The Jupiter 38 HFS (LOA: 38′ 2″, Beam: 10′ 7″) is a versatile center console that is fully customizable. The boat’s hull design provides a smooth, dry ride in challenging sea conditions. With three motor options—dual Yamaha F350s, triple Yamaha F300s and triple Yamaha F350s—customers may equip their Jupiter with the power desired.
Exhilarating tournament performance comes easily with a top speed of 69 mph with triple 350s, and the 38 HFS can comfortably cruise at 35.9 mph with a fuel burn of 1.31 mpg with the triple 300s. The Jupiter 38 HFS is a proven tournament winner that features premium angling necessities, including hybrid forward seating, two 104-gallon fi sh boxes, a bait prep center with a 53-gallon stand-up livewell, six rod-holders, four rod rack sets, multiple storage compartments, and a customizable T-top tower package. This 38 HFS was designed to not only accommodate the serious angler but also provide room, comfort, and amenities for family cruising or day boating.
The Sea Force IX 41.5 Sport CC (LOA: 41′ 5″, Beam: 12′) is the first in a new line of 41.5- to 56.5-foot boats from the Palmetto, Florida-based builder. The launch date for hull No. 1 is mid-summer 2017. When equipped with 1,200 maximum horsepower, the boat is expected to run at a top speed of approximately 60 mph and cruise at 40 mph, with an estimated 400-plus-mile range using the 500-gallon fuel tank.
The Sea Force IX 41.5 Sport CC also carries 60 gallons of fresh water, has a 15-gallon holding tank and carries 30 gallons of diesel for the optional generator. The boat is loaded with standard features like dual-transom side-entry boarding doors, electric head, AGM batteries, LED lighting throughout, microwave, AC/DC refrigerator, air conditioning in the console cabin as well as plumbed to the helm, three-wide helm seating with flip-up bolsters and armrests, and full powder-coated aluminum pipework. All construction will be 100 percent composite utilizing high-quality vinylester resins, epoxy, high-density PVC core, and the most advanced multi-directional knitted fiberglass available.
The new Midnight Express 34 Sportfish Tender (34′ LOA, 11′ beam) is designed for fuel efficiency, onboard comfort and high performance. Her 11-foot beam provides stability and a large amount of space without compromising efficiency and speed. The boat’s hull and deck are fully infused and cored to reduce weight while improving strength, which results in higher cruising fuel economy.
The 34′ Sportfish/Tender tops 60 mph with twin 300-hp outboards and has a cruising range of 350 miles at 35 mph. A proprietary bow design offers a significantly drier and more comfortable ride. midnightboats.com
Classic boats don’t just endure; they evolve over time. The Hunt Surfhunter 29 is one such classic. Her enduring hull form has now become the Hunt Surfhunter 32 with outboards (32’1″ LOA, 10’6″ beam). Hunt added an Armstrong bracket to the 29 hull which makes the boat a true 32, and the deck layout is changed to be much more accommodating.
Also debuting at FLIBS is the Hunt Ocean Series 72, the newest yacht in Hunt’s Ocean Series. Sporting lines that are classic, purposeful and clearly eager to run, Hunt calls this boat not a motoryacht, not a downeast, but a true Sports Motoryacht.
Hunt kept the deckhouse inboard from the hull sheer creating plentiful open deck space and trimmed the roof overhang to create clean lines. The 72 (71’3″ LOA, 19’6″ beam) delivers a more athletic look that’s tuned in to the way owners want to use their yachts today.
The HydraSports 38 Speciale is the perfect complement to HydraSports Custom’s model lineup, featuring the same Mil-Tough build technique as the classic 53 Sueños. Buyers of the HydraSports 38 Speciale (38’11” LOA, 11’6″ beam) can customize the bow either for fishing or with seating port and starboard. Features include an oversized cockpit with an aft-facing seat behind the captain’s helm that holds a rigging station, two 12-volt refrigerators, tackle drawers, and freshwater sink. Triple Garmin screens, a premium sound system, outriggers, radar, autopilot, and fiberglass T-top with a three-sided, tempered glass windshield comprise standard equipment. The interior of the console is outfitted with a marine head, sink and bunk. A vertical rod holding system inside the machinery room allows access to console switches and electronics. hydrasports.com
The new Everglades 273 CC is a hybrid inshore/offshore boat. Her low-profile, powder-coated bow rails and pop-up cleats along with the casting platform and bow seating provide the space to make cast netting live bait easy. She comes ready to fish (27’3″ LOA, 9’3″ beam) with flush-mounted rod holders, standard under-gunwale rod racks, circulating livewell, and fishbox space. Everglade’s 360LXC also flaunts its spacious 100-square-foot lounging area at FLIBS. The 360LXC (35’4″ LOA, 10’8″ beam) comes standard with a 32″ retractable flat-screen, electric stovetop and outdoor cooking area, abundant food and cooler storage, and a fully equipped wet bar and mixing station. An aft bench seat comfortably seats six while the redesigned helm with ergonomic captain and companion seating has room for three. evergladesboats.com
The Cutwater Sport 242 (23’11” LOA, 8’6″ beam) welcomes the outdoors with the removable enclosures of the roof, side windows and rear bulkhead. Features include a forward cabin with wraparound seating and a high-low convertible table, private head, two sinks with hot and cold water, drop-in barbecue grill, microwave, TV/DVD, Fusion stereo system, and optional air conditioning. The outboard version of the CS-242 comes standard with an aerated fish well integrated into the transom and room for a fishbox.
