Boat & Sail

Top guide · Bay boats · 2026

4 Best Bay Boats in 2026

Bay boats are the segment that bridges flats fishing and inshore-to-light-offshore use. The category covers 21-to-26-foot hulls with 12-to-18 inches of draft, forward casting decks, hardtops with electronics boxes, and either single or twin outboard packages. This guide ranks four hulls that cleared our 2026 review across the mid and premium tiers.

We sampled 13 candidates across broker-listing data and owner-forum reads through April 2026. Filters below let you narrow by length, drivetrain, primary use, and price tier. Build, performance, accommodations, systems, value, and resale carry equal weight unless the bay-flats framing pushes draft and casting-platform layout up.

By Boat & Sail Editorial · Updated May 2026 · 13 hulls evaluated, 4 selected

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Compare all 4 at a glance

Used-market pricing sampled April 2026. Click a boat to jump to its review.

#BoatLength DriveUsed range BuildPerformanceValue Best for
1 Pathfinder 2400 TRS
Pathfinder 		22-26ft outboard-single $62,000–92,000 (2020–2023 hulls) ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★☆ bay, fishing
2 Shearwater 23 LTS
Shearwater 		22-24ft outboard-single $58,000–82,000 (2020–2023 hulls) ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★☆ bay, fishing
3 Sea Hunt BX 22
Sea Hunt 		22-24ft outboard-single $42,000–62,000 (2020–2023 hulls) ★★★★☆ ★★★★☆ ★★★★★ bay, fishing
4 Ranger 2310 Bay
Ranger 		22-24ft outboard-single $44,000–66,000 (2020–2023 hulls) ★★★★☆ ★★★★☆ ★★★★☆ bay, fishing
1. Pathfinder · 22-26ft · outboard-single · premium

Pathfinder 2400 TRS

Pathfinder 2400 TRS

The verdict: Yes, the segment standout for bay-and-light-offshore use

The 2400 TRS is the bay boat the segment cross-shops everything else against. A 24-foot hull with 14 inches of draft, a forward casting deck that fits two anglers comfortably, and a deadrise and bow flare combination that handles 2-foot chop on a long crossing without complaint. Yamaha F300 standard, dual livewells with recirculation, and a hardtop with electronics box fitted from the factory. Used at $72,000-82,000 for a 2021 hull is the buy.

Build

★★★★★

Performance

★★★★★

Accommodations

★★★★☆

Systems

★★★★★

Value

★★★★☆

Resale

★★★★★

Read the full breakdown

Build. Hand-laid fiberglass with composite stringer grid. Stainless hardware on visible mounts. Gelcoat quality is segment-standout, holds up to 1,500 hours of saltwater use without dulling. Hardtop is fiberglass with stainless support tubes.

Performance. Yamaha F300 gives the 2400 a 50 mph top end. Cruise at 30 knots holds 3.0 mpg. 17 degree deadrise with bow flare, runs dry helm in 2-foot chop on a 15-mile crossing.

Accommodations. Forward casting deck fits two anglers. Aft jump seats fold flat. Two pedestal helm seats. Bow seating with cooler. Enclosed head under console. No cabin, day-fishing primary.

Systems. Twin Garmin GPSMap multifunction displays. JL Audio. Dual livewells with recirculation. Trim tabs. Single battery with switch standard, dual-battery upgrade is worth ordering.

Value. Premium-tier money for a bay boat. The argument is build longevity and resale, not initial dollars-per-feature. Used at $72,000-82,000 for a 2021 hull is the value buy.

Resale. Pathfinder holds resale within 22-26 percent of new at five years. Florida and Gulf Coast demand keeps inventory moving fast on the brokerage market. The 2400 specifically trades within 60-90 days at fair pricing.

What's included

Yamaha F300 outboard, dual Garmin GPSMap, JL Audio, trim tabs, hardtop with electronics box, dual livewells with recirculation, forward casting deck, enclosed head under console.

What costs extra

Trailer (single-axle is a $5,500 line), dual-battery switch upgrade, Power-Pole shallow-water anchor, premium audio upgrade, outriggers.

What works

  • ✓ 14-inch draft opens up flats that exclude deeper-V boats
  • ✓ Bow flare and 17-degree deadrise hold 2-foot chop on long crossings
  • ✓ Twin Garmin GPSMap and dual livewells with recirculation standard
  • ✓ Yamaha F300 gives 30-knot cruise at 3.0 mpg, segment-leading efficiency
  • ✓ Resale floor is the firmest in the bay-boat segment

What doesn't

  • ✗ Premium-tier money, the brand demand keeps used prices firm
  • ✗ Single battery standard, dual-battery upgrade is worth ordering
  • ✗ Hardtop is fiberglass, requires inspection at 5-year mark for hairline cracks

Best for

Florida and Gulf Coast flats anglers running 50-100 hours a season. Cross-shoppers from Scout and Robalo who want shallower draft. Owners running 15-25 mile crossings to bay-mouth grounds.

