just a personal preference!!!!

I think it's a matter of boat size ComaToast.

Larger boats work well with a center console because there's lots of room to walk around the console.

Smaller boats (18 ft. or less?) are better off with a side console because it allows occupants to safely walk up the center of the hull, rather than along a narrow space between the console and the sides.

the reason is that on a center consol you will be sitting further back in the boat for those rough bays, and a windshield boat for some reason is always in the front, unless you get custom made.

The real reason that you see all of those salt water boats running around with center consoles is b/c a long time a go one of the rybovich brothers decided to build a small fishing boat with the steering in the middle. The other rybovich brother told him that he was an idiot b/c no one would ever want a boat with the steering in the middle.

http://michaelrybovichandsons.com/history-long-08.html


His other love was fishing. Not so much the offshore variety that his brother so enjoyed, but more the inshore variety. He still holds several records at the West Palm Beach Fishing Club. His interest in Tarpon fishing gave him an idea that proved to be another Rybovich innovation. Emil wanted a small boat that would provide him speed and stability with a shallow draft and an uncluttered cockpit from stem to stern. He couldn't find what he wanted and so decided to build one. Built as a prototype center console in 1961, the boat was a forerunner to what Mako, Aquasport, Seacraft, and many others would become famous for in the ensuing years. When Emil explained his concept to his curious brother, Tommy replied 'who would want such a boat—that's asinine'. Emil promptly lettered the stern of his new creation with his brother's observation, 'ASININE'. He sold the boat to a yard customer and built and sold three more in the next two years. The original name before sale on each transom was 'ASININE'.

it has a lot to do with the fish you catch, its not uncommon to be fighting a big fish and need to move around the boat a lot and its easy to see where a center console wont get in your way or block your line while a side console limits your ease of movement with big fish. same goes for reaching your catch for netting

When fishing saltwater your going to encounter much rougher sea situations vs fresh water. The further toward the bow of a boat your sitting, the rougher the ride. The center console allows you to stand up and to drive so when you're in a 2-4 foot chop, this allows your knees to bend and flex to help absorb the pounding instead of your butt.