Performance Center Consoles are set to dominate the Miami International Boat Show.
If there was any uncertainty about the longevity of center-console boats, the 2023 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show dispels that notion. Major names in performance boating such as Fountain Powerboats, Nor-Tech, and Mystic will be displaying center consoles throughout the five-day event.
Over 100,000 attendees are anticipated at the Miami show, which is back at the Miami Beach Convention Center for its second consecutive year after a stint at Miami Marine Stadium on Key Biscayne.
The show, organized by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and produced by Informa Markets, occurs at six different venues. Attendees interested in performance boating will primarily find them at the convention center and nearby Pride Park, along with Herald Plaza and Venetian Marina in downtown Miami.
For those fortunate enough to attend this year’s event, here’s a brief overview of the new boats expected to be showcased in Miami.
FORMULA BOATS
At the 2022 Miami International Boat Show, Formula Boats introduced a model of its 387 Center Console Fish (CCF) and 387 Center Console Sport (CCS). For 2023, Formula is presenting the full-size iteration of this new center console.
This center console represents a new phase for the Decatur, Indiana-based builder, applying the insights gained from offshore racing and constructing powerboats based on the FAS3Tech hull for the 387 Center Console. It will be offered with either twin or triple outboard engines from Mercury Racing or Mercury Marine.
Key features of the 387 CCS include a bow seating arrangement and an adjustable power table. The cabin offers 6-foot-4 ceiling height and sleeping arrangements, including a private head compartment with a sink, shower, and VacuFlush toilet.
Don’t be misled, the 387 CCS is a powerhouse, weighing in at over 20,000 pounds, and with a 500-gallon fuel tank, Formula’s center console boasts the capability to take adventurers to distant islands and sandbars.
MARINE TECHNOLOGY INC.
Making its debut at the Miami show is the 440X catamaran, the latest powerboat from this Missouri manufacturer. The 440X catamaran will accompany the 340X and 390X pleasure models in MTI’s outboard array. MTI owner Randy Scism was behind the introduction of the 340X in 2016 and the launch of the 390X three years later.
The latest model boasts a roomier cockpit accommodating up to eight people. MTI updated the dashboard and side panels, and a prototype powered by twin Mercury Racing 450R engines on Shaun Torrente Racing brackets made its first public appearance at a Florida Powerboat Club event in November 2022.
MTI will also display its V-42 center console that can be outfitted with twin, triple, or quad outboards. The V-42’s cabin includes a double berth, lounge, and a hidden head enclosure. Gather plenty of friends, as the boat has a seating capacity of over 10 passengers.
DCB PERFORMANCE BOATS
DCB Performance Boats, a West Coast manufacturer, makes the annual trip to Miami for good reason as the company has cultivated a national fan base. This year they are bringing a completely new M37R equipped with Mercury Racing 450R outboards.
The team from El Cajon, California, will showcase the catamaran at the Mercury Marine/Mercury Racing’s in-water display at Grove Harbour Marina. DCB Performance launched the M37R inSpring 2020, marking the company’s first true-tunnel catamaran without a center pod design.
FOUNTAIN POWERBOATS
The 38SCX has been refreshed for 2023 with new cockpit seating, a high-tech helm with an extended T-top featuring a glass windshield, and updated graphics. Fountain offers the 38SCX with options for either triple or quad outboards from Mercury Marine or Mercury Racing. With a total of 1,350 horsepower, this center console can reach speeds in the mid- to high-90s.
Fountain is targeting both the poker run and sandbar enthusiast crowd with the 38SCX. More than just a day boat, it comes with a couch that transforms into a full-size sleeper and a compact head equipped with a VacuFlush ceramic toilet and a pull-out sink/shower.
DONZI MARINE
If everything proceeds according to plan, Donzi Marine will unveil the 39 VRZ, marking the company’s first new model in several years. Under Craig Barrie’s leadership, Donzi Marine has drawn inspiration from a 38-foot center console they used to manufacture to create the new 39 VRZ.
The 39 VRZ features a revamped running surface and an open cockpit designed to attract performance boating aficionados. Additional highlights include a new T-top and an updated windshield. The console has been expanded to fit two 24-inch displays, and Donzi will offer this center console with triple outboards from Mercury Racing.
NOR-TECH
Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats will display five center consoles both on land and in the water at the Miami show. The 400 Super Sport center console returns, one year after its initial reveal at the South Florida show.
The builder will showcase two models of the 400 Super Sport, as well as a 450 Sport owned by Class 1 offshore racer Alex Pratt, known for Good Boy Vodka. In addition to being featured in the convention center, Nor-Tech will also take part in the Mercury Marine/Mercury Racing event at Grove Harbour Marina and at the boat show’s Venetian Marina in downtown Miami.