Everglades 455CC

Tom Keane is a master hype man. I cold-called him on a Friday afternoon as Tropical Storm Elsa battered New England. I explained who I was and told him that I was interested in getting aboard the new Everglades 455CC that was stopping at Stone Harbor Marina in South Jersey during the boat’s East Coast tour. He explained that the window of opportunity was tight; the boat was being trucked back to Florida that Monday.

“What I would do if I were you, I’d get in your car right now because I just came back from running the boat in 7- to 8-foot seas and breaking waves and this is the best-performing boat I’ve ever seen,” he said with unnerving conviction. “Come down and see how she handles the rough stuff.”

Those who know me well—or those who knew me briefly in college—know that I’m highly susceptible to peer pressure. I canceled my weekend plans