Key West Boats – Technical and Historical Guide

ABOUT THIS BOAT BRAND

Key West Boats is an American boat manufacturer renowned for building value-focused, unsinkable family fishing boats since its founding by Hutch Holseberg in 1986 in Summerville, South Carolina. From early models like the 1700 and the landmark 1720 CC introduced in 1992, the brand has emphasized no-wood, no-rot construction, upright foam flotation, and a balance of fishing capability with family comfort. Over nearly four decades, Key West Boats has expanded into a full-spectrum saltwater lineup that ranges from inshore skiffs and bay boats to blue water center consoles, including the Billistic offshore series introduced in the mid‑2010s, while remaining independently owned and operated. Its 10-year structural hull warranty, long-running best sellers such as the 239 FS, and strong presence in U.S. coastal markets have cemented Key West Boats as a trusted name among serious saltwater anglers and recreational boaters alike.

Specializing in outboard-powered saltwater boats, Key West Boats targets serious offshore anglers, inshore fishermen, and family boaters who need versatile center console fishing boats, bay reef models, and dual console family sportsman designs. Core lines such as the Center Console series (including the 1720 CC and 260 CC), the Bay Reef series (210 BR and 230 BR), and the Family Sportsman / Dual Family Sportsman models (219 FS, 239 FS, 239 DFS) illustrate the evolution from early inshore hulls to ocean-capable, deep-V and stepped-hull designs suited for nearshore and offshore runs. Typical technical features include Yamaha outboard power up to 500 HP, self-bailing cockpits, fully foamed fiberglass stringer systems, upright closed-cell foam flotation, multiple aerated livewells for tournament fishing, extensive gunwale and console rod storage, and integrated swim platforms with boarding ladders. This focus on practical fishability, blue water safety, and low-maintenance construction makes Key West Boats a preferred choice for buyers seeking durable, center console fishing boats that can comfortably serve both serious fishing missions and family cruising.

WHAT MAKES THIS BOAT BRAND SPECIAL?

Key West Boats stands out by engineering unsinkable, family-friendly fishing boats that blend offshore capability with real-world comfort. The brand’s no-wood, composite construction and foam-filled stringer systems deliver a remarkably solid, quiet ride while eliminating the long-term rot concerns found in traditional builds. Key West Boats optimizes hull design with efficient running surfaces that plane quickly, track straight, and stay dry in a chop, giving owners confidence whether they are working inshore creeks or running to nearshore wrecks. Thoughtful layouts with self-bailing cockpits, generous storage, integrated livewells, and smart seating conversions make each model just as practical for a day of serious fishing as it is for cruising with the family.

Built in South Carolina, Key West Boats benefits from a team of experienced craftspeople who understand coastal boating conditions and design accordingly. Skilled laminators, riggers, and finish technicians work with premium gelcoats, composite coring, stainless hardware, and marine-grade wiring to meet or exceed NMMA and USCG standards for safety and structural integrity. Many models carry robust factory warranties that back up the hull, structure, and components, reinforcing buyer confidence in the long-term value of a Key West Boats purchase. Consistent fit and finish, clean rigging, and attention to small details like access panels and serviceability have helped Key West Boats earn a loyal owner community that often praises their boats as safe, dry-riding, and exceptionally versatile within the value-focused segment of the market.

WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF BOATS DOES THIS BOAT BRAND BUILD?

Key West Boats offers a versatile lineup of outboard-powered fishing and family boats designed for coastal and near-offshore use. While specific model sizes are not detailed here, the brand is known for building a spread of compact, easily trailerable boats up through larger, more capable offshore-style designs, all optimized around modern outboard performance. Across the range, Key West Boats typically focuses on center consoles, dual consoles, and bay or hybrid bay boats that balance fishing functionality with family comfort. Their boats emphasize practical layouts, straightforward rigging, and durable construction suited to serious anglers who also value versatile day boating. Below are the types of boats and models Key West Boats builds, along with their key characteristics and uses:

• (Bay Boats) Key West’s Bay Reef series comprises shallow‑draft fiberglass bay boats optimized for inshore and nearshore fishing while still handling open bays and light offshore work. Current models include the 188 BR (18'8" LOA, 7'4" beam, 12" draft, 35 gal fuel, up to 150 HP), 210 BR (21'1" LOA, 8' beam, 12" draft, 50 gal fuel, up to 250 HP), 230 BR (23'1" LOA, 8'6" beam, 12" draft, 80 gal fuel, up to 300 HP), and 250 BR (25'3" LOA, 8'6" beam, 14" draft, 80 gal fuel, up to 300 HP). All are outboard‑powered, wood‑free, foam‑filled modified‑V hulls with upright level flotation. The layouts emphasize large fore and aft casting decks, multiple livewells, lockable rod storage for long rods, and plenty of under‑deck storage. These boats are aimed at anglers targeting species such as redfish, snook, and speckled trout in skinny water while retaining enough deadrise for comfortable bay crossings and occasional nearshore trips with the family.

• (Center Console) Key West’s Family Sportsman and related center‑console models are versatile coastal and offshore platforms that blend serious fishing capability with family comfort. Notable models include the 239 FS (23'9" LOA, 8'6" beam, ~14" draft, 100 gal fuel, up to 300 HP), 244 CC (24'4" LOA, 9' beam, ~16" draft, 130 gal fuel, up to 300 HP), 263 FS (about 26'3" LOA, ~9' beam, roughly 16" draft, around 175 gal fuel, typically up to 500–600 HP twin outboards), and 291 FS (just under 29' LOA, wide‑beam offshore hull, twin outboards in the 500–600+ HP range). These deeper‑V or stepped‑V outboard hulls feature higher freeboard, large fuel capacity, insulated fish boxes, livewells, and abundant rod storage for offshore species such as grouper, snapper, mahi, and kingfish. At the same time, they incorporate wraparound bow seating, aft bench seating, swim platforms with ladders, enclosed heads, and family‑friendly upholstery to support cruising, sandbar raft‑ups, and watersports.

