Like a lot of useful things, the first Steiger Craft boats first grew out of necessity. Company founder Al Steiger's first boats were for clamming, made of plywood, and put together in his garage. Then they moved on to glass over plywood, and when the wood would rot away, they'd be left with a fiberglass shell. In the early 1970s, Steiger took a ride on a Mako, a vee-bottomed, fiberglass boat with such an impressive, dry ride that he knew was the way to go. In 1975, after about eight months developing the first mold, he and his team built their first vee-bottom workboat that could handle the rough waters around Long Island. He sold it right away, and the boat is still on the Bay clamming today.

Nearly 40 years later, Steiger Craft is still known for their dependability and seaworthiness. Only today the company offers a full line of center consoles, pilot house boats, and even picnic boats produced at its Bellport facility on Long Island, NY. All Steiger Craft boats are built using a one-piece, hand-laid fiberglass grid system. Steiger  says, "It creates strength the same way a steel I-beam creates strength: by placing strong flat surfaces perpendicular to each other. This girder-like grid is fiberglassed into the hull. The hull and the grid system become one piece...We don't even own a chopper gun, we never have." The final result is a vessel that can handle the short chop of the Chesapeake as well as the open waves of the mid-Atlantic. Recently, I headed to Annapolis Yacht Sales' new showroom in Stevensville, MD where they had several Steiger Craft models on display. Sales consultant Kate Chaney showed me several of the boats in Steiger's impressive lineup, and the redesigned CC21 Long Beach caught my eye. Unfortunately, the bitter winter prevented me from getting on the water for a sea trial.

The boat I checked out (list price $68,095) had an optional Armstrong engine bracket, matched with a 250-hp Yamaha that made the 21-footer look much bigger. My guess, having run other comparable center consoles with brackets, is that it handles seas more like a 24-footer. The bracket also allowed for a built-in livewell/fish box (optional) in the stern, which was nicely paired with a drop-down transom bench seat that's easily removable with legs that fold under to make storage a snap. Even out of the water it's easy to tell the Long Beach has maintained its fishing roots while adding several creature comforts the modern angler has come to expect from a premier fishing rig. As you'd expect for a 21-foot center console that costs $53,630 (base model price), the list of standard features is extensive. The beefy center console impressed me with lots of room for electronics, powder-coated leaning post, dual batteries, and well-thought out storage lockers. The electronics fuse panel is easily accessible behind the console, as are the thru-hulls and water pumps (washdown and fish well) located in the stern bilge. The step-down console boasts a massive entryway and ample headroom—Steiger Craft lists the height at 5’ 8”—designed to accommodate a marine head. The screened porthole is large enough to provide more than token ventilation.

The forward deck is spacious with plenty of room to fight fish, or cast to shoreline. The stainless steel pop-up cleats, bow lights and recessed cup holders are another nice touch.  A grab rail extends in a horseshoe shape from the center console all around the bow, a nice safety consideration when fishing in sloppy seas. Anglers will also like the six horizontal rod racks (three each side) under the gunwales as well as flush-mount rod holders, two on each side, in the washboards. The leaning post, with its removable backrest, gives you another four rod holders. Built into the port side of the center console is a tackle locker that holds four Plano-style lure cases as well as a bin for other rigging gear. Chaney said Steiger Craft builds about 100 boats a year, all of which can be semi-customized. Also impressive is the company's Life Time Guarantee, a clear indication of the confidence Al Steiger has in the boats his team builds. So if you're in the market for a seaworthy center console, make sure you add Steiger Craft's 21CC Long Beach to your list.

LENGTH: 21’ 0”
BEAM: 8’ 6”’
DEAD-RISE: 21 Degree
DRAFT: 15”
WEIGHT: 4,300 lbs.
RECOMMEND HP: 150 (Max. 250)
FUEL: 124 Gallons

by Captain Chris D. Dollar