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New 35' Powerplay

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Capt J, Aug 28, 2012.

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  1. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Powerplay is going to be introducing a new 35' Center Console (without any cuddy). The boat is supposed to have 2 versions, 1 with more seating and geared towards the cruising crowd and the other version setup more as an open center console for fishing and I've heard that the boat rides really good. Carl should be interested in hearing this :)
  2. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Tom Mason, the new owner of Powerplay and previous owner of Midnight Express boats, had a new 33' Powerplay on display at the Palm Beach boat show this year. Tom purchased the center console molds from Dan Weinstein when the company went into receivership in 2005. I own the very last boat ever built by Powerplay, for sale here...

    http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/s...lay-33-center-console-w-mercury-250-efis.html

    I sat down with Tom and we talked at length about Powerplays, along with go-fast characters from the past and his plans to resurrect Powerplay; a name that enjoys cult-like status among offshore enthusiasts. Tom plans to integrate a molded swim platform to the transom, bringing the overall length to 35 feet. The new deck plans, minus a cuddy, is news to me. Some enthusiasts have bawked at changing the original design.

    When Dan Weinstein closed down Powerplay, the marine industry lost one of the best boat builders in the business. Tom Mason is probably the best qualified person to take over the reigns. I wish him success!
  3. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Pat Sullivan from Performance Marine Traders (Premier Mercury Dealer, Active Thunder dealer etc....) is Tom's partner in the Powerplay project from what I understand. The molded swim platform is correct. The new deck plans minus the cuddy is correct, and they are putting in some modular seating in the bow that the boat can be ordered with or without. I'm not sure if it is removable if the boat is ordered with (seating). Tom has been itching at building boats ever since selling Midnight. They're going to have it at the FLIBS, talk to either of them and do a writeup on it. Pat was telling me all about it the other day. From what I understand they feel the go-fast segment is too soft and are focusing on the center console segment and have plans for a 42' CC as well.....

    I heard that the expense Powerplay took on to introduce the 38' is what initially drove them out of business.
  4. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Thanks for the intel J. I know Pat Sullivan. Haven't seen him in years. For sure, the go-fast segment is the go-slow segment of the marine economy now, with the big bucks being blown on offshore's equivalent to Billy Bob's bass boat.

    The 42' is news to me. Michael Peters penned the deck on the 38', but I can't recall if he designed the twin-step hull as well. I tried to talk Danny into a multi-step hull long before the 38' was conceived, but he was old-school and conservative. For some reason, he didn't think that billions of dollars in naval research would apply to Powerplays. One more reason why he's out of business.

    Peter Hledin figured it out. Incorporated 6 small steps into the 38 Skater-V and promptly ran away from every monohull on the offshore circuit. Racers protested it was an unfair advantage. It wasn't. It was applied hydrodynamics.
  5. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Michael Peters supposedly designed the entire 38' from what I heard, which would include the hull.

    "Performance Marine Trading, Outdrives.com has established itself as a leader in the marine industry for over 20 years in South Florida. We not only give the best prices but the best service and technical support after the sale as possible. We are also the home of the legendary Power Play performance boat line which consists of the 33 Sport Deck and Center Console to the 38 Sport Deck and the all NEW 42 Center Console. Custom create your dream boat today!" (from outdrives.com website).

    Anyways, they're supposed to have the 35' at FLIBS. I am guessing that Tom is doing the molded swim platform to the 33', just like the origional 37' Midnight became the 39'
  6. SHAZAM

    SHAZAM Senior Member

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    The original 37 has nothing to do with the 39, totally different hulls, different lines, different dead rise etc. IMO the 33 is a bit narrow but I have to agree, it was one of the best riding boats of its type around.
  7. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    You're right Shazam; it's a narrow beam hull which not only makes it trailerable, but tolerable when the going gets rough. As both of you know, the hull was borne from racing and adapted for leisure use. These days, wide beam hulls are the choice of the center console set. If the boat never left the lift, I'd opt for a Bertha Beam too, but I like to drag the boat with me to different drop zones.
  8. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I agree, totally different hull, but he kept the origional length 2ft for the swim platform....and ended up at 39'.....at the time it became the megayacht tender of choice until Intrepid started stepping on their toes in that size range..........same here took the origional length and 2ft for the swim platform, but I'm pretty sure they're using the origional 33' hull and added the swim platform to it......