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Boats · Top 10

Top 10 Boats for Long Island Sound in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
Regal 34 SAV
Direct answer

The Regal 34 SAV is the best boat for Long Island Sound, with a 300-gallon tank and a 21° deadrise. The Grady-White Freedom 285 (214 gal) is #2 and the Robalo R270 (180 gal, 23° deadrise) is #3, ranked on each builder’s published fuel capacity.

At a glance

#PickFuelBest for
1Regal 34 SAV300 galThe longest range and the biggest boat on the list
2Grady-White Freedom 285214 gal (standard)A dual console for fishing, towing water toys and coastal cruising
3Robalo R270180 galFishing the Sound in a center console with the steepest deadrise here
4Boston Whaler 280 Vantage167 galFamilies who want to fish, swim and tow from one dual console
5Cobalt R31160 galA 31-foot boat for day trips across the Sound
6Sea Ray Sundancer 320158 galWeekends aboard with a cabin and an enclosed head
7Pursuit D 266139 U.S. gal (net tank capacity)A 27-foot dual console with up to 400 hp
8Sea Hunt Ultra 255 SE120 galThe lowest published price on the list
9Cutwater C-248 C116 U.S. galOvernight trips in a trailerable coupe with an 8 ft 6 in beam
10Chris-Craft Launch 28 GT Sterndrive85 galA luxury bowrider with a 22° deadrise

Pick by what you want

Best overall
Regal 34 SAV
Best dual console
Grady-White Freedom 285
Steepest deadrise
Robalo R270
Lowest published price
Sea Hunt Ultra 255 SE
Best for sleeping aboard
Cutwater C-248 C

The ranking

1

Regal 34 SAV

Regal 34 SAV
Answrs VerdictThe best boat for long runs on the Sound.
Fuel: 300 galLength: 35 ft 3 in (overall)Deadrise: 21°Dry weight: 15,200 lbsPrice: Not listed on the model page; Regal points buyers to Build Your Boat and Find Your Dealer

The Regal 34 SAV is 35 ft 3 in long with a 300-gallon tank, a 21° deadrise and a 15,200 lbs dry weight.

Go ifThe longest range and the biggest boat on the list
Skip ifYou want a published price before you shop
Why #1 over #2: Its 300-gallon tank is the largest here, ahead of the Freedom 285’s 214 gallons.
2

Grady-White Freedom 285

Grady-White Freedom 285
Answrs VerdictThe best dual console.
Fuel: 214 gal (standard)Length: 28 ft (center line, without engines)Deadrise: 19 degrees at the transom (SeaV2 progression)Max horsepower: 700 hpUse: Grady-White says it is equally at home fishing offshore, towing water toys or cruising the coast

The Grady-White Freedom 285 is a 28-foot dual console on Grady-White’s SeaV2 hull, with a 214-gallon standard tank, a 19-degree transom deadrise and up to 700 hp.

Go ifA dual console for fishing, towing water toys and coastal cruising
Skip ifYou want a published price before you shop
Why #2 over #3: It carries 214 gallons and takes up to 700 hp, to the R270’s 180 gallons and 500 hp.
3

Robalo R270

Robalo R270
Answrs VerdictThe fishing center console pick.
Fuel: 180 galLength: 27 ft 6 in (LOA)Deadrise: 23°Max horsepower: 500 hpPrice: Not published; Robalo says to see your local dealer for pricing

The Robalo R270 is a 27 ft 6 in center console with a 23° deadrise, a 180-gallon tank and up to 500 hp.

Go ifFishing the Sound in a center console with the steepest deadrise here
Skip ifYou want a published price before you shop
Why #3 over #4: Its 23° deadrise is the steepest here, and it carries 180 gallons to the 280 Vantage’s 167.
4

Boston Whaler 280 Vantage

Boston Whaler 280 Vantage
Answrs VerdictThe family dual console pick.
Fuel: 167 galLength: 27 ft 9 in (overall)Max horsepower: 800 hpPersons capacity: 12Use: Boston Whaler says it is well-equipped for fishing and suited for swimming, tubing and other watersports

The Boston Whaler 280 Vantage is a 27 ft 9 in dual console rated for 12 people and up to 800 hp, with a 167-gallon tank.

Go ifFamilies who want to fish, swim and tow from one dual console
Skip ifYou need a published deadrise to compare hulls
Why #4 over #5: It carries 167 gallons to the R31’s 160 and is rated for 12 people.
5

Cobalt R31

Cobalt R31
Answrs VerdictThe 31-foot day boat pick.
Fuel: 160 galLength: 31 ft 5 in with swim platformDeadrise: 21 degrees at the transomBeam: 9 ft 10 inDraft: 44 in with drives down (twin engines)

The Cobalt R31 is 31 ft 5 in with its swim platform, with a 160-gallon tank, a 21-degree transom deadrise and a 9 ft 10 in beam.

