Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i Boating

The early-November morning in Morro Bay, California, was near perfect: light overcast skies and dead-calm. Reports from earlier in the week had late-season albacore within 6 miles of the harbor, and we jumped at the chance to put a few of these coveted tuna in the freezer before winter finally shut down things for the season. As we motored past the harbor master’s building in our 15-foot center-console, my dad and I both noticed the two red flags flying. The gale warning was in stark contrast to the current conditions. Concluding the flags had mistakenly been left up from the day prior, we continued on our way. The gale warning was in stark contrast to the current conditions. Concluding the flags had mistakenly been left up from the day prior,…

Q: Boat Doctor, we are planning a trip down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico with our boat. Should we change the zincs before we get to salt water? Emmett and Ellen Stuckey Montgomery, Alabama A: I get this question often, and the answer is pretty critical. In fresh water, most zincs are actually made from magnesium—though they may be made from either actual zinc or aluminum. While any of the three will protect from corrosion to varying degrees in fresh water, magnesium should never be used in salt water. Magnesium will cause corrosion in short order if used in the salt chuck. Therefore, if you know what type of sacrificial anodes are currently installed, change to the metal your engine-maker recommends for saltwater application, which will be either…

HOLE DIAMETER Garboard drains are available for transom holes ranging from ¾ to 1½ inches in diameter. The most common for today’s recreational boat is one that fits a 1-inch-diameter hole. Make sure there is enough surface around the hole to accommodate the size of the flange without it hanging below the bottom of the transom. TUBE DEPTH Some garboard drains have tubes that extend farther inside the transom hole than others. This dimension is irrelevant unless the tube extends beyond the inner wall of the transom. In this case, it could impede bilge drainage by allowing water to collect along the inner transom wall. Make sure the tube is not too long. MATERIAL Garboard-style drains come in three materials: bronze, stainless steel and plastic. Since these fittings are well…

ELECTRIC MOTORS THEN You might be surprised to learn that electric boats have been around since 1838. Inventors from Prussia, England and America began making vessels with lead-acid batteries—tons of lead-acid batteries per vessel—to move passengers quietly and efficiently. But the internal combustion engines invented in the late 1800s were more powerful and convenient, and with the exception of Elco electric motors, electric power fell away in popularity. In 1934, Minn Kota manufactured the first electric outboard. Then, in the 1960s, bass tournament fishing popularized big-horsepower gas engines for speed, and electric trolling motors for precise boat handling. You might say the fishermen were ahead of the curve by about 60 years on hybrid boats. ELECTRIC MOTORS TODAY We are focusing on production models that can be easily installed by…

Whether built of plywood or fiberglass, big family boats of my past ran on a shallow-deadrise V-bottom, which pounded hard in choppy seas, and featured a small-block inboard for power. Though its family would have referred to it as a cabin cruiser, they probably used it only for day cruises. Today, a boating family’s basic requirements for a big dayboat remain mostly unchanged. But new dual-console dayboats, such as Boston Whaler’s 280 Vantage, offer huge differences in power, speed, seaworthiness, safety and efficiency, and with the added benefit of open cockpits fore and aft. So, though the requirements may be the same, boats like the 280 Vantage raise boaters’ expectations. Our test boat was sold. The owners’ first boat, the couple had thought through what they wanted in a family…

The Sharrow propeller originated in an unlikely setting—a symphony music hall. This is where film producer Greg Sharrow was trying to capture overhead video footage of an orchestra’s performance using a drone. But there was a big problem: The buzzing propellers created excessive noise that interfered with the performance. Sharrow needed a propeller that eliminated the primary cause of propeller noise: vortexes and cavitation at the blade tips. He racked his brain for a solution. Then, while walking his dog one day, it dawned on him that ribbonlike looping blades would get rid of tips, largely eliminating vortexes and cavitation noise. Thus, a new propeller design—the loop prop—was conceived. But it took years of engineering, testing and refinement to perfect it and bring it to fruition. Today, the Sharrow Marine…

Even sitting at the dock, the 25 QX Fastback exudes pontoon performance. The molded fiberglass bow rakes sharply toward the water. Fiberglass-cladded rails are sharply faceted and completely devoid of the slightest hint of traditional fencing. Spanning the twin consoles, a low-profile, steeply raked walk-through windshield is deeply tinted, adding an air of mystery to the passengers behind. At the stern, side panels finish in a mix of bright stainless steel and wire mesh. Add a swept-forward overhead arch, a 350 hp Yamaha outboard color-matched to the new-for-2020 Monaco Blue exterior, and a blacked-out trio of top rail, pontoon skirt and deck rail, and the 25 QX looks ready to rumble. On the water, it didn’t disappoint. Bennington equipped our test model with the ESP Performance Package, one of the…

