Don’t let the headline fool you, I’m not talking about NFL Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young. I’m talking about the newest Deep Impact Custom Boats 499 center console that’s been transporting me through the Bahamas for the last six days. You know this, of course, if you’ve been following the speedonthewater.com travelogue-coverage of the 34th annual Florida Powerboat Club Bahamas Poker Run, which ends tomorrow with the 200-plus-mile return trip from Harbour Island to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
By the time we reach the mainland, I will have logged more than 500 miles on the six Mercury Racing 500R outboard-powered 49-footer with Deep Impact owners Mark Fischer and his wife, Eileen and their guests.
In smooth protected Bahamian water, the center console loafed along at 75-plus mph with more left in the throttles. In 5- to 7-foot wind-blown open Atlantic Ocean conditions, it had no trouble delivering a great ride at 30 to 40 mph.
That’s why calling the six-outboard 499,the second 49-foot model built by the Miami-based company, a beast—as I have—is a bit misleading. The boat is nimble. It carves delightfully secure turns. It tracks in compulsively straight lines. It comes on plane easily from a standing start with just a hint of bow-rise. Its spacious, well-appointed cabin handles the luggage required/desired for such a trip with plenty of space to spare.
In all regards, the Deep Impact 499 is a bad-ass ride.
It may even be badder than fellow badass Jerry Rice of 49er NFL team fame. And that’s saying something.