As we move into a new decade of boatbuilding, the road ahead looks bright indeed. Thanks to new composite materials and advanced construction techniques, hulls are lighter and stronger than ever, although traditional fiberglass and wood remain popular choices as well. The segment from 70 to 90-plus feet has solidified their place in line, and outboard power is coming into its own, with several models designed specifically to take advantage of the new high-horsepower-engine choices now available.
Michael Rybovich & Sons 94
With its largest build to date underway, Palm Beach, Florida’s Michael Rybovich & Sons is nearing completion on an exquisite new 94-footer. The exterior conceals a superyacht-quality interior highlighting a five-stateroom, seven-head layout. And with 5,200 horses lurking in the engine room thanks to a pair of MTU 16V2000 M96L engines, performance should be just as great as the aesthetics. A sophisticated equipment list includes a Seakeeper 35 gyrostabilizer, Furuno omnidirectional sonar, a pair of 2,000-gallon-per-day watermakers, a 4,400-gallon fuel capacity and seamless transfer A-Sea transformers. Launch is planned for late fall 2020 and delivery in early 2021.
- LOA: 94′
- Beam: 22′
- Draft: 5′
- Displ.: 165,000 lb.
- Fuel: 4,400 gal.
- Water: 600 gal.
- Power: Twin 2,600 hp MTU 16V2000 M96L
Merritt 77
Merritt’s Boat & Engine Works in Pompano Beach, Florida, is well underway on Hull No. 108, its second 77-foot sport-fisher. Using Merritt’s advanced composite-construction techniques, combined with the popular MTU 16V2000 M96L engines rated at 2,600 hp each, performance will be outstanding, with a projected top speed of 43 knots. The boat’s elegant teak interior will feature a four-stateroom, five-head layout, including a cockpit-accessible day head. Standard features include a Seakeeper 30HD gyrostabilizer, twin 32 kW Kohler generators, and Atlas electrical system, along with MRA’s wake-adapted struts and rudders for added speed and unmatched smoothness while underway.
- LOA: 77′
- Beam: 21′2″
- Draft: 5′6″
- Displacement: 125,000 lb.
- Fuel: 2,850 gal.
- Water: 400 gal.
- Power: Twin 2,600 HP MTU 16V2000 M96L
ACY 68
Construction is underway on the 68-foot hardtop express Cambeaux at American Custom Yachts. This vessel marks the first express boat for the Stuart, Florida, boatbuilder. ACY tailored the boat’s design around the client’s specific fishing needs. Notably, Cambeaux will be the first ACY with hull pockets in order to meet the customer’s shallow draft requirements. Other key features include a 78-gallon transom livewell and three steering stations. Interior accommodations consist of three staterooms with two full heads. Powered by a pair of Caterpillar C32 ACERT engines with ZF transmissions, performance is sure to be impressive. A Bausch-American tower completes the build.
- LOA: 68.3′
- Beam: 19.3′
- Draft: 5′
- Displ: 103,000 lb. Fuel: 2,314 gal.
- Water: 243 gal.
- Power: Twin 1,925 hp Cat C32 ACERT T3
Garlington 71
The next boat emerging from Garlington Landeweer Yachts in Stuart, Florida, will be a new 71-footer. The design will feature a genuine teak interior with a luxurious four-stateroom, three-head layout, including crew quarters. Notable features include spare propeller storage beneath the master stateroom bed, a U-shaped lounge to port for entertaining, and electrically actuated sister doors at the salon entrance. The cockpit layout incorporates tuna tubes, an in-deck baitwell and refrigerated fish boxes in the sole; a full tuna tower adds functionality and enhances the boat’s profile. Power is provided by a pair of MAN engines rated at 1,900 hp each, which will yield a 34-knot cruising speed and a top end of 40 knots.
- LOA: 71′
- Beam: 19′ 9″
- Draft: 5′ 5″
- Displ.: 94,000 lb.
- Fuel: 2,500 gal.
- Water: 300 gal.
