New Concept 44 Center Console Finds First Lake Of The Ozarks Home

Founded in 1986, Concept Boats of Miami has built 1,343 center consoles—that’s the official word from Eric Avila, the company’s vice president and son of its founder, Luis Avila. Of those, more than 60 have been 44-footers, the largest offering in the company’s lineup. But just one—thanks to a March 15 delivery of a new 44 Open model—is now at the Lake of the Ozarks in Central, Mo. And if current plans hold, it will run today for the first time on the popular waterway.

“We are so happy to have our first 44 at the Lake of the Ozarks,” Eric Avila said.

The first 44-foot Concept center console at the Lake of the Ozarks will be on the water today. Photos courtesy/copyright Concept Boats

The quad Mercury Racing 400R outboard engine-equipped center console is the property of Lloyd and Karie Smith, who live in Kansas City and have a second home at the popular waterway. For Lloyd Smith, the center console is a radical departure from the dozen Cigarette Racing Team sportboats he has owned in the past five years.

“I’d buy one, and then somebody would offer $30,000 more than I paid for it,” he said, then laughed. “So I’d just find another. I had 38s, 39s and 42s, but the problem was whenever we had like eight people on board every time we went out and it was getting crowded. I’d have someone standing right next to me.”

With the center console’s open layout, the Smiths should have all the space they need for guests.

That prompted Smith to start looking at performance-oriented center consoles. In the 44-foot model from Concept, he found what was for him the perfect balance of “bang for the buck” and customer service during the buying and building process.

“I have nothing but great things to say about Eric and the team at Concept,” Larry Smith said. “They were very accommodating.”

When the center console was complete, the Smiths traveled to South Florida and ran the boat in the area. The stayed for six days, but rugged conditions mostly kept them off the Atlantic Ocean and limited their time on the water to the Intracoastal Waterway. Still, Smith said he was delighted with the boat’s ride in what little rough water they found.

Smith described the 44-footer as delivering “bang for the buck.”

“It cuts through the waves better than most,” he said. “It’s a real V-bottom. It’s a very high-quality boat, I must say.

“We’re just going to run it a little on the lake, where we have it stored, today,” he added. “It’s supposed to be 68 degrees.”

The 44-footer is attractive from any angle—even sitting still.

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