Pilothouse Boat Buying Guide
When shopping for the perfect boat, you’ve got so many options available to you that it can be overwhelming. If you’re after a boat with an enclosed cabin that can help you stay warm when boating off the chilly Oregon Coast, a pilothouse boat might be the perfect choice for you. Here’s some more information about pilothouse boats so you can decide if they’re the right fit for your boating needs.
What Is a Pilothouse Boat?
Let’s take some time to more thoroughly understand what these boats are. Pilothouse boats are designed with a special interior cockpit enclosed in a house that has windows on all sides to allow you a full view of the water around your boat. This means you can stay safely indoors in inclement weather. Some models may have controls on the inside, but others will simply have the controls a few steps away on the outside of the pilothouse.
Features of Pilothouse Boats
The cabin of a pilothouse boat may have any number of features within it. In the past, they were relegated to work boats for off-shore fishermen and other commercial workers, but now, recreational boaters can enjoy the benefits of pilothouse boats, too. Some cabins may be small and only suitable for one or two people at a time, while others are more expansive to provide space for a full crew to spend time in.
Certain models may have climate-control options to keep the cabin heated or cooled, but this isn’t universal. Other features include windshield wipers and window defoggers to keep your view as clear as possible. There may be additional doors at the sides to provide access to the sides of the boat, too. The roof may have surfaces for radomes or antenna.
How Are Pilothouse Boats Used?
Pilothouse boats can be used for simple recreational cruising in regions where the weather may not always be so accommodating to boaters, such as our rainy and chilly Pacific Northwest. If you’re after a way to explore the Pacific coast without being wet and chilled to the bone, a pilothouse boat is the ideal option.
Many people use pilothouse boats for fishing excursions, so these boats may be equipped with more fishing-oriented features like rod holders and baitwells. Another use for pilothouse boats is for longer trips that involve overnight cruising, since the cabin provides a safe space to sleep and stay warm.
Stop by our dealership in Clackamas, OR, to check out our amazing selection of new and used pilothouse boats for sale. Portland Marine & Electronics is proud to be your Oregon ABYC and NMEA certified boat dealer, serving the greater Portland metro as well as our neighbors in Vancouver, WA.