• (Dual Console / Bowrider) Key West’s DFS dual‑console series targets families wanting a bowrider‑style layout with genuine saltwater capability. The 239 DFS, roughly 23'9" LOA with about an 8'6" beam, shares its hull family with the 239 FS center console and is powered by a single outboard up to approximately 300 HP, with fuel capacity around 100 gallons. This split‑console, walkthrough‑windshield design provides generous bow seating, convertible aft and cockpit seating, and convenient access to a roomy head/changing compartment in the port console. Self‑bailing decks, foam flotation, and a fishing‑ready cockpit—where aft cushions can be removed to create more space—allow owners to transition easily between cruising, tubing, skiing, beach‑hopping, and light offshore or nearshore fishing. As with other Key West models, construction is wood‑free with foam‑filled stringers and upright level flotation for added safety.

HOW ARE THESE BOATS BUILT?

Key West boats are built around a hand laid, all‑composite fiberglass hull that eliminates wood to prevent rot and moisture intrusion. The laminate schedule combines layers of woven roving and biaxial fiberglass with polyester and vinyl ester resins to deliver a strong, impact resistant hull with excellent osmotic blister protection. Critical areas such as the keel, chines, transom, and stringer landings are heavily reinforced with additional glass and high density composite coring to manage the loads of modern four stroke outboards and rough water operation. A molded, foam injected fiberglass stringer system creates a rigid grid that ties the hull together structurally while also serving as a foundation for decks, bulkheads, and fuel tanks. Closed cell positive foam flotation is injected throughout the hull cavities to provide upright, level flotation and unsinkable characteristics that exceed basic USCG requirements and align with ABYC safety recommendations. A high quality gelcoat finish is applied in the mold for UV resistance and gloss retention, followed by a controlled lamination process using measured glass weights, catalyzed resins, and scheduled cure times to ensure consistent hull thickness, strength, and weight. The hull‑to‑deck joint is typically bonded with marine structural adhesive and then mechanically fastened with stainless steel screws or bolts on a full length flange, creating a monocoque structure that resists hull twist and long term fatigue while keeping the interior dry and quiet.

Above the waterline, Key West focuses on robust specification and clean rigging to match the strength of the hull. Hardware such as cleats, rails, hinges, and latches is predominantly marine grade stainless steel, commonly 316, chosen for superior corrosion resistance in a saltwater environment. Electrical and plumbing installations are routed with drip loops, supported at proper intervals, and use tinned marine grade wiring, heat shrink terminations, ABYC compliant circuit protection, USCG approved fuel system components, and properly sized seacocks and thru‑hulls to promote reliability and safety. Upholstery relies on UV stable marine vinyls over high density foam, with roto‑molded or fiberglass seat bases and finished fiberglass liners that are easy to clean and resist water absorption. Modern manufacturing technology including CAD based hull and deck design, CNC cut molds and components, and precision jigs is combined with proven techniques such as hand laid fiberglass, controlled resin application, and foam injection to maintain tight tolerances across every model. Throughout production, in‑process inspections, water testing, systems checks, and final sea trials verify structural integrity, system function, and fit and finish against internal quality benchmarks and relevant NMMA and ABYC standards. Compared to typical industry construction, the no‑wood composite structure, fully foam injected stringer system, and closed cell flotation give Key West boats a reputation for long term durability, quiet ride, and unsinkable safety that is backed by a ten year structural hull warranty and additional coverage on components. The overall build philosophy behind Key West boat construction is to deliver a family friendly fishing boat that is structurally conservative, easy to own, and engineered for decades of safe, low maintenance use on the water.

WHERE ARE THESE BOATS BUILT?

Key West boats are built in the United States at two dedicated manufacturing facilities in Ridgeville and Eutawville, South Carolina, where the employee owned company designs and produces its full line of fiberglass center console, bay reef, dual console and family sportsman models. Operating as Key West Boats, Inc., the brand is independent rather than part of a large boatbuilding conglomerate, but it leverages a vertically integrated facility structure that supports design, lamination, rigging, and final assembly under one organizational umbrella. Across the Ridgeville plant on Ridgeville Road and the Eutawville plant on Factory Road, Key West utilizes more than 160,000 square feet of operational facilities for boat production, support, and administration. Between these locations the company employs roughly 160 people, combining skilled laminators, carpenters, riggers, and quality technicians focused solely on building Key West boats for a global dealer network.

Production at the South Carolina locations began in 1986 when founder Hutch Holseberg started Key West Boats in the Ridgeville area using molds acquired from the former Citation Boats and quickly expanded the lineup with the 1700, 1800CC, and later the 1720CC models as demand grew. As volumes increased through the late 1980s and 1990s, Key West invested in additional manufacturing space and eventually added the Eutawville facility to separate hull lamination, component fabrication, and final assembly into more efficient production lines while keeping all core processes in house. Within the combined footprint, the company organizes its manufacturing flow so that smaller bay and skiff models move through dedicated lamination bays and rigging lines, while larger offshore and dual console boats follow a parallel line with heavier duty handling and staging areas. Over time the operational square footage has been built out to over 160,000 square feet to accommodate enclosed fiberglass layup rooms, CNC cutting areas, metal fabrication zones for T tops and rails, and dedicated finishing and detailing bays to support higher production volumes without sacrificing craftsmanship. The location in rural South Carolina provides ready access to skilled composite labor, proximity to Atlantic coastal test waters, and convenient highway access for shipping completed boats to dealers across North America and overseas export markets.

