Mega center consoles are no longer new, but the new Belzona 40CC is certainly unique in this increasingly popular class of boats. For one, it’s not merely a fishing boat. It’s designed to be a dive boat, an entertainment platform, an offshore fishing vessel, and a boat that can make an easy run over to the Bahamas. Its unique feature is the sliding cockpit door to starboard that has become the builder’s signature calling card. No other manufacturer builds anything like it, a fiberglass component that slides aft on a stainless-steel trolley system mounted on a self-lubricating track. It’s so much more than a dive door. In fact, it’s wide enough to accommodate wheelchair entry from a dock. But there’s more to this boat to consider, starting with its performance.
While the 40CC can be rigged with quadruple outboards, our test boat came equipped with triple Mercury 350 Verados, which did an exemplary job of getting this 16,900-pound boat off and running. When I pushed down the throttles, the 40CC smoothly climbed onto plane with no appreciable bow rise obstructing the view from the helm — aided in part by the aft keel pad that helps generate lift. The deep-V hull tapers to 22 degrees of deadrise at the transom. Visibility from the helm station, raised 13 inches above the aft cockpit, is excellent at all times through the forward-raked windshield that protects the crew from the elements. With the engines revving between 4,500 and 5,000 rpm, the boat hit its sweet spot, settling into a mid-30s cruising speed that felt smooth and dialed in, tracking straight and true in a tight chop and steady crosswind. We hit 53 mph at wide-open throttle, never once feeling the 1-foot bay chop we blasted through while underway. Adding the fourth outboard should boost top-end speed by about 5 mph. Turning and handling felt surprisingly responsive for a 40-foot boat. And back at the marina, the joystick control made docking a nonevent.
The 40CC’s deck layout is also different than what is typical of the genre. As mentioned, the helm station is elevated from the main cockpit, accessed via walk-throughs to each side. Rather than the stadium-seating arrangement — forward-facing rows of seats — found on competitors such as the Boston Whaler 420 Outrage ($803,882 with quadruple 300 Verados), the Belzona features a single pedestal-mounted captain’s chair in front of the wheel with an L-shaped lounge behind it. Belzona says the design encourages more socialization. The captain’s chair rotates so the driver can join the conversation when the boat is at rest. Mount the table there to create a dinette. The steering wheel on our test boat was offset to port, but during the build process it can be shifted to center at the owner’s request. A second pedestal chair can be added, and many of the features can be customized to the owner’s liking. Belzona will also be adding a lockable glove box in future production, as well as a much-needed passenger grab rail at the helm.
The aft cockpit features flip-down jump seats and a transom bench, as well as a portside walk-through to the extended platform behind the transom. Our test model featured a barbecue on the entertainment center of what would be called the leaning-post station on a typical center console. Belzona will also customize this real estate to suit the owner’s needs. A sturdy hardtop covers the helm area, and an electric SureShade extends over the cockpit at the push of a button. Fishy types can add a tower to the hardtop. Our tester’s hardtop featured four rear-facing Bazooka speakers. The hardtop piping also has seven built-in overhead rod holders. Just be sure to remove any rods before you try to deploy the SureShade.
Creature comforts? Coaming bolsters wrap the inwales from stem to stern, and the SeaDek flooring underfoot cushions your feet while providing traction. Perhaps no spot exudes comfort more than the bow area, which resembles that of a European cruiser. It features wraparound seating with a recessed grab rail and strategically placed cup holders and stereo speakers. The area just forward of the helm, elevated to accommodate the cabin below, sports twin sun loungers with adjustable backrests. The front of that area features a forward-facing love seat with adjustable armrests.
The cabin is bright and spacious, with 6 feet 7 inches of headroom. It features a dinette that can be converted to a V-berth for overnighting. The head to port is well-appointed and features a separate shower. The galley on our test model was small, featuring a microwave and refrigerator just below the ship’s systems, but Belzona can install a larger galley at the owner’s request. Belzona is owned and built by avid boaters who understand that different people like to use and equip their boats a certain way. With the new 40CC, the ways to use and enjoy it are many.
High Points
- Antennas and navigation lights on the hardtop lower with the push of a button for bridge transit.
- Visibility from the elevated helm is excellent through the wide forward-raked windshield.
- Sliding dive door to the starboard-side of the cockpit is a Belzona staple.
Low Points
- Extended engine-mounting platform behind the transom makes it hard to swing big fish around the outboards.
- Needs an additional grab handle at the helm for passengers, which Belzona says it is adding onto production models.
Price: $745,681 (as tested)
Available Power: Outboard
How We Tested
Engines: Triple Mercury 350 Verado outboards
Props: Revolution 4 161/4″ x 17″ 4-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.75:1
Fuel Load: 250 gal.
Crew Weight: 380 lb.
More Information
Belzona Marine – Miami Lakes, Florida; 305-512-3200; belzonamarine.com
