The Southport 38 FE Is the Talk of the Dock

Cruising at 32-mph or wide open at 60-mph, the new 38-footer from Southport Boats is redefining the center-console concept. Photo courtesy Southport Boats

The word on the docks is that Southports deliver a stable, dry ride with great speed and fuel economy. As one customer said, the Southport ride is “radically different—soft, aggressive, and responsive.”

Thanks to a stable of center-console models ranging from 27 to 33 feet, Southport Boats in South Gardiner, Maine, has carved out a hard-won reputation among the serious fishing crowd for legendary performance.

“We build between 40 and 50 boats a year,” said Taylor Menezes, Southport’s product development lead. “We enjoy exceptionally high brand loyalty, and many of our customers have owned multiple Southport boats. Unfortunately, our product line didn’t offer options larger than 33 feet. But our new Southport 38 FE provides a logical next step up for our customers.”  

Hull number one of the Southport 38 FE debuted at the Palm Beach International Boat Show in March, and was sold at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in November. Built as a demo, hull number one was equipped with virtually every option, including a diesel generator, Seakeeper 4 stabilization, a large battery bank, and a state-of-the-art sound system. 

“Power on the first boat is triple Yamaha 450s,” Menezes said. “We were really impressed by the performance numbers with this engine package—she broke 60 mph, yet at 32-mph cruise, she burns 34 gallons per hour, just under one gallon per mile.”

In the past, Southport’s boats were designed by C. Raymond Hunt and Associates. Breaking with tradition, the new 38-foot hull came off the board of the company’s in-house team led by COO George Menezes, product engineer Jason Ellis, and Taylor Menezes. George and Jason designed the hull, while Taylor developed all of the systems for the new boats.

With a beam of 13 feet, dry weight of 18,000 pounds, and a draft of just 2 feet, one inch, the Southport 38 FE is just the ticket for inshore or offshore fishing—while still providing comfortable accommodations for weekending or cruising for the whole family.

Hull construction is comprised of an integrated multi-longitudinal stringer system coupled with a vinylester-infused cored bottom for stiffness and impact resistance. The hardtop-covered cockpit houses triple, forward-facing adjustable helm seats, along with aft-facing double seats. The transom includes two folding aft benches, a transom cooler, a centerline sink on the aft bulkhead, and a starboard-side transom door for access to the integrated swim platform, equipped with a stainless-steel telescoping boarding ladder.

Built into the front of the center console is a double seat, and forward of that, a U-shaped lounging area with two seats and adjustable back rests, leaving plenty of room for lots of guests and line-handling duties.

The helm boasts full engine and joystick controls, an Edson stainless wheel with tilt, a pair of Garmin GPSMAP 9222 chart plotters with space for a third MFD, a Garmin GSD 25 sounder module, an Airmar B175M transducer, Garmin VHF 315, and a Garmin AIS 800 Blackbox.

The nice part about a 38-foot boat is that there’s plenty of room for the niceties of boating. The center console houses a stand-up enclosed head and shower compartment with hot and cold water. The galley is functional, featuring a counter sink, microwave, and refrigerator. A dinette table with seating and a pair of 6-foot berths round out the accommodations. Teak bulkheads and a teak-and-holly sole add a touch of warmth and elegance, while a 7,000-btu air conditioner keeps things cool offshore or at the dock. 

Of course, you can’t call a boat your home without a few of the little luxuries. The Southport 38 FE base package includes a 32-inch flat-screen television and Fusion Apollo entertainment system.

“The more stuff you add to the boat,” Menezes said, “the more important it is to design systems that are integrated in a way that’s going to ensure longevity and reliability, along with ease of service for technicians.”

Menezes explained that he puts a high priority on simplicity and ease of use. “My goal is to simplify the end-user experience by making it less of a head-scratcher to turn things on and off, and to manage the boat’s electrical resources. Take the boat’s electrical system, for example. Traditionally, a generator transfer switch had a single input, so you had to consciously select between power sources. To simplify this, I’ve specified a Victron 3,000-watt inverter/charger with dual inputs. 

“The dual inputs allow the system to automatically switch between shore power, the inverter, and the generator effortlessly and automatically. It’s one less thing that the owner has to think about when enjoying his boat,” Menezes said. When underway, even with the engines at idle, the system produces a full load of power to meet all of the boat’s electrical needs, including air conditioning and the Seakeeper 4, without draining the batteries.

The Southport 38 FE is offered with twin- or triple-engine configurations. The standard power option is twin Yamaha XTO 450-hp V-8 outboards with Helm Master EX joystick maneuvering. Or the owner can select twin Mercury 600-hp V-12 XXL Verados with Mercury’s Joystick Piloting for Outboards.

Triple engine configurations include the Yamaha XTO 450 V-8 outboards or Mercury 5.7L 400-hp V-10 Verados. Owners may also opt for a powerful Vetus variable-thrust bow thruster that integrates nicely with the joystick options for either Yamaha or Mercury powerplants.

Hull number two of the Southport 38 FE came out of the mold in November and is under contract to an owner in Puerto Rico. Hull number three is scheduled for a January debut at the New England Boat Show in Boston, with several perspective buyers in the wings. 

A screaming fishing machine or a family fun platform, the Southport 38 FE redefines the center-console concept.

✮ 

Southport 38 FE Specifications

Length w/o Engines: 37' 6"
Beam: 13'
Draft: 2' 1"
Dry Weight w/Twin Yamaha 450s: 18,000 lbs.
Fuel: 425 gallons
Water: 45 gallons
Live-well: 35 gallons
Standard Power: 900-hp
Maximum Power: 1,350-hp

Southport Boats
South Gardiner, ME
207-620-7998
southportboats.com

Ted Hugger lives in Damariscotta, Maine, with his wife, their cardigan Welsh Corgi, and their 55-year old wooden trawler.