MTI At 25: Enter The Massive V 57 Center Console
Unveiled at the 2012 Miami International Boat Show, the MTI-V 42 center console began the Wentzville, Mo., high-performance powerboat builder’s eventual reinvention. Founder Randy Scism, his wife, Cherell and their team had made a formidable name for the company in the go-fast pleasure and offshore racing catamaran worlds, but those categories had cooled dramatically. So Scism and company wisely sought other avenues, first by entering the outboard engine-powered center console segment and second by creating a 34-foot outboard-equipped sport catamaran a few years later.
The V 57 is the largest center console in the MTI line. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
Dubbed the V 42, MTI’s high-styled 42-footer rode on a patented bottom—and was an immediate hit with performance-minded buyers around the country. Scism continued thinking big along center-console lines, and in 2016 MTI debuted a 57-foot, pre-production version of the model at the Dubai International Boat Show.
Powered by four Seven Marine 627 outboards, the V 57 made its United States debut at the 2017 Miami International Boat Show, which had moved from its original South Beach/Miami location to Virginia Key.
John Tomlinson, Jason Johnson and the rest of the speedonthewater.com test team put Todd Campbell’s Unbridled 57-footer through its paces during the 2018 Miami International Boat Show.
In 2018, the company displayed V 57 No. 3—this one powered by five Mercury Racing 400R outboard engines—during the Miami event. That boat was sold to Todd Campbell, a passionate South Carolina-based MTI fan, who named it Unbridled. Campbell has put more than 500 running hours the supercharged six-cylinder outboards.
“They perform well,” he said. “I’ve had no issues.”
Later that year in October, MTI showcased a fishing version of the 57-footer at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. In 2021, the company added a tweener, dubbed the V 50, to its center console line. And that is where the series currently stands.
The first V 57 was introduced in pre-production form during the 2016 Dubai International Boat Show, and was followed by another 57-footer with Seven Marine outboards the following year at the Miami International Boat Show.
Scism said his company has built “nine or ten” V 57 center consoles. Several have gone overseas buyers in far-flung places such as Hong Kong, Turkey, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ibiza.
“The rest have gone to U.S. buyers,” said Scism. “We build a couple a year, and currently we do have more in line.”
Even among a heady fleet of MTI center consoles and catamarans, the V 57 is hard to miss.
Editor’s note: “MTI At 25” is a weekly series on speedonthewater.com celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary. A new installment will go live every Wednesday on speedonthewater.com through the end of the year.
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