Versatility is at the heart of the 47 Molokai, which will be the second and larger offering in the Aquila Power Catamarans Offshore range. The vessel measures 49 feet, 4 inches length overall with a 14-foot-7-inch beam. The center-console design builds on the offshore-fishing foundations laid by the 28 Molokai while enhancing entertainment abilities and granting weekending opportunities for a couple.

For anglers, the 47 Molokai has 16 rod holders mounted on the gunwales, another 10 at the bow, six at the transom, eight on the hardtop and four welded into the grab rails just abaft the second-row helm seating. Aquila conceals a tackle stowage box, and a bait- and tackle-rigging station in the backrests of the three-person aft-facing mezzanine seating. Anglers also have tackle-box stowage beneath the second-row helm seating and to port. There are flush-mounted stowage lockers to port and starboard.

Aft, there are two 42.5-gallon transom livewells by Hooker Electric. Here, there is also stowage with a lid on the outboard side of each livewell, and owners heading out for big game can opt to convert these compartments into tuna tubes. The 47 Molokai  has two 90-gallon in-deck fish boxes, each with dedicated macerator pump-outs.

Whereas the 28 Molokai had seating for eight, including its two helm seats, the 47 Molokai has seating for 17 throughout the yacht: 14 forward-facing and three aft-facing positions. There are two foldaway stern bench seats that can seat two people each, in addition to the two rows of seven total helm seats and three foredeck lounge seats. Forward of this seating, there is a sun pad.

Abaft the cockpit’s aft-facing seating, there is a table, but it’s removed if owners choose an outdoor cooking setup instead of the seats. In either configuration, owners will have a place to stow drinks and snacks here, with insulated coolers beneath the seating.

The 47 Molokai has a double-stepped hull design that Aquila says provides better handling and stability, and reduces drag. The hull, deck and cockpit sole are infused with vinylester resin, and there’s an infused-fiberglass structural grid. Primary forward and aft bulkheads are made of carbon fiber, while the secondary bulkheads are vinylester-resin-infused. The 47 Molokai’s hardtop is made of carbon fiber.  

Take the next step: aquilaboats.com

The post Aquila’s 47 Molokai Is Bigger and Better appeared first on Yachting.

Scout Boats’ latest flagship aims to impress in more ways than one. When describing the 67 LX Series, the South Carolina-based builder coined the phrase “Expect everything.” This five-outboard owner-operator center-console is capable of offshore angling adventures and entertaining guests from the stern to the bow (even belowdecks), and it has a reported eye-watering 52-knot speed. Scout also says the 67 is beachable. It will be offered in three versions: Sport (which will be the first version built), Sportfish and Cruise.

Forward and beneath the hardtop, there is a settee with a dinette across from additional seating for one or two. This space can be connected with the interior by lowering the window forward. Inside, there is a bar with three stools. The galley is to starboard and abaft two of four helm seats. It’s equipped with two refrigerator/freezer drawers, a two-burner cooktop, a microwave convection oven and a sink. Across from the galley is a U-shaped lounge with a dining table and a flip-down 40-inch TV.

Belowdecks, there are three staterooms and what Scout calls a “theater room.” This approximately 66-square-foot space has a settee to starboard that converts to an additional berth. Also in the theater room are a 32-to-43-inch TV, a beverage center, a refrigerator and an ottoman. Lighting can be controlled by overhead and hullside power blinds. To port is the day head, which can also be accessed via the portside VIP stateroom. A twin-berth guest stateroom is to starboard and aft. The forepeak master has an island queen berth.

Power for the Scout 67 LXS is five 600 hp Mercury Verado V-12 engines. Scout says cruising speed is approximately 40 knots, and range is 400 nautical miles.

Rigged-and-Ready Cockpit

The cockpit on Hull No. 1 of the semicustom 67 LXS will have two livewells, a built-in seat with stowage aft, and aft-facing seating forward. Owners can add stowage, an ice chest, a cooktop and a sink. Deployable side decks increase the 13-foot-3-inch beam to 19 feet, 5 inches.

Take the next step: scoutboats.com

The post Scout Boats’ Super Center-Console appeared first on Yachting.

