Let’s face it. Life in Tampa is just more fun on the water. The National Marine Manufacturers Association reports that the sale of recreational boats reached a 13-year high in 2020, and we suspect that — after a year of being stuck inside — the lure of the Hillsborough River, Tampa Bay, and our region’s plethora of surrounding waterways sealed the deal for local would-be boat owners. And if we’re going to keep up these boat parades, you’re going to want something to bring to the party. In this guide, read up on some of the year’s hottest models and boating accessories available from makers and dealers around the Tampa Bay area.
Marina Pointe
Westshore Marina District
4900 Bridge Street | Tampa
813.930.9800 | marinapointe.com
About:
Marina Pointe is Tampa’s only new luxury residences on the water. This unique coastal location allows boaters to make the most of bayside living. Go from door to dockside in minutes with unrestricted access to your private slip in their deepwater marina. Cruise to islands and sand bars or set sail on the open water. After your day on the water, walk to Marina Landings to enjoy a variety of shopping and dining.
Designed to incorporate contemporary architecture and design with wellness and outdoor living, every detail at Marina Pointe was meticulously crafted for their residents. Discover life on the peninsula.
Amenities:
Deepwater Slips (40’ to 115’), Dockmaster, Stunning Pool, Gym, Spa, Dog Park, Golf Simulator, Social Room & More.
Price Range:
Luxury Residences from the Low $800s, Move-in Summer 2022
Bertram Yachts
bertramyachts.com
About:
Bertram is a legendary name among sportfishing anglers, and the 50 Sport breaks new ground by combining a luxurious two-stateroom interior with every possible amenity for fishermen. The fully enclosed salon has a centerline helm with companion seating plus L-shaped couches, and guests can watch the fishing action from raised mezzanine lounges outside the sliding doors.
Below, the 50 Sport surprises with two full staterooms, each with a private head with stall shower. The forward master cabin has a queen berth, and both cabins are individually air-conditioned. The galley, with a full-height fridge, induction cooktop and convection oven, is opposite the U-shaped dinette.
Anglers will find a large transom door for trophy-sized fish, oversized fish boxes, and multiple rodholders.
Power choices include the standard pair of Caterpillar C18A turbo diesels of 1150hp each or 1550hp MAN diesels, which push the 50 Sport over 45 knots. With solid construction and a time-tested offshore hull, the Bertram legend continues.
Quality Boats
17389 US 19 North | Clearwater
727.530.1815 | qualityboats.com
About:
Unlike many high-end center consoles in her class, the Grady-White Canyon 376 from Quality Boats of Clearwater has a beautifully finished cabin with head with shower, double berth and mini-galley in the console. The cockpit is fully outfitted with fishing gear including a bait rigging station, 291-quart fishbox, multiple rod holders and T-top with aluminum frame, full windshield with wing vents and overhead electronics box. The patented SeaV2 hull (from Ray Hunt) is offshore ready and soft-riding with its 20-degree deadrise hull. Power options (up to triple 450-hp Yamaha Four-Stroke outboards) push the 376, which has a 100% hand-laid fiberglass hull and deck. Besides the family-friendly cabin, the 376 appeals to anglers with its self-draining cockpit, full coaming pads and toerails for fighting a fish in a seaway. For family outings, a bench seat folds out in the cockpit, a side door makes easy access for swimmers and divers, and an eight-speaker audio system keeps everyone entertained.
Who’s Buying:
Anglers for the fishing features, families for the bow and stern seating
Chris Craft
chriscraft.com
About:
If there is a nautical definition of fun, it is the Chris-Craft Calypso 24. Convertible seating adapts to any family outing, and the cockpit seats can lay flat as a sunpad, while the outdoor galley includes a Yeti cooler, sink and barbecue, plus a dining table for al fresco meals.
The console hides a head compartment, and standard power is a Mercury Verado 300hp outboard for 48 mph skiing and towing. It’s a modern but timeless classic.
Deckpad
Tampa-based design team travels to you!
Schedule a free, no-obligation
scan: 813-595-3600
www.deckpad.com | Instagram: _deckpad
About:
It is rare for a new product to immediately grab the attention of the boating world, but Deckpad has done just that. Headquartered in Tampa, Deckpads are custom made, ultra-durable inflated pads, with construction similar to inflatable paddleboards, but shaped to perfectly match your boat. Span two bench seats forward on a center console, and the Deckpad creates both a cushy sunpad and a rigid casting platform. Relocate it aft of the T-top and it doubles shade coverage without any vertical supports or straps to contend with while fishing. Deckpad’s line of helm-pads (3 thicknesses up to 6-in) provide unparalleled pneumatic shock absorption while giving the skipper extra height.
