What is Silverton Boats?
Silverton is an American builder of fiberglass motor yachts, flybridge cruisers, convertibles, and family cruising boats. The brand’s modern history began in 1969, when brothers John and Warren Luhrs acquired Silverton Sea Skiffs and developed the company into one of the better-known names in midsized American powerboats. Silverton became especially recognized for delivering generous interior volume, practical accommodations, and flybridge layouts at comparatively approachable prices.
Silverton boats are primarily designed for family cruising, entertaining, fishing, weekend trips, and extended stays aboard. Although the company has produced boats in several configurations, its best-known models are generally between approximately 33 and 50 feet.
Are Silverton Boats still being built, and who owns the company?
Yes, the Silverton brand remains active under the Egg Harbor Group, although its new-boat activity is considerably more limited than during its highest-volume production years. Silverton Marine and Ovation Yachts were acquired by Egg Harbor Yachts owner Ira Trocki in 2012 after the former companies entered Chapter 11 proceedings. Production was subsequently moved to the Egg Harbor Group facility in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey. As of now, the shipyard has not been active with producing boats.
The official Silverton website currently presents the 36, 43, 45, and 50 Convertibles and the 43 Sport Bridge. A 2026 Silverton 43C has also been advertised by Egg Harbor Group as a new-build yacht in Egg Harbor City. Because new Silvertons appear to be offered selectively rather than through broad, high-volume production, buyers should confirm current build slots, specifications, engine choices, pricing, and delivery schedules directly.
Most buyers searching for Silverton boats for sale will encounter a much larger selection of pre-owned yachts built during the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and early 2010s.
What types of boats and yachts has Silverton built?
Silverton has built several categories of midsized powerboats and yachts, including:
-Convertible flybridge boats
-Sport Bridge cruisers
-Aft-cabin motor yachts
-Sport Coupes
-T-Series cruising and fishing boats
-Ovation luxury motor yachts
Silverton Convertibles generally combine a large cockpit, elevated bridge, enclosed salon, galley, and overnight accommodations. Sport Bridge models emphasize family cruising and entertaining, while Silverton Motor Yachts typically provide an aft stateroom, forward guest accommodations, a large salon, an aft deck, and a flybridge. The former Ovation range represented the more contemporary and upscale side of the company’s yacht portfolio.
What are the most popular Silverton boat models?
Silverton does not publish a definitive model-by-model popularity ranking, but several models are especially recognizable in the pre-owned boat market. Popular Silverton models include the:
-Silverton 34 Convertible
-Silverton 330 Sport Bridge
-Silverton 35 Motor Yacht
-Silverton 392 and 39 Motor Yacht
-Silverton 42 Convertible
-Silverton 43 Motor Yacht
-Silverton 43 Sport Bridge
-Silverton 453 Motor Yacht
-Silverton 45 Convertible
-Silverton 50 Convertible
-Silverton 52 Ovation
The Silverton 330 Sport Bridge developed a strong following as an affordable family flybridge cruiser, while the 39 Motor Yacht remains popular with buyers who want a two-stateroom, two-head layout in a manageable size. The 42 Convertible is frequently sought by buyers wanting a combination of diesel performance, cruising accommodations, and cockpit space. At the larger end, the 50 Convertible and 52 Ovation offer greater interior volume, multiple staterooms, and more extensive onboard systems.
What is the Silverton SideWalk design?
Silverton’s SideWalk design is a flybridge-to-foredeck access system that uses molded stairs and elevated exterior passages instead of narrow conventional side decks beside the salon. It allows passengers to move between the bridge and bow more easily while preserving substantial interior width on the main deck.
By relocating the exterior walkway, Silverton was able to extend the salon closer to the full beam of the yacht. This helped create the spacious interiors for which models such as the 330 Sport Bridge, 39 Motor Yacht, and several larger Silvertons became known. Buyers should still inspect the steps, railings, nonskid surfaces, and bridge access to make sure the arrangement is comfortable for everyone who will regularly use the boat.
What is the difference between a Silverton Motor Yacht, Sport Bridge, and Convertible?
A Silverton Motor Yacht is generally designed around cruising comfort and interior volume. Many models have an aft master stateroom, a forward guest cabin, two heads, a large salon, an aft entertainment deck, and an elevated bridge. This configuration works well for extended cruising, marina stays, and living aboard.
A Silverton Sport Bridge usually has its sleeping accommodations forward, with a more open cockpit and an elevated flybridge. Sport Bridge models were designed as versatile family cruisers, offering outdoor entertaining space, easy bow access, and substantial salon volume.
