Story and photos by DinaRella / Additional photos from LOOKOUT
Getting ready for the Miami Boat Show means reading a ton of press releases on what’s being debuted, then making a plan on how to MacGyver through five days of manic-level gridlock to cover it all. After one email headline from SŌLACE read: Boats-n-Bourbon; brushing up on whiskey blends was added to the agenda to make things go down more smoothly at the party. Who was being toasted? The award-winning SŌLACE 37 Pilot outfitted with a ground-breaking artificial intelligence (AI) LOOKOUT camera system.
On Saturday night at the Herald Plaza in-water SŌLACE display, boaters and bourbon connoisseurs came together over a sampling of Blue Run Spirits. Launched five years back, the Kentucky-based company offers 13 bourbon and rye whiskey releases. Tastings of those were served on the docks instead of on the rocks, under the presence of knowledgeable curator Trey Wade
From the stern deck of the SŌLACE 41, Wade enthusiastically guided the group along elaborating on the different blends while pinpointing the sweet aromas and smoky notes unpacked in the samples. As the last swig of bourbon finished on my palate, one final product remained to uncork with SŌLACE founder Steven Dougherty: the all-new 37 Pilot sitting alongside its open-cockpit sibling 37 CS, radiating under the influence of some strong red LEDs.
Dougherty, who brings with him 40 years of boatbuilding experience behind the Boston Whaler, EdgeWater and Everglades brands, shares how the 37-footer powered by triple 400Rs was conceived, “I had the concept to do an enclosed helm station from the Everglades days. It had something like a Jeep door. We did one model and it got killed somewhere down the road. Over the years, people were asking about a pilot, and recently a Canadian inquired about a heated one to extend the season. So, I said, ‘it’s probably time to do a pilothouse.’ A year ago, we sketched up the concept, and decided to just go for it. There was an open boat in the mold going through production. That’s when we did the design, poured the glass, and built the plugs and molds. It was all done in ten weeks.”
Continuing, he says, “A lot of northerners come to this show, so we pushed to have it ready. To be able to tap into the Northeast market with our dealers is important. The funny part is more leads are coming in from Florida than anywhere else because of the air-conditioning. It’s so quiet. Running 65 mph with the doors closed is like being in an SUV.” Noises may not be heard, but guaranteed, when it comes to seeing – you won’t miss a thing with its LOOKOUT AI camera.
The new industry-leading LOOKOUT AI camera enhances performance, visibility and safer navigation in high-traffic environments by providing owner/operators the ability to detect vessels, markers and other hazards and make better navigation decisions, faster.
The network integrates cutting-edge artificial intelligence with real-time navigational data to enhance situational awareness. By synthesizing information from charts, AIS (Automatic Identification System), computer vision, and cloud-based data, LOOKOUT generates an intuitive, 3D augmented reality view of the channel ahead. CEO David Rose adds, “It even shows your route superimposed on the water like a yellow brick road.”
System components include:
1-LOOKOUT Camera: An AI-optimized three-camera system featuring infrared night-vision, high-resolution daylight zoom, and 360-degree views for docking.
2-LOOKOUT BRAIN: A high-capacity processor powered by NVIDIA technology to process multiple data streams and create an intuitive augmented reality view.
3-LOOKOUT Cloud: An optional service for boats with StarLink or other internet connection enabling community-driven data sharing.
The Camera sells for $3,995 and the Brain is $4,995. According to the company, installation is similar to that of a thermal camera setup. Dougherty finishes by saying, “Combining this new augmented reality function with our acclaimed fully-opening front windshield to reduce glare ensures our center console lineup is not only best-in-class, but also among the safest on the water.”
Agreeing with Dougherty’s best-in-class analysis, “The sliding doors stow out of the way ingeniously, and the helm foot pad is the most comfortable place I’ve ever stood on a boat,” said judge Kelsey Bonham when awarding the 37 Pilot the 2025 Miami Innovation Award in the Center Console/Walkaround category.
A detailed look at the Dougherty family history in boating can be found in our past feature linked below!
https://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/articles/sōlace-boats-the-dougherty-difference-part-one.827/
Getting ready for the Miami Boat Show means reading a ton of press releases on what’s being debuted, then making a plan on how to MacGyver through five days of manic-level gridlock to cover it all. After one email headline from SŌLACE read: Boats-n-Bourbon; brushing up on whiskey blends was added to the agenda to make things go down more smoothly at the party. Who was being toasted? The award-winning SŌLACE 37 Pilot outfitted with a ground-breaking artificial intelligence (AI) LOOKOUT camera system.
