Invincible Boats of Miami has secured a niche for itself with great-running, good-looking, well-designed center consoles built with advanced composites. These boats are turning heads and winning tournaments. With 33-, 36- and 42-foot models, the company has consistently turned out semi-custom owner-focused boats for several years. The vacuum-bagged hulls, built with E-glass and Corecell and a structural grid stringer system, are strong and light. I had the opportunity to test a new 36 out of the Coral Reef Yacht Club, in Coconut Grove, Florida, with Invincible Boats owner Alex Lipworth and company sales and marketing director Bill Cordes. At first glance, I noticed the tight fit and finish and well-done glasswork. The gelcoat was even and had a rich look, implying proper technique in its application. Quality hardware and attention to rigging detail were readily evident wherever I looked.
For you speed freaks, the Invincible 36 is fast. Our test boat came rigged with triple Yamaha F300s and proved plenty quick out of the hole, with little, if any, bow lift. It jumped on plane and in no time was zipping along, with three of us on board, carrying 320 gallons of its 475-gallon fuel capacity.
At 4,000 rpm, it ran 47 mph, making 1.3 miles per gallon. At 5,000 rpm, it skipped along at 58 mph and still got 1 mpg. That’s roughly 10 more miles covered in an hour for practically the same fuel burn. If you want to back the boat down and lope along to get some better economy on a long trip, pull it to 3,000 rpm, and it’ll still run at 32.7 mph while getting 1.7 mpg.
The Michael Peters stepped-hull design is fast and lands softly, without flying out of the water when jumping waves. The boat turns harder and faster than most folks could possibly need it to, gripping the water in a turn like it’s on rails — no wiggle, no blowout, no slide, just good traction. It was very stable lying to on a drift, and the deck stayed dry even with a couple of us standing in the back corner.
The boat’s laid out well, with great fishing features, including flush-mounted pull-up deck hardware and recessed handrails. The anchor locker is easy to access and is set up to retain the hook and hold plenty of line. On the centerline, there’s a subdeck insulated fish box that can be rigged as a hot-tub-size 144-gallon livewell. Our test boat had the optional 150-gallon insulated and gasket-sealed coffin box — something I would absolutely have on any boat like this.
Outboard of the stringers, forward of the console, are two in-deck storage bins that are over 71/2 feet long and can be used for either general storage or rod storage, as they can be locked. The console features a lift-up front seat for access to the space below, which is finely finished and nicely laid out, offering an excellent place to work on things.
There are five vertical rod holders and a drink holder on each side of the console, and the aft side is all business, with a large dash to accommodate two big screens and other electronics, protected with a flip-down plexiglass cover. All switches are tucked under the helm on the lower face at hip height. Our test boat had the helm to port, but it can be mounted on the centerline for easier access from either side when fishing shorthanded.
The test boat came rigged with an optional composite hardtop with wiring chases and rigging spaces for easy access and service. All of the available T-tops feature schedule-80 pipe to help them endure the speeds and forces they’re asked to weather. There are additional rod holders across the back of the top and recessed LED overhead lights, as well as forward and aft spreader lights.
The optional leaning post on the test boat was also well thought out. A lift-up seat reveals storage beneath, and a door on the front offers more on-deck tackle storage. There are tackle stations on each side, grab rails and an aft-facing seat with a cooler that has two inches of insulation around it.
Two in-deck fish boxes outboard of the stringers in the aft deck are also insulated, and a 55-gallon livewell on the centerline can be enlarged as an optional 85-gallon well for serious live-baiters. The lazarette hatch is large and makes access to bilge pumps, the livewell sea chest and through-hulls easy. The sea chest features main and backup pumps for reliable service. The bilge is nicely finished with Awlgrip paint and neatly rigged.
A 63-gallon transom livewell on the centerline is fed by the sea chest and can be adjusted with valves to optimize inward and outward flow so bait is not beat up on the way to the fishing grounds. The transom is notably massive on the 36, requiring 71/2-inch bolts to mount the engines. This mass is a good indicator of the thought process behind the construction of the boat — make it strong, and overbuild it where necessary.
The Invincible 36 is a fine boat with a great ride and is built with top-quality materials and processes, with the look and feel of a serious fish boat. Even in a market with a couple of great boats in this class, the Invincible 36 is certainly worthy of a hard look.
Invincible Boats 36
Length: 36’8″
Beam: 10″
Deadrise: 22 degrees
Weight: 9,300 lbs. (dry)
Fuel: 475 gals.
Water: 30 gals.
Max hp: 1,000
Base price: $240,000 with triple Yamaha F300s
Invincible Boats: 305-685-2704 • www.invincibleboats.com
