Welcome To The Craziest Outboard Center Console Boat EVER

"PatBateman" (PatBateman) 02/12/2014 at 22:46 • Filed to: Boatlopnik

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There has been an age-old Bro saying that has been stuck in my head for years: "Go hard or go home". This is applicable with many of the cars that we love here. It's also applicable to this ridiculous boat. And God I love this boat.

The Midnight Express 37 Open Sport QUINTUPLE 350 is the boat for the multi-millionaire that prefers to drive over being driven. And by "drive", I mean skimming over the water, screaming out of fear/pleasure while gripping the wheel as tightly as possible. Sure, he/she could buy a big ass, slightly used yacht that requires a captain for about the same price (it's a special edition, but the four 300 engine version is about $500k), but where's the fun in that?

In case you're mathematically inept, there is 1,750 horsepower-worth of outboards on the ass end. It's also approximately 13,200 pounds. Sounds heavy, huh? Not really. That's 1 horsepower to every 7.5 pounds of boat. This makes for a big, bad 37 feet of fiberglass.

Let's take a look at those sweet, sweet outboards a little more closely. Five Mercury Verano 350s is almost unheard of on any boat, much less a 37' center console. At speed, they are as thirsty as they are powerful. Each engine has a 6400 redline, which gulps fuel at a rate of 33 GPH when run flat out. At 6000 RPM, it chugs at a slightly lower 30 GPH. The fuel tank on this monster is 475 gallons, which means, at 6000 RPM, you're going to burn through about $2,000 worth of fuel in a hair over three hours. Did I mention that this boat is for multi-millionaires?

How far can you get in those three expensive hours? An official top speed wasn't released, but I have seen quotes from Midnight Express' representatives in the past saying that the highest rate of travel was IN EXCESS of 90 MPH. I have a bass boat that is capable of doing 60 on a fresh water lake, in calm winds and minimum waves. NINETY MILES PER HOUR on the open ocean with small 3' waves is enough to require Depends be worn by all passengers. If, just shy of redline, you could skim along at 90, the range is about 270 miles. Yes, that adult diaper would be full by the end of the ride (mine, at least).

As I stated before, this is a special order rig. They usually sell twin or trip engine boats that are between 34' and 43'. Open bows and cuddy cabins guaranteed to land not only big fish, but plenty of attention to boot. FLIR, full radar systems, great big JL marine sound systems, underwater transom LED lights, and point pad spotlights are all options. And these are not cheap options. But hey, if you can afford the gas...

Let's face some facts here. All but a small handful of us would ever be able to afford this floating bankruptcy maker. To be honest, two other age-old quotes trump my aforementioned Bro saying: "Boats are holes in the water to which money is thrown into", and "It's better to have a close buddy that owns an expensive boat than to own an expensive boat". But my love of this one-of-a-kind go-fast makes me want to chunk rational thought right out the window.

I need to work smarter AND harder so I can own it.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > PatBateman 02/12/2014 at 22:50

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pfft!

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > PatBateman 02/12/2014 at 22:51

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ppfft #2

PatBateman > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 02/12/2014 at 22:51

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That's basically a tug boat.

Aaron James > PatBateman 02/12/2014 at 22:52

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Good read but I think you meant GPH not GPM, 15 minutes run time on a full tank is no bueno.

PatBateman > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 02/12/2014 at 22:53

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Midnight Express has a model that has three of those LS7 marine engines on the back. They haven't really been proven yet, and they are expensive as shit (also, heavy as hell).

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > PatBateman 02/12/2014 at 22:53

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Well, more like a drug boat.

PatBateman > Aaron James 02/12/2014 at 22:54

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Good catch. It's been a long day.

Fixed, and thanks for the heads up.

911e46z06 > PatBateman 02/12/2014 at 22:57

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Drug runner, actually.

Aaron James > PatBateman 02/12/2014 at 22:58

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I know the feeling, do it myself often. Great read though, I've always loved boats, this one is perfect for when you really need to get to fishing fast...

