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CELEBRATING THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR BOATS FORMULA 457 CC SPORT457 CCGRADY-WHITE FREEDOM 415 HONDA, SCOUT’S NEW BOAT BRAND KEY WEST’S FISHING PARADISE GARMIN’S HIGH-TECH TROLLING MOTOR volume 5 number 1 | 2024$5.99 www.centerconsolelifemag.com TM INTREPID’S KEN CLINTON SPEAKS HOT PRODUCTS from Miami Show Fishing Mexico’s Big Game BOAT BUYERS GUIDE 2024 New Center Consoles 6 FOUNTAIN 43’ SCX CCL Cover 5-1.indd 1CCL Cover 5-1.indd 12024-05-16 4:50 PM2024-05-16 4:50 PMEXPERIENCE ELEVATED OUTBOARD POWER LIVE WIDE OPEN MERCURYRACING.COM/500R C M Y CM MY CY CMY K 2023-MR-Canada-Ad.pdf 1 8/21/23 10:41 AMMercury R.indd 1Mercury R.indd 12024-05-16 3:05 PM2024-05-16 3:05 PMTHE ALL-NEW 457 CENTER CONSOLE – Make it Your Destiny! 2200 West Monroe St. • PO Box 1003 Decatur, IN 46733 • 800.736.7685 www.formulaboats.com THE FORMULA 457 CENTER CONSOLE WILL BE YOUR OFFSHORE AD VENTURE DES TINATION! Announced at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show and debuting at the Miami International Boat Show, the 457 Center Console Fish and Sport models will push the boundaries of design, engineering and construction in the offshore center console world, celebrating the finish and amenities of Formula’s renewed entry into the CC market. The center console world – media, builders, and consumers alike – were stunned and impressed by Formula’s recent introduction of the 387 Center Console Fish and Sport models, executing the ultimate in performance, ergonomics and amenities in the center console market. At 45’7” with a 13’9” beam, and powered by triple Mercury 600 Verados, the Formula 457 will impress all comers. Built to your preference, from hard-core fish to upscale sport cruising, or a little of both, the 457 will match your boating style. Opt for foldaway aft seating and pressurized bait- wells for a fishing battlewagon or a sculpted aft lounge and spacious swim platform for sporting adventures – we will build a boat to suit your wants and needs. You will love the tri- ple 22” monitor dash and air-conditioned three-position helm. You can add AC to the second row and aft-facing seating for total crew comfort. Choose the bait station/wetbar or the entertainment-ready cockpit galley to your needs. And all will enjoy the highly styled bow seating with elevated sun lounge and wraparound seating with power-adjust table. Below, the cabin brings you 6’6” of headroom with a full aircraft galley with microwave, fridge, sink and abundant counter and cabinet space, as well as U-lounge seating with a table for dining or entertaining, convertible to a two-person berth. A well-appointed, spacious head features a separate, stand-up shower. Learn more about this elite game-changer at formulaboats.com, then make plans to climb aboard the first 457 in Miami. You will love what you see – we can’t wait to impress you. 457CCbothPokerRuns.MY24.indd 1457CCbothPokerRuns.MY24.indd 12023-12-14 12:03 PM2023-12-14 12:03 PM4 Center Console Life | Volume 5 Number 1 BILL TAYLOR Walking around the Miami International Boat Show, it was refreshing to see boatbuilders marketing to a segment long overlooked—consumers new to boating. It’s a safe bet this segment isn’t going to start out with a 65-foot HCB Estrella as their first center console boat, but they will start somewhere. That’s why the new Honda Seabrook Series Boats brand partnership between Honda Marine and Scout Boats couldn’t be better timed. Anyone new to boating knows the Honda brand, its reputation for quality, and probably has a Honda car parked in their garage. Scout Boats builds a solid boat, whether it’s a 17-foot bay boat or its 67-foot super yacht. The brand partnership is starting with the 19.5’ Seabrook Center Console and 19.5’ Seabrook Dual Console models, both will be powered by a single Honda Marine BF150 iST outboard. The boats can be purchased online or through select Honda Marine dealers, a process anyone who has bought a new car is familiar with. Honda did its research and determined the 19-foot segment is a sweet spot for boat shoppers, both new and existing. “It’s that simple experience that we’re trying to deliver when it comes to everything from buying to actually using it,” said Steve Drenkard, assistant marketing manager at Honda Marine. “We want that perfect boat for that customer.” With a starting price just shy of $73,000, the Seabrook Center Console isn’t an entry-level boat, but the brand will certainly appeal to first-time boat owners. It also will appeal to families looking to switch out of a tow boat or anyone who needs a great lake or inshore boat. “It’s a premium boatbuilder and it’s got premium components like the Honda BF150,” Drenkard said. What has Drenkard most excited about the boat line is the recent performance report he received for the 2024 Seabrook 195DF. With the 150-hp outboard running a comfortable 4,000 rpm, the V-bottom cruised at 26.7 mph at 6 mpg with a range of 232 miles. Top speed was 44.7 mph at 6,000 rpm. Probably more appealing to buyers is that Honda backs its outboards with a five-year, non-declining warranty and owners can buy an additional three years of the same non-declining