MIDNIGHT MADNESS
BY GARY WOLLENHAUPT
FOR A QUICK TRIP TO THE BAHAMAS OR BATTLING HAULOVER BAY, THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS 43 OPEN CENTER CONSOLE BOAT OFFERS A BLEND OF PERFORMANCE AND CUSTOMIZATION LIKE NO OTHER.
HOT TICKET
ON THE HIGH SEAS THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS 43 OPEN
H aulover Bay is a man-made channel in Miami that connects the northern end of Biscayne Bay with the Atlantic Ocean. It’s become famous for YouTube videos of boaters battling winds and waves to leave and enter the bay, with much disdain for boats that get stuffed, or have the bow plow under the waves. The bay is particularly dangerous on an outgoing tide, especially with easterly winds, as the fast outgoing current and strong onshore breezes can create high-intensity wave action.
The Midnight Express 43 Open boat, available with four or five racing outboards, can show Haulover Bay who’s the boss. It blends the utility of a center cabin with yacht-like accommodations. Midnight Express, a family-owned-and- operated business in Miami, builds about 40 fully customized boats annually. Midnight was the first to hang four large-horsepower outboards off its boats while offering amenities like easy-access side doors, upgraded upholstery, and yacht- caliber seating.
Like the rest of the line, the flagship 43 Open is customized to each owner’s tastes. The 43-footer is not only a lightning-fast boat (reaching 100 mph with four Seven Marine 627 hp outboards) but can be outfitted as a exceptional day cruiser with full-beam aft seating, a summer kitchen, and a sunbed. The Midnight fleet has gained an excellent reputation as a Bahamas boat, because it can reach outlying Bahamian islands from South Florida in record time and get you home safely by midnight. They’re a favorite for day cruising and freshwater and saltwater fishing.
74 FINK’S JEWELERS
Powered by FlippingBook