Sportfishing boats for cruising?

The sport fishing type boats are designed to go fast (planning hulls). You can slow down to save fuel, but the engines are designed to make high horse power, not designed to pinch fuel. The later electronic engines are lots better at reducing fuel consumption but still not a fuel pincher. And then, at slow speed, your more bobbing than cruising.

Real displacement hulls will offer more interior. They can be more comfortable. The hulls are designed for slower speeds and the engines are better at pinching fuel.
If your not and never will be in a hurry this is the better LSD* hull.

<----- We went the motor yacht route. Old boat, Larger cabins built on a fishing boat hull. Has a deep V hull WITH a keel. Still has no fuel economy mode (poor to worse). But she can move when needed.
Our larger gen-set (of two) has a Isuzu engine, making about the same HP, of most small to medium trawler engines.

To me, The cockpit is a large factor for exploring the islands with. Easy access to a dink and direct access to that clear water.
Since we did not win the Lotto (yet), have to settle with a modified larger swim platform.

Yes there are cockpits options for them all. Factory or hang on.

*LSD
Long-range
Slow-speed
Displacement

I cruised quite a bit with my 53c. Really, my driving issue was two components: first was the valuable space "lost" to the fishing cockpit, be it living or storage or added amenities. Second was steps, everywhere. Hell, you had to go down a set of steps to remember why you were headed up a set of steps.

That being said, I never should have sold her. I should have kept her as well.

Sportfishers / Convertibles make great tropical cruising boat because of the cockpit giving you easy access to the water.

They also allow you to run from weather if needed yet they can be run at hull speed for excellent fuel economy on longer distances.

their hull shape is designed for running in rougher whether, at least the real SF like Viking, Hatteras, Ocean etc

adding the required equipment like water maker, inverter etc is no problem.

Sportfish vs MY vs trawler is really a matter of personal preference, each can do the job

What would deter me from using a sport fishing boat to cruise is the lack of light belowdecks. Most sport fishing boats more than a few years old have no portlights in cabins under the foredeck. I find the cabins a bit dark and claustrophobic. Additionally, most sport fishing boats have just a small bow rail or even no bow rail on the foredeck. Not ideal if you are trying to anchor or handle midship and bow lines in an rolly open anchorage that is common in the Bahamas.

I am often surprised at the high running angle of many sport fishing boats that thunder by my place on the ICW, with their bows high in the air and their sterns deep in the water producing prodigious wakes. The engines are really straining to push the boat at a good clip at such an inefficient attitude.

In shallow water, the angle does increase when trying to apply HP to the water.
OTOH, it is some angle that raises the forward V for the boat to cut some chop down for the boats comfort.
You can imagine that same hull idling in the slop. Some models, not pretty.

I have witnessed some port-light mods including deck hatches. If your not playing half court b-ball up there, install deck hatches (facing aft) up there.

Safety or hand rails are a style. They can always be added or modified for your use.

I'm not trying to talk you out of a sport hull; just some cruises better slower than others. Sadly, it is not the later performance big fishing boats.
Still, the range and MPG varies on the hull. The ultimate MPG will be the trawler with Displacement hull. I still dream of pushing to the lower Bahamas, just going to take a lot of fuel.
I have the room for provisions but at near 2 gallons a mile, not the economy.

Now, If your rich and famous, you may not have issue with MPG.
And,, I would like to offer my services as your next experienced dish washer and wanna-be CTO..

not much you can do about the lack of windows and portholes one most sportfishes., indeed it is unpleasant. Yes a bow rail is a must on a cruising boat and can be added.

as to getting up on plane in shallow water I ve never had an issue with MY so I don’t think SF would be different. 3 to 4 feet under the keel is the minimum I want. The 116 I run now pops up nicely in 9’ of water (5 1/2 draft). If anything it s at hull speed that speed drops by as much as 1 to 2 knots in shallow water. Even my 53 drops from 9 to 7 1/2 knots with only 3’ under the keel.

i think the key to any planning boat whether MY or SF is to have the biggest possible engines, as long as access is still good. This way you can run on plane when needed without stressing the engines. I try to avoid running boats over 60-65% load. Can diesels be run 75% all day? Sure. But you can bet they ll last longer at 60/65% as long as the boat is fully on plane.

My Sportfish has a port light in each of the 3 staterooms. Master even has two of them. Great for light and getting nice ventilation thru-breeze on the one day a year I don’t have rain. I do not have a front window in the salon though. Doubtful I would buy another Sportfish with a front window. Too prone to leaks and you lose a lot of space for galley cabinets or similar. My galley has a very large commercial refer/freezer setup that is up high and fwd in the galley and would not be possible with a window.