Tomorrow at the Miami International Boat Show MasterCraft will debut its new “300.”
It will be a watershed boat for the Tennessee builder that has been known for 40
years for its up-market tournament ski and wakeboard boats. In MasterCraft’s announcement
press release it said, “We’re no longer just a ski boat company.” With that one
sentence and the boat pictured above, MasterCraft is venturing into the domain of
Formula, Four Winns, Larson and other American builders who have heretofore defined
the modern high-end 30’+ express cruiser. This is a strategic – and possibly brilliant
– corporate move; one designed to give MasterCraft’s future a potential that was
not realistically
possible as long as it is mired in the hammer-and-tong ski/wakeboat competition.
We could be wrong, but we detect the fine hand of Roger Penske behind this radical
move.
To find out more about this twin engine (gas or diesel) with optional "Joystick
Control", 4-sleeper cruiser -- and how much it costs -- plunk your magic twanger.
Seaswirl last manufactured a 23-foot center console in 2007 but demand and the economy
dictated revisiting it for 2009 and now you have another choice from Striper, the
2305 Center Console. It’s not just a rehash from the ‘07; it’s new all the way around.
The fuel hatch is gone; they added diamond anti-skid surfaces, forward seating and
more room for electronics at the helm. This will be a weekend warrior that
is affordable.
See complete test and video of Seaswirl's 2305 Center Console.
Doral Monticello
The Doral Monticello
is a sporty-looking pocket cruiser that has many of the amenities found on Doral's
larger models. This trailerable cruiser is now available with a Yanmar diesel engine
as well as 10 other engine options. If you are in the market for an express
pocket cruiser, the Monticello certainly has all the features you need and the ability
to add options for any of your specific desires.
See the Doral Monticello.
Formula 240 Bowrider Sport
Just about anyone
who has ridden in a Formula likely fell in love with the upscale
feel and the smooth responsive ride. Formula understands the economic impact of
a floundering stock market and ailing economy, so they put together a package to
help more people become part of their family. Thus, the 240 Bowrider Sport was born.
Come aboard the Formula 240 Bowrider.
Mako 264 Express
Mako's 264 Express is a tricked
out fishboat with a roomy cabin to easily slip away and relax for a nap or just
to find some relief from the harsh sun. Family on board? If the kids are having
a rough day on the water while you fish, they can slip into the V-berth for a nap
and recharge.
See video of the Mako 264 Express.
Sylvan Viper 206
The 206 Viper sets
itself apart partially in the fact that it runs so well with only a 150-hp outboard on
the stern. Most people don’t believe they can get good performance and handling
from a smaller outboard on a fiberglass boat, but Sylvan has found a design that
takes advantage of the smaller engines. Captain Robert Smith takes a look at the Viper 206 from Sylvan.
Yamaha 212X
The
212X is the wakeboard version of Yamaha’s 21-footer. Offered this year for the first
time in this hull, the twin high-output engines deliver 320 horsepower for quick
acceleration and exhilarating performance. These engines are clean and quiet,
reliable, fuel efficient and offer minimal bow rise when planing off. And they’ve
got plenty of pulling power, no matter who’s on the tow! Come aboard the Yamaha 212X.