The Candela C-8 Center Console is an electric, carbon-fiber yacht that rides on two hydrofoils. The boat’s onboard sensors constantly measure wave and ride height, plus pitch and roll. This information is fed into the vessel’s Flight Controller, which trims the foils up to 6,000 times per minute, removing all guesswork from “flying” the boat. In addition, the vessel’s 55-kilowatt C-POD drive is situated below the water’s surface. Its foils retract for accessing skinny waters, and owners can choose from a menu of customization options.

Whom It’s For: Adventure-minded boaters who want speed, performance and hydrofoil tech without the noise of an internal-combustion engine.

Picture This: It’s a crisp, clear late-summer afternoon on Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay, and you feel like having an adventure. So you and a couple of buddies hop in your Candela C-8 Center Console and hydrofoil around Jamestown Island, stopping for a swim at Mackerel Cove. And you’re back in Newport in time for dinner at The Candy Store.  

Take the next step: candela.com

The post Candela’s High-Flying C-8 Center Console appeared first on Yachting.

Formula Boats 387 Center Console Fish

New Design

For 60-plus years, Formula Boats has been known for creating luxury cruising vessels. The yachtbuilder’s 387 Center Console Fish leverages the company’s extensive experience to create this fishing-focused craft. The 387 CCF starts with the builder’s wave-slicing FAS3Tech hull, a deep-V form with 23 degrees of transom deadrise. A foam-filled structural grid adds strength without excessive weight. The 387 CCF displaces 22,500 pounds, so it’s got the hull form and the heft for rough-water running.

Fishing Mission

Notable equipment includes two 40-gallon pressurized livewells, two in-deck fish boxes with macerators, 18-foot Gemlux telescoping outriggers, a cockpit leaning post with slide-away mezzanine seating, a rigging station, a cutting board, tackle-box organizers and more. An optional Seakeeper 3 gyrostabilizer helps remove roll in big water.

Performance

Power options include triple 300, 350 or 400 hp Mercury Verados, triple 450 hp Mercury 450R racing engines or twin 600 hp V-12 Mercury Verados.

Sōlace 415CS

Efficient Thinking

Sōlace collaborated with Volvo Penta to create the twin-stepped hull 415CS center-console. The goal was to show that when powered with Volvo Penta’s D6-440 diesel Aquamatic drives, the Sōlace 415CS was a more efficient fishing platform than a comparably equipped center-console with outboards.

Did It Work?

According to Volvo Penta, the 415CS with the D6s has a 403-nautical-mile range at a 36.5-knot cruise speed on a 444-gallon fuel capacity, compared with a 221 nm range at the same speed for the same boat powered with quad outboards and a 555-gallon fuel capacity. Range advantage goes to the 415CS diesel boat. Additionally, the design allows for a full-beam swim platform and dual transom doors leading to the cockpit.

At the Helm

The glass-bridge setup has a modern look and provides the helmsman with intuitive functions. Garmin is the electronics package of choice. As shown below, this boat has 360 degrees of fishability and room for an armada of gunwale rod holders for kite-fishing, trolling, drift-fishing and the like.

Scout 260 LXF

Rigged and Ready

The Scout Boats 260 LXF—part of the builder’s 10-model luxury center-console series stretching from 22 to 53 feet length overall—may be on the smaller side of the spectrum, but it has the same stout, hand-laid build as its larger siblings. It also has the same high level of fit and finish, and options for customization.

Singles or Twins?

Maximum horsepower for the 260 LXF is 400, and it comes in the form of single or twin outboards from Mercury or Yamaha. Twin engines start at 150 hp apiece, and a single starts at 300 hp. Notable standard equipment includes a Seakeeper Ride, a Garmin 943xsv display, a fiberglass leaning post with a bait-prep station, tackle drawers, helm seats, a 45-quart Yeti cooler, a windlass and an integrated fiberglass T-top with spreader lights.

Online Shopping

The Scout Boats website lets prospective owners spec and price out a 260 LXF, including hull colors, autopilot, radar, FLIR cameras, VHF radio, outriggers, hardtop rocket launchers, steering upgrades and underwater lighting, to name a few of the available options.

