Just The Facts Please
Here are a few quick facts about Power&Motoryacht’s Top Boat List. NEWEST BOAT: 2014CRUISERS 390 EXPRESS COUPE OLDEST BOAT: 1954 CENTURY CORONADO LONGEST RUNNING PRODUCTION BOAT: DYER 29. PRODUCTION BEGAN IN 1955.
Aft master, bow VIP, convertible sofa in the saloon ... put a barbecue on the aft rail and you had it all. One downside, those Crusader engines did seem to enjoy guzzling gas.
Chris-Craft Corsair 28
2001-Present Designed by Michael Peters Chris-Craft has always built American classics, but when the company was taken over in 2001 by the Stephens—Julius and Heese, respectively—the Corsair 28 (below) was the boat that helped resurrect the brand, get it back on its feet, and pave the road toward success. Notably, her lines harkened to the classic Chris-Crafts of days of yore, but with enough of a modern feel to charge confidently into the future. Seriously, just look at her. That’s a new classic.
Cigarette 38 Top Gun
1991-Present Designed by Craig Barry, Bob Gowens, Val Jenkins, and Cigarette Racing Team A boat that symbolized a bygone era ... powerful, supremely fast, to-hell-with-the-world fuel burn. Sure, environmentally incorrect, but way more fun than you can have with virtually any other sort of boat. There used to be a lot of high-performance boats around back in the day, but this firebreather always got the look!
Contender 31 Open
1995-2007 Designed by Joe Neber This center console design instantly won the admiration of tough-to-please anglers. The 31 also began to prove that well-built, well-designed center consoles could compete on the tournament circuit by getting out to the fish early with a cruise speed in the low 40-knot range. And moreover, she just looks sweet.
1960s N/A
Cruisers 390 Express Coupe
2014-Present Designed by Cruisers Yachts In order to build a better mousetrap (or express cruiser) the Wisconsin builder turned the concept upside down and started with a clean slate. Heck, they even dismissed the design tenets of their successful 380. The result is a huge deck area with modular seating options, in addition to some very ample accommoda- tions, achieved by moving the helm and windshield far forward. The helmsman will need to get used to the fact that a big part of the boat is now behind him.
Dolphin Salty 16
A 16-footer with a flying bridge? This boat had to be on this list. “I love this one! It’s only 16 feet long, has a flybridge, and sleeps four,” writes reader Tom Horan.
Dyer 29
1955-Present Designed by Nick Potter The Dyer 29 enjoys the longest production run in history. The classic New England-style bass boat was first launched in 1955 by fiberglass pioneer Bill Dyer. You can still order one today in several styles, including a center console that tugs at the heartstrings.
Ferretti 55 Motor Yacht
1995-1999 Designed by Ferretti Advanced Yacht Technology and Development and Zuccon International When the Ferretti 55 was brought to the U.S., her striking, angular European style set her apart. Add in passionate performance and this Italian builder would have its foot in the door to America. She was introduced as the 165 (as in 16.5 meters), but renamed after just a few sales to simplify comparison. It wouldn’t be long until the rounded, swooping sleekness of the Ferretti 53 arrived.
Everglades 243 Center Console
2001-Present Designed by Bob Dougherty The boat that started it all for Everglades remains the company’s top seller. The 243 introduced the RAMCAP coring system, wherein high-density foam is fit directly over the inside of the hull, vacuum sealed, and then sandwiched in by a top cap. The process is a more efficient way to foam core a boat than the “blind foam” process used by other companies in the class. The result is an exceptionally rigid boat that can handle very rough seas. The 243 in particular is also popular because she’s large enough to go offshore, but has a shallow enough draft to zip around the flats without a care in the world.
Fleming 55
1986-Present Designed by Tony Fleming The proportions of this boat are simply elegant. The balance, the
low profile (which means you crawl in the engine room), and just the lines in general will make you stare. Plus more than 1,000 engineering changes in the boat’s nearly 30-year production run have resulted in a fine passage- maker today. Fleming was at the forefront of raised pilothouse designs built to exacting standards.
