage.

But now, after owning my pilothouse sailboat for more than 20 years with thousands of sea and ocean miles below her...let me debunk the notion of the inside steering station and some of the common myths of a modern pilothouse sailboat.

As I said, after "sailing" in the PNW for 5 years, and with my father getting on in years I considered a pilothouse design as a reasonable compromise. For those of you not familiar with sailing in the PNW, the winds are usually light and variable due to the mountain ranges. There are days of pea soup fog that doesn't dissipate until after noon, and yes...more rain days than dry days. Hell, I even sailed in the snow. So sure, the idea of being able to go below and still keep a watch was more appealing to me. I was also getting older and wiser. Spending 6 hours in the cockpit sitting in the rain when it is 35F outside while motoring from Port Townsend back to Seattle was not fun. Sailing should be fun!

So, in 2000 I bought a Cooper 416 pilothouse sailboat designed by Stan Huntingford and built by Cooper Yachts in Coquitlam, BC, Canada. I also had my eye on a Sceptre 41. I liked the lower profile hull design of the Sceptre, but the interior layout of the Cooper won out. I sailed the boat around Vancouver Island twice, down to San Francisco, up and down the Salish Sea, and in 2019 sailed across the Pacific to Hawaii. And, after 20 years and more than 15,000 miles I realized that I probably actually steered using the inside steering station less than 1 hour.

OK...I acknowledge that I have an autopilot (and also windvane steering added in 2019). In my opinion every "cruising" sailboat should have an autopilot. There are times when I love the feel of the helm such as short day-sails with friends, teaching crew how to steer and maneuver, and beer can regattas such as the Downtown Sailing Series out of Elliott Bay Marina. And sometimes I like to give Tardis (the Garmin Reactor autopilot) and Hephzibah (the Hydrovane wind vane steering) a break, and take over the steering duties and rekindle the sense of sailing rather than just riding on a sailboat. But, it is pure folly to think that you are going to sit at the helm and steering a cruising sailboat for 6 or more hours day after day; it's just impractical.

But, even during these times when I took the helm, it was the helm in the cockpit. When I leave a berth or anchorage I am at the helm in the cockpit. When I am docking or dropping the hook I am at the helm in the cockpit. When I out with friends for a day sail I am at the helm in the cockpit. When I trim sails and setting Hephzibah I am in the cockpit. Even when I am motoring on windless days...I am usually in the cockpit standing watch and Tardis is steering the desired course.

Yes, during inclement weather and really cold days I would stand watch inside. The pilothouse is warm and dry and safe. Of course, I go below to cook nice meals and use the head feeling quite comfortable with Hephzibah or Tardis keeping S/V Discovery on course. The navigation station inside the pilothouse has radar, the primary chartplotter with AIS interfaced, and the autopilot master controller (an AP remote is located in the cockpit). So, with the electronic navigational systems and a 270 degree view ahead and abeam of the boat I feel pretty confident in adequate watch keeping. And more importantly, even during these times below deck either Hephzibah or Tardis were steering the course while the inside helm sat idle.

So, in October 2020 I decided the inside steering station added no benefit, and was just a meaningless "feature." So, I removed the inside helm and built a navigation console. Removing the inside helm pump also meant removing the old copper hydraulic lines and simplifying the hydraulic steering system (e.g. bleeding is easier and uses less fluid). It also removed the redundant gear and throttle control cables. And also, since the navigation station is the epicenter of the boat's electrical system, it also meant some electrical work. I also moved the electronic navigation systems into the console so they have easier access and visibility while sitting at the navigation station.

While the inside steering station on a sailboat seems like a pretty good idea, and certainly adds a "WOW" factor for guests, I must say that unless you sail in northern latitudes in blizzard-like conditions and all your sail controls are controlled via electric switches and motors, the inside steering station really doesn't make a lot of sense. This is not to say the pilothouse design isn't great...but steering from inside a pilothouse is done via an autopilot...not with a wheel .