Contender 44FA

Long-Run Comfort

The Contender 44 Fisharound has the type of 360-degree fishability that’s usually found on a traditional center-console, along with the elements-eliminating cabin of an express boat—which should come in handy on overnight excursions and on extended canyon runs for pelagics. The belowdecks berth is queen size. There is also a head with a shower, and a galley with a fridge, freezer and sink.

Out and Back Fast

When powered with triple 425 hp V-8 Yamaha outboards, the 44FA tops out around 58 knots at 6,000 rpm. At 4,000 rpm, fast cruise speed is 34.6 knots. Dial the motors back to 3,500 rpm, and cruise speed is 27.6 knots, which is also the boat’s most efficient velocity with triples. Need more kick? Quads are available. Max total horsepower is 2,000. There are three bolster-style helm seats, along with a second-row bench seat for guests.

Fishing Features

Anglers will find standard amenities, such as a 300-gallon fish box forward, two 100-gallon in-deck fish boxes, twin 55-gallon livewells and four flush-mounted gunwale rod holders.

Intrepid 41 Valor 

Listening First

Intrepid Powerboats is always surveying its owners to find out what they like and what they want. The 41 Valor is a model developed on the basis of customer input.

What’s Different?

The 41 Valor has a new stepped-hull form as well as a wider beam, and it’s penned to accommodate an owner’s desire for a variety of power options, including 425 hp Yamahas or 600 hp Mercury Verados. The builder says it designed the helm for larger electronics displays. Belowdecks are a queen-size berth, a galley and a head with a separate shower for longer trips. The 41 Valor is constructed on a deep-V hull form that is vacuum-bagged, foam-cored and resin-infused. A stringer grid system enhances strength and rigidity for use in tempestuous seas.

Options for Anglers

Because it is a semicustom boat, the 41 Valor is available with angling options such as port and/or starboard cockpit livewells, a helm-seat livewell upgrade, outriggers, gunwale rod holders, a hardtop and a splash well. Spearfishing enthusiasts can add dive tanks.

Jupiter 40

About the Ride

Like all Jupiter models, the super-size Jupiter 40 center-console has the builder’s deep-V hull form with a sharp, 24-degree transom deadrise and a Posi-Stern hull pad. Jupiter says the hull pad “creates a variable dynamic stern lift,” which, in turn, means a flatter running attitude as well as increased overall performance.

Power Play

With regard to performance, the Jupiter 40 accommodates a maximum of 1,350 horsepower, which includes a triple 425 hp Yamaha, triple 400 hp Mercury or twin 600 hp Mercury outboard option.

Pursuing Pelagics

The Jupiter 40 is built with 360 degrees of coaming pads, a design feature that makes fighting a big fish around the boat more comfortable, especially at the rail. Standard angling amenities include two 100-gallon in-sole fish boxes with macerators, a 126-gallon fish box forward, a mezzanine bench seat with a 48-gallon bait freezer, a transom livewell and GEM outrigger bases with 22-foot carbon-fiber poles to optimize the trolling spread. A Seakeeper gyrostabilizer is optional.

Grady-White Canyon 306

Inshore or Offshore

Flexibility is at the heart of Grady-White’s Canyon 306. With a 21-inch draft, this boat is skinny-water accessible for chasing striped bass, redfish and the like. The broad-shouldered, 10-foot-7-inch beam and variable-deadrise SeaV2 hull form let it knock back chop and sprint offshore to pursue tuna and billfish.

Sprint Indeed

The Canyon 306 is designed for a pair of twin 300 hp Yamaha outboards, which provide a top hop of 44 knots and about a 30-knot cruise speed at 4,000 rpm. Dial it back to 3,600 rpm, and cruise speed is 26.2 knots, which is the boat’s most efficient speed with a fuel burn of 18.3 gph. Considering a 10 percent fuel reserve, maximum range at cruise speed is 373 nautical miles.