PatBateman > Aaron James 02/12/2014 at 23:03

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Thanks for the kind words. I live in Houston, so a lot of my friends compete in offshore fishing competitions. For the one day tournaments, this boat could keep a team out for a full hour longer than everyone else.

Aaron James > PatBateman 02/12/2014 at 23:14

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I would venture to guess that this boat was built for a mega rich Bill Fish Tournament Connoisseur. The fastest I've ever been in a boat was 92 in a 32ft Fountain. It was insane, It felt faster than the 140 I did on a GSXR wearing only shorts, no shirt shoes or helmet. or common sense for that matter, but hey young and dumb just seams to go together. Maybe because I grew up on boats that would max out in the mid 30's so getting in something that went almost 100 was like riding a space rocket bareback.

PatBateman > Aaron James 02/12/2014 at 23:24

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Offshore boats, as you probably know, don't ride through the water at high speeds; they skim over it. Much of the time, the only part of the boat that's actually in full contact with the water is the prop. Factor in the ups and downs, popping a wave and literally glancing off the surface means that you're getting a lot more effects than just traveling in a straight line.

I want to upgrade my bass boat to a 21" with a 250-300 engine (I have a 20' with a 150 on it currently) so I can travel farther faster on the gargantuan lake I fish at (70 miles long). My future boat would probably get up to 75, which is probably faster than anyone should go due to stumps right outside of the boating lanes.

Aaron James > PatBateman 02/12/2014 at 23:33

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That's very true, there's this overwhelming feeling that you will die any second, which adds to the exhilaration.

puddler > PatBateman 02/12/2014 at 23:46

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outboards on waterskis?

Vandelay Industries > PatBateman 02/13/2014 at 00:29

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This is not a boat for millionaires, this is a boat for car salesmen who had a good couple years.

THIS IS A YACHT FOR MILLIONAIRES, who prefer to /DRIVE vs. being driven.

The 118 foot carbon fiber darth vader looking ship, with 17000 HP

YES, thats 17 plus 3 ZEROS of horse power. Good for 70+ mph

Cost?

cool 33 million.

Simplify, then add beer > PatBateman 02/13/2014 at 00:49

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A boat who's owners will most likely use it for drug running called the MIDNIGHT EXPRESS?

PatBateman > Vandelay Industries 02/13/2014 at 01:10

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I can honestly say that anyone who buys that has more money than sense.

Vandelay Industries > PatBateman 02/13/2014 at 01:21

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its an egregious purchase...but actually as yacht's go its pretty much the best "investment" there is...in terms of yachts.

Wally made only 2-3 of these...their highly recognizable, top of the line in every way and have been made famous by movies and television programs (The Island and Top Gear)

Most yachts...you buy (commission to be built) they load it in the water and its instantly worth half of what you paid for it.

Yachts are for for the wealthy...you either need to have a ton of sense to create a company that you have that much discretionary income...or be born into it.

but the wally you can pilot on your own...and i guarantee even if larry ellison pulls up in 138 meter (455 ft) mega yacht...

the wally is what everyone is interested in...

PatBateman > Vandelay Industries 02/13/2014 at 01:49

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I remember it from The Island (which is actually on HBO right this second). Wally has always built the most outlandish boats on the water. They had a sailboat that was just crazy. I remember them planning out a yacht/private island with a swim up beach.

Chuckybas > Vandelay Industries 02/13/2014 at 06:13

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They actually only made one and they had a very tough time selling it.

Deputy Kovacs > PatBateman 02/13/2014 at 09:24

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Well, then. That's some serious horsepower.

I've done about 60 in a boat, and that was giving it all it had. Trim up, calm lake, no wind, arrow straight. But that was also in a Cobalt with an i/o, not necessarily the best performance option.

Vandelay Industries > PatBateman 02/14/2014 at 13:25

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Ya they make awesome stuff.

Like this 35M sailboat in battery park marina.

69montego > PatBateman 02/16/2014 at 09:43

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you forgot another old saying about boats

BOAT = Break Out Another Thousand