Lightning Boat Works Offering 20-Foot Entry-Level Sportboat

A marine industry veteran who spent much of his career on the dealership side, Mitch Kaplan remembers the days when entry-level in the new go-fast powerboat world meant low-to-mid-five-figure price-tags. These days, entry-level requires adding another zero to the sticker, and though Kaplan sold his Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Sunsation Boats dealership dubbed Captain’s Choice Boats and “retired” six years ago he’s keenly aware of current powerboat pricing.

Lightning Boat Works has built four 20-footers so far and is working hull No. 5.

“What we missing in the business is ‘point of entry,’” he explained. “Not everyone has a half million or million dollars to spend on a boat.

“How do new people who can’t afford that get into boating?” he continued. “How do you create a market down the road?”

To that end, Kaplan unretired a little more than a year ago and started Lightning Boat Works with his friends and former business associates J.R. Jenney and Rick Rosenberger. The business itself is headquartered, Lightning Boat Works is manufacturing is handled by Polar Boats in Columbus, Ga.

The boat’s helm station has everything a driver needs.

Dubbed the Strike 200, the first model is a closed-deck, outboard-engine-powered 20-footer with 7’11” beam. With a 250-hp Suzuki outboard on the transom, the conventional 21-degree deadrise V-bottom lists for $64,900. Drop down to a 150-hp outboard—the builder offers power from Mercury Marine, Mercury Racing and Suzuki—and you’re looking at $49,000. Standard equipment includes a Simrad monitor, gauges, a base-level stereo (upgrades are available), dual swim-platforms, a smart-phone charger and “lots of storage space,” according to Kaplan.

The company has built four 200 Strike models so far. An open-bow version is in the planning stages.

The Strike 200 was designed with the functionality and ease of us of a Baja 20 Outlaw in mind.

“We planned on maxing out at 250 hp, but a customer wanted one with a Mercury Racing 300R so we did it for him,” Kaplan said.

The boat-builder is still establishing its dealer network. Marine Tech Concepts of Marblehead, Ohio, Captain’s Choice in Fort Walton Beach and Portside Marine in Winter Park, Fla., are the company’s current distributors, and Kaplan said more will follow.

The 20-footer doesn’t lack for hot-rod good looks and sex appeal.

Next up for Lightning Boat Works is a twin-engine 25-footer, but that is farther down the road. Right now, Kaplan and company are focused on the promoting the 200 Strike.

“Probably everyone who owned a big, expensive performance boat started with something like a Baja 20 Outlaw,” he said. “They were easy to use. People had a great time with them. We want to bring back entry-level boating.”