How Many People Can a Center Console Seat? [Chart]

Depending on its design and size, a center console fishing boat can seat 4-20 people. You can expect the capacity of entry-level (15-20 ft.) models to be 4-6, while their midrange siblings can accommodate 7-12 people. Most center consoles over 28-30 feet are “Yacht Certified,” and they can typically carry 12-20 people depending on the make and model.

In this post, we’ll talk about the seating capacities of different center console size classes in detail.

Seating Capacity vs. Passenger Weight Capacity

It’s safe to say that center console fishing boats can typically carry fewer passengers than their advertised capacity.

This is because the cumulative weight of the maximum number of passengers often overloades the boat.

For example, an EdgeWater 170CC can legally carry 6 people, but its person weight capacity is as little as 805 pounds.

Dividing these numbers only allows for 134 pounds per person!

Doing the math with a more realistic average passenger weight of 180-220 pounds reveals that its real passenger capacity is not much more than 3-4 people.

Based on our research, this is no different than other models.

Keeping safety in mind, you should never exceed a boat’s passenger weight limit.

In most cases, this means you can only carry about 60-70% of the claimed passenger capacity (for adult persons, of course.)

This means a 6-seater center console is much more like a 4-seater, a 10-seater is a 6-7-seater, and so on.

Besides this passenger weight limit, each boat has an overall weight limit, which should also not be exceeded. This typically includes the weight of the passengers as well as the gear.

Another problem is that too many passengers can easily overcrowd the deck.

Let’s face it, you need a lot of deck space for your gear and to move around, especially on a fishing adventure.

Because of this, beyond the length, the design and beam of the boat are also an important factors.

The wider the beam, the more free deck space and storage capacity you can expect.

Average Center Console Seating Capacities

For your convenience, our team did some research and compiled the average seating capacities of center consoles by their size classes.

These figures came from various models across the main manufacturers, so please consider them ballpark ranges.

Entry-Level CCs (15-20 ft.)

Small or entry-level center consoles are built on 15-20-foot hulls and are primarily intended for inshore fishing.

The smallest 15-16-footer boats can legally seat 4-6 passengers while their maximum weight capacity averages between 1,000 and 1,300 pounds.

They are great if you want to fish alone, but can easily be overcrowded with one other person onboard.

Hence, if you want to regularly fish with one of your friends, you may want to invest in a larger model.

Based on our research the average seating capacity of 17-18 and 19-20 footers are 5-7 and 6-8, respectively.

However, they can really only accommodate roughly 3-4, or 4-5 passengers safely and comfortably.

What’s more, when it comes to fishing, these boats are only recommended for two fishermen.

The key advantage of 20-footers is that their gross trailering weight stays under 5,000 pounds, which makes them relatively easy to tow.

(However, some lighter 21-footers also fall into this weight range.)

Medium-Sized CCs (21-30 ft.)

The overall length of midsized center consoles starts at 21 feet and goes up to 30 feet, while their seating capacity ranges between 7 and 12.

Built on 21-22-foot hulls, the smallest midsized models can typically carry 7-10 passengers while their overall weight capacity is about 1,300-3,000 pounds.

Compared to their entry-level siblings, these vessels are not only noticeably longer but their beams are also more than likely over 8 feet.

This wider deck offers much more interior space, which makes them very convenient for two fishermen.

Going bigger, most 22-23-foot center consoles can handle offshore conditions and legally carry 9-10 passengers.

Despite this, the recommended number of passengers more than likely averages between 5-7 adults.

For example, the Bayliner T22C is rated for 10 people but only has a people weight capacity of 1,654 pounds.

For average-sized adult passengers, this boat is actually capable of carrying a maximum of 6-7 people, but it only offers great comfort for 4-5.

Rated for 8 people, another example from the 2000s is the Wellcraft Fisherman 232.

As a rule of thumb, most center consoles between 25 and 30 feet seat 10-12, which typically means an actual passenger capacity of 6-8 adults.

The overall weight capacity in this breed starts at 2,700 and goes all the way up to 5,500 pounds.

Certain models above 26-28 feet already fall into the Yacht Certified class, meaning that they don’t have any capacity limits.

Instead, it’s the captain’s responsibility to determine the number of passengers and to operate the vessel mindfully.

Large CCs (31-65 ft.)

The length of large or full-size center consoles ranges from 31 to 65 feet.

It’s safe to say that almost every model in this breed falls into the aforementioned Yacht Certified category.

Even though its up to the captain to determine the number of passengers, it’s good to know that 31-34 footers and 35-40 footers are typically advertised as 12-15 and 13-16 seaters, respectively.

Between 40 and 65 feet, the largest center consoles available have 15-20 seats depending on the size and the model.

Center Console Seat Capacity Chart

For a better comparison, we’ve listed the average seat capacities of center console motorboats by their size class in one chart:

Overall Length (ft.)	Avg. Maximum People Capacity	Avg. Maximum Weight Capacity (lbs)
15-16	4-6	1000-1300
17-18	5-7	1100-2000
19-20	6-8	1500-2000
21-22	7-10	1300-3000
23-24	9-10	2300-3500
25-26	10-12	2700-4200
27-28	10-12	3000-5000
29-30	11-12	3500-5500
31-32	YC (cca. 12-13)	4000-6000
33-34	YC (cca. 13-14)	4500-7000
35-40	YC (cca. 14-16)	5000+
41-45	YC (cca. 15-17)	5000+
46-50	YC (cca. 15-18)	5000+
51-65	YC (cca. 16-20)	5000+

Disclaimer: Ballpark figures in this chart are provided for informational purposes only. For specific capacity information, please refer to your boat’s operator’s manual.

Takeaways

You can expect the seating capacity of a center console fishing boat to be anywhere from 4 to 20 people depending on its size, design, and features.

The smallest models between 15 and 16 feet are recommended for 1-2 people.

Their 17-20-foot siblings are typically rated for 5-8 passengers, but many of them can only carry 2-5 safely and comfortably.

Measuring 21-30 feet in length, midsized center consoles are typically rated for 7-12 passengers, but their actual capacity ranges from 5 to 8 people as they increase in size.

The largest 31-65-footers (and some 26-30 footers) are Yacht Certified, which means their passenger capacity is typically not displayed on their certification plate.

Nevertheless, they can legally seat 12-20 passengers depending on the model.

Even though the advertised seating capacity figures look good in the marketing brochures, note that most boats can only carry 60-70% of their claimed people capacity.

This is because, besides the passenger capacity, the overall weight of the passengers must meet the boat’s passenger weight capacity and overall weight capacity as well.