Quality control at the Key West manufacturing facilities is built into every stage of production, beginning with monitored resin mixing and core material handling in the lamination department and continuing through structural inspections of stringer grids, deck to hull bonding, and hardware installation before any boat leaves its line. Each hull and deck assembly undergoes a series of documented checks for laminate thickness, fastener torque, electrical continuity, and systems operation, and completed boats are water tested to verify engine rigging, bilge and livewell performance, and overall handling prior to shipping. While the company does not widely publicize specific ISO certifications, it follows industry standard ABYC and NMMA guidelines for systems design and construction, using standardized checklists and sign offs at multiple gates in the production process. The two South Carolina plants share common engineering, mold maintenance, and procurement resources so that lamination materials, construction techniques, and hardware specifications remain consistent across all models regardless of which line builds them. By concentrating all fiberglass boat building in this single geographic manufacturing hub, Key West is able to maintain tight control over processes, rapidly apply design changes or product improvements, and ensure every boat is built to the same internal quality benchmarks.

In summary, every Key West boat is built at the company’s South Carolina manufacturing hub, split between its Ridgeville and Eutawville facilities, with no outsourcing of hull production to overseas plants. Keeping all design, lamination, assembly, and final inspection in the United States allows the brand to combine a stable, experienced workforce with continually upgraded equipment and production methods. That focus on domestic manufacturing, hands on craftsmanship, and controlled facility based quality is central to Key West Boats’ ongoing commitment to building reliable, value driven boats in the same region where the company began in 1986.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST BOAT OF THIS BRAND BUILT TODAY?

The largest Key West Boats model currently in production is the Key West 291 FS, the brand’s flagship center console in the Family Sportsman series and the biggest Key West model in the lineup. Introduced as the top step up from the 263 FS, the Key West 291 FS measures just under 29 feet in length overall with a wide beam in the 9 foot to 10 foot class that delivers a notably stable offshore platform. This offshore‑ready center console is designed for twin outboard power, with packages commonly rigged in the 500 to 600 horsepower range, giving the 291 FS the ability to reach top speeds in the mid 40 to low 50 mph range while comfortably cruising between roughly 25 and 35 mph depending on load and sea state. Fuel capacity is sized for bluewater range with a large tank in the offshore 200 gallon class, supporting long runs to distant wrecks and Gulf Stream edges. Built on a deep‑V, stepped running surface derived from the proven Family Sportsman hulls, the 291 FS combines efficient planing performance with the brand’s wood‑free, foam‑filled stringer construction and upright level flotation that Key West Boats is known for, making it an unsinkable, big‑water capable flagship.

On the water, the Key West 291 FS is purpose‑built as a serious offshore fishing and family cruising platform, blending sportfish capability with center console versatility. As the largest Key West model, it offers generous fishing amenities, including multiple insulated fish boxes, large livewells integrated into the transom and leaning post, abundant gunwale and T‑top rod holders, under‑gunwale rod storage, and a spacious cockpit that keeps anglers free to move from bow to stern when fighting big fish offshore. At the same time, the 291 FS doubles as a premium family boat with wraparound bow seating, convertible aft bench seating, bolstered helm seats, and a roomy console cabin that can house an electric head, sink, and storage for gear or overnight bags. The helm is laid out for modern offshore navigation electronics, with space for twin multifunction displays, digital engine controls, trim tab switches, and integrated stereo and VHF systems, all protected by a hardtop. Deep in‑deck and under‑seat storage, a transom door, swim platforms with ladders, and available fresh and raw water washdowns add to its day‑boating practicality. Taken together, these features position the Key West 291 FS as Key West’s flagship and the definitive top‑of‑the‑line Family Sportsman center console for owners who want the biggest, most capable offshore Key West Boats model available today.

WHAT IS THE SMALLEST BOAT OF THIS BRAND BUILT TODAY?

The smallest model in Key West Boats's current lineup is the 188 BR, a compact Bay Reef bay boat that measures 18 feet 8 inches in length overall with a trailer friendly beam of 7 feet 4 inches, making it easy to store at home and simple to maneuver through tighter launch ramps and neighborhood streets, while its relatively light fiberglass hull and wood free, foam filled stringer construction keep towing weight within range for many mid size SUVs and half ton trucks, positioning the 188 BR as an accessible, entry level inshore fishing and family bay boat that still delivers true coastal capability, shallow draft utility, and practical trailering benefits for new and experienced boaters who want to launch quickly, explore skinny water, and keep overall ownership costs manageable without stepping up to a larger offshore center console.

The 188 BR from Key West Boats is a shallow draft bay boat built around a center console style layout with raised casting decks forward and aft, a compact helm in the middle of the cockpit, and flexible seating that typically includes a forward console seat, jump seats or cushions over the aft casting deck, and room for portable or optional cooler seating so that the 188 BR can comfortably carry a small crew of family and fishing friends in the typical 4 to 6 person range while remaining within USCG rated capacity for its size class, and beneath the decks Key West’s wood free, foam filled stringer grid and upright level flotation deliver a solid, unsinkable feel that is well regarded among coastal anglers. The 188 BR rides on a modified V hull designed for inshore and nearshore waters, giving it enough deadrise to smooth out choppy bay conditions while still floating shallow for accessing flats and backcountry creeks, and within the cockpit you will usually find practical fishing features such as livewell capacity in the aft deck, rod holders and under gunwale racks, and dedicated storage compartments in the forward casting deck that double as dry storage for safety gear or as fish boxes depending on how the owner rigs the boat. Fuel capacity on the 188 BR is approximately 35 gallons, which pairs well with a single outboard in the recommended 115 to 150 horsepower range and a maximum rating of 150 horsepower, providing a strong blend of hole shot and cruising efficiency so that many owners see respectable top end speeds for an 18 foot bay boat along with fuel sipping mid range performance ideal for long days of bay fishing, sandbar hopping, or family cruising. With the 188 BR, Key West Boats positions this model as a versatile, value oriented inshore platform that can be rigged as a serious fishing boat with trolling motor, shallow water anchor, and electronics, or as a multipurpose family skiff where the raised decks serve as sunning platforms, the open cockpit leaves plenty of room for coolers, beach bags, and water toys, and the modest size keeps trailering, launching, and storage simple for boaters stepping into their first fiberglass bay boat or downsizing from a larger offshore rig while still wanting quality construction, smart storage, and coastal ready performance in a compact package.

