Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2020 i Boating

SHURHOLD ULTIMATE ONE BUCKET SYSTEM A clean ship is a happy ship, as the saying goes, and the Ultimate One Bucket System from Shurhold provides just about everything you need to clean your boat and stay happy. This kit includes a rope-handled 5-gallon bucket, Buff Magic compound, Pre-Polish wax, Brite wash, SMC cleaner, Serious Shine one-step detailer, bucket caddy, gate, base and a seat/lid. The bucket is available in black or white. $128.88; shurhold.com MATE SERIES CUP-HOLDER CONVERSION KIT Mate Series, known for its combo flush-mount rod/drink holders (boatingmag.com/retrofitting-with-mate-series-rod-holders), now offers a kit to swap out a 3¾-inch-diameter drink holder for its rod/drink holder. With a threaded stainless-steel backing plate, you make three new holes for the mounting screws, and then through-bolt the rod holder. No access behind the mounting…

LOCATION A compass should be mounted directly in front of the helmsman with the lubber line, which indicates the heading, aligned parallel to the centerline of the boat. COMPASS SIZE As a rule of thumb, select a compass with the largest diameter that will properly fit your helm or dash. The larger the compass, the easier it is to read and the more stable it is, a consideration that gains even greater importance in rough conditions. GIMBAL An internal gimballing system keeps the compass dial as level as possible within its watertight fluid-filled chamber, or compass bowl, as the boat pitches and rolls. Gimballing ensures good readability in nearly all conditions. TYPES OF DIALS There are three types of marine-compass dials. FLAT CARD: This type of dial is horizontal so…

In case you haven’t realized, boats are like ice cream. You have to choose your flavor. Some are plain vanilla, some are chocolate, but Cruisers’ new 38 GLS is like the Neapolitan you remember as a kid. It blends the best of all flavors, and it satisfies, no matter what you are craving. Want to go fast? Think 53 mph. Want to spend the night aboard? There’s a galley, shower and private stateroom. Want wind in your hair? Plant yourself in the bow seating for the ride of a lifetime. Want to just hang out at the local sandbar, splashing in and out of the water? Fold down the beach door that defines this versatile new water toy. I have no idea what GLS means. Great little ship? Whatever it…

Sea-Doo’s 2020 GTI SE 170 is lighter, more powerful and far more stable than any previous iteration of the long-running GTI platform. It also boasts more storage, a more ergonomic rider connection, and the ability to carry a wide variety of additional gear with ease. So, why is this industry-leading builder touting an optional feature atop nearly all marketing materials? It’s because Sea-Doo knows that feature is music to a buyer’s ears—literally. Sea-Doo’s BRP Audio-Premium is not the first manufacturer-installed sound system on a PWC (Kawasaki’s JetSounds holds that claim to fame), but it’s certainly the most directly from a smartphone to the pair of waterproof, MTX Audio-developed speakers neatly integrated into the forward wall of the footwells. A touchpad control mounted adjacent to the left speaker turns the system…

The Rage R22 can handle big-water swells or skinny creeks with equal aplomb. But indulge me for a moment while I rave about its handling. Get up to speed and crank the wheel hard over, and you’re headed in the opposite direction in a flash. This is one of the most aggressive-handling hulls I’ve ever run. You may not need that to catch fish, but it sure makes for a fun ride en route to your favorite fishing hole. The Rage R22 features Campion’s second-generation Apex hull, a convex-V that utilizes expanded high-pressure zones for rapid planing, a higher, softer ride and improved economy. Apex 2 ups the ante with Kevlar reinforcement and computer-tweaked geometry. With a 300 hp Mercury Pro XS, our test boat leapt onto plane in 3.4…

In my dreams, I’m in the middle of nowhere. In a boat. “In solitude lies solace,” said someone famous—possibly, once upon a time. And so, a longing for solitude, plus fatigue from the rat race of Los Angeles, drove me to pursue a favorite pastime: wakesurfing. But it had to be on a lake that is remote, glassy, deserted, and did I mention serene? There is such a place. Nevada’s Pyramid Lake is an hour’s drive north of the state capital, Carson City, situated in the afternoon shadows of the Sierra Nevada. Owned by the Paiute tribe, Pyramid is as vast—nearly 190 square miles—as it is remote. Visually, it looks like a sky-blue body of water that’s been helicoptered into the center of Death Valley. Except for a few cottonwood…