Not ideal for

Pure offshore households running 4-foot chop regularly, the 17-degree deadrise is bay-first. Trailer-launch buyers needing under-22-foot LOA for road permits.

Best year & trim to buy

2021-2023 with the F300 and twin Garmin standard. Verify Power-Pole pre-rig if shallow-water anchoring matters, the post-purchase install runs $3,800-4,500.

Pricing, April 2026

New
$108,000–132,000 new
Used
$62,000–92,000 (2020–2023 hulls)
Read the full Pathfinder 2400 TRS review →
2. Shearwater · 22-24ft · outboard-single · premium

Shearwater 23 LTS

Shearwater 23 LTS

The verdict: Yes, the catamaran-hull bay boat answers a niche the V-hulls cannot

The 23 LTS is the catamaran bay boat that argues twin sponson hulls give you a stable casting platform and a dry crossing that V-hulls cannot match. The cat hull holds 2-foot chop with the wake of a 28-foot boat, the 12-inch draft opens up the same flats Pathfinder runs, and the layout fits two casting decks plus aft fishing space. The trade is the cat-hull premium and the slightly slower top-end vs an equivalent V-hull bay boat.

Build

★★★★★

Performance

★★★★★

Accommodations

★★★★☆

Systems

★★★★☆

Value

★★★★☆

Resale

★★★★☆

Read the full breakdown

Build. Hand-laid fiberglass twin-sponson catamaran hull. Stainless hardware on visible mounts. Gelcoat quality is segment-standout. T-top is welded aluminum with stainless tubes.

Performance. Yamaha F250 gives the 23 LTS a 44 mph top end. Cruise at 28 knots holds 3.5 mpg. Catamaran hull holds 2-foot chop with the wake characteristics of a 28-foot V-hull.

Accommodations. Forward casting deck plus aft casting platform. Two pedestal helm seats. Bow seating with cooler. Enclosed head under console. No cabin, day-fishing primary.

Systems. Garmin GPSMap chartplotter standard. JL Audio. Dual livewells. Trim tabs. T-top with electronics box. Single battery with switch standard.

Value. Premium money for a catamaran bay boat. Used at $66,000-76,000 for a 2021 hull is the value buy because cat-hull demand is steady on the secondary market.

Resale. Shearwater holds resale within 26-30 percent of new at five years. Catamaran-bay-boat rarity supports demand on the secondary market for buyers who specifically want the hull form.

What's included

Yamaha F250 outboard, Garmin GPSMap, JL Audio, trim tabs, welded aluminum T-top, dual livewells, forward and aft casting platforms, enclosed head under console.

What costs extra

Trailer, dual-battery switch upgrade, Power-Pole shallow-water anchor, premium audio upgrade, outriggers, bow trolling motor.

What works

  • ✓ Catamaran twin-sponson hull holds 2-foot chop with 28-foot V-hull wake characteristics
  • ✓ 12-inch draft opens up shallow flats that V-hull boats exclude
  • ✓ Forward and aft casting platforms support two anglers comfortably
  • ✓ Welded-aluminum T-top, no fiberglass tower fatigue at 1,000-plus hours
  • ✓ Resale firms because catamaran-bay-boat supply is thin

What doesn't

  • ✗ Catamaran hull premium adds 10-15 percent over equivalent V-hull
  • ✗ Top end is 4-6 mph slower than equivalent V-hull at same engine spec
  • ✗ Catamaran tunnel can pack mud on extreme-low-tide groundings

Best for

Cat-hull devotees. Long-crossing flats anglers running 20-plus mile bay-mouth runs. Owners cross-shopping V-hull bay boats who want a drier ride.

Not ideal for

Trailer-launch households where catamaran-hull width complicates ramp loading. Top-end-priority buyers who run WOT regularly.

Best year & trim to buy

2020-2023 with the F250 and Garmin standard. Verify catamaran tunnel inspection on any hull with shallow-grounding history.

Pricing, April 2026

New
$98,000–118,000 new
Used
$58,000–82,000 (2020–2023 hulls)
Read the full Shearwater 23 LTS review →
3. Sea Hunt · 22-24ft · outboard-single · mid

Sea Hunt BX 22

Sea Hunt BX 22

The verdict: Yes, the strongest mid-tier value pick in the segment

The BX 22 is the bay boat for buyers who would rather pocket the brand-premium savings and put the dollars into electronics or a Power-Pole rig. Hand-laid hull with composite stringers, Yamaha F250 outboard, dual livewells, and a layout that fits two anglers on the forward casting deck plus a third on the aft platform. The build runs 80-85 percent of Pathfinder at 70 percent of the price, and used at $48,000-58,000 for a 2021 hull is the buy that keeps showing up on owner sell-threads.