- Power: Twin 1,900 hp MAN
Bayliss 75
In spring 2020, construction began on Bayliss Boatworks’ newest 75-footer, which will join the owner’s already impressive fishing program as its second Bayliss. This vessel features numerous advances that are now standard on all Bayliss builds, such as a chilled-water air-conditioning system as well as custom refrigeration, livewell and tuna tube configurations. The interior layout will consist of four staterooms, three and a half heads, a spacious tackle room, walk-in pantry and day head. The 75 will be stabilized by a Seakeeper 9 forward and a Seakeeper 18 aft, and will also be equipped with a Furuno omnidirectional sonar, among a host of other electronics.
- LOA: 75′
- Beam: 20′9″
- Draft: 6′5″
- Displ: 150,000 lb.
- Fuel: 2,500 gal.
- Water: 400 gal.
- Power: Twin 2,600hp MTU 16V2000
Jarrett Bay 67
Hull No. 66, the 67-foot Sea Wish, from North Carolina’s Jarrett Bay Boatworks, is being built for serious offshore time. Combining her twin Caterpillar C32A powerhouses—each rated at 1,925 hp—with a 2,000-gallon fuel capacity and multiple carbon-fiber components will keep the power-to-weight ratio high, giving the boat a cruising range of over 700 nautical miles. The interior layout consists of a center island galley as well as four staterooms and three heads, with satin and high-gloss teak finishes throughout. Other notable features include Cat Three60 precision engine controls, SeaStar Optimus electronic power steering, Humphree trim-tab system and underwater exhaust.
- LOA: 67′6″
- Beam: 19′6″
- Draft: 5′4″
- Displ: 80,000 lb.
- Fuel: 2,000 gal.
- Water: 200 gal.
- Power: Twin 1,925 hp Cat C32 ACERT
Jim Smith 85
The latest build underway for Jim Smith Tournament Boats in Stuart, Florida, is the new Gina Lisa, the second Jim Smith for this owner and a replacement for their current boat, a 75-footer that was built in 2003. With a five-stateroom, five-head layout, the 85 is designed for serious tournament fishing and prolonged cruising; it will also sport an extended mezzanine deck, among other custom features. The Donald L. Blount and Associates-designed cold-molded hull is constructed of mahogany, while composite materials are used extensively elsewhere throughout the build. The teak interior will feature an elegant satin finish, and the twin 16-cylinder MTU engines provide a cruising speed in the mid-30-knot range.
- LOA: 82′0″
- Beam: 21′9″
- Draft: 5′10″
- Displ.: 125,000 lb.
- Fuel: 3,200 gal.
- Water: 500 gal.
- Power: Twin 2,600 hp MTU 16V M96L
Scarborough 63
Functional beauty: The third boat for an existing customer, the newest 63-footer from Scarborough Boatworks in Wanchese, North Carolina, is perhaps its most refined build yet. With a spacious three-stateroom, two-head layout plus tackle room, the boat is designed to fish hard, and will spend much of her time on the marlin grounds along the East Coast and throughout the islands of the Bahamas. Powered by twin 1,550 hp MAN engines, performance is expected to be excellent, while providing an outstanding ride in nearly any sea condition. The storied Carolina boatbuilder celebrates its 44th anniversary in 2021.
- LOA: 63′6″
- Beam: 17′
- Draft: 5′
- Displ: 75,000 lb.
- Fuel: 1,800 gal.
- Water: 250 gal.
- Power: Twin 1,550 hp MAN
Ritchie Howell 61
With a reputation for being light, fast and dry, the newest from Ritchie Howell will be another head-turner. With a spacious three-stateroom, two-head layout with a tackle room as well as a full teak cockpit, she will be set up to go the distance. As with all Howell boats, the hull is cold-molded, while the remaining construction uses composite materials, including all interior decks. Notable features of the new 61 include a full tower by Palm Beach Towers, seamless side glass, Alexseal metallic hull finish, a pair of 21 kW Phasor generators, air-conditioned mezzanine, Furuno commercial sonar, Seakeeper gyro and much more. A pair of 1,900 hp MAN engines will ensure she provides excellent performance.
