Freshly splashed and bound for the Florida Keys, Lady Kimberly is the newest 46 Fly Bridge Gameboat model to leave Release Boatworks. Designed by naval architect Erwin Gerards, the build reflects a performance-first approach to modern sport-fishing design. I recently spent a morning aboard with Release Boatworks owner Jim Turner off Stuart, Florida. A relaxed walk-through quickly turned into a deeper discussion that kept circling back to the same theme: Build a highly capable fishing tool, keep the fundamentals pure, and refine everything that affects how the boat performs offshore.

RELEASE 46 GAMEBOAT—LADY KIMBERLY

A no-nonsense gameboat engineered as an effective offshore tool, not a floating showpiece

BY JACK VITEK

COCKPIT AND BRIDGE

The numbers back up the feeling of space with-in the cockpit. The boat’s 15-foot-6-inch beam and 150 square feet offer a broad, open working arena that never feels pinched. Featuring a transom livewell, Lady Kimberly is uncluttered by design, with room for multiple anglers to move around the Release Marine rocket launcher unencumbered. A centerline entrance into the salon is flanked by comfortable seating and drink holders on both sides in the mezzanine, one step up from the cockpit. From the helm, sightlines into the cockpit corners are excellent, and the dash is set up with three Simrad multi- function displays that keep navigation, sonar and engine data within a single glance. Comfortable bench seating flanks the helm on each side, which also provides additional storage.

LOA: 46' BEAM: 15'6" DRAFT: 50"

POWER: TWIN MAN I6-850 DIESELS

DISP. (FULL LOAD): 38,500 LB. DEADRISE: 14.5 DEGREES FUEL: 720 GAL.

WATER: 70 GAL.

INTERIOR AND ACCOMMODATIONS

Inside, Lady Kimberly balances classic warmth with a modern, efficient footprint. One of the most striking details is the teak sole that runs seamlessly from the cockpit through the salon and galley, visually stretching the interior and giving the living spaces a continuous, yachtlike flow rather than dividing them into hard compartments. A dinette is situated to port, with additional seating to starboard in the form of a U-shaped couch. Belowdecks, the layout is a practical two-stateroom, two-head arrangement that’s refined yet practical and fishing-focused. The forward master stateroom carries a queen berth with surrounding storage and enough clearance to move comfortably, while the port guest cabin is fitted with twin berths. Each cabin is served by its own head, a welcome feature for crews during tournament weeks or when spending consecutive nights aboard.

ENGINE ROOM AND PERFORMANCE

Power comes from twin MAN i6 diesels rated at 850 hp each, a pairing that Turner feels strikes the right balance for this weight-sensitive hull. On the numbers, the package delivers a 34-knot cruise and a near-40-knot top-end. During our offshore run off Stuart—conducted in sloppy 3-to 5-foot seas and a stiff 15- to 20-knot northeast wind—Lady Kimberly settled into an 18- to 20-knot pace without any rattles or shudders, even with the Seakeeper purposely left disengaged. Later, inside the Intra-coastal Waterway, she stretched her legs into the low-30-knot range and

was plenty nimble when backing down and spinning, albeit not on a fish, unfortunately. In the engine room and throughout the boat, every system is laid out with reliability in mind, from the fuel manifold arrangement to the clean, accessible bilge configuration. Release’s formula with the 46 Gameboat is straightforward, and Lady Kimberly embodies that approach. She’s a classic-profile gameboat headed for life in the Keys, sharpened by intention, and ready to keep the emphasis where it belongs: time offshore and fish in the spread.