Art lovers can drone on all day about the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, or Cupid’s Kiss, but I see fine art when a jighead splashes down a quarter-inch from a piling. When a dog-walking Spook has that perfect zigzag. And when there’s a controlled drop of the rod tip prior to setting the hook on a snakehead inhaling a topwater frog. On rare occasions, art can also be expressed in a fishing boat—and anyone who walked the docks of the Annapolis Powerboat Show this fall and passed by the Mag Bay 43CC knows exactly what I’m talking about.
The 43CC is Mag Bay’s biggest boat, and is built and trimmed out in full yacht form. Resins are all vinylester (the less water-permeable variety), seats are Release Marine (those top-tier teak ladder-backs), and upholstery is diamond-stitched silicon (which is more stain-, UV-, and temperature-resistant than regular vinyl). Staring at the faux teak cap rail and helm pod, I couldn’t tell the difference between its finish and actual wood (which would require actual maintenance). And gazing at the sweeping sheerline? Well, it’s just as breathtaking as anything that DaVinci guy ever produced.
Even the electrical systems on the Mag Bay are a cut above. This part of a boat is critical to reliability and longevity, yet few boat buyers take the time to examine it closely. So, many builders skimp on it. In this case, however, if you dig deep you’ll see that the electrical system is as advanced as they get including lithium batteries, Victron Lithium Smart Controllers, and EmpireBus digital switching. And take a close gander at that tinned-copper wiring itself, which has heat-shrink thermal labels and is as neatly loomed as you’re likely to ever see on any bajilion-dollar megayacht. Beyond that, note that the Mag Bay isn’t just double-reinforced at the hull/deck/liner joint, it’s triple-reinforced. The hullsides aren’t just cored, they’re cored with Gurit Corecell SAN polymer base structural foam with high sheer strength and elongation. And the raw water washdown doesn’t just have a pump, it has a 70 psi, six GPM pump.
While the Mag Bay is certainly going to appeal most to gentleman anglers versus blue collar fishermen, it’s got the fish-slaying goods where it counts. There are fishboxes in the deck fore and aft totaling 525 gallons of capacity, the 75-gallon pressurized transom livewell is fed by a Hooker Electric sea chest with variable-speed pumps, six flush-mount rodholders come standard (additionals are optional) and the hard top can sport a rack of rocket launchers. How you’d like the aft-facing helm seating module arranged will be a tough call, because it can be set up as a mezzanine or with a bait prep station, sink, and electric grill. Additional oh-la-la options include carbon outriggers, electric teaser reels in the hard top, and a full Bausch tower. You don’t have to check any boxes to get the Seakeeper SK4, which comes standard.
As expected on a center console of this size and caliber, you also get a cabin inside the console. This one boasts a forward berth, head, and mini-galley with a sink. Air conditioning is an option (and can be piped to the helm as well), as is the refrigerator, microwave, and hot water heater.
Triple Mercury Verado 600 V12 outboards, the largest outboard engines currently in production today, can grace the transom of the Mag Bay 43CC. Twin 600s and quad 400s are also options. Rig up with max power, and the patented “Cross Step” hull design blasts off to a top-end breaking the 70-mph mark while delivering a cruise in the 50 mph range. If you feel the need for more speed than that, we suggest shopping for a Cessna. At least that way, the next time you want to visit the Louvre you won’t have to wait in line at the airport.
Mag Bay 43CC Specifications
- LOA – 43’2”
- Beam – 12’0”
- Displacement – 19,280 lbs.
- Draft – 2’6”
- Transom Deadrise – 24 degrees
- Fuel Capacity – 645 gal.
- Max. Power – 1800 hp
- Area Dealers – North Point Yacht Sales, Annapolis, MD (410) 280-2038 and Gloucester Point, VA, (804) 885-4090.