Angling Arsenal

Standard gear includes a 47-gallon livewell, a rigging station with a sink and an insulated bait box, two in-sole 150-quart fish boxes, a 304-quart transom fish box aft and four rod holders. The casting platform forward converts to seating when extra guests are on board. With a pair of 18-foot T-top-mounted outriggers, the only thing left to consider is where to start fishing.

Pursuit S 328

Underneath It All

The Pursuit S 328 has a deep-V hull form with a 20-degree transom deadrise. The hull is hand-laminated fiberglass reinforced with an infused fiberglass structural grid, as well as a resin-infused transom reinforcement grid to handle the rigors of offshore duty. The Pursuit S 328 comes with a five-year structural hull warranty.

It’s Got Kick

Powered with twin 300 hp Yamahas, the Pursuit S 328 cruises at 28 knots at 4,000 rpm with a 24.5 gph fuel burn. At cruise speed, range is 308 nm considering a 10 percent reserve. Top hop is 43 knots. The S 328 has a knife-like entry to beat back the seas and run to the deep in comfort. There are four seating areas: dual helm seats, a bench seat aft, bench seating forward of the console and bow seating.

Time to Fish

The S 328 is outfitted with a 24-gallon livewell, insulated-sole fish boxes to port and starboard, five transom rod holders, four gunwale rod holders and rod stowage under the hardtop. For anglers who have to navigate under bridges to get to the fishing grounds, clearance with the hardtop is 8 feet, 2 inches.

The post 8 Top Center-Consoles For Fishing appeared first on Yachting.

The Capoforte SQ240i is a silent, electrically powered dayboat that provides a lot of lounging space and a sizable swim platform. The boat’s plumb bow flares widely as it rises to meet the deck, and these lines carry aft to create additional beam. The center-console’s open layout includes a V-shaped settee that converts to a dining area once the table is slipped into place. There’s walk-around space from the console to the stern, and the boat can accommodate up to 10 people.

Whom It’s For: Boaters who want a silent, DC-powered dayboat that doubles as a swimming, lounging and socializing platform.

Picture This: It’s a perfect day in Miami. You load up your Capoforte SQ240i, silently spin your family over to Nixon Sandbar, and throw the hook for an afternoon of swimming, reading, picnicking and unapologetic sun-worshiping.  

Take the next step: capoforteboats.com

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Best Cruising Boats Under 50-Feet

The following 14 pocket cruisers and mini yachts are all vessels we’ve seen, been aboard, and tested. They are listed in no particular order.

• Hood 35 LM: high-tech, family-friendly pocket cruiser
• Galeon Yachts 375 GTO: mid-size boat with plenty of below-deck space
• Aquila 42: sleek power catamaran ready to entertain
• Azimut Verve 42: small, yet mighty yacht ready for open water
• Hinckley Yachts 35: luxury picnic cruiser with range
• Beneteau Gran Turismo 45: sleek cruising yacht with all the amenities
• Solaris Power 48 Open: eye-catching power yacht with 360-degree views
• Cruisers Yachts 42 GLS: luxury cruiser yacht with powerful outboard options
• Back Cove 34O: modern outboard power combined with classic Downeast styling
• Picnic Boat 40: speedy and fuel-efficient vessel with great looks
• Aquila 36: comfortably seat up to 20 guests for fun on the salt
• Boston Whaler 350 Realm: multitasker built for fishing and entertaining
• MJM 35z: sporty, aesthetically pleasing, cruising-conscious features and elegant lines
• Greenline 39: sturdy-looking lines and environmentally-friendly power

Hood 35 LM

When Android co-founder, Rich Miner, wanted a new family-friendly pocket cruiser, he turned to a custom-penned C.W. Hood design and a Lyman-Morse-built 35-footer, which has a timeless Down East profile matched to seriously modern technology under the hood.

This yacht looks like a traditional, cold-molded Down East dayboat, but actually, it has everything, from Hamilton HJX Series water-jet drives to a planned Sea Machines autonomous command-and-control system. Top speed: 40-plus knots.

Quick Specifications

Galeon Yachts 375 GTO

Even the remnants of Hurricane Ian, couldn’t dissuade the Galeon Yacht 375 GTO from its cruising mission. The small yacht’s wave-splitting hull form is paired to torque-filled 600 hp Mercury Verado outboards, giving this fun-in-the-sun boat a 47-knot top hop.

