If you live or spend time in Florida you have probably seen Jupiter boats on the water. The lines are distinctive, particularly the gentle, reverse sheer. Based in Palmetto, the builder is perhaps best known in the south for its limited-edition sportfishing boats built for serious anglers, but fishermen in the north also take notice of the brand, which now includes the new 40 Center Console.
Jupiter was formed in the late 1980s by Nick Scafidi, a member of the Hall of Champions of the American Power Boat Association, and his partner Joe Moran, a fiberglass craftsman. They designed the Jupiter 31, an icon of sorts as the boat was a good performer. In 1997, Carl Herndon, founder of Blackfin Yacht Corporation and former president of Bertram, took ownership of the company and continued to grow its reputation as a builder of seaworthy offshore fishing platforms.
Today, under the direction of President Bryan Harris, the company offers seven models ranging in size from 30 to 43 feet. The new 40 fills a void in the Jupiter line between its 38- and 43-foot models, but it also showcases new design elements and features. For instance, there’s a nicely appointed air-conditioned cabin with yacht-quality teak cabinetry and trim, which is something you don’t find on every center console. And, the new bow-seating arrangement has built-in seats that provide unimpeded access forward for passengers fighting fish or working at anchoring duties. The seats have removable Release Marine teak backrests.
“The 40 also has a helm that’s raised about 7 inches above the main deck. The height provides improved visibility when operating the boat, keeps the helm area dry when running in wet weather, and provides more space belowdecks for the generator and Seakeeper,” says Brendan Oxnard, the sales and marketing manager at Jupiter. The helm dash is large enough to accommodate two Garmin MFDs, radio boxes, an Edson wheel and digital engine controls. The boat incorporates Garmin’s new EmpirBus digital power distribution system, which monitors and controls all electrical systems from the helm. “This state-of-the-art system puts full vessel control at the operator’s fingertips,” says Oxnard.
Helm seating consists of three Release Marine captain’s chairs, each with a teak ladder-back. Behind the trio is an aft-facing mezzanine seat that’s protected by the hardtop. A transom seat with a padded backrest provides a comfortable ride for two. Forward of the helm, on the cabin top, is another sunlounge.
The premium package for the cabin interior includes Indian teak cabinetry, an enclosed head compartment with shower, sleeping accommodations for two, a galley and plenty of storage. Electric power is provided by a diesel genset, 50-amp dockside power and six HD AGM batteries.
The 40 rides on the Jupiter hull form that has changed little since the brand’s inception. The deep-V design combines a sharp 60-degree entry forward with a 24-degree deadrise aft. There’s also a pad that extends forward from the transom, gradually decreasing in width. It creates lift to bring the boat on plane faster and reduce wetted surface. There are lifting strakes, too, which enable the boat to attain greater speed and fuel economy without sacrificing the soft ride and seakeeping ability of a true deep-V, according to Oxnard.
The boat is constructed with closed-cell PVC foam coring, a fiberglass uni-grid stringer system and vacuum-infused vinylester laminates. The combination, says Oxnard, makes for a strong, rigid and quiet boat that is built to retain its value and last for generations.
If fishing is your passion, the boat gives an angler every advantage over gamefish. Equipment include a 45-gallon livewell under the transom seat that’s large enough to hold a day’s worth of goggle eyes, which you can use to tempt sailfish. The hardtop-mounted Gemlux 22-foot carbon fiber outriggers make trolling or kite fishing a breeze. The fridge/freezer under the mezzanine seat is ideal for storing trolling baits. A dive door makes quick work of bringing big fish aboard, and three massive fishboxes with macerator pumps should hold a day’s catch.
No search for a center console in the 40-foot class would be complete without a look at the Jupiter 40. It seems to be a well-equipped sportfisherman with the performance you need to get offshore and find the fish. And, with a sweet selection of creature comforts, the process of getting there could be as much fun as dropping lines in the water when you arrive.
Specifications
LOA: 39’ 11”
Beam: 11’ 11”
Draft (motors up): 2’0”
Gas: 500 gals.
Water: 50 gallons
Max power: 1,350 hp (twin or triple engines)
This article was originally published in the April 2022 issue.