Formula 382 FasTech
1998-Present Designed by John Adams When introduced, Formula’s 382 FasTech was an impeccably built raceboat that was wholly capable of family fun … especially if at least a few members of the family felt doing 74 knots was fun. The boat’s heritage goes all the way back to Don Aronow. And she’s family-tested by the Porter dynasty, one of the oldest, raceboat-bred families in the boatbuilding biz.
Fountain 42 Lightning
1990-Present Designed by Reggie Fountain Reggie Fountain’s 42 Lightning (built and rigged at Fountain’s high-intensity, skunk-worksy facility in Washington, North Carolina) went on to become the fastest (149 knots) V-bottom boat in the world, a record that stood until just recently. Via his hands-on approach to driving, engineering, rigging, and bottom design, Fountain was able to take the sport of pleasure boating (or at least an aspect of it) to the ragged, high-wire edge, beyond which his fabled “need for speed” held sway. The 42 Lightning was, arguably, his most famous rocket. And yes, you can still buy one today, although Fountain sold the company some years back and his influence upon design and construction is long gone.
Grady-White 204C Overnighter
1975-1992 Designed by Eddie Smith & Wiley Corbett In 1959 Glenn Grady and Don White set out to build darn tough boats, and the company continues to follow this mantra today. Under Eddie Smith Jr. the builder practically invented the wide-beam, walkaround, cuddycabin model. Take a look around at any boat show these days and see just how many walkarounds there are. That’s thanks to boats like the 204C and her big sister, the Grady-White 25 Sailfish.
Grand Banks 42
1966-2004 Designed by Ken Smith The 42 was introduced shortly after the Grand Banks 36 in 1966 and more than 1,500 were built with only basic styling changes and one substantive mold change in 1992. The 42 created a niche for trawler-yacht cruising. The newer boats were often overpow- ered and thus wet, but the initial concept, with 120-horsepower naturally-aspirated diesels belowdecks, was spot on and fueled this market. In our opinion, her sweet spot with bigger engines is right around 12 to 13 knots. More than that and you’re just pushing water.
Grand Banks Eastbay 38
1994-2004 Designed by C. Raymond Associates You can argue that the Eastbay 38 ignited the production Down East express market along with the Hinckley Picnic Boat. Sure, when it was introduced in 1994, there were a few Maine builders creating one-off Down East ex-
press designs, but nothing really capable of doing more than 18 knots with anything like serious effi ciency. It’s hard to imagine that this market niche was untapped way back then. Th is good- looking boat with twin 375- horsepower CAT 3208TAs was the ideal package— a heavy boat ( 28,000 pounds) with a Hunt hull and simple engines. Peter Boyce from C. Raymond Hunt Associates has said that this package represented the best of the Hunt philosophy.
Grand Banks Eastbay 49
1998- 2008 Designed by C. Raymond Associates You just have to drive this boat once to know why it’s on this list. In the late ’ 90s, large Down East production boats were rare, although semi- custom builders such as Alden Yachts were building fully customized models. ( Th e fi rst Alden 56 Prosit is one of our favorites.) More than 100 Eastbay 49s were built, and an enclosed saloon express model was added. Th e initial models relied on Cat 3196s, which were eventually replaced by the C12s.
Greenline 40
2010- Present Designed by J& J Design When Greenline Hybrid introduced its 40- footer with optional hybrid propulsion systems in 2010, it seemed like an idea who’s time had come. Th e boats can be spec’ed with Volkswagen diesels combined with 48- volt electric motors powered by batteries and photovoltaic cells to push a slippery “superdisplacement” hull. And the boat is packed with weight saving, space- saving amenities that let her feel much larger than her 39 feet 4 inches, thanks to J& J Design’s experience with building Seaway and Shipman sailboats and Skagen powerboats, so all boaters are giving up is bigger, louder engines and the fuel bill that goes with it.
