How Fast Can a Center Console Go? [Video]

Depending on their features and engine package, center consoles can reach a top speed of 30-100+ mph and cruise in the 20-35 mph range. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not only the large 30+ feet models that are capable of high speeds. With a proper power package, a single-engine 20-22 footer can hit 90-100 mph, or even more!

If you want to find out more about the average top speed of center consoles, this post is for you.

We at BoatReviewBank have compiled the performance figures of many popular models under one roof!

Average Center Console Top Speeds

The maximum speed of a center console motorboat depends on many different factors including:

• Overall length and beam
• Hull design
• Weight
• Features and amenities
• Overall load
• Power package
• Prop dimensions
• Environmental conditions
• And more

Due to a large number of variables, giving exact performance figures in each size class is nearly impossible.

This is why our team has listed an abundance of examples of real-world tests in this post.

Our figures can help give you an idea of ​​what kind of performance you can expect from various models.

Entry-Level Center Consoles (15-20 ft.)

Despite their tiny lightweight hulls, small center consoles between 15 and 20 feet can reach a remarkable speed of  30-90+ mph.

However, the majority of them top out in the 40-50 mph range.

When it comes to power sources, small center consoles are rigged with single outboard engines starting at 40hp.

These little fishing boats with small engines are not speed demons, but they can get you to your fishing spots for a very reasonable cost.

For example, a classic CENTER CONSOLE 15 can reach a top speed of 30 mph with a 40hp Mercury four-stroke, and reach around 40 mph with a 60hp engine variant.

Fitted with a 70hp 4-stroke Yamaha and the right prop, she tops out at 42-45 mph with a light load.

Another popular classic, the 1980 Boston Whaler Sport 15 fitted with a 40hp Tohatsu can also hit 30 mph and cruise around 20 mph.

The same boat with a 60hp Tohatsu tops out in the mid-to-high-30s.

A newer 2016 Montauk I50 rigged with a 60hp Mercury cruises in the low 20s and tops out in the mid-30s.

When it comes to 17-footers,  the Mako 17 tops out at 37-38 mph with a 2-stroke Johnson 88 SPL (90hp) and 41-42 mph with its larger 115hp engine variant.

Rated for a maximum power of 120hp, another popular classic center console is the 17-foot Boston Whaler Outrage 17.

Paired with a 2-stroke Evinrude E-TEC 90, the top speed of this vessel is 30 mph while she cruises in the low 20s. A 115hp Evinrude can propel the same boat up to the mid-40s.

According to an official performance bulletin, the latest Sportsman Island Reef 17 rigged with a 4-stroke Yamaha F70 topped out at 36-37 mph at 6250 RPM. At this speed, she burns 6.2 gph with a mileage of 5.9 mpg.

Best Crusoe comes in at 4000 RPM and 20.4 mph, where the boat gets 7.56 mpg and uses 2.7 gph.

Measuring almost 19 feet, the latest Edgewater Heritage 188C with a Yamaha F150 can reach almost 49 mph where burning 15.7 gph while getting 3.1 mpg.

You can expect her best economy to be at 25.2 mph where the fuel burn is 5.0 gph and the fuel economy averages around 5 mpg.

Heading towards 20 feet, the Scout Sportfish 195S can exceed 40 mph with a 115hp, and 50 mph with a 150hp outboard engine.

If you want to go much faster, you will need a significantly larger engine.

For example, one of the fastest entry-level center consoles is the sporty 19-foot Reaction CC.

Fitted with a 2.5L 225 Mercury Pro Max it can hit 65-70 mph depending on the prop.

What’s more, with a more powerful 300hp package, she can reach a whopping 90 mph.

Sure, this speed on this tiny hull can be more than scary!

Mid-Sized Center Consoles (21-30 ft.)

Thanks to their larger and more sturdy hulls, “standard” or mid-sized center consoles between 21 and 30 feet can go even faster than their entry-level siblings.

However, above 25 feet, twin-engine packages became more prevalent, which tends to be slightly slower than a single engine (due to the extra weight and water drag of the lower unit).

Despite this, you can expect the top speed of a mid-sized center console to be in the neighborhood of 40-100+mph.

Let’s look at some examples, like the 21-footer Sea Pro 206 Center Console. Paired with a single 4-stroke Yamaha F150 she does over 40 mph with ease.

The same engine can propel the Sea Hunt Ultra 219 close to 50 mph with a light load.

Measuring 22.5 feet in length, the Contender 22 Sport rigged with a single Yamaha F250 can hit 55 mph with ease.

Faster models like the Yellowfin 21 Hybrid top out in the ballpark of 70-75 mph rigged with either a single 250hp Yamaha SHO or a single 300hp Mercury Verado.