A Silverton Convertible combines cruising accommodations with a larger working cockpit and a traditional flybridge helm. Convertibles such as the 42, 43, 45, and 50 can be used for fishing, but they also have salons, galleys, staterooms, heads, and entertainment areas suitable for family cruising. The 50 Convertible, for example, was designed with three staterooms, two heads, a large galley, substantial salon seating, and fishing-oriented storage.
Are Silverton Boats considered good-quality boats, and has Silverton won awards?
Silverton is generally considered a value-oriented American yacht builder that concentrated on comfort, space, and practical family cruising. The company described itself as a midsized bridge-boat builder focused on performance, comfort, and value. Historical Silverton construction materials and methods included fiberglass hulls, unitized assemblies, marine-grade structural components, cherry-wood interiors, solid-surface countertops, tempered-glass windows, and extensive water testing.
Silverton Marine earned a 2008 NMMA Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Index Award in the inboard flybridge sedan and convertible category. Recipients were required to achieve an independently measured customer-satisfaction rating of at least 90 percent during the applicable survey period.
Recent national award activity has been limited. Silverton was not included in the NMMA’s published recipient lists for the 2024 or 2025 program years, so the 2008 CSI Award should be presented as historical recognition rather than a recent award.
The condition of a used Silverton ultimately depends more on its age, maintenance, storage, upgrades, and ownership history than on the brand name alone. A well-maintained freshwater Silverton can be a better purchase than a newer example that has experienced deferred maintenance or improper repairs.
How do Silverton Boats compare with Carver, Sea Ray, Meridian, Cruisers Yachts, and Mainship?
Silverton traditionally occupied the value-focused portion of the midsized motor-yacht and flybridge-cruiser market. In practical brokerage shopping, buyers often compare Silverton with Carver, Sea Ray, Meridian, Cruisers Yachts, Mainship, and certain Ocean Yachts models.
Silverton’s strongest competitive advantage is usually interior volume. Its SideWalk layouts, broad salons, large flybridges, and multiple-stateroom configurations can make a Silverton feel larger inside than many boats of a similar nominal length. Sea Ray often emphasizes express-cruiser styling and performance, Carver and Meridian are close competitors in family motor yachts, Cruisers Yachts may offer more contemporary styling, and Mainship is frequently considered by buyers prioritizing slower, economical cruising.
The best comparison should be made between specific model years rather than brands in general. Buyers should evaluate layout, hull design, propulsion, cruising speed, fuel capacity, bridge clearance, engine-room access, service history, and resale demand.
Do Silverton Boats have gasoline or diesel engines?
Silverton boats have been built with both gasoline and diesel inboard engines. Smaller and midsized Motor Yachts were frequently equipped with gasoline engines, especially when originally intended for inland lakes, rivers, and moderate-distance cruising. Examples of the Silverton 35 and 39 Motor Yacht were commonly powered by twin MerCruiser or Crusader gasoline inboards.
Larger Silverton Convertibles were more commonly equipped with diesel engines. The 43 Convertible was offered with twin Yanmar diesels, while the 45 and 50 Convertibles were designed around twin diesel propulsion. Diesel power is generally preferred for heavier boats, longer trips, higher annual engine hours, and offshore cruising, while gasoline power can offer a lower initial purchase price and more familiar service options in some freshwater markets.
The right choice depends on the yacht’s size, purchase price, cruising plans, engine condition, fuel availability, maintenance costs, and expected annual use. On a used Silverton, maintenance records and mechanical condition are usually more important than choosing gasoline or diesel based on reputation alone.
Are Silverton Boats good for the Great Lakes and the Great Loop?
Yes. Many Silverton models are well suited to Great Lakes cruising because they offer enclosed salons, flybridge enclosures, heating and air conditioning, generators, full galleys, private staterooms, and substantial storage. The brand is especially popular with boaters who want to spend weekends or entire cruising seasons aboard.
Models such as the Silverton 35 and 39 Motor Yacht provide multiple sleeping areas and large entertainment spaces without requiring the dockage of a much larger yacht. A currently marketed freshwater Silverton 39 Motor Yacht is specifically presented as suitable for continued Great Lakes cruising or completing the Great Loop.
Great Loop buyers must verify the individual yacht’s air draft, draft, fuel range, bridge clearance, mast or antenna configuration, and ability to access required waterways. Flybridge enclosures, electronics arches, radar equipment, and antennas may change the yacht’s practical clearance.
Are Silverton Convertibles good for fishing?
Silverton Convertibles can be good multipurpose boats for recreational fishing, Great Lakes angling, coastal trips, and occasional offshore use. They generally provide a sizable cockpit, flybridge visibility, rod storage, fishable transoms, and enough cabin space for family members who may be less interested in fishing.
