I heard it said more than once at the Palm Beach International Boat Show last spring that the docks were overwhelmingly choked with center consoles. And while it’s true that anglers and the go-fast crowd have plenty to appreciate in the layout and performance of this design, center consoles are almost always—and perhaps inherently—lacking in a couple of other departments.
One boat that stood out from the fleet was Sōlace’s new 30CS. It’s the third and smallest model in the builder’s CS (short for Center Step) line of offshore-ready, fishing-friendly designs that includes a 32 and a 37. The 30 CS caught my eye because it looked to be the most amenity-laden center console boat in its size range. It was equipped with the features I saw on boats in the 40-foot range, only it didn’t carry the seven-figure price tag attached to some of those larger builds.
From the easy boarding via the stern platform to a family friendly lounge area at the bow, a capacious head with 6 feet, 5 inches of headroom and coaming pads all around (except at the dive door), this little number is as much a day boat as it is a fishing boat.
Of course, building a boat that is both family and fishing friendly requires compromise. Serious anglers will see there are a few trade-offs onboard. For instance, a fisherman might have a gripe with the bench seat behind the helm. It’s a convenient place for passengers to sit and face aft when trolling, but it occupies some of the dance-floor space, which is precious in a boat of this size. In addition, the seat’s nice cushions might require an extra bit of maintenance and attention when splattered with fish blood. Although, the stain-resistant silicone material offered on the Solace is about as angler-friendly as it gets.
Opposite that seat is a forward-facing transom bench that creates a social space in the cockpit. The good news is it conveniently folds down to serve as a work bench or rigging station. Beneath it rests a pair of coolers, which can be removed easily when you need to access the bilge. The feet on the bench serve as risers to create space for water (and whatever else) to channel through and drain out the boat. That’s good design. So is the use of magnets built into the gunwales, which as you might imagine could be beneficial. The gunwales might catch that filet knife, pair of pliers or set of keys you drop by mistake.
Comfort at the helm abounds, too. That’s something I feel is all too often overlooked on many boats, beyond an ergonomic chair or bench, a cupholder and a cellphone caddy. This builder dubs its helm the “command center,” which might be a bit amplified, but the area does warrant a hat tip, with its large dash and windshield, flush-mounted Garmin MFDs, a fine JL audio system, joystick control and lighting galore.
My favorite feature was underfoot: a generous, several-inch-thick pad that skippers won’t mind one bit, and which passengers will take full advantage of, too. What a difference some extra padding for your soles makes, and while I haven’t yet had a chance to run the boat, hours on the boat-show docks spoke volumes to the sweet—if brief—relief this little luxury offered when I took a few minutes to sit at the command center and relax.
A pair of heavy-duty electric pistons open and close the oversized windshield, originally designed to aid in nighttime navigation. Reflection can be a killer when running in the dark, and with the amount of lighting on the Solace it’s important to be able to eliminate it. That’s a thoughtful touch. The windshield also offers ventilation on extra balmy days.
“My son made me do that,” Solace founder Stephen Dougherty told me, when I was aboard the 30 at the boat show. He pointed to a pair of rigging brackets behind the aft-facing seating. Behind the brackets are eight boxes for tackle storage. And under the helm seat, is the builder’s trademark dedicated grill storage.
Other fishy features include 30- and 50-gallon in-deck fish boxes, 21- and 39-gallon live wells, optional outriggers, plenty of rodholders (including a robust rocket launcher), and recessed scuppers with beefy stainless-steel grates that should keep the deck clean and clear.
Where general performance is concerned, this boat’s stepped deep-V hull with a narrow bow, 10-foot-wide transom and hard chines is designed to lend better offshore capabilities to the ride than the company’s hybrid cousin, the 30 HCS. Both boats are powered by twin 350-hp or 400-hp Yamaha outboards.
The large dive door and bow ladder make for easy boarding, from land and water. The bow is rigged to accommodate a couple of passengers who come along for a sunset cruise, or a sightcaster—possibly two. The casting platform doesn’t leave a ton of room for error underfoot when fishing in heavy seas, but that’s a trade-off the builder made to make room for plenty of seating and a stow-away table. Passengers should be delightfully pleased by the area’s functionality.
Much as I feign exhaustion when presented with yet another new center console model that is built to do it all, certain elements of this boat’s layout move the needle in favor of this type of versatility. Throughout the 30CS, creature comforts and fishability strike a steady yin and yang and hush my inner critic.
LOA: 30’9”
Beam: 10’1”
Draft: 2’0”
Displ.: 8,150 lbs.
Fuel: 270 gals.
Water: 20 gals.
Power: (2) 350-hp or 400-hp Yamahas
July 2025
