Boating is the world's foremost magazine for boating enthusiasts. Written by experts for those who love the sport, the editorial covers the waterfront -- from runabouts to sportfish convertibles to luxury showpieces, and everything in between.
EVER WATCH A CHEEZ DOODLE OR A red Solo cup ride the back eddy abaft your helm seat and make manic circles a foot above the cockpit sole? Of course you have. You’re a boater! And for 2016, we’ve packed Boating’s Boat Buyers Guide with a group of boats that will impress even those who know at what speed and at what trim angle that magical, levitating air current will be created. (Extra points if, with input to helm and throttle, you can a make that cup or chip drop and fly at will.) It really is a fantasy fleet. I mean, you can start feeding your dreams with oceanromping beauties such as the Scout 420, Regulator 41, Everglades 360 LXC and Boston Whaler 270 Dauntless. Water sports? Malibu’s Wakesetter…
“The best outboard technology is that which gives the most torque, economy and easy, maintenance-free operation while exceeding the most stringent environmental standards.” — George Broughton, Director of Advanced Engineering and Innovation No boater puts a greater demand for torque, efficiency and durability on a motor than recreational boaters who vary their fun from long, idle speed cruises to snappy speed runs and repeated, throttlepounding acceleration for watersports. Boaters looking to meet those operating parameters turn to outboards. And now the new Evinrude® E-TEC® G2™ delivers it in a way never before available to boaters: unparalleled fuel economy; unbeatable, steady power to yank riders from the water without yanking arms from sockets; easy speed management for steady towing and reliable helm response. Boaters get all that, plus the cleanest possible…
I’M NOT SURE IF THERE EVER has been a solid definiton for the boats we call “runabouts.” At various times, boats with two and three cockpits, with and without windshields, and with either an open or closed bow configuration have all borne the runabout moniker. Runabouts have been as long as 40 feet or as compact as 12 or 13 feet length overall. Runabouts have been powered by inboards and outboards, and by engines that burn gas and diesel. The one thing they all possessed in common, the core attribute of the group, was the ability to provide fun for their owners in more than just one way. We define a runabout, then, as a boat built for fun first and specific uses second. Here are 19 runabouts and two…
High freeboard keeps passengers safe and secure. Portside cockpit seat adjusts to face aft, which helps spotters keep an eye on tubers, skiers and boarders. BeamForward design creates extra space in the bow. AftAdvantage moves the swim platform aft to add interior space. SPECS LOA: 20'4" Beam: 8'0" Dry Weight: 3,400 lb. Seating Capacity: 9 Fuel Capacity: 33 gal HOW WE TESTED ENGINE: 200 hp MerCruiser 4.5L sterndrive DRIVE/PROP: Alpha Drive/14¼" x 17" 3-blade aluminum GEAR RATIO: 1.95:1 FUEL LOAD: 33 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 420 lb PRICE $26,999 (with test power) IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF MANY boaters, there is no boat style more iconic than the family bowrider. It’s trailerable, sporty, and versatile enough to handle tow sports or a jaunt around the local lake. One drawback, however,…
To watch our video review of the CS3, scan this tag or visit boatingmag.com/bbg16/cobaltcs3. Fold-down sport arch is easy to deploy and helps with trailering, off-season storage or even going under low bridges on the water. New Titanium interior fabric choice provides a fresh and aggressive style in the cockpit upholstery. Flip-down swim step makes reboarding from the water a nonissue. SPECS LOA: 23'8" Beam: 8'6" Dry Weight: 3,700 lb. Seating/Weight Capacity: 12/1,695 lb. Fuel Capacity: 50 gal. HOW WE TESTED ENGINE: Volvo Penta V8-300 DRIVE/PROP: G-DP/F6 Duoprop stainless-steel propset GEAR RATIO: 2.14:1 FUEL LOAD: 20 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 380 lb. PRICE $79,995 (with test power) THE NEW CS3 FROM COBALT BOATS IS truly a new design from stem to stern. Cobalt designed the CS3 to be a gateway boat…
To watch our video review of the R30, scan this tag or visit boatingmag.com/bbg16/cobaltr30. Helm features a “Glass Cockpit” design that eliminates gauges and replaces them with screens. Electrically actuated swim step makes entering the water and reboarding easy. Aft sun pad features two backrests that allow the loungers to sit or recline. Wrap-around windshield features a stainless-steel top. SPECS LOA: 30'8" Beam: 9'6" Dry Weight: 8,800 lb. Seating/Weight Capacity: Yacht Certified Fuel Capacity: 116 gal. HOW WE TESTED ENGINES: Twin Volvo Penta V8-300s DRIVE/PROPS: G-DP/F5 Duoprops GEAR RATIO: 2.14:1 FUEL LOAD: 75 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 360 lb. PRICE $198,243 (with test power) THE COBALT R30 IS A LARGE LUXURY day boat with the room to fit a crowd and the amenities to entertain them. This Yacht Certified bowrider has…