Build

★★★★☆

Performance

★★★★☆

Accommodations

★★★★☆

Systems

★★★★☆

Value

★★★★★

Resale

★★★★☆

Read the full breakdown

Build. Hand-laid fiberglass with composite stringer grid. Stainless on visible mounts. Gelcoat quality runs 85 percent of Pathfinder. T-top is fiberglass with stainless support tubes.

Performance. Yamaha F250 gives the BX 22 a 46 mph top end. Cruise at 28 knots holds 3.2 mpg. 17 degree deadrise, holds 2-foot chop on a 10-mile crossing without complaint.

Accommodations. Forward casting deck fits two anglers. Aft casting platform. Two pedestal helm seats. Bow seating with cooler. Enclosed head under console.

Systems. Garmin GPSMap chartplotter. JL Audio. Dual livewells. Trim tabs. Single battery with switch standard, dual-battery upgrade is worth ordering.

Value. The strongest pure-value pick in the segment. Used 2021 BX 22 hulls at $48,000-58,000 are 30-35 percent under equivalent Pathfinder at same year and hours.

Resale. Sea Hunt holds resale within 28-32 percent of new at five years. Demand on the Carolina and Florida-panhandle markets supports turnover. Three-year depreciation tracks Robalo closely.

What's included

Yamaha F250 outboard, Garmin GPSMap, JL Audio, trim tabs, T-top, dual livewells, forward and aft casting platforms, enclosed head under console.

What costs extra

Trailer, dual-battery switch upgrade, Power-Pole shallow-water anchor, hardtop electronics box, premium audio upgrade.

What works

  • ✓ Mid-tier price with build that runs 80-85 percent of Pathfinder at LOA
  • ✓ Yamaha F250 is the simplest single outboard in the segment to service
  • ✓ Forward casting deck plus aft casting platform supports two-or-three anglers
  • ✓ Used 2021 hulls at $48,000-58,000 are the value buy in the segment
  • ✓ Resale floor is firm because the entry-mid market always has demand

What doesn't

  • ✗ Gelcoat quality is 85 percent of Pathfinder, the 15 percent shows after year five
  • ✗ Single battery standard, dual-battery upgrade is worth ordering
  • ✗ T-top is fiberglass, requires inspection at 5-year mark for hairline cracks at mount points

Best for

First-time bay-boat buyers. Cross-shoppers from Pathfinder who want 80-85 percent of the build at 70 percent of the price. Carolina and Florida-panhandle households.

Not ideal for

Build-first owners planning 15-plus year holds, the gap to Pathfinder compounds. Heavy long-crossing households running 25-plus mile runs regularly.

Best year & trim to buy

2021-2023 with the F250 and Garmin standard. Verify Power-Pole pre-rig if shallow-water anchoring matters.

Pricing, April 2026

New
$78,000–92,000 new
Used
$42,000–62,000 (2020–2023 hulls)
Read the full Sea Hunt BX 22 review →
4. Ranger · 22-24ft · outboard-single · mid

Ranger 2310 Bay

Ranger 2310 Bay

The verdict: Yes, the freshwater-bay crossover bay boat

The 2310 Bay is Ranger's argument that bay-boat layout works as well on lakes as it does on saltwater flats. A 23-foot hull with 13 inches of draft, a Yamaha F250, and a forward casting deck designed for crappie and bass fishing as much as for redfish and trout. The build trims weight aggressively to give the 2310 a 4.0-second holeshot and 50 mph top end with two aboard. The trade is the saltwater compromise, hardware grade is freshwater-first and the 17-degree deadrise is more bay-flats-friendly than offshore-crossing.

Build

★★★★☆

Performance

★★★★☆

Accommodations

★★★★☆

Systems

★★★★☆

Value

★★★★☆

Resale

★★★★☆

Read the full breakdown

Build. Hand-laid fiberglass with composite stringer grid. Hardware is mid-tier with mixed stainless and plated. Gelcoat quality runs comparable to Sea Hunt. T-top is fiberglass with stainless tubes.

Performance. Yamaha F250 gives the 2310 Bay a 50 mph top end. Cruise at 30 knots holds 3.5 mpg. 17 degree deadrise. Holeshot is 4.0 seconds, segment-leading.

Accommodations. Forward casting deck fits two anglers. Aft casting platform. Two pedestal helm seats. Console with portable head. Storage runs deeper than Sea Hunt.

Systems. Garmin GPSMap chartplotter. JL Audio. Single livewell with recirculation. Trim tabs. Single battery with switch.

Value. Mid-tier money for a freshwater-bay crossover. Used at $48,000-60,000 for a 2021 hull is the value buy for owners running large lakes and inland-bay water.

Resale. Ranger holds resale within 28-32 percent of new at five years on bay configurations. Brand demand on the Texas and Louisiana freshwater markets supports turnover.