Hatteras 41
1960- 1963 Designed by Jack Hargrave Th is boat arguably energized and facilitated the creation of all fi berglass sportfi shing boats to come aft er. During those three short years, Hatteras built 93 1975- 1985 Designed by Jack Hargrave Diehard long- distance cruisers covet the Long Range Cruising line built by Hatteras. Th e series also included a 42, a raised pilothouse 48 ( a model that renowned boating journalist and adventurer the late Carlton Mitchell cruised heavily), and a limited run 65. Th is slow- going ship with a large engine room, lots of interior volume, and of these boats. Lotta boats for three years.
Hatteras 58 LRC
GM diesels was one of the fi rst American- made long- range cruisers. It may not appear so now, but in 1975 she was a trendsetter.
Hatteras 58 Yacht Fisherman
1970- 1982 Designed by Jack Hargrave Hatteras arguably coined the term “Yacht Fisherman” when it developed the, well, 58 Yacht Fisherman, in 1970. Since then it’s become a term that is fully entrenched in the boating vernacular today. Th e line eventually included a 48 and 53. All remain popular on the brokerage market.
Hatteras 60 Convertible
1977- 1986 Designed by Jack Hargrave Th is boat was simply huge for the market when it was introduced. Convertibles were not built larger than about 55 feet or so at the time. Th e enclosed bridge version was also a game changer. She was a natural evolution of the 53 Convertible and was stretched to the 65 Convertible leading the way for the larger production convertibles that we see today.
Huckins Fairform Flyer
1928- Present Designed by Frank Pembroke Huckins In essence a timelessly elegant and traditional piece of marine artwork, the original 42- foot Huckins Fairform Flyer Express Cruiser was designed by Frank Pembroke Huckins and launched in July of 1928. Th e boat soon found her way into the hands of David M. Goodrich of the B. F. Goodrich Tire Company. Since that fi rst launch, a veritable fl eet of Fairform Flyers, in a variety of sizes and confi gurations, have been built and sold to other discerning customers with an appreciation for the unique, albeit voluptuous look that has always been Huckins.
Hunt Surfhunter 25
Mid-’ 60s- Present Designed by Ray Hunt If you fi nd yourself in shortstacked wave patterns oft en experienced on bodies of water
like Buzzards Bay or Long Island Sound and your ride’s a 25-foot Surfhunter, you’ll swear you’re on a much larger boat. This classic is well known for being dry and stable, and darn pretty.
Intrepid 475 Sport Yacht
2006-Present Designed by Intrepid Along with the rise of the center console in the years following the Great Recession came another phenomenon: The rise of the just-a-bit-more-than-a center console. Utility, speed, and easily maintainable outboards were still in the mix, but now larger cabins and more creature comforts were part of the deal. Perhaps no boat exemplifies this way of thinking better than the Intrepid 475 Sport Yacht, the company’s flagship. With options galore and a cruise speed of 44 knots, this is truly a boat that can do all things.
Island Pilot DSE
2008-Present Designed by Reuben Trane You gotta hand it to Island Pilot’s Reuben Trane who, with friend George Petrie, designed and produced what some folks in 2008 saw as the first truly cruisable solar-powered powercat on the market, the DSe (Diesel Solar electric) 12M Hybrid. With a couple of 75-horsepower Steyer hybrid diesels (one in each sponson, of course) and a whopping solar array from Sun Power topside, the DSe could do either 10 knots (or thereabouts) via carboniferous oomph or about 6 knots on solar power alone. Boating for free and for fun? Although the DSe was far from gorgeous when viewed in profile, for our money, Mr. Trane was ahead of the curve on this one.
