Sportfishing boats for sale

Convertible or express

A convertible puts the helm on a flybridge above a salon and cabins, with a large cockpit aft for fighting fish. An express keeps the helm on the main deck under a hardtop, which saves weight and is easier to handle, with a cabin forward. Builders like Viking, Hatteras and Bertram made their names with convertibles. Viking's first fiberglass boat came in 1971, and its 40 Sedan Convertible stayed in production for 16 years. See Viking, Hatteras and Bertram.

The Bertram story in numbers

The Bertram 31 grew from Dick Bertram's 30 foot deep-V Moppie, which won the 1960 Miami-Nassau race. Owners list the production 31 at 30'7" with an 11'2" beam, and most left the factory with twin 330 hp gas engines. Power & Motoryacht tested the modern 35 in 2017. With twin 507 hp Caterpillar diesels it averaged 36.1 knots at full throttle burning 53 gph, and 30.6 knots at 2,500 rpm on 36 gph.

A tournament express

Sport Fishing tested the Topaz 32 Express in 2004. It is 34'8" long with a 12'2" beam and weighs 20,500 lb. On twin 420 hp Cat 3126 diesels it reached 35.9 mph and cruised at 31 mph on 21.4 gph, for over 450 miles of range on 400 gallons. See Topaz and Gillikin for Carolina builds.

Dated asking prices

Fall 2026 Boat Trader listings show how wide the market is. A 1978 Bertram 31 was $14,900 in Kemah, Texas, while a restored 1973 31 was $199,000 in Stuart, Florida. A 1989 Bertram 43 Convertible was $179,700 in Miami and a 2017 35 was $475,000. Topaz 32 Expresses from 2004 and 2005 were $114,900 to $149,900.

What to inspect

Diesels are the big cost. Get a separate engine survey with oil analysis and look at hours, maintenance logs and any rebuild paperwork. On older boats, ask about fuel tanks, since replacing them on a 1970s or 1980s convertible can mean cutting into the deck. Check the shafts, struts and rudders, and look for soft spots in the cockpit sole and flybridge. Test the fishing systems too: the livewell, fish boxes, outriggers and any fighting chair base.

Questions for the seller

Ask whether the boat fished tournaments or charters, since a working boat racks up hours fast. Find out when the bottom was last painted, the running gear last pulled and the generator last serviced. Ask for the electronics list with install dates, and whether any repower or tank work came with receipts and a yard invoice.

Where to browse

Most sportfishers are on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Browse Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey and Texas.