Cigarette Boats' Tirranna, Fountain's 43NX Center Console and Others Steal the Show in Miami
The annual Miami International Boat Show delivered exceptional high-performance boat hardware from manufacturers such as Cigarette, Donzi, Baja, Fountain, Outerlimits and many others.
Go-fast boat-loving visitors to the annual Miami International Boat Show earlier this month had nothing to complain about—with the exception of the ongoing hassle of getting to and from the event’s Miami Marine Stadium venue on Virginia Key—this year. In fact, the 2019 event delivered some of the most exciting high-performance hardware since the show arrived at its new digs in 2015.
For those who couldn’t make it, here are some of the highlights.
Cigarette Racing Team celebrated its 50th anniversary in style at this year’s Miami International Boat Show. Photo by Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
Cigarette’s Birthday Bash and Unveiling of the Tirranna
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Cigarette Racing Team took its typically over-the-top dock display—think of it as a Cigarette village—to another level by making the entire exhibit a see-through affair. In addition to the jaw-dropping, show-stealing Tirranna, a 59-footer sport yacht/super console powered by six Mercury Racing Verado 400R outboard engines, the company debuted a Cigarette 41 AMG Carbon Fiber Edition center console, and Elite version of its 42 Huntress center console, at 50th anniversary edition of its vaunted 38 Top Gun and more. If this is how the Opa-Locka, Fla., company starts its Golden Anniversary year, we can’t wait to see what’s next.
See Cigarette listings.
All eyes were on the Donzi Icon 44 catamaran at the Iconic Marine display. Photo by Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
Iconic Marine Goes Big
Last year, Iconic Marine Group displayed two new Fountain models, the 39NX center console and the 32 Thunder cat sport catamaran. That was a good start for Washington, N.C., company, which also has the Baja and Donzi and Baja brands under its umbrella. But this year Iconic more than doubled its new-model offerings with its Donzi Icon 44 catamaran, Donzi 41 GT and Fountain 43NX center console, as well as several updated existing center console offerings in the Fountain line. For sure, the 44-foot, which is powered by quad Mercury Racing Verado 400R outboard engines and boast an unusual far-forward seating configuration for the driver and copilot and copious cockpit space, caught the most attention among go-fast boat fans.
Looking for Iconic Marine listings?
Crypto was one of two Outerlimits showstoppers in Miami. Photo by Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
Outerlimits Announces Its Presence With Authority
Although outboard engine-powered sport catamarans remain white-hot in the performance-boat world, there’s still lots of room for big-name stern-drive catamarans and V-bottom sportboats. Case in point, the outrageous new Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats SC 46 catamaran and SV 43 sportboat—both canopied—at the Mercury Racing docks. Having recently announced it is under stable sole ownership, the Bristol, R.I., builder wowed the crowd with its Miami offerings and signaled that the finest days of Outerlimits may well still lie ahead.
See Outerlimits listings.
MTI’s 340X powered by twin Mercury Racing 300R outboards was a showcase for the new engines as well as Mercury Racing’s fresh “Full Throttle” brand campaign. Photo by Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
MTI Displays V-8 Virtues
With its V-57 and V-42 performance center consoles, a 48-foot catamaran and two MTI 340X and more on display at its substantial end-of-dock exhibit, Marine Technology, Inc., didn’t lack for hardware in Miami. Yet most of the buzz for the Wentzville, Mo., boat builder centered around its 34-foot sport cat powered by twin Mercury Racing 300R outboard engines, the newest additions to the Mercury Racing line the engine platform most likely to be used by the Fond du Lac, Wis., company for more-powerful future offerings. Plus, the spunky 34-footer was carried Mercury Racing new “Wide Open” branding initiative.
See MTI listings.
The first VTX 34 pleasure catamaran from the Victory Team should be blasting across U.S. in the next couple of months.
Victory is Ours
Offshore powerboat racing fans know the Dubai-based Victory Team for its utter dominance of the now-defunct Union Internationale Motonautique Class 1 circuit. Soon enough, thanks to several domestic marine industry players including Craig Barrie, Ricky Maldonado and Randy Sweers of FB Marine Group—Victory’s exclusive Florida dealer—the Victory name should be come known among go-fast pleasure boaters. The company is building 34- and 27-foot twin outboard sport catamarans for the United States market, and the first one should be completed (rigging will be handled in the U.S. by FB Marine Group, Grant’s Signature Racing and the Victory Team as is Orlando, Fla., facility) and on the water in the next month or so.
See listings for high performance powerboats, or read last year's 2018 Miami Boat Show High Performance Highlights.
