Mystic’s 38 Cat ‘Dirty Duck’ Wows ’Em in Lauderdale
As the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) opened on Halloween, DeLand, FL-based Mystic Powerboats owner John Cosker proudly showed off a pair of vee-bottom center console models (the M3800 and M4200), as well as Slug Hefner‘s new C-3801 catamaran, Dirty Duck.
The open-cockpit design of Hefner’s cat is “a little bit different,” Cosker says. “We kind of lucked out here at the show with our positioning, because you can actually walk straight down the dock and into the back of our boat.”
Cosker says that the “open architecture” of the C-3801 came about by taking what Mystic’s designers learned about combining the usability of their center console models and Mystic’s expertise with speed capabilities. “With this boat, we can give an owner any kind of cockpit arrangement he wants, and however many bucket seats he wants. Slug opted for a flip-down lounge seat, because he doesn’t boat with a lot of people.”
Cosker says that customers are split about 50/50 on doing the “open arrangement,” with half choosing the normal “two plus four” that is the standard on models like the 44 and the 50.
There’s plenty of storage on the C-3801, with room in the sponsons accessible from on top of the deck, as well as in the back of the boat. “Since we don’t have an engine compartment on this outboard-only boats, there are drop-in storage tubs where an I/O would typically be. The rear-facing lounger completely flips up, so there’s storage for all your fenders and lines and everything you need down in there.”
In addition to the open-cockpit arrangement, other amenities on the Dirty Duck include a 16″ GPS (with an option for a 22″), a dual-helm configuration that allows a different driver to take control of the helm, a full, thicker-style SeaDek flooring throughout the cockpit, and his special Dirty Duck gelcoat graphics. “That’s pretty much it,” Cosker says. “Otherwise, it’s a pretty much a standard boat.”
How fast does Dirty Duck go? “Just over 100 mph,” Cosker says. “We’ll be lightening up the future ones, so we’re hoping to run 110 to 115 mph with the Mercury Racing 400 outboards on it.”
Hefner is also the owner of the last 50-footer that Mystic built—number 17—that was delivered two years ago. Cosker describes the 38 as the “Mini-Me” of that 50′. “He still loves his 50′,” Cosker says.
Next week, following FLIBS, Cosker will be throttling one of 15 Mystics heading down to the Key West World Finals as part of the Florida Powerboat Club‘s poker run. Cosker will be co-piloting a boat owned by Chris Cox of Long Island, NY (who also happens to own Envy, the former 50′ Mystic offshore race boat). Cox’s recent acquisition is an older six-man turbine boat built by Mystic that the company recently performed a complete refit on. Safe travels to the Mystic fleet on its way to Key West!