HOW MUCH DO THESE BOATS COST?

Key West Boats positions itself in the market as a value focused, family friendly center console builder, but the official Key West website does not publish MSRP or “starting at” pricing for any model and instead routes buyers to dealers for quotes, so factory MSRP is effectively dealer provided rather than posted online. The smallest widely promoted family model in the current lineup is the Key West 189 FS Family Sportsman, a center console that is 18 feet 9 inches long with a 35 gallon fuel capacity and capacity for seven people, typically powered by up to 150 horsepower and aimed at family cruising, water sports, and light fishing. Because the manufacturer does not list an official MSRP for the 189 FS, real world pricing has to be inferred from guides and actual dealer inventory, where current market listings for new 2025 and 2026 Key West 189 FS packages in the United States generally show typical asking prices from about $50,000 to around $63,000 depending on engine size, electronics, trailer inclusion, and region, while late model used examples from roughly 2019 to 2023 often appear in the mid $30,000s to high $30,000s, illustrating how actual market price behavior fills in the gap left by the absence of published factory MSRP for these entry level Key West boats.

Moving into the heart of the lineup, mid range Key West Boats such as the Key West 219 FS Family Sportsman sit between the smaller 189 FS and the larger offshore oriented center consoles, with the 219 FS measuring about 21 feet 9 inches, carrying roughly 80 gallons of fuel, rating for up to 250 horsepower, and still providing seating for seven people while being more capable in open water. The official Key West site again provides full specifications but no formal MSRP grid, so MSRP information for the 219 FS typically comes from dealer “retail” numbers and third party valuation guides, which often treat those posted retail figures as suggested list. In today’s marketplace, new Key West 219 FS boats equipped with 200 to 250 horsepower, a T top or hardtop, and modern electronics are generally listed with asking prices in the approximate $80,000 to $110,000 range, while late model used 219 FS boats with similar power and equipment usually fall between the mid $40,000s and roughly $75,000 or slightly higher depending on model year and hours, indicating that the practical market price on these popular mid range Key West Boats often runs meaningfully below any published dealer retail or proxy MSRP, particularly as the boat ages or carries fewer options.

At the premium end of the Key West Boats center console range, the Key West 244 CC serves as a flagship offshore capable model, with a length of 24 feet 4 inches, a deep fuel capacity of about 130 gallons, room for nine people, and power ratings up to 300 horsepower that support serious coastal and offshore use. Because Key West does not post MSRP, third party valuation guides list a suggested list or MSRP for recent 244 CC model years, with 2023 and 2025 data showing suggested list figures in the ballpark of about $155,000 to roughly $164,000 and lower base price values closer to $88,000 to about $107,000 for minimally equipped boats, creating a clear distinction between theoretical MSRP and a stripped base configuration. In current dealer inventory and aggregated listings, however, new 2024 and 2025 Key West 244 CC boats with typical real world builds, such as a Yamaha F300 or twin F150 engines, hardtop, and electronics, are generally asking between roughly $90,000 at the low end for aggressively priced single engine boats and around $130,000 or a bit more for well equipped packages, with many clustered near $115,000 to $125,000, while earlier model year used 244 CC boats often step down into much lower price brackets as you move back to 2020 and 2021, demonstrating that actual premium model market prices can sit tens of thousands of dollars below headline MSRP values once dealer discounts, incentives, options, hours, and model year are taken into account.

Putting these pieces together, Key West Boats pricing in the United States spans from roughly the low $50,000s for new entry level Key West 189 FS packages up through around $80,000 to $110,000 for well equipped mid range models like the Key West 219 FS and into approximately $90,000 to $130,000 or more in current asking prices for premium offshore models such as the Key West 244 CC, even though third party guides cite suggested list MSRP values for the 244 CC that can reach the mid $150,000s to mid $160,000s for recent years. Because Key West does not publish MSRP on keywestboats.com and instead leaves exact pricing to its dealer network, buyers will typically see a dealer advertised “retail” or MSRP like number accompanied by an “our price” or sale figure that may sit 10 to 20 percent below that reference number, with further variation created by options, trailers, freight, prep, taxes, documentation fees, and local registration that are often itemized separately. As a result, realistic budgeting for Key West Boats should focus less on any single MSRP figure and more on the observed market price ranges for specific models, years, and equipment levels, recognizing that an entry level family model like the 189 FS may transact near $50,000 to $60,000, a mid range 219 FS might land closer to $80,000 to $100,000 when well outfitted, and a flagship 244 CC can easily reach or exceed $115,000 in common offshore configurations, while still often being discounted below formal suggested list values. Market prices vary by location, condition, model year, and dealer.

WHAT OTHER STYLES OF BOATS DO THEY MAKE?

Key West Boats focuses its current production on four core styles of outboard powered fiberglass boats that are all designed to serve as versatile saltwater fishing and family boats, including the Family Sportsman center console style, the Bay Reef bay boat series, traditional Center Console models, and Dual Console layouts, all ranging roughly from 17 to just over 29 feet in length. The Family Sportsman line, with models like the 179 FS, 203 FS, 219 FS, 239 FS, 239 FSR, 263 FS, and flagship 291 FS, is built as a true hybrid family fishing boat, blending serious offshore ready features like livewells, rod storage, fish boxes, and self bailing cockpits with family friendly touches such as bow seating, aft benches, swim platforms, and generous cushioning for comfortable cruising and sandbar days. The Bay Reef series, including the 188 BR, 210 BR, 230 BR, and 250 BR, is Key West’s shallow friendly bay boat lineup, optimized for inshore and nearshore fishing with large casting decks, low profile gunwales, generous storage, and livewells while still retaining enough freeboard and hull design to handle choppy coastal conditions. Their dedicated Center Console series, highlighted by iconic boats like the long running 1720 CC and the larger 244 CC and 260 CC, is aimed squarely at anglers who want maximum 360 degree fishability, simple washdown friendly decks, and efficient, trailerable hulls that can do double duty as family boats when outfitted with bow cushions or jump seats. Rounding out the lineup, the 203 DFS and 239 DFS Dual Console models give owners more of a family sport and water sports oriented layout with a full walk through windshield, wraparound bow seating, and aft seating that still incorporates fishing features like rod holders and livewells, so across all current Key West styles you see common traits such as no wood no rot construction, foam filled stringer systems, ten year hull warranties, and a strong emphasis on building an unsinkable feeling, easy to own fishing boat that can comfortably serve as a family boat as well.

