Category: News

Cobia 350

A combination of high quality and ultra-performance, the new Cobia 350 (34’ 4” LOA, 11’ 2” beam) fishes hard and plays easy. A double-stepped hull gets you to the fishing grounds fast while on-deck amenities provide style and comfort.

Tournament-capable fishing features include dual 42-gallon bait tanks, two huge in-floor fish boxes that drain overboard, a full tackle station and bait prep area, plus a hidden lockable rod locker in the sole. With a wide beam and open cockpit, there’s plenty of room for a group of anglers to fish together. An inward-opening side door makes pulling aboard a big tuna a breeze.

When it’s time to relax, the 350 easily converts to a cruising vessel. Comfortable seating for 11 includes a large chaise lounge and full sun lounge. There’s even a hi-lo bow table that’s perfect for a picnic lunch. She also has seven insulated boxes to provide more than enough cooler space and plenty of dry storage for water toys, floats, and more.

The cabin features a spacious berth surrounded by a refined interior, an electric head, and a combination sink/shower. cobiaboats.com

Cobia 350 (34’ 4” LOA, 11’ 2” beam)

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Regal 38 SAV

Regal just introduced the second in their Sport Activity Vessel (SAV) line. The 38 SAV (38’ 10” LOA, 11’ 11” beam) is a new center console but with an added twist. This beamy design has quad helm chairs, the outer two of which swivel to face aft so guests can watch the fishing action. To port, the model feels like a standard walk-around center console, but to starboard, you can walk up three steps to move forward to the bow or to step up onto a dock. The 38 SAV has rod holders, twin 33-gallon livewells, insulated fish boxes in the cockpit sole, and optional outriggers mounted on the long hardtop. That makes it great for fishing. However, this boat also has a grill and dual refrigerators as well as a flat screen TV that drops down from the hardtop, so it’s a very social platform too. Doors on both sides and an extended swim platform are great for divers or swimmers. A cavernous cabin below includes a head with a separate shower stall. The 38 SAV is powered by triple Yamaha 300-hp outboards with optional Optimus power steering and the 360 joystick drive. regalboats.com

Regal 38 SAV (38’ 10” LOA, 11’ 11” beam)

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SeaHunter 46 CTS

SeaHunter took the proven stepped hull design of their 41 CTS and added five feet to create the 46 CTS (46′ LOA, 12′ 4″ beam) catamaran center console. They took everything they love about a monohull and married it with everything they love about a cat to provide a large deck layout with a transom center door with livewells on each side, padded rod lockers and insulated fish boxes mid deck port, and starboard and additional fish boxes/storage in the bow. The max Yamaha or Mercury four-engine, 2,800-hp propulsion setup gets you anywhere fast, and the optional Seakeeper will keep you stable.

If you are in the market for a large catamaran center console, the 46 CTS MUST be experienced. It’s like nothing currently on the market. seahunterboats.com

SeaHunter 46 CTS (46′ LOA, 12′ 4″ beam)

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SeaVee 390z

The 390z (39′ LOA, 11′ beam) is the ultimate center console fishing machine. Triple or quad outboards up to 1,600 horsepower combined with SeaVee’s revolutionary, twin-stepped hull with SpeedRail technology means the 390z has superior speed, safe, predictable handling, and maximum fuel efficiency. A 65-gallon baitwell is integrated into the transom, two fully insulated fish boxes, storage and space for up to 42 fishing rods, walk-in console with side-sliding door, a side entry door with ladder, and washdown systems are only a few standard features. Options include tower choices, custom dive racks, coffin box system, additional livewells, T-top styles with shades, and a cockpit-mounted rocket launcher. There’s plenty of room for two 16-inch displays, so build it your way and enjoy the ride. seaveeboats.com

SeaVee 390z (39′ LOA, 11′ beam)

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Marlow Prowler 375 Havana

The Marlow Prowler 375 Havana (37′ 6″ LOA, 11′ 8″ beam) continues to evolve from its initial introduction in 2010. The newest model is powered by triple Yamaha 300-hp outboards that, per the builder, will get you to where you’re going at speeds up to 40 knots. With her deep-V hull, she’ll part the waves easily and then ride on the flatter aft sections that offer good stability. The latest Havana has a larger console than the debut model had with ample dash space to accommodate twin MFDs as well as engine displays and more. Two captain’s chairs offer personalized comfort, and the windshield deflects spray regardless of speed. Impressive features include gyro stabilization, a generator, refrigeration, livewell, and a transom door for safety and convenience. Although technically a center console open fisherman, the Havana offers a full interior with accommodations in the V-berth, an enclosed head, facing settees, and a galley. The interior has more than six feet of standing headroom and plenty of natural light so you won’t feel buried below. marlowyachts.com