High-performance center consoles in this size range including the Paramount 21 CC or a SIMMONS Revolution 23 can reach 80-100+ mph with the right engine package.

Believe it or not, even the relatively small 21-23 footer center consoles can be rigged with 400-450hp outboards.

As one may expect, these powerful engines turn these tiny vessels into some of the fastest fishing boats available.

If you are looking for comfort and luxury features rather than extreme speeds, you can’t go wrong with a Cobia 237CC with a twin-engine package.

Even though this model can accommodate a pair of 150hp outboards, she tops out in the mid-40s with a standard twin F115hp Yamaha power option.

These fuel-efficient outboards burn around 3 mpg while the boat cruises between 26-28 mph.

As a rule of thumb, between the overall length of 25 and 30 feet, the average center console typically tops out at 45-55 mph. In contrast, performance models can hit 70-90 mph, or even more.

Some examples of this breed are as follows:

• Cobia 261CC w/ 2 x Yamaha F150: 48-50 mph
• Regulator 23 w/ 1 x Yamaha F300: 46-48 mph
• Edgewater 262CC w/ 2 x Yamaha F250: 50-52 mph
• GW Freedom 285 w/ 2 x Yamaha F300: 54-56 mph
• GW Freedom 285 w/ 2 x Yamaha F350: 60-62 mph
• Carbon Marine Paragon 28’ w/ 1 x Seven Marine 627hp: 80-82 mph
• Century 2901 CC w/ 2 x Yamaha 300XCA: 53-55 mph
• Jupiter 30 HFS w/ 2 x Yamaha F300: 56-58 mph

Large Center Consoles (31-65 ft.)

Thanks to their greater and heavier platforms, large center consoles between 31 and 65 feet can handle faster speeds safely and comfortably.

To propel these heavy boats, you often need triple or quad-engine packages, but lighter models between 30 and 35 feet can typically be rigged with twins.

Depending on their power package, the majority of these boats can reach speeds of 50-60 mph and cruise between 25 and 35 mph, while performance models can hit 70-100+ mph.

Let’s look at some examples again!

Designed for offshore fishing adventures, the iconic 33-foot Boston Whaler Outrage 330 rigged with twin 350hp engines can hit 50-52 mph.

Convenient and luxurious, the 36-foot Glasstream 360 Pro-XS powered by two Mercury Verados tops out in the low-70s and cruises around 50 mph.

Marketed as the smallest Grady White center console above 30 feet, the Canyon 306 runs over 50 mph with twin 300hp, and over 55 mph with twin 350hp Yamaha engines.

Her larger sibling, the Canyon 386 tops out at over 60 mph with a triple 450hp Yamah enigne package.

With the same engines, her best cruising speed is 30 mph when the triples burn a combined 30 gph and get 1 mpg.

Measuring 45 feet in length, the Canyon 456 is advertised as the largest Grady White center console available.

Fitted with a quad Yamaha XTO Offshore 450 engine package, she tops out in the high 50s.

Boating at the most economical speed of 30 mph, the engines burn a combined 44 gph while getting 0.7 mpg.

Smaller and faster, a 36-foot Yellowfin 36 CC can reach the mid-70s with either two Seven Marine 557s, or three Yamaha F350s.

Interestingly, the mileage with both power packages is around 1.3 mpg while the best cruising speed averages between 35 and 40 mph.

Let’s talk about some high-performance models in this size category.

Fitted with five Mercury 450R outboards, the Midnight Express 43 Open can achieve a thrilling top speed of 95 mph.

The smaller and lighter Outerlimits SX-39 can also offer the same performance only with four of these high-performing Mercury outboards.

The fastest center consoles can reach or approach the 90-100+ mph range like the Mystic M4200, Tribute 37, and the Nor-Tech 390 Sport Open.

Despite its sizable dimensions and luxury amenities, the amazing Cigarette 52 Thunder can also achieve 85-90 mph.

Sure, for this performance she needs to be fitted with not less than six Mercury 500R outboards!

Takeaways

You can expect the top speed of a center console to be anywhere from 30 to 100+ mph, and they cruise anywhere from 20 to 35 mph.

The maximum speed of these boats is dependent on many factors like their overall length, beam, hull design, weight, features, load, and more.

But as a rule of thumb, longer and heavier models can handle higher speeds comfortably and safely.

Based on our research, the average entry-level (15-20 ft.) model tops out at around 30-50 mph but performance models in this size range can achieve speeds of up to 90 mph.

You can also expect the average top speed of the average mid-sized (21-30 ft.) and large (31-65 ft.) center consoles to be in the neighborhood of 40-60 mph.

High-performance models fitted with powerful engine packages can reach up to 80-100+ mph.

As one may expect, these luxury vessels come with hefty price tags!