The first day of the 2019 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show proved to be a hot one. The outside temperature was said to be 86 degrees Fahrenheit, but it felt more like a 100 degrees.

Regardless, Soundings hit the docks and found the new boats as hot as the weather and some cool new products, too.

Fountaine Pajot MY 40

The French builder made its name selling sailboats, but business has been booming and much of it has to do with the company’s entry into the powered catamaran market five years ago. Their latest model, the Fountaine Pajot MY 40, made its American debut at FLIBS, joining the MY 37 and MY 44 in its line-up. The new flybridge model measures in at 45 feet, 10 inches LOA (including its swim platform), has a 19-foot, 9-inch beam and draws 3 feet, 8 inches. Standard power comes from twin Volvo IPS400s. She sleeps 6 people in 3 cabins. Two different layouts are offered. One has a master with two double cabins and the other has a master suite, a double cabin and one cabin with bunk beds. The company says it plans to launch a new power catamaran in 2020 called the Power 67, whose hull will be a modified version of a Fountaine Pajot sailing catamaran. It will make its debut at Cannes next year and Miami in 2021.

Cox CXO 300 diesel V8 outboard

British builder Cox Powertrain announced that it will start shipping its first diesel outboard, the Cox CXO 300 in mid-December. The new engines should arrive at U.S. dealers in January of 2020. The diesel outboards are aimed at commercial operators, the military, high-end center consoles and for super yacht owners who want a tender with an energy source that matches the mothership. The engines weigh in at 830 pounds and depending on the color and shaft length will retail between $52,000 and $56,000. Company representatives say the engines will go further per gallon, last longer, have superior torque and provide greater safety.

48 Wallytender

Italy’s Ferretti Group introduced numerous new models for its eight brands, which include iconic names like Riva and Pershing, but the 48 Wallytender was literally front and center at Ferretti’s large display as the 47-foot, 11-inch luxury tender made its American debut. With its pronounced chine and wave-piercing bow, the 48 looked fast just sitting at the dock. WOT is 48 knots. It has sun pads forward and aft, ample space to lounge, a galley on deck, an aft deck that expands when the bulwarks drop down and a sleek air-conditioned cabin below. Power comes from twin Volvo Penta IPS650s for a total of 960 horsepower. Ferretti showed a 48 Wallytender video set to Queen’s “We Will Rock You” where the bow opened up to deploy the anchor and a retractable swim ladder moved to the music. It was hard not to be wowed.

Foulfree

Airmar Technology Corporation and Propspeed, announced a partnership to market Propspeed’s new Foulfree transducer coating. Foulfree is a proprietary clear coat that forms a slick surface that marine organisms cannot grab onto, preventing transducers from being fouled. Foulfree will retail for $40 and can be applied by individuals. Propspeed says Foulfree is non-toxic to marine life and Airmar certifies that the application of the clear coat results in no loss of transducer performance. Considering that some transducers can cost $10,000 or more and that marine growth will interfere with their operation, Foulfree should gain traction with serious fishermen.

Zar 95 SL

Italy’s Zar Formenti started importing its inflatable tenders to the American market in 2011. Its latest model, the Zar 95 SL (the SL stands for super luxury) made its American debut at FLIBS. It has a cabin with a full-size berth, air conditioning and a separate head and shower. On the bow and stern, upholstered limo-style seats surround tables that transform into sun pads. Aft are a two-burner gas grill, a sink and a two-drawer refrigerator. A T-top, Fusion sound system, teak decking, swim platform extensions with freshwater shower and underwater lights are available. Top speed is listed as 60 knots with a cruise of 42 knots.

Lexus 650

Luxury automaker Lexus debuted its first production motor yacht, the LY 650, which is manufactured by Marquis Yachts of Pulaski, Wisconsin. The Interior design by Nuvolari Lenard of Italy is contemporary, with premium fabrics and materials, including white-leather-covered doors and eucalyptus wood on bulkheads. The 65-foot flybridge yacht is powered by Volvo Penta diesels with IPS pod drives and features a three-stateroom. The open main salon has a galley aft and a lower helm that’s complimented by one of the tallest windshields of any yacht in this size category, making for excellent sightlines. Entertaining spaces include an open bow, a lounge-heavy aft cockpit and flybridge with hard top. The hull is crafted with a combination of carbon-reinforced and glass-reinforced plastic. This is the first model in a new series of Lexus yachts to be produced by Marquis. A 58 will go into production next.

Marquis 42

The Wisconsin-based builder debuted a mid-sized day boat with a shape “inspired by those found along the cote d’Azur and destinations and islands that dot the Med,” said Rob Parmentier, president and CEO of Marquis Yachts. An aggressive ax-shaped bow makes for a striking profile that should be well-matched to performance. The 42 is available with twin 6.7 Cummins inboard diesels or triple outboards. Designers emphasized a big, open cockpit designed for entertaining and time spent outside, but there is a cabin with berth and private head aboard if the weather turns and you need a place to spend the night.

Everglades 395 CC

Designed to fill the space between the Florida-based builder’s 355 CC and 435 CC, the new 395 features Everglade’s signature variable deep-V hull (25 degrees of deadrise aft) that offers a smooth-in-any-seas ride. With this boat, however, the builder takes comfort, finish and technology. “Our slogan for this boat is ‘built for beyond,’” says Ben Cast, vice president of sales and marketing. “It’s built for fishing first, because that’s in our DNA, but it’s equipped for a lot of other activities, too.” There are multiple social zones for entertaining, including stadium seating in the cockpit and a three-person chaise lounge in the bow that’s one of the most comfortable on any boat in this size range. This is the first Everglades model to carry Garmin’s digital switching system for touch-screen control, and the first to have a full cabin with private, enclosed head.

Chris-Craft Launch 31 GT

The newest model from the Florida-based builder made its world premiere at FLIBs. It is the fourth boat in the company’s line of dayboats with classic styling and solid performance, which now ranges from the 25 GT up to the 35 GT. Like its siblings, the 31 offers sterndrive or outboard propulsion. A sterndrive version with painted hardtop was debuted at the show. This 31-footer has a 10-foot 3-inch beam, weighs 10,440 pounds and carries 142 gallons of fuel. Signature Launch details include solid mahogany, stainless-steel and teak accents throughout the boat. Options include a spectrum lighting system that coordinates multiple zones of lighting both in the boat and below the water, all controlled from the Garmin Glass Cockpit Display.