What's included

Yamaha F250 outboard, Garmin GPSMap, JL Audio, trim tabs, T-top, single livewell with recirculation, forward casting deck, console with portable head.

What costs extra

Trailer, dual-battery switch upgrade, Power-Pole shallow-water anchor, hardtop electronics box, second livewell, premium audio.

What works

  • ✓ 13-inch draft plus 4.0-second holeshot, segment-leading for the LOA
  • ✓ Forward casting deck designed for both saltwater and freshwater fishing
  • ✓ Yamaha F250 cruise at 30 knots holds 3.5 mpg
  • ✓ Storage runs deeper than equivalent Sea Hunt at same length
  • ✓ Resale firm on freshwater-heavy markets

What doesn't

  • ✗ Hardware grade is freshwater-first, saltwater coastal use needs hardware audit
  • ✗ 17-degree deadrise is bay-flats-first, long offshore crossings argue against it
  • ✗ Single livewell where Pathfinder and Sea Hunt run dual

Best for

Freshwater-bay crossover owners. Texas and Louisiana inland-bay households. Cross-shoppers from Sea Hunt who want shallower draft and faster holeshot.

Not ideal for

Pure saltwater-coastal buyers, hardware grade argues for periodic audit. Long-crossing households running 20-plus mile runs to bay-mouth grounds.

Best year & trim to buy

2021-2023 with the F250 and Garmin standard. Verify hardware condition on saltwater-history hulls, freshwater-spec hardware can corrode.

Pricing, April 2026

New
$82,000–98,000 new
Used
$44,000–66,000 (2020–2023 hulls)
Read the full Ranger 2310 Bay review →

How we picked

13 hulls in the 21-to-26-foot bay-boat window cleared our first-pass screen. We kept the four that show up consistently with clean service records, fair pricing on the secondary market, and known issues either solved or transparently priced into the listing. Cross-references included 500-plus owner posts on The Hull Truth, Florida Sportsman forum, and Boating Magazine bay-boat reviews from the rolling 12 months.

Each boat scored on six dimensions: build (20%), performance (15%), accommodations (15%), systems (15%), value (15%), and resale (20%). Resale carries the heaviest weight because saltwater bay-boat ownership cycles run 5-to-10 years and brand demand on the secondary market is a meaningful share of total cost. Build and performance split the next slot because saltwater hardware longevity and shallow-water access define long-term ownership cost.

Power-Pole shallow-water anchor pre-rig, Yamaha F250 and F300 service intervals (100-hour cycles), and saltwater-flush discipline are documented hot spots that affected our year-range guidance. Quarterly refresh, next revision due August 2026.

What people actually ask

Bay boat or flats boat?

Bay boats give you 12-18 inches of draft and a forward casting deck plus aft fishing space, designed for two-to-three anglers running bay water and flats. Flats boats run 6-10 inches of draft, prioritize stealth on shallow water, and seat two anglers comfortably. The crossover is real on 22-foot bay boats like the Pathfinder 2400 TRS that handle the same flats most flats boats run, with the added freeboard for 2-foot bay-mouth chop. Flats-first owners buy a flats boat. Mixed-use owners buy a bay boat.

What does ownership cost per year?

Outboard service every 100 hours runs $400-700 per engine. Bottom paint annual $400-1,200 for saltwater. Storage $1,200-3,500 depending on indoor/outdoor and region. Insurance $400-1,800 for hull values $40,000-130,000. Power-Pole service $200-400 a year. Saltwater-flushing discipline after every saltwater run extends Yamaha and Mercury outboard life from 1,500 to 2,500-plus hours documented on owner threads.

How important is the Power-Pole rig?

Important enough to buy hulls pre-rigged. Power-Pole shallow-water anchors run $1,800-2,400 retail plus $1,200-1,800 install on a hull not pre-rigged. Pre-rigged hulls cost the same on the secondary market as non-rigged hulls, which is the value asymmetry buyers should chase. Owner threads on Florida Sportsman document the time-savings on flats fishing as the largest quality-of-life upgrade after the hardtop.

Best resale on this list?

Pathfinder 2400 TRS first, holds within 22-26 percent of new at five years. Shearwater 23 LTS second, catamaran-bay-boat rarity supports demand. Sea Hunt BX 22 third, mid-tier price keeps inventory moving fast. Ranger 2310 Bay trails on the saltwater-coastal market but holds firm on freshwater-heavy regions.

Should I get a survey?

Yes on any saltwater hull over 4 years old, anything with over 600 hours, and any boat with a documented shallow-grounding history. Survey runs $400-800 depending on length and catches stringer-grid integrity, transom moisture, outboard compression, hardware corrosion, and electrical-system salt damage. On a $60,000-90,000 hull a survey is 1 percent of purchase and prevents $5,000-12,000 surprises.

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