Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2016 i Boating

As part of our 60th anniversary of being the best boating publication in the known universe, we have been digging through the archives in search of advertisements from some of our back issues. This one for the Evinrude Starflite outboard dates back to January 1959. “See the most remarkable outboard motor ever built … Evinrude’s mighty 50 hp Starflite … now …” reads the ad copy. “Thrilling V-4 performance is also yours in the new Four-Fifty at low, low cost.” Notably, it did not list any websites. For more information, you had to write in for a catalog. Now that’s old school.…

It’s gear-appreciation month around these parts, which means it’s time to take a closer look at all the marine accessories we boaters just can’t get enough of. 1 Check out our reviews of hundreds of boards, skis, boots, ropes and more in our 2015 Water Sports Gear Guide at boatingmag.com/gear/2015-water-sports-gear-guide. 2 Want to go back to our scientific comparisons of many of your favorite onboard items? Go through the archives of BoatingLAB to see what scored the highest at boatingmag.com/gear/boatinglab. 3 If you trailer your boat, you’ll want to check out our inventory of trailering accessories at boatingmag.com/gear/trailering-accessories.…

YOU JUST HIT A BAR AND IT’S NOT WHERE THEY SERVE martinis. It’s the shallow one and, thankfully, made of sand. You reach for the VHF. Who do you call? What do you say? Welcome to the tow vs. salvage nightmare. If you belong to one of the organized towing services (Sea Tow, TowBoatUS, etc.), you should be covered for most towing situations. Otherwise, a Channel 16 call will get the U.S. Coast Guard, which won’t come to help unless it determines that you’re in dire circumstances. It will, however, assist in locating a commercial towing/salvage service for you to contact. Here is where it gets tricky. A tow is typically “one boat, one line” with no danger to the vessel, the crew or the environment, as when you’re stuck…

1 BONDED GLASS DISPLAY To help achieve its IPX6 waterproof rating — which means it can withstand heavy splashing and rain on deck — Fusion uses a one-piece optically bonded glass display to protect it from the elements and prevent condensation from building up inside the display. 2 OVERSIZE KEYS The keys are all the size of the average male index finger or larger to make them easy to locate and press aboard a rocking, rolling boat. Key-function symbols are laser-etched into the rubberized cover so they don’t wear off from salt and ultraviolet exposure. 3 POWER BOOST Because the act of marinizing speakers for boat duty makes them inherently inefficient, a good marine stereo employs a large amplifier to provide enough power to each speaker. The 750 uses a…

GOT LOTS OF FRIENDS? SEA RAY’S 290 Sundeck can accommodate 17 passengers and doesn’t sandwich them in like sardines. Its design offers 27 percent more interior volume than the 280 and 300 Sundeck models that it replaces, thanks in part to an additional 7 inches of interior beam width. Use the space to put part of your crew in the squared-off bow. It narrows to a mere 18 inches over its 4-foot-6-inch length, maintaining nearly the entire beam width forward. The majority of space, however, has been saved for the aft cockpit. There, a large L-shaped bench begins adjacent to the doublewide helm seat and spans nearly 13 feet as it traverses the port side and stern. More seating space is located directly behind the helm. Pivoting backrests on both…

WE SAY The Glastron 300 hp GT 240 OB combines lightweight, high-output outboard power with a modern stepped transom and an aluminum transom bracket, and topped 53 mph in our tests. The ride was secure and confident thanks to the marriage of Evinrude’s new G2 stout mounts and integrated power steering. The reinforced bracket allows the prop to gulp water, creating enormous torque and a solid hookup for tight, high-speed maneuvering. Large stowage compartments keep the deck clear, especially aft in the absence of a sterndrive. A starboard sun-pad cushion lifts to reveal a transom walk-through. Prop it up and you have a port-facing-inclined lounge. Lift the center of the sun pad up and you have a lounge inclined toward the stern — our favorite spot to watch the kids…

My longtime photographerfriend and mentor, Mike Fuller, is leaning out over the photo boat’s bow rail 12 feet in front of me, gesticulating with his hands and flashing a big grin to the driver and passenger of the boat that’s running 25 mph just inches off my port side. My eyes are on Fuller for only a second, but my concern for his wellbeing is at an all-time high. My peripheral vision keeps tabs on his footing and his stance while my primary focus shifts to the proximity of the riverbank streaking by. My eyes pan back to the small jet boat now tucked a mere inch or two under the spread of our bow. I’m locked in. One wrong move by me and we all could be in for…

