39 Sport Express

Tiara started the trend toward big, dual-purpose (fish or cruise) express boats with the introduction in 1991 of their 4300 Open. Viking and Bertram soon came out with 43-footers, and Hatteras followed with the 39 Sport Express in 1995. She is unquestionably a handsome boat—among the best in her class when it comes to styling. (The cruising version, with curved bridge deck seating and a sport arch, is pictured here.) She’s built on the same deep-draft hull used for the Hatteras 39 Convertible with moderate beam, a flared bow and cored hullsides. The Sport Express is a big boat on the outside with a party-size bridge deck and a cockpit large enough to handle a full-size chair. Originally offered with curved seating opposite the helm, later models have more traditional L-shaped lounge seating. Cockpit features include an in-deck fish box, molded tackle center, transom door, and direct access to the engine room. Inside, the single-stateroom floorplan will sleep four to six and comes complete with a stall shower in the head. Twin 435hp Cats cruise at 23 knots (26–27 knots top) and 465hp Detroit 6-71s provide a 25-knot cruising speed (28–29 knots wide open).