Boat & Sail

Builder · Mid · Columbia, South Carolina

Sea Hunt

South Carolina mid-tier saltwater center-console builder, 1995-founded. Family-held by the Brown family. Value-priced bay boats and offshore center consoles.

Sea Hunt center console at coastal cruise
Founded
1995
Headquarters
Columbia, South Carolina
Ownership
Private, family-held (Brown family)
Tier
Mid
Website
seahuntboats.com

Sea Hunt builds mid-tier saltwater center consoles and bay boats from Columbia, South Carolina. Founded in 1995 by Mike Brown, the brand has stayed family-held throughout. The lineup runs from the BX 19 bay boat through the Gamefish 30 offshore flagship.

The brand argument is value at the mid-tier: Sea Hunt hulls run 15 to 25 percent below premium-tier equivalents and target the saltwater fishing buyer who wants a real fishing-first layout without paying Whaler or Grady prices. The resale floor is softer than the premium tier but holds steady through the used cycle.

Our reviews

Sea Hunt hulls we have on the water.

Sea Hunt BX 22

Sea Hunt

Sea Hunt BX 22

The Sea Hunt BX 22 ranked #3 in our best bay boats 2026 guide. The mid-tier bay boat that fishes the Carolinas and the panhandle for 30 percent less than the top tier.
Sea Hunt Gamefish 25

Sea Hunt

Sea Hunt Gamefish 25

Ranked #7 in our best center consoles under 30 ft 2026 guide. The Gamefish 25 is Sea Hunt's clearest answer to the Grady-White 236 Fisherman, 15 to 20 percent under on price with a fishing layout that reads as planned rather than added.

Lineup

Current platforms.

Model breakdown

Each platform, what it does and where it falls short.

Sea Hunt BX series (BX 19 / BX 20 / BX 22 / BX 24 / BX 25)

BX is the bay-boat line. Forward casting deck, single Yamaha or Mercury outboard. Volume seller of the brand.

Things we like

  • · Single-engine simplicity and shallow-draft layout suit flats and bay use
  • · Pricing 20 to 25 percent below premium bay-boat brands like Pathfinder

Things we don't

  • · Hardware grade is mid-tier, periodic refresh in saltwater service
  • · Resale softer than Pathfinder or Sportsman at equivalent LOA

Sea Hunt Ultra series (Ultra 211 / 234 / 255 / 275)

Ultra is the mid-segment center-console line. Twin Yamaha F300 V6 from the 234 up. Hardtop standard from the 234. The 255 is the volume seller.

Things we like

  • · Twin-Yamaha 255 holds 28-knot cruise at 1.5 mpg
  • · Pricing 18 to 22 percent below Whaler 250 Outrage at equivalent rigging

Things we don't

  • · Resale gap to premium tier widens at five-year mark
  • · Hardware longevity in saltwater service shorter than premium equivalents

Sea Hunt Gamefish series (Gamefish 25 / 27 / 30)

Gamefish is the offshore flagship line. Twin or triple Yamaha F300 outboards, hardtop with helm pod standard. The Gamefish 30 is the brand's offshore flagship.

Things we like

  • · Triple-Yamaha Gamefish 30 holds 30-knot cruise on a 30-foot hull
  • · Pricing 20 percent below Grady-White 336 Canyon at equivalent rigging

Things we don't

  • · Premium offshore brands hold resale 8 to 12 percent better at three years
  • · Build discipline runs slightly looser than premium tier on the larger hulls

Buyer's guide

The Sea Hunt story and what to know on the used market.

Origin and ownership

Sea Hunt was founded in 1995 by Mike Brown in Columbia, South Carolina. The brand has stayed Brown-family owned and has not been acquired or licensed. Production has stayed in Columbia, single-site.

The brand grew steadily through the 2000s and 2010s by undercutting premium-tier center-console pricing while maintaining a fishing-first layout. The Gamefish line launched in the mid-2010s and pushed the brand into offshore territory.

Design philosophy

The Sea Hunt hull form is moderate-V (typically 18 to 22 degrees at the transom across the lineup). Designed for inshore-to-coastal saltwater use. Runs stable at slow troll and gives up some ride quality in 4-foot head seas against the premium tier.

Yamaha is the standard outboard rigging across the lineup. Mercury is dealer-optional. Factory tuning is set up around the F300 V6 torque curve.

Construction is fiberglass with composite stringers. Build queue runs higher volume than premium-tier brands, dealer pricing is aggressive on the BX and Ultra lines.

Used-market notes and known issues

Yamaha F300 V6 cylinder-wall corrosion pattern surfaces on 2017 to 2020 rigs without annual fresh-water flush.

Hardware grade requires periodic refresh in salt-heavy service. Stainless work-loosening at five years on hardtop mounts is documented across owner-mechanic forum threads.

Hardtop powder-coat shows pitting in salt-heavy markets at five years. Refinish runs $1,200 to $1,800.

Dealer network is concentrated in the Southeast and Florida. West Coast and Northeast coverage is thin.

Resale

Sea Hunt holds resale at the mid-tier average. Three-year depreciation runs 18 to 25 percent. Five-year depreciation runs 30 to 38 percent. Used market is wide; inventory turns fast in the Southeast.

Where Sea Hunt fits

Buyers cross-shop Sea Hunt against Robalo, Sportsman, and the lower trim of Sea Pro. The argument for Sea Hunt is value pricing and the family-held production discipline. Buyers who prioritize resale should pay up for Whaler or Grady. Buyers who want premium offshore should look at Regulator or Pursuit.

FAQ

Frequently asked.

How does Sea Hunt compare to Robalo?
Pricing and build tier are similar. Both run 15 to 25 percent below premium-tier center consoles. Sea Hunt's BX bay boats hold resale slightly tighter than Robalo's R160 bay boats; on the offshore side both trade similarly. Cross-shop on dealer proximity and specific layout preference.
Is Sea Hunt offshore-capable?
The Ultra 234 and larger handle light-offshore use. The Gamefish 25, 27, and 30 are the brand's offshore-capable hulls. Sustained 4-foot head-sea offshore use is at the edge of the design envelope; tournament-grade offshore should buy premium tier instead.
What's the maintenance cost on an Ultra 255?
Annual service on twin Yamaha F300 outboards runs $1,800 to $2,400. Bottom paint $400 to $1,000. Storage $1,500 to $4,500. Insurance for a $140,000 hull runs $900 to $1,800. Total seasonal cost runs $4,500 to $7,500 outside of fuel.
Where are Sea Hunts built?
Columbia, South Carolina. Single-site, family-owned production.

Compare

Categories Sea Hunt fits.

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