Blackfin Boats for Sale
Blackfin is two different boats depending on the year. The originals from the 1970s through the 1990s built a name as some of the best-riding offshore fishing boats, and since 2017 the name has been on a new line of Florida-built center consoles.
The original Blackfins
The first Blackfins hit the water in 1973. Through the 1980s and 1990s the brand was known for its ride offshore. Phil Friedman, who tested several as an editor at Power & Motoryacht, told Trade Only Today in 2013 that "you would be crazy to change the design of the bottom." The Blackfin 32 traced back to the Blackfin 31 that Charles Jannace designed in the mid-1970s.
The company was owned by Carl Herndon, who later founded Jupiter Boats. It fell on hard times in the late 1990s. Detroit Diesel bought it out and sold the assets to investor Alvin Wright.
The quiet years
Blackfin never fully went away. From 2001, Miami builders Jose Suarez and Gustavo Cardona built about a dozen boats a year to order in Opa Locka, roughly 100 in total, including a 27-foot center console and outboard-powered 34 Open and 34 Fisharound models lengthened from the Blackfin 32. They tried to bring the brand back to a wider market at the 2013 Palm Beach show.
The new Blackfin (2017 on)
The current Blackfin debuted at the 2017 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, built in Florida by a new company. The first models were the 212CC and 272CC center consoles. The current lineup runs from the 23CC to the 40CC, with dual consoles (25DC, 27DC, 30DC) and hybrid bay boats (24HB and 26HB). New Blackfins use Mercury or Yamaha outboards and come with a lifetime structural hull warranty.
The new boats share the name and the look but not the molds or the builder of the classic Blackfins. When you read a listing, the year tells you which you're looking at.
What to check on a used Blackfin
Classic inboards. Older Blackfin sportfish usually run diesel or gas inboards. Get a marine survey and an engine survey with oil analysis. Look at the shafts, struts, cutless bearings and rudders.
Core and deck. On older boats, check for wet core in the deck and around fittings. A surveyor with a moisture meter is the way to do it.
Fuel tanks. On older boats, ask about the age and condition of the fuel tanks. Replacing them can mean cutting the deck.
Refits. Many classic Blackfins have been repowered or rebuilt. Ask who did the work and get the records.
New-generation boats. Get the outboard hours and service records, check the T-top welds and mounts, and run every pump and livewell.
Saltwater wear. Look at the trailer if there is one, the steering, and the electrical connections for corrosion.
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Frequently asked questions
When were Blackfin boats first built?
The first Blackfins hit the water in 1973.
Are new Blackfins the same as the old ones?
No. The current boats, built since 2017, carry the name but come from a different builder. Classic Blackfins are mostly 1970s to 1990s inboard sportfish.
What models does Blackfin build now?
Center consoles from the 23CC to the 40CC, dual consoles (25DC, 27DC, 30DC) and hybrid bay boats (24HB, 26HB).
Who owned the original Blackfin company?
Carl Herndon, who later founded Jupiter Boats.