It’s fall boat show season, but this year is different. Very different. The Covid-19 pandemic has made it challenging for companies to produce these events—a number of major shows were cancelled when we went to press—and while a few may get underway, not all boating enthusiasts are comfortable leaving their homeports to walk the docks in another locale. How, then, can those who are hungry for information on new models get their new-boat fix? Boatbuilders, dealers and Soundings have launched virtual boat shows where buyers can safely enjoy walkthroughs from their own homes and helms. Fortunately, there’s a lot to see, including these new models that are scheduled to launch within the next six months.
1. GRAND BANKS 54
Like its sisterships, the 60 and 60 Skylounge, the 54 rides on a warped, semi-displacement hull with a wave-slicing forefoot, a form designed to be safe and comfortable in all sea states while still offering great performance. Powered by two 725-hp Volvo Penta D11s, the 54 cruises at 25 knots while burning 57 gph. The hull is built for short trips and long passages. Throttle back to 10 knots and the boat yields a range of 1,200 nautical miles. The Volvo Penta engines were paired with the boat because they offer good low-end torque and low sound and vibration levels for a quieter, pleasant ride. The first hull, which launched this summer, features the standard two-stateroom, galley-down layout. A three-stateroom configuration is available, and it places the galley on the main deck to port, opposite the lower helm station. Interior design is both classic and contemporary, blending a warm color palette and fabrics with the company’s signature teak joinery.
2. BACK COVE 39O
It follows on the debut of the 34O that launched at the Newport International Boat Show in 2018. The newest outboard model in the Back Cove lineup is built at the company’s Rockland, Maine, facility and utilizes the latest boatbuilding techniques (resin infusion) and composite materials. The modified-V hull features Back Cove’s proprietary Trailing Edge Lifting Surface for optimal handling and performance. Standard power is a trio of 350-hp Suzuki DF350A 4-strokes that provide a top-end of around 37 knots. Hull numbers one through three will be rigged with optional 400-hp Mercury Verado 4-strokes that will push top end to a hair over 40 knots. Outdoor gathering areas include the aft cockpit with a U-shaped lounge, teak table and bench seat. There is a big stowage space beneath the cockpit where the inboard engines might otherwise be. The main salon is accessed from the cockpit through a sliding door and features a full starboard galley, U-shaped dinette and starboard helm with companion seating. Belowdecks is a two-stateroom layout with the owner’s cabin in the bow, plus a guest cabin with two single beds, a head with enclosed shower and a lower lounge area.
3. NORTH PACIFIC 49 EURO PILOTHOUSE
Built on the same hull as its popular 49-foot trawler, and with the same single 355-hp Cummins diesel, North Pacific’s new 49 Euro is styled with more contemporary lines and features an interior with a modern design that uses three different types of hardwoods, including oak and walnut finishes. Replacing the chiseled, salty exterior of the 49 Pilothouse are softer lines that are especially noticeable on the pilothouse and cabin exterior. On deck is a spacious cockpit with four exterior entry points and a transom lounge with table. The flybridge has a dinghy deck. The interior features a two-stateroom layout with an oversized salon. The two cabins have queen-size island berths, and there are two heads with enclosed showers. The galley is up in the salon and situated all the way aft, convenient to the cockpit. Lounging spaces in the salon include two sofa lounges set around a large table and a long entertainment center with flatscreen TV. The pilothouse has two captain’s chairs at the lower helm and an L-shaped lounge with table.
4. AQUILA 54
Due to arrive in the U.S. in the fall, the Aquila 54 slides into the upper range of the power cat builder’s model range, second in LOA only to the Aquila 70. Aquilas are built by Sino Eagle Yachts in Hangzhou, China. According to the company, the 54 offers sensible working decks, plentiful stowage and spacious interiors, and it continues to push innovation forward with versatile floorplan options and flybridge configurations. The 54 can be ordered with three, four or five staterooms, with galley up and down configurations. The galley-down option replaces the fifth cabin with a kitchen, allowing the salon to take on a formal dining layout. Outside spaces to relax include a massive foredeck with sunpads and forward-facing upholstered seats, a vast and bright enclosed flybridge, and a cockpit with transom lounge and table, breakfast bar connected to the aft galley and steps down to the swim platform. Renderings show an interior that is contemporary. The centerpieces are the massive main salon and the full-beam master suite.
