When picking out a bay boat, you aren’t just picking it out for yourself. You are picking a boat for you, your friends, and your family. Whether you are making memories with your family or bringing all your friends out for a day on the water, you need bay boat seating that can comfortably accommodate you and your crew.

One of the best ways to make your crew feel comfortable is through seating. A boat that has a good seating layout is able to support all of your anglers. That way, you can on forming happy memories instead of small inconveniences. 

There are three main categories that bay boat layouts can fall into: seating-first, deck-first, and convertible seating. Seating-first designs prioritize seating over deck space, often including large comfortable lounges that can accommodate large groups of people. Alternatively, deck-first designs focus on having large, stable casting platforms so everyone on the trip can fish together. Lastly, convertible designs can switch between these two extremes, striking a healthy medium in between.

Which layout is best for you and your crew? Here we break down the benefits. detriments, and kinds of groups that are best suited to different layouts. 

The More, the Merrier

For a lot of anglers, the appeal of having a boat is to make memories with your loved ones.. However, with a lot of people comes a demand for lots of bay boat seating. It is important to choose a seating layout that can comfortably accommodate your family, friends, and loved ones.

For example, this “C” shape design is great for comfortably fitting a group of people. Not only is there plenty of space for people to sit on the benches, but the additional cooler seat turns this space from a comfortable lounge into a conversation pit. Additionally, the removable backrests at the ends of the “C” shape make it so your friends and family can face forward during windy trips out on the water. One great example of this layout is the Blazer Bay 2440.

The Pros:

• Seating for the Whole Family: There is plenty of space to accommodate a large group of people on your fishing trip.
• Flexible Boat Seating: With the use of removable backrests, this seating can convert between backward- and forward-facing.
• Additional Storage: Underneath the cushions, there are two rod lockers and an insulated cooler.

The Cons:

• Either Storage or Seats: Storage compartments cannot be easily accessed when someone is sitting in the seat. However, this usually is not an issue since the compartments under the seating are rod lockers and an insulated cooler. These are most commonly accessed when people are standing on the deck of the boat fishing, not when resting.
• Limited Deck Space: Because the lounge takes up roughly a fourth of the boat’s total length, there is less deck space on this model than there is on other boat models.

However, for some people, they are more focused on the “fishing” part of their fishing boat. That is where the following designs come into consideration.

Less Sitting, More Fishing

At the end of the day, the purpose of a fishing boat is to go fishing. For those more focused on the sport, deck space is of utmost importance. Not only do you need storage for all of your gear, but you also need a large, stable casting platform.

That is where these two deck designs come into the forefront. The 2700 Hybrid combines family-friendly design with a professional fishing experience. The bow step seat cushion provides comfortable bay boat seating. The smaller bench means this deck design can focus on storage including an anchor box, two macerated fish boxes, two rod lockers, and a large multipurpose storage compartment.

For those really prioritizing the “fishing” part of their fishing trip, the 2550 GTS offers a professional experience while still featuring a bow step seat cushion. As this model is smaller, it does not have the macerated fish boxes of the 2700 Hybrid.

If taking a large group, the 2700 Hybrid is better suited to supporting a large group of anglers. However, those more focused on the professional fishing experience, the 2550 GTS offers a similar layout in a smaller model.

The Pros:

• Plenty of Deck Space: Both the 2700 Hybrid and the 2550 GTS prioritize deck space. Both feature large, stable casting platforms both at the bow and aft of the boat.
• Bench Style Seating: In addition to the cooler seat located at the front of the center console, the bow step seat cushion on the 2700 Hybrid and 2550 GTS offers a comfortable place to rest while traveling between fishing holes.
• Easy Access Storage: While additional storage is available under the bow step seat cushions, all other storage compartments are easy to access without making anyone stand from their seats.

The Cons:

• Limited Seating: Because these boat designs prioritize deck space, they trade the comfort of a large lounge for a smaller bow step seat cushion. For large groups out on the water for long periods of time, this can present issues for comfortability.
• Seating Used as a Step: Because the front bow step doubles as a seating bench, people will often step up on the cushion to move from the center console area to the nose of the boat. For anglers that do not like stepping where you sit, this can be inconvenient.

These designs are great for families focused on making memories fishing rather than just sitting around. However, it can be difficult to choose between seating and deck space – especially because you don’t have to.

The Best of Both Worlds 

It can be difficult to choose between comfortable seating and plentiful deck space. By choosing a boat with a convertible front deck layout, you can get the best of both worlds. Not only do you have plenty of comfortable seating for long boat rides, but the space can easily convert into a raised fishing platform in a moment’s notice. 

A great example of this convertible layout is the Makaira 2800 and 2600. Both of these boats feature a similar layout with a large, padded platform that can easily convert into a raised fishing deck by removing the cushions. While the Makaira 2600’s smaller size only has additional space for two multipurpose storage compartments under the cushions, the Makaira 2800 has the space to include an additional baitwell, as seen below.

The Pros:

• Ultimate Convertability: the front lounge can convert between a padded lounging platform, a sturdy fishing platform, and a picnic table
• Added Storage: This design allows for additional storage underneath the padding of the seats. On the 2600 Makaira, there are two multipurpose compartments, while the Makaira 2800 adds a baitwell under the center most cushion

The Cons:

• Table Storage: When the lounge is being used for just seating with no middle section, the convertible tabletop/casting platform addition needs to be stored away. It fits well within the center console built-in restroom, but it can get in the way when the restroom is in use.
• Expensive: The Makaira 2800 and 2600 offer a lot of amenities and are some of the largest boats in the Blazer Boats lineup. With these features and size comes an increase in price.

Choosing the right boat for you requires a lot of considerations, with seating layout being one of the most important. For a further look at what Blazer Bay has to offer, check out our online bay boat catalog.