The Silverton 43 Convertible combines a large cockpit and elevated helm with two staterooms and a spacious salon. The 50 Convertible adds three staterooms, extensive storage, diesel power, and a substantial bridge and cockpit.
A Silverton Convertible should not automatically be treated as equivalent to a dedicated tournament sportfishing yacht. Buyers planning serious offshore fishing should evaluate cockpit dimensions, livewell capacity, fish boxes, tower configuration, fuel range, engine-room access, freeboard, rod storage, and the ability to install modern fishing electronics.
Are Silverton Boats good for overnight cruising and living aboard?
Yes. Interior living space is one of the principal reasons buyers choose a Silverton. Depending on the model, accommodations can include two or three staterooms, multiple heads with separate showers, convertible salon seating, a full galley, a dinette, climate control, a generator, and generous storage.
A Silverton Motor Yacht is particularly attractive for extended stays because the aft-cabin arrangement separates the owner’s stateroom from the forward guest cabin. Sport Bridge and Convertible models provide a more conventional forward-cabin layout while retaining large salons and outdoor spaces.
Silverton owners commonly use their boats for weekend trips, marina living, waterfront entertaining, Great Lakes vacations, Great Loop cruising, fishing, and seasonal travel between ports. Larger models such as the 50 Convertible and 52 Ovation can support more ambitious cruising and longer stays aboard.
How much does a used Silverton Boat cost?
The price of a used Silverton varies substantially according to model, year, engine type, engine hours, condition, location, equipment, and maintenance history. An older 34 Convertible or 330 Sport Bridge occupies a very different market segment from a late-model 43 Convertible, 50 Convertible, or 52 Ovation.
Important value factors include:
-Freshwater versus saltwater history
-Gasoline or diesel propulsion
-Engine and generator hours
-Maintenance documentation
-Flybridge canvas and enclosure condition
-Electronics age
-Heating and air-conditioning operation
-Moisture or water intrusion
-Interior condition
-Recent mechanical or cosmetic upgrades
-Storage and winterization history
-Included tender or equipment
New-build pricing is significantly higher than typical used Silverton values. For context, a 2026 Silverton 43C new build was advertised at approximately $1.05 million, although pricing, equipment, and availability are subject to change.
What should I inspect before buying a used Silverton?
Every used Silverton should receive a professional marine survey and mechanical inspection. Important areas to evaluate include:
-Hull, deck, swim platform, and flybridge moisture
-Stringers, bulkheads, and structural tabbing
-Salon windows, windshield frames, hatches, and evidence of leaks
-Flybridge stairs, SideWalk passages, rails, and nonskid surfaces
-Gasoline or diesel engines, transmissions, shafts, and propellers
-Exhaust manifolds, risers, cooling systems, and fuel systems
-Generator operation and service history
-Electrical panels, shore-power equipment, batteries, and chargers
-Air conditioning, heating, plumbing, sanitation, and water heaters
-Navigation electronics and vessel controls
-Canvas, enclosure panels, upholstery, and exterior seating
-Appliances, refrigeration, and galley equipment
-Title, registration, liens, documentation, and previous claims
Engine oil analysis can provide additional information on diesel-powered boats. Gasoline-powered Silvertons should receive a careful inspection of exhaust components, fuel systems, ignition-protection equipment, and engine-room ventilation. A proper sea trial should test operating temperature, steering, trim, vibration, acceleration, cruising speed, maneuverability, and all major onboard systems.
Why should I buy a pre-owned Silverton through Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales?
A Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales broker can help identify the Silverton model that best matches the buyer’s cruising plans, budget, preferred propulsion, and accommodation requirements. This guidance is particularly valuable because the used Silverton market includes numerous model generations, layouts, engine combinations, and boats ranging from lightly used freshwater examples to extensively cruised coastal yachts.
A JBYS broker can assist with:
-Locating Silverton boats for sale
-Comparing Motor Yacht, Sport Bridge, Convertible, and Ovation models
-Analyzing comparable listings and market value
-Reviewing equipment and maintenance records
-Arranging showings and sea trials
-Coordinating marine surveys and mechanical inspections
-Negotiating the purchase and survey findings
-Assisting with financing and insurance
-Managing documentation, registration, transportation, and closing
-Evaluating trade-in opportunities
Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales has more than 50 years of company experience and nine locations across Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Florida. Its brokers understand both freshwater and coastal boating, and JBYS currently markets Silverton models ranging from the 35 and 39 Motor Yachts to the 42 Convertible and 52 Ovation. That market experience can help a buyer determine whether a particular yacht’s condition, equipment, maintenance history, and asking price represent a sound purchase.
