Finseeker 245WA

, Walkaround boats are like ­compact sport-fishers with a sleeping berth, head and abbreviated galley. Put another way, they’re like a tricked-out camper van compared to a 40-foot Winnebago. You’ll save fuel and storage space, and get easier handling and more versatility from this boat with its cozy cabin belowdecks and expansive cockpit topside. The cabin is surprisingly spacious, with a wide entryway and more than 6 feet of headroom. A portable head is tucked under a cushion-covered hatch on the starboard side, and a microwave and sink live on the port side. An overhead hatch allows you to sleep with a cool sea breeze. Topside, the walkaround space lets crew walk around the gunwales to the bow to toss or catch dock lines and manage anchoring duties. A rail on the hardtop and a rail around the bow add security. There’s a padded seat at the forepeak, and the safety rail secures first-class seating.

The fishing cockpit boasted foldaway seats on both gunwales and the transom, providing six seats when deployed and an expansive fish-fighting arena when stowed.
A Mercury 300 powered our test boat, and we loved the throttle response. The 300 is plenty to hold the bow up for ploughing through heavier seas if they unexpectedly interrupt your day of fishing. Mercury’s throttles are silky-smooth for ultimate control, and all the engine data is displayed on two Garmin units that give the helm its glass-cockpit appeal. A large swim platform adds to the fish-fighting deck space.

The 245 WA provides sleeping ­quarters, fishing accommodations and watersports fun all in one package.