BLACKFIN 32 FLYBRIDGE
By Pete Barrett
A low profile, flared bow, raked stem and gently rising sheer line give the Blackfin 32 Flybridge a muscular look that confidently declares, “I can do it!”
Bad weather and sloppy seas seem to flatten beneath its Charles Jannace deep-vee hull, a design that traces its roots back to the late 1970s when it was originally marketed as the Maritimer 9.6, which Blackfin later acquired. There were two Blackfin versions of this famous 32-foot hull, an open express-style boat called the Combi and the Flybridge.
In 1982, Capt. Len Belcaro, founder of the Big Game Fishing Journal purchased hull No. 3, a 1980 model, and most likely the oldest Blackfin Flybridge 32 still operating today. After 32 years of running the Midnight Express, Len has never second-guessed his decision. “It’s a helluva sea boat for offshore fishing and there’s plenty of cabin room for long-distance cruising,” he says. Len has made the Intracoastal Waterway run from Jersey to Key West, sailed her to Cuba to fish the Hemingway International Billfish Tournament and to several ports in the Bahamas.
Aside from countless offshore fishing trips and many notable catches, among his fondest memories are of an extended cruise running The Ditch with his wife, Luann.
“We took our time, sometimes staying at marinas, sometimes stopping anywhere we had the urge to stop along the Intracoastal. We’d drop the anchor off the bow, and the crab traps off the stern to collect dinner. We had a wonderful trip. We were once stuck by bad weather for seven days in the Tortugas, but that just added to our appreciation of the boat.”
In 1990, Len repowered with new 3208 Caterpillars, and to maximize the performance potential he asked Dave Wrigley at the Canyon Club in Cape May, N.J., to wave his magic wand. When finished, and with aftercoolers installed, the Cats pushed 370 horses and loped along easily at a 21-knot cruise at 2,100 rpm. Wide open she pushed 29.9 knots, with crew, full fuel, tackle and provisions.
“I added a Tower Power tower, which raised the center of gravity slightly, but at cruise speed she still rode rock solid,” Len said, “although she rocked a bit more while drifting.” A tower can cut speed, but not on his Blackfin 32. “The tower gave some lift to the boat and she actually gained speed.”
The unique design of the Jannace hull eliminates the snap roll that plagues some deep-vee hulls. “It helps to keep the fuel topped off if you’re expecting to shark fish or do some inshore fluke fishing,” says Len, “but she really shines when running a head sea. I’ve run the Midnight Express back from canyon trips when the seas were pretty awful. Just back off the throttle about 200 or 300 rpms and she pushes right through some nasty stuff without much loss of speed. The ride is absolutely amazing.”
Offshore anglers have always appreciated the fishability of the Blackfin 32. The generous size of the cockpit, which is quite large for a boat of this size, has plenty of room for a fight chair, and the wide boxes covering the engines provide great seating for the crew and a place to be comfortable while trolling. The hinged boxes also make engine servicing a happy chore since access is wide open for fluid checks, oil changes and routine maintenance.
Step down from the cockpit into the cabin and you’re greeted with a nicely finished crews quarters with teak trim and off-white laminated surfaces. The attractive, bright interior is nicely laid out for cooking and sleeping. You don’t feel like you’re in a cave, and there’s plenty storage space. The cabin features include a dinette, U-shaped galley, shower and head and generous vee-berth forward.
The Blackfin 32 is a great candidate for upgrading, especially with more modern, lighter diesel power options that can push speeds into the low 30-knot range. There’s room at the helm for the latest electronics packages, and interiors can be spruced up with new fabrics and trim. A credit to the over-build-it philosophy of the craftsmen at Blackfin, the 32s rarely have blistering problems or stringer problems, and are easily refurbished. Cosmetically all that is needed is repair of any dings and fishing battle scars, squirt a new coat of Awlgrip or Alexseal paint and they’ll shine like a new penny. Still much in demand today, the Blackfin 32 Flybridge is truly a Timeless Classic.
