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Top 5 Walkaround Bay Boats in Canada for 2025 — Best Walkaround Fishing Boats for Canadian Waters

Published on Monday, August 25, 2025

Walkaround bay boats feature a full-length side deck and a raised bow walkway that lets anglers move safely and unobstructed around the boat for true 360-degree fishing access. These boats blend dedicated fishing features — like livewells, rod storage, and tactical electronics — with family-friendly accommodations such as sheltered seating, cabins or cuddy spaces, and versatile deck layouts. In Canada, buyers often prefer walkarounds because they deliver the stability and seakeeping needed on the Great Lakes, the Gulf of St. Lawrence and coastal Atlantic or Pacific waters while remaining easy to handle, comfortable for passengers, and practical for overnight trips. Key purchase drivers include seaworthiness in choppy conditions, safety and access for anglers, dealer and service support across provinces, fuel efficiency, and strong resale value.

Quick Menu

1. Best Seakeeping & Build

2. Best Versatile All-Rounder

3. Best Sport Comfort

4. Best Value Fishing Walkaround

5. Best Premium Construction & Innovation

1
BEST SEAKEEPING & BUILD

Grady-White Fisherman 236

Grady-White

Grady-White is the benchmark for premium walkaround bay boats; the Fisherman 236 combines renowned, heavy-duty construction and a sea-kindly hull that inspires confidence in bay and nearshore conditions. Compared to the other boats on this list it typically commands a higher price but delivers superior fit-and-finish, long-term resale value and offshore-capable comfort that justify the premium for buyers prioritizing build quality.

4.7
★★★★☆

  • Legendary seakeeping

  • Angler-focused deck

  • Legendary seakeeping

  • Angler-focused deck

Review Summary

93%

"Owners consistently praise the Fisherman 236 for its solid build, exceptional ride and fishing-focused layout; users note premium fit-and-finish and reliability, though it carries a higher price and ownership costs. "

  • Quiet-ride confidence

  • Rugged deep-V hull and solid construction for confident rough-water performance

  • Quiet-ride confidence

  • Rugged deep-V hull and solid construction for confident rough-water performance

Recreational Enjoyment

Skill Development & Mastery

Grady-White is the benchmark for premium walkaround bay boats; the Fisherman 236 combines renowned, heavy-duty construction and a sea-kindly hull that inspires confidence in bay and nearshore conditions. Compared to the other boats on this list it typically commands a higher price but delivers superior fit-and-finish, long-term resale value and offshore-capable comfort that justify the premium for buyers prioritizing build quality.

  • Legendary seakeeping

  • Angler-focused deck

  • Quiet-ride confidence

  • Rugged deep-V hull and solid construction for confident rough-water performance

  • Protected walkaround decks and roomy cockpit designed for serious anglers

  • Legendary seakeeping

  • Angler-focused deck

  • Quiet-ride confidence

  • Rugged deep-V hull and solid construction for confident rough-water performance

  • Protected walkaround decks and roomy cockpit designed for serious anglers

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$140,000-180,000 CAD

2
BEST VERSATILE ALL-ROUNDER

Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless

Boston Whaler

Boston Whaler’s 250 Dauntless offers exceptional versatility and peace-of-mind with its unsinkable hull and family-friendly layout, making it a strong all-around choice for bay boating and light offshore trips. Relative to Grady-White and Pursuit, it often represents a more value-oriented option with lower operating costs and excellent resale, while still delivering solid performance and broad appeal.

4.5
★★★★☆

  • Unsinkable confidence

  • Versatile deck layout

  • Unsinkable confidence

  • Versatile deck layout

Review Summary

90%

"Buyers appreciate the 250 Dauntless for its unsinkable reputation, versatile layout and dependable sea-keeping; common comments mention excellent resale value and practicality, with some trade-offs in cockpit space for larger families. "

  • Beach-and-bay swagger

  • Renowned unsinkable hull and a stable, predictable ride for family or fishing use

  • Beach-and-bay swagger

  • Renowned unsinkable hull and a stable, predictable ride for family or fishing use

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

Boston Whaler’s 250 Dauntless offers exceptional versatility and peace-of-mind with its unsinkable hull and family-friendly layout, making it a strong all-around choice for bay boating and light offshore trips. Relative to Grady-White and Pursuit, it often represents a more value-oriented option with lower operating costs and excellent resale, while still delivering solid performance and broad appeal.

