Will look at Riveria, and also down east types. My other preference is to have a flybridge as if I want to go to FL and Bahamas, having a flybridge would be much nicer I think.
Probably need to look at other sport fishing boats, but it really seems they are made to go fast more than not. I am fine going hull speed for lots of the time, I want to be able to go 2x it if I want to. Appreciate everyones inputs.
Convertibles as from Riviera, Maritimo, Ocean, Hatteras, Viking, Cabo, Silverton, Luhrs, Bertram, etc.... originally sportfishers with amenities... will likely have the helm station mounted aft on the flybridge. Makes docking stern-to much easier. Older models often get you 2-stroke Detroit Diesels, newer more often Cat, Cummins, some Volvos (including pod drives for newer boats), some Yanmars... or MAN or MTU at the upper reaches. Pros and cons for various engine packages; boatdiesel.com can be your friend.
(Yes, some are made to go fast, but... that's often two components. One is to get to the tournament fishing grounds and back again ahead of everyone else... and it's not like everyone who owns a sportfish actually does it. The other is to match speeds to sea states. Latter doesn't have to be at race speed...)
Sedan bridge boats from Cruisers, Carver, Sea Ray, Formula, etc... will more likely have the helm mounted forward on the flybridge. (Ours doesn't, and there are a few others...) Ditto all that engine stuff.
None of all those usually include lower helm stations, although there are exceptions. And adding cockpit controls can work if it's just about docking.
"Down East" bridge boats from Sabre, Hinckley, Wilbur, seem to have their flybridge helm forward too, but I haven't researched those extensively. Might see more lower station availability here. (We win the lottery, a Sabre 54 is on the horizon!)
Engines are what they are. You can usually "manage" large engines easily enough. Putter along when whim and sea states allow, go faster when schedule or sea states dictate. Former need attention to recommended operating temps etc, not all that difficult. FWIW, we cruise at either 8.5 kts... or around 19 kts, plus/minus, matched to seat states. The boat will get up to about 30 kts, but we seldom care about speed... )
-Chris