Within 15 minutes of launching an Aspen L107 into the muddy Mackenzie River, we almost ran aground—twice. Perhaps we should have heeded the cautions in the Sailing Directions, which warned the river should only be navigated by those with extensive local knowledge, something neither of us had. As we kept the bow of the boat pointed north, we realized we’d be navigating waters even more challenging. Over the years, Larry Graf, the owner of Aspen Power Catamarans, and I have shared many adventures, but when he came up with the idea of traveling the length of Canada’s Mackenzie River, I thought he was off-the-scale crazy. As planning progressed and the questions piled up, I realized this would be an epic journey—if we survived it—and I couldn’t miss the opportunity. Traveling…

The De Antonio 28 delivers suave, sophisticated style while boasting some of the most highly geometric lines we’ve seen. With its blacked-out center-console helm station, it offers the captain a commanding presence, quick access to all parts of the boat, and the sporty feel of a direct connection to the craft while running in calm waters or offshore. Aft, a wood table and bench can be arranged to serve dinner while you anchor in a private cove, with starlight glittering on the water. The bow, with its deep, luxurious seating, also features a table—note the center slot for wine bottles. A stainless-steel roller keeps the anchor handy yet separate from the hull. Within the console, there is a marine head that can be used in privacy and comfort. Details include…

After a weekend cruising Kentucky Lake, my wife and I prepared to anchor our wooden 29-foot outboard-powered sedan trawler, which I had recently built. The evening forecast called for southerly winds from 10 to 15 mph, so I chose a cove that offered protection from that direction but was exposed to the west. I dropped the hook in 8 feet of water and settled in for the night. We were sideways to the wind and dragging anchor. There was no time to react, no time to correct—we were going ashore. Around 1:30 a.m, the wind began howling out of the west. We were sideways to the wind and dragging anchor. There was no time to react, no time to correct—we were going ashore. The starboard-side landing was gentler than I…

Tour a boat show, and you’ll see a lot of ways to shade the deck, with an increasing emphasis on the bow area, spurred by the popularity of forward seating on center- and dual-console models. A number of canvas bow shades are available from brands such as Boat Canvas Factory, Gemlux, SureShade, T-Top Boat Covers, TaylorMade, Taco Marine and others. There are a number of ingenious designs, but many include poles—or some come with special bases or use gunwale rod holders for bases—for securing the forward section of the canvas, with the aft portion of the shade secured to a hardtop or canvas T-top frame. For this project, we chose the new four-pole bow shade from Boat Canvas Factory based in Pompano Beach, Florida, and used the Everglades 335 center-console…

We all have a pair of trusty boat shoes, many of us probably more than one—the ones we wear out on the boat, the ones we wear for a “dressier” occasion, and maybe even the ones we wear every other day. But what about when you need a shoe that not only works for boating but also for some adventure? We’ve compiled several pairs that are just as comfortable on board as they are exploring a beach trail or on a light hiking adventure. ASTRAL BREWER 2.0 $110; astraldesigns.com With a hydrophobic canvas side and full mesh construction at the vamp, tongue and medial side, the Brewer 2.0 is lightweight, breathable and ready for the water. Drain ports at the heel and toe allow water to run out, and the…

Like its predecessor Super Sport Crossovers—the 430 and 400—the Formula 380 SSC is a joy to operate. It’s a 10-ton boat that, once up and running, carves through the water with the grace of one of Formula’s 24-foot bowriders. While Formula enthusiasts have always appreciated the brand’s performance attributes, any boater looking to cruise or anchor up at the sandbar in style will appreciate the layout. From stem to stern, the 380 SSC is designed with relaxation and entertainment in mind. Start with the bow, which features a deep, secure and spacious lounge with wraparound seat- and stainless-steel grab rails along the gunwales. It makes a fantastic sun lounge, or you can set up the bow table and turn it into a social gathering point. This is a welcome trend…

