The Rise of Outboards and Center Consoles

We love our little ski boat and it's always great to have a second boat in case the primary is being serviced.

I got into boating because I loved the idea of enjoying the boat all day and being able to sleep on it at night! The boat has 100% delivered! A center console could be a great second boat.

Several years back we were at Lower Matecumbe Key for a week of fishing and the local neighbors on our canal were retired and converting to catamarans for the room and ride. Said it extended their ability to fish for years. Also had a friend that bought a 30' cat with twins, it had a good ride with a lot of room. Saw a large Freeman cat in the bayou a week ago with 4 ob's. Awesome rig.

The beasts of these categories can all be seen in this video, from Nortechs, to Midnight Expresses, Cigarette Racing etc powering through the Haulover inlet.

90 mph and no one is wearing a life vest. Right.

When seeing a center consoles with 4 ob's we would joke about if it had 5 ob's we would buy it. Well, not joking about that anymore.
Now this: https://www.hoax-slayer.net/eight-outboard-drug-runner-boat-photograph/

Somebody posted that same image on the forums before, i can't remember where though. Six outboards will soon be the norm with the larger consoles. We already have the Tirrana from Cigarette Racing and the Pied a Mer from Midnight Express with 6 off the end. I've seen a Scout 530 with six 400s

Back in the day, the running joke was getting more than 3 outboards to run at the same time. The higher the horsepower, the more valid the joke.

Yeah, imagine that with 6 outboards, if you lose one or two just tilt them up and carry on. Back in the day, we called twin outboards "Double Trouble" and have returned on one engine a few times, usually because of overheating.

Somewhat like a 1972 Ferrari Daytona working to keep up with a Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

Late to this thread, so if I am repeating points already raised, then excuse me.
As much as I get the attraction of a good CC for the fisherman out for a quick jaunt, or even a fast & long distance jaunt, as well as the day boater or family wanting to enjoy the water for a day, it's difficult to get an understanding on spending the same kind of capital on a CC as you would on a large 3 cabin sportfish or trawler yacht. I've owned Grady White & Boston Whalers. Great for what they are built to do. Yet I think the latest boats are not being bought or used for their design purpose.
If you spend anytime on You Tube or similar channels, then these highly attractive, multi outboard engined, extreme coloured boats are cruising Florida waters with loud music, louder bodies (lots of this & not all that slim with plenty hangin' out. Am I aloud to say this or should I lie & say it's a great look?).
Makes me wonder if this is about fishing, general boating or, in fact cheap finance with far too much flexing on offer.
Let's wait & see how the resale market takes up the slack once the true effects of multiple interest rate rises & insurance costs bite in. This could be the real test of whether this is a genuine change in the market or simply an enormous wave of new boat buyers about to get dunking.

Some of those boats with the multi colored seats, in rows 4 deep, remind me of a carnival ride.

Such a true statement. I see someone flying around the boat or even out of the boat in those videos.

You can be on the water in 5 minutes in one of those center consoles simply by lowering the lift and starting the motors. Taking out a 3 stateroom SF takes a whole lot more time......lines/fenders/shore cord/ checking fluids, and you need someone good at getting lines.......So a lot of people are more apt to use the CC because it's a lot more convenient to do so.