What’s a small boat? What’s a big boat? Hard to pin down nowadays. In foreground is a 29-foot SeaVee, which 30 years ago would’ve been among the biggest of center consoles (the 25 SeaVee was for many years considered a flagship class light tackle sportfishing boat!). Behind it: the HCB Estrella 65. That’s a 65-foot center console, with five 7Marine engines and 1,500-gallon fuel capacity.
Stable, easy-to-maintain fishing rig: Mako Pro Skiff, in 15-, 17- and 19-foot models. Show price for the 17, with portable fuel tank and 75 Merc and trailer, was $21,020. The hull is what they call an inverted V—not quite a catamaran, but offering something of the smooth, efficient ride.
Stable, easy-to-maintain fishing rig: Mako Pro Skiff, in 15-, 17- and 19-foot models. Show price for the 17, with portable fuel tank and 75 Merc and trailer, was $21,020. The hull is what they call an inverted V—not quite a catamaran, but offering something of the smooth, efficient ride.
Prototype all-electric pontoon boat unveiled at the show by General Motors. It was developed under GM’s Forward Marine division. We didn’t get to run it, but were told it’s whisper quiet, tops out at about 20 mph, and runs at cruising speed for 10 hours on a 60 kW battery system derived from GM’s automotive technologies. At day’s end, plug it in and get ready for tomorrow. Luxe touches on this 1/8-inch gauge aluminum tri-hull boat include onboard refrigerator, electric grill, television… and of course outlets to charge portable electronics.
And speaking of electricity, those are wires, not hoses, serving this SeaStar Optimus Electric Steering Actuator. The product is still under development but shows great promise. No hydraulic fluid, no pump, no seal replacements, no maintenance, effortless steering.
The Seakeeper gyro-stabilizer was featured in a recent issue of Florida Sportsman Magazine. It’s really neat to see one of these units live. Here, a demonstrator moves suddenly to the port side of the boat; Seakeeper responds by tilting, bringing to bear a stabilizing force produced by a flywheel spinning inside that orb. Complex physics involved here. It works.
Mercury’s new 400 Verado. In keeping with its 80-year tradition of pushing the performance envelope, Mercury unveiled what’s perhaps the ultimate power-to-weight ratio in a consumer outboard: 400 horsepower at 668 pounds. The engine is built on the same 2.6-liter L6 supercharged powerplant as the 350.
Lots of head-turners at the show, as always. This beauty made me stop and really stare awhile. The 43-foot Release Boatworks Walkaround Outboard is built on a hull originally conceived to accommodate inboard pod drives. Re-engineering for outboard power (here, quad Suzuki 350s) frees up a ton of space aft—which the builder now uses for a double berth.
Lots of head-turners at the show, as always. This beauty made me stop and really stare awhile. The 43-foot Release Boatworks Walkaround Outboard is built on a hull originally conceived to accommodate inboard pod drives. Re-engineering for outboard power (here, quad Suzuki 350s) frees up a ton of space aft—which the builder now uses for a double berth.
Nothing stays perfect forever, but covering your boat goes a long way towards keeping it nice. Here’s a device which automatically draws a protective cover over the boat. SwiftShield by Sunstream Boat Lifts
Neat custom paint job on a Connley Vertical Jigging rod. It’s wood grain over a fiberglass blank, with silicon nitride guides. Miami International Boat Show, yes, but lots of great tackle and fishing accessories on display.
Trolling motors on offshore boats. Didn’t see this 10 years ago. Here’s one of the biggest boats we’ve seen with electric power: a 29-foot C-Hawk, built in NC.
Trolling motors on offshore boats. Didn't see this 10 years ago. Here's one of the biggest boats we've seen with electric power: a 29-foot C-Hawk, built in NC.
Got a chance to sea-trial the Horizon 3000 power catamaran by Eastward Boats. The builder, David East, is an alumnus of Florida Sportsman, having served as a staff boating editor and host of television projects for a number of years. His newest boat, built in St. Lucie County, FL, starts from a proven mold
developed around a 30-foot cat widely used in Australia. Powered with twin Evinrude 250 G2s, the Horizon 3000 delivered 1.8 mpg at 33 mph, with a top end over 50 mph—very impressive for a boat this size. More impressive yet: A single 250, from a dead stop, brought the boat surprisingly quick to plane—and comfortably topped 40 mph!
Got a chance to sea-trial the Horizon 3000 power catamaran by Eastward Boats. The builder, David East, is an alumnus of Florida Sportsman, having served as a staff boating editor and host of television projects for a number of years. His newest boat, built in St. Lucie County, FL, starts from a proven mold
developed around a 30-foot cat widely used in Australia. Powered with twin Evinrude 250 G2s, the Horizon 3000 delivered 1.8 mpg at 33 mph, with a top end over 50 mph—very impressive for a boat this size. More impressive yet: A single 250, from a dead stop, brought the boat surprisingly quick to plane—and comfortably topped 40 mph!
Scout’s new 530 LXF featured a host of innovations. Dual Hydraulic Beach Platform is but one of them
SeaDoo now offers a purpose-built, jet-powered fishing rig. The seat back is flat, enabling a fisherman to sit beam-wise while jigging or fighting a fish. Modular accessories include a removable cooler with rodholders which themselves may be aligned for vertical storage or angled for trolling. The boat weighs in at about 850 pounds. Range on the 18.5-gallon fuel tank is said to be about 100 miles at 35 mph.
Forward seating with convenient recessed hand rail on the new Robalo 226 Cayman S, a great value at the show at $63,422. Fine little bay and nearshore fishing boat.
At the Evinrude display outside, Editor Jeff Weakley stops to chat with longtime friend Capt. Bouncer Smith, guru of Miami’s diverse inshore and offshore fishing scene. Says Bouncer: “Where else in the world can you take a half dozen shrimp, drift off the beach, catch a tarpon and a few blue runners… take those runners a mile offshore and use them to catch a sailfish and a few bonitos… then run 20 miles and use the bonito to catch a swordfish?” Nowhere but Miami, Cap.
Some appealing marine artwork on display at the show, including pieces like this from Lure’M in Stainless. This is only a portion of a complete coral reef panorama, selling for $1,800.
Pretty entry lines on the 23 Reef Runner, built to order by a family shop in Miami-Dade County. Tricked out with a 250 Verado, this boat was selling for a cool $87,615.
Dusky 242 Bay XF, another Florida-grown, practical fishing boat with a long list of options—and a long list of local fans. Catch anything from redfish to blue marlin on this rig, for $77,000 with the 300 hp Suzuki.
And one more from the Miami fleet—because after all, it’s the Miami Boat Show! Check out Contender’s all-new flagship, the 44ST. “Performance through innovation” is the builder’s driving theme. Just under 20,000 pounds, ready to fish, with 600 gallons of fuel. Triple and quad engine options.
While you’re at the Miami Boat Show (or reading news on our website!) don’t forget to renew your subscription to Florida Sportsman.
