Vicem 37 Tuna Master CC

The Turkish builder masters the art of the big outboard-powered fiberglass center console.

By Louisa Beckett

When Turkish shipyard Vicem Yachts was established in 1991, it quickly established a reputation for building beautiful cold-molded wooden yachts. Over the years, I have toured a number of large Vicem cruising boats and sportfishing convertibles with hulls and interior woodwork that gleamed like fine furniture. So, it came as a surprise this spring when Soundings asked me to check out a new fiberglass center console from Vicem. At the time, Vicem was calling this new model the 37 CC, but since then the company has re-christened it as the 37 Tuna Master Center Console.

Of course, big center consoles with multiple outboards are all the rage these days, so launching this new boat was a strategic move by Vicem. The company says the 37 Tuna Master is conceived to be the entry model in a new series of sportfishing and cruising boats.

“I’ve been begging for a center console for the U.S. and the Florida market,” said Gary Smith, owner of Vicem dealer SYS Yacht Sales in Florida, who took me through the boat. “The owner [of Vicem Yachts] is a fisherman and he listened to me.”

The 37 Tuna Master is the result of a design collaboration between Vicem Yachts, European offshore tournament angler Murat Iyriboz and DLBA Naval Architects in Chesapeake, Virginia. This 37-foot center console has a blue-water hull that can be equipped with twin or triple outboards. Base power is twin 350-hp engines, providing speeds in the mid-40-mph range. Maximum horsepower is a whopping 1,350 hp, which means you can order the boat with up to triple 450s. (The yard designed and built a massive stainless steel transom bracket to hold them.)

The Vicem 37 hull that debuted last spring sported triple 350-hp Mercury
Verados, which give it a top speed of 48 knots, according to Vicem. The builder said the range with this power package is more than 350 nautical miles, enabling far-flung fishing adventures.

To ensure a comfortable angling experience, the 37 Tuna Master is designed to hold an optional Seakeeper 3 gyro stabilizer, located in a dedicated hatch in the transom sole.

“This boat comes with a 50-amp service, which is unheard of for a center console. Most come with a 30-amp service, Smith said. “It runs the Seakeeper.” Owners can also order the boat with an optional generator or a lithium-ion battery pack to generate the electricity needed to run the air conditioning and other onboard equipment.

The heart of this new center console is the elegant helm area. Three ergonomic helm chairs with flip-up bolsters face a sleek carbon dash embedded with three large Raymarine multifunction displays. (The boat in the show had two 17-inch screens flanking a 19-inch screen). The Mercury outboards also come with their share of nifty helm equipment, including a joystick control. Shade is provided by the sleek hardtop, built out of carbon fiber to provide greater strength with less weight.

The 37 Tuna Master lives up to its new name with an array of fishing features that include a port-side tuna (and dive) door. It also has 360-degrees of padded coaming, a 50-gallon transom live well with a large window, Gemlux rod holders and two in-sole fish boxes. The aft cockpit, which is drained, offers a built-in, aft-facing settee for watching the baits but no rear seat, so anglers have a large, clean space in which to fight fish. The walkarounds are deep and wide thanks to the boat’s 12-foot, 3-inch beam.

As befits a center console of this size, the 37 is a versatile vessel that owners, in addition to fishing, can use for many purposes, including cruising, entertaining and simply relaxing on the water. The bow holds a luxurious double sunpad and a forward dining area served by a flip-out wooden table featuring a beautiful compass inlay.

The spacious cabin inside the console has over 6 feet of headroom. The V-berth (it is actually more of a “U”) comes with an insert cushion that turns it into a king. There is also a private wet head. The door to the head is made of high-gloss, hand-crafted wood, one of several accents throughout the boat that reminds you this indeed is a Vicem. There also is wood trim in the cabin and on the backs of the helm seats. The bow appears to have a wood inlay as well, but if you look more closely, you will see it is actually a painted faux teak overlaid with clear Awlgrip for easy maintenance.

The Vicem factory’s fit and finish is evident throughout the Tuna Master 37. The hardtop is a good example: Its frame features beautiful welds and a flawless paint job.

The boat we saw at the Palm Beach Show did not have much in the way of a galley, but you can opt for a wet bar in the cockpit in place of the rear-facing aft seat. In fact, there are many ways that owners can personalize their Vicem 37 Tuna Master.

“The sky’s the limit,” Smith said, “because it’s a custom yard.”