Top guide · Center consoles · Nearshore

7 Best Center Consoles Under 30 ft for Nearshore Fishing in 2026

Name: Sea Hunt Gamefish 25 review
Item: Sea Hunt Gamefish 25
Rating: 24
Author: Boat & Sail

Nearshore is the category where the 22-to-29-foot center console lives. Calm to 3-foot chop, 1 to 15 miles out, 3 to 5 anglers aboard, and a day that ends before sundown. The hull that does this well is different from the offshore 31-to-40-foot boat, and different again from the flats-and-bay boat under 22 feet. We evaluated 18 hulls in this window and kept seven. The cuts were mostly on transom construction, pre-2016 wood-core hulls that trade for a reason, and two models whose dealer-service friction showed up repeatedly in the last 18 months of owner threads.

What's left is seven we'd fish a full season on. Our runs happened across 2024 and early 2025 on working hulls borrowed from owners and dealers. The pricing was resampled in April 2026 through broker listings and 2025 trade-in data. Ratings use a six-dimension framework weighted for center consoles: performance (25%, rough-water composure dominates), build (20%), systems (15%), value (15%), resale (15%), and accommodations (10%). The last one matters less here than on bowriders and cruisers, which is why it carries the smallest weight.

Filters below let you narrow by length class, engine configuration, primary use (fishing / family / nearshore / offshore-light), and price tier. The comparison table jumps you to any pick. Each review includes what works, what doesn't, who should buy, who shouldn't, and the best year and trim combination to look for on the used market.

By Boat & Sail Editorial · Updated April 2026 · 18 hulls evaluated, 7 selected

Filter: | |

Compare all 7 at a glance

Scores are 1 to 5, summed across six dimensions weighted for center consoles. The price column is the used-market range for clean 2018–2023 hulls as sampled in April 2026. Click a boat to jump to its review.

#	Boat	Length	Engine	Used range	Build	Performance	Value	Best for
1	Regulator 23 Regulator	22-26ft	single-outboard	$85,000–145,000 (2017–2022 hulls, well-maintained)	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	fishing, nearshore
2	Grady-White 236 Fisherman Grady-White	22-26ft	single-outboard	$55,000–110,000 (2016+ composite-transom hulls)	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	fishing, nearshore
3	Boston Whaler 230 Outrage Boston Whaler	22-26ft	single-outboard	$65,000–140,000 (2016–2023 hulls)	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	fishing, nearshore
4	Pursuit S 268 Sport Pursuit	26-30ft	twin-outboard	$95,000–175,000 (2018–2023 hulls)	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	fishing, nearshore
5	Scout 215 XSF Scout	<22ft	single-outboard	$38,000–65,000 (2016–2023 hulls, post-redesign)	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	fishing, inshore
6	Robalo R242 Robalo	22-26ft	single-outboard	$42,000–78,000 (2018–2023 hulls)	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	fishing, inshore
7	Sea Hunt Gamefish 25 Sea Hunt	22-26ft	single-outboard	$58,000–95,000 (2018–2023 hulls)	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	fishing, inshore

1. Regulator · 22-26ft · single-outboard · premium

Regulator 23

The verdict: Yes, if you value sea-keeping over cabin space

The 23 is the smallest boat Regulator builds and the one that most cleanly argues their case. 24 degrees of transom deadrise, a Carolina flare that gets credit on threads where owners compare it to Grady-White's SeaV², and a build that runs into a head sea instead of over it. We ran a 2022 hull in 2-to-3 foot chop off Morehead City in October 2024. Cruise at 30 mph with the Yamaha F300 held 3.6 mpg in that sea state, which is within 10 percent of flat-water numbers. The cockpit is tight for four adults fishing. It is not tight for three. The price sits with Pursuit and above Grady, and resale holds better than both.

Build

★★★★★

Performance

★★★★★

Accommodations

★★★☆☆

Systems

★★★★☆

Value

★★★☆☆

Resale

★★★★★

Build. Hand-laid fiberglass with vinylester resin, closed-cell foam coring, stainless throughout the hardware. Regulator's warranty reads long and owners report the company honors it. The boat feels overbuilt and it is.

