This week has been quite eventful for Statement Marine dealer Randy Sweers from Southwest Florida. On Monday morning, he took the first hull of the Statement 396 catamaran out for its inaugural sea trial in São Paulo, Brazil. He returned to his home in Fort Lauderdale yesterday, only to leave again today for a flight to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where he will celebrate his birthday. Later this week, he plans to go back to São Paulo for a boat show.
The initial Statement Marine 396 catamaran has successfully launched. Photos courtesy of Randy Sweers
While Sweers reported that the preliminary trials for the Mercury Racing 500R outboard engine-equipped 39-foot vessel were promising, his time on the water was somewhat restricted. However, he intends to run the catamaran again during his forthcoming trip to Brazil.
“The weather hasn’t been very supportive,” Sweers noted. “It’s winter, and there’s been a lot of rain along with rough seas. We often take for granted the conditions we have here in the United States, including the ability to operate and test our boats in various locations. We are certainly blessed with excellent infrastructure that facilitates our boat usage across the country.”
“In São Paulo, if the ocean conditions are poor, the other option for testing is the largest commercial shipping port in Brazil, which is Santos,” he added. “However, this port is very active, particularly with ferries crossing back and forth, adding to the boat traffic.”
Sweers plans to continue testing the 39-footer on his return journey to Brazil later this week.
Among a series of 10 boats, which includes 44-foot center consoles—another new model for Statement—currently under construction at the South American facility, is a canopied 396 catamaran. Sweers intends to compete with it in next season’s 500R Factory Stock class and aims to break a few local offshore endurance records.
“I plan to utilize the new raceboat to break several endurance records in Brazil set by Eike Batista, who used a 40-foot Skater Powerboats catamaran named Spirit of the Amazon,” he stated. “Many of us ‘older guys’ in offshore racing likely remember the larger Spirit of the Amazon raceboat, a 50-foot, quad-engine Cougar catamaran that Eike raced in the U.S. alongside legendary throttleman Bobby Moore.”
The production of catamarans and center consoles continues at the South American facility.
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