Some other thoughts about pilothouse sailboats...

The windage myth...

Any surface area above the boat create windage. A J-boat has very little windage. A J-boat has very little if any creature comforts. A Nauticat 44 (motorsailer) has a huge doghouse and a lot of windage. Many of the sleeker pilothouse designs found on the Cooper, the Scepter, etc have less windage than a comparable sized Hanse or Beneteau or Janneau...especially the deck salons, or after adding a dodger and full enclosure around the cockpit.

The Greenhouse Effect myth...

There is a reason why many sailboats berthed or anchored for any length of time in the tropics is virtually covered from stem to stern with Sunbrella. The key to keeping any sailboat cool and comfortable in the tropics is ventilation and shade . This cannot be overstated enough. This means a tent over the foredeck, a boom tent over the doghouse, and a Bimini over the cockpit. Side curtains made from Phifertex around the cockpit also help keep things cool; they provide shade and allow airflow. New cruisers, or casual rally-rat cruisers are easy to spot...they are the folks who anchor their boats (sans canvas coverings) and hightail it to the nearest pub ashore to escape the heat.

Dual steering is difficult to maintain...

This puzzles me a bit. Most pilothouse boats with inside steering stations use hydraulic steering. This actually adds a bit of redundancy in the system should the pump at one of the helm stations break. But, the maintenance on a hydraulic steering systems involves checking the fluid level once a month once the system has been bled of all air (which can be challenging if done improperly). Also, it sure seems to me that if you're going to have 2 helms on a cruising sailboat to have one inside station and one cockpit station. Dual helms in the cockpit on a cruising sailboat makes about as much sense as 2 steering wheels in a car.

Cramped cockpits....

Yes, this is one of the real downsides of many pilothouse sailboats in the 30-50 foot range. The cabin interior is larger which mean the cockpits are smaller. Personally, I don't mind the small cockpit on passages because I sail alone or with 1 or 2 other crew and everything is within easy reach. But, for casual day sails with friends....the cockpit can get quite cramped and there is very little "social distancing" going on. But, the cockpit is still comfortable for 2 people to stretch out and relax on long passages.

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Boat Test: 2024 Bayliner Trophy T23 Pilothouse

• By Alan Jones
• March 21, 2024

The mission of Bayliner Trophy models has always been to give owners a capable boat at a ­reasonable price. That has never changed, and to prove it, Bayliner has debuted a Portuguese-built pilothouse design featuring a comfortable and dry ride even if sea conditions prove less than clement. It’s one of the five new cabin models in the Pilothouse and Explorer lines.

While pilothouse boats are common in the Northeast and Northwest US, this 23-footer would also be ideal in places such as the Great Lakes and large bodies of water in the Midwest. During my sea trial on a frosty Florida morning, I realized that the benefits of this design were not limited to Northern climes.

Interior and Accessories

The two Trophy Pilothouse models, which also include the T25 PH, are more fishing-forward than the three Explorer cabin-cruiser models, which are purpose-built more for cruising and entertaining. The most visible difference between the two lines is that the Pilothouse models have glare-reducing windshields that angle past vertical like the windows of an air traffic control tower, which gives them a rugged, ­mini-tugboat appearance compared with the Explorers, which have aft-raked windshields that lend them a sleek appearance. Both sport nearly ­vertical bows, which further cements their European lineage.

Our T23 PH test boat featured the Fish Package ($2,312), which includes port and starboard 30-gallon in-deck fish boxes, each with a pump for quick draining. Also included are toe rails, a raw-water washdown, a pair of extra rod holders, and a transom fish station with a smallish 10-gallon livewell. Thanks to the pair of flip-down bench seats in the cockpit, there’s plenty of room to move about when it’s time to fish. The bench to starboard is a $2,693 option that also comes with a ­table for expanding the T23 PH’s entertainment quotient. The minimum 27 inches of gunwale height in the cockpit allows anglers to lock in safely during a fight. Boarding from either side is easy thanks to the pair of standard swim-platform extensions with port and starboard transom walk-throughs leading to the cockpit.