You’ll like Cobia’s new 350CC so much, you may want to make it yours with the same alacrity and enthusiasm with which you’d adopt that perfect, irresistible puppy at the pound. Cobia’s latest boat proved loaded with features bespeaking know-how and, in my opinion, that can fish hard and play even harder. It starts with over 11 feet of beam so your gang of anglers won’t be crowded as they chase a fish around the wide side decks without roadblocks. Even passing the console, there’s room to wield a rod in rocky seas. In the cockpit, take note of the full tackle station with bait-prep station aft, two humongous in-sole fish boxes that drain overboard, a pair of 42-gallon livewells, and at least two of the seven boxes are insulated…

The Ford F-150 Raptor and Tigé RZX20 both carry Raptor powerplants. Aside from their Ford engineering roots and the Raptor name, though, they’re significantly different animals. Ford’s turbocharged EcoBoost V-6 truck engine replaced the original 2010-14 SVT Raptor’s normally aspirated V-8 several years ago, to improve fuel economy and emissions without sacrificing performance. The twin-turbo setup builds boost faster than a single large turbo, and helps ensure the powerband matches that of a grunty V-8. The engine is flexible, working well in a variety of conditions, from rock-crawling in 4x4 Low to city traffic to rushing down the interstate and, naturally, towing and launching. Decidedly understressed compared to the Raptor’s truck engine, Indmar’s 6.2-liter marine V-8 is designed to pull hard literally from idle—and then run, and run, and run…

A prime example of this trickle-down effect is the new EchoMap UHD series from Garmin ($499.99 to $1,149.99; garmin.com/marine). The series includes small- to midsize combo models with advanced features such as built-in support for Garmin’s Ultra-High-Definition scanning sonar and Panoptix Livescope. The 6-, 7- and 9-inch models are available with preloaded BlueChart g3 charts with integrated Navionics data. This series includes the EchoMap “sv” combo units in 7- and 9-inch keyed-assist touchscreen color displays. Each includes a transducer for high-wide chirp, and UHD ClearVu and SideVu scanning sonar. The new “cv” combos are available with 6-inch keyed or 7-inch keyed-assist touchscreens. All models feature NMEA 2000 networking and have built-in Wi-Fi for downloading charts and software updates. This series is also compatible with Garmin’s new high-resolution relief-shading bathymetry feature…

NITE IZE RADIANT 200 LIGHTS ON: If your boat has a cabin that could need illumination in an emergency, consider the Radiant 200, a lantern-flashlight combo. Switch from lantern to the lantern-downlight combo to adjust the flashlight with ease. On high, the lantern emits 200 lumens with a seven-hour battery life (using four AAs). A carabiner clip allows it to attach almost anywhere. While not as rugged as a tactical light, it does feature water- and impact-resistant construction. LIGHTS OFF: It’s not as durable or bright as a tactical light. The telescoping feature feels flimsy. PRICE: $29.99; niteize.com FENIX TK20R LIGHTS ON: This traditional, tactical-style flashlight features some modern bells and whistles, including a rechargeable USB battery and IP68 waterproof rating. The rugged, aircraft-grade aluminum means the Fenix can take…

Featuring Scout’s S-class twin-stepped hull, the 330 LXF offers the luxury of a larger boat. A curving sheerline and flaring bow leave little doubt as to this boat’s Carolina roots. It’s designed for twin Yamaha 425 outboards. The bow features an inviting seating nook. A teak bow table rises from the deck at the push of a button and also serves as a platform for a padded forward sun lounge. There’s also a comfy lounge seat for two on the forward console. A bench seat flips out of a recess in the transom and is flanked by a 21-gallon livewell to port and a starboard transom gate leading to the aft swim platform. Six rod holders line the transom bulkhead. The full-height windshield and hardtop are one integral unit, with…

So, the ice has disappeared, if there was any, and the air temps are finally climbing well above freezing. Like the first robins returning for spring, this signals the die-hards among us that it is time to start boating. Heading out on the margins of comfortable weather can reap its own rewards, provided you head into the cold prepared and in the know. Here are a few things to consider before you hook up the no-kill switch, crank the engines over, and shift into gear for the first time this year. DRESS FOR THE WATER My kids play soccer on a field that is open to the wind and elements from all sides. The general rule is, dress them for temps that are 10 degrees cooler than the thermometer reading…

