Ever popular and ever practical, center consoles are considered the nautical equivalent of the SUV. Even in sizes as small as 15 feet, a center console allows anglers the freedom to fight a fish from every point on the compass. And in bare-bones form, these boats don’t ask for much more than a freshwater bath, inside and out, at day’s end — much like a Jeep Wrangler or Land Rover Defender.

As so many center consoles became a family’s only boat, the need for touches of comfort brought the type upscale. Size also increased, but the basic design remained the same, notwithstanding a few exceptions. Revolver Boats aims to alter forever the look and feel of center consoles with the introduction of the 43CC.

Designed by Italian Alberto Mancini of AM Yacht Design, the 43CC has a steeply raked stem and the slightest hint of a clipper bow. The sheer line from stem head to the transom forms a subtle and elegant reverse arc. It speaks of high speeds but shouldn’t offend traditionalists. Mancini maintained the illusion of a low profile with a rub rail of contrasting color and a character line just above the chine. This line morphs into a spray rail as it nears the bow. It also echoes the curve of the sheer line but in an opposing arc.

Aside from the T-top, the boat shows some elements of the current supercar and racecar design philosophies. The front of the console structure reminds me of the headlight pods on the Audi R18 TDI that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June — bold and upright but smoothly rounded. You can almost imagine the console’s profile as the roofline of a Ferrari 488 or Lamborghini Huracán.

True to form aboard any center console, the Revolver has a lot of room to move around. A wide, unobstructed passage on both sides of the console, combined with relatively high gunwales, adds safety when moving forward or aft. The bow has the requisite U-shaped seating area, and a bench spans the transom in the cockpit. The chaise lounges just abaft the helm are unique and should be very comfortable.

Revolver says the 43CC’s maximum capacity is 12, so all of that open space won’t go to waste. She’ll be a very accommodating cocktail boat, but the double berth and full-size head below make her nicely suited for port-to-port cruising.

The 43CC rides a hull bottom designed by Michael Peters Yacht Design, which places her performance potential in the stratosphere. Powered by triple Seven Marine 557-hp V-8 outboards, the boat has an estimated top speed of more than 50 knots.

Revolver’s bold venture into the center console market could catch on, but it’s likely to appeal most to those who do more than fish. 

LOA: 41 feet, 7 inches

BEAM: 11 feet, 4 inches

DRAFT: 2 feet, 7 inches

DISPLACEMENT: 15,212 pounds

TANKAGE: 344 gallons fuel, 53 gallons water

POWER: twin or triple Seven Marine 557 outboards, twin or triple Mercury 400R outboards

TOP SPEED: about 50 knots

CONTACT: Revolver Boats, Milan, Italy. revolverboats.com

This article originally appeared in the September 2016 issue.