Miami International Boat Show Highlights: Day 2

Two for two—that’s our record for easy and efficient, back-to-back treks from our downtown Miami hotel to the Miami International Boat Show. Based on both relatively pleasant days of traveling to and from the annual event’s Miami Marine Stadium venue on Virginia Key and our mostly awful experiences making the short trip four years prior, we’d have to say that the organizers have worked hard and invested more to solve the site’s inherent access issues.

Hardin Marine has a very visibile outdoor corner space at this year’s Miami International Boat Show. Photos by Matt Trulio and Jason Johnson/copyright speedonthewater.com

Returning for a second day was well worth the minimal effort it took—it’s tough to see everything “high-performance” in just one visit. Strike that. It’s impossible. So here are several highlights from Friday.

Hurry Up Shows Up

For several months we’ve been sitting on various sneak-peek images of Hurry Up, a wild Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats SC 46 catamaran, during the build process. But the Moes—Jason, Laurie, and their two kids, Katelin and Colton—wanted to wait until their 46-footer powered by Mercury Racing 1550/1350 engines was completely finished before its big reveal, which coincided with the Miami event. The crewmembers at the Bristol, R.I., company broke their backs to make it happen for their loyal Washington-based clients. And the results were worth the wait.

Glasstream’s High-Performance Attitude

With its revamped, more-performance-oriented 36-footer powered by triple Mercury Racing 400R outboard engines, Glasstream Powerboats is extending its reach in the go-fast boat world. In the near future, the Alabama-based company will test the sleek and efficient center console with a trio of Mercury Racing 450R outboards. According to company representative Ashley Strong, the Mercury Racing and Glasstream folks are expecting the fully loaded boat to top out in the upper-90-mph range.

Hardin Marine Trailer Returns

When the Miami event moved to Virginia Key in 2016, the Hardin Marine trailer was there. But it was tucked away in a remote section of the show not-so-affectionally dubbed Siberia by most of the unhappy folks who exhibited there. For the following three years, the trailer was gone from the show. And that was a bummer because there’s no rolling display like it in the high-performance marine products market. Thanks to the considerable effort (and expense) of the Hardin Marine team, the unique mobile exhibit returned to the event this year as part of a 2,500-square-foot exhibit that co-marketed its wares with CP Performance.

Shotgun Blasts The Bay

For the past few years, we’ve invited Hustler Powerboats to participate in our annual Miami Boat Show photo shoot. But for one reason or another, it’s never panned out. This year, company principal Joe LoGiudice and his nephew, Paul, who handles the Calverton, N.Y., boat company’s marketing efforts, made it happen with a 39 Shotgun. And—as expected—the 39-footer photographed beautifully. The Hustler crew also showed off its brand new 29 Shotgun at its display and boasted two sales on the first day of the show—and announced the sale of Checkmate Powerboats.

Mercury Racing Releases Wimpy 60R Outboard

Relax, we’re just kidding. There’s nothing wimpy about a 60-hp outboard engine from Mercury Racing. It’s just not particularly relevant to the high-performance powerboat market we cover. Still, as a new engine for flats skiffs from the Fond du Lac, Wis., company it was a noteworthy release—Mercury Racing’s Steve Miller described it as “a no-compromise outboard that delivers Mercury Racing performance in a package that offers outstanding fuel economy with rugged reliability and quiet operation.” Yes, the 60R is the least-powerful offering engine in Mercury Racing’s lineup. On the other hand, it’s kind of cute.

Miami International Boat Show Highlights: Day 2

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