Performance. The 24 degree deadrise does what 24 degree deadrise does. Dry ride in a 3-foot sea, predictable bow lift, and a cornering arc that stays flat at 35 mph. A 21 degree hull of the same length pounds where this one absorbs. Owners on THT who traded up from a Grady 228 repeat the same sentence, which is that the 23 lets them fish two more days of the month in conditions the 228 would call off.

Accommodations. No berth, no head enclosure on the standard layout. The console is used as weather shelter. Forward seating adds optional, and if kids come aboard twice a season it is worth the check. If three adults need to fish the boat full-time, the cockpit gives you that. Barely.

Systems. Garmin or Simrad at the helm depending on dealer spec. Raw-water washdown standard, fresh-water as an option. The livewell is 30 gallons, pressurized, and the pump is the one owners upgrade least often. Battery tray is accessible, which is not a given at the price.

Value. Three years of 10 percent depreciation followed by a flat curve owners document with pride. The brand premium over Grady-White is real at purchase and nearly recovers at resale. If the boat gets fished, the number works.

Resale. Regulator holds within single-digit percent of new over three years if clean, per 2025 broker-listing data. The 23 is rarer on the used market than the 26, which helps.

What's included

Yamaha F300 rigging, hydraulic steering, raw-water washdown, 30-gal livewell, T-top with rocket launchers, forward casting deck, dual batteries with switch.

What costs extra

Forward seating package, hardtop upgrade, fresh-water washdown, seakeeper stabilizer, trailer, dealer prep, electronics beyond the base plotter.

What works

✓ 24 degree deadrise runs into a head sea. Dry at 25 mph in a 3-foot chop
✓ Vinylester-resin layup and stainless hardware. Warranty is honored
✓ Resale within single digits of new for three years when clean
✓ 30-gallon pressurized livewell with a pump owners rarely replace
✓ Carolina flare throws spray sideways, not at the helm

What doesn't

✗ Cockpit tight for four anglers. The 26 is the boat if the crew grows
✗ Premium over Grady 236 at purchase is 25 to 35 percent
✗ No head enclosure on the standard layout

Best for

Nearshore anglers fishing 1 to 15 miles out in 2-to-3-foot conditions. Owners trading up from a 21 or 22 footer that pounds. Buyers who plan to keep the boat 10+ years.

Not ideal for

Buyers who need a berth. Buyers fishing 30+ miles offshore in any real sea. Anyone tight on budget, the 23 asks the full premium and does not discount.

Best year & trim to buy

2018–2022 hulls on the used market. Yamaha F300 rigging preferred over earlier F250 for cylinder-wall-corrosion concerns surfaced in owner-mechanic forum threads. Post-2017 layup is unchanged from current.

Pricing, April 2026

New: $185,000–215,000 new
Used: $85,000–145,000 (2017–2022 hulls, well-maintained)

Read the full Regulator 23 review →

2. Grady-White · 22-26ft · single-outboard · mid

Grady-White 236 Fisherman

The verdict: Yes, especially on the used market

The SeaV² hull is the reason this boat keeps coming up. Predictable motion in a 2-to-3 foot chop at 18-to-22 knots, a flared bow that throws spray away from the windshield, and a build that holds resale as well as anything outside the tournament brands. The 2016 cutover to composite transom is the line to shop. Pre-2016 hulls used plywood cores and the transoms go soft. A 2018+ 236 at $85k with clean transom and the Yamaha F300 is the deal that keeps showing up on forum sell-my-boat threads.

Build

★★★★☆

Performance

★★★★☆

Accommodations

★★★★☆

Systems

★★★★☆

Value

★★★★☆

Resale

★★★★★

Build. Post-2016 all-composite construction. Pre-2016 wood cores have the documented transom-rot issue, walk away or price accordingly. Grady's hardware grade is mid-premium. Bilge access is honest.

Performance. SeaV² is what owners keep mentioning when they defend Grady against Boston Whaler. The hull transitions onto plane cleanly, cruises dry at 22-to-25 knots, and runs a 3-foot head sea without the sharp pound that tires the back by the end of a day offshore. It is not a 24 degree hull, so it does give up something to the Regulator in truly rough water.

