When it’s boat show season, the selection of new boats to check out is vast, and every shiny, white hull on the labyrinth of docks starts to look pretty good. Chesapeake Bay Magazine is always happy to round up the best of the year’s debuts. This year, there’s no labyrinth of docks to get lost in, sadly, but that’s why we’re here to bring you the best of the new. Our top picks for new boats are multi-function vessels that pack a punch.
To design the Sun Odyssey 410, Jeanneau reached out to long-standing design partner Marc Lombard , who was assisted by Jean-Marc Piaton. Together, they delivered on the challenge of bringing the classic Jeanneau styling into a modern yacht. Like the 440 and 490, the Sun Odyssey 410 features a generous beam and walk-around deck, ensuring life on deck is comfortable and spacious, either under way or at anchor. Simple sail handling is ensured through an integrated bowsprit, inboard winches, and recessed wells for controls.
The Lombard-designed, hard chine hull combined with a high aspect cathedral rig, add to its performance. The fine entry wave-piercing bow significantly reduces drag, while giving the boat a distinctive look. In addition, careful consideration has been put into weight distribution and balance in the sail plan, bringing a new level of performance to the Sun Odyssey line. Even the most competitive sailor will love the speed, responsiveness, and ease of handling while at the wheel. Available from Crusader Yacht Sales in Annapolis.
The exceptional new F45 flybridge delivers unparalleled space, quality and flexibility for the ultimate on-water experience. Its extended flybridge includes a seating area with teak dining table and forward L-shaped seats that convert to a sunpad when required. At the touch of a button, the unique, electrically-sliding transom seating arrangement extends the length of the cockpit area to deliver notable main deck space for a 45-foot yacht. Below deck, a full beam owner’s cabin complemented by a forward ensuite cabin await. Powered by Volvo IPS 600’s and reaching a top speed of 31 knots, the F45 is both powerful and beautiful. With elegant full-length hull windows and unusual design detail, the F45 is set apart among small flybridge yachts. Available from Bluewater Yacht Sales, with nine locations along the East Coast and a brand new full-service sales and repair facility in downtown Annapolis.
Start planning for summer fun with the Grady-White 30-foot dual console, the Freedom 307. Perfectly suited for the family that wants the flexibility to do it all, this boat’s design was derived from customer requests for a roomy cruiser with Grady-White’s heritage of fishing features, rich amenities and exceptional performance. You’ll find no boat more luxurious in its size and class.
Grady-White thought of every comfort when they designed this elegantly rugged, reliable boat. From the expansive console with head, sink and bulk storage to the roomy cockpit with wet bar, optional grill and refrigerator, this is an excellent choice for the family looking for a well-appointed boat that’s suited for a variety of coastal waters—all on the industry’s best-riding hull, the SeaV2®. Grady-White’s Freedom 307 is an evolutionary step up in recreational boating and sure to make all your summers memorable. Available from Tri-State Marine and Taylor Marine.
For decades, the Boston Whaler Dauntless series has led the industry in confident performance and multitasking capabilities. The tradition carries into the future with the 220 and 250 Dauntless. Each model combines inshore fishing excellence with offshore cruising comfort. Much more than an average bay boat, the 250 provides a spacious layout with plenty of seating and smart amenities for fishing, watersports and cruising. The 250’s inviting bow lounge has folding backrests and lockable storage and room for 7-foot rods. The head has an enlarged door for easier access, and the new fold-up stern deck seating area complements a sleek, redesigned hull. Available from Chesapeake Whalertowne.
Constructed with many of the high-quality materials found in larger models, this craft offers stunning good looks on a super-durable Vinyl-Ester Epoxy Resin hull that is foam filled and resin sealed to render the Cuddy safe and virtually unsinkable. A precisely balanced, variable-deadrise hull is stable at rest yet dry and comfortable in chop. This hull design produces much greater performance with less horsepower than other 23-foot boats. The savings in power package costs allows for the finest components and materials during the construction process without breaking the bank. With seating for eight, modest sleeping accommodations below deck, and a head in the cabin, a fun day on the water can be extended overnight. There is a wide range of options that encourages each owner to put their unique signature on a cuddy cabin that turns heads at every port. Available from Annapolis Yacht Sales.
The Legacy Series comes loaded with incredible standard features as well as a wide range of options, and the 2302’s rugged hull is up to any challenge brought by avid sportsmen and recreational boaters alike. High, flared sides ensure a dry ride for everyone on board. The helm holds a wide station with room for two chartplotters, a deluxe leaning post, and rod management with storage for up to 10 rods. At the transom, three-across seating doubles as livewell and storage. The 2302 Legacy’s stable, wide fishing deck is easily converted to a picnic area, and bow seating features include back rests that fold flush with the gunnel when the fish start to tug the lines. The staunch 2302 Legacy will get you to fish your best—and bring friends and family to the game. Available from Port Annapolis Marina.