  • Unsinkable confidence

  • Versatile deck layout

  • Beach-and-bay swagger

  • Renowned unsinkable hull and a stable, predictable ride for family or fishing use

  • Convertible bow seating and practical fishing features for multi-use versatility

  • Unsinkable confidence

  • Versatile deck layout

  • Beach-and-bay swagger

  • Renowned unsinkable hull and a stable, predictable ride for family or fishing use

  • Convertible bow seating and practical fishing features for multi-use versatility

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$130,000-170,000 CAD

3
BEST SPORT COMFORT

Pursuit S 268 Sport

Pursuit

Pursuit’s S 268 Sport positions itself as a performance-oriented, upscale walkaround bay boat with refined ergonomics, angler-focused amenities and hull tuning for a faster, smoother ride. It competes closely with Grady-White on luxury features and with Boston Whaler on versatility, often commanding a comparable premium but appealing to buyers who want a sportier drive and detailed fishing functionality.

4.4
★★★★☆

  • Premium fishability

  • Luxurious helm vibe

  • Premium fishability

  • Luxurious helm vibe

Review Summary

88%

"Pursuit S 268 Sport is liked for its comfortable ride, upscale fit and family-friendly fishing features; reviewers often cite strong build quality but note it comes at a premium price. "

  • Agile handling grin

  • Sporty hull delivers efficient cruising speeds with confident handling

  • Agile handling grin

  • Sporty hull delivers efficient cruising speeds with confident handling

Recreational Enjoyment

Skill Development & Mastery

Time-Saving Convenience

Pursuit’s S 268 Sport positions itself as a performance-oriented, upscale walkaround bay boat with refined ergonomics, angler-focused amenities and hull tuning for a faster, smoother ride. It competes closely with Grady-White on luxury features and with Boston Whaler on versatility, often commanding a comparable premium but appealing to buyers who want a sportier drive and detailed fishing functionality.

  • Premium fishability

  • Luxurious helm vibe

  • Agile handling grin

  • Sporty hull delivers efficient cruising speeds with confident handling

  • Well-appointed cabin and helm with upscale finishes for comfortable overnighting

  • Premium fishability

  • Luxurious helm vibe

  • Agile handling grin

  • Sporty hull delivers efficient cruising speeds with confident handling

  • Well-appointed cabin and helm with upscale finishes for comfortable overnighting

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$180,000-230,000 CAD

4
BEST VALUE FISHING WALKAROUND

Robalo R247

Robalo

The Robalo R247 is a value-focused walkaround bay boat that packs practical fishing features and a comfortable cockpit into a competitive price point, making it attractive for budget-conscious anglers. Compared with higher-end models like Grady-White and Pursuit it sacrifices some luxury finish but gains affordability and lower ownership costs while still offering capable bay performance and sensible equipment for the money.

4.2
★★★★☆

  • Fishing-first cockpit

  • Stiff-hull confidence

  • Fishing-first cockpit

  • Stiff-hull confidence

Review Summary

85%

"Owners find the Robalo R247 to be a good value with solid fishing amenities and a capable ride, though some users report fit-and-finish and dealer-service inconsistencies compared with higher-end brands. "

  • Value-packed punch

  • Competitive price with a solid, fish-focused layout and good standard equipment

  • Value-packed punch

  • Competitive price with a solid, fish-focused layout and good standard equipment

Recreational Enjoyment

Skill Development & Mastery

Time-Saving Convenience

The Robalo R247 is a value-focused walkaround bay boat that packs practical fishing features and a comfortable cockpit into a competitive price point, making it attractive for budget-conscious anglers. Compared with higher-end models like Grady-White and Pursuit it sacrifices some luxury finish but gains affordability and lower ownership costs while still offering capable bay performance and sensible equipment for the money.

