Compact fishing focus, ONEW’s Sportsman 232 Open targets saltwater families

The Sportsman 232 Open from OneWater Marine’s ONEW network is a 23-foot center-console boat aimed at anglers who also need family comfort, pairing offshore-ready hardware with a relatively approachable price point in the saltwater segment.

Edited by ad hoc news Flagship & Bestseller Desk. Reviewed before publication on 06/15/2026 at 1:38 PM ET. Details in the imprint.

The Sportsman 232 Open, part of the ONEW retail network’s core saltwater lineup, positions itself as a compact center-console that tries to balance serious inshore and near-offshore fishing capability with family-friendly seating and storage in a 23-foot footprint. Sportsman’s 232 Open series sits in the heart of the brand’s sales charts at many OneWater Marine dealerships, appealing to buyers who want offshore touches like a deep-V hull and livewells without stepping up into the cost and running expenses of a 26-foot or larger offshore rig.

What the Sportsman 232 Open offers on the water

At 23 feet 2 inches in length with an 8-foot 6-inch beam, the Sportsman 232 Open is designed as a self-contained coastal boat that can still be trailered to different ramps without special permits in most US states, while offering enough hull depth and freeboard for choppier bay and near-offshore conditions. According to the official Sportsman Boats product page, the model is commonly rigged with a single Yamaha outboard up to 250 hp, giving it the ability to cruise comfortably in the mid-20-knot range with a typical family-and-gear load.

The deck plan aims to maximize utility in a relatively compact hull, with a forward U-shaped seating area that can convert from a casting platform to cushioned loungers, plus removable backrests for more relaxed cruising when the rods are stowed. A leaning-post helm seat with integrated tackle storage and a built-in 25-gallon livewell behind the helm target anglers who need ready access to bait, while twin insulated fish boxes in the bow and additional in-floor storage help keep the cockpit clear when fish come aboard. Sportsman equips the 232 Open with a self-bailing cockpit and a fiberglass hardtop on many dealer-stocked boats, features that are especially relevant for coastal buyers who face sudden squalls or need shade for children and non-fishing guests during long summer days.

Electronics are a major part of the package in the current generation of the 232 Open, with most OneWater Marine dealers in the US stocking boats that are pre-rigged with a single large multi-function display at the helm and NMEA 2000 integration for engine data; buyers often choose a 9-inch or 12-inch screen from brands such as Garmin or Simrad, depending on local dealership partnerships. The helm layout leaves space for future radar or additional displays, and the wiring harness is set up to support options like trolling motors and power poles for inshore anglers who need precise boat positioning on flats and bridge structure.

From a comfort perspective, the 232 Open includes a spacious console compartment that can house a portable or plumbed marine head, a feature that many families consider mandatory once kids or older relatives are part of the crew. The molded-in step at the bow, grab rails along the coamings, and a relatively high bow flare also aim to make the ride feel more secure for less-experienced passengers when the weather picks up. Upholstery on recent-model 232 Open boats uses thicker bolsters and high-density foam compared with earlier generations, addressing a common complaint among buyers moving up from bare-bones skiffs that offered little in the way of back support or lounging comfort.

Pricing for the Sportsman 232 Open varies by dealer, region, engine choice and electronics, but recent retail listings at ONEW-affiliated stores in markets such as Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas typically show well-equipped packages in the mid-$80,000s to low-$100,000s range with a 200 to 250 hp Yamaha outboard and a basic electronics suite. A recent listing from the OneWater Marine dealer network described a new 2025 model with a Yamaha F250, T-top, trim tabs, upgraded helm electronics and a tandem-axle trailer at an asking price just above $100,000, illustrating how quickly options can push the final invoice once buyers add features like underwater lights, upgraded audio and multiple livewells. Prospective owners will want to consider the total package, including insurance, storage and fuel, rather than focusing solely on the advertised base boat price.

In its market segment, the 232 Open competes directly with other 22 to 24-foot center-consoles from brands such as Sea Hunt, Robalo and Key West, many of which also appear in ONEW’s multi-brand showrooms, creating a cross-shopping environment under one corporate roof. A review by the boating publication BoatTEST.com highlighted the model’s stable fishing platform and family-oriented bow seating as strengths, while noting that hardcore offshore anglers might still prefer a larger hull once they routinely venture far past the inlet. For buyers who primarily fish inshore waters, coastal bays and make occasional offshore runs on calmer days, the 232 Open’s blend of size, towability and feature mix often presents a pragmatic compromise.

As a brand, Sportsman Boats is one of the key manufacturers feeding inventory into OneWater Marine’s ONEW retail locations, which operate as part of a multi-state network of dealerships and service centers across the US Southeast, Gulf Coast and selected inland markets. OneWater Marine has grown through acquisitions of regional dealers and brands, using its scale to negotiate inventory and engine allocations in popular categories like 23-foot center-consoles. According to OneWater Marine’s latest quarterly filing on its investor-relations site, sales of new boats in the saltwater fishing and family recreation categories remain an important contributor to revenue, with brands like Sportsman, Scout and Sea Hunt frequently cited as core partners in these segments. The company’s official investor relations information shows that OneWater Marine (ISIN US68557G1004) is listed on NASDAQ under the ticker ONEW; shares of OneWater Marine traded around the mid-$20 range in recent sessions, reflecting broader conditions in the US marine retail and services market rather than any single model like the Sportsman 232 Open.

Sportsman 232 Open quick profile

• Product: Sportsman 232 Open
• Manufacturer: OneWater Marine Inc. / Sportsman Boats
• Category: Flagship/Bestseller center-console boat
• Launch date: Ongoing current-generation production (model years around 2023-2025)
• MSRP / Price: Typically mid-$80,000s to low-$100,000s in the US when well equipped
• Availability: US coastal markets via OneWater Marine’s ONEW dealer network and other Sportsman dealers
• Target audience: Saltwater anglers and families seeking a 23-foot center-console for inshore and occasional near-offshore use
• Key differentiator / USP: Combines offshore-style features like a deep-V hull and hardtop with family-focused bow seating and a console head in a trailerable 23-foot package

This article was a.i.-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without warranty; prices and availability may change at short notice. Not investment advice and not a buy or sell recommendation. Trading involves risk up to and including the total loss of invested capital.