Marlow Prowler 375 Havana (37′ 6″ LOA, 11′ 8″ beam)

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Grady-White Canyon 336

An exceptional 33-foot center console, the Canyon 336 provides everything you’d expect and more in a boat of its size. Sleek styling elements make the 336 an elegant beauty while being a well-outfitted fishing machine. The redesigned console and T-top widens walkways and expands the cockpit and bow spaces. Chock-full of options to boost your boating experience, from bow thruster and Yamaha Helm Master to a water heater, air conditioner, and diesel generator, the Canyon 336 is a high-performance boat that doesn’t compromise the quality and comfort that’s synonymous with the Grady-White brand. To see a complete list of standard features and the many options that make the 336 your first choice for boating satisfaction, visit gradywhite.com.

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Century Boats 3200 CC

Century Boats 3200 CC (32′ LOA, 10′ 6″ beam) is a tournament-ready rig loaded with high-quality fishing features as well as comfort and luxury amenities that make her an outstanding family day boat. The wide, open fishing deck is surrounded with ample storage, an oversized 62-gallon baitwell, lockable rod storage, tilt-out tackle trays, six gunwale rod holders, and two 277-quart fish boxes—the largest in its class. For guests, the 3200 CC boasts an enclosed electric head, forward-facing bow seating, and a standard bow entertainment table that creates a true social center. Twin Yamaha outboards offer maximum 700 horsepower for excellent handling and performance. centuryboats.com

Century Boats 3200 CC (32′ LOA, 10′ 6″ beam)

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Blue Wave Boats 2800 Makaira

Blue Wave Boats 2800 Makaira (27′ 10″ LOA, 9′ 2″ beam) debuts on the heels of its popular sistership, the 2800 Pure Hybrid platform. The unique open design of the 2800 Makaira features the freeboard and fuel capacity to run offshore in complete comfort and confidence. With engines offering up to 600 horsepower, this boat will get you to the fishing ground and back quickly. The shallow draft will also let you rule the bay when you want to stay near shore. Amenities include built-in rod storage in the gunwales, bow seating, Frigid Rigid coffin box with upholstery cushion, toe kicks, and combing bolsters. There is generous stowage space, a large dashboard designed for flush-mount accessories at the helm, plus room for a Porta Potti inside the console. And true to the name, 2800 Makaira has the cockpit and deck space you need to land a marlin. bluewaveboats.com

Blue Wave Boats 2800 Makaira (27′ 10″ LOA, 9′ 2″ beam)

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Axopar 37 XC Cross Cabin

Billed as a crossover between traditional American center consoles and sleek European cabin cruisers, the new Axopar 37 XC (37’ 9” LOA, 11’ beam) still qualifies as a center console but with a different purpose and a futuristic appeal.

The 37 XC is an all-around vessel for fishing, cruising, or whatever due to its easy indoor/outdoor versatility. The truly eye-catching feature is the gullwing doors that open to reveal a cabin for two below. In inclement weather, the closed doors create a cozy cabin, but when it’s sunny and the doors are aloft, you can sit inside and never feel like you’re “below.” No other center console on our list, or really anywhere, can boast this unique design.

The 37 XC has a twin-stepped, knife-like hull that makes driving it pure joy. Sharp cornering, a responsive helm, and excellent fuel economy will make you never want to drop anchor. axopar.fi

Axopar 37 XC Cross Cabin (37′ 9″ LOA, 11′ beam)

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Adventures in the Outback

The Outback 50 is a water sport adventurer’s dream.

The plan was simple: Throw some provisions into the newly minted Outback 50 and make the run from Fort Lauderdale to the Everglades National Park to fish the backcountry for three days. Easy.

Well, not quite…but more on that later.

The Imagination

Hull No. 1 of the 56-foot Outback 50 premiered at the 2019 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The concept resulted from conversations among three like-minded friends: Andrew Cilla, owner of Luke Brown Yachts, designer Jay Coyle, and Nick Vanoff, a successful businessman and highly experienced boater.

The brief was relatively straightforward: Design a contemporary, light-displacement, fuel-efficient cruiser that would provide a perfect base of operations for water sport-minded owners. As the dialogue progressed, Coyle suggested they talk to Michael Peters, the principal of Sarasota, Florida-based Michael Peters Yacht Design (MPYD), who told Coyle he had been working on a design for himself that embraced nearly everything Cilla wanted in his new boat.