Kadey Krogen 42
1976-1998 Designed by James Krogen This collaboration between designer James Krogen and yacht broker Art Kadey captured the wanderlust of intrepid voyag- ers at a time when cruising under power was still not a mainstream boating endeavor. Today, notable passages are still being completed by the 206 42s built. In fact, at this writing a 42 is tied up in the Azores, while another arrived in Fiji en route
to New Caledonia on a voyage that originated in Mexico.
Larson 176 Flyer
1999 Designed by Larson Nothing new under the sun? When was the last time you read about, watched, or stumbled across an entirely new way to build boats? When Larson intro’d the 176 Flyer BR (BowRider) at all the boat shows in 1999, that’s exactly what the company was putting out there—VEC (Virtual Engineered Composites), a wholly closed-molded approach to creating a boat. The advantages of the VEC process—zip for VOCs, precisely weighted and dimensioned parts, lightweight unibody construction, and unparalleled production efficiency—still pertain today. Larson’s still building lots of skiboats, fishboats, and spicy runabouts the new-fashioned VEC way.
Lazzara 76
1992-2003 Designed by Dick Lazzara Brothers Dick and Brad Lazzara do not shy away from going all in and embracing innovation. The 76 was indeed a game changer when she was introduced in 1992. Think about it, what other model with contemporary styling and luxury appointments was available between 65 and say 85 feet in the early ’90s? The 76 remains a much sought-after boat on the used market today.
Mako 25
1976-1985 Designed by Mako Ask any diehard angler who has run a few boats in his time to name some favorites. The early Mako 25 will almost surely be mentioned since the ride is so smooth and solid. The 25 was one of the first center consoles to start to creep up in the size range when she came out in 1976. (Aquasport had come out with a 22-footer a few years before.) The original Mako 25 evolved into an updated model in the mid ’80s.
Mainship 34
1978-1982 Designed by John Cherubini Super-efficient, pretty fast, and popular. A good old reliable 160-horsepower Perkins pushed this baby through the water. The 34 was updated in the early ’80s with the Mark III version. Mainship saw an opportunity to create an affordable, value-oriented pocket trawler before any other builder was focused on this buyer. The company strayed for a while and got into the motoryacht market building boats like the Mainship 41 Grand Salon (perhaps one of the ugliest boats ever conceived), but in more recent years the builder began focusing on the trawler-yacht niche once gain. Today boatbuilder David Marlow is creating Mainships that will surely be on our next Power & Motoryacht’s Top Boats listing.
MarineMax 484
2013-Present Designed by Seaway Yes, charter powercats are plenteous but this 484 has a supremely better layout ... par- ticularly when it comes to the exceptionally well-ventilated heads ... an important consideration when you’re thinking about chartering a boat.
Maritimo 60
2006-2010 Designed by Bill Barry-Cotter Maritimo founder Bill BarryCotter is one heck of a boatbuilder. After selling his shares in Riviera Yachts he took his knowledge and moved across the street and started to think about how he could build a different boat. He saw a need for something that could do longerrange cruising, but offer some speed and styling as well. Soon the Maritimo 60 was born and the enclosed-bridge layout also became a Maritimo trademark. Even on the smaller boats, this design element does nothing to detract from the boats’ lines. Maritimos are also known for their simplified systems and stout construction.
Marlow 70
2003-Present Designed by David Marlow While the Marlow 65 launched this now venerable builder and benchmark brand, the 70 highlighted another reason for Marlow Marine’s lightning-fast success: David Marlow is constantly finetuning his boats to make them better. This is easier if you’re not designing via committee. Also, when a builder sells direct like Marlow and doesn’t have to worry about stepping on a dealer’s stock inventory, he can introduce a new model when he wants to. The 70 is a stretched 65 and in profile she appears to have a reverse transom, making her damn good looking. The additional length also adds to the stern without substantially increasing her weight, thereby giving the boat even better lift. Pure and simple, she’ll literally run rings around other vessels of her size and type in rough seas. We once did so, during a sea trial in Florida.
