Pilothouse Powerboats for Sale

Pilothouse

A cabin boat that's popular as a fishing boat, workboat or training boat at boating schools. Did you know? The name pilothouse comes from English: British pilots used to travel out in similarly built boats to ships lying at anchor in the roadstead.

What is a pilothouse boat?

The name of this boat type has caused plenty of confusion over the years. The term originally comes from English and referred to a small powerboat type that pilots once used to reach the ships they were to guide safely into harbor. Taking their cue from these (early) pilot boats, the boats offered today are generally smaller powerboats with a mostly spartan cabin and a helm station either inside the cabin or to one side (usually to starboard) against the aft cabin bulkhead. These pilothouse boats no longer have anything in common with modern pilot boats, which are fitted with very powerful engines and are fully seaworthy.

Another version of the pilothouse boat

Another interpretation defines pilothouse boats by their helm station inside the cabin, or at least under the cabin roof. With an open cockpit and a mostly "understated" cabin superstructure – optionally with a passage through to the bow – the cabin boat is a popular choice as a fishing boat, utility boat or even as a training boat for boating schools.
Pilothouse boats almost always come with a small galley, several seats and a folding table. In older versions, a chemical toilet or even a wet room is rarely found. In newer models, this is slowly becoming standard.

In France, an extended version – extended in the sense of more comfortably equipped – has been gaining ground for some years now. Designed above all for inshore fishing or angling trips, but also for small families, these boats are very well appointed below deck compared with many other pilothouse boats and offer enough space for shorter outings or "bay-hopping".

Pilothouse boats are usually displacement boats

Pilothouse or cabin-house boats are usually displacement boats and, depending on their size or intended use, are powered by inboard engines (mostly diesel) or by one or two outboard engines.