coverage. The warranty is transferable. With a Honda-backed warranty and the Japanese company’s stellar reputation for quality, it gives people on the fence about owning a boat the extra confidence to walk into those select Honda Marine dealerships. “So often, people who are first-time buyers, buy their first boat, have a bad experience, and leave the market, Drenkard said. “That’s not going to be the case with this boat. You’re going to buy it and probably never sell it.” It’s not your imagination that Honda is getting more involved in the recreational marine industry in the last year. On top of the partnership, Honda last year announced the new V8 BF350 outboard, a 350-hp outboard that puts the company back in the big leagues with the other outboard manufacturers. Drenkard said Honda isn’t done yet, a point the company made during a business briefing at the 2024 Miami International Boat Show. The team announced plans to bring out six new platforms during the next six years with the marine market as a focus. Having a major name like Honda reengaging with the recreational market is good for consumers and a sign the marine industry continues to mature. Considering Honda’s global reach, its renewed commitment to recreational boating is like a NMMA Discover Boating campaign on steroids. “It raises the bar in the industry,” Drenkard said. “Competition, especially with quality products, is a good thing.” Bill Taylor, Publisher Honda, Scout Partnership Signals New Era © 2023 CENTER CONSOLE LIFE POSTMASTER Send all returns to Center Console Life 777 East Park Drive, Tonawanda, NY 14150 Center Console Life is published four times a year. Material in this magazine may not be reproduced in any form without permission. Editorial contributions must be accompanied by return postage and will be handled with reasonable care. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return or safety of artwork, photographs, or manuscripts. Center Console Life reserves the right to refuse any and all advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statement of facts made by its advertisers or independent columnists. LIFE Center Console Volume 5 Number 1 Co-Publishers William E. Taylor btaylor@taylorpublishinggoup.com Editor Gregg Mansfield greggmansfield@gmail.com Art/Production Manager Giselle Bansal gbansal@taylorpublishinggroup.com Design Tamara Taylor tmtaylor@taylorpublishinggroup.com Contributing Writers Gordon McBride Gregg Mansfield Chris Kourtakis Walt Jennings Zenon Bilas Tim Banse Jarrett Matthews Contributing Photographers Randy Nuzzo Jeff Gerardi Duane Adams ADVERTISING SALES Todd Taylor ttaylor@taylorpublishinggroup.com Kevin Peterson k7peterson@msn.com Jimmy Lorimer jlorimer@aol.com ADMINISTRATION President /CEO William E. Taylor Group Publisher Melanie Taylor-Wallis VP/Marketing Sales Todd Taylor VP/Special Projects Norm Rosen Accounting Nancy Mueller EXECUTIVE AND EDITORIAL OFFICES New York: 777 East Park Drive, Tonawanda, NY 14150 Tel: 1-800-354-9145 Florida: 131 Brandiwood Court, Debary, FL, 32713 Tel: 407-402-0300 Toll Free: 1-800-354-9145 Toronto: 268-44 Crawford Crescent, Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Tel: 905-844-8218 Subscription Inquiries Call: 1-800-354-9145 ext 4 www.centerconsolelifemag.com Partnership could bring a huge influx of new boaters into the sport. pub page new.indd 4pub page new.indd 42024-05-16 3:08 PM2024-05-16 3:08 PMOne if by Land . . . Two if by Sea With Mastry Suzuki RePower, It’s Your Choice Join The Revolution Whether considering repowering your trailer boat or your offshore beast, there is a Mastry Suzuki RePower Center that can serve your repower dreams. Mastry Suzuki RePower centers are the best in the business and have the experience, technical know-how and boating passion to make your repower project a remarkable success. With total boat systems capabilities your local Mastry Suzuki RePower Center can address all your upgrade aspirations. Essentially transforming your boat into a totally new boat at one single location. With 15 Locations Across the Southeast There is a Mastry Suzuki RePower Center Near You. REPOWER When you purchase a new Suzuki outboard from an authorized Mastry RePower Center you qualify to become a member of the Mastry Suzuki Owner’s Edge. Owners receive an identifi cation card that provides them with important information about their Suzuki outboard motor as well as a passport to additional benefi ts during ownership. Members enjoy a detailed engine maintenance schedule, Mastry Suzuki RePower Trade Program and special pricing from Mastry Suzuki Partners. REPOWER THE ALTERNATIVE TO BUYING A NEW BOAT suzukirepower.com | 1-800-545-4574 *Get with the Program! One if by Land for CCL 240222.indd 1One if by Land for CCL 240222.indd 12/22/24 6:25 PM2/22/24 6:25 PM6 Center Console Life | Volume 5 Number 1 www.centerconsolelifemag.com t was the post-war 1950s and boating was exploding across the United States. Literally. The U.S. Coast Guard was seeing a rash of sinkings and explosions and basically gave the fledgling boating indus- try an ultimatum: Improve safety or we’re going to take action. Seventy years ago, the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) was born