37 Sportdeck
 

Just wondering if any of you Midnight guys have a list of any surviving 37 sportdecks left over from the 80s. When did they finish making them? Awesome boat...

Cheers,

Jez

Thanks for that N.O. I think that one was for sale on traderboat sometime ago. The pictures looked fantastic & I tried to get info on it with no luck. Does anybody know the history on this??

i have regets til this day about not bidding more for the 32 sportdeck on ebay that had arnesons and MidOcean won.

JEZ350,
I have the last 37' Midnight Sportdeck listed for sale. I can put you in touch with the owner directly to discuss if interested. There is an entire thread dedicated to this boat right here on OSO. Let me know...

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/20...-Deck-97747848

Thanks,
Fred Brady
Allstar Marine - Latitude Sales
[email protected]
410-320-9220

Thanks Fred. She's a beautiful boat - just the eggbeaters take a little adjusting to...What year is that one? I thought the sportdeck finished at the end of the 80s & was resurrected as a sportfish. How did this one come about - someone had access to the mold?

Hey N.O. I'm hearin' ya on the 32'. My thoughts exactly. I remember when that boat was for sale here twice on OSO, then on Ebay. She was a one-of-a-kind. And with all that gear she came with. Pretty shameful that she was parted out like that. Anyhow, hopefully she will re-appear in a different guise...

Cheers,

Jez

Hey does anyone know how to get in touch with Mike Farley from the Cincinnati area? He has the multi-coloured 37 that's in the flyby vid on youtube. I'm sure he'd be a wealth of knowledge on the old sportdecks..

Jez,
This boat is a 2005. I bet it does not have 25 hours on it since new. The owner of the boat knows the owner of the molds very well and had him lay the new boat up for him. It is in fact the Last 37 Midnight. The owner is a regular here on OSO. Look him up and send him a PM. His screen name is Enforcer2. Great guy and he can tell you everything there is to know about the Midnights, locations, who owns them, and so on. I believe he is very good friends with the former owner and builder of the multi colored boat with the quad 300XS Mercurys on it you are referring to. The boat I have listed for sale is open to offers with and without power. Let me know what you have in mind and maybe we could work something out.

Fred
Allstar Marine - Latitude Sales
[email protected]

Thanks for the heads-up Fred. I really like that boat but I'm more of an inboard guy. If it had twin BBs in it, I'd be on to you quicksmart. I really like the look of the 37 - it's very pretty. I just think that all new ones coming out of their facility are all open sportfish type. I wish they'd go back to making a performance closed deck model..

Cheers,

Jez

missed it by a couple hundred on the bid........... Probably rigged with an outboard bracket by now

[QUOTE=northernoffshore;3296494]missed it by a couple hundred on the bid........... Probably rigged with an outboard bracket by now[/QUOT


As it should be.........:drink:

Tell me..did all 37 closed decks not have a separate bathroom head compartment? I notice they seem to look a bit like the Scarab 33s downstairs where the head sits under one of the bunk seats. Crazy stuff when you consider the heritage of these boats. I can't imagine your average '80s $250k drug deal pausing while the boys vacate the cabin because someone uses the toilet!!

missed it by a couple hundred on the bid........... Probably rigged with an outboard bracket by now Boat is being restored now & going to be rigged with triple outboards, have almost all the parts now to start rigging her back togethor. I am still not sure what I am going to do with the engine room yet. Most likely going to put a back seat in it. pictures coming soon.

Best of luck with that Midnight....Nice to know that that boat will be running soon....Pics as soon as your are done!

That was a hell of a boat man. Should have kept it.

This is the boat I sold to Ralph.. (40fasthawk). Its a great hull

http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/boa/2167551106.html

Heres a few options, blue yellow boat went to Cali ..if anyone inquiries

I removed the engine hatch lip and filled in the area where the hatch would have rested.....great for hand rails although which are very much needed. But I have tons of room ....bean bag chairs and a rocket launcher for fishn is next!

What was the guy's name who owned the yellow 37' in MD. He was a fireman I heard.. bad divorce and something about fish and getting busted. That boat ended up in Tampa.. Cheap!

Boat ended up in California/Vegas....... and yes a once in a lifetime deal.

Boat on link was sitting on miami river
 

that picture aint current boat has been moved from that location that photo was taken sitting in the yard of the owner of the original midnight molds..... http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/boa/2154228390.html... dont know current location though

I remember that one it sold at the auction,..... I believe about 2 years ago or less....? Not sure who bought it. There was two for sale at the GSA auction at that time and they both sold.

Sorry but you outboard, fishing types are hijacking my thread!!

Outboard fishn types.....really wowwwwwwwwwww, maybe youu need to check the history of Midnight Express again. Unless your catchnSQUARE GROUPERS there's no fishn goin on here.

P.S. there is a SCARAB FORUM

And to answer your original question..no there are no more being made I had the last built for me in 2005 from the ORIGINAL MIDNIGHT EXPRESS INC MOLDS.

There are only a few out there that where built with stern drive power, the rest where used as runners, smugglers and later confiscated and used for US Customs Boats for interdiction boats. W

The new MIDNIGHT EXPRESS BOATS not INC was born with new ownership . The new owner/company redesigned the original hull which originated from a splashed Don Aronow 36 Cigarette with a 9'2 Beam.

And yes some where center consoles and also dual console designs, the sport deck was vey rare.