Marquis 65
2004-2010 DesignedbyNuvolariLenard While other U.S. builders had all but abandoned the 60- to 75-foot production market in the early 2000s, Carver introduced its Marquis line with a 65-footer that got everyone’s attention. The luxurious details and customization set the 65 apart from her Carver-born siblings, and the systems and mechanical spaces reminded you that this was indeed an American-built boat. And the ride? The builder and design team hit it out of the park.
MJM 34z
2004-Present Designed by Doug Zurn It’s as if MJM founder and owner Bob Johnstone along with yacht designer Doug Zurn expunged all previous notions about yacht design and boating when they designed the MJM 34z (the first boat in the MJM series). They looked at how boats were actually used, and focused on ef- ficiency while the rest of us were driving our fleet of Suburbans to Starbucks, and they zeroed in on composite technology with boatbuilder Mark Lindsay of Boston Boatworks. Highlights include a one-level cockpit, bulletproof construction, a convertible helm deck, and above all, stellar performance. Try 2 nautical miles per gallon at 25 knots! Today the MJM series ranges from 29 to 50 feet.
Nordhavn 40
1998–Present Designed by Jeff and Jim Leishman In 2001, company founders Jim Leishman and Dan Streech, along with Nordhavn designer Jeff Leishman, decided to con- duct the ultimate sea trial of the Nordhavn 40. On November 3, 2001, the crew took an “off-therack” Nordhavn 40 and set out from Dana Point, California, on a 26,000-mile, 27-week circumnavigation. The trip gave Nordhavn lots of in-depth knowledge about the boat, how she handled, and how they might improve upon her (the popular N43 was the result of what they learned during their trip). The circumnavigation also inspired armchair cruisers around the world to look a little farther over the horizon. In fact, the company subsequently organized an Atlantic Rally for 18 boats in 2004. The message here was simple. If a little ship like the 40 could go around the world, you could certainly cross the Atlantic onboard your 62-footer.
Nordhavn 46
1989-2005 Designed by Jeff Leishman Along with Bruce Kessler’s Zopilote, this saltiest of salty lookers really cranked up the passagemaking craze—really, there shouldn’t be any question on this one.
Ocean Yachts 40
1997-2005 Designed by David Martin This boat was the perfect fit for folks with an itch to go sportfishing but not a lot of money ... nice boat too, and beyond the early ’90s, its resilience vanquished the flexible flyer thing that dogged Ocean’s earlier years.
Pacific Mariner 65
1998-2008 Designed by William Garden One of the best production powerboats ever built with cutting-edge sound levels, solid engineering, a top-shelf finish, and fabulous resale value today. Took the production standardization that the company’s founders learned while working at Bayliner and turned it on its head.
Palm Beach 50
2010–Present Designed by Mark Richards Mark Richards of Palm Beach Motor Yachts was waiting in the wings for the right time to bring his Down East-inspired 50-footer into the North American market. He saw his opportunity at the Newport International Boat Show in 2010 and the boat was an instant success—a reminder that being the biggest doesn’t always mean you build the best. Richards also recognized that engine selection is an ever-changing preference, so he bucked the common practice and developed a boat that could run just as well with pods, straight shafts, or jets, without changing the basic accommodations or mission statement. His open-aft-deck design with folding bulkhead has inspired other builders to design similar treatments. Richards’s attention to detail got the attention of boatbuilder Grand Banks, which purchased Palm Beach Motor Yachts this past spring, and appointed Richards as the CEO of both companies.
Pershing 88
2000-2005 Designed by Fulvio de Simoni We wonder when Pershing founder Tilli Antonelli and his partners collaborated with Fulvio de Simoni on the first Pershing 45 in 1985, if they realized the legacy they were creating. The 88 was the culmination of all the expertise gained since that first boat and catapulted the builder into the large, performance-express yacht market, a position it has dominated ever since. The MTU 2000s and surface drives
can push the 88 up to 40 knots. And good Lord she looks stellar slicing through the water with the Pershing signature silver hull.
