As Bay fishermen we live for the adrenaline rush of topwater slams and bird blitzes, but the question is, will a center console boat or a pilothouse get us more epic fishing opportunities? I’ve been fishing the Bay on center consoles for the last 12 years, but this summer I bought a Judge 27’ Chesapeake pilothouse to get my family out fishing more. Brennan, by contrast, grew up fishing on the Judge 27’ Chesapeake pilothouse run by his father, iFishMD—and recently bought a Judge 265CC center console. We try to provide an unbiased opinion here based on our experiences with both.
Fishing First
We agree that center consoles provide unparalleled fishability. While the pilothouse does have a massive cockpit and great deck utilization for its size, the open bow, additional front deck space, and 360-degree fishability of the center console are unmatched. There will be times when an angler is tight on a big rockfish or red drum, and the fish makes a run forward. Fighting large fish like these on barely adequate tackle is an adrenaline rush, but also means their erratic movements are more difficult to control.
Fishing from the bow is also safer and more effective from center consoles. It can be harder to feel the bump jigging from the bow of the pilothouse because of the higher angle caused by the elevated bow, making it harder to eliminate excess slack from the line. And it’s nice to be able to fish from the bow because it allows you to get away from other anglers and cast 270 degrees without crossing over other lines.
Fishability
Plus-one for the center console, where you can walk laps around the boat with ease.
Relaxing, or Surviving?
Comfort is definitely a BIG plus in the pilothouse. The pilothouse provides protection from the cold weather and is the coolest place on the boat when the sun is beating down. The windows open all the way up, which provides a great breeze through the cabin while you’re shaded from the sun. The cabin also keeps you dry from spray and rain, which is increasingly important in colder weather. I love not worrying whether my passengers are miserable when we’re cruising in the Chesapeake. In my center console, I was always wondering if my passengers were getting sprayed or not. Wind-burn in either the hot or cold is another element it eliminates, as well as general fatigue after a day on the water. You’ll need more sunscreen and layers of clothing in the center console to make up for the lack of protection.
My four-year-old son was pretty miserable running in our center console, even on the Patapsco River. In the Chesapeake this November we spent eight hours boating and fishing as a family, and it was 42 degrees to start the day. My son was happy as a clam snuggling his mom on the L-couch and lying on a bean bag in the V-berth. This added comfort allows me to fish more days of the year because I don’t have to separate fishing from family anymore.
Brennan has noticed that the center console potentially rides a bit better because the helm is further aft. The closer you stand to the bow, the more up and down motion you’re going to feel in any type of sea. But the cabin also allows people to talk while running and adds the ability to overnight on the boat with the V-berth and head. Oh, and the pilothouse has more dry storage with the V-berth and storage under the L-couch.
Comfort
The pilothouse wins hands-down.
Use of Space
The increased deck space of the center console allows more people to comfortably fish, and as an example, Brennan has the ability to fish five passengers versus four as Brennan’s Dad does in the pilothouse model.
But before we give center consoles another point: Lockable stowage is limited to the console, and you can’t fit rods in there, only some tackle and safety gear. Rods and most additional gear need to be loaded and unloaded from the boat every time you use it. Brennan’s Dad keeps probably 25 rods in his cabin at all times, always rigged and ready to go for clients with a variety of baits depending on the method they fish.
The center console is easier to dock when the wind is blowing. The pilothouse’s sail area is noticeable, making maneuvering around the dock or drift fishing in a stiff wind in open water more difficult; many pilothouse owners have optioned a bow thruster to negate this issue if their marina requires close-quarters maneuvering. In open water, optioning a trolling motor to slow and adjust drifts is a welcome addition on either model. I have also found the trolling motor helpful for navigating my Chesapeake around the Bay Bridge and Key Bridge pilings, especially when the current is ripping.
Layout
The pluses and minuses go both ways, so it’s a wash.
Scrub, Scrub, Scrub your Boat
Center consols are utilitarian and simple. If you are running the same boat for 16-plus years on the Bay, as Brennan’s Dad has, you realize that saltwater is not nice to anything metal and there’s more to worry about on the cabin boat. On top of that, the pilothouse sides and roof add surface area that needs to be cleaned and waxed. However, while the pilothouse has more surface area to clean the helm is inside and protected from the elements, extending the lifespan of the throttles, controls, switches, electronics, and more. Seats and cushions are protected, too.
Maintenance
Again, we have a wash (wash, wash, your boat).
Cost
Center consols are less expensive. The Judge 265CC is approximately $20,000 less in base price than the 27’ Chesapeake when optioned equivalently with a single Suzuki DF300, Zipwake trim tabs, Optimus power steering, etc.
Pricing
Slight advantage to the center console.
So what will it be, a CC or a pilothouse? The answer depends on your needs. Are you more of a hardcore fisherman adrenaline junkie, or do you love to fish every opportunity you can and also have a wife and kids you want to entertain? Only you can answer these questions for yourself. But Brennan and I agree on one final thing: we both love our boats!
-By Mark Scheuerman and Brennan Shute