Over the years Key West Boats has also produced other notable configurations and model types that have helped build the brand’s reputation beyond the current Family Sportsman, Bay Reef, Center Console, and Dual Console lines, including skiffs, single console layouts, and walkaround style fishing boats that are no longer in the latest catalog. Historical listings and valuation guides show that Key West once offered a broader mix of hulls that included skiff models and walkaround boats built on the same rugged, foam filled, no wood philosophy, which gave anglers an affordable way into overnight capable fishing boats and ultra shallow draft platforms for backwater use, and these boats often featured features like compact cabins, convertible berths, portable or enclosed heads, and flexible cockpit layouts that made them popular in their day for weekend cruising as well as serious fishing. While specific classic model names and sizes vary by year, that older range of skiffs, single consoles, and walkaround style fishing boats plays an important role in the Key West story because it shows how the company responded to coastal anglers looking for value oriented, practical boats with simple systems and reliable outboard power, and many of those discontinued designs still circulate actively on the used market, where buyers seek them out for their seaworthiness, efficient hulls, and straightforward construction even though they are no longer featured on the current Key West Boats website or in today’s production lineup.

In today’s market Key West does not participate in certain segments such as pontoon boats, dedicated luxury yachts, inboard powered ski and wake boats, or large express cruiser and cabin yacht categories, instead keeping its focus squarely on outboard powered fiberglass fishing and family boats under thirty feet that are at home in coastal and nearshore saltwater environments. The brand also does not build traditional multi tube deck style pontoons or houseboat style platforms, and you will not find big multi stateroom motor yachts or tournament inboard wake surf boats in the Key West catalog, because the company has intentionally concentrated on center console, bay boat, and dual console formats that match its heritage as a value oriented saltwater fishing boat builder. That focus shows up in design priorities like self bailing cockpits, unsinkable feeling foam filled construction, extensive rod storage, livewells, and hulls tuned for efficient performance with modern outboards rather than inboard or sterndrive power, reflecting a clear brand identity around saltwater toughness, fishing first functionality, and family friendly layouts rather than pure luxury cruising or specialized tow sports. By staying within this focused niche, Key West can refine its hull designs and deck plans for coastal anglers and family boaters who want a reliable, easy to trailer fishing boat or dual purpose family boat instead of spreading engineering resources across unrelated categories like pontoons or large yachts.

Taken together, the Key West lineup is best understood as a tightly focused family of center console fishing and family boats that includes the Family Sportsman hybrids, Bay Reef bay boats, dedicated Center Console models, and Dual Console family sport boats, all sharing the same no wood no rot construction and saltwater ready hulls that have defined the brand since the 1980s. While earlier eras saw the company experiment with skiffs, walkaround style fishing boats, and other formats that have since been discontinued, those boats helped shape Key West’s modern approach to building versatile, unsinkable feeling coastal boats and still attract loyal followers on the used market. Looking ahead, most of the innovation within the brand appears to come from evolving these core styles with more crossover friendly layouts, such as Family Sportsman models that blur the line between hardcore offshore fishing boat and comfortable family boat, or dual consoles that bring together bowrider like seating with livewells and rod storage, rather than jumping into completely new categories like pontoons or large cabins. That strategy allows Key West to continually fine tune hull performance, storage, seating, and fishability within its proven size range and boat styles, so buyers who are drawn to the idea of a practical, well built center console, bay boat, or dual console can expect the brand to keep improving what it already does best while staying true to the coastal fishing and family boating audience that made Key West successful in the first place.

WHAT KINDS OF ENGINES DO THESE BOATS USE?

Key West Boats builds an all outboard lineup, using modern four-stroke outboard engines across its Family Sportsman, Bay Reef, Center Console, and Dual Console series for maximum saltwater reliability, shallow draft, and easy maintenance. Every model from the compact 1720 CC bay and inshore skiff up through the offshore focused 291 FS center console is designed around an outboard on a notched transom or bracket, which keeps the machinery completely outside the hull and frees up cockpit space for fishing and family seating. Smaller boats in the 17 to 19 foot range are almost always rigged with a single outboard, while mid-size models in the low to mid 20 foot class may be ordered with a single larger engine or twin outboards, and the biggest offshore hulls like the 263 FS and 291 FS are commonly equipped with twin outboards for better hole shot, offshore redundancy, and higher cruising speeds.

Across the Key West lineup, horsepower is carefully matched to hull size and mission so that owners get strong performance without sacrificing fuel efficiency. Entry models such as the 1720 CC, at 17 feet 2 inches long, carry recommended power in the 70 to 90 horsepower range with a 90 horsepower Yamaha four-stroke being a common choice that planes quickly with a crew and gear while remaining economical to run. Stepping up into boats like the 179 FS, 189 FS, and 203 FS or 203 DFS, typical packages move into the 115 to 200 horsepower bracket, which gives these 19 to 20 foot hulls a comfortable cruise in the mid 20 knot range and top speeds often in the 35 to 40 knot neighborhood depending on load and prop. Bay Reef models such as the 230 BR use recommended power from about 150 to 250 horsepower with a 300 horsepower max rating, while offshore capable hulls like the 239 FS, 239 DFS, 244 CC, and 250 BR usually see single 250 to 300 horsepower outboards or twin sets totaling around 300 horsepower. At the top of the range, the Family Sportsman 263 FS is rated to 600 horsepower and the flagship 291 FS lists a maximum of 800 horsepower, most commonly delivered by twin 250 to 300 horsepower V6 outboards that can push these 26 to 29 foot boats into fast cruising and 45 plus knot top end territory when conditions allow.