Overboard, Deckpad uses a Seasucker system to securely attach at the waterline for a sturdy but soft swim platform. Float a boatload of people and gear ashore (and dry) to a sandbar or, with 1-in. draft, it’s perfect for drift-fishing grass flats.
Deckpads dry fast, don’t retain water like foam cushions, and have a non-slip EVA foam surface. They inflate easily (just 5psi and 60-seconds!) and roll up just as easily for stowage. Custom shaped Deckpad inflatables can be color coordinated to your vessel.
Looking for value through versatility? Go Deckpad!
Who’s Buying:
Bay boat owners, center consoles, sandbar enthusiasts. Boating families looking to increase comfort, shade coverage or upgrade stock cushions.
Pursuit Boats
pursuitboats.com
Designed specifically for quad outboards, the S 428 is a center console on steroids, offering a second row of electrically-adjusted seats under the hardtop so more guests can enjoy the speed from the four Yamaha 425 XTO engines.
For fishing, the S428 has three fish boxes for your catch, tackle storage combined with bait prep, and rod holders everywhere. Two of the fishboxes have refrigeration to eliminate ice, and two 36-gal. livewells are illuminated. Large hull-side doors open on both sides to make access easy for divers as well as swimmers.
Under the standard hardtop, guests are protected by the curved safety glass windshield, and side panels are also tempered. Inside the console, there is full stand-up headroom, a convertible berth, and an enclosed head with shower.
Speed with the quads is 59mph, with a range of 343-miles at 30mph.
Tiara Yachts
tiarayachts.com
About:
The largest outboard-powered model that Tiara has built, this 48-footer continues the legacy of their LS series with spacious accommodations literally from bow to stern, and a cabin for four that includes a separate aft stateroom.
An oversized hardtop and wrap-around windshield provide all-weather protection, while the aft seating rotates to the dining table, to face aft, or to become a large sunpad. The galley is perfect for alfresco entertaining, with grill, sink, fridge and ample counters.
Inside, an island queen berth has walk-around space, the enclosed head has a separate shower stall with full headroom, and a mini-galley is opposite. Aft, twin berths slide together to form a queen in the private cabin.
On deck, guests will enjoy wrap-around seating forward, and the entire side of the cockpit folds outward to create a “beach” for swimming.
Power is from triple Mercury 600-hp Verado outboards that give the 48 LS a top speed over 60 mph.
Who’s Buying:
Anglers for the fishing features, families for the bow and stern seating
Hussar Yachts
info@hussaryachts.com
813.467.6747 | hussaryachts.com
About:
Hussar Yachts finally introduces the Skamander line by Parker Poland to the U.S., after having great success in over 33 countries and building boats for many of the world’s governments and militaries for over 50 years.
Skamander is reinventing the Pilothouse-style boat.
Designed for offshore fishing, watersports, weekend trips and even commercial uses, these boats keep the creature’s comforts, such as a galley, bath, bed and even A/C.
Each one of their boats is engineered to achieve an optimum fuel burn while maximizing performance — without sacrificing ease of maintenance and ownership.
Skamander bestsellers are the very rugged 920 Explorer Max and its suit-and-tie counterpart, the Monaco. Current build completion times are around the five-month mark.
Boston Whaler
bostonwhaler.com
About:
The 380 Outrage is the essence of flexibility, with family features including wrap-around seating forward, an aft-facing couch with insulated cooler, and an air-conditioned cabin with double berth and enclosed head with shower.
Fishermen will appreciate the cockpit bait prep station, bolstered helm seats, and 30-gal. pressurized livewell. The standard hardtop has a tempered and curved windshield, and full height side glass keeps everyone dry.
Standard power is triple 300-hp Mercury outboards, but quads are an option.
Wellcraft
wellcraft.com
About:
The name Scarab is synonymous with performance, and their new 352 Fisherman is no exception as the flagship of the Wellcraft line. Its deep-vee hull is not only seaworthy, but has ample beam for anglers. The hardtop provides multiple rod holders, and the cockpit area has twin fishboxes plus a livewell.
Inside, there is a full-size berth and electric head, with air conditioning optional. Power comes from triple Mercury 350 Verado outboards for a top speed of 57 mph.
