Nor-Tech 500 Sport Center Console Hull No. 1 Getting Dressed At SMD

If current plans and schedules hold, the first Nor-Tech 500 Sport Center Console, a 50-footer powered by five Mercury Racing 450R outboard engines, will debut during the Florida Powerboat Club Miami Show Poker Run Exhibit, February 18-21, at Gilbert’s Resort in Key Largo. Hull No. 1, which was sold through Midwest Boating Center at the Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri, to repeat Nor-Tech owner Jesse Neumann of Minnesota is in the paint booth at Stephen Miles Design in Owensboro, Ky.

The first Nor-Tech 500 Sport Center Console is in the paint booth at Stephen Miles Design and should be ready in time for Florida Powerboat Club Miami Boat Show Poker Run Exhibit debut next month.

“Marvin Dufner of Midwest Boat Center stepped up and ordered the first two,” said Henrik Margård, the vice-president of production for the Fort Myers, Fla., high-performance center console, catamaran and V-bottom sportboat builder. “Jesse bought the first one, and convinced Matt and Lori Schultz—who took delivery of a beautiful 450 last fall—to step up to a 500.

“Matt’s 450 had just 20 hours on it,” he added, the chuckled. “It sold in three days.”

Development of the new model, Margård explained, was customer-driven. The 450 wasn’t quite large enough for some buyers, while the 550 was a bit too much boat for others.

“The 500 strikes a nice balance,” he said.

Stephen Miles and his crew will paint all three 50-footers, the third of which is going to a first-time Nor-Tech owner in Canada. That sale was closed, according to Nor-Tech dealer manager Geoff Tomlinson, during the company’s customer appreciation event in Key West, Fla., last November.

Miles said he’s thrilled and privileged to paint the first three builds.

“This new 500—just like the 450 and the 390—has a very sporty yet elegant shape to it,” he said. “That said, the 500 in my opinion stands above the other two models when it comes to style and sleekness.

“As an artist, when your canvas has a great shape, it makes it easy to get excited about the ‘design aspect’ of the project,” said Miles. “I’ve painted some hulls that not only were way more challenging to design but a struggle to get excited about. The new Nor-Tech 500 Sport Center Console definitely isn’t one of those.”

To scout out the Gilbert’s location for next month’s Florida Powerboat Club event, Margård and Tomlinson ran with the FPC Winter Poker Run fleet yesterday to the lunch stop at Gilbert’s. “We’re confident we’ll have the first 500 there,” said Margård. “But without question it will be at our dealer meeting at the end of April.”

Nor-Tech 500 Sport Center Console Hull No. 1 Getting Dressed At SMD

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