5. MJM 3z
Launched in July, the 3z is the Boston-based builder’s first entry into the busy dayboat market. The 38-foot, 2-inch, outboard-powered model has a dual-console layout for busy owners who mean to make the most out of a day on the water. From the drafting table of naval architect Doug Zurn, the 3z is built using the same ultra-rugged yet lightweight construction methods that earn its sisterships ISO Class A Ocean ratings. Tipped with a pair of 300-hp Mercury Verado 4-stroke outboards, the 3z has an estimated top end of around 43 knots. The deck is no-nonsense yet complete, with an L-shaped lounge that converts to a sunpad, electric grill and refrigeration, and MJM’s trademark hullside boarding door. The helm is beneath the hardtop in an area that’s open yet well-protected thanks to two huge panes of tempered glass panels on both sides. Forward through a centerline walkway is a lounge that wraps nearly all the way around the bow area. The twin consoles house an enclosed head and dedicated stowage.
6. SEA VEE 450Z
Coming in October, this is the flagship of the Miami builder’s lineup. The 45-footer will satisfy market demand for ever-larger, outboard-powered center console boats with built-in luxury and fishability. The cross-ventilated, twin-stepped hull is built using vacuum-assisted resin transfer infusion, which, along with the use of composite coring, produces a lightweight yet strong hull that’s built to last. The boat weighs only 16,000 pounds dry. Standard power is a quadruple rack of 400-hp Mercury Verado 4-strokes. Performance figures were not available at press time. The deck plan features a big aft cockpit, open bow with a large chaise lounge, and two rows of seating for five people behind the helm. There’s a climate-controlled cabin inside the console with galley and head with shower. The boat comes rigged for serious fishing, too, with insulated fish boxes and plenty of rod and tackle stowage.
7. INTREPID 409 VALOR
One of two new releases coming this fall from Florida-based Intrepid, the 409 Valor is a triple-outboard-powered walkaround that aims to deliver a mix of fishing and luxury features, and a comfortable cuddy cabin. The 409’s deck is open, with a lounging section set ahead of the helm console and abaft of the cuddy cabin. It features a social area with L-shaped lounges protected by the extended hardtop. Farther aft, behind the helm, is a spacious cockpit with plenty of room for working kites or pitching live baits. There are transom live wells, a diver door, rod stowage and more. In the cuddy cabin are a number of features that make the Valor a great weekender, including a head with enclosed shower, master cabin with queen-sized berth, a galley and a dinette that converts to a double berth. Hullside and cabin-top windows light the whole area. Power options include twin, triple or quad outboards from Yamaha, Mercury or Suzuki. Intrepid will also launch a new 438 Evolution; details on the cuddy cabin model were scarce at press time.
8. SOUTHPORT 27 FE
Southport’s newest model is a redesigned version of a popular boat in the Maine-based builder’s lineup. The 27 FE (Family Edition) is a center console that serves as both a family fun-day entertainer and a serious fishing machine with a deep-V hull for offshore work. Among the enhancements to the new deck plan are a more spacious bow area where the bench seating converts to forward-facing seats with removable backrests and a bench seat placed ahead of the console. A drop-in table transforms the area for entertaining. An optional diver door has been added to the aft cockpit, which features a drop-down transom seat and a transom cutout with access to a newly added swim platform. Enhanced under-console stowage with easy access is another improvement. Fishing features include a standard leaning post with tackle stowage, a 25-gallon transom livewell, outriggers and rod stowage. Power options include twin 200- or 250-hp Yamaha F200 outboards or twin 200-hp Suzuki DF200s. Top-end with optional F250 Yamahas power is 48 knots.
9. REGAL 36
The Regal 36 Grand Coupe (shown here) and 36XO models are the latest additions to the builder’s Yacht lineup. The difference? The Grand Coupe utilizes inboard power while the XO has outboards. Standard propulsion on the Grand Coupe is a pair of 350-hp Volvo V8 gas inboards with joystick control. Optional inboard power includes 380- and 430-hp Volvo gas inboards, and twin 300-hp diesels. The 36 XO comes with twin 350-hp Yamaha 4-stroke outboards; 425-hp Yamahas are an option. With standard power, the 36 Grand Coupe has a top end of 40 knots; the 36 XO tops out at nearly 42 knots with the standard outboards. The Grand Coupe has two private staterooms, with an amidships master. The 36 XO has more of an open-concept interior with a master forward and an aft stateroom that doubles as a lounge. In both boats, galleys are up, in the salon. The salon on the 36 XO is open to the cockpit, while the Grand Coupe is more buttoned-up aft. There’s lounge seating in both, and helms are to starboard. On deck, the 36XO has a walkthrough to a generous bow lounge. The 36 Grand Coupe has a sunpad forward that’s accessed from the sidedeck.