Pearson True North 38
2001-Present Designed by Clive Dent Everett Pearson is a boatbuilding pioneer who created the first fiberglass production sailboat, leading to a long career in composite technology. In the late ’90s, along with his son Mark, he began to think about launching a simpler powerboat, where the emphasis was on using the boat, not maintenance. The True North 38 was launched in the fall of 2001 and she became an instant classic. Clamshell doors not only allowed easy retrieval of a tender, but created a “beach” deck while on the hook. The indoor/ outdoor galley felt like a beach cottage. As often happens, the original mission became camouflaged by buyers looking for more systems, more brightwork, and more flash. Those jazzed-up models are wonderful boats, but we’ll gladly take hull number one any day.
Post 42
1974-1983 Designed by Russel Post Never a glitzy company, Post (and Russell Post) intro’d the 42 to the market in 1974 and went on to build more than 200 of them. The benchmark in midsize, classical sportfishing boats, the 42 reaffirmed that South Jersey produces some tough battlewagons. An evolution of the 42, by the way, came out in 1997.
Princess V65
2000-2004 Designed by Bernard Olesinski/Princess Yachts Our editors primarily focus on boating in the North American market. Therefore our first solid introduction to Princess Yachts was through the very success- ful partnership between Viking Yachts and Princess that began in 1995. Thanks to the vision of industry veteran Tom Carroll, two like-minded boatbuilders created a partnership that recognized the potential to market Princess models in the States. However, Carroll also knew that these boats had to be Americanized with some layout changes, and even different equipment that could easily be serviced on this side of the pond. Although now marketed under the Princess nomenclature in the Americas, Carroll and his team continue to follow the same playbook that made the venture successful. Oh, so why list the 65 and not the long list of other well-designed models? Certainly the current models have evolved beyond this 15-year-old express cruiser, but the first V65 represents one of the first 60-foot plus models with the VSC touch, and really tilled the soil for later success. Moreover, it is indeed a timeless design. She’ll still create a buzz
today, and the ride in rough seas is simply fantastic.
Ranger Tugs R-25
2007-2010 Designed by Dave and John Livingston This boat was at the forefront of the “pocket” cruiser trend that is still going full force today. Innovation and use of space led many owners to trade down from larger models. Other builders began looking at the success of Ranger Tugs and tried to duplicate. Purest form of flattery, really. Today, the builder has a full order book of models ranging from 21 to 31 feet.
Regulator 26
1990-2014 Designed by Lou Codega When Regulator founders Joan and Owen Maxwell brought the design brief for their first boat to Lou Codega in 1988, the 32-year-old naval architect hadn’t ever drawn a sportfishing boat, having mostly done projects for the U.S. Navy. “I was really taken with their desire to do something that had never been done before,” Codega says. The result speaks for itself, with 1,525 hulls built over a 24-year run. The Regulator 26 may not have been the first boat to carry many of the features she offered—the in-console head compartment, the huge in-deck stowage and fishboxes, the grillage stringer system, the Armstrong outboard bracket—but she improved on many of them, all with a custom level of fit and finish that just wasn’t seen in similarly sized boats at the time. A variety of hull colors was available—even custom colors—in gelcoat, not paint. And then there was the ride, smooth and dry even in rough conditions, thanks to a forgiving variable-deadrise running surface and robust construction. And the feel was pretty good too. It was solid as a rock with no squeaks or rattles. “Every part of the boat is structural,” Codega says. “If you can’t pick it up and walk away with it, it’s part of the boat’s structure.” The Regulator 26 combined all of these attributes in a great-looking package—after all, life’s too short to own an ugly boat.
