Bryant Boats for Sale

The Thunder Craft founder's second company

Jim Bryant started Thunder Craft Boats in his mother's garage in the early 1960s, in the Knoxville area. He sold it in 1989 and in 1990 founded Bryant Boats in nearby Sweetwater with his son Joe and other family members. Trade Only Today reported his death at 81.

In 2012 John Dorton, former president of MasterCraft, bought a controlling stake, with his son Ben as brand manager. Their goal was to grow the dealer network beyond the Southeast and modernize designs that boats.com called a bit dated. The 21-foot Speranza, 23-foot Calandra and 27-foot Potenza were the first all-new models of that era.

Bryant says it leaves hulls curing in the mold for three days, a day longer than the industry standard, and that it puts the fuel tank in the bow of every boat to help it plane faster. The boats are wood-free.

The Calandra

The Calandra is 23 feet 4 inches long with an 8-foot-6 beam, 20 degrees of deadrise and a 49-gallon tank. It weighs 4,750 pounds dry, carries 13 people and takes MerCruiser or Volvo sterndrives from 250 to 430 hp, including Volvo's Forward Drive. A Calandra 23 Surf version was also built for wakesurfing.

Boats.com clocked 51.5 mph with a 350 hp MerCruiser 6.2. The reviewer said the deep-vee hull sliced neatly through wakes and chop but didn't give much sense of speed, and called it the quietest of the runabouts he ran back to back at that engine's launch. He also praised the details: aligned stitching, beveled edges and a blind-mounted dash. Base price then was about $70,000 with the 6.2 and a trailer.

The Speranza

The Speranza is 21 feet 4 inches with the same 8-foot-6 beam, 18 degrees of deadrise, 39 gallons of fuel and room for 11. BoatDealers.ca counted ten MerCruiser and twelve Volvo sterndrive choices, from a 4.3L Alpha up to a 377 Mag Bravo III. The observer seat faces aft for towing.

Used prices

Bryants rarely come up. In late 2026 Boat Trader showed only two Calandras, both 2018s: one in the New Orleans area at $44,995 with a 430 hp Volvo Penta and 500 hours, and a Calandra 23 Surf in Seneca, South Carolina at $46,900.

Buying checks for a Bryant

Inspect the sterndrive. Nearly every Bryant is a sterndrive. Have the bellows, gimbal bearing, U-joints and outdrive oil checked, and ask for impeller dates.

Check the bow fuel tank. With the tank forward, look at the fill and vent fittings and smell for fuel in the bow storage.

Confirm the model year era. Boats built after the 2012 ownership change are on newer designs. A pre-2012 Bryant is a different boat at a lower price.

Ask about parts support. Bryant is a small builder. Before buying, ask a dealer how easy it is to source upholstery and windshield parts for the model.