There were no surprises for me at the Miami International Boat Show, which closed Sunday, Absolutely none. But to be fair there never are. I know what’s coming because it’s my job to know what’s coming. Unless the news of a new boat, engine or accessory is “embargoed” by that product’s manufacturer until the show opens, I report on it in the annual “Countdown To Miami” article series. The series grows continually with new stories on speedonthewater.com and the show approaches.
But even minus bonafide surprises, at least one new thing impresses me at the Miami event each year. Last year, that thrill came courtesy of the new-generation MTI 482 catamaran at the company’s display inside the Miami Convention Center.
This time around, it wasn’t just one thing that stole the show. It was three—and all from the same company, Statement Marine. The Clearwater, Fla., outfit had its new catamaran 430 CAT center console outside the Miami Convention, and the twin 500-hp outboard beauty was outfitted with a scorching Rockford-Fosgate sound system.
Statement’s new 396 catamaran and 44 GTrs center console were just a traffic-choked shuttle ride across a causeway to the show’s Herald Plaza location.
None of these models, as noted above, was a surprise to me. I’ve reported heavily on the 39-foot cat and 44-foot center console, and thanks to speedonthewater.com co-publisher Jason Johnson’s fine article, I knew all about the 43-foot center console/catamaran before I saw it in person in Miami.
But three new high-performance models from the same powerboat builder at the Miami show? Certainly, it’s happened before, though nothing leaps to mind at the moment. But it sure doesn’t happen often.
And that’s how Statement won the battle of the 2025 Miami Boat Show.—Matt Trulio