Riviera 38 MKI
1981-n/a Designed by Bill Barry-Cotter When the Riviera 38 MKI launched in 1981 Bill BarryCotter was just starting out, with a staff of five and only building 8 boats a year. By 1983 they had three more boats in the lineup and had sent their first boat to the U.S. From there on, it was sky’s the limit for the Australian builder. After a reorganization, the builder is now privately owned and still building seriously versatile boats (see page 40).
Sabre 36 Fast Trawler
1989-1998 Designed by Sabre Yachts This wonderful little pocket cruiser was not without a few flaws when she was introduced in 1988. However the venerable sailboat builder’s first foray into the powerboat market basically gave us the term fast trawler and spawned one of the most successful lines of Down East motoryachts ever. A modifiedV hull with a deadrise aft of 14 degrees provided a smooth transition from displacement to planing speeds. Thanks to the builder’s sailboat pedigree, the 36 was also a light boat for the era with Airex coring in the bottom and vinylester resin in her laminates. A trendsetter indeed.
San Juan 38
1999-2007 Designed by Greg Marshall San Juan founder Don Campbell took a smart design brief to Greg Marshall for a Down East-style yacht that would be a product of its specific environment: in this case, the waters surrounding the Pacific Northwest archipelago where she is built, and for which the company is named. The result is a good-looking, speedy, efficient boat that can really cruise.
Sea Ray 400 Express Cruiser
1992-1999 DesignedbySeaRay DesignTeam Reader Bob Karm writes: “The boat still looks beautiful and contemporary. Our boat has twin 3116 350-horsepower turbo CAT diesels. The boat has a 13-foot beam and deep-V hull, two traits that make for a great-riding boat and top end of 30 knots. Her innovative interior has two staterooms forward with full-size berth and twin cedar lockers. The guest stateroom to starboard with full bed and upper bunk can be opened to the saloon or closed for sleeping. She has a great saloon with a settee that can sleep two and full-size fridge (everybody gets hungry on a boat), and a head with stand-up shower stall. Boat holds 300 gallons of fuel and 100 gallons of water. The 400 EC is an all-around great boat for family boating and a good fishing platform as well.”
Sea Ray 310 Sundancer
1989-Present* Designed by Sea Ray Design Team Not by any stretch the first of the Sundancer Express-type breed to hit the market, she was exceptionally popular, so popular that she’s still offered for sale by Sea Ray today, although in a somewhat altered state. Sea Ray began building boats in Michigan with an assist from Jerry Michalak, a designer in some respects driven by the automotive industry. The assembly-line approach to boat production that generated top-quality vessels like the 310 helped seriously democratize the sport of boating, not only in the United States, but all around the world. * Modifications have been made throughout the production cycle.
Sea Vee 390
2007-Present DesignedbyRobertKaidy This big center console packed in all the innovation that boaters came to expect from Sea Vee’s Ariel Pared and his group. The power choice for hull number one back in 2007? Four, that’s correct four, 300-horsepower Mercury Verados. The 390 wasn’t the first center console with quads. However the builder and designer fine-tuned the design so the hole shot was top-notch and the running angle maintained about 4 to 5 degrees. An IPS option was also introduced creating more buzz around the 390.
Sunseeker 48
1996-2004 DesignedbyDonShead Why is the Sunseeker Superhawk 48 on our list of top yachts? Maybe it’s because Halle Berry captured our attention when she climbed onto one after she dove off a cliff in Die Another Day. Maybe it’s because one of our editors still remembers flying down the East River on a 48 past Manhattan traffic at more than 50 knots, feeling like the richest person in the world. Or maybe it’s just because the only real reason to have a 48-footer with a 10-foot, 8-inch beam and three 415-horsepower Mercruisers is to have fun. Isn’t that what this whole boating endeavor is all about? Sunseeker seems to think so.
