• It’s Showtime!

    This is a Mercury Blog post - the full post can be viewed here. Posted in Event News by Rick Mackie

    Sunsation is one of several performance boat builders at the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show.

    The Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show is underway. Fred Kiekhaefer is there visiting with our boat builder partners and our customers on the “performance dock” at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center.

    I’m encouraged with the number of new boats being unveiled at this show. Of particular interest to me is the outboard center console market. Everyone is getting into the game. Some exciting products are coming from Cigarette, Deep Impact, Statement Marine, Nor-Tech and Sunsation.

    Sunsation is one of several performance boat builders at the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show.


    I’ve compiled a list of performance builders I’m aware of that are displaying boats at the show.

    Cigarette Racing always puts on a first class display at boat shows around the globe. They recently released the all-new 39 Top Gun Open center console. The boat is Cigarette’s response to their customers’ requests for a center console designed more for the performance boating lifestyle than fishing.Triple Verado 350 SCis provide plenty of power behind Deep Impact's new 399 Center Console.

    Cigarette has two 39 Top Fish models (cuddy cabin and open bow) along with a 39 Top Gun Unlimited in the show. Cigarette Racing boats are powered exclusively by Mercury and Mercury Racing propulsion.

    Deep Impact is introducing their all-new 399 Center Console. I would love to be aboard this boat November 10th as it makes the trip from Miami to Key West for the Key West Poker Run.

    Cigarette's next generation performance boat - the 39 Top Gun Open.



    Statement Marine, a rather newcomer to the high-end offshore performance boat market, has also entered the offshore center console market with its new line of high performance “SUV” models. The company will show their Verado 300 outboard powered 34-foot SUV outboard center console and provide demo rides on the unique 37-foot SUV powered by Cummins MerCruiser Diesel sterndrives.

    Nor-Tech, a company founded on performance vee-bottoms and catamarans, is also riding the center console wave. Terry Sobo, Nor-Tech’s Director of Marketing & Sales told me their in-water display will include their new 340 Sport Open Center Console powered by twin Verado 300s. The 340 will be joined by a 390 Sport Center Console powered by triple Verado 300s.

    Statement's new 34 SUV Center Console.


    Sunsation:

    Sunsation Boats is showing a 36-foot vee-bottom with twin 700 SCis as part of their in-water display. Sunsation’s Wayne Schaldenbrand told us they too are planning to produce an outboard center console boat for release in 2012.

    I’m sure Fred will have plenty of information to share regarding his experiences in and around the Ft. Lauderdale Show. For those of you going to the show, enjoy!
Chris Carson's Marine