Accommodations. A real head enclosure inside the console. Forward seating standard. The bow casting platform is small but usable. Four anglers fit, five in coastal-cruise mode. Grady's layout thinking per square foot is a strength.

Systems. Garmin electronics base spec. Raw and fresh-water washdown standard. 27-gallon pressurized livewell. The systems are solid, not flagship. The Yamaha F300 on 2017+ rigging needs the annual cylinder-wall inspection owners have documented across THT.

Value. New price slots under Pursuit and Regulator. Used market is where this boat wins, a 2018 hull at $85k does the same work as a new Regulator 23 at $200k, for a buyer who can accept the incremental performance gap.

Resale. Grady holds resale as well as any mid-tier builder. The 236 specifically has a deep used market, which keeps prices honest in both directions.

What's included

Yamaha F300 rigging, hydraulic steering, raw and fresh-water washdown, 27-gal livewell, T-top, console head enclosure, forward seating, dual batteries.

What costs extra

Hardtop upgrade, trolling motor, trailer, electronics above base plotter, outriggers.

What works

✓ SeaV² hull is genuinely predictable in a 2-to-3 foot chop at 22 knots
✓ 2016+ composite transom is a known quantity, the era to shop
✓ Head enclosure inside the console at this length is rare
✓ Used market depth keeps prices honest and inventory available
✓ Dealer service coverage in the eastern US is the deepest in the segment

What doesn't

✗ Pre-2016 wood transoms go soft, the price gap vs post-2016 reflects real risk
✗ Gives up dry-ride composure to 24 degree hulls in 4+ foot conditions
✗ Yamaha F300 rigging needs cylinder-wall inspection per owner-thread documentation

Best for

Family-and-fishing crossover buyers. Used-market buyers shopping the $80-110k range. Anyone who wants a head enclosure at 23-24 feet.

Not ideal for

Buyers who plan to run 30+ miles in any real sea. Shoppers who insist on pre-2016 price with zero risk tolerance on transom core.

Best year & trim to buy

2018–2021 with the Yamaha F300 rigging and confirmed composite transom. Ask for a moisture reading before purchase on anything pre-2017.

Pricing, April 2026

New: $150,000–175,000 new
Used: $55,000–110,000 (2016+ composite-transom hulls)

Read the full Grady-White 236 Fisherman review →

3. Boston Whaler · 22-26ft · single-outboard · premium

Boston Whaler 230 Outrage

The verdict: Yes, if you fish conditions where the unsinkable argument matters

The Outrage is the boat that gets discussed on threads with the phrase 'I trust her.' Foam-filled hull, certified unsinkable, and an owner base that accepts a ride owners describe honestly as 'solid but rough' in return for what happens when things go wrong offshore. The 230 fishes four comfortably, runs a 2-foot chop at 25 knots without complaint, and takes a 3-footer with more transmitted feel than the Grady. Boston Whaler charges 15-25 percent more than Grady for the equivalent hull. That premium is the unsinkable badge. It is either worth it or it isn't.

Build

★★★★★

Performance

★★★☆☆

Accommodations

★★★☆☆

Systems

★★★★☆

Value

★★★☆☆

Resale

★★★★★

Build. Foam-sandwich hull construction. The boat is genuinely unsinkable, cut one in half and both halves float. Hardware is stainless throughout. Gelcoat quality is mid-premium.

Performance. The honest version: foam-filled hulls transmit chop differently than cored competitors. The 230 rides stable but you feel the sea more than on a SeaV² Grady. Owners in 3-foot conditions trade ride comfort for the know-you-can't-sink argument. The tradeoff is a real one.

Accommodations. Console head enclosure. Forward seating standard. Cockpit fishes four, seats five in cruise. Storage is generous for the length, which is a Whaler signature.

Systems. Mercury or Yamaha rigging depending on dealer. Electronics integration tidy. The self-bailing cockpit is a real one, flood it, it drains. Owners confirm this on every forum where anyone asks.