On Saturday night at the Herald Plaza in-water SŌLACE display, boaters and bourbon connoisseurs came together over a sampling of Blue Run Spirits. Launched five years back, the Kentucky-based company offers 13 bourbon and rye whiskey releases. Tastings of those were served on the docks instead of on the rocks, under the presence of knowledgeable curator Trey Wade
From the stern deck of the SŌLACE 41, Wade enthusiastically guided the group along elaborating on the different blends while pinpointing the sweet aromas and smoky notes unpacked in the samples. As the last swig of bourbon finished on my palate, one final product remained to uncork with SŌLACE founder Steven Dougherty: the all-new 37 Pilot sitting alongside its open-cockpit sibling 37 CS, radiating under the influence of some strong red LEDs.
The 37 Pilot: Built to Extend and Escape
Are you looking to extend your boating season? How about escaping the elements? If so, this boat’s for you! Building on the Solace 37 CS Dougherty-designed "Command Center" (the one illuminated in blue), the 37 Pilot transforms your center console into a fully-enclosed, climate controlled pilot house with electrically actuated front windshield and rear-facing window. What’s more, in a matter of seconds you can switch off the air-conditioning or heat and return to an open-air experience.
Dougherty, who brings with him 40 years of boatbuilding experience behind the Boston Whaler, EdgeWater and Everglades brands, shares how the 37-footer powered by triple 400Rs was conceived, “I had the concept to do an enclosed helm station from the Everglades days. It had something like a Jeep door. We did one model and it got killed somewhere down the road. Over the years, people were asking about a pilot, and recently a Canadian inquired about a heated one to extend the season. So, I said, ‘it’s probably time to do a pilothouse.’ A year ago, we sketched up the concept, and decided to just go for it. There was an open boat in the mold going through production. That’s when we did the design, poured the glass, and built the plugs and molds. It was all done in ten weeks.”
Continuing, he says, “A lot of northerners come to this show, so we pushed to have it ready. To be able to tap into the Northeast market with our dealers is important. The funny part is more leads are coming in from Florida than anywhere else because of the air-conditioning. It’s so quiet. Running 65 mph with the doors closed is like being in an SUV.” Noises may not be heard, but guaranteed, when it comes to seeing – you won’t miss a thing with its LOOKOUT AI camera.
See it All with LOOKOUT AI Camera
The new industry-leading LOOKOUT AI camera enhances performance, visibility and safer navigation in high-traffic environments by providing owner/operators the ability to detect vessels, markers and other hazards and make better navigation decisions, faster.
The network integrates cutting-edge artificial intelligence with real-time navigational data to enhance situational awareness. By synthesizing information from charts, AIS (Automatic Identification System), computer vision, and cloud-based data, LOOKOUT generates an intuitive, 3D augmented reality view of the channel ahead. CEO David Rose adds, “It even shows your route superimposed on the water like a yellow brick road.”
System components include:
1-LOOKOUT Camera: An AI-optimized three-camera system featuring infrared night-vision, high-resolution daylight zoom, and 360-degree views for docking.
2-LOOKOUT BRAIN: A high-capacity processor powered by NVIDIA technology to process multiple data streams and create an intuitive augmented reality view.
3-LOOKOUT Cloud: An optional service for boats with StarLink or other internet connection enabling community-driven data sharing.
The Camera sells for $3,995 and the Brain is $4,995. According to the company, installation is similar to that of a thermal camera setup. Dougherty finishes by saying, “Combining this new augmented reality function with our acclaimed fully-opening front windshield to reduce glare ensures our center console lineup is not only best-in-class, but also among the safest on the water.”
Agreeing with Dougherty’s best-in-class analysis, “The sliding doors stow out of the way ingeniously, and the helm foot pad is the most comfortable place I’ve ever stood on a boat,” said judge Kelsey Bonham when awarding the 37 Pilot the 2025 Miami Innovation Award in the Center Console/Walkaround category.
A detailed look at the Dougherty family history in boating can be found in our past feature linked below!
https://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/articles/sōlace-boats-the-dougherty-difference-part-one.827/