and boating is better for it. The nonprofit organization develops safety standards for the design, construc- tion, maintenance, and repair of boats. If you’ve attended a boat show in the last decade, chances are you’ve seen their logo on a windshield or a sales brochure. While it might seem like a random sticker on a boat, the ABYC logo assures the construction meets rigorous standards set by the group. It’s no guarantee a boat will be problem-free, but it’s far better than the lack of standards when the ABYC was launched 70 years ago. “Few, if any, standards existed when they formed the ABYC,” said John Adney, president of ABYC. “There was little knowl- edge base, and every builder was doing their own thing.” Rather than the federal government set- ting standards, a group of marine industry leaders came together and formed the ABYC in New York on February 1, 1954. Phelps Ingersoll, who owned a Connecticut marine hardware manufacturing company, was elected the ABYC’s first president. Historic photos from the era show a bunch of men dressed in suits around a con- ference table with ashtrays on the table and a chalkboard in the background. It looked like a scene out of the TV show “Mad Men,” but this group’s contributions have likely saved numerous lives over the decades. The ABYC has set safety standards for everything from electrical to steering systems with the goal of making boating safer. According to the ABYC, the group has set over 80 standards that are used by U.S. boatbuilders today. It’s also a resource for builders to make sure they are meeting regional and regulatory standards. Each year the ABYC hosts Standards Week, which convenes boatbuilders, marine surveyors, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other groups. Looking at new technologies and insurance claims, the ABYC Technical Committees may propose new standards or update existing ones. Over the years, the Maryland-based organization’s mission has evolved. While it’s great to have standards, it’s another thing for boatbuilders and marine acces- sory manufacturers to consistently meet it. That’s one of the reasons why the ABYC launched a certification program in the early 1990s, offering certifications for die- sel engines, electrical, marine systems and more. The program has produced more than 4,500 certified technicians and by earning three or more certificates qualifies for a master technician credential. For employ- ers, it shows that a technician meets certain standards, while consumers have greater confidence when taking their boat in for service. Adney said that more than 90 percent of the boats currently on the water are built using the American Boat & Yacht Council standards. Boatbuilders who follow the ABYC standards generally have lower liability issues. Absent legal regulations, courts generally accept ABYC guidelines as the industry standard, Adney said. It’s hard to imagine when the first ABYC group held its first meeting in 1959, they would predict a future that included autonomous boats, lithium-ion batter- ies and gyro stabilizers on recreational boats. Yet the group laid the groundwork for today’s marine industry, which was estimated at $59.3 billion in 2022, accord- ing to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. While you may still hear about a boat exploding or sinking, it’s incredibly rare, especially when there are an estimated 17 million recreational boats in the U.S. For comparison, there were only 450,000 pow- erboats in the U.S. when the Coast Guard was threatening federal regulations. The next time you go boating and spot a warning sticker, take a moment to think of the visionaries who brought safety stan- dards to the recreational boating industry. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude for making us safer on the water. Gregg Mansfield Editor American Boat & Yacht Council celebrates 70 years of safer boating. I EDI T OR ’S P A GE GREGG MANSFIELD Safety Celebrates a Major Milestone pub page new.indd 6pub page new.indd 62024-05-16 3:08 PM2024-05-16 3:08 PMFountain .indd 1Fountain .indd 12024-05-17 3:45 PM2024-05-17 3:45 PM8 Center Console Life | Volume 5 Number 1 Contents COLUMNS: 6 EDITOR’S PAGE 10 IN THE NEWS 60 RESTAURANTS BY WATER FEATURES: 16 NEW MARINE TECHNOLOGIES Check out these six new products from the Miami Boat Show. 22 RELEASE THE KRAKEN Garmin’s trolling motor is a game-changer for anglers. 24 FORUMLA 457 CC The new 457 Center Console is the big brother to the 387 Center Console. 28 GRADY-WHITE 415 CC The dual console is the largest outboard- powered dual console on the market. 31 2024 BOAT BUYERS GUIDE Find your next center console from this crop of new models. 31 16 10 40 FISHING NIRVANA A trip to Florida’s Key West is an angler’s dream. 46 FOUNTAIN 39DX The 39DX is the first dual console model for Fountain Powerboats. 50 TIME OUT WITH KEN CLINTON Intrepid Powerboats president talks the state of the marine industry. 54 TUNA STRIKE IN BAHA Often overlooked, below the border offers great deep-sea fishing. BOAT BUYERS GUIDE 2024 @centerconsolelifemag @cclifemag www.centerconsolelifemag.com FOLLOW CENTER CONSOLE LIFE: contents new.indd 8contents new.indd 82024-05-16 3:09 PM2024-05-16 3:09 PMNext >