The 375 GTO is a speedster, to be sure, but it’s also so much more. Just about every aspect of the main deck seating is transformable and multifunction, from the aft seating to the alfresco dining abaft the helm, and beyond. It also has a family-size and eminently cruise-worthy belowdecks space for four guests, all while providing a foredeck entertaining lounge too.

The Galeon Yachts 375 GTO ticks all the boxes for an easy-to-handle and sporty cruiser.

Quick Specifications

Aquila 42 Yacht Power Catamaran

Following the success of its 44-, 54- and 70-foot power catamaran models, Aquila has launched the stable-as-a-table, owner-operator-ready Aquila 42 Yacht Power Catamaran.

The Aquila 42 is the entry point into the builder’s yacht line and is noteworthy for its ability to accommodate anywhere from a two- to four-stateroom layout, depending on the owner’s cruising requirements. There are alfresco spaces to manage the sunset cruise with friends and family, including a foredeck lounge area that can be accessed via centerline steps from the flybridge. The Aquila 42 is available with several Volvo Penta diesel-engine options.

Quick Specifications

Azimut Verve 42

Want to cruise from Florida to Bimini in about an hour? The Azimut Yachts Verve 42 can do that thanks, in part, to triple 450 hp Mercury Racing outboards and a hull designed to dice-and-slice a seaway. Top hop: 45 knots. The Verve 42 also has style for miles with a fine entry, raked hardtop, and a razorlike sheerline accented by sweeping hull glass from bow to stern. It’s striking.

With accommodation for a family of four, the Verve 42 is also solid under the hull tokeep everyone safe on those passages. The Verve 42’s hull is built of fiberglass and uses vinylester resins for blister protection. The yacht’s deck and hardtop are comprised of carbon fiber for strength without added weight. This all means that the Azimut Verve 42 is built to CE Classification Type A, making it suitable for sea voyages where winds can exceed 45 mph and seas to 13 feet.

Quick Specifications

Hinckley Yachts 35

The Hinckley Yachts 35 takes everything that yachtsmen like about this pedigreed-brand’s classic profile and infuses today’s modern outboard power to create 40 knots of sheer fun wrapped in sheer luxury.

This 35-foot Hinckley is built on a Michael-Peters-penned hull form with a fine entry, wider-than-average chines and a moderate deadrise. While the boat is built to sprint when desired, it’s also a relatively economical cruiser. For instance, a comfortable 24-knot cruise the Hinckley Yachts 35 has a 276-nautical-mile range.

It also has a tech-build thanks to vacuum-infused carbon-fiber composites and epoxy resin. An integrated interior structure is infused with the hull adding rigidity. The hull is then post-cured in an 80-foot oven, further strengthening the structure.

Quick Specifications

Beneteau Gran Turismo 45

The Beneteau Gran Turismo is the flagship of the builder’s four-model GT series, which also includes 32-, 36- and 41-foot models.

The Gran Turismo 45’s cruise-centric layout includes two staterooms and two heads belowdecks, as well as a galley down. There is also a dinette for meals and a settee for rainy-day lounging. Entertaining guests and enjoying the sun is the primary mission of the main deck.

Quick Specifications

Solaris Power 48 Open

The Solaris Power 48 Open was the first powerboat from this longtime builder known for its sailing yachts, ranging from 40 to 110 feet length overall. The Solaris Power 48 Open is notable for its wave-slicing plumb-bow design, high freeboard forward and 32-knot-plus speed. Power is twin 480 hp Volvo Penta IPS650 diesels.

The high freeboard keeps the deck dry and help creates sizable volume belowdecks with an average 6-foot-6-inch headroom. This enables real estate for either one or two staterooms. With the single-stateroom setup, there is a forepeak master stateroom while an L-shaped settee converts to sleeping accommodations for family or occasional guests. Interior wood options are oak or walnut.