Like nearly all Manitou models we’ve tested over the years, the 25 Legacy SL featured an ultra-smooth ride and a sporty, inside lean through the corners that’s more akin to a traditional V-hull. Chalk it up to the builder’s patented V-Toon technology. Twin 25-inch pontoons flank a central 27-inch pontoon, dropped lower than the outer tubes. Taking into account the central tube’s added girth, the effect lowers the bottom of the center pontoon a full 5¼ inches and mimics a V-hull’s shape. Add the wide, positive-angle lifting strakes of Manitou’s Sport Handling Package (SHP) on all three tubes, Teleflex SeaStar Power Assist steering, and a performance transom design, and the result is a boat that powers instantly onto plane, banks sweetly into turns and, with our test boat’s 300 hp…

Marine electronics brands continually advance “state of the art” in multifunction displays, often leapfrogging each other with new functionality and improved features. The latest brand to hit the market with new MFD technology is Raymarine with its Axiom+ series. The successor to Raymarine’s popular line of Axiom MFDs, Axiom+ is engineered for greater speed, quicker responsiveness and future expansion. Available in 7-, 9- and 12-inch display models, the MFDs are fully networkable via NMEA 2000 and Ethernet, with Raymarine and FLIR peripherals such as radar, thermal-imaging systems and more. They come performance-tuned with a quad-core processor for fast chart redraws, multichannel sonar views and augmented reality navigation. Axiom+ models also feature IPS color displays that are 25 percent brighter than previous Axiom models, resulting in greater clarity and wider viewing…

CUTWATER C-24 CW Cutwater Boats dubs this lively vessel a “center walkaround.” A trailerable 8 feet, 6 inches wide, Cutwater’s C-24 CW boasts a double-stepped hull that planes readily, and helps deliver speed and efficiency. Integrating the builder’s proprietary laminar flow interrupters, this hull helps ensure confident cornering. Powered by a 250 hp Yamaha outboard—a 300 is available—the boat boasts plenty of power for taking a full crew on myriad boating adventures. The interior of the C-24 CW boasts a private head with marine toilet and sports 6 feet, 2 inches of headroom. Standard features include Garmin’s GPSMap 942xs chart plotter with GPS and sonar transducer, an aft insulated beverage cooler, rod holders, locking rod storage, a fish box, a large heavy-duty cooler with seat, a pop-up ski tow, retractable…

My buddies and I often clear the inlet well before daylight en route to offshore tuna grounds. On nights as black as the coffee in my thermal cup, where you can’t tell the water from the sky, we keep the speed in check. We call it a slow plane—enough velocity to lift my 22-foot center-console for good fuel economy, but at a pace that helps ensure safe navigation in the inky darkness. A slow plane also can be advantageous in rough seas, where you need to reduce speed for comfort and keep the boat together. You also want the boat to stay on plane to maximize miles per gallon, rather than slogging it out and consuming inordinate amounts of fuel. Along my neck of the coast, rough seas usually kick…

Interceptors from brands such as Humphree and Zipwake offer a number of benefits. Like conventional trim tabs, these systems can trim down the bow and correct for a list while the boat is underway, and do so in a more efficient manner than trim tabs, according to both companies. Interceptor systems can also dynamically control the pitch and roll of a boat while underway to create a more stable and comfortable ride, thanks to high-tech sensors, integrated microprocessors, and ultra-fast servo actuators that drive the interceptors. Interceptors utilize composite blades (in a wide range of widths and styles for different sizes and types of boats) that deploy downward from the surface of the transom to create hydrodynamic lift by intercepting water flow under the boat. This installation can be tricky…

When Formula set out to add a 38-foot model to its Super Sport Crossover (SSC) line of “full-cabin bowriders,” it knew inland customers would want the boat with sterndrive power, while those on coastal waters would prefer outboards. The Formula 380 SSC debuted first (April 2020 issue, page 66) with sterndrive power. Now the outboard version of the 380 SSC is here, and it is very similar yet very different from the sterndrive model. Our test boat was rigged with the maximum power option—triple 4.6-liter supercharged V-8 Mercury Racing 450R outboards—for a combined 1,350 hp, good for a top speed on glass-calm water of 65.8 mph, or almost 15 mph faster than the 380 SSC we tested with twin Mercury Racing 520 sterndrives. Like the sterndrive version, our outboard-powered model…

