Cutting-Edge Center Consoles Shine At 2022 Miami International Boat Show
Most of the performance boat community’s attention—not all thanks to the still-red-hot twin-outboard-powered catamaran market in which DCB, MTI, Outerlimits, Wright Performance and even Cigarette Racing Team were exhibiting—was centered around the luxury performance center console side of the business at this year’s Miami International Boat Show, which runs through Sunday at the Miami Beach Convention Center and the Sea Isle Marina and Yachting Center. Between Nor-Tech’s stunning new 400 Super Sport with quad Mercury Racing 450R engines and the 52 Vitesse from Midnight Express powered by six of the same 450-hp, supercharged 4.6-liter V-8 outboards, it was apparent that the segment is continuing to blossom with models growing in size, not to mention number of engines.
Powered by triple Mercury Racing 300R engines, the new Fountain Powerboats 32NX has received a lot of attention during the first two days of the Miami International Boat Show. Photo courtesy Ed Champion
But it wasn’t just the larger models—popular boats such as the MTI-V 50 from Marine Technology Inc., and the 40 CCX from Sunsation Boats were on display and drew rave reviews—that stole the spotlight. Smaller boats such as Sunsation’s latest twin-engine 32 CCX and the all-new Fountain Powerboats 32NX Sport Console featuring triple Mercury Racing 300R engines had show-goers surrounding the docks to get a closer look.
“Our new 32NX came out great and the response has been very positive,” said Jeff Harris, Fountain’s chief operations officer. “Everyone seems to really like the boat. So far the people who have taken a ride love the performance, too. It’s a great-performing hull, in my opinion, plus it runs in the mid-70s with triple 300Rs.
“The response to our new hardtop and windshield design on the 38 Center Console also has been positive,” he added. “It’s kind of got a best-of-both-worlds feel now and people are taking notice of it, especially with triple Mercury Racing 450R engines providing the power. We’ve been pleased with the steady traffic and interest in the boats. I’m also glad to be back at the convention center. I really like it here. It’s clean, it’s big and it’s nice to be out of the weather. I don’t miss the Virginia Key location.”
A twin-engine Sunsation 32 CCX also was quite busy at the Sea Isle Marina docks thanks to the demo team from Performance Boat Center, Sunsation’s largest dealer with locations in Osage Beach, Mo., and Hollywood, Fla.
“So far the show has been great,” said Ryan Wenk, Sunsation’s director of sales. “We have our 40 CCX with triples dock-locked in the water and a twin-engine 32 CCX that the Performance Boat Center team has been doing demo rides in nonstop. Today (Thursday) seemed to have more foot traffic than Wednesday and we’re expecting it to get even busier over the next couple of days. People are pleased with what they’re seeing. We’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback about the 40 CCX since we haven’t had one of those at a show for a while. Performance Boat Center is currently selling build slots through the fall on all of our models. There’s a chance we’ll be sold out for the year by the time the show ends.”
Check out the slideshow above for more images from the boat show courtesy of Pete Boden, Ed Champion, Brad DiMaggio, Ashley Strong, Midnight Express and Nor-Tech.
Along with the aforementioned models, there were several more radical center consoles in and out of the water, including a gorgeous Deep Impact Boats 399 Sport powered by quad Mercury Racing 450Rs, beautiful 35-foot and 38-foot Statement Marine models, the first Abu Dhabi-built H. Craft H44Z center console to arrive stateside, a bright orange, five-engine 45-footer from Streamline Boats, and four different models from Glasstream Powerboats—three on the convention center floor and a cool new 360 LS powered by triple Mercury Racing 400R engines that was dialed in at a Mercury Marine facility in Panama City Beach, Fla.
Not to be outdone, the team at MTI showed off two over-the-top center consoles, a 42- and a 50-footer. The company also was doing demo rides out of its local sales and service center in Haulover Marine Center in North Miami.
“We are so happy to be back in the convention center again,” said Randy Scism, the founder and owner of MTI. “It’s just more convenient and accessible for everyone. And for people who want demo rides, we have boats at Haulover Marine Center. From Haulover, they can enjoy demo rides and experience our boats better in various water conditions.”
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