- LOA: 61′
- Beam: 18′
- Draft: 5′
- Displ: 89,000 lb.
- Fuel: 1,800 gal.
- Water: 275 gal.
- Power: Twin 1,900 hp MAN
Titan 63
Titan Custom Yachts of Ocean City, Maryland, has commenced construction of its latest, a 63-foot custom Carolina/Florida-style sport-fisher. The sleek exterior design and spacious cockpit leads into a luxurious salon with island galley and three-stateroom layout. Cutting-edge features include a Seakeeper 20HD gyrostabilizer, 360-degree scanning sonar, and Side-Power positioning system with joystick. A pair of 45-gallon livewells will be in the cockpit deck, with another 35-gallon well in the transom. Titan predicts a top speed of more than 45 knots with her twin 1,900 hp MAN engines, thanks in part to the hull’s modified tunnels, state-of-the-art struts and custom, high-speed rudders.
- LOA: 63′8″
- Beam: 18′6″
- Draft: 5′
- Displ: 87,000 lb.
- Fuel: 2,200 gal.
- Water: 250 gal.
- Power: Twin 1,900 hp MAN
Spencer 72
Designed around the new CAT C32B engines rated at 2,400 hp each, the newest 72 from Spencer Yachts in Wanchese, North Carolina, will offer outstanding performance, with an anticipated 38-knot cruise and 45-knot top end. The layout will consist of a stunning walnut interior with L-shaped seating to port, an island bar in the galley, five staterooms and three and a half heads, including the salon day head. Rather than opting for a full tower, the owner—a current Spencer owner and active tournament fisherman—requested a hardtop instead, further adding to the boat’s sleek profile.
- LOA: 72′
- Beam: 19′6″
- Draft: 5′3″
- Displ: 100,000 lb.
- Fuel: 3,000 gal.
- Water: 400 gal.
- Power: Twin
- 2,400 hp Cat C32B
Yellowfin 54
The flagship of the Yellowfin fleet will be the company’s new 54-foot center-console, equipped with a spacious cabin, a queen berth, fully equipped kitchenette, wraparound seating, and head. True to the brand’s DNA, hardcore fishing features abound, including 150 gallons of livewell capacity that can be configured as one massive well or split into two 75-gallon units. There is also a large fish box in the cockpit sole with over 800 quarts of capacity. The new boat is available in either quad or quint outboard configurations and will offer exemplary performance with its stepped-hull design and high-quality construction.
- LOA: 54′
- Beam:15′
- Displ: 27,000 lb.
- Fuel: 900 gal.
- Water: 90 gal.
Contender 44 Canyon
The new 44-footer from Contender Boats combines the fishability of its popular 44ST model with additional room to escape the elements belowdecks, thanks to a console berth and head. As with all Contenders, the 44CB hulls are hand-laid fiberglass and excel in speed, performance and reliability. With triple- or quad-engine configurations, a maximum horsepower rating of 2,000 hp, and a fuel capacity of 600 gallons, speed and range are not an issue. And since each boat is built by hand in Homestead, Florida, there is a wide array of options to customize each boat for its individual owner’s needs and personality.
- LOA: 43′10″
- Beam: 12′
- Displ: 19,600 lb.
- Fuel: 600 gal.
- Water: 70 gal.
Gamefisherman 45
Debuting in summer 2021 will be the 450 Gamefisherman Walkaround—the first Gamefisherman built in its New Jersey plant. This model follows an industry trend toward larger outboard-powered custom boats, and will feature an integral bracket and Euro-style transom. The design, based on the acclaimed Gamefisherman 46, will have a 140-square-foot cockpit and center-helm bridge deck with ample seating. Below, accommodations include a forward V-berth and side-by-side 7-foot berths amidships, along with a full galley and a head with separate shower. With triple-outboard power, the 450 Walkaround will cruise in the mid-30-knot range, topping out at 45 knots.
