Sportfish Characteristics: Sportfish are generally defined as powerboats with a cockpit for fishing in the aft, designed for getting to fishing grounds fast, with a hull design capable of cruising through any sea conditions. Some sportfish yachts are equipped with tournament fishing options such as tuna towers, kill boxes, large tacking stations, ice makers, and live bat wells.

Sportfish Construction & Hull Design: Beginning in the 1970’s, most Sportfish are fiberglass-construction. However, many large Sportfish, and expedition yachts over 75′, are built with steel and aluminum hulls and superstructures. Classic Sportfish and motor yachts were typically built out of wood. With a caring owner, many of these Sportfish are still in use today.

Sportfish with strong hulls are for yachtsmen that place a high value on fishing long-distances off the Mid and Northern Atlantic coasts. Sportfish yachts typically have deeper drafts with larger engines to handle rougher seas.

Sportfish Power Options: Larger Sportfish are usually powered with twin diesel engines to achieve better efficiency for longer-distance cruising. However, many smaller Sportfish are fitted with single, double or triple outboards, which provide quick acceleration and easier maintenance, ideal for center consoles, such as Intrepid Yachts, Contenders, and Yellowfin.