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Looking for a reason to buy a new boat in 2009? Boatbuilders from across the country are releasing 25 performance-boat models to tempt you.
Originally published October/November 2008 issue
By Matt Trulio
Given the less-than-glowing state of the U.S. economy, you might guess that most domestic boatbuilders have nothing new to offer for 2009. After all, the costs of developing, tooling and producing a new model can be exorbitant, and with sales of existing models slumping, you would imagine that most builders would hold back on new introductions.
That's not the case. Fact is, every builder you'll read about in the following pages—and that represents the majority of the high-performance powerboat industry—has something new for 2009. And there is also a handful of builders not in this preview, such as Cigarette Racing and Magic/Sleekcraft, that have new projects "in the works" but didn't want to release details at press time.
If there is a "trend" in the new models for 2009, it's this: Price-point offerings, meaning boats targeted at budget-conscious buyers (and that's a very relative term in the go-fast boat market). Builders including Checkmate, E-Ticket, Formula, MTI, Mystic, Nordic and Ultra all are offering new models targeted at buyers on "a budget."
At press time, fuel prices had dipped and the stock market had rallied, at least for a day. While we all know the industry is far from robust, there was and is cause for optimism. High-performance boating and boat building are, after all, passions. And passions stay alive in the toughest of times.
Click on images to enlarge.
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Advantage Boats
The X-Flight 29 deck boat from Advantage Boats was such an immediate hit that the company released a 27-foot version soon after the 29. For 2009, Advantage will go bigger with the X-Flight and introduce a twin-engine 34-footer, which should be on display at the Los Angeles Boat Show in February.
"The hull mold is complete and they're doing the first spray on the deck plug," said Kevin Doane of Advantage Boats.
Contact: 928-680-2628, www.advantageboats.com
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Barracuda Powerboats
Fresh out of the mold and slated to be ready for the Powerboat 2009 Performance Trials this fall is Barracuda's first model, a 28-foot deck boat. Rob King designed the boat for the company, which was started earlier this year by Dan Dorati, formerly of Force Offshore and Eliminator Boats.
"We've been tooling it for about a year and a half, and it's like no other deck boat out there," Dorati said. "It looks like a Ferrari."
Contact: 909-208-1527
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Checkmate Boats
Although a review of Checkmate's 2400 BRX ran in the pages of this magazine last month ("In With the Outboard," Page 78), the 24-foot-long outboard-powered model is technically a 2009 release. Production has begun for late fall/ early winter delivery.
The 24-footer is the smaller "sistership" to the company's twin-outboard 28-footer, of which, to date, only one has been built. According to Kip Combs of Checkmate, production of that model will kick in with demand in 2009.
Contact: 419-562-3881, www.checkmatepowerboats.net
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Conquest/Group One Marine
No one, not even Conquest principal Jody Gamble, knows if the company's new 32-foot deck boat will be called a Top Cat like the rest of the builder's deck boats. Gamble said he's just hoping to get it done in time for the 2009 Powerboat Performance Trials, and he'll worry about what to call it later. "We haven't come up with a name yet," he said, and laughed. "But it's a 10-foot-beam, twin-engine-only model."
Contact: 928-680-1400, www.g1mconquest.com
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Dave's Custom Boats
The M-35 catamaran is the latest—and largest to date—release from Dave's Custom Boats, and at press time the 35-footer was nearly complete. The boat seats six and all passengers are protected from the wind by a 3/4-inch wraparound acrylic windshield.
"We worked on the windshield for two months," said Dave Hemmingson, owner of DCB. "The optics are perfect."
Contact: 619-442-0300, www.dcbracing.com
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Domn8er Power Boats
Domn8er Power Boats recently completed a 25-foot dual-helm deck boat, and the new model is currently in production. According to company principal Dory Sarafin, he'll bring the new model to Powerboat's Performance Trials in the fall.
Sarafin also has purchased the molds and tooling for the Next 26-foot deck boat, which was the fledgling company's sole offering. "It will be built as a Domn8er," Sarafin said. "We're changing a few things around, like opening up consoles to create more shelves and storage space."
Contact: 909-931-3268, www.domn8er.com
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Eliminator Boats
Sitting on the showroom floor at Eliminator Boats is the company's latest offering, the 28 Speedster catamaran. The new model, the first of which was completed in late July, features a wraparound half-canopy windshield.
"It can fit up to Mercury Racing HP1075SCi engines under the hatch," said Ron Tanikawa of Eliminator. "It will seat up to five comfortably."
Contact: 951-943-4422, www.eliminatorboat.com
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E-Ticket Performance Boats
E-Ticket's 26-foot Luxury Cat is in the final stages of tooling right now, and company owner Larry Carpenter said he plans to have the catamaran-based deck boat on display at the 2009 Los Angeles Boat Show in February. Economics drove Carpenter to produce a scaled-down version of the Luxury Cat—the original model is a 29-footer.
"I get a lot of guys coming around who want to buy a boat from me but want to spend $100,000 to $150,000," he said. "The only way I could do that was to build a smaller boat with a single engine."
Contact: 928-505-7886, www.eticketboats.com
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Formula/Thunderbird Products
Formula has added a 27-footer to its Bowrider series for 2009. The 270 joins five models in the series from 24 to 31 feet.
"We are working on a 270 Sun Sport now, and we'll be doing something in the 29-foot range in the Bowrider and Sun Sport lines," said Scott Smith, Formula's marketing manager. "We're also introducing a Sport version of the 240 Bowrider. It gives buyers options, such as a jump seat instead of a wet bar, that reduces the cost of the boat. Down the line, there will be more Super Sport action and, of course, we have new graphics this year."
