Center console (boat)

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Center console (British English: centre console) is a type of single decked open hull boat where the console of the boat is in the center of the boat, there are cabin on some models, the cabins are usually located in the bow and hold small berths for sleeping. The boat deck surrounds the console so that a person on the boat can walk all around the boat from stern to bow with ease.

The console of a boat is where all the controls are including steering, ignition, trim control, radio and other electronic devices, switches etc. It may have a small storage space which can include a head. In general there is no weather protection or berths, making the design ill-suited to cruising. The console may have a T-Top cover to provide limited relief from the sun and rain, but this is not universal because it interferes with fishermen's casting. Most center consoles are powered by outboard motors.

A center console boat is popular with recreational fishermen as they can fight fish with ease and walk around the boat while doing so. Because of the large deck space, it is a good utility boat and also popular as small boat on a large ship.[citation needed]

Center console boats may range in length from 13 feet to about 45 feet.