Value. Premium of 15-25 percent over Grady at the same LOA. Recovered at resale, not entirely, but largely. New buyer pays for the badge. Used buyer inherits that value.

Resale. Resale holds within 20 percent of new at five years for clean boats, per forum-documented sales. Rarely do used 230 Outrages stay listed long.

What's included

Yamaha or Mercury rigging (dealer choice), hydraulic steering, raw and fresh-water washdown, T-top, console head, forward seating, stainless everything.

What costs extra

Hardtop upgrade, Seakeeper, trailer, electronics above base, outriggers, trolling motor.

What works

✓ Unsinkable in the factual sense. Cut her in half, both halves float
✓ Stainless hardware throughout, not just at visible points
✓ Self-bailing cockpit works as advertised, documented on owner threads
✓ Resale within 20 percent of new at five years for clean hulls
✓ Hardtop and forward seating as spec'd are flagship-tier build quality

What doesn't

✗ Ride transmits chop more than SeaV² or 24-degree-deadrise competitors
✗ 15-25 percent premium over Grady at the same length. You pay for the badge
✗ Cockpit volume feels tight for four anglers trading rods all day

Best for

Offshore-minded anglers who value sinking-margin over ride comfort. Buyers who plan to keep the boat 15+ years. Anyone fishing alone who wants the margin.

Not ideal for

Buyers who prioritize dry, soft ride in 3+ foot conditions. Price-sensitive shoppers, Grady does most of what this boat does for 15-25 percent less.

Best year & trim to buy

2018–2022 hulls with documented hours and service records. Avoid salt-water-stored boats without evidence of annual fresh-water flush.

Pricing, April 2026

New: $165,000–205,000 new
Used: $65,000–140,000 (2016–2023 hulls)

Read the full Boston Whaler 230 Outrage review →

4. Pursuit · 26-30ft · twin-outboard · premium

Pursuit S 268 Sport

The verdict: Yes, when the family is part of the equation

Pursuit sits a half-step more luxurious than Grady without crossing into Regulator's tournament-first territory. The 268 Sport runs twin Yamaha F250s, cruises comfortably at 28 knots, and carries a cabin that sleeps two adults with a real head and a forward dinette. Owners on THT describe it as 'the grown-up Grady', which is fair. If the boat is fishing-first, go Regulator. If the boat is family-first with serious fishing capability behind it, the 268 does both without compromising either.

Build

★★★★☆

Performance

★★★★☆

Accommodations

★★★★★

Systems

★★★★☆

Value

★★★★☆

Resale

★★★★☆

Build. Solid hand-layup over closed-cell foam with a bonded stringer grid. Pursuit finishes compartments where most builders stop. Wiring runs are clean, access is thought-through.

Performance. Twin F250s give 3-hour offshore range and the redundancy owners want once they cross 20 miles. Cruise at 28 knots burns roughly 18 gph combined. The hull is a modified V with enough deadrise to handle 3 feet and enough beam for accommodation space.

Accommodations. A real cabin at 27 feet is the argument. Two adults sleep comfortably in the V-berth. The head is enclosed with a marine toilet and a sink. Forward seating converts to a sun pad. Family-weekend capable without renting a different boat.

Systems. Garmin or Simrad electronics integrated at the dash. Raw and fresh-water washdown. Bait well and fish boxes laid out intelligently. Trim tabs standard. Shore power at the transom is optional and worth it.

Value. Priced above Grady, below Regulator, and the feature count justifies the slot. The cabin alone is a $30-40k premium over boats without one at the length.

Resale. Pursuit holds value within 25 percent of new at five years for clean hulls. Smaller used market than Grady but steady demand.

What's included

Twin Yamaha F250 rigging, hydraulic steering, raw and fresh washdown, T-top, enclosed head, V-berth, trim tabs, Garmin base plotter, dual batteries with switch.

What costs extra

Hardtop upgrade, shore power, generator, air conditioning, trailer, outriggers.

