The Panhandle Masterpiece
2018 Custom Emerald Bay 36 — $215,000
For this week, we are hunting the most elusive, value-heavy boats on the water: The Custom Builds. Commissioning a bespoke boat is a terrible financial decision. It takes years, goes wildly over budget, and because it doesn’t have a mass-market brand name on the side, it depreciates like a falling rock.
But buying someone else’s custom build? That is the ultimate maritime cheat code.
When you buy a custom boat, you are capturing thousands of hours of high-end craftsmanship and premium components for pennies on the dollar. Case in point: To commission a 36-foot custom cruiser with a brand-new Cummins diesel and a generator today would easily cost over $600,000. But because this boat doesn’t say “Sea Ray” or “Hinckley” on the side, it is sitting on the market for $215,000.
You pull into a marina in Florida. The dockmaster doesn’t just hand you your slip assignment; he walks out of his office to ask, “What kind of boat is that?” You don’t own a cookie-cutter fiberglass tub that rolled off an assembly line with 500 identical twins. You own a one-of-one.
Currently located in Florida, this 2018 Custom Emerald Bay 36 is the definition of a well-executed passion project. It bridges the gap between a classic Downeast picnic boat and a modern coastal cruiser. Designed to be the ultimate entertainer and weekender, it features a sprawling cockpit, a gorgeous teak swim platform, and a unique wraparound acrylic enclosure that can be completely removed to let the ocean breeze in.
The Specs
Builder: Custom (Emerald Bay 36)
Price: $215,000
Location: Niceville, Florida (Panhandle)
LOA: 36’ 0”
Beam: 12’ 0”
Draft: 3’ 0” (Perfect for shallow anchorages)
Engine: Single Cummins QSB 6.7 Diesel (355 HP)
Why We Love It (The “Green Flags”)
The “Smart Money” Powertrain: The builder made an incredibly wise choice here. Instead of cramming two engines into the bilge, they opted for a single, bulletproof Cummins diesel. This cuts maintenance costs in half and burns a fraction of the fuel, easily cruising at 19 knots.
Thrusters on Demand: The downside of a single engine is usually docking anxiety. This boat eliminates that entirely by featuring both Bow and Stern Thrusters. You can literally walk this 36-foot boat sideways into a slip with the touch of two toggles.
Off-Grid Capabilities: It is equipped with a 5.5 KW marine generator. You can anchor out at Crab Island for the entire weekend and run your air conditioning, microwave, and electric stovetop without ever needing to plug into a dock.
Surprising Volume: Below deck, the custom layout managed to fit two distinct sleeping areas (a V-berth master and a starboard aft cabin), both featuring actual queen-sized beds, plus a full stand-up shower in the head.
The Reality Check (The “Red Flags”)
The “No-Name” Liquidity: You are buying this boat for a massive discount because it lacks brand recognition. You must accept that when you decide to sell it in five or ten years, you will also have to wait patiently for the right niche buyer who appreciates custom work.
The “Acrylic” Enclosure: Instead of a fully molded fiberglass pilothouse, this boat relies on removable acrylic panels and Eisenglass. While this is amazing for open-air cruising on nice days, it requires more maintenance to keep the clear panels from scratching and fogging over time.
Ultra-Light Displacement: Listed at just 8,600 lbs, this boat is shockingly light for a 36-foot diesel cruiser. While this makes it highly fuel-efficient, a lighter boat will get bounced around more in a nasty offshore chop than a heavy, 15,000-pound battlewagon.
The Verdict:
The Emerald Bay 36 is for the captain who wants a modern, reliable, fully equipped coastal cruiser without paying the bloated premium of a mass-market brand name. Finding a 2018 build with a Cummins diesel, a generator, and dual thrusters for $215k is the ultimate reward for the buyer willing to step outside the mainstream.