SeaVee Boats: Miami Builder Innovates with Pod Propulsion and New Models

When Ariel Pared bought a 31-foot SeaVee in 1993, he was so impressed with the build and performance that he ended up buying the company a year later. Pared, then 26, joined childhood friends Ralph Torres and Moises Rodriguez to acquire SeaVee in 1994. Together the three transformed the Miami-based builder into a recognized name in sport-fishing and center-console boats, combining hands-on ownership with a focus on innovation and customer-driven design.

Today SeaVee produces a range of 18 models from 29 to 43 feet and has become notable for bringing new propulsion solutions to recreational boats. One of the company’s most talked-about advances was the launch, in partnership with ZF Marine, of a 34-foot center console fitted with a single inboard pod—introduced at the 2010 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The single-pod installation was positioned as a way to offer inboard-style handling and fuel efficiency to buyers who did not want to step up to larger twin-engine boats.

“The idea was to give customers the option of a single inboard with a pod without the expense of moving into a much larger twin-engine vessel,” says Torres, SeaVee’s vice president and head of production and product development. A single CMD 480-hp diesel driving a ZF pod delivered improved fuel economy, nimble maneuvering and joystick control via ZF’s SmartCommand system. SeaVee has continued developing pod-based installations, also embracing Volvo Penta IPS on larger models.

SeaVee’s drive to adopt new technology is ongoing. The company recently introduced a 43 Express with twin Volvo Penta IPS 600 pods to improve cockpit space and efficiency. “You can’t sit still in this industry,” Torres says. “When better options appear, you have to adopt and adapt.” Pared explains that SeaVee’s size allows them to move fast on new ideas: “Smaller builders can design and turn around new models in months, while larger companies often dilute concepts as they work through multiple departments.”

One soon-to-launch model is the 43 Fisharound, a crossover blending the features of a walkaround express and a center console. It pairs a raised helm, full superstructure and wraparound windshield with a mostly single-level deck and an open fishing layout. With a 13.5-foot beam, the Fisharound will be roomy for its length, offering an air-conditioned bridge deck, a full-size tuna tower that does not obstruct fishing sightlines, multiple live wells, and a cabin that sleeps four plus a head and small galley. SeaVee plans to offer the 43 Fisharound with outboards, pods, or inboard propulsion and intends to price it in the mid- to low-$600,000 range, targeting anglers who want high-end fishability without the cost of larger custom yachts.

The company’s hands-on, factory-direct model means the owners spend significant time with customers on the water, gathering real-world feedback. Pared fishes SeaVee boats in tournaments and has logged hundreds of hours on models like the 390 IPS, learning how layout and propulsion affect fishability and release times. That direct customer interaction helps SeaVee treat each hull as a semi-custom build and enables quick, practical changes to meet owner needs.

SeaVee first introduced pods in 2007 and chose to be an early partner with ZF Marine because of a shared interest in advancing propulsion for center consoles. ZF’s single-pod package on the SeaVee 340i pod combines a Cummins MerCruiser Diesel QSB5.9-480 and a ZF 2800 Series pod, integrated with SmartCommand and an electric bow thruster. The system offers joystick docking and an Easidock mode that increases pod steering angle to aid tight maneuvering. ZF also emphasizes proportional thruster control and electronic compass integration to prevent yaw during sideways movement. SeaVee modified the 340 hull to accommodate the pod and positioned the model as a fuel-efficient, high-maneuverability option for anglers.

ZF and SeaVee have used pod-powered boats in Florida tournaments, citing strong fuel-burn numbers and precise station-keeping for fishing around kelp beds. The single-pod concept continues to attract industry interest, and ZF has been working with other builders on similar projects.

Beyond propulsion innovation, SeaVee has improved usable cockpit space with installs like the 43 Express IPS. Removing the traditional outboard motor well allowed SeaVee to push the stern back and add roughly 23 square feet of cockpit area—valuable real estate for serious anglers. The company’s pricing across models reflects a balance of premium features and competitive value relative to larger custom builders.

SeaVee’s roots go back to the early 1960s, when founder Don McGee built dive and fishing boats in the Florida Keys. McGee produced over 300 boats before retiring, and he praises the current ownership for listening to customers and maintaining a builder’s inventive spirit. Longtime buyers echo that sentiment: owners appreciate SeaVee’s willingness to accommodate custom requests, responsive service, and direct access to company leadership.

Since the 1994 purchase, the company has grown from seven employees building 15–20 boats a year to a staff of more than 100 and production approaching 85 boats annually. The owners emphasize sustainable growth while preserving a factory-direct, semi-custom approach that keeps close ties to customers and allows rapid innovation.

SeaVee plans to strengthen sales in the Southeast by expanding local presence and service, with an office in West Palm Beach and plans for further representation in the Keys. The company aims to deepen market saturation close to its Miami factory while continuing to refine propulsion options and new models for serious sport-fishermen and family boaters alike.

Contact information (as provided in the original article): SeaVee Boats, (305) 759-6419; ZF Marine, (954) 441-4040.

This article originally appeared in the Southern Waters section of the November 2011 issue.