What works

✓ Cabin with real head and V-berth at 27 feet. Family-weekend capable
✓ Twin F250s give redundancy and 3-hour offshore range
✓ Compartment finish is flagship-tier where most builders stop
✓ Helm ergonomics are a consistent love point across THT threads
✓ Trim tabs standard, shore power available at transom

What doesn't

✗ Twin fuel burn costs more per season than a single F300 boat of similar LOA
✗ Not a tournament-first fisherman. Give up cockpit depth to accommodate cabin
✗ Dealer network thinner than Grady-White east of the Mississippi

Best for

Family-plus-fishing buyers. Owners who want to sleep aboard for a weekend. Anyone running 20+ miles offshore who wants twin-engine redundancy.

Not ideal for

Single-income shoppers, twin F250 fuel and maintenance is a real cost. Tournament-first anglers who want every square foot fishable.

Best year & trim to buy

2019–2022 with twin Yamaha F250s. Helm electronics upgrade pre-purchase is often cheaper than buying newer.

Pricing, April 2026

New: $195,000–245,000 new (twin F250s)
Used: $95,000–175,000 (2018–2023 hulls)

Read the full Pursuit S 268 Sport review →

5. Scout · <22ft · single-outboard · mid

Scout 215 XSF

The verdict: Yes, for inshore-first anglers crossing to nearshore occasionally

The 215 XSF is the small boat in this guide and the one that punches above its length on layout. Scout's console layout thinking per foot is the consistent love point. A dedicated rinse shower in the anchor locker, forward seating that converts to a bow casting deck, and a livewell that actually holds pinfish for a day trip. The 16 degree deadrise is the honest limit, this boat is a bay and calm-water boat, not a 3-foot chop runner. Pre-2015 hulls had a scupper design that let water in and a livewell pump that was shared with the washdown. The post-2015 redesign solved both. Shop 2016+.

Build

★★★★☆

Performance

★★★☆☆

Accommodations

★★★☆☆

Systems

★★★☆☆

Value

★★★★☆

Resale

★★★★☆

Build. Hand-laid fiberglass with foam coring. Finish quality is mid-tier and honest, a step below Grady on hardware, a step above Robalo on compartments. Scout's warranty has been a friction point for some dealers per forum threads.

Performance. 16 degree deadrise is a bay and calm-water number. The boat plans early, corners stable, and holds a dry ride in 1-to-2 foot conditions. Take her out in 3 feet and you feel it. Plan the day around the forecast.

Accommodations. Forward seating converts to bow casting deck. Console storage is sized for day-trip gear. No berth, no enclosed head. It is a day boat, planned that way.

Systems. Garmin base spec. Raw-water washdown. 25-gallon livewell is the one owners keep calling out as pinfish-ready without modification. The anchor locker has a dedicated rinse shower that owners mention unprompted.

Value. New price around $85k puts this against Robalo R242 and NauticStar 215. The feature density is the argument. Used at $50k the proposition gets stronger.

Resale. Scout holds resale reasonably at three years. The 215 XSF specifically has a consistent used market. Scout warranty complaints have not hurt resale materially.

What's included

Yamaha F200 or F250 rigging, hydraulic steering, raw-water washdown, 25-gal livewell, anchor locker rinse shower, T-top optional, forward seating convertible.

What costs extra

Fresh-water washdown, hardtop, trolling motor, trailer, electronics above base, head enclosure.

What works

✓ Console layout density is the real one, rinse shower in the anchor locker, casting deck conversion, flex storage
✓ 25-gallon livewell works with pinfish for a full day without intervention
✓ Plans early, corners stable, runs dry in 1-to-2 foot conditions
✓ Mid-tier price with a build that feels closer to Grady than to Robalo
✓ Forward seating converts to a bow casting deck without removing cushions

What doesn't

✗ 16 degree deadrise is a bay number, not a 3-foot chop runner
✗ Pre-2015 hulls had scupper and shared-pump issues. 2016+ is the cutover
✗ Scout warranty friction reports recur on THT quality threads

Best for

Inshore-first anglers. Flats and bay fishermen. First-boat buyers who want feature density over raw length.

Not ideal for

Anyone planning to run 15+ miles out regularly. Buyers who want a cabin or an enclosed head at this length.

Best year & trim to buy

2016+ (post-scupper redesign). Yamaha F250 preferred over F200 for shared-pump mitigation and resale.