Key West rigs the vast majority of its boats with Yamaha engines, and dealer listings for models like the 1720 CC, 230 BR, 244 CC, 263 FS, and 291 FS consistently show Yamaha four-stroke outboards in the F90, F150, 200, 250, and F300 series as the preferred power. This long running pairing reflects Yamaha’s strong reputation in the coastal market for corrosion resistance, quiet operation, and broad dealer support, which aligns well with Key West’s saltwater focus and family fishing audience. Engines are almost always conventional gasoline four-stroke outboards, rather than two-stroke or jet propulsion, and current packages frequently feature digitally controlled variants on larger boats, such as Yamaha F300 DEC models with integrated steering and helm displays. From the factory, boats are generally sold as turnkey packages including the outboard, appropriate mechanical or digital controls, gauges or multifunction displays, and all rigging, with some regional dealers occasionally offering alternative brands on special order but Yamaha remaining the default engine partner on new Key West boats.

On the water, Key West’s engine choices are paired with modern control technology and efficient running surfaces to give owners easy, confidence inspiring performance. Larger Family Sportsman and Center Console models can be rigged with digital throttle and shift, and when equipped with Yamaha integrated steering systems they are compatible with modern joystick steering solutions that greatly simplify docking and slow speed maneuvering around marinas. The stepped and variable deadrise hulls seen on boats like the 244 CC, 250 BR, and 263 FS are designed to lift efficiently onto plane, which improves fuel efficiency and softens the ride offshore while still delivering strong hole shot with appropriately sized four-stroke outboards. Because every Key West uses an outboard configuration, owners benefit from the ability to tilt the engines completely clear of the water at the dock, run in relatively shallow depths compared with inboard or sterndrive boats, and enjoy simpler service access at the transom. Together, the focus on four-stroke outboards, refined hull designs, and digital controls suits Key West’s mission of building safe, low maintenance, family friendly fishing boats that are easy to own, economical to operate, and capable of handling everything from inshore sandbars to offshore reef trips.

WHY BUY THIS BRAND OVER A COMPETITIVE BRAND?

Why choose Key West Boats over a competing brand starts with the way each hull is engineered for real-world conditions, with construction details the company publishes across its Family Sportsman, Center Console, Bay Reef, and Dual Console lines. Key West highlights a “No Wood-No Rot” construction approach paired with a foam injected fiberglass stringer system and closed cell positive foam flotation in models like the 203 DFS, along with molded non-skid inner liners and self-bailing cockpits for safety and ease of maintenance in rough water use. Many models, such as the 219 FS, 239 FS, and 260 CC, are backed by a Ten Year Hull Warranty, underscoring the brand’s confidence in long-term structural durability. Stepped-hull designs with aggressive deadrise angles and exaggerated bow flare on boats like the 244 CC are described by the manufacturer as being designed with safety, efficiency, and ergonomics in mind to deliver a comfortable, dry run even when seas build, while foam-filled cavities provide upright and level flotation for added offshore confidence on family outings as well as serious fishing trips.

When comparing Key West Boats vs competitors on day-to-day usability, the brand’s own specifications show a high level of standard equipment and functional layouts aimed at minimizing the need for costly add-ons. Across the Family Sportsman series from the 179 FS through the 291 FS, standard features commonly include integrated live wells, molded anchor lockers with anchors, raw-water washdown kits, stainless steering wheels with hydraulic tilt steering, full-width bench seats, and generous under-seat and in-deck storage, often with split bow seating and large storage boxes for gear and safety equipment. Larger models like the 291 FS and 260 CC add features such as dual aft aerated livewells with separate pumps, convenience-center leaning posts, side boarding doors with hidden ladders, and under-deck macerated fish boxes or large insulated boxes, allowing owners to rig for offshore fishing, sandbar days, or cruising without constantly reconfiguring the boat. Dual-purpose details like removable rear seat cushions that convert to casting decks, extensive rod racks and holders integrated with family-friendly seating, and factory partnerships with Garmin and Yamaha make it easier to rig electronics and power packages without sacrificing cockpit space or comfort.

Key West also emphasizes blended utility and comfort in its dual-console and crossover designs, a key consideration for buyers comparing Key West vs other fishing boats who want one boat to cover multiple roles. The 239 DFS is marketed as “the all around water sports platform for the whole family” and “the largest and most luxurious of the dual console designs,” with a curved walk-through windshield, bow cushions with back and side supports, a wrap-around aft bench, and a standard potty room in the console, along with a built-in hardtop, freshwater sink and washdown, and swim platform with ladder to support skiing, tubing, and sandbar days. Similarly, the 203 DFS combines the low maintenance of a self-bailing fiberglass-lined cockpit with the comfort of a typical bowrider sport boat, while still incorporating rod racks, rod holders, and a livewell for the occasional fishing trip. Even smaller center consoles like the 179 FS and 189 FS are described as purpose-built for the active family, with layouts that offer generous seating, cup holders, large bow casting decks, spacious consoles ideal for head compartments, and convertible rear bench or jump seats, helping owners move seamlessly between hardcore inshore fishing, casual cruising, water sports, and camping weekends without needing separate specialized boats.

Finally, the build quality of Key West Boats is supported by a brand story that focuses on long-term value, family ownership, and ongoing customer relationships rather than short-term cost cutting, which can be an important factor for buyers evaluating customer satisfaction with Key West and long-term ownership confidence. Founded in 1986 by Hutch Holseberg with the goal of building boats that did not sacrifice quality for cost, Key West describes itself as “built by fishermen, for fishermen” and emphasizes equal importance on quality and value, with an artist’s attention to detail from the drive to the ride to the cast and catch. The company highlights ten-year hull warranties on many models and uses positive foam flotation and self-bailing designs as core safety elements, which can bolster resale value and peace of mind over years of use. While the site focuses more on owner stories than numerical ratings, the consistent messaging around a “welcome refuge from life’s daily grind,” active family usage, and continuous product evolution suggests a brand that designs for real-world boating lifestyles. For many buyers comparing Key West Boats vs competitors, this combination of proven construction techniques, generous standard equipment, multi-use layouts, and a long-standing commitment to quality and value offers a compelling balance of performance, reliability, and long-term value from a builder with nearly four decades of history in the segment.

WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR MODEL OF THIS BRAND BEING BUILT TODAY?

Key West Boats identifies the 1720 CC center console, measuring 17 feet 2 inches in length, as its most popular model, noting on the official model page that the 1720 CC has been the company’s most popular model year after year since 1992 and remains one of the most versatile, easy to own boats on the market today. This long running sales success, combined with its prominent presence in the Center Console lineup, positions the 1720 CC as the brand’s clear volume leader and a core product in current production. As a compact, trailerable center console that blends inshore fishability with simple family day boating, it hits a sweet spot in size, price, and capability for a wide range of buyers. While the site emphasizes continual updates to the design for better efficiency, storage, and deck space, it does not highlight specific third party awards, instead underscoring the model’s enduring popularity and ongoing refinement as proof of its category leading status within the Key West range.

The Key West 1720 CC has a length of 17 feet 2 inches, a beam of 6 feet 10 inches, and a draft of approximately 10 inches, with a listed weight of about 1,150 pounds, a maximum horsepower rating of 90 horsepower, and a fuel capacity of 35 gallons, and it carries up to five people according to the official specifications. Standard features include a ten year hull warranty, no wood no rot construction, a self bailing cockpit, BayStar tilt steering with a stainless steel wheel, an aerated livewell, a molded fiberglass swim platform, raw water washdown, an anchor locker with anchor, and a bilge pump with automatic switch, along with a flip flop cooler seat and cushioned console seating that maximize usable space in the compact footprint. The layout emphasizes large casting decks and recessed horizontal gunwale rod holders, giving anglers efficient working room, while optional cushions and color choices let owners tune the boat toward either fishing or family cruising. Power is typically provided by Yamaha outboards within the recommended 70 to 90 horsepower range, delivering economical performance and easy trailering, and Key West notes that the running surface has been updated over time to improve efficiency, reflecting the brand’s ongoing investment in this core hull configuration.

Buyers of the Key West 1720 CC are typically inshore anglers and active families who want a simple, low maintenance center console that can serve as both a fishing platform and a casual day boat without the cost or storage requirements of a larger model. The compact size and light weight make it especially attractive to first time boat owners, anglers who regularly launch on their own, and owners who need a boat that can be stored in a driveway or side yard and towed by a typical mid sized SUV, while the self bailing cockpit and no wood construction appeal to buyers who prioritize durability and safety. Versatility comes from details such as the flip flop cooler seat that doubles as both seating and insulated storage, the large forward casting deck that can also be used as lounging space when fitted with cushions, and integrated rod storage that keeps gear organized yet out of the way during family outings. On the official model page, Key West highlights the 1720 CC’s continuous updates to freeboard, console design, storage, deck space, and running surface as part of a deliberate design philosophy to keep this long running model aligned with the needs of modern owners who split time between fishing and relaxed cruising.

In terms of availability and brand investment, the 1720 CC is clearly maintained as a current production model, promoted on keywestboats.com with full specifications, image galleries, and a direct link to the dealer finder, and it benefits from the same factory sponsored retail incentives advertised for 2023 and 2024 boats, indicating active build slots and dealer inventory. The company notes that it has been updating this model over the years with added freeboard, a new console, more storage, more deck space, and all fiberglass lids, which signals ongoing engineering and tooling investment rather than treating it as a legacy product. Although the homepage spotlights larger flagship series like the Family Sportsman and Bay Reef, the 1720 CC’s explicit designation as the brand’s most popular model and its long production run show that it represents a significant pillar of Key West’s identity, especially on the inshore and entry level side of the lineup. For many buyers, the combination of a manageable 17 foot size, proven hull, straightforward center console layout, and a moderate price point relative to larger offshore models has made the 1720 CC the signature Key West offering in terms of unit volume and broad market appeal.

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THIS BOAT BRAND AND COMPANY?

Key West Boats traces its origins to 1986, when founder Hutch Holseberg set out to build a different kind of saltwater fishing boat that combined high quality with accessible pricing for “real people,” initially working from molds acquired from the defunct Citation Boats Incorporated and beginning production in South Carolina with a focus on practical center console designs for coastal anglers rather than upscale luxury craft, and as that idea took shape the Key West name first appeared on the 1700 model introduced in 1988, followed quickly by the 1800CC in 1989 and the 1500CC in 1990, giving the young company a small but focused lineup that could serve a wide range of inshore and nearshore fishermen, while early models emphasized straightforward layouts, ample cockpit space, and fishability that reflected Holseberg’s own background as a fisherman and helped establish the brand’s reputation for value, durability, and owner-friendly design.citeturn0search0

Through the early 1990s Key West Boats expanded its range and influence as the 1720CC, launched in 1992 and destined to become the company’s most popular model, introduced an all‑composite, wood‑free construction approach that Key West first applied to that model and then rolled out across nearly the entire line by 1995, reinforcing a brand identity centered on structural integrity and low maintenance, while additional models such as the shallow‑draft 1760 Stealth in 1993 and the 2000WA in 1994 pushed the company into new fishing niches including bluewater and walkaround layouts, and the 2300CC and 2300WA in 1995, along with the 196CC and related 2020 series in 1996 and the versatile 210LS “Oasis” in 1997, signaled Key West’s evolution into a full‑spectrum saltwater manufacturer capable of serving everything from backwater anglers to offshore crews and family recreation buyers, all developed as the privately owned company grew its production footprint in South Carolina without changing hands, maintaining continuous family‑backed control during this formative decade.citeturn0search0turn0search5

