Solace Boats is a relative newcomer—with four decades of roots to the earliest days of its specialty, the center-console boat.
Former Boston Whaler designer and then owner Bob Dougherty and his son Stephen launched EdgeWater Boats and Everglades Boats. Stephen and his wife, Sarah, began component manufacturer Dougherty Manufacturing before launching Solace, which debuted its first boat in 2019.
Solace builds its boats and many of their components—and all plugs and tooling—on a 200,000-square-foot campus on 16 acres in Edgewater, Florida.
Solace 41CS
The new Solace 41CS’ twin-stepped hull is primed for three—or even four—Yamaha or Mercury outboards, hitting speeds into the high 60s ahead of triples and well into the 70s with quads.
Handling is deft, thanks to reversed, dynamic tracking chines and hydrodynamic release; lightweight strength and rigidity come courtesy of vacuum-infusion with carbon fiber, Innegra and epoxy.
Cushion-topped Frigid Rigid fiberglass coolers provide seating for four in the bow; a lounger at console front adds three more.
Triple helm seats ride on shock-absorbing pedestals. An electrically actuated platform rises 5 inches to increase visibility.
A 16,000 Btu air conditioner serves the helm and well-equipped console cabin. A Quick gyrostabilizer is standard; optional is a Seakeeper 3.
Aft of the helm seats, mezzanine seating contains a tackle center/rigging station that doubles as a summer kitchen.
In the port and starboard decks, there are 70-gallon fish boxes. Twin 50-gallon livewells are in transom corners, and there are generous additional fish- and gear-storage spaces. Optional, elevated rear seating adds six rod holders to the 29 on the gunwale and transom, plus two on swivels and more on rocket launchers, 30-amp downrigger/kite/deep-drop outlets, and outriggers.
Manufacturer’s Remark
Today you must design boats like Swiss Army knives. A useful tool capable of doing it all.
Performance Data
- Test Power: Triple Yamaha 425 XTO
- Test Props: Yamaha 16 3/8” x 21” XTO Offshore 3 blades
- Test Load: 20,000 plus 525 gal. fuel, 60 gal. water, five adults
- Test Speed: 67 mph @ 6,000 rpm
- Max Range: 390 mi. @ 38 mph, 4,000 rpm
Specs
| LOA: | 41′ |
|---|---|
| Beam: | 12’3″ |
| Fuel Capacity: | 525 gal. |
| Dry Weight: | 20,000 lb. with power |
| Max HP: | 1,800 |
Editor Says
Purpose, performance, comfort and elegance are expertly merged on every Solace model, and the 41CS is a glaring example. On this tournament-caliber ride, the builder’s design team managed to incorporate just about everything a serious offshore angler could want. – Alex Suescun, Executive Editor, Salt Water Sportsman