Pricing, April 2026

New: $78,000–95,000 new
Used: $38,000–65,000 (2016–2023 hulls, post-redesign)

Read the full Scout 215 XSF review →

6. Robalo · 22-26ft · single-outboard · entry

Robalo R242

The verdict: Yes, if price is the leading filter

Robalo is the value-tier answer in this length range and the R242 is the model that most often shows up on 'first center console' threads. A 21 degree deadrise, a practical forward seating layout, and a price about 35 percent under a comparably-equipped Grady. The known weakness is finish on compartments you don't see, which matters to the enthusiast who lifts every hatch at the dealer lot. The rear dive door on earlier hulls let water in when a wave broke over the stern. Check the gasket on any used 2018-2020 boat. Post-2021 boats fixed it.

Build

★★★☆☆

Performance

★★★★☆

Accommodations

★★★★☆

Systems

★★★☆☆

Value

★★★★★

Resale

★★★☆☆

Build. Solid hand-layup over honeycomb coring. Hardware is mid-tier. Finish on visible compartments is fine. Finish on inside-the-stringer access points is where owners complain. Honest build for the price.

Performance. 21 degree deadrise handles a 2-foot chop at 25 knots. 3 feet starts to work the boat. The hull is efficient, the Yamaha F300 returns fuel numbers a segment above the price tier.

Accommodations. Forward seating is generous for the length. Small console with sink, porta-potti space. Storage is honest. Fits four anglers comfortably.

Systems. Garmin base electronics. Raw-water washdown. 25-gallon livewell. Systems quality matches the price tier honestly. Wiring runs are not as tidy as Grady or Scout.

Value. Price is the argument. A new R242 with F300 sits 30-35 percent under a Grady 236 similarly equipped. For a buyer who accepts the finish-where-you-don't-see gap, the math works.

Resale. Robalo holds resale weaker than Grady or Scout. Three-year depreciation typically 25-30 percent. The value proposition tilts toward new buyers, not keep-and-resell.

What's included

Yamaha F250 or F300 rigging, hydraulic steering, raw-water washdown, 25-gal livewell, T-top, forward seating, porta-potti space in console.

What costs extra

Fresh-water washdown, hardtop, trolling motor, trailer, electronics above base, head enclosure with marine head.

What works

✓ Price 30-35 percent under a comparably-equipped Grady 236
✓ 21 degree deadrise and efficient hull: Yamaha F300 returns class-leading fuel numbers
✓ Forward seating layout is practical for family-and-fishing mix
✓ Post-2021 rear-door gasket fix resolved the known water-intrusion issue
✓ Garmin-ready dash with tidy cable chase

What doesn't

✗ Finish on hidden compartments is where owners consistently complain
✗ Pre-2021 rear dive door gasket let water in when waves broke over stern
✗ Resale weaker than Grady, Scout, or Whaler. Buy for ownership, not for exit

Best for

Price-sensitive first-time center console buyers. Family-and-occasional-fishing mix. Buyers who plan to keep the boat 5-7 years and re-sell for trade rather than value recovery.

Not ideal for

Tournament anglers. Buyers obsessed with hidden-compartment finish quality. Resale-focused owners.

Best year & trim to buy

2022+ (post-rear-door-gasket fix) with Yamaha F300. Full service records are worth a premium on any used Robalo.

Pricing, April 2026

New: $88,000–115,000 new
Used: $42,000–78,000 (2018–2023 hulls)

Read the full Robalo R242 review →

7. Sea Hunt · 22-26ft · single-outboard · mid

Sea Hunt Gamefish 25

The verdict: Yes, and the used market is where she shows best

Sea Hunt has spent the last decade closing the gap on Grady without asking Grady's premium, and the Gamefish 25 is the model where that argument lands. A 22 degree transom deadrise, a forward seating package that actually seats three, and a livewell and rod-storage setup that reads as planned-for-fishing rather than bolted-on. Owners who cross-shopped it against the Grady 236 describe the decision as close to coin-flip on water. The used market is where it shines,2019-2021 hulls at $70-85k consistently undercut the Grady equivalent by $15-20k for a comparable boat.

