Shop Talk Exterior Center console boats are a popular style of boat in Yorktown, Va. The author believes that center console enclosures are some of the most complicated enclosures to design, and also among the most rewarding. Center console enclosures by Mike Charlton C " The bottom line to pass along to customers is that having an enclosure on their boat can greatly extend their boating season. " enter console boats are a popular style of boat in my area, Yorktown, Va., along with sportfish, cruisers, trawlers and sailboats. In my opinion, center console enclosures are some of the most complicated enclosures to design. This style of boat usually has many challenges to overcome in order to get the job done cleanly and have it function properly. Personally, these challenges are what make center console enclosures fun for me and why I love doing them so much. They tend to keep my wheels turning and keep me learning and creating new ways to solve problems and issues. 36 Marine Fabricator | May/June 2023 Design considerations Here are some of the things that I consider when designing an enclosure: * Ensure clients have a full range of visibility. I don't want to block their view in any areas that might be critical for the captain when maneuvering the boat. * Ensure clients have easy access to the center console door. This can be a safety issue because a lot of people store their life jackets in their console. * Ensure clients can access the bow of the boat quickly and easily. You never know when you need to get to the bow of the boat in a hurry. The doorway/access