Contact: 800-736-7685, 260-724-9111, www.formulaboats.com
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Hallett Boats
For 2009, Hallett Boats has redesigned and completely retooled its popular 40-footer. Though its clever port-side hull access door remains, the boat has a completely different look than the original Hallett 40.
"The design was done by the whole team here at Hallett, and the plugs were made on a five-axis router," said Nick Barron, owner of Hallett. "It's rounder—it looks a lot like our 335. It is out of the mold now and we're trying to put it together in time for the Performance Trials."
Contact: 626-969-8844, www.hallettboats.com
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Howard Custom Boats
Although Howard Custom Boats owner Gene Willen and his son, Mike, who designs and builds the company's fine boats, had hoped to have the 36 Bullet ready for 2008, it didn't work out that way.
"Mike is such a perfectionist," Gene Willen said. "We just pulled the hull and deck out of the molds and there isn't a ripple in them—you talk about straight. There's a reason why it took him a year and a half."
No wood was used in the construction of the new model, which should be on the water by the end of 2008.
Contact: 661-257-9275, www.howardboats.com
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Kachina Power Boats
The folks at Kachina Power Boats had hoped their 39 Patron V-bottom would be in production for 2008, but the project took longer than expected and now the boat is slated for release in early 2009. That also pushed back the release of a 30-foot deck boat tentatively called Ecco, which probably won't be completed until late summer 2009, according to company representative Brett Campbell.
Contact: 888-470-8039, www.kachinaboats.com
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Marine Technology Inc.
Though the MTI 36 Race/Pleasure catamaran made its debut at the 2008 Miami International Boat Show in February, the model on display was actually a prototype. According to Jonah Ashby of MTI, final tooling was completed in early August and production of the new model should be starting by the time you read this.
"We're also working on a pleasure version of our 48-foot racing catamaran," Ashby said.
Contact: 636-639-1166, www.marinetechnologyinc.com
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Mystic Powerboats
Mystic will introduce a 48-foot poker-run version of its 50-foot racing catamaran for 2009. Owner John Cosker also plans to create a hardtop version of its 70-foot V-bottom, much like the company's 60-footer.
"I'm also developing another boat, which will be about a 45-foot V-bottom," Cosker said. "I'm finalizing drawings on it now."
Contact: 386-736-2247, www.mysticpowerboats.com
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Nordic Boats
For the new model year, Nordic Boats will offer an open-bow version of its 27 Thor sport catamaran. The builder also is creating an outboard-powered, "family ski boat" version of its 21 Cyclone race boat.
"The outboard engine gives us better fuel economy," said Randy Arrowsmith of Nordic. "Plus, the outboard doesn't eat up cockpit space so you can fit more people in the boat with added comfort. The boat will have a price point geared toward buyers who can't afford one of our bigger boats."
Contact: 800-279-5398, www.nordicboatsusa.com
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Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats
Nor-Tech is going in two distinctly different directions with its new offerings in 2009. The company is adding a high-performance catamaran—tabbed the 3900 Super Cat—and a 39-foot center-console, sport-fishing boat.
"The cat is almost done, and I'm looking at the hull plug for the sport fish as we speak," said Terry Sobo, Nor-Tech's director of marketing, in an early August phone interview.
Contact: 877-772-5507, www.nor-techboats.com
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Outerlimits powerboats
Outerlimits Powerboats is working on a new 40-foot catamaran with renowned designer Michael Peters handling the project. "We have a lot going on for 2009," said Mike Fiore, owner of Outerlimits. "We are doing 44- and 52-foot versions of our Super Leggera."
Contact: 401-253-7300, www.outerlimitspowerboats.com
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Pure Performance Racing
In its first year of operation, Pure Performance Racing is releasing its 32 Insane Cat sport catamaran. The hull was designed by Ron Edhe, the designer behind many West Coast custom creations, and the first model should be completed by late November. Company founder Pablo Ortiz reportedly worked in tooling for Eliminator, Ultra and several other boatbuilders on the West Coast.
Contact: 623-434-7873, www.pure-performanceracing.com
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Sunsation Boats
Sunsation Boats is continuing to work on its much-anticipated 38-foot stepped V-bottom. Joe Schaldenbrand, vice president and CFO, said he hopes the model will be in production sometime in 2009, but he isn't making any promises.
"It depends on how busy we are this winter," he said. "The 38 is going to look just like the F-4, but we're going to build it like the 32. It won't have all the high-end billet and stuff because we have to be careful not to price it out of the market. Today, we signed a contract to hire Marine Concepts to digitize our 43 so we can scale it down, build a full-scale model and then produce molds. That's pretty exciting."
Contact: 810-794-4888, www.sunsationboats.com
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Ultra Custom Boats
The largest model Ultra Custom Boats has ever built, the new-for-2009 344 SC (Super Cat), was headed for testing and tuning at press time. Ultra owner John West said he hopes to have the boat, which has a 10-foot, 6-inch beam and twin engines, ready for the 2009 Performance Trials.
Built with poker runs in mind, the boat has seating for six, a wraparound half-canopy and a midcabin. "We're planning on keeping the price in the $300,000 range," West said.
Contact: 888-955-2628, 619-443-1100, www.ultraboats.com
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— Matt Trulio is a freelance writer for Powerboat magazine.
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