The Sport 302 (30′ LOA, 10′ beam) features a revised cabin top and a cockpit that’s ideal for fishing with a 30-gallon livewell, large fish box, rod holders, sink, Euro-style galley, a drop-in barbecue grill, and accommodates six in three separate berths. Twin counter-rotating Yamaha 250-hp outboards power the Sport 302.
The new Buddy Davis 42CC exudes the Buddy Davis pedigree.
That means a superior ride and handling and designed with built-in fishing amenities from bow to stern. Not to mention, it introduces the builder’s new breed of resin-infused fiberglass custom boats. The Buddy Davis 42CC features a large console area that includes an interior complete with head, galley, dinette, and berth. There’s room for up to three 16-inch displays on the helm with an additional electronics box built into the hardtop.
Under the triple helm seats you’ll find a custom refrigerator/freezer, ample tackle storage, sink with saltwater washdown, and built-in cutting board. Forward is an anchor locker with a seawater washdown, fold-down seating and a forward-facing lounge seat with storage options. Serious anglers will appreciate a large fish box in the forward deck with two under-deck fish boxes in the cockpit along with an integrated livewell in the transom. Powered by quad Yamaha outboards, the 42 can run up to 62 miles per hour.
Predicting the exact dates the cherry trees will blossom in Washington is a challenge for even professional prognosticators, but an early bloom seems likely this year. The last time we saw an El Niño with this much influence on temperatures was in 1997 and 1998 when the blooms peaked the last week of March. According to the National Park Service, on average the peak occurs on April 4th. A few things are certain: many, many pink blossoms will appear sometime, thousands of visitors will converge on the Tidal Basin to take in the magnificent sights, and the best way to see the show will be by boat.
In addition to the flowering showcase, the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival features giant balloons, an energy-packed parade, music, a fashion show, sake tasting, kite flying, and much more.
The festival runs March 20th to April 17th this year, and if you’re lucky enough to stay for a while, bring layers of clothing, pants, and shorts as there’s no telling what to expect weather-wise.
As for docking preferences, the channel hosts three marinas: Gangplank Marina (202-554-5000, gangplank.com), Capital Yacht Club (202-488-8110, capitalyachtclub.com), and Washington Marina (202-554-0222, washingtonmarina.com). Call ahead or fill out their online reservation forms. While they don’t have fuel, these marinas all offer fine services. Another option is to anchor just off East Potomac Park.
Boats, gear, and experts
Before the cherry trees bloom, boats of all shapes and sizes appear in the Dulles Expo Center for the annual National Capital Boat Show, in Chantilly, Virginia. Dealers throughout Virginia and Maryland display their runabouts, saltwater fishing boats, ski boats, pontoons, deck boats, jet boats, jon boats, and PWCs during the show, which runs from March 11-13. Exhibits include marinas, boatlifts, floating docks, outboard and inboard motors, marine electronics, and more. Some experts will be there to answer questions and provide information on maintenance, repair, financing, insurance, and safety for the upcoming season on the Mid-Atlantic.
Market tested
A good place to pick up some bargains this month is the Boating & Fishing Flea Market hosted by the Poquoson Kiwanis Club in Virginia with help from the Bull Island Anglers club. This year’s market is Saturday, March 12th from 8AM to 1PM, rain or shine. New and used boats, boating and fishing gear, nautical arts and crafts, and refreshments will be offered both inside and outside at the Poquoson High School. If you’re looking to find a fishing partner, the anglers club meets the fourth Monday each month at 7PM at Trinity United Methodist Church.
March fishing
Croaker and flounder typically begin biting this time of the year in Virginia’s salty waters. Croaker like to feast on peeler crab baits, bloodworms, squid, and shrimp and can be found in tributary rivers of the Chesapeake as well as the coastal ocean waters and inlets. Flounder will go after live bait (minnows and small fish), fresh strip baits (bluefish, flounder, shark belly, squid), and minnow/strip combinations as well as artificials such as bucktails and paddletail lures with spinners. Both species can be caught by drift fishing with natural baits fished on the bottom or by slow trolling baits on the bottom.
By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating Magazine March 2016