10. BENETEAU FLYER 9
Beneteau’s Flyer 9 series has been popular in Europe for a while. Now, a pair of 27-foot models are coming to the U.S. in two configurations: an open walkaround and a center console. The walkaround Flyer 9 Sundeck (pictured here) is a great option for day boaters and those who do weekends with overnight stays. A modern feature is the fold-out gunwale panel on the port side of the cockpit, which drops down to create a small teak “beach.” On the starboard side of the cockpit is an L-shaped lounge and teak table. There’s easy access to the swim platform via a transom walkthrough.
Forward of the cockpit is the helm with two-person bench. To port of the helm is a sliding door to the cabin in the console. It’s spacious for a boat this size. Amidships is a double berth. Forward is a U-shaped lounge and table that converts to a V-berth, and an optional mini-galley. Adjacent is an enclosed head. Propulsion is a pair of 250-hp Mercury Verado outboards.
11. VICEM 50 CLASSIC
This is a lengthened version of the Turkish builder’s popular 46-foot model. Unlike many of its boats, which are built using cold molding, the Vicem 50 is a Downeast-style cruiser constructed with composite boatbuilding techniques. Standard power is a pair of Volvo Penta D6 diesels with IPS600 pod drives, which propel the 50-footer to a top end of 28 knots and a cruise of 24 knots. Multiple interior layouts are available, including one-, two- and three-stateroom setups. Particularly unique for a boat this size is the single-stateroom layout with port or starboard amidships master cabin. The three-stateroom configuration includes a forward master with island berth and two guest cabins. The salon layout varies with each belowdecks configuration but generally includes port and starboard lounges with a teak table. A door next to the helm provides access to the sidedeck. The galley is available up or down, depending on each layout. The open cockpit provides easy access to the sidedecks, as well as to the teak-covered swim platform.
12. BERTRAM 39 CC
Bertram is getting into the center console game with the launch of two new models, the Bertram 28 CC and Bertram 39 CC. The 39 CC will arrive first, sometime in the fall, while the 28 will launch during the winter. The 39 CC has triple 300-hp Mercury Verados pushing a deep-V hull with 22 degrees of transom deadrise, making it a serious contender in the offshore fishing market. Its deck plan is designed for fishing, family cruising and entertaining. The bow has a two-person chaise lounge ahead of the console and a U-shaped seating area farther forward. The cockpit has mezzanine-style seating abaft the leaning post and diver door. Under the console is an air-conditioned cabin with two-person berth, refrigerator, microwave and an enclosed head. Fishing features include transom live wells and fish boxes, in-deck fish boxes, tackle stowage, rod holders and more.
13. TIARA SPORT43 LE
Tiara’s Sport lineup continues to grow with the addition of the 43 LE (luxury express), an outboard-powered cruiser with copious comfort features and a shape-shifting deck plan. The centerpiece is the “transom-less” cockpit, which features a multi-position seating unit that can swivel to allow its occupants to converse with folks seated in the cockpit or grab a look at the scenery behind the boat. The port gunwale is hinged and can be lowered to expand the cockpit area and enhance water access. A starboard diver door is also included. Under the hardtop are helm and companion seats that can swivel aft toward a mid-cockpit galley. The galley has solid-surface countertops, sink, double slide-out refrigerators, pantry stowage, and a designated area for a standard 45-quart Yeti cooler. Belowdecks is a beechwood- and teak-trimmed interior with two staterooms. It includes an amidships cabin with full-sized berth and a forward master stateroom with queen-size island berth and a head with enclosed shower. Triple outboards are available from Yamaha, Mercury or Seven Marine up to a maximum of 1,350 hp.
14. REGULATOR 31
With a pair of 425-hp Yamaha XTO outboards, the newly repowered Regulator 31 is the fastest boat ever produced by this builder, with a top speed of 56 knots. Twin 300-hp Yamahas are standard, and Yamaha’s Helm Master joystick steering system can be added to either power package. The 31 has an open deck with an emphasis on fishing. The cockpit has a starboard diver door, transom fishbox and livewell, rod holders, a folding transom seat and more. Forward is a comfortable bow area with a U-shaped lounge, a two-person bench with cooler and in-deck fishbox. The helm has two captain’s chairs built into the leaning post and a tackle/stowage station. Below the helm console is a cabin with an electric head.