World-renowned water skier Tony Klarich has been skiing since 1969. Today, he’s a world champion in freestyle water skiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding and hydrofoil, and he’s amassed a whopping 10 national and world titles. He’s been called “the guy who can ski on anything,” and this past summer, he upped the ante with his “50 for 50” — skiing on 50 different objects for his 50th birthday. MORE ONLINE! To read the full interview online, go to boatingmag.com/tonyklarich. When did you think to celebrate your birthday by going 50 for 50? When I was about to turn 40, I started brainstorming with my buddies. Should I do 40 miles to mark the milestone or ski on 40 different objects? I started looking at everything. What’s flat? What can I ski on?…

Many runabouts have just a single battery that’s called upon to power multiple 12-volt components as well as start the engine. The trouble is, a stereo playing all day while you relax at the sandbar or a baitwell pump left on inadvertently can deplete the battery, leaving you with insuffi cient juice to start the engine. Blue Sea Systems’ m-LVD (Low Voltage Disconnect) is a “smart switch” that prevents dead starting batteries by disconnecting nonessential circuits before the voltage reaches a critically low level. While the m-LVD is not designed to replace the main battery’s on/off switch, you can also use it to shut off the accessory circuit. The m-LVD also allows you to override the auto shut-off. Before you get started, turn off the battery switch and disconnect both…

ANEW BREED OF LUXURY CRUISER, THE Florida-family fishing boat, emerged in recent years. Most retain angling vestiges such as centerconsoles, rod holders, fish lockers and livewells. Yet one of the latest — Everglades’ 360 LXC — utilizes its proven 35-foot-4-inch running surface (found in the 350 LX cruiser and other models) as the basis for a new layout that incorporates luxury and comfort into four sectors. The 360 LXC features a center-console helm configuration but, like many boats of this ilk, forgoes the walk-around capability on the starboard side. Here you will find a wet bar with a sink and hot and cold fresh water. An Isotherm icemaker nestles below. The console itself features a newly designed 42-inch-wide dash panel that integrates a pair of flat-mounted Garmin 7616 multifunction displays.…

HOLY BOW SPACE, BATMAN. YOU’LL SAY that to yourself when you first approach Bayliner’s new VR6, a 22-foot bowrider with the real estate to actually ride in the bow. Bayliner calls it BeamForward design, which keeps the 8-foot beam traveling forward rather than tapering to a fine point as is typical of the genre. The company also built in a higher freeboard both in the bow and the main cockpit, which helps passengers stay secure no matter where they sit on the boat. The bow cockpit also converts to a sun lounge with an optional filler cushion ($250). While carrying the beam forward typically results in converting a runabout to a deck boat, Bayliner does an excellent job of maintaining the sporty lines of the VR6. Along the waterline, the…

PERSONAL WATERCRAFT RIDERS MADE YAMAHA’S VX WAVERunner line a sales leader for over a decade, but the models’ venerable 110 hp, 1,052 cc MR-1 engine was beginning to show its age. So the first new engine since the VX’s introduction will make its appearance in 2016. The TR-1 High Output debuts in six new models: the V1, V1 Sport, VX, VX Deluxe, VX Cruiser and VX Limited. According to Yamaha’s watercraft product manager Scott Watkins, it was a big task replacing an engine that has successfully powered more than 200,000 units. “We wanted Yamaha reliability, we wanted it to be smaller in size and lighter in weight, have better fuel economy with more power and, of course, be more fun.” The 1,049 cc, three-cylinder, dual-overhead-cam TR-1, based on a similar…

DO THE ’DOO, 1959 Bombardier launched the Ski-Doo snowmobile in 1959. It was the first mass-produced snowmobile and ushered in a new era of winter recreation. Bombardier used the Ski-Doo as inspiration to build the first Sea-Doo model in 1968. The first sit-down design, which we rode, shared many attributes with the Ski-Doo, including the yellow color. The goal, as with the snowmobile, was to create a new form of recreation on the water. Nearly 50 years later, it’s obvious that, on the water, Sea-Doo can say mission accomplished. I’ve got what can only be described as “human centrifuge face.” You recall the images from those old National Aeronautics and Space Administration film clips. Astronauts, training to endure G-forces, were whipped round and round on a centrifuge while their cheeks…

Provoke Reaction Strikes Vary the retrieve in clear water so predators can’t get a good look at your lure. Add direction changes to each retrieve, or “walk the dog” for added chaos by bouncing the rod tip from side to side with each crank of the handle. Repeat the Sequence Fish often miss on initial strikes in rough or discolored water. Repeating the popping sequence helps them to zero in. Use a straight retrieve with a cadence that is easy to anticipate: pop, pop, pop, or pop, pause and repeat. Wait For It Don’t be quick setting the hook when fish explode on poppers. Delay a split second so your quarry fully engulfs the lure and turns away. A quick 2-count is sufficient. Get Going Time your first popinducing snap…

Among Europeans it’s the new, hot water sport for kids 9 to 14 years old, and now it’s spread to the U.S. Mermaiding, though, is not just a sport; it’s also popular for cosplay. (That’s dressing up in a costume to attend events such as Comic-Con and the like.) Do you have the chops to make it as a mermaid, or as a merman, “mer” or “pod,” as it’s known in the community? Professional schools are popping up, such as the LA Mermaid School in Venice Beach, California (sheroesentertainment.com/tickets/la-mermaid-school) taught by Coast Guard-certified “finstructors,” who are also the same mermaids (and mermen) that appear in film and television shows. The class costs $50 and lasts an hour. For a more complete personal transition, there’s World of Swimming All Certified Mermaid…

ASK THE MASSES Go to boatingmag.com/forums to ask fellow boaters your questions, or to answer theirs. Mussel Bound [ Q ] I have an 18-foot runabout and a 20-foot pontoon boat on a lake that, unfortunately, is infested with zebra mussels. Since I don’t have a boatlift, these ugly critters eventually attach themselves to all sorts of places on the boats, and in the fall, I spend quite a lot of time cleaning them off. Are there any topical applications I can use in the spring that will ward off these things from attaching themselves? Thanks for your help. MICHAEL MCKEAN Perth, Ontario, Canada [ A ] You can apply an anti-fouling paint to the bottom of your boat(s). Pettit makes a complete paint line, and I’ve been happy using its…

THE STRAIGHT POOP! A Jabsco macerator pump retails for about $190; the rebuild kit retails for about $60; both are available at westmarine.com. Safety First Wear gloves, a mask and eye protection. Pumps serving in a fish box, livewell pumpout and, obviously, head installations can contain biological contaminants. Don’t Sink Close any seacocks connected to the plumbing of the pump. (Remember to reopen after the repair because some pumps might burn out when run dry.) Demount You’ll need to demount the pump and remove it to a location where it can be worked on. Skip to the “Shaft Lock” step if your pump is not a macerator. Housing Remove the macerator housing from the pump body (also called the impeller body). This is secured with fine-thread machine screws or studs.…

WE RECENTLY ASKED A TOP-LEVEL (AND we mean top) boatbuilding executive about the fate of the once-mighty cruiser segment. The luminary proffered off-the-record remarks to the effect that new designs were needed and, in particular, new cruisers that ran well with outboard power. Following our test of Intrepid’s 410 Evolution, we can say that this new express may require our CEO friend to seek a remedy for heartburn. This sport yacht delivers the timehonored cruiser promise of tons of amenities but does so with fewer sacrifices in speed, handling and overall ease of ownership compared to cruisers of the old guard. We were impressed the minute we stepped aboard. A hull-side door, an innovation Intrepid popularized, allows boarding from a float (or from the water for that matter) in a…

WE SAY The new Pursuit C 238 takes the entry-level center-console to new heights with features like its swimplatform extensions for an easier way to reboard. The console integrates the hardtop, and a beefy door on the front of the console swings open to reveal a step-down head compartment with 67 inches of headroom. When the console door is closed, it becomes a comfy highback seat. The 33-inch-wide helm panel with a tannish-gray hue to reduce glare accommodates a Garmin GPSMap 7612xsv display. Twin captain’s chairs at the helm come with flip-up bolsters for support when standing and fold-down armrests for extra comfort when seated. A 38-inch-wide bench-style seat folds up flush with the transom. A covered 23-gallon livewell resides in the starboard quarter, and there is a transom door…

SCAN ME! Check out the full test results by scanning this tag or visiting boatingmag.com/2898. Boating editors test more boats, with more in-depth analysis, than any other entity. We tested 150-plus boats in 2015, and Boston Whaler’s 420 Outrage stood out above the rest. Our selection process is rigorous. The boat’s test must be published in Boating during the year of contention. The boat must comply with all American Boat and Yacht Council standards as revealed during our testing. The boat must fulfill the mission for which its builder states it is worthy. It must advance the art of boatbuilding and the sport of boating. And since boats come in such a wide variety of sizes and types, in-category comparison is key to our team’s entire selection process. Boston Whaler’s…

The outboard on the back of my 17-foot Boston Whaler started after a few cranks, and I eased away from the dock ready for a day on the water. The fuel gauge read zero, the speedometer was disconnected from the pitot tube, and the chart plotter sat unplugged in its mount. The handheld GPS? Locked safely in the glove compartment of my car in the marina parking lot. All in all, it was shaping up to be a perfect day on the water. How’s that, you say? The idea of boating without 21st-century amenities seems like a daunting concept in the age of NMEA 2000, fully integrated systems and joystick controls. But I wanted to prove that seamanship still counts — big time — in spending a day on the…