Explore your next center console from this selection of new models.
By Gregg Mansfield
The family has been saving for a long time, and now is the moment to invest in a new center-console boat. With numerous brands and models available, the shopping experience can be quite daunting.
For those seeking the newest and most innovative center consoles, the 2024 Buyers Guide from Center Console Life will assist the family in selecting the perfect boat. Whether looking for a beginner model or eyeing a sophisticated 52-foot console, manufacturers have something to fit every need.
Acquiring a new boat now takes months rather than years, as boat manufacturers have successfully addressed the backlog of orders after overcoming supply chain challenges. Companies are now poised to launch new models with creative designs.
If your preferred center console isn’t featured on the following pages, visit CenterConsoleLifemag.com for an even wider array of boats to explore.
Enjoy your shopping experience!
Axopar Boats 29 XC Cross Cabin
Axopar Boats features a modular design that allows for extensive personalization with the 29 XC Cross Cabin (28’ 8” LOA, 9’ 8” beam). This model includes a fully enclosed wheelhouse that comfortably seats six, with pilot and copilot bolsters that flip up and rotate.
Access to the wheelhouse has been improved through a newly designed door with a wider opening. Axopar provides three options for the aft deck: an open layout, a wet bar, or an aft cabin with storage. The optional cabin sleeps two and can include a toilet and sink.
The 29-footer is available with a choice of single or twin outboards from Mercury Marine.
www.axopar.com
Brabus Marine 1000 Black Ops
The Brabus Shadow 1000 Black Ops Signature Edition stands out as the fastest Shadow ever created.
Equipped with twin Mercury Racing V8 500R engines producing 1,000 horsepower, the Shadow 1000 (38’ LOA, 11’ beam) can reach a top speed of 69 mph. Choices for Cross-Cabin and Sun-Top layouts are available, with the fully enclosed pilothouse accommodating eight people and featuring a glass bridge with a 12” screen and JL Audio entertainment system.
Brabus provides layout options for the aft area including an open deck, bench setup, wet bar package, multi-storage compartments, and an aft-cabin setup. The bow can be designed to include an expansive sunbathing area alongside a sofa with a table.
www.brabus.com
Cigarette Racing 52 Thunder
The latest 52 Thunder from Cigarette Racing is packed with high-tech features, such as hatches that open at the touch of a button, tables that retract flush with the deck, and backrests that slide from the gunwales.
Offered with five or six Mercury Racing 500R outboards or four 600-hp Mercury Marine outboards, the 52 Thunder (52’ 1” LOA, 14’ beam) boasts an entirely new hull design with a 23-degree deadrise. The helm is fitted with seven fully adjustable, shock-absorbing chairs, while the dashboard features three 24-inch Garmin displays. For entertaining, the three bow loungers or the chef’s galley at the stern provide excellent options. Below deck, the cabin includes air conditioning, seating, and a private head with a shower.
www.cigaretteracing.com
De Antonio D50 Coupe
The new D50 Coupé from De Antonio integrates the best aspects of its sibling, the D50 Open, while enhancing usable indoor and outdoor areas.
This model stands out with a cabin superstructure that enhances both comfort and safety on deck while shielding the driver’s area from wind and spray. The D50 Coupe (48’ 10” LOA, 14’ 5” beam) features shaded deck spaces and a retractable awning on the roof for enjoying sunlight and pleasant weather.
This vessel is powered by twin Mercury 600-hp outboards and boasts a cruising speed of around 40 mph with a maximum speed reaching 52 mph.
www.deantonioyachts.com
Everglades Boats 315cc
Constructed using Everglades Boats’ Rapid Molded Core Assembly Process (RAMCAP), the technology ensures that the 315cc is unsinkable, providing peace of mind for offshore boaters. Standard features of this model (31’6” LOA, 10’4” beam) include a fiberglass hardtop, multiple fish boxes, and a fully outfitted head compartment with a porcelain toilet and sink with a shower. Everglades offers the 315cc with either twin engines from Mercury Marine or Yamaha Marine. With dual 400-hp Mercury outboards, the 315cc achieves a cruising speed of 44 mph and a top speed of 56 mph. Customers can opt for a Seakeeper 2 gyrostabilizer or a Seakeeper Ride 600 trim tab system for enhanced comfort.
www.evergladesboats.com
Fountain Powerboats 43 SCX
Returning to its performance roots, Fountain Powerboats launched the 43 SCX for 2024. The 43 SCX (43’ LOA, 12’3” beam) showcases Fountain’s next-generation hardtop and an updated dashboard from the Washington, N.C., builder. Below deck, Fountain has included a queen-size berth, an enclosed head, and a 6,000 BTU heater/air conditioning unit for comfort. The 43 SCX is highly customizable with numerous gelcoat and graphic options, along with amenities like a cockpit galley, generator, or SeaKeeper gyrostabilizer. This flagship model is available with quad Mercury Racing 400R or 500R outboards. No performance-focused center console would be complete without a 24-speaker, five-amplifier sound system and ShadowCaster lighting.
www.fountainpowerboats.com
Grady-White Boats 231 CE
Despite being the smallest craft in the Coastal Explorer series, the new 231 CE from Grady-White delivers outstanding features for avid anglers.
Its fishing amenities include a 277-quart fish box, a 25-gallon livewell, tackle storage, and ample casting areas at both the bow and stern.
Built on Grady’s renowned SeaV2 hull, this center console has a draft of 16” and is ideal for fishing in shallow waters or heading to the sandbar for leisure.
The 231 CE (22’ 7” LOA, 8’ 6” beam) features a console with a stand-up head and a window for added light. The helm is spacious enough to accommodate two 12” displays.
www.gradywhite.com
Highfield Sport 800
The newly designed Highfield Sport 800 rigid inflatable boat (RIB) provides the same luxurious features as its fully fiberglass counterparts. The Sport 800 (26’ 7” LOA, 9’ 8” beam) incorporates a deep-V hull, delivering exceptional stability and handling across various sea conditions. Its RIB tube design adds an additional layer of buoyancy and shock absorption, enhancing both safety and comfort during rides. Highfield offers multiple engine options for this model. The ergonomically designed console ensures controls are within easy reach and provides a clear line of sight. Navigation and digital displays are integrated into the helm, which can be customized with an optional carbon-fiber dash. The Sport 800 is available with a table, sundeck, and a swim platform with a ladder.
www.highfieldboats.com