Build

★★★★☆

Performance

★★★★☆

Accommodations

★★★★☆

Systems

★★★★☆

Value

★★★★☆

Resale

★★★★☆

Build. Hand-laid fiberglass with composite coring. Hardware is mid-tier. Compartment finish is tidier than Robalo, roughly at Scout. The boat feels built, not assembled.

Performance. 22 degree deadrise is the right number for the length. Dry ride at 25 knots in 2-to-3 foot conditions, predictable bow lift, and a cornering arc owners mention as confidence-inspiring for less-experienced captains.

Accommodations. Forward seating is generous. Head enclosure optional and worth it for family use. Storage is good, not Grady-level. Casting platforms fore and aft.

Systems. Garmin or Simrad base. Raw and fresh-water washdown standard. 30-gallon livewell with a pump owners rarely replace. Wiring runs are clean enough that a retrofit is not a rebuild.

Value. New price 15-20 percent under a Grady 236 similarly equipped. Used market $15-20k gap at comparable age and condition. The value math is consistent.

Resale. Sea Hunt has earned resale respect in the last five years. Holds within 25 percent of new at five years for clean boats. Improving trajectory vs 2015 baseline.

What's included

Yamaha F300 rigging, hydraulic steering, raw and fresh-water washdown, 30-gal livewell, T-top, forward seating, dual batteries with switch.

What costs extra

Hardtop upgrade, head enclosure, trolling motor, trailer, electronics above base plotter, outriggers.

What works

✓ 22 degree deadrise handles 2-to-3 feet at 25 knots with a dry ride
✓ Forward seating package actually seats three. Family-fishing crossover without compromise
✓ Livewell and rod storage read as planned-for-fishing, not bolted-on
✓ 15-20 percent under Grady 236 similarly equipped on new and used markets
✓ Compartment finish is tidier than Robalo at nearly the same price tier

What doesn't

✗ Storage not at Grady-White level for cabin and under-gunwale volume
✗ Dealer coverage is southeast-strong, thinner on the west coast and northeast
✗ Brand cachet lags Grady at the marina, a real factor for some buyers

Best for

Family-and-fishing buyers who cross-shop Grady and don't want to pay the premium. Used-market buyers in the $70-85k range. Southeast-based buyers with dealer coverage nearby.

Not ideal for

Buyers who value marina badge recognition. Owners who expect Grady-level storage volume at the same length.

Best year & trim to buy

2019-2022 with the Yamaha F300. Ask for dealer service records, Sea Hunt service varies more by dealer than Grady does.

Pricing, April 2026

New: $120,000–148,000 new
Used: $58,000–95,000 (2018–2023 hulls)

Read the full Sea Hunt Gamefish 25 review →

How we picked

Nearshore center consoles are the category where most buyer mistakes are made at purchase and most recovered at re-sell. A 21 degree hull in a 4-foot sea pounds. A 16 degree hull taken 20 miles offshore is the boat that comes back on the tow truck. The review frame below reflects what actually matters at 23 to 29 feet.

First, our runs. We had the 236 Fisherman out of Beaufort NC in October 2024 in a 2-to-3 foot head sea, the Regulator 23 out of Morehead City the same month in worse, and the Pursuit 268 for a weekend on the Chesapeake in November. The Whaler 230 Outrage ran a half-day on Narragansett Bay in September 2024 in 2 feet. The Scout 215 XSF, Robalo R242, and Sea Hunt Gamefish 25 runs were compressed into an April 2025 trip around southeast Georgia in calm-to-2-foot conditions.

Then we cross-referenced. 1,200 owner posts on The Hull Truth, Great Grady, Club Sea Ray, Cobaltchat, and Boating Magazine owner reviews from the rolling 12 months. Owner-mechanic forum threads on the Yamaha F300 cylinder-wall corrosion notes that apply to everything with F300 rigging. Practical Sailor-adjacent coverage where it crosses into center-console territory. Forums are where model-specific recurring defects surface. Editorial tests are where the planing-threshold numbers get validated.

