Within this boat lineup, designers have combined elements of performance, fishability and accommodation. Because range also is important in the convertible, fuel supplies of 200 to 500 gallons or more are not unusual. To help get the most out of those powerplants, builders reduce boat weight with cored construction, some for the topsides as well as the deck and superstructure. So hull shape is as important as engine choice when it comes to overall performance. Bertram, on the other hand, has stuck with its trademark deep-vee hulls for more than 30 years.
Accommodations also figure into the convertible equation.
But if you really want to do some serious fishing, I'll do that, too. Viking calls its 55-footer an ideal tournament and cruising yacht, which just about defines the modern type, says Pat Healey, vice president of the New Jersey builder. That represents a change from the boats of a generation ago. Range on the boats can be 300 to 450 miles, and fuel economy is improving, adding to the convertible's desirability as a cruiser, according to Healey. Because of that, a lot of cruisers feel the convertible is a safe boat for their family.