While not a problem that will cause you to be stranded, sunk, lost, or increase or hinder maintenance, we find this rod-holder installation troubling. The tube of the gunwale rod holder protrudes downward into the livewell. As with livewells on many saltwater fishing boats today, this one is designed to be pressurized. That will cause water to pour out through the top of the rod holder when the lid of the well is latched and sealed. Small live baits might also swim upward through the tube and become trapped or even escape. At the very least, the tube can snag cast nets dropped inside the well when unloading bait. The tube also becomes an obstacle that can injure baitfish as they swim around inside. In addition, the holder is so…

In our marine business, after effecting a repair, we are often asked, “Can you take a look at my fuel gauge too? It’s not working.” It’s a familiar story. Here’s how to troubleshoot yours. OVERVIEW The sending unit in the tank moves with the fuel level. Locate the sending unit at the top of the fuel tank. It’s a small round plate with two wire connections. The sender changes resistance (ohms) variably as the float moves from full (up) to empty (down). Changes in resistance move the gauge needle. WIRING AND CONNECTIONS The sender uses two wires: black for the ground and pink for the sender, per American Boat and Yacht Council standards. The gauge has three connections: ground (black), sender (pink), and 12-volt DC positive. The positive wire can…

HOW WE TESTED These coolers aren’t comparable, except for their given task of keeping things cold. Their capacities and construction offered different cooling capabilities, carrying characteristics and different applications. So, we didn’t rank them in terms of ice or temperature retention, even though we did load them all to half-capacity and measured their ice retention as a way for you to gauge the value of their capabilities for your application. WHAT MATTERED TO US SUPER COLD: Most cooler users don’t need to keep stuff cold for a week. A day or two usually does it. So we loaded 40 pounds of ice in the large cooler and 10 pounds in the rest and measured the ice 48 hours later. CARRYING METHOD: Straps, grab handles and rope handles all offer unique…

Designing a pontoon boat has become a real “keep up with the Joneses” proposition. This segment evolves at a break-the-neck pace as builders continue to up the ante in performance, luxury and features. The all-new Harris Solstice 250 is an example of a builder combining creativity and agility to keep the heart of its lineup fresh and current. In Harris parlance, a pontoon boat has two main components. The chassis refers to the pontoons, the deck and the structure that mates them together, while the playpen refers to any part of the boat within the fencing. In creating the new Solstice 250, Harris redesigned both of these elements. aluminum with a rear skin over the cross members and a 28-gallon fuel tank. Our test-boat chassis is Performance Level 3.5 ($8,885),…

The SDX 290 is today’s updated version of Sea Ray’s old 290 Sundeck, which was originally designed to capture all the space desired in a deck boat yet still maintain Sea Ray’s signature sporty runabout look. It’s a design that works exceptionally well. The SDX retains all the sportiness of a runabout, with a deeper-V hull that tapers to 21 degrees of deadrise at the transom. This allows for a smoother ride in lake and bay chop, and for smooth carving in hard-over turns at speed. With the 380 hp MerCruiser 8.2L V-8 powering our test boat, we climbed on plane in under 4 seconds and enjoyed excellent midrange oomph en route to a 45.2 mph top-end. The wind-whipped lake chop we experienced on test day proved to be a…

Suzuki is not the only outboard manufacturer to offer dual props, as Seven Marine now offers a twin-prop version of its 527. When Volvo Penta acquired Seven Marine in 2017, it set out to apply its Duoprop contra-rotating propeller technology used in its sterndrives to the 527, a V-8 engine with 376 cubic inches that weighs in at 1,094 pounds. At the 2019 Miami International Boat Show, we ran a Tiara 38LS rigged with twin 527s with CR gear cases featuring Duoprops. We recorded a top speed around 53 mph. At 4,000 rpm, we noted a cruising speed around 35 mph and a fuel economy of 0.9 mpg. Handling throughout the rpm range was crisp and responsive, with a smoothness typically associated with smaller, sportier boats.…