Written by Matt Trulio
Though Kruis Retherford and her team at GSX Powerboats had hoped to showcase their first GSX 36 center console powered by Mercury Racing 500R outboard engines at the Kuttawa Cannonball Run in early June, the boat wasn’t completed in time. That’s not unusual in the high-performance boat-building world, and it turned out to be a blessing of sorts as debris in the water and stormy weather plagued the eighth annual Kentucky event.
The first GSX Powerboats 36 center console powered by Mercury Racing 500R outboard engines will be in the Boyne Thunder Poker Runmix this weekend. Photos courtesy GSX Powerboats
But the triple 500-hp-outboard-powered center console is ready now and in Boyne City, Mich., for the 21st annual Boyne Thunder Poker Run.
“I couldn’t be more impressed with the performance and handling of our GSX 36 rigged with triple Mercury Racing 500R engines,” said Retherford, who owns the company and was the subject of a Speed On The Water/Scrapyard Media documentary video last year.
Painter Paul Boyden of Pensacola, Fla., dressed the 36-footer in graphics created by Stephen Miles Design.
The boat boasts a reconfigured deck that the company unveiled in February at the Miami International Boat Show in another 36-footer. Enhancements include a new seating setup, a walk-through transom and taller gunwales.
Working from a design created by Stephen Miles, Paul Boyden handled the center console’s paintjob.
A lifelong performance boat enthusiast, Retherford is delighted with the boat’s performance.
“It’s no secret that my team has been working diligently on building a top-shelf performance boat with a stable and secure ride,” Retherford said. “With all the adjustments we’ve made to our build process and hull designs, I think we’ve accomplished that.
“I’m excited for everyone to be able to experience this ride,” she added. “I’m excited to showcase it this week at Boyne Thunder.”
The boat’s reimagined deck includes a new seating setup, a walk-through transom and taller gunwales.
The team from Schneider’s Motorsports and Marine of Fair Haven, Mich., will be displaying and running the 36-footer this week during the Boyne Thunder event.
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