Quick Specifications

Cruisers Yachts 42 GLS

Outboard-power cruising aficionados will appreciate the triple-engine options for the Cruisers Yachts 42 GLS. The 42 GLS we got aboard had the triple 400 hp Mercury Verados, which produced a top hop of 45 knots, but triple 450 hp Verados are available. Triple 350 hp Mercury Verados are the standard engine option. No matter the power arrangement, this express cruiser can easily be used for wakeboarding and tube towing. The 42 GLS is designed to handle the rough stuff too, with a fine entry and 21-degree transom deadrise.

For cruising enthusiasts, the 42 GLS has a master stateroom with an athwartships and a nearly queen-size berth, and the lower salon’s U-shaped dinette converts to a queen-size berth for the kids.

Quick Specifications

Back Cove 34O

Combining modern outboard power with classic Downeast styling, the Back Cove 34O touts award-winning standards with cruising in mind. The 34O is equipped with twin 300 hp Yamaha outboards, engines that allow the Newport International Boat Show’s 2018 Best Powerboat Under 35 Feet winner to travel up to 214 nautical miles at 24 knots on a 250-gallon fuel tank.

Belowdecks, the 34O has an island double berth and a split-head arrangement with the toilet to port and a separate shower stall to starboard. On the main deck, a U-shape dinette to port accommodates four or more guests on the Back Cove Yachts vessel. The 34O’s galley is equipped with a Cuisinart microwave, a two-burner Kenyon electric cooktop and a Vitrifrigo fridge and freezer.

Quick Specifications

Picnic Boat 40

Hinckley Yachts unveiled its first Picnic Boat more than two decades ago. Now, after two previous, sub-40-foot models, the Maine-based boatbuilder has developed its largest and most advanced model to date: the Picnic Boat 40.

Twin 480 hp Cummins diesel engines paired to twin Hamilton 322 jet drives propel the yacht to a 30-knot cruising speed and 34 knots on the pins. With optional twin 550 hp Cummins diesels, cruise and top-end speeds jump to 35 and 38 knots, respectively.

There is an L-shaped settee with a table and a wet bar on the main deck to port. The helm station is forward and to starboard with a benchseat for two. There is also a companion seat across from the helm. Belowdecks, there is 6-foot-2-inch headroom, and the dinette table drops to form a California-king berth for overnights and weekending.

Quick Specifications

Aquila 36

Aquila Power Catamarans started its line with 44- and 48-footers, and now the builder’s Aquila 36 takes the line into the midsize market.

The 36 features a single, main-living area from bow to stern, helped in part by the vessel’s 14-foot, 7-inch beam. The boat can comfortably seat up to 20 guests for fun on the salt. Several Mercury Verado engine options are available for the Aquila 36, including twin 250-, 300- and 350-hp four-strokes. With the 350s, the Aquila has a top-end speed of 37 knots.

Other notable features include a fiberglass hardtop, a dinette, a cooktop, a fridge, a sink and a smokeless grill. Belowdecks, there are two staterooms with nearly queen-size berths, en suite heads and 6-foot-6-inch headroom in each.

Quick Specifications

Boston Whaler 350 Realm

From fishing and entertaining guests to diving and overnight cruising, Boston Whaler‘s 350 Realm is a multitasker. And it’s fast, too. It’s powered with either triple 300 hp or triple 350 hp Mercury Verados. The 350 Realm can reach a top speed of 46 knots.

At the helm, two Raymarine displays provide vital navigation data. The captain can take in the displays’ view from a doublewide helm seat. There’s a flip-down platform for standing when needed and a footrest when desired.

There is a V-shaped berth that converts into a double berth with a filler cushion. The separated head has a VacuFlush MSD and a hot-and-cold shower. Owners also have the option to add a microwave and a flat-screen TV.

Quick Specifications

MJM 35z

The MJM 35z can reach a top speed of 44 knots and a cruising speed of 33 knots on its optional 350 hp Mercury Verado outboards; twin 300 hp outboards are standard on this MJM Yachts vessel. Additionally, the 35z can travel up to 304 nautical miles on its 250-gallon fuel tank.