Pontoons have always been a natural fit for fishing. Even without dedicated fishing packages—optional groupings that typically come in the form of fishing chairs and livewells grouped on the bow or stern—their spacious, open decks allow anglers plenty of space to work their lines. Stability and minimal draft also offer a fishing-friendly twofer. Bennington’s 23 SCCTTX takes things to a new level by adding a feature plucked right off the deck of one of its fiberglass V-hull counterparts: a coastal center console, complete with overhead T-top. To be fair, it’s not an altogether radical concept. Center-console pontoons with a fish-friendly focus have been done before. Avalon’s 23-foot GS Center Console Fish ($42,803 with Mercury 250) and the 2020 model SunChaser 23-foot-10-inch Eclipse 8523 CC Fish ($63,299 with a 250 hp…

The Bahamas. The name alone conjures up images of brilliantly white sand, endlessly turquoise waters, and one famous song by the Beach Boys. Consisting of nearly 700 islands, several of which conveniently border the southeast coast of Florida, the Bahamas have long been a boater’s wonderland, whether it be for cruising, fishing, scuba diving, or anything else on, in or around the water. To provide you with a guide to boating in the Bahamas, and to show that despite some reports, the island nation is still a great cruising destination, we partnered with Roswell Marine and headed across the Gulf Stream to explore some of the islands in the company’s customized Invincible 37 Cat. While our arrival into the Bahamas was mesmerizing and full of optimism, it was met with…

The Harris Crowne 270 SL TE is a boat that can’t drive 55. In fact, it can go faster. Powered by twin Mercury 400 outboards, this boat hopped onto plane in a mere 3.6 seconds, reaching 30 mph in less than 7 seconds more before topping out at 61.2 mph. The key attribute? The Crowne’s triple 27-inch pontoons with strakes designed specifically for twin-engine performance. The Crowne 270 SL TE has a look that goes beyond the sedate pontoon. Key to its look is the replacement of the traditional pontoon fence enclosures with sleek, curvy fiberglass. Four fiberglass modules occupy the four corners of the deck outline, the forward pair curving aggressively toward the water. Those modules incorporate the Crowne’s outer walls as well as seat bases. The result is…

Sylvan rigged the L-3 DLZ with performance in mind, and boy, does it fly. With the 250 hp Evinrude G2 for power, it leaped from a standing start to 30 mph in just 6 seconds. Top speed was nearly 45 mph at just under 6,000 rpm. Sound levels, however, didn’t get elevated until after about 4,000 rpm; at most economical cruise speed (21 mph, 3,500 rpm, 3.2 mpg), we recorded just 72 decibels—quiet enough for conversation. While we tested the boat with an Evinrude, we expect similar results with the available Yamaha, Mercury, Honda and Suzuki power choices. This Sylvan is an excellent multipurpose rig, and it’s stylish, with new exterior fencing and décor for 2020. For cruising and partying, a set of short lounges in the bow face each…

In addition to offering the upgraded Axiom+ line, Raymarine is unveiling a new electronic catalog of LightHouse Charts, which are derived from official hydrographic sources, the data used by maritime professionals. LightHouse Charts offer Raymarine users a high level of clarity, customization and detail, and the ability to explore onshore destinations, fishing spots and points of interest, Raymarine says. Engineered for both recreational and professional applications, the electronic charts allow captains to switch between an official government-style chart presentation to an information-rich, leisure chart view. You can also choose between four chart color pallets optimized for bright sun, dusk and nighttime lighting conditions. With a LightHouse Premium subscription, Raymarine users can also access continuous chart updates, an expanded points-of-interest library, and enhanced satellite imagery from Mapbox. The charts will be…

1. A popular topic today is ethanol fuel. What’s wrong with using ethanol fuel, and what can you do as part of a regular maintenance schedule to mitigate any effects? A. Nothing’s wrong with ethanol fuel; today’s fuels are clean enough and won’t go stale.B. There’s nothing wrong with actually using it; letting it sit in fuel lines, injectors or carburetors where it can phase-separate and leave corrosive deposits is the problem. Treat the fuel with fuel conditioner, and be sure to run the outboard long enough to get that treated fuel into the engine.C. Run all the fuel out of the engine by disconnecting the fuel line and letting the engine run out of fuel.D. The best bet is to run Rec-90 (non-ethanol) fuel, if it’s available.E. B and…

The approach to the parking spot for my trailer boat offers only about 6 inches of clearance on each side, and I will admit to scuffing the walls a few times while backing up. The Parkit 360 electric trailer dolly made things easier. The Force 10K B3 model features a 12-volt battery and 6.5-inch-wide tires (great for unpaved surfaces), and is capable of moving trailers weighing up to 10,000 pounds with 900 pounds of tongue weight. It requires a special post that tightens snugly in the coupler and comes with adapters to fit any trailer coupler; the post then inserts into the dolly. A free-spool function lets you roll the dolly without power, but make sure you put it back in gear before attaching it to the trailer and removing…

For example, if the manual said to run the engine in gear at idle for the first 15 minutes, I’d run it at idle for an hour. And if it said to run at less than half-throttle for the next two hours, I extended that to three hours. That might have been OK with the old two-stroke outboards. But with today’s four-stroke marine engines—including outboards, inboards and sterndrives—it is not a good idea. What’s important is that owners follow the break-in schedule exactly as the manufacturer specifies; this helps ensure a lifetime of dependable performance. The owner’s manual will detail the recommended break-in procedure for your engine model. “Failure to follow the engine break-in procedures can result in poor performance throughout the life of the engine and can cause engine…

In a world where boat companies come and go, or ownership and leadership changes at bankruptcy and the whim of the economy, Regal Boats is one of the few companies that can boast 50 years of continuous, family-owned leadership. While it’s always a nice thing to celebrate a big year, that consistent management brings great benefits to the boat owner too. And, in my opinion, that jubilee year is key to Regal’s continued quality, high-scoring awards in consumer surveys and its innovation in bringing boats like the 36 Grande Coupe to the water. The 36 Grande Coupe we tested showed how the experience of Regal engineers is not only applied to designing a smooth-riding hull, and a comfortable and convenient, flowing deck plan, but they also carefully select each and…

Champion boat racer and accomplished boatbuilder Earl Bentz reunited his Triton team to bring an allnew series of fishing boats to American anglers. The 341 CC is Caymas’ latest and largest, and it boasts a Michael Peters-designed Stepped-Vee Ventilated Tunnel (SVVT) hull, and a deck plan to suit the most finicky fishermen. The 341 CC made over 60 mph with triple Mercury 300 hp V-8 FourStrokes. The throaty engines offer relentless acceleration, and fuel economy that allows nearly 400 miles of off shore range. It’s not surprising that the Caymas 341 CC is a performer, but it comes by its fishability honestly too. Both Benz and Falk are avid off shore anglers. A 70-gallon livewell centered on the transom is fed by dual pumps in a sea chest, keeping the…

Of all the things people love about pontoon boats—like how they’re great for entertaining and packed with creature comforts—performance is not often mentioned at the top of the list. But a modern pontoon boat equipped with a triple-tube package can achieve robust speeds and execute graceful, carving turns like a V-hull. Here are seven pontoons with triple tubes that perform just as well as they entertain. PLAYCRAFT POWERTOON X-TREME 3000 In terms of pure, raw speed, no one else does pontoons like PlayCraft. Thirty years ago, its founder, Jim Dorris, looked at the popularity of performance boats on Lake of the Ozarks and asked: Why can’t we retain the leisure and social atmosphere of a pontoon boat while building it to power comfortably and easily accelerate to 70 mph? Our…

How does it feel to take the helm of the Lowe SS 250 WS? At speed, the SS 250 WS presses you back against the lush living room of upholstery surrounding the crew. In turns, the power steering gives smooth control, and Mercury’s dynamic throttle easily maintains torque by feeding in throttle to keep the boat turning smoothly instead of dumping speed and wallowing through the turn. In straightaways, each nudge of the throttle returns rewarding acceleration up to a top speed of 51.6 mph. The performance that comes from the 300 hp Mercury, the added buoyancy of a third pontoon, and the reduced drag from strakes that lift the tubes to the surface of the water optimize horsepower and increase the fun. Triple pontoons, 25 inches in diameter, are…

This Starcraft CX 25 DL Bar provides an excellent example of what a triple-tube package can do for you. With a Yamaha F250 outboard bolted to the stout transom bracket, it rockets to 30 mph in a cat-quick 6.7 seconds, and tops out just under 44 mph. The best economy we recorded comes at a nice 21.6 mph clip, turning 3,500 rpm and burning 5.9 gph—that’s nearly 3.7 mpg. This ’toon rolls through turns with finesse and sure-footedness. It’s a nice ride, to be sure. With the do-everything CX 25 DL Bar, Starcraft takes its entertaining as seriously as it does the performance, developing a convertible bar-turned-lounge arrangement on the aft deck of this new single-engine 25-footer—and boy, does it turn heads. Raft up to the fleet at the cove…