It’s one thing to love boating, but it’s entirely another having to deal with what we might call: “weather.” Neither men nor women want to return from a day on the water burnt to a crisp, windblown, and feeling like the adventure was more akin to scaling Everest than floating serenely on a lazy river.
Kevin Cook of Ultimate Boats points out that “A pilothouse allows year-round boating for Tampa families, regardless of conditions. And it allows you to take your boat to a restaurant for dinner without arriving mussed and rumpled.”
That’s exactly the reason boats of “pilothouse” design are more popular than ever. First found in Europe, where they endure rough seas and bad weather, the pilothouse has found acceptance in the Tampa area because it protects against, well, everything.
Whether you want to avoid the sun (getting Christmas cards from your dermatologist?), wind (even the balding among us hate ruffled feathers), heat, and even passing rain squalls on otherwise delightful days. The pilothouse is vaguely military with “upright styling” instead of the swoopy Euro-lines of a typical express cruiser but, once buttoned up inside, you have a great view, air conditioning (or heat), and you stay dry from rain or spray. Want to sit outside? These boats still have large cockpits as well as bow seating areas.
Alex DeVries of the Viage Group in Tampa (see Antares below) adds another great reason for pilothouses: “They’re great for young families since you can corral the kids inside and they have a place to take a nap. The enclosed pilothouse is very safe for kids”.
One thing is true: pilothouse boats put the fun back in all-season boating. Let’s look at several in this area.
XO Boats Dfndr 9 (Ultimate Marine/Tampa) is a Finnish entry with vertical pilothouse styling and a tough aluminum hull. This 28-footer easily keeps everyone out of the wind, even at 45 knots from twin Merc 225hp outboards. The cabin sleeps two in a full berth and has an enclosed head with a shower. An inside door and wide walk-arounds lead safely to the forward deck and more seating.
The Axopar 37 (Nautical Ventures/Tampa) from Finland was arguably the first of the axe-bowed designs to shake the American boating tree. This boat has full weather protection and still provides the feel of an open boat, plus a cabin with a queen-sized berth and enclosed head with shower for weekending. When you want sun, a large sunroof opens in the pilothouse, augmented by a spacious cockpit and forward seating with retractable shade. Power is a pair of Mercury 350hp outboards, and speeds are over 50 knots for towing skiers or water toys.
The Hussar 920 Explorer Max (Hussar Yachts/Tampa) is schizophrenic, with its large cockpit and the pilothouse taking up equal space so you can choose between alfresco or protected boating. The large cockpit has two dinette tables that can be removed or converted to sunpads and, inside, a large sunroof and opening windows bring air and light. The cabin has a double berth (plus one tucked to the side), as well as the usual head with shower. With twin Mercury 200s, you can expect about 43 knots and the 60-gallon tank will keep you running all weekend.
The Beneteau Antares 8 from France (Viage Group/Tampa) is a 26-foot pilothouse weekender, with outside seating around a table for alfresco meals plus comfy inside seating with large windows so you don’t miss any boating action. Sun worshippers (hey, this is a French boat!) will love the expansive sunpad forward (with safe high-railed access). Overnighters will appreciate the galley and the double berth inside the cabin, plus the enclosed head with shower. The pilothouse dinette also converts to a kid’s berth. A single 250hp outboard gives this pocket weekender a top speed of 35 knots.
The 29-ft. Jeanneau NC Sport 895 (Thunder Marine/Tampa) is another French import finding a place with family fishermen who like the combination of a spacious cockpit for fishing as well as the enclosed pilothouse for weather protection. The pilothouse has a full galley, and a large side door next to the helm makes shorthanded docking easy. A surprise are two cabins below for two couple privacy with enclosed head and separate shower stall. A full sunpad is forward and twin Yamaha 250hp outboards give a solid 41-knot performance.
From Boston Whaler comes the 325 Conquest Pilothouse (MarineMax/Tampa) which is notable for huge pilothouse windows, plus a cockpit to delight fishermen with rod holders everywhere and a transom bait tank. To stash your catches are two large under-cockpit fishboxes. Weekenders appreciate the sleeping space as well, with a convertible dinette forward but, if you don’t want to fold it down, there’s also a spacious double berth under the pilothouse. An electric head and shower allow leisurely weekending. Twin Mercury 250hp outboards push this Whaler to 45 knots.
The Wellcraft 355 is a sea change for this legendary builder, with its vertical plumb-bow and strikingly square pilothouse. Wellcraft calls this 39-footer a “weekend extender”, with an outdoor grill/galley, and a private cabin for overnighting with a queen-sized berth, enclosed head and stall shower. Power is from triple Mercury 350hp outboards, offering speeds over 50 knots.
It’s an over-used simile, but pilothouse boats are the Swiss Army knife of boating. Whether you want protection from sun/wind/rain/heat/cold, they handle the need, while providing full weekender amenities. Check them out and they’ll put the fun back in your boating!
Chris Caswell is an award-winning writer and the former editor of several yachting magazines. He has appeared on Oprah as a boating lifestyle expert and hosted the Marine Voyager series on the Speed Channel.
Keep these boats on your radar. Check out Boats to Watch 2023.