The 35z has a flush-deck layout and to port is space for an electric grill, a baitwell, a sink, an ice maker and a fridge. There are two Stidd helm seats—one for the helmsman and the other for a copilot—that rotate to face the rest of the seating aft. In the cabin is V-shaped seating forward that can be converted to a berth.

Owners also have the option of adding a Seakeeper 3 gyrostabilizer and a full-length Bimini top to shade the cockpit.

Quick Specifications

Greenline 39

Greenline Yachts‘ vessels are aptly named for their environmentally friendly means of moving about; the Greenline 39 is no different. The Slovenian yacht manufacturer produces two types of this model: hybrid and solar.

If owners opt for the latter, the 39’s four solar panels atop the salon power all of the vessel’s systems for three hours. With the power of the sun, the 39 can achieve a max speed of 6.5 knots and a cruising speed of 4 knots. The hybrid type uses those same panels to help power a 220 hp Volvo Penta D3 with a Mahle electric-drive system. Owners have the option of replacing the standard engine with a 370 hp Yanmar 8LV diesel.

Belowdecks, scissor berths provide accommodations for long weekends.

Quick Specifications

The post 14 Great Pocket Cruisers in 2023 appeared first on Yachting.

I’ve been searching  for two seats and a console, but have been stuck in the wayback machine. What was once called a utility boat became a center-console in the 1960s. A blend of woven roving, mat and polyester resin, the center-console was a hand-rolled wonder. There were just a few brands, and if you can find one today, it’s likely on life support. I shared my obsession with a sales pal for a reality check. It didn’t help.

Bill is my vintage, and he shares my passion for center-consoles. He has two waterfront homes with docks, and keeps two seats and a console at each one. He buys them factory-fresh with full warranties and trades them in every few years like leased pickups. I think he’s lost count of the numbers.

While he claims his system works, the math bugs me. I understand the benefits of new boats, motors and warranties, but the prices—yikes. I’ve done my best to understand the modern markup, but it’s hopeless. I walked past a boat store just the other day and eyeballed a late-model, pre-loved, 30ish-foot example with a pair of supersize outboards. My ogling came to an end when I focused on the price tag pasted on its transom: just shy of $400,000.

Read More from Jay Coyle: Tell Tales

I called Bill to rant about the unfairness of it all. “My 25-foot Mako with a pair of 150s—a boat many considered the best in its day—cost me $19,000 brand-new, for God’s sake,” I groused. “I could have bought 20 of them for that kind of money.

“Its day was 1980,” Bill replied. “I hear this sort of thing all the time from experienced boaters.”

Ouch! In yacht-sales tongue, “experienced boater” is code.

“Yeah, I know,” I said. “I have more good days behind me than ahead of me, but that’s not the point.”

“Seriously, Coyle, when was the last time you bought a new boat?” he asked. “They’re not slathered together with a mop and a bucket of resin anymore. Today’s buyers insist on flawless finishes, high-tech materials, and plenty of horsepower and electronics.”

“Yes, yes, I know,” I told him. “They’re hard to miss. They’re everywhere.”

“You’re cheap, Coyle,” Bill said. I reminded him of the losses I’d suffered in past restorations. “It’s really not the money; it’s the value,” I insisted. “Classic center-consoles have a certain mystique. They’re different.”

I returned to the wayback machine and forwarded Bill my findings. “Take a look,” I said. “You don’t see one of these above water every day. It’s a rare ride.”

A few moments passed in silence. “Are you still there, Bill? Did you get it?”

“Yeah, I got it,” he said. “I get it, and I got one,” he admitted as he texted me an image of a small boat’s soggy remains.

It was the leftovers of a 20-foot Bertram center-console and…a cow? “It’s in a pasture in North Florida,” he said. “I bought it for $1,400 sight unseen. It just needs a bit of freshening up.”

Really? And I thought I had a problem.

The post Finding the Dream Boat appeared first on Yachting.

Chris-Craft is growing. The subsidiary of Winnebago Industries just opened a 70,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Sarasota, Florida. It goes by the nickname “Building 5,” and it increases the company’s production capacity by 50 percent.

The company plans to build six models from 24 feet to 28 feet length overall in the facility.