Tiara 3100 Open
1979-2006 Designed by Leon Slikkers and Ed Wennersten After her introduction in 1979, the Tiara 3100 Open sold like gangbusters (800 units in a decade) and, with some fairly significant design changes in 1992, continues to sell quite nicely to this very day. Why? The first Tiara ever was (as subsequent versions continue to be) a very high-end, handcrafted product, backed by a conservative design ethos that abjures the annual automotive-style design changeups so popular with some other
brands. With that said, Tiara sells a 3100 Open today but it is considerably changed from the original. “You really can’t say it’s the same boat,” says designer and company founder Leon Slickers. Reader Bill Walker adds, “I have used [my 1997] regularly for offshore fishing, extended cruises with our yacht club (seven times to the Bahamas) and weekly boating activities. I repowered her four years ago with 370-horsepower Cummins, replacing the 330s. She does 38 mph at WOT. Super efficient, she burns 9 gph at 2000 rpm while running at 23 mph.”
Tiara Sovran 4300
2006-2010 Designed by Tiara Yachts Design Team The Tiara 4300 is the boat that started it all, by which we mean the pod-propulsion craze that has changed boating forever. The first recreational watercraft to bring a Volvo Penta IPS pod-drive system to a major boat show, the 4300 was soon followed by numerous other models with either IPS or Cummins Zeus pods, from Tiara as well as numerous other builders. When joystick technology was finally added to the mélange, the pod revolution truly shifted into high gear.
Tollycraft 61
1983-1993 Designed by Ed Monk Jr. We miss Tollycraft. These conservative and well-built boats still have a loyal following in the Pacific Northwest even though the company officially closed down in 1997. The 61’s low profile and full-beam master stateroom influenced other raised-pilothouse designs
that followed. The Ed Monk Jr.-designed hull, featuring fine foresections combined with flat aft sections, and slightly round bilges, is easily powered and capable of planing speeds. The boat had a variety of engine options throughout the production run, although the Detroit Diesel 8V-92s were a tough package to beat. The 65 that followed in 1993 addressed feedback about the smallish cockpit.
Viking 41
1983-1989 Designed by Viking “I remember stepping onboard a 1986 41-foot Viking and firing up her twin Detroit 6-71 Diesels. It was drop-dead love! I was buying that boat no matter what the surveyor may have found. The icing on the cake was the dual trumpet air horn. Oh, how we miss that boat. She was good to us for many years and many, many memorable trips. Thankfully, we have our logbooks, which my wife kept for all of our travels.” — Reader Ray Mazzone
Viking 66 Convertible
2011-Present Designed by Bruce and David Wilson In recent years Viking has gained undeniable leverage in the semi-production sportfish market, thanks in no small part to the high quality of its builds like the early 55 mentioned above. And the 66 is perhaps the best of the bunch. She was the first fully infused Viking, and had an entirely new hull— one that reflected Viking’s de- sire to reduce deadrise aft to increase lift, efficiency, and speed. It worked. The 66 does 42 knots all out with twin 2,000-horsepower MTU 16V2000 M91s. That kind of speed, coupled with an aggressively raked forefoot and deckhouse, make this the kind of boat you can’t help but remember.
Wally 118
2002 DesignedbyIntermarineSpA/ WallyYachts/LazzariniPickering From the styling standpoint, still very influential these days. In fact, you see its influence even in present-day commercial vessels.
Wellcraft Scarab 22
1994-1998 Designed by Larry Smith Okay. So you are most likely not going to believe this. But one of our editors, many years ago, had the pure unadulterated adrenaline-rushy pleasure of operating a Wellcraft 22 Scarab at well over 70 mph in 6- to 8-foot seas on Sarasota Bay. Most Scarab models had reputations for being speedy at that time, but the 22 was, in this particular editor’s mind, the mind-blowingest performance boat he’d ever run, bar none. And he was basing that conclusion on previous driving experiences in Fountains, Skaters, Formulas, Cigarettes, Apaches, Donzis, Super Hawaii’s, Hallets, Hustlers, Sonics, and any number of other performance boats he’d had the opportunity to sea trial.