- LOA: 44′10″
- Beam: 15′10″
- Displ: 29,500 lb.
- Fuel: 600 gal.
- Water: 90 gal.
Valhalla 46
The largest of the Valhalla Boatworks center-consoles, the V-46 will certainly set standards for performance, fishability and engineering in her class. As with previous Valhalla designs, the V-46 uses a Michael Peters Yacht Design double-stepped hull. The added length and 13-foot-4-inch beam allow for an air-conditioned cabin with more than 6 feet of headroom, which is accessed through a console door on the port side. Another notable feature is a dedicated machinery room. This space houses an 8 kW diesel generator, as well as batteries, distribution panel and charger, and hot-water heater, with access to the helm electronics. The boat is designed for quad outboards, with a maximum rating of 1,800 hp.
- LOA: 46′7″
- Beam: 13′4″
- Displ: 29,731 lb.
- Fuel: 694 gal.
- Water: 70 gal.
SeaVee 450Z
The latest from SeaVee Boats, the 450Z features an innovative stepped-hull design to significantly enhance efficiency and handling. It is built using a state-of-the-art manufacturing process where the hull, liner, deck, console with integrated windshield frame, and aft support ladders are fabricated using vacuum-assisted resin-transfer infusion, which produces a practically indestructible boat. Live-bait fishermen will appreciate the multiple livewells and ingenious livewell-pump system using a sea chest and dual water pickups to keep bait in premium condition. A dedicated transducer pad allows for flush mounting large transducers that are capable of marking bottom in deep water while underway.
- LOA: 45′
- Beam: 12′6″
- Displ: 16,000 lb.
- Fuel: 750 gal.
- Water: 100 gal.
Maverick 39 Express
Maverick Yachts Costa Rica is currently building a beautiful 39-foot express model, which will be powered with triple Yamaha 300 hp outboards. Cold-molded in the classic Maverick tradition, she is a fully equipped fishing machine, hand-built using the finest materials, including West System epoxy throughout. Based on the already popular 39-foot walkaround hull, the new express will have extra space in the interior and bridge deck, as well as additional sleeping room below in air-conditioned comfort thanks to a diesel generator. Performance is expected to be outstanding, with a 35-knot cruise and a top end of 50 knots. A host of custom options are also available from the builder.
- LOA: 39′
- Beam: 12′9″
- Displ: 19,000 lb.
- Fuel: 500 gal.
- Water: 40 gal.
Bertram 39
When this iconic brand announced its decision to build a line of center-consoles, starting with a 39-footer, many in the industry took note of the bold decision. The latest from Bertram Yachts in Tampa, Florida, will feature four-across helm seating plus a 500-gallon fuel capacity, twin 40-gallon livewells (with a 60-gallon upgrade option) and an optional Seakeeper 3, in addition to a number of other fishing-friendly features. Although not designed to be the fastest boat in her class, with the triple 300 hp engine configuration, top speed is expected to approach the low 50 mph range—upgrading to 450 hp engines would boost that speed to 60-plus mph, while still providing that legendary Bertram ride.
- LOA: 40′4″
- Beam: 13′2″
- Displ: 17,300 lb.
- Fuel: 500 gal.
- Water: 60 gal.
Weaver 41
Spend the night aboard comfortably in the cabin below deck on the new 41-footer, the first outboard-powered design from Weaver Boatworks in Maryland. With a full stand-up shower in the head, as well as a full galley, the boat is also equipped with 24-inch Sub-Zero drawer-style refrigeration, sink and microwave. The cold-molded hull is powered by triple Suzuki duoprop 350 hp outboard engines with SeaStar Optimus electronic steering, joystick control and 8-inch Vetus bow thruster for excellent maneuverability. A Seakeeper 5 gyrostabilizer helps keep things steady, whether at sea or on the hook.
- LOA: 43′
- Beam: 11′6″
- Displ: 19,000 lb.
- Fuel: 400 gal.
- Water: 52 gal.
