Supersized centre consoles
Mad maxi centre consoles with multi-outboard setups making waves in MiamiThe 2015 Miami Boat Show is about to open and the word on the waterfront is that big centre-console sportsfishers in the 40-plus foot class with multi outboard power, more of everything fishing and million-dollar (AUS) price tickets are go.
After a hiatus brought about by high fuel prices and a period of austerity and restraint, the big American boat yards have had enough and pulled the trigger on a whole new class of high-speed CC that’s pushing the boundaries.
Besides 50-knot-plus (100km/h) top speeds, the new centre console class has rod storage for 40 or 50 outfits, massive live wells, bait freezers, fish-spotting towers, outdoor galleys, generators and air, and overnighting and/or tournament-fishing accommodation.
New launches at Miami include the Edgewater 368CC with triple 300hp Yamaha outboards; the Everglades 435 CC (pictured) with a quad rack of 350hp Yammies; the Intrepid 475 Panacea with the same popular quad 350 setup; the all-new Regulator 41 ready for ordering; the Scout 420 LXF luxury sportsfisher with dual stepped hull and full shower; the Sea Vee 390 with IPS and all-new 370Z on debut with big Mercs; and more.
But Hydra-Sports has the lead in centre console sizing, with an all-new 53-footer called the Suenos. The supersize centre console with a quad set-up claims to be the biggest in the world, with a rack of four of V8 outboards.
The huge 53 foot centre console, the world’s first of this length, will keep company with a pair of Hydra-Sports colour-matched Custom Extreme Edition centre consoles that have between them some 78 speakers and 16,000 watts of thumping bass.
Does any of this translate Down Under? Evidently, yes. The local Boston Whaler agents, Queensland Marine Centre, has enjoyed stronger interest in big centre consoles like the flagship Boston Whaler 420 Outrage that debuted last year and QMC now has triple-rigged local models on order.
Less time, faster boats, and more fish seem like the future. Expect more big centre consoles here in the near future. Meantime, there's a lot of excitement building around the #mercuryunleashed tag, with the imminent release of a major "game-changing" engine at this week's Miami boat show. Money is on a 400hp outboard and/or other stuff. Watch this space.
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