15. CHRIS-CRAFT CALYPSO 35
This is Chris-Craft’s latest dual-console, outboard-powered dayboat and the largest in the Calypso range. Fitted with diamond-stitched upholstery, varnished tropical hardwoods and hand-applied paint, the Calypso 35 looks like a handcrafted work of art. Triple outboards from Mercury or Yamaha power the 35, with horsepower ranging from 900 to 1,275 hp. To ease operation, Mercury’s Joystick Piloting and Yamaha’s Helm Master joystick controls are offered. It’s easy to traverse the open deck quickly from bow to stern. The cockpit is highly transformable. Flip-out seating at the transom and port corner can serve as a dining area with a drop-in teak table or be folded away when fishing or watersports activities are underway. The cockpit’s starboard side has a diver door and mini galley. Under the optional hardtop is a pair of benches set behind two consoles; one houses a cabin with a berth, the other an enclosed head. A centerline walkway leads to the bow lounge that can be buttoned up in bad weather. The area is bolstered by cushioned upholstery around its perimeter.
16. EVERGLADES 235CC
The newly refreshed Everglades 235cc is the smallest member of Everglades’ broad center console lineup, which ranges up to 43 feet in length. The 235cc rides on the same battle-tested hull as the previous model, but has a redesigned deck, hardtop and console. The boat continues to be powered by a single 300-hp Yamaha F300 4-stroke outboard. There’s seating all-around with a pair of forward-facing lounges with stowable seatbacks in the bow, a two-person bench ahead of the console, a flip-down transom seat and twin chairs with bolsters behind the helm. Fishing features include a rigging station with tackle stowage abaft the helm seats, a 17-gallon live well, fish box with macerated overboard discharge and rod stowage, including under-gunwale rod racks and more.
17. TIDEWATER 256CC
Tidewater Boats launches its latest center console model this fall. The 256CC can handle twin-engine installations up to 400 hp. Standard power is a pair of 150-hp outboards, which the builder says are good for 43 knots of top-end speed. Fishing features abound. Among them are twin 40-gallon in-deck fish boxes with macerated overboard discharges, a 30-gallon live well, starboard dive door for hauling aboard large catches, a hardtop rocket launcher, flush-mount rod holders around the cockpit and more. There’s plenty of seating in this mid-size fishboat. Forward in the bow is a bench seat ahead of the console and lounge seating. There are twin seats at the helm with flip-up bolsters and a stowaway transom seat.
18. AXOPAR 22 SPYDER
Axopar, the Finnish builder of rugged, high-performance open and cabin boats, is set to introduce the smallest member of its lineup. The 22 Spyder is a unique center console design with sharp lines and sporty performance. Fully trailerable, the 22 displaces only 2,645 pounds. Standard power is a 115-hp Mercury 4-stroke outboard that comes with a 40-plus-knot top end, according to Axopar. The 22’s hull is built using a unique, three-part, split-mold process, which allowed the builder to maximize beam for improved stability while retaining the appearance of its larger sister ships. The open deck features a bench seat in the bow, twin captain’s chairs behind a svelte console unit and a bench at the transom. Two options include a U-shaped cockpit lounge and an optional enclosed head in the console.
19. PURSUIT S 428 SPORT
As boat buyers demand ever-bigger center consoles, builders are designing boats to keep them happy. The latest addition to the Pursuit center console family is its new flagship, the S 428 Sport. The 43-foot, 9-inch boat carries a generous 13-foot beam and is built using the latest boatbuilding techniques and composite materials. The goal of the design was to provide a lightweight yet strong package for four 425-hp Yamaha outboards. An aggressive hull entry and 22-degree transom deadrise were designed for offshore work. The deck is set up for fishing, family fun and casual overnight cruising. There are social areas in the bow and cockpit, which is also loaded with fishing features, including live wells, under-gunwale rod stowage, fish boxes, dual diver doors, bait prep area with freezers and more. Beneath the console is a nice cabin with a convertible berth, head with shower, mini galley with microwave, hanging locker stowage, and plenty of glass and opening portholes and hatches to light up the area.
20. NORTH COAST 315 CABIN
The largest model in the Rhode Island builder’s stable, this New England-style boat features a spacious cockpit and well-protected cabin with belowdecks sleeping accommodations. The boat is built using composite construction and has a foam-filled integral grid system. The hull sports 23 degrees of transom deadrise and a sharp forward entry for dealing with a stiff chop. Equipped with either twin 250-hp Yamaha F250 4-strokes or twin 300-hp F300s, the 315 Cabin can reach speeds over 43 knots and cruise in the high 20s. The cockpit has a fishy vibe and includes a port-side diver door, twin transom live wells, fish boxes, rod stowage and more. Cockpit seating includes a flip-down transom bench and folding seats. An electric grill and sink are near the entrance to the main cabin. Inside, there’s a protected helm station. Farther below are overnight accommodations: an expandable V-berth with filler cushion in a space that’s neatly trimmed with teak. An enclosed head is here, too.