The new R-41 from Ranger Tugs is as luxurious and comfortable as it is strong and seaworthy. With two private staterooms, each with en suite head and shower, there’s plenty of room to comfortably entertain guests. The R-41 is packed full of innovative new features that will make your life on the water stress free and fun. Designed and built by hand in the USA, the R-41 will turn heads and collect fans everywhere you go. You’ll love the massive cockpit, with transom seats that rotate open to present a pass-through to the oversized swim step. Abundant seating, ice maker, sink and a joystick docking station can also be found in the cockpit. The spacious, light-filled salon is the heart of the R-41. With a conversational layout and seating for 12, you’ll make a lifetime’s worth of memories with friends and family in this warm, inviting space. Available from Pocket Yacht Company.
The latest in Bayliner’s VR Series of highly evolved bowriders, the VR4 is easy to tow, launch and store—and really fun to use. The smallest VR Series model delivers plenty of interior space thanks to the BeamForward™ design, which carries the full beam further forward for more comfort and capacity than traditional pointed bows. Our AftAdvantage™ design increases the rear seating area by shifting it to the aft-most point of the running surface, allowing the swim platform to extend beyond that. That means more room for comforts like movable backrests for versatile seating configurations, available bow wind block and optional filler cushion that together create an additional bow seat, optional sun pad cushion inserts that expand the sunbathing area, and plenty of convenient storage throughout. Available from Riverside Marine in Essex, Md.
Common sense, time-tested design and a straightforward approach, combined with the uncompromising dedication to quality construction practices, has earned the entire Parker line the reputation of strength, simplicity, and seaworthiness. All Parker boats are hand-laid from the finest roll stocks and resins available. Deck hardware is thru-bolted stainless steel with backing plates.
The tradition continues with the 2100 SE. Whether inshore fishing, offshore trolling, or enjoying water sports with the family, the 2100 SE checks all the boxes in an efficient and affordable package. Parker’s Special Edition (SE) center consoles offers Mod-V hulls and forward platforms for additional seating or casting to provide flexibility for both inshore and offshore use. The Deep-V, with its sharp entry and wide beam, is ready to handle sporty and extreme offshore conditions with ease.
From big seas to shallow creeks, the Parker 2100 SE has the flexibility, strength, and seaworthiness to get you to your destination safely and comfortably. Available from Tri-State Marine.
The Pursuit S 328 broadens the range of Pursuit’s popular Sport Series. The athletic exterior is complemented by a forward wrap-around lounge at the bow, just opposite of the forward-facing seating in the console, to create a nice place to socialize.
Below is a two-person berth, head, and sink with vanity that could let you overnight and freshen up for a dinner shore side. The aft cockpit accommodates serious fishing and, with its fold-away fore and aft seats, quickly converts to a social area at the dock. Available at North Point Yacht Sales and Bosun’s Marine.
Boston Whaler calls their new 240 Vantage a Swiss Army knife for boating. A true “do-it-all” platform, the 240 is designed to deliver remarkable versatility and comfort. With an array of features for fishing, cruising, beaching, watersports and entertaining, this dual-console model is perfect for active families eager to enjoy everything possible on the water. Powered by a V8 Mercury Verado engine, this design features a flared hull and sharper bow profile to provide a stable, safe and seaworthy ride. Dealers on the Bay include Chesapeake Whalertowne, Taylor Marine Center, and Lynnhaven Marine.
Edgewater’s new center-console premiered late last year. This boat is chock-full of standard features and options that are top-notch for the family and angler alike. It can rip through the blue with its optional engine setup of twin Yamaha XTO 425hp. The optional Seakeeper can keep her even steadier in choppy conditions. The console head has plenty of storage and an impressive amount of room. There is a leaning post with an aquarium livewell and tackle drawers, but also a classy Corian countertop and cutting board. And the family will appreciate its plush forward sun pad lounge seat and dinners around the easy-to-use, stowaway bow table. It’s sold on the Chesapeake by Annapolis Yacht Sales.
This robust little smart cruiser looks unashamedly like a small yacht. With its slender bow, optimized weight, and square-top mainsail, it performs well in all points of sail. For beginners or for short-handed sailing, the self-tacking jib and the single winch are easy to handle. For performance, the Oceanis 30.1 has a large overlapping genoa, a furling code zero and an asymmetric spinnaker. Aft, a step affords access to the water and can be supplemented by a small lifting platform. The cabin has 6.5 feet of headroom and two sizable double cabins each with berths running lengthwise and an open entryway making them feel particularly spacious. The two benches in the salon provide two extra berths. With unbeatable living space for its size and a focus on simplicity of use, the smallest model of the Beneteau cruising range is stylish and fast, with a highly competitive ready-to-sail price. The Chesapeake dealer is Annapolis Yacht Sales.
