In retrospect, it was only a matter of time before Essex Performance Boats guided their distinctive brand of custom workmanship into more serious high-performance water-- an event that has come to pass with the release of their stunning, 23-foot step-bottom Monarch.

The new bottom design, which came to be with the assistance of long time bottom guru and racer Eddie Morenz, adds another dimension to Essex's cavernous Monarch, which was released late last year with a conventional and very smooth-riding semi-vee platform.

The step-bottom was two years in the making and entailed an arduous incubation period spent not only breeding speed into the underside but also maintaining the same smooth driveability that we noted in tests of the original Monarch bottom. "We took a long time to release our step-bottom because it's a lot different than anyone else's," noted Essex co-owner Ron Sanchez (along with brother Steve). "We didn't release it until it was absolutely right."

Essex has culled an enthusiastic following with their rich line of 21- and 22-foot bowriders, which we've consistently ranked among our favorites at various Hot Boat test events. With the introduction of the new, optimal twin-step, they've created one of the fastest production bowriders we've ever tested--an item of note that fits nicely with the marquee's reputation for hardcore acceleration.