For those unfamiliar with his work, Peters built his reputation in the highly competitive world of international offshore powerboat racing. He designed boats that won an impressive string of world championships over the years. That expertise—designing sturdy, lightweight structures with efficient hull forms—along with an award-winning flair for exterior styling, interior design, and remarkable attention to detail, has made his company one of the most sought-after design houses in the world.

The Purpose

Anyone accustomed to cruising in the Florida outback, or in the shoal waters of the Keys, the Bahamas, or sounds that skirt the East and Gulf Coasts of the U.S., will know that a protected draft of three feet for a 56-foot inboard boat is a godsend to make gunkholing a delight rather than a nightmare. Anchoring in the small bays and pockets off the Little Shark River becomes the perfect getaway from a breezy day and allows the skiff to explore the miles of sheltered mangrove shoreline and channels that lead to Oyster and Whitewater Bays and beyond. To seaward, Florida Bay’s crystal water, grass flats, and uninhabited beaches are minutes away—premium habitat for poling or wading for snook and redfish, among other popular species.

The careful monitoring of seagrass in the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, as well as in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and other protected areas of the state, can make for a prohibitively expensive fine if the bottom is scarred by a careless or uneducated operator.

Keeping It Light

Interestingly, the Outback does not achieve her advantageous draft by being an ultra-light displacement design or by having a Spartan, race boat-style interior. In fact, the interior fit and finish is exemplary, showcasing MPYD’s crisp, contemporary details in a fusion of satin teak joinery and flawless eggshell paintwork.

The boat’s arrangement provides three double cabins: a master forward with an island queen berth and two guest staterooms with twin lowers. No need to squeeze into confining upper bunks here. The galley is located on the port side of the wheelhouse.

To provide unobstructed sightlines to the greatest extent possible, large expanses of glazing in the wheelhouse extend aft port and starboard, becoming deeper in the salon. The bulwarks on the side decks have been reduced in height and capped by handsome, beautifully executed stainless steel railings. This configuration increases the visibility for passengers seated inside while ensuring safety for occupants on deck.

Where many boats this size have a fixed aft bulkhead with a single or double passage door, the Outback has full-height glass doors that are capable of being folded open to a clear span that leads directly to the aft deck. Cilla has dubbed this the “infinity deck” due to the elimination of a traditional transom that offers a view quite similar to what one might see from the aft deck of a large motoryacht, only without the height advantage.

A Transformer

One of the principle building blocks in the Outback’s fundamental design was that the boat be easily transformed for various uses, the inspiration being a kind of seagoing Swiss Army knife with a selection of tools for water sports. Hull No. 1 is fitted for backcountry fishing, her aft deck capable of launching and retrieving a technical skiff using a manual winch system.

According to Chris Critchett, the senior naval architect at MPYD, a grid arrangement has been engineered for mounting interchangeable chocks in the deck, an ideal system for owners who have different kinds of watercraft for specialized applications in addition to flats fishing. The solution will allow a relatively simple interchange of racks for paddleboards, kayaks, and chocks for personal watercraft of various types.

Steady as She Goes

For those who are concerned about the ride characteristics in a boat with such a shallow draft, take heart. The Outback has been designed to accept a Seakeeper stabilizer as optional equipment, an excellent solution that ensures a comfortable, easy motion offshore at slow speeds with no drag or draft penalties.

“This is the boat I’ve been wanting to build for ten years,” Cilla explains as he sits in the shade of the infinity deck. “I’ve always been intrigued by the fact that design development is typically a product of customer input, and I thought it would be fun to develop a boat that’s driven totally by the input of many of the greatest minds in the industry.”

Cilla comments on those minds. “This is what they told me to build, and I now see why. Admittedly, I chose to tweak the interior and a few other things, just as I’m sure the next customer will do.”

Hull No. 2 was recently delivered, and Hull No. 3 is sold and ready to build. As Cilla predicted, all three boats have different arrangements. The newer boats have a two-foot longer salon which substantially increases interior volume.

So, back to the trip. Week after week, the wind howled. On the best days, they hovered around 20 miles an hour and, on others, approached 30, hardly ideal for throwing a fly. “So what?” we crowed as our departure approached. “We’ll just use conventional tackle.” Unfortunately, uninvited COVID-19 arrived. “Who cares?” we declared. Well, the National Park Service did for starters—they closed the park. But we’ll be back because now we know the Outback 50 will take our adventurous souls wherever we want to go.

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