  • Fishing-first cockpit

  • Stiff-hull confidence

  • Value-packed punch

  • Competitive price with a solid, fish-focused layout and good standard equipment

  • Generous cockpit room and rod/storage features for day-of-fishing practicality

  • Fishing-first cockpit

  • Stiff-hull confidence

  • Value-packed punch

  • Competitive price with a solid, fish-focused layout and good standard equipment

  • Generous cockpit room and rod/storage features for day-of-fishing practicality

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$100,000-140,000 CAD

5
BEST PREMIUM CONSTRUCTION & INNOVATION

Everglades 253cc

Everglades

Everglades’ 253cc stands out for its patented RAMCAP hull and robust build, delivering a drier, more stable ride and strong resale for bay and inshore work. It occupies a middle ground between premium brands (Grady-White/Pursuit) and value players (Robalo) by offering a compelling balance of durability, sea-keeping and long-term ownership value that will appeal to serious bay boat buyers.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • RAMCAP toughness

  • Rock-steady platform

  • RAMCAP toughness

  • Rock-steady platform

Review Summary

91%

"Everglades 253cc earns praise for its dry, stable RAMCAP hull, abundant storage and durable construction; reviewers love its fishing functionality and comfort but mention a smaller dealer network and higher initial cost. "

  • Comfort-first layout

  • Advanced RAMCAP construction and attention to corrosion resistance for long-term durability

  • Comfort-first layout

  • Advanced RAMCAP construction and attention to corrosion resistance for long-term durability

Recreational Enjoyment

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Everglades’ 253cc stands out for its patented RAMCAP hull and robust build, delivering a drier, more stable ride and strong resale for bay and inshore work. It occupies a middle ground between premium brands (Grady-White/Pursuit) and value players (Robalo) by offering a compelling balance of durability, sea-keeping and long-term ownership value that will appeal to serious bay boat buyers.

  • RAMCAP toughness

  • Rock-steady platform

  • Comfort-first layout

  • Advanced RAMCAP construction and attention to corrosion resistance for long-term durability

  • Dry, comfortable ride and refined handling ideal for offshore bay conditions

  • RAMCAP toughness

  • Rock-steady platform

  • Comfort-first layout

  • Advanced RAMCAP construction and attention to corrosion resistance for long-term durability

  • Dry, comfortable ride and refined handling ideal for offshore bay conditions

Order Now

$210,000-260,000 CAD

What Research and Safety Guidance Say About Walkaround Bay Boats

A range of marine engineering, human factors and safety guidance supports the design benefits of walkaround bay boats. Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada provide small vessel safety recommendations that align with common walkaround features — such as secure handholds, clear deck walkways, and reliable flotation systems. Independent marine engineering research highlights how hull shape and weight distribution influence stability and ride comfort, while ergonomics studies show that accessible deck layouts and thoughtfully placed controls reduce crew fatigue and improve safety during long fishing days.

Stability and hull design: Marine engineering analyses demonstrate that moderate beam and well-shaped hull chines improve initial stability and reduce excessive rolling in chop, important for Canadian inland and coastal conditions.

Ergonomics and safety: Human factors research finds that unobstructed walkways, raised coamings, and well-placed handholds lower the risk of slips and falls and reduce fatigue during extended angling sessions.

Electronics and situational awareness: Studies of integrated navigation and fishfinding systems indicate that modern electronics improve route planning, hazard avoidance and fish locating efficiency, which enhances both safety and catch success.

Regulatory guidance alignment: Transport Canada guidance on small craft safety emphasizes wearing lifejackets, proper vessel stability and maintenance — all of which are easier to manage on walkaround designs because of accessible deck space and organized storage.

Real-world testing: Boat test comparisons and owner surveys consistently rate walkaround models highly for versatility — delivering a balance of offshore capability and family comfort that matches Canadian multi-use boating preferences.

In Canadian waters, walkaround bay boats offer a versatile mix of angler-friendly access, seaworthiness and family comfort. The five models featured here — Grady-White Fisherman 236, Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless, Pursuit S 268 Sport, Robalo R247, and Everglades 253cc — each bring strengths for different buyers: the Grady-White for serious offshore handling, the Pursuit for premium fit and finish, the Robalo for value, and the Everglades for advanced layout and build features. For most Canadian buyers seeking an all-around, safe and highly capable walkaround, the Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless stands out as the best overall choice thanks to its reputation for durability and unsinkable hull construction. We hope you found what you were looking for — you can refine or expand your search using the site search to compare features, local dealer availability and current pricing.

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