And the top deck molds for the sport deck where destroyed after my hull was built for me.....

cheers:drink:

Thanks Enforcer. I really enjoy your enlightening info on the history of these boats, it is much appreciated. Every now & then I have to give the thread a tickle-up to keep it on track, so no offence to the midnight guys. They're great boats. I just wish they had a better cabin layout. I like to take my family for overnight stays on the water, thus making it extremely difficult with a wife + 2 daughters having to lift one of the bunk seats up while they use the toilet!! Surely these boats couldn't be any leaner inside than a Scarab? Would it be possible to refit for a separate head compartment?

Thanks,

Jez

Heres a picture of my cabin when we where putting in bulkheads ..keep n mind this is before we put in cabin floor sole so subtract about 4"-6" of height..this is the deepest part of the cabin. Also keep in mind my stringers where built a little diffeent then the original Midnights...this was for the quad setup.

Also that high section in the bow thats built up ...under the coring theres a 400 gallon Bow tank...so its quite built up...but most Midnights also had this tank forward.

She looks solid - a lot of work gone in there. How different is the stringer lay-up for a quad step as opposed to a straight hull?
Were these additional tanks installed for the long distances they were to cover back in the 80s? They would have been very heavy when setting off, although that would have made for a solid ride I guess. Do you ever need the additional tanks?

I have never used the additional tanks, I have three..most Midnights had an average of 600-800 gallons, My last center console had about 900 gallons capacity.

I run light I only put in an average of 70 gallons in to run around in....doesnt last long! Cruise speed about 50-60 mph im burning 50 an hour full throttle 100 an hour..roughly.

If I where to run far offshore the forward tank would be very useful for rough water handeling..a ballast.

My boat is light compared to the old Midnights....the old ones averaged 9500 to 10,500 with triples. I have never weighed mine but she is defnelty lighter I would say by at least 1500 to 2000. ...look at the running shot nothing in the water

My Old Midnights transom was about 4" thick and this one was is about 5" with additional transom knees for extra strength.

And rememebr in the 80's there was only one reason for additional fuel and engines...distance and redudancy. Same reason why the Homeland Security boats are running 3 and 4 engines, added security of being able to get home or some place else....

Any inside cabin shots of your boat finished?
How much conversion effort/money would be needed to change your boat into a twin inboard?

I will have to give you a pretty broad answer on that one.

For starters the floor would have to be removed to get to the main belly tank. It runs from the dash to the acess doors in the back.

Once thats done the tank would have to be removed and modified for the stern drive package.

If you haven't notices the builder added a pad or notched transom for added performance. Not really a factor with outboards but with stern drives it allows you to run the drives with a high X dimension.

The cabin has not changed..thats the easy part its bare and ready to be upholstered to someones own design.

Then you would need to have a front engine bulkhead installed and other mods and our additions to stringers for the mounting of the engines. And the 24" of acess I fabricated for bilge, battery and oil tank acess would have to be removed.

I think you should just buy it and remove the quads and put two Mercury 350 Verados on the bracket. Would most likely still be in the 70+ mile an hour range or better.

The quads where my crazy idea tryn to bring the Midnight back to its original form...no other reason. Plus I had triples on my last and I wanted to go faster. The acceleration and shock factor on the water and dock is definetly worth it! Besides its definelty one of the rarest boats on the water.

Im sure Fred at Allstar Marine can also give you some idea of what it would take. But I would hate to see that happen.

How many of these sport deck 37 raced back in the day ? I only remember the catman George Morales midnight cat with quad mercs.

Hey Salty not sure...I have seen only about 4 advertised over the past 6 years and have pictures of only 2 more.....

Theres actually a Midnight Cat for sale on Miami's Craigs list. I have a old vhs video of Boats and BAbes or something like that with a black and multi colored one running with quad merc 2.4s...and it looks very flighty. Apparently from those that are famaliar with them not a very good design.

Power marine in Miami has a 37 sport deck w/twin 500hp i/out with number 3 drives for 19k all orig from 1987.

What would be the anticipated performance numbers on that set up? Has anyone seen the boat in person

She is all original with the rear radar arch and all needs tlc but shes a real "cream puff" old school night fisherman. The boat is at power marine in Miami,Fla.

I have read that the hulls are heavy, so was wondering what sort of speed is to be expected with that set up. Also how will it be with rough water. Where I am from, 3 - 4 is considered a good day.

BTW the 600 gal tank hinted at good night time fishing

I have seen the boat. It needs bolsters and the interior redone. Cabin could use a refresh but not necessary...depends on how picky you are. He said that the engines start but you would want to get a good mechanic to do a full evaluation on the engines drives and transmissions. In my opinion, if the drivetrain is in excellent condition the boat is would be worth it if you can get a deal on it.....just know that it is not in turn - key condition.

Just curious....would it be going to Antigua?

I guess you know the area :) It would stay in Florida for a while, but eventually it would make its way there. I dont mind having a fun project to fix up, since most of the things spoken of are simple to me.

More concerned with the performance of the boat, wondering if it will make it to 70 mph and if it will be a slamming ride. I know these boats have a rep as being good platforms for transport, but doesnt mean it will handle the rough

BTW have you been to Antigua?

No just stopped there on liat......The hull is a dry wave crushing hull....I think it is based on the 36' widebody cigarette hull. Needs alot of power compared to other hulls ie fountain...With a fresh pair of 500's and those speedmaster 3 drives it should be in the 60's. Maybe someone with more experience could chime in here.

p.s. only someone from antigua would use the name wadadli:coolcowboy: