Innholdsfortegnelse for January/February 2019 i Boating

GRUNDEN’S HAULER THE DRY: Made from rugged, double-sided 500g PVC, the most heavy-duty jacket in the group can withstand any weather that comes your way, and cleans up with a simple blast from a hose. The sleeves use lighter 460g PVC to improve mobility and comfort. THE WET: No reflective material, and hood has no drawstring PRICE: $154.99; grundens.com HELLY-HANSEN HH RAIN JACKET THE DRY: The stylishly classic retro design is made with waterproof and windproof fabric featuring the proprietary Helox + PVC waterproofing layer, with welded seams and pockets. It has a vented back for breathability and a drawstring hood. THE WET: No reflective material and the most expensive of the three. PRICE: $220; hellyhansen.com GILL NAVIGATOR THE DRY: This jacket is made from two-layer breathable yet waterproof polyester…

The sun is great until it isn’t. For health, comfort and convenience, providing shade aboard your boat proves beneficial for most boaters. There are T-tops, hardtops and Bimini tops, of course. But sometimes boaters want even more shade — or more precisely positioned shade. What follows is a quick study in the numerous ways of providing shade aboard, ranging from DIY solutions to OEM equipment, and from cheap to expensive. ELECTRIC SHADE Powered shades, like SureShade’s ATF or M3 Automated Mega Shade, are available as optional equipment aboard many fine boats. This type can also be self-installed or dealer-installed after the sale. Press the button and watch the coolness roll over your cockpit. When not in use, it remains ever at the ready. MANUAL SHADE Similar to the electric shades,…

Let’s start there. These are fenders, and they should only be used while the boat is moored or raft ed with others. It is unsafe to leave them hanging over the side when underway — and it marks an amateur boater. They could slap a boater’s face if a wave slings one back inboard. You won’t likely need a fender while solitarily on the hook — that’s at anchor, for those of you who might have called any of these a buoy. And then there’s the exception to the nomenclature rule for ball fenders. Polyform and TaylorMade call them ball buoys, but Google finds them when you call them ball fenders. They replace the glass-net floats that Japanese fishermen once used and that still sometimes wash up on beaches —…

SCAN ME To see our video of the Wellcraft 352 Fisherman, visit boatingmag.com/3106. The 352 Fisherman represents the new flagship of the Wellcraft fleet, but it’s the blend of fishing features, luxurious comforts and performance of this triple-outboard-powered center-console that really impresses. It’s designed for serious angling on Saturday and cruising with family and friends on Sunday. Looking to kick back and soak up the sun? Step aboard through the inward-opening portside dive door and check out the wraparound bow seating. Twin loungers with removable backrests invite you to stretch out. Set the bamboo bow table at seating level and add a filler cushion to create a sprawling sun pad. When it’s time to eat, put the table on its twin pedestals to feast. Below the bow seat resides a…

The new Fountain 32 Thunder Cat is designed to make going very fast very easy. Powered by a pair of 400 hp Mercury Racing 400R outboards, the Thunder Cat can be coaxed to a top speed of 120 mph. But what makes this boat really fun is its ability to simply cruise along, with no drama, at 80 to 90 mph. At that speed, the motors are just loafing at about 5,000 rpm and return their best fuel economy. Talk about smiles per gallon. The 32 Thunder Cat fits the booming “sport cat” segment of the performance-boat market, a sort of roadster for the water intended to be a good day-boat that’s fast and easy to own. Outboard power keeps the initial cost and cost to own under control compared…

Check out the Lounge Arm Galley aboard the S5 LZ. This hides a faux-granite countertop with sink, freshwater faucet, cup holders, and even dedicated wine-bottle stowage within the rear-facing aft lounge seat back. Grab the beefy stainless-steel handle adjacent to the seat back, pull, and the galley pivots out of hiding. Later, clear the table, then pivot the galley back out of sight. Clever. We noted plenty of places to relax or socialize aboard the S5. Forward, matching parallel couches feature forward-facing backrests along with a pair of cup holders. Aft, similar couches offer rear-facing backrests and another pair of cup holders each, recessed, like the bow, to stay out of harm’s way. Retooled for 2019, the vinyl offers a softer touch and three-color accent combos. Below all seating awaits…

SCAN ME Learn more about Yamaha’s FSH 210 and past Boat of the Year winners. Scan this tag or visit boatingmag.com/boatoftheyear. Boating awards the 2018 Boat of the Year honors to the Yamaha FSH 210. This versatile, jet-powered crossover center-console garnered the accolade for a number of reasons. First, a review of our comprehensive Boat of the Year selection process. In any given year, Boating editors test roughly 120 different makes and models of boats, ranging from speedy, nimble PWCs to rumbling and spacious diesel-powered cruisers. This team also brings more than 100 years of combined professional boat-testing experience to the table. (I am not counting our team’s personal boating experience in this figure, which would increase it.) There exists no other group of experts with such a depth and…

FLIR/Raymarine’s Clear-Cruise AR integrates with the Raymarine CAM210 HD marine video cameras to detect objects on the water and, using the new Raymarine AR200 video-stabilization module, overlay symbols for those objects on the chart plotter of a Raymarine Axiom multifunction display. It also uses electronic chart information to identify objects appearing on the video display. Text boxes pop up to describe objects. The AR200 module includes a precision GPS receiver and an attitude heading reference system (AHRS). With this technology, ClearCruise AR, as Raymarine describes it, “accurately displays nearby navigation markers, AIS traffic, objects and waypoints in sync with real-world imagery for instant recognition, and making complex navigation and high-traffic situations simpler to understand.” ClearCruise AR will give captains greater confidence and peace of mind when navigating busy or unfamiliar…

We were among the first members of the media to test the 35 Flybridge, Cabo Yachts’ first model. Early on, Cabo quality attained legendary status. So when the production of Cabos was suspended in 2014, it struck a sad chord. But now there’s reason to rejoice. North Carolina-based Hatteras/Cabo Yachts has announced the relaunch of the brand with the Cabo 41, slated to debut at the Miami International Boat Show (February 14-18, 2019). It will feature an express layout and come standard with twin 626 hp Volvo Penta D11 diesel inboards, with upgrades available to 670 and 725 hp twins, as well as Cummins QSM11 propulsion. Options will include a Seakeeper 6 gyrostabilization system and a custom tower. It will feature mezzanine seating in the cockpit. The interior will offer…

SUN BUMS Many dermatologists recommend physical rather than chemical-based sunscreens for kids. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide deflect rather than absorb UV rays and may be more gentle on sensitive skin. Sprays may seem easiest, but proper coverage is difficult to achieve. Go with a lotion for best results. HOOK ’EM Kids rod-reel combos should come spooled with line and ready to prevent tangles. Blinky lights or cartoon characters are frivolous extras, but plastic hooks and foam targets come in handy so the little ones can practice — without snagging a barb in Mom’s or Dad’s eyebrow. UNDER COVER While sunscreen is essential for exposed skin, also consider sun-protective clothing. Gear with a UPF factor of 50-plus blocks over 98 percent of harmful UV rays. Bonus? Covering up avoids one…

SCAN ME To view our online photo gallery of the Scout 530 LXF, scan this tag or visit boatingmag.com/3104. Boating ran a preview of this boat for you two issues back. Here, now, we present it for you to consider whether it was worth the wait and lives up to the hype. Certainly, the 530 LXF proved itself a magnificent craft. Is it right for you? We recorded a 67.9 mph top speed at 6,000 rpm with five Yamaha 425 XTO outboards. Max horses stand at 2,700, with several different power options available. While the 530 LXF hits 57 mph and cruises at 39.6 mph with four 425 Yamahas, according to Scout, the next two 530 LXFs will, due to owner request, boast six engines each, making them capable of…

Here’s an outboard-powered, foil-assisted catamaran of nearly 50 feet in length that can sneak into 2 feet of water or cross 40 miles of ocean, comfortably, and in about an hour or less. That it comes in your choice of several luxury layout variations constitutes icing on the cake. Catamarans prove ideal for integration with a hydrofoil because the wing mounts between the hulls, where it adds to neither the boat’s draft nor its beam. Running the Mares 47 Outboard Express, I could demonstrably feel the lift occur as the four duoprop-equipped Suzuki DF 350As powered us past 21 mph and the boat rose up, its twin hulls coursing through the chop even more easily than they had just a moment earlier. As the performance chart shows, this boat posts…

Albemarle prides itself on building custom boats with direct customer input. Observing the build line, and watching workers build and finish each hull and deck by hand gave us a great appreciation for the rough-water workout we gave the 27DC. Twin F200 Yamahas put us on plane fast, powering through wind-driven 6-footers. The Albemarle’s deep 24-degree deadrise and long keel enabled us to span the wave sets and knife through the deeper ones, and we rode in relative comfort despite the dreadful conditions, thanks to the Carolina flare and wide inverted chines. Looking for a no-nonsense off shore warrior that works just as well as an evening cruiser and day-tripping family funster? This boat’s worth your attention. The Armstrong-bracketed twin Yamahas delivered nearly 50 mph, even with a sizable crew…

The Sea Chaser 24 HFC is going to make a lot of friends with skippers who need several requisites filled before acquiring their next new boat: fishability, family-friendly, price and, of course, quality. Sea Chaser maintains that the HFC stands for Hybrid Fish and Cruise, so it’s more than just a stripped-out center-console for anglers — it’s got a passel of amenities for boaters hoping to venture forth on family outings as well. As a fishing machine, the Sea Chaser 24 HFC offers a surprising array of standard equipment usually found on the options lists of many other boats. Start with the side boarding door (in addition to the transom door aft), an aerated 25-gallon baitwell, high-pressure saltwater washdown, insulated lockable fish box, six undergunwale rod racks, and a 100-gallon…

It’s boat-show season, and the pressing question is: How much horsepower should I buy for my new boat? For a generation, our expert opinion has always been to buy all the horsepower you can afford. Conventional wisdom holds that no boat owner ever wished for less horsepower. The control lever is not a light switch, and the captain can always throttle back to a slower, more economical speed. We also know that conventional wisdom may no longer apply when circumstances change. Right now, outboard power is in style, and the technology and design details built into the latest engines have elevated every aspect of performance and economy. Which begs the question: Is upgrading horsepower still a smart investment for the family boat buyer? To find out, we engaged a leading…

1. What is the best way to store your boat to protect it from snow and ice formation? A. Indoors in a climate-controlled storage facilityB. Indoors in a heated buildingC. Inside a building with no heatD. All of the aboveE. None of the above 2. If you store your boat on its trailer, you should: A. Evenly block up the trailer by its frame, to reduce the load on the suspension and tiresB. Remove the wheels and tires, and store them insideC. Cover the wheels and tires if you can’t bring them insideD. All of the above 3. If you’re a trailer boater, what’s a surefire way to extend the life of your trailer’s tongue jack? A. Never move the trailer around with the jack extended more than halfwayB. Store…

Pontoons and wakesurf boats continue to rank among the hottest-selling boat types as we move into 2019. The new Montara Surf Boss is said to combine the best attributes of both types. Montara harnesses some yet-to-be fully revealed technology in the form of hull design (we suspect a transom pod of some sort), along with proprietary trim tabs and a whopping 5,000 pounds of ballast to create what is reported by surfers to be “a long, steep wave with plenty of power.” Powered by a Pleasurecraft Marine V-drive inboard of up to 550 hp, the Montara is also available with outboard power. Regardless of power size or type, all are said to sport luxury and comfort for runabout-style fun. The Montara Surf Boss is available in 21-, 23- and 25-foot…