Ranger Tugs’ R-25 is a feature-packed cruiser designed for comfort, ease of use, quality and fun, says the manufacturer. For over 60 years Ranger Tugs has been building boats, so the R-25 combines a wealth of experience gained over many years with modern design and technology, to provide the best in handling, seakeeping, and performance. Powered by a single Yamaha 250hp Outboard driving a modern hull, the boat is fast and efficient whether planing or running at displacement speeds. The R-25 is sold ready-to-cruise, meaning it is packed with standard features like a bow thruster, inverter, battery charger, solar panel, shore power with 30-amp chord, raw water washdown system, electric marine head with holding tank, deck outlet and macerator, anchor, chain and rode, a windlass with bow and helm controls, a cockpit Bimini top and more. It’s quite a platform for a 25-footer. The Bay dealer for both Ranger Tugs and Cutwater is Pocket Yachts.
The first in its series, the 43LE emphasizes the brand tenets Tiara Sport has become famous for: sport styling combined with luxurious amenities, dedicated social zones, and thrilling performance. A large chaise lounge on the bow provides relaxation, while the signature rotating lounge seats in the aft cockpit (complete with multiple locking positions and built-in footrests) allow guests the flexibility to face forward, astern, or sideways toward the fold-down terrace. Premium entertainment features are found throughout and below deck along with two sleeping accommodations: a queen island berth and a mid-cabin double berth. A complete head with separate shower provides all of the appropriate overnighting or day-yachting amenities. With two unique propulsion options (Mercury or Yamaha) and an integrated electronics package with Garmin Marine Navigation systems, the Tiara Sport 43LE is built for performance, comfort, and ease of use. The Chesapeake Bay dealer is North Point Yacht Sales.
This is the smallest large-scale production cruising catamaran on the market, but don’t let its size fool you. The Excess 11 offers the comfort and space of a much larger boat, as well as thrilling performance and amenities that make it capable of long passages and life onboard. The work of its naval architects and designers has been focused on one objective: to create a real cruising catamaran in a smaller package with volume worthy of a larger boat, whether in the saloon or in the cabins. For example, the owner’s berth has a large 6.5 x 6.5-foot bed and each bathroom has a separate shower. On deck, it offers the comfort and friendliness of a large open cockpit and twin helm stations, allowing for real steering sensations as well as direct contact with the rest of the crew. This is the synthesis of the Excess spirit: a beautiful, simple, light and comfortable boat, capable of taking you to the most remote spots on earth. The Chesapeake Bay dealer is Crusader Yacht Sales.
An exceptional 33-foot center console, Grady-White’s Canyon 336 provides the best of everything you’d expect, and more, in a boat of its size. The 336 starts with superior quality, reliability, safety, performance and long-lasting value Grady-White is known for. Its sleek styling elements are elegant, while abundant bells and whistles make it a well-outfitted fishing machine. Already a strong seller in this market, the new changes are bringing high demand. The redesigned console and T-top, with fully integrated windshield, widens walkways and expands the cockpit and bow spaces. An all-new helm design includes room for dual 17” flush mount electronic panels strategically located closer to the captain. From bow thruster and Yamaha “Helm Master EX” Digital Electric Steering to a water heater, air conditioner and diesel generator, the Canyon 336 is a high-performance boat that doesn’t compromise Grady-White quality and comfort. All built on Grady’s exclusive “SeaV 2” hull, it delivers a dry, soft ride.
Is this boat designed for the serious angler or the family? We think both. The Open 282 by Sportsman is a great all-around boat that provides creature comforts for entertaining with family and friends and a sturdy, dry, and fast ride so you can compete offshore with the big guys. Enjoy the electronically actuated bow table that easily adjusts into three positions, from tabletop to sun pad to flush with the floor. The side-entry door makes dockside loading (of kids or fish) a breeze, and quickly becomes a feature you cannot live without. This boat comes loaded with many standard features, like the oversized hard top with lights, speakers, and more. Yacht Certified and therefore exempt from required vessel capacity limits, the Open 282 provides a safe and comfortable ride for the entire family. A pair of Yamaha 300hp outboards puts you at your destination quickly, and if you’re into bells and whistles, make sure you check out the Tournament Edition. You’ll find a video review of it here. The Chesapeake Bay dealer is Riverside Marine.
