Sea-Doo unveils watercraft built for fishing at 2019 Detroit Boat Show
Just last summer, Nick Carnacchi turned PVC pipes into a makeshift fishing rod rack and attached the contraption to his Sea-Doo, so his personal watercraft could double as a fishing vessel.
"It's a lot different than regular fishing, it's more exhilarating," said the 33-year-old from West Bloomfield. "You're closer to the water, it's just more of an experience."
But little did Carnacchi know that a Sea-Doo built with his love of fishing in mind was on the horizon.
At the 2019 annual Detroit Boat Show on Saturday at Cobo Center, Sea-Doo showed off what it calls the "first and only" personal watercraft designed specifically for sport fishing: the Fish Pro 155. The boat show continues through Feb. 24.
Ted McKercher, a Sea-Doo product specialist at the show, emphasized the Fish Pro's abundant storage spaces and features, such as a Garmin GPS device and sonar fish finder.
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He added that Sea-Doo has been watching the interest in a fishing-dedicated personal watercraft for quite some time, and listening to this interest led to the new, 2019 model.
"For a long time people have been adapting their watercrafts, asking for a fishing model," McKercher said.
"It's a fun watercraft."
The Fish Pro 155 starts at $14,799, said McKercher, who also pointed out several other features on the unique watercraft:
- A trolling mode that comes with nine different pre-set speeds
- LinQ attachment systems for mounting things, such as coolers, fishing rod holders, fuel caddies or extra storage containers
- An extended rear platform
- A spacious forward storage space
- An ST3 hull with a shape that McKercher said "goes through the water smoother" and makes the craft "a lot less tippy," because the center of gravity is lowered
- A larger fuel tank than other standard ST3 models — it holds 18.5 gallons
- A built-in waterproof Bluetooth sound system
- The capacity to seat three, but with a removable seat that can be turned into a casting area
Carnacchi looked over the new Fish Pro 155 alongside his family members.
"It's a got a stereo system, a killer stereo system, and they have the sonar GPS," Carnachhi said. "You can never get lost, you go out on Lake Michigan, you go on any big lakes... You always find your way back."
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He added that he's enjoyed taking his makeshift fishing Sea-Doo to sites such as Cass Lake, Middle Straits Lake and Upper Straits Lake, but he can see himself opting for the Fish Pro 155 down the road.
However, Carnacchi added that he also checked out the red, high-speed 2019 Sea-Doo RXT-X 300 on display.
His mom, Jan Carnacchi, told the Free Press that they've been coming to the Boat Show for years. It's been a family tradition since the West Bloomfield family got its first boat in 1989, she said.
"It's the middle of winter, and everybody's thinking summertime," his dad, Lynn Carnacchi added.
Lynn Carnacchi said another cool sight at the Boat Show was the GM electric pontoon boat.
"It's electric! A boat!" he said. "I think that's cool, for a pontoon boat that's cool."
Patrick Felgner, who traveled to Cobo Center from in Toledo, Ohio with his wife and great nephew, also took a look at the Fish Pro 155.
"It's something unique, they're literally trying to accommodate everybody," he said, but added that he doesn't have the patience for fishing.
Felgner said he's been coming to the Boat Show every year for the past "10 or 15 years or so, probably," because he loves seeing what's new in the industry.
"We're always out, intrigued to see what's new and what they've come up with," he said. "We boat in the Irish Hills at Clark Lake, just south of Jackson, Michigan."
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Contact Aleanna Siacon: ASiacon@freepress. Follow her on Twitter: @AleannaSiacon.