Each boat scored on six dimensions, weighted for center consoles:

Performance (25%). Rough-water composure dominates. Dry ride in 2-to-3 foot chop, bow-rise behavior, cornering at cruise, top-end with rated power.
Build (20%). Gelcoat quality, wiring standards, hatch gasketing, transom construction, hardware grade, compartment finish.
Systems (15%). Livewell quality and plumbing, washdowns, electronics integration, battery switching, bilge management.
Value (15%). Price vs direct peers at same length and feature count, not vs segment average.
Resale (15%). Brand resale index, dealer network depth, parts availability, documented 3- and 5-year depreciation curves.
Accommodations (10%). Seating flex, forward lounge, head access where spec'd, storage volume, ergonomics at the helm.

We revisit this list quarterly. Next revision due July 2026. Specific year-range guidance in each review above is pinned to what showed up in the last 12 months of owner threads and broker-listing trades.

What people actually ask

Is a 22 enough for nearshore?

Depends on the sea state and the captain. A 22 with 22 degree or better deadrise can handle 2 foot chop at 20 knots all day. 3 foot starts to work the boat, and by 4 foot you are slowed to displacement-speed unless you want to pound. The Scout 215 XSF on this list is a 16 degree bay hull, plan the day around the forecast. The Regulator 23 and the Grady 236 are the length this guide was built around because they actually run the water buyers say they want to run.

Twin or single outboard on a 24 or 26?

Single F300 is the right answer for 24 feet if the boat runs 10 miles or less from the ramp. The fuel burn is lower, the weight is manageable, and the helm package is simpler. Twins make sense at 26+ feet and when the boat is running 15+ miles from the ramp, where redundancy starts to pay for itself in peace of mind. The Pursuit 268 on this list is twin-rigged for exactly that reason. At 23 or 24 feet, twins are almost always a cost without a matching benefit.

How worried should I be about pre-2016 Grady-White transoms?

Worried enough to test. Grady moved to all-composite construction in 2016. Pre-2016 hulls used plywood cores in the transom, and over 10-to-20 years those cores can absorb water and soften. A moisture reading on any 2015-or-earlier Grady is a non-negotiable pre-purchase step. The gap between a clean pre-2016 transom and a soft one is $15-25k in repair. Pricing reflects the risk on the used market, which is why a 2014 236 trades 20 percent under a 2018 comparable.

What's the cheapest pick on this list for a used first CC?

Robalo R242 at $42,000-60,000 for a 2018-2020 hull. Post-2021 is better for the rear-door gasket fix. Sea Hunt Gamefish 25 at $58,000-70,000 for a 2019 is the step up that stretches the budget less than 30 percent for meaningfully better build and resale. Grady-White 236 Fisherman at $55,000-75,000 for a 2016 with verified composite transom is the long-hold answer if the budget allows.

Which pick holds resale best?

Regulator 23. Within single digits of new over three years for clean hulls, per 2025 broker-listing data. Small used market keeps supply tight. Boston Whaler 230 Outrage is second,20 percent down at five years for clean boats. Grady-White 236 third, with the deepest used market of the three which keeps both bid and ask honest.

Yamaha F300 or Mercury 300 V8 for a new 24 CC?

We have a dedicated head-to-head coming. Short version: Yamaha F300 2017-and-newer rigging has documented cylinder-wall corrosion owners have surfaced across owner-mechanic forum threads, it shows up on salt-water stored boats after 300-to-500 hours, more often if fresh-water flush is skipped. Mercury 300 V8 runs smoother at cruise and is lighter on paper. Service-network reality depends on the coast and the dealer. Both are reasonable. Neither is free of documented model-year issues.

Why no Invincible, Yellowfin, or Contender on this list?

Because they are built for offshore and tournament use at 26+ feet, and the used market under $120k rarely has them. A guide on those brands lives at our tournament CC guide. This one is for nearshore buyers under 30 feet who shop used at or below $120k. The boats here are the ones that actually show up in that part of the market.

Weekly

Get one honest boat review a week

One boat we ran, one guide worth reading, one model we'd shop next week. No press-release rewrites. Unsubscribe any time.