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Boats · Top 10

Top 10 Bay Boats in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
Pathfinder 2400 Tournament
Direct answer

The Pathfinder 2400 Tournament is the best bay boat, with a 14-inch draft, 88 gallons of fuel and up to 350 hp from $104,187. The Sportsman Masters 247 ($113,190) is #2 and the Robalo 246 Cayman, with 90 gallons, is #3.

At a glance

#PickLengthBest for
1Pathfinder 2400 Tournament24 ft 4 inFishing shallow water and bigger water from one boat
2Sportsman Masters 24724 ft 4 inA 350 hp bay boat with a published price
3Robalo 246 Cayman24 ft 6 inOffshore trips and coastline cruises
4Sea Hunt BX22BR22 ft 10 inBuyers who want the lowest starting price
5Skeeter SX24124 ft 1 inRunning from brackish water to bluewater
6Shearwater 25 LTD24 ft 6 inAnglers who want up to 400 hp
7Key West 250 BR25 ft 3 inInshore and nearshore fishing in one hull
8Tidewater 2410 Bay Max24 ft 4 inA 24-footer with a published price
9Sea Fox 251 Bay Fox24 ft 4 inBay fishing on a 24-foot hull
10NauticStar 224 Bay22 ft 6 inA smaller bay boat with a published MSRP

Pick by what you want

Best overall
Pathfinder 2400 Tournament
Best value
Sea Hunt BX22BR
Most fuel
Robalo 246 Cayman
Most power
Shearwater 25 LTD
Best compact
NauticStar 224 Bay

The ranking

1

Pathfinder 2400 Tournament

Pathfinder 2400 Tournament
Answrs VerdictThe best all-round bay boat.
Length: 24 ft 4 inDraft: 14 inMax horsepower: 350 hpFuel capacity: 88 galPrice: Starting from $104,187 with a Yamaha F250XB

The Pathfinder 2400 Tournament is 24 ft 4 in with a 14-inch draft, 88 gallons of fuel and up to 350 hp, starting from $104,187 with a Yamaha F250XB.

Go ifFishing shallow water and bigger water from one boat
Skip ifYou want the lowest price
Why #1 over #2: Its 88-gallon tank tops the Masters 247’s 65 gallons, and its $104,187 start is below the Masters’ $113,190.
2

Sportsman Masters 247

Sportsman Masters 247
Answrs VerdictThe proven 24-footer.
Length: 24 ft 4 inDraft: 14 inMax horsepower: 350 hpFuel capacity: 65 galPrice: Starting at $113,190

The Sportsman Masters 247 is 24 ft 4 in with a 14-inch draft, 65 gallons and up to 350 hp, starting at $113,190.

Go ifA 350 hp bay boat with a published price
Skip ifYou want the biggest fuel tank
Why #2 over #3: Its 14-inch draft is shallower than the 246 Cayman’s 16-inch draft-up figure.
3

Robalo 246 Cayman

Robalo 246 Cayman
Answrs VerdictThe long-range bay boat.
Length: 24 ft 6 inDraft (up): 16 inMax horsepower: 350 hpFuel capacity: 90 galDeadrise: 16 deg

The Robalo 246 Cayman is 24 ft 6 in with a 16-degree deadrise, 90 gallons of fuel, a 16-inch draft up and up to 350 hp.

Go ifOffshore trips and coastline cruises
Skip ifYou fish the skinniest water
Why #3 over #4: Its 90 gallons and 350 hp top the BX22BR’s 53 gallons and 250 hp.
4

Sea Hunt BX22BR

Sea Hunt BX22BR
Answrs VerdictThe value bay boat.
Length: 22 ft 10 inDraft: 13 inMax horsepower: 250 hpFuel capacity: 53 galPrice: Starting at $65,417

The Sea Hunt BX22BR is 22 ft 10 in with a 13-inch draft, 53 gallons and up to 250 hp, starting at $65,417.

Go ifBuyers who want the lowest starting price
Skip ifYou need 300+ hp
Why #4 over #5: Its $65,417 starting price is published; Skeeter shows no price for the SX241.
5

Skeeter SX241

Skeeter SX241
Answrs VerdictThe coast-to-bluewater bay boat.
Length: 24 ft 1 inBeam: 101 inRecommended horsepower: 350 hpFuel capacity: 75 galWeight (approx.): 2,925 lbs

The Skeeter SX241 is 24 ft 1 in with a 101-inch beam, 75 gallons and a 350 hp recommended rating; Skeeter says it runs from brackish water to bluewater.

Go ifRunning from brackish water to bluewater
Skip ifYou need a published price
Why #5 over #6: Skeeter gives firm specs (350 hp recommended, 2,925 lbs), where Shearwater lists the 25 LTD’s draft only as an estimate.
6

Shearwater 25 LTD

Shearwater 25 LTD
Answrs VerdictThe high-power bay boat.
Length: 24 ft 6 inEstimated draft: 13 in +Horsepower range: 300 - 400 hpFuel capacity: 80 galDeadrise: 17 deg

The Shearwater 25 LTD is 24 ft 6 in with a 17-degree deadrise, 80 gallons, an estimated 13-inch-plus draft and a 300 - 400 hp range.

Go ifAnglers who want up to 400 hp
Skip ifYou want a smaller outboard
Why #6 over #7: It takes up to 400 hp, more than the 250 BR’s 300 hp max.
7

Key West 250 BR

Key West 250 BR
Answrs VerdictThe Bay Reef flagship.
Length: 25 ft 3 inDraft: 14 inMax horsepower: 300 hpFuel capacity: 80 galDeadrise: 19 deg

The Key West 250 BR is 25 ft 3 in with a 14-inch draft, a 19-degree deadrise, 80 gallons and up to 300 hp.

Go ifInshore and nearshore fishing in one hull
Skip ifYou want 350+ hp
Why #7 over #8: Its 80 gallons top the 2410 Bay Max’s 77.
8

Tidewater 2410 Bay Max

Tidewater 2410 Bay Max
Answrs VerdictThe priced 24-footer.
Length: 24 ft 4 inMax horsepower: 300 hpFuel capacity: 77 galDeadrise: 15 degPrice: Starting at $79,820

The Tidewater 2410 Bay Max is 24 ft 4 in with a 15-degree deadrise, 77 gallons and up to 300 hp, starting at $79,820.

Go ifA 24-footer with a published price
Skip ifYou want 350+ hp
Why #8 over #9: Its 77 gallons top the 251 Bay Fox’s 72.
9

Sea Fox 251 Bay Fox

Sea Fox 251 Bay Fox
Answrs VerdictThe Bay Fox.
Length: 24 ft 4 inDraft (hull): 14 inMax horsepower: 300 hpFuel capacity: 72 galDeadrise: 15 deg

The Sea Fox 251 Bay Fox is 24 ft 4 in with a 14-inch hull draft, a 15-degree deadrise, 72 gallons and up to 300 hp.

Go ifBay fishing on a 24-foot hull
Skip ifYou need a published price
Why #9 over #10: Its 72 gallons top the 224 Bay’s 61.
10

NauticStar 224 Bay

NauticStar 224 Bay
Answrs VerdictThe compact pick.
Length: 22 ft 6 inDraft: 13 inMax horsepower: 300 hpFuel capacity: 61 galPrice: Standard MSRP $67,144

The NauticStar 224 Bay is 22 ft 6 in with a 13-inch draft, 61 gallons and up to 300 hp; its standard MSRP is $67,144.

Go ifA smaller bay boat with a published MSRP
Skip ifYou need a big fuel tank

How we ranked these

We ranked each boat on what its builder publishes for bay fishing (fuel range, draft and horsepower), then on published starting price where one is listed. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the best bay boat in 2027?

The Pathfinder 2400 Tournament: 24 ft 4 in, a 14-inch draft, 88 gallons of fuel and up to 350 hp, starting from $104,187 with a Yamaha F250XB.

Which bay boat has the biggest fuel tank?

The Robalo 246 Cayman, with 90 gallons and up to 350 hp.

What is the cheapest bay boat on this list?

The Sea Hunt BX22BR, starting at $65,417.

How much does a Tidewater 2410 Bay Max cost?

Tidewater lists it starting at $79,820, with up to 300 hp and 77 gallons of fuel.

Fuel capacity (as published) at a glance

Sea Hunt BX22BR53 gal
NauticStar 224 Bay61 gal
Sportsman Masters 24765 gal
Sea Fox 251 Bay Fox72 gal
Skeeter SX24175 gal
Tidewater 2410 Bay Max77 gal
Shearwater 25 LTD80 gal
Key West 250 BR80 gal
Pathfinder 2400 Tournament88 gal
Robalo 246 Cayman90 gal
Fuel capacity (as published), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.