Go ifA 31-foot boat for day trips across the Sound
Skip ifYou want more than 160 gallons of fuel
Why #5 over #6: It carries 160 gallons to the Sundancer 320’s 158.
6

Sea Ray Sundancer 320

Sea Ray Sundancer 320
Answrs VerdictThe weekend cruiser pick.
Fuel: 158 galLength: 32 ft 10 in (overall)Deadrise: 21°Engines: Standard twin Mercury MerCruiser 6.2L MPI ECT engines with Bravo Three X drivesCabin: Sundancer cabins have sleeping accommodations and an enclosed head

The Sea Ray Sundancer 320 is a 32 ft 10 in cruiser with a 158-gallon tank, a 21° deadrise and standard twin Mercury MerCruiser 6.2L MPI ECT engines with Bravo Three X drives.

Go ifWeekends aboard with a cabin and an enclosed head
Skip ifYou want outboard power (Sea Ray sells a separate Sundancer 320 Outboard)
Why #6 over #7: It carries 158 gallons to the D 266’s 139, and Sea Ray lists sleeping accommodations and an enclosed head in Sundancer cabins.
7

Pursuit D 266

Pursuit D 266
Answrs VerdictThe twin-outboard dual console pick.
Fuel: 139 U.S. gal (net tank capacity)Length: 27 ft 4 in (L.O.A.)Deadrise: 21°Max horsepower: 400 hpPrice: Not published; Pursuit says to contact your Pursuit dealer for pricing

The Pursuit D 266 is a 27 ft 4 in dual console with 139 U.S. gallons of net tank capacity, a 21° deadrise and up to 400 hp.

Go ifA 27-foot dual console with up to 400 hp
Skip ifYou want a published price before you shop
Why #7 over #8: It carries 139 gallons to the Ultra 255 SE’s 120.
8

Sea Hunt Ultra 255 SE

Sea Hunt Ultra 255 SE
Answrs VerdictThe best-value center console.
Fuel: 120 galPrice: Starting at $142,119Length: 24 ft 11 inMax horsepower: 350 hpDraft: 14 in

The Sea Hunt Ultra 255 SE is a 24 ft 11 in center console with a 120-gallon tank and up to 350 hp, starting at $142,119.

Go ifThe lowest published price on the list
Skip ifYou want a boat longer than 25 feet
Why #8 over #9: It starts at $142,119, below the C-248 C’s $169,937 ready to cruise price, and carries 120 gallons to its 116.
9

Cutwater C-248 C

Cutwater C-248 C
Answrs VerdictThe trailerable overnighter.
Fuel: 116 U.S. galPrice: Ready to cruise price $169,937 (taxes not included; dealer prep and freight may apply)Length: 30 ft 10 in overall (motor down)Beam: 8 ft 6 in (trailerable)Berths: Forward berth, a dinette that becomes a berth for two, and a mid-berth

The Cutwater C-248 C is a 30 ft 10 in coupe (motor down) with an 8 ft 6 in beam and a 116-gallon tank. It has a forward berth, a dinette that becomes a berth for two and a mid-berth, at a $169,937 ready to cruise price.

Go ifOvernight trips in a trailerable coupe with an 8 ft 6 in beam
Skip ifYou need room for a big fishing crew in the cockpit
Why #9 over #10: It carries 116 gallons to the Launch 28 GT’s 85, at $169,937 versus $280,740.
10

Chris-Craft Launch 28 GT Sterndrive

Chris-Craft Launch 28 GT Sterndrive
Answrs VerdictThe luxury bowrider pick.
Fuel: 85 galPrice: Starting at $280,740Length: 28 ft 9 inDeadrise: 22°Max horsepower: 430 hp

The Chris-Craft Launch 28 GT Sterndrive is 28 ft 9 in with a 22° deadrise, an 85-gallon tank and up to 430 hp, starting at $280,740.

Go ifA luxury bowrider with a 22° deadrise
Skip ifYou need range for long runs

How we ranked these

We ranked each boat for Long Island Sound on its builder’s published fuel capacity first (range for runs across open water), with deadrise and length shown for handling chop. Every model is listed on its builder’s site now; prices are shown only where the builder publishes one. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the best boat for Long Island Sound?

The Regal 34 SAV: 35 ft 3 in long with a 300-gallon tank and a 21° deadrise, the most fuel on this list.

Which boat here has the steepest deadrise?

The Robalo R270, at 23°, with a 180-gallon tank and up to 500 hp.

Which boats on this list publish a price?

Sea Hunt lists the Ultra 255 SE starting at $142,119, Cutwater lists a $169,937 ready to cruise price for the C-248 C, and Chris-Craft lists the Launch 28 GT starting at $280,740.

Which boat is best for sleeping aboard?

The Cutwater C-248 C has a forward berth, a dinette that becomes a berth for two and a mid-berth, and it is trailerable with an 8 ft 6 in beam.

Fuel capacity (gal) at a glance

Chris-Craft Launch 28 GT Sterndrive85 gal
Cutwater C-248 C116 gal
Sea Hunt Ultra 255 SE120 gal
Pursuit D 266139 gal
Sea Ray Sundancer 320158 gal
Cobalt R31160 gal
Boston Whaler 280 Vantage167 gal
Robalo R270180 gal
Grady-White Freedom 285214 gal
Regal 34 SAV300 gal
Fuel capacity (gal), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

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