21. VALHALLA V-46
Less than a year and a half after launching three new models and an entirely new brand, Viking Yacht’s center console subsidiary, Valhalla Boatworks, will launch a new flagship, the V-46. The first hull is underway at the builder’s Egg Harbor, New Jersey, factory. The boat is rated for up to 1,800 hp and sports either quad Mercury Racing 450R 4-strokes or quad 425-hp Yamaha XTO Offshore 4-strokes. The V-46 runs on a deep-V, twin-stepped, resin-infused hull designed by Michael Peters Yacht Design. The specialized step system includes a ventilated tunnel that acts as a keel and provides excellent maneuverability at speed. The integrated stringer system is pre-rigged for a Seakeeper 6 gyrostabilizer. In the cockpit, there’s mezzanine-style seating, two 50-gallon transom live wells and in-deck fish boxes. Behind the helm are two rows of Release seats. In the bow are a chaise lounge and port and starboard lounges with backrests. Under the console is an air-conditioned cabin with dinette that converts to a queen berth, a full-sized galley and enclosed head/shower.
22. SUMMIT 54
This is the first offering from Kadey-Krogen subsidiary Summit Motoryachts. Unlike Kadey-Krogen’s long-range full-displacement models, the 54 is a semi-displacement hull that cruises in the 16- to 20-knot range, with a top end in the mid-20s. Designed by Michael Peters Yacht Design, it’s equipped with twin Cummins QSB6.7, 542-hp engines with ZF Marine ZF286A, 2.1:1-ratio gears. The boat utilizes the Zipwake Dynamic Trim Control System for stability and enhanced fuel economy. The cockpit connects seamlessly with the main salon, where there’s a lower helm station, U-shaped lounge set around a teak table, twin bar stools at the aft galley countertop and stairs that lead up to the flybridge. The flybridge with entertaining area also has room for a dinghy and a lift crane. Belowdecks are three cabins, including an amidships master with en suite head. The forward guest suite has a queen-sized island berth and a connected head with enclosed shower.
23. JEANNEAU LEADER 12.5
The Jeanneau Leader 12.5 is a walkaround cruiser that joins the French builder’s expanding outboard boat lineup, which has doubled in size over the last many years. The smart-looking boat was designed in collaboration with Sarrazin Design, Michael Peters Yacht Design and Jeanneau’s design team. The 40-foot boat is powered by triple 300-hp Yamaha F300 outboards that can deliver a cruising speed between 26 and 30 knots and a top-end speed of 43 knots. The boat rides on a modified deep-V hull with 21 degrees of transom deadrise. The deck spaces provide multiple social zones, both for sun lovers and for those who want a sheltered space when the weather is not ideal. In the bow is chaise lounge and an L-shaped lounge set around a teak table. The cockpit also has lounges, plus a panel at the gunwale that flips out to expand the space. The “Entertainment Island” has an electric grill, sinks and refrigerator. A flatscreen TV that’s viewable from the cockpit flips down above the galley from the hardtop. On the accommodations level is a convertible U-shaped lounge adjacent to a full galley. Amidships is a full-beam master with king-size berth.
24. ASPEN C108
Aspen Power Catamarans is adding another outboard-powered power cat to its lineup—the 35-foot C108. It rides on a unique, fiberglass, proa-style catamaran hull with one standard-size hull and one skinnier hull. The result is a power cruiser that provides a unique combination of hyper-efficiency and seakeeping abilities. Standard power is a 200-hp Yamaha F200 4-stroke outboard on the starboard hull and a 70-hp Yamaha F70 4-stroke on the port hull. Performance figures were not available at press time. The deck layout is simple yet roomy, thanks to the boat’s 10-foot, 8-inch beam. Generous sidedecks rimmed with high stainless-steel railings make moving forward easy. A large aft cockpit has ample under-deck stowage. In the cabin, the salon has an airy feel, thanks to four opening hatches and a good deal of glass to port, starboard and forward. The galley sits in the port aft quarter convenient to the aft cockpit; opposite is a U-shaped dinette with high/low table. Below is a head and sleeping areas, including an almost-full-beam master berth.
This article was originally published in the October 2020 issue.
