The way he jumps from dock to dock at the Sea Isle Marina venue of the Miami Boat Show belies Mainship VP Jim Krueger's new status as a grandfather but it seems to fit the atmosphere around Mainship these days. There is a new vigor, an energy about the brand that is almost palpable. In a briefing to reporters on the docks at his company's display, Krueger talked about new boats, new layouts and new plans.
While he spoke, one of his company's most recent innovations bobbed quietly in its slip -- the Pilot 31. This boat shares the same hull as its predecessor, the Pilot 30, but nearly everything else is new, from the wildly innovative new stateroom forward that shares both a full queen bed and a convertible that turns into twin bunks -- a great solution for bring a couple of the grandkids along on a weekend cruise. Krueger said the 31 Pilot was really designed for the couple who wants to do the Great Circle on a typical cruise of a couple of years.
Mainship is part of the Luhrs corporate brand family and one interesting fact revealed by Mainship today was that the 31 Pilot is being built by corporate brother Silverton Marine in that company's Millville, New Jersey factory, where there was capacity not available at the Mainship facility in St. Augustine, Florida.
Behind the reporters was the new "Expedition Trawler," built on the hull of the former Mainship 40 but with an interior nothing like that boat. Krueger explained that Mainship has benefitted from a focus on customer input, and his customers had been telling him they wanted a more inviting and relaxing salon configuration as well as more entertainment possibilities. So, in the Expedition Trawler, you will find a totally new salon with twin recliners to port and an L-shaped settee to starboard that can convert to a full sleeper. The galley has been moved forward and the result is a great space to relax at anchor or to sit and watch a move on the new, bigger flat screen tvs.
The bridge deck retains the expansive layout of the 40, which has proved popular with customers who find it has lots of room for relaxing, entertaining and cooking with the built-in grill that many owners choose.
The boat is available with a single, electronic diesel of either 380 or 440 HP, or twin 260 HP engines and will cruise at 13-15 knots with the singles, or run to 17+ knots with the twins. A bow thruster is standard with the single engine and Mainship reports that more and more customers are ordering a stern thruster as well.