“I’m thrilled to see boats rolling off the new line,” Chris-Craft President Steve Heese stated in a press release. “The new building marks an important milestone in the growth of our company, and the enhanced production capacity this new building provides will help our dealer network meet demand for our products and, ultimately, ensure our customers enjoy incredible experiences on the water.”

Building 5 has been in the works since November 2021. Groundbreaking was in February 2022. Chris-Craft expects to add more than 200 jobs to the Sarasota community.

How long has Chris-Craft been building boats in Sarasota? Since 1988. The company partnered with Ryan Companies US Inc. to create the new facility.

Where to learn more: visit chriscraft.com

The post Chris-Craft Expands appeared first on Yachting.

Boston Whaler’s display at the Miami International Boat Show included reimagined versions of the 350 Realm and 380 Realm.

Initially launched in 2017, the Boston Whaler Realm series blends center-console capability with the comforts of an express cruiser and the functionality of a dual console.

Enhancements that are new for 2023 include modernized interior furnishings, sculpted exterior upholstery for all weather conditions, a new teak trim package, fully integrated Simrad systems, and enhanced helm switches and cockpit lighting.

The Realm models are powered by Mercury’s latest outboard technology, with 400 or 600 hp Verados.

What else was new for Boston Whaler at the Miami show? The exhibit included a Boston Whaler 405 Conquest with a Fathom e-power system.

Where to learn more: go to bostonwhaler.com

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The Wellcraft 355 is unlike any Wellcraft model that’s come before it. This is a Euro-style, plumb-bow “adventure commuter” designed for family fun and overnighting, with get-there speeds.

From the design boards of Michael Peters Yacht Design, the 355 packs up to 1,050 hp via triple outboards (Mercury or Yamaha) for builder-reported speeds over 50 knots. There’s an enclosed salon that can be air-conditioned or heated. When fresh air is desired, the 355’s entire after bulkhead opens with a top-hinged window, providing unbroken space from the cockpit to the windshield.

The galley has a one-burner cooktop, sink and mini fridge, while owners can opt for an outdoor grill. The cockpit has a stainless-steel “roll bar” to stow fenders or dive tanks. A trio of sun pads fills the bow, and the asymmetrical cabin allows a deep, secure walkway forward to starboard.

Overnighting is comfortable, with a queen-size berth and an enclosed head with an electric toilet that’s standard. The shower stall is 3 feet wide by 4 feet tall with a seat. There’s stowage under the berth, and the dinette in the salon converts into a double berth for guests.

The helm on the boat I got aboard had a pair of high-back seats abaft a dash with two 16-inch Garmin displays (these were upgrades). There also was the standard bow-thruster lever and the joystick for the outboards. A nice touch was the sliding door next to the helm seat; it allows side-deck access without disturbing the skipper.

This particular 355 also had a 6 kW Fischer Panda diesel genset, as well as room to install a Seakeeper 3 gyrostabilizer under the cockpit sole. Among the other standard equipment was a JL Audio system, boarding gates on each side of the cockpit, twin swim platforms, an anchor windlass and Lenco trim tabs.

Underway, the 355 was pure fun. Hammered down, the boat came up fast and flat, topping out at around 48 knots with the Mercury 350 Verados. In Gulf Stream seas, the boat proved soft-riding and dry.

The Wellcraft 355 is all about family fun and comfy overnighting, with a nice performance edge when owners want it.   

Indoor-Outdoor Choices

The enclosed space abaft the pilothouse includes seating, a galley and other creature comforts that can be completely protected from inclement weather. This space also connects directly to the cockpit by way of a hinged window and door. With both of them open, the Wellcraft 355 becomes one big indoor-outdoor space for guest relaxation and fun.

High-Tech

Using Infu-Jection, a new proprietary construction process, Wellcraft resin-infuses the hull of the 355, including 11 foam-cored ribs to create a solid backbone.

Fast Commuting

“There is a new breed of enthusiastic performance boaters,” says Nick Harvey, brand director for Wellcraft. “Instead of gazing at the sea from shore, they shove off and never look back.”

Take the next step: wellcraft.com

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