Sportfishers

The name tells us what these boats do – catch fish. Most are designed to be fast and have a flybridge laid out with a helm offering good 360 degree visibility, seating and  an enclosure.Some have aluminum-framed towers for spotting fish and outriggers for trolling extra baits. Typical accommodations are 3-4 staterooms located forward of the salon and galley area. Most are built using FRP cored construction techniques, however the truly “fish-possessed” and tournament oriented construct custom boats that are commonly made of wood using a technique called “cold-molding”.  Speed is desirable (even essential) for covering vast amounts of ocean while on the hunt, thus large engines and light hulls are the norm. Yachtfishers are also in whereby they combine the best of the sportfisher cockpit and aft deck – Mickelson builds some of these models, as has Hatteras.

Sportfishers manufacturers include:

The big 3 are Viking, Bertram, Hatteras – all built in the US. These boats are production/spec built and are equipped for speed and luxury – often with enclosed flybridges. Other US builders include  Egg Harbor, Ocean, Black Watch, Blackfin, Cabo, Donzi, Luhrs, Monterey, Post, Pursuit, Rampage, Tiara, Topaz .  The North Carolina and Florida regions are noted for customized, high-end tournament and charter sportfishers, often crafted from a process called ‘cold-moulding’ (epoxy laminated wood) – American Custom, Blackwell, Ricky Scarborough, Buddy Davis, Craig Blackwell, Jarrett Bay, Hines Farley, Garlington and B & D are some of the notable builders.  Other notable custom builders include Merritt, Striker (aluminum) and Huckins.
Only a few foreign built sportfishers are marketed – Mickelson from Taiwan and Riviera from Austrailia.