The sturdy hardtop provides an excellent anchor point for the pilothouse enclosure and grants 6 feet, 6 inches of headroom. This is similar to Jeanneau’s 24-foot-11-inch NC 695 Sport Series 2 ($95,000 base boat plus pre-rig, with a 150 hp Yamaha engine). Up top are four standard rocket-launcher rod holders and a rack for securing items such as paddleboards. The bridge deck can be fully enclosed thanks to the rear sliding glass door and side windows conjoined to the top. There are two more sliding glass doors on either side for ventilation and access to the twin passageways around the enclosure. Above, there’s a slidable hatch to let a little of the outside in. One nitpick is that the tall windshield could use a couple of vents to allow more direct airflow on hot days. Access around the cabin is minimal to create maximum indoor space, and despite having a cabin, you can walk all the way forward to attend to anchor duties. An electric anchor windlass is an option ($2,511).

Because of space allocation, the cabin is tiny and barely accommodated my 5-foot-10-inch frame when laying beam-wise, but kids will love its fortlike vibe. Taller owners might consider opting for the T25 PH model, which has a far roomier cabin, but the downside might be the 9-foot-6-inch beam, which might require wide-load towing permits. Our boat came equipped with the Cabin Comfort Package ($3,883), which included berth filler cushions, curtains, a sea toilet, a cabin door, a flip-down jump seat and a front-porch light. Adding an optional refrigerator will cost an extra $1,435.

Owners can choose a 175 hp or 225 hp Mercury FourStroke outboard. These share the same 3.4L V-6 powerhead. The upcharge for the additional 50 ponies is $3,220. With the max power option, our test boat planed in 3.8 seconds and accelerated to 30 mph in 8.2 seconds, even with five well-fed Americans on board. Top speed? 42.2 mph. Superb visibility comes from the tall windshield with a standard starboard-side windshield wiper. I felt most comfortable standing because of the throttle position: It’s mounted on a pedestal on the dash instead of being the usual side-mounted binnacle, made impossible due to the glass sides.

Read Next: Bayliner Trophy T24CC

The T23 PH proves easy to operate thanks to standard features such as Active Trim, which automatically sets the boat’s running attitude. Its happiest cruise speed? Around 30 mph, with the engine running at 4,500 rpm and burning 10.3 gallons per hour. At this speed, the inclinometer showed that it was running at 5 degrees bow-up, which inspired a confidence that it was resistant to wave stuffing and, along with being enclosed, added to the feeling that I was driving a bigger boat than its 23-foot-7-inch length would indicate. Its moderate 17 degrees of deadrise meant that when cranked over in a hard turn, it heeled over, but not to extremes.

With the T23 PH, fishing couples can cruise to their favorite fishing spot, throw out the anchor, watch the sunset, retire, then wake up at dawn in position for the morning bite.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 225
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 16″x17″ 3-blade stainless-steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.85:1 Fuel Load: 45 gal. Crew Weight: 950 lb.

High Points

• A four-speaker Fusion stereo comes standard.
• The tall transom makes a great place to lean against while fighting a fish in rough water.
• The bridge-deck sliding doors have large bolts that keep them securely open or shut as needed.  

Low Points 

• The flip-down cockpit bench seats have overly large metal grab handles that protrude into the cockpit, creating bumping hazards.   
• The livewell lid could use friction hinges or a dam to keep it partially open when grabbing a bait. 
• A trim-tab option would help level the ride when the human payload is unevenly balanced. 

Pricing and Specs

Speed, efficiency, operation.

Bayliner Boats – Knoxville, Tennessee; 865-971-6311 ; bayliner.com

• More: 20-30ft , 2024 , Bayliner Boats , boat tests , Boats , Fishing Boats , May 2024 , outboards

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