The first time I saw a Midnight Express I was quite intimidated — not because of the boat's aggressive styling, meticulous finish or the four big outboards on the transom, but because of the firepower aboard one of Homeland Security's fastest rides. While the new 37 Open might not carry the same weaponry as its government counterpart, it has the same heart-stopping speed and performance that drug runners fear and the fishability to declare war on creatures of the deep.

Performance
Throttling across the calm waters of Baltimore's inner harbor, I sulked at the lack of rough-water testing conditions until I realized this was one of the busiest ports on the East Coast. Rocketing across the mountainous wake of the first freighter I sighted, the 37's bow parted the 4-foot waves without launching, bridged the swell, and rode through their backs without the slightest change in course. Spinning quickly and overtaking the wake, it displayed the same predictable response down-sea. 
 
As I pinned the throttles, the quadruple 300-hp Mercury Verados immediately pressed me to my seat. The 37 rose onto plane instantaneously with minimal     bow rise; the engines purred as if hardly working. At wide-open throttle, we hit an incredible 73 mph at 6,200 rpm, burning 116 gph. With its double-stepped hull, the vessel should hit 75 mph with 93-octane gas running through the engines, the  company says. Pulling the throttles back to 5,000 rpm, we cruised at a comfortable 60 mph, burning a more-meager 65 gph — great economy for having 1,200 ponies on the transom.
 
Arching through a series of turns, spins and circles, the 37 laid over into each turn without a single quirk or inappropriate response. The newly added spray rail running around the bow shielded every drop of spray from the slight bay chop. I pulled out of gear and we drifted abeam through a large yacht's wake. The 37's wide beam provided a minimal roll and an immediate tendency to right itself.
 
Throughout a range of trolling speeds, the wake stayed clean and organized despite the massive outboards on the transom. Racing into reverse, the vessel  displayed an immediate responsiveness while chasing fish and backing into its slip. With a slight touch of the bow thruster, you needn't fear any slip or launch ramp maneuvering.

Fishing
When I'm fishing, I look for ample space to work. The 37's whopping  11 1/2-foot beam (up to 18 inches more than most comparable boats) offers enough room to waltz past even your 300-pound buddies in pursuit of a greyhounding fish. Tall gunwales without any awkward angles, single-level decking from bow to stern and wide channels to wick water off the deck help keep anglers on their feet in the heat of the moment. Oval nonskid on the deck and gunwales provide great traction while being much easier on the knees and elbows than a diamond pattern.
 
I lost count of the gunwale-mounted rod holders running from bow to stern, but I think it was 16 per side! With three electric-reel plugs running along each side, too, this 37 comes well-equipped for kite-fishing or deep-dropping. Locking hatches in the deck alongside the console run a full 7 feet forward and feature a removable racking system to store extra rods and reels. 
   
Instead of building a standard coffin box at the bow, Midnight Express mounted a huge, custom-built, triangular Frigid Rigid ice and storage box.
 
Moving back to the console, I found four tackle-storage compartments holding five large, plastic tackle trays each. In total that's a whopping 20 plastic tackle trays, more than I've ever seen integrated into a cockpit area. With a 50-gallon, round livewell in the leaning post and 20- and 60-gallon livewells in the transom, this 37 is a live-baiter's dream. Not enough? Then opt for another 110-gallon livewell under the foredeck instead of the reserve fuel tank!

 Design and Construction
Although I reveled in the fishability of the Midnight Express 37, it's more than a cut-and-dried fish boat. Consider the comforts provided by a large, in-console electric head including an overhead shower and wall mirror — features the family will love. Speaking of comforts: At 70 mph, leaning back in the oversized bench at the helm with its three separate footrests was more rejuvenating than a psychiatrist's couch. Midnight Express will even make custom beanbag seats to match your boat's color scheme and leather accents. 
 
And consider the other guy-appeal features such as switch-activated hydraulic rams on any hatch that may weigh more than a few pounds, tons of room at the dash for electronics, optional factory-installed cameras to record the action in the cockpit as well as underwater, and a misting system with two spigots on the powder-coated hardtop and another six along the underside of the gunwales. Personally, I liked the inconspicuous fold-down boarding step on each side of the boat. Midnight Express uses only the best resins, coring above the waterline and multidirectional fiberglass bonded by vacuum bagging.

Midnight Express Boats / Fort Lauderdale, Florida / 954-928-0280 / www.midnightboats.com