The sun glinted off the water in Gothenburg, Sweden, as Volvo Penta’s self-docking yacht backed slowly toward a waiting crowd. The lustrous leather steering wheel spun all on its own. Nervous sailors leaned over from the decks of the neighboring Volvo Ocean 65 boats as the 68-foot yacht approached the narrow slot. This stopover of the around-the-world sailboat race was the unveiling of a long-awaited system in modern boating — full autonomy. While autopilot has been available in boats for ages, Volvo’s new docking system moves beyond that. It’s a big step toward true self-driving boats. While cars can be expected to primarily move forward down a road, autonomy in boats is more complex, because they have to be able to move in multiple directions. What’s more, for a boat,…

SCAN ME To view our online photo gallery of the Aquila 36, scan this tag or visit boatingmag.com/3105. If the idea of a magic carpet appealed to you as a kid, then the Aquila 36 will be your adult fantasy. We were speeding along aboard the 36 when I was so overcome with the sensation of being aboard a magic carpet that I wanted to fold my arms across my chest as though I were a sheik of Araby. Part of it stems from the rectangular catamaran shape of the Aquila, of course, but mostly it was the softly undulating ride. I half expected to see the fringed edges fluttering in the breeze. MarineMax, the world’s largest powerboat dealership, created MarineMax Vacations, a bareboat charter operation based in the British…

One of the nicer Euro cruisers arriving on this side of the pond that we’ve had the opportunity to test, the Jeanneau NC 33 revealed itself as a delightful French pastry that is going to appeal to a variety of tastes, whether you are a family with kids, or a couple seeking a comfy weekender with room for some guests. The starting point is a slippery and seaworthy Michael Peters hull design. Powered by the standard twin 220 hp Volvo D3 diesels driving Duoprop sterndrives provided to us for testing, the boat topped out at over 36 mph riding this hull. Surprisingly enough, the NC 33 was fuel-efficient across the range, getting 1.9 mpg at 25 mph and sipping just 1.5 mpg flat-out. As I said, slippery. The fully enclosed…

I found the new Chris-Craft Launch 28 GT a sportier, more versatile boat than its Launch series fleet mates. Hull No. 1 was sterndrive-powered by a Volva Penta 380 CE engine, sporting an electrically retractable hardtop that folds down to the windshield — a new feature. I tested Hull No. 2, a topless version powered by a 350 hp Yamaha outboard. This boat planed in seconds, with no bow rise, and cruised comfortably at 27 mph. Both models boast varnished mahogany gleaming from the steering wheel, helm and gunwales, contrasting the deep-blue metallic paint. Teak accents on the bow, footrests and swim platform complement snap-in woven sea-grass mats underfoot (a teak sole is optional). The leather-trimmed steering wheel accents a neat dash with a Chris-Craft branded gauge, push-button controls and…

As triple- and quadruple-outboard-powered boats increase in popularity, choosing the best mix of propellers for such propulsion systems has grown in complexity. That’s because center engines sometimes require different propping than outside motors. This is particularly true when it comes to deep-V hulls. Twin outboard setups use the same type and size of propeller for each engine, but in counter-rotating pairs. Triples and quads also employ counter-rotation (triples usually have a right-hand prop in the center), but it gets trickier from there. With triples and quads, the drives for center engines on deep-Vs sit deeper in the water than do the outer engines. This allows all propellers to clear the bottom of the hull to maximize performance. To achieve this, such boats are usually equipped with XXL shaft (30-inch) outboard(s)…

THE KID’S GOOD, I’LL GIVE HER THAT. Barely 13 years old and just weeks removed from earning her boating-safety certificate, she’s taken control of a twin-engine 46-foot Prestige with the carefree attitude of a kid who actually thinks docking a near-$1 million boat is child’s play. Of course, in this case, it is. Kind of. For the kid, docking this beauty hasn’t required hours of learning to work twin engines by finessing the sticks (throttle and shift levers). Heck, in the few minutes she’s been aboard, she hasn’t even touched them. All she’s required is about 10 minutes of instruction and that singular control unit all too familiar to many a teen — the joystick. Still, docking a boat is no video game, and I’m about to prove it. Welcome…