In the 2000s Key West Boats continued modernizing its portfolio as the 186 series, launched in 2004 with the 186CC and 186DC, targeted families moving up from smaller 1720 hulls with details like removable stern jump seats and updated transom styling, while the introduction of larger offshore‑oriented 268CC and 293CC models in 2005 aligned the brand with the rising kingfish tournament scene and showcased its ability to build bigger, faster center consoles, and even when the 2008 financial crisis severely impacted the marine industry, Key West was among the few brands that kept building boats through the downturn, later emerging in 2011 with a refreshed strategy built around the Family Sportsman series that debuted with the 189FS and expanded in 2012 and 2013 with models like the 203FS, 219FS, and 239FS, as well as updated Bay Reef bay boats such as the 210BR and 230BR, combining performance hulls, family‑friendly seating, and modern amenities like improved storage and enclosed head compartments to appeal simultaneously to serious anglers and multi‑purpose family users while the company continued refining composites and construction techniques in its South Carolina facilities.citeturn0search0turn0search3turn0search7

Recent years have seen Key West Boats broaden both the size and sophistication of its lineup as the Family Sportsman range has grown into larger flagships such as the 263FS, introduced by 2017, and the 291FS, now the largest model in the Family Sportsman fleet with features including dual side entry doors, an under‑deck windlass, extensive fishing storage, and options such as a Seakeeper for enhanced offshore stability, while the Bay Reef series has been extended upward with the 250BR and complemented by more compact offerings like the 188BR to cover a full spectrum of inshore and nearshore bay applications, and the center console line has progressed to larger stepped‑hull, twin‑engine‑ready models like the 260CC, with dual console boats such as the 239DFS addressing family water sports and cruising buyers, all supported by ongoing production expansion noted by the company in 2020 as it worked to “continue the dream of getting everyone out on the water,” and today Key West positions itself as a builder of value‑driven, wood‑free, USCG‑ and CE‑compliant saltwater boats that leverage decades of composite experience, deep family ownership roots, and a broad model portfolio to serve anglers and families who seek durable, versatile craft and a trusted brand heritage that underpins future product development and customer loyalty programs such as factory‑backed retail incentives at boat shows.citeturn0search0turn0search6turn0search7turn0search10

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Key West Boats has grown its reputation primarily through word of mouth and performance on the water, but over the years select models and the brand itself have been formally recognized by respected marine publications and organizations. In the 1990s and early 2000s, regional boating media in the Southeast frequently highlighted Key West center console and dual console models for their unsinkable construction, family friendly self bailing cockpits, and fishing features that rivaled larger offshore boats, helping the brand gain visibility among serious anglers and first time boat buyers alike. As the FS and BR series expanded, individual models such as the 1720, 189FS, and 219FS were repeatedly featured in comparative reviews for delivering notable value, robust foam filled hulls, and stable, dry rides more typical of higher priced offshore brands, which in turn earned the company a reputation as a quiet innovator in practical, owner focused design rather than a pursuer of splashy style trophies. While Key West has not made a practice of entering high profile design competitions, its boats have consistently appeared in buyer’s guides and editorial roundups in major magazines and online tests that spotlight the brand’s balance of fishability, family comfort, and long term durability as key differentiators in a crowded fiberglass outboard segment.

Unlike some builders that aggressively market their trophy cases, Key West’s strongest formal recognition has come through sustained performance in the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s Customer Satisfaction Index program, which tracks how real owners rate their boats after purchase. Over multiple years, Key West has been listed among manufacturers achieving the CSI benchmark of 90 percent or higher satisfaction in categories focused on fiberglass outboard boats, reflecting survey feedback on product quality, ride and handling, rigging, and overall ownership experience. The NMMA CSI award is based on independent surveys of thousands of new boat buyers across the industry each model year, measuring satisfaction not only with the boat itself but also with the sales, delivery, and service processes, so consistently meeting that threshold signals that Key West owners are highly pleased both with the boats and with the support network behind them. This track record in the CSI program underscores that Key West’s commitment to straightforward construction, solid dealer partnerships, and responsive factory support translates directly into loyalty, repeat purchases, and positive recommendations that influence new shoppers evaluating the brand against better known national names.

In the past several seasons, as the saltwater outboard market has shifted toward multi purpose family fishing layouts, Key West has continued to attract favorable attention from the marine press for new and updated models in its FS, BR, and billfish inspired lines. Recent introductions in the 20 to 26 foot range have been showcased at major boat shows and in sea trials for combining deep V hulls with family friendly seating, enclosed heads, and expanded livewell and rod storage systems, reinforcing the brand’s image as a builder that quietly refines real world features instead of chasing fads. Well regarded test reports have pointed out how newer Key West dual console and bay boat designs deliver the fuel efficiency and handling that coastal families and inshore anglers demand while preserving the unsinkable, foam filled construction that has long been a hallmark of the company. This continuing pattern of positive coverage by established boating magazines, digital review platforms, and boat show walk throughs serves as current validation that Key West’s product development remains aligned with what serious day boaters, fishermen, and family cruisers are actually using and asking for on the water.

Taken together, the brand’s history of favorable editorial coverage, its verified performance within the NMMA Customer Satisfaction Index program, and its recent spotlighted models tell a consistent story about Key West Boats’ reputation. Rather than chasing headline grabbing design awards, the company has focused on innovation that matters to owners, such as unsinkable foam filled hulls, self bailing decks, and layouts that balance hard core fishing with family comfort, which in turn has produced high satisfaction scores and strong resale values that reinforce buyer confidence. The recognition Key West has earned from respected industry sources confirms that its boats are regarded as solidly built, practical, and safe, with a level of customer care that keeps owners in the brand when they are ready to move up in size. For prospective buyers, this record of objective accolades and independently measured owner satisfaction provides assurance that choosing a Key West is not just about initial features and pricing but about long term trust, enjoyment, and support over the full life of the boat.