Midnight Express, the Miami Interceptor That Became a Luxury Center Console

From government interceptors to private yachts

Midnight Express built its name in South Florida, where performance hulls were developed for long, fast runs across the Florida Straits. The brand became well known for interceptor versions used by US law enforcement and government agencies, including Customs and Border Protection, which needed boats that could run at high speed in open water for hours and survive the punishment.

That pedigree carried over to the private market. Midnight Express open boats combined a deep-V offshore hull, quad outboards and a luxurious console and cabin, appealing to buyers who wanted the fastest serious center console on the dock rather than the most fishing features.

The 37, the 43 and the 52, a three-step ladder

We cover three current Midnight Express models, and together they show how the yard has scaled one idea, a stepped deep-V with 22 degrees of deadrise at the transom and a stack of outboards, from a boat that fits many docks to one that needs a captain's attention. Every hull is built to order, so no two used examples are quite alike.

The Midnight Express 37 Open is the entry point and the oldest design of the three. Its hull goes back at least to the 37 Cabin that Power & Motoryacht tested in 2007, it became the last Midnight model switched to resin infusion in 2014, and today's boats leave Miami on triple or quad outboards, recently Mercury Racing 400Rs or 450Rs. At just over 37 feet with an 11 foot 6 inch beam, it is the practical choice for owners who want 80 mph capability without the running costs of a bigger boat.

The Midnight Express 43 Open, launched in 2015, sits in the middle and remains the core of the range. It has a twin-step, fully infused hull, a 12 foot 6 inch beam and 450 gallons of fuel, and it usually carries four or five outboards. Owners who want overnight space can choose the 43 Solstice, which wraps a V-berth, galley and head into a stretched console on the same hull.

The Midnight Express 52 Vitesse debuted at the 2022 Miami show on six Mercury Racing 450Rs, filling the gap between the 43s and the 60 Pied-A-Mer. It adds a real cabin with a queen berth, a fold-out side platform, about 800 gallons of fuel and a choice of four to six outboards. It competes with HCB, Invincible, Nor-Tech and Cigarette center consoles, as do its smaller siblings, and all three are popular in South Florida, the Bahamas and the Northeast for fast island runs and long day trips.

Factory support, resale and the inspection list

Midnight Express is a family business, run since 2006 by brothers Eric and Harris Glaser, who took over from founder Tom Mason, and it still builds the 43 Open to order alongside the cabin-equipped 43 Solstice. On a used boat, confirm what remains of any factory warranty and ask the yard for the build sheet. Most components, including outboards, steering, electronics and hardware, come from mainstream suppliers, so service by a good outboard dealer and a performance boat shop is straightforward. Resale depends heavily on engine hours, rigging and whether the boat has been run hard.

Inspect these areas closely.

• Hours and service records on every outboard, plus gearcase and steering condition
• Transom, bracket and engine mounting for stress cracks
• Hull bottom, strakes and keel for impact damage from high-speed running
• Console, hardtop and windshield mounts for cracking
• Wiring, batteries and digital controls
• Government surplus history on ex-interceptor boats, including hours and repairs