Introducing The Sportsman Insider: A New Look at the Open 402

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Series

Open

9 Models • 21' → 40'

Built for families who want serious offshore capability, premium comfort and the freedom to fish, cruise or entertain.

Sportsman 402 center console boat with tower, white hull, and outboard engine in side profile view

Open 402

White center console fishing boat with hard-top canopy and outboard engine shown in side profile

Open 352

Blue and white Sportsman center console boat with hard-top, tan seating, and outboard engine shown in profile view

Open 322

Sportsman 302 center console boat with hard-top and outboard engine in gray and white hull

Open 302

Sportsman center console boat with hard-top, tan seating, and Yamaha outboard engine shown from starboard side

Open 282

Light blue Sportsman center console boat with hard-top, tan seating, and Yamaha outboard engine

Open 262

Sportsman 252 center console boat with turquoise hull, hard-top, and outboard engine in profile view

Open 252

Sportsman open center console boat with hard-top, outboard engine, and tan seating in blue and white hull design

Open 232

Blue and white Sportsman center console boat with hard-top, side profile view against white background

Open 212

Series

Heritage

4 Models • 23' → 32'

A refined crossover lineup designed for coastal cruising, ample seating, family days and some fishing when the moment calls for it.

Turquoise and white center console boat with hard-top and outboard motor, shown in side profile

Heritage 321

Turquoise and white center console fishing boat with hard-top, Yamaha engine, and tan seating viewed from the side

Heritage 261

Blue and white Sportsman center console boat with hard-top and outboard engine shown in profile view

Heritage 251

Sportsman Heritage 231 center console boat with hard-top, outboard engine, and tan seating in light blue and white

Heritage 231

Series

Masters

6 Models • 22' → 28'

Shallow-water performance, fishing-focused layouts and everyday comfort built for family life and fishing.

Side profile of a blue and white center console boat with hard-top and outboard engine

Masters 287

Blue and white Sportsman bay boat with Yamaha outboard engine and T-top against white background

Masters 267

Blue and white Sportsman center console fishing boat with Yamaha outboard motor and T-top shade structure

Masters 267OE

SportCraft Masters 247 bay boat with hard-top, Yamaha outboard engine, and tan seating viewed from the side

Masters 247

Sportsman center console bay boat with hard-top, Yamaha outboard engine, and tan seating viewed from the side

Masters 247OE

Sportsman 227 bay boat in turquoise and white with T-top, center console helm, and outboard motor in side profile view

Masters 227

 
Blog > Introducing The Sportsman Insider: A New Look at the Open 402

Sportsman Boats launches *The Sportsman Insider*, a new video series showcasing real-time updates on prototype builds. The first episode dives into the hull and stringer construction of the all-new Open 402, the largest and most advanced Sportsman to date.

September 4, 2025
The Sportsman Insider
Boat hull construction in a manufacturing facility with workers and protective covering during build process
Michael Cheser
Marketing Content Supervisor
  • The Sportsman Insider delivers real time updates on prototyping and production milestones
  • The Open 402 showcases Sportsman 3.0 design with a hull engineered for strength and offshore performance using vacuum infusion
  • The manufacturing approach emphasizes precision and efficiency with the hull built quickly and a robust stringer system adding long term durability

Sportsman Boats has launched a brand-new series called The Sportsman Insider, designed to give an inside look at the prototyping and progress of our latest models. Unlike Behind the Glass, which focuses on the fine details of boat building, The Sportsman Insider brings real-time updates as our boats move through critical stages of production.

The very first installment features the all-new Open 402—the most ambitious center console we’ve ever built. As the flagship of the Open Series and a defining model under the new Sportsman 3.0 design language, the 402 sets the tone for the next generation of Sportsman Boats.

Building the Hull

Every great boat begins with a strong foundation, and for the Open 402 that starts with the hull. Using our proprietary SportTech® design, the hull is engineered for strength, comfort, and efficiency. Built to run confidently in rough seas, it promises the smoothest ride ever offered on a Sportsman.

The process begins with a precision-applied gelcoat, creating the glossy, durable finish our customers recognize. Operators then add a protective skin coat, followed by layers of chopped fiberglass and resin to ensure consistency and strength. From there, laminators roll each section to remove air pockets and secure adhesion.

Worker in protective suit spray-coating the interior of a green boat hull during maintenance

Next comes infusion prep. Dry fiberglass and CNC-cut core materials are laid into the mold like a puzzle, first with the hull sides, then flipped to complete the bottom. Peel ply and resin flow lines are added to guide resin distribution. A high-heat bag is sealed over the mold and vacuum infusion begins, pulling resin evenly across the part. This technique ensures the hull is both lightweight and durable, ready to perform under demanding offshore conditions.

From skin coat to fully infused, the team can complete a hull in about 16 working hours—a true showcase of training, precision, and efficiency.

The Stringer System

With the hull complete, attention shifts to the stringer, another fully infused component that provides the backbone of the boat. Unlike the hull, only visible sections such as the bilge, fish boxes, and Seakeeper pod receive a gelcoat finish. The rest is built using dry fiberglass and core before undergoing the same infusion process. Once complete, the stringer drops directly into the hull, adding strength, housing systems, and ensuring long-term durability.

Boat manufacturing facility with workers assembling fiberglass hull sections under protective wrapping

What’s Next

This first look at the Open 402 marks just the beginning of the Sportsman Insider series. Upcoming updates will cover rigging, capping, and more as this groundbreaking model comes to life.

Stay tuned as we continue documenting the progress of the Open 402, a boat that not only raises the bar for Sportsman Boats but also redefines what’s possible in the world of center consoles.