During the last several weeks over 150 boat buyers
have contacted BoatTEST.com’s Member Services to help them find the right boat at
the right price. Currently, over 60 of those buyers have been put in touch with
dealers or brokers who have outstanding offers in the current soft market. There
are about 90 buyers who have yet to be matched-up by our Member Services with dealers
or brokers who have the right boats. If you are a dealer/broker and have an exceptional
value on any of the boats listed, then you should contact BoatTEST.com. See the complete list of boats wanted by BoatTEST members --
The advantages of jet drives have been obvious for years,
but recently they have picked up in popularity. This has happened in large part
because of their success in PWCs built by several companies, and in jet-powered
runabouts built by Yamaha and Sea-Doo. In fact, the 23-foot Yamaha runabout is the largest
selling boat that size in the U.S. Maine boat builder Hinckley has been installing
them for over 10 years in its picnic boat series, Huckins has installed them in
its new 56-foot boats, and last year they were even put in a new U.S. warship complete
with joystick steering. They are adaptable to virtually all types of engines from
outboards to large diesels. Discover some of the advantages of jet drives--
The Crownline brand has had a meteoric rise since its founding in 1991 and in 12
years has become one of the top five sportboat builders in the U.S. Today the company
has a full line of sportboats from 17’ to 34’. The company is obviously doing many
things right. We have always liked the concept of cuddy sportboats but unfortunately
many builders give the cuddy scant attention. We think the 255 CCR is notable because
it is a cuddy cabin designed to be used. You can actually get four people around
its table, plus there is a head with shower and a well-equipped galley. Nearly
as many people can be seated in the cockpit
with its “U”-shaped seating, as
in most bowriders.
Join
Christopher Hughes, our COO, as he takes a video look at this versatile Crownline
--
Ranger is keying in on two groups of boaters with its 1850 RS: owners of runabouts
and aluminum fishing/utility boats. By designing the boat for a wide variety of
uses and keeping the price down, the 1850 RS will be an attractive package for the
young and growing families with kids whose interests will evolve as they get older.
Dad, of course, will always be fishing. To find out more about this new model --play
your mouse.
First people just whispered about it, but now it is out of the closet. It’s wake
surfing. That's surfing as in no tow line – just you and your board and the green
curl.
It is not often that we get a chance to catch one of wake surfing’s more articulate
dudes giving pointers on what makes good surfing wake. But thanks to the good folks at Tigé who were
able to catch this impresario of the rolling pipe on video tape, we are bringing it
to you. You need not watch this unless your spine tingles when the surf is up and
you like to slide in the pocket -- wake your mouse.
Smart buyers of stocks, houses, and boats know that the
best time to buy is when others are not. The
boating industry has drastically cut production and as dealers sell off their new
boat inventory in many cases they are not replacing the boats. Desirable brands
and models, in many cases, are already on an “order-only” basis. For that reason
as time goes on prices will rise. By leveraging its contacts and communication network
BoatTEST’s Member Services is putting buyers in touch with good deals every day.
If you are seriously in the market for a new boat over 20’ or a new or used
boat 30’ or larger chances are that Member Services can help you find
the boat of your dreams FREE.
Made in Austria, the versatile Rotax engine powers everything from killer drones
flying over the Khyber Pass to snowmobiles, motorcycles, little cars, and of course,
Sea-Doo PWCs and jet boats. With over 5 million of the units in service they have
proven themselves in all conditions.
Last year Rotax added a larger intercooler
and supercharger and now Sea-Doo has the most powerful engine going in PWCs or jet-powered
sportboats – the 255-hp Rotax. Hey, that’s 85-hp per! Put that in your pipe and
smoke it, GM! Join Capt. Smith as he takes a close look at these remarkable little
engines -- chill your mouse.
If you have been looking at some websites with your mobile phone you may have discovered
that some will display well, while others offer quite a challenge. Most are somewhere
in between. There are several third party additions for your Windows Mobile and
Symbian mobile phones which can help make web browsing easier. Of course, the Apple
iPhone already has excellent software for web browsing included, as do the Palm
OS devices. Blackberry devices also have a built-in web browser which is known for
its lackluster appearance. Fortunately, there's a third party replacement for Blackberry
also.
Learn more about these and other third party browsers.
Accident of the Week
Former “Father of the Year” Dies in
Boating Accident
A fishing trip gone horribly wrong leaves two dead and four others hospitalized.
One of the deceased is the 89-year-old 2006 winner of the Arizona Father of the
Year contest. An honor bestowed on him by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and
ESPN Radio for his dedication in passing on his love of the great outdoors to his
children. So what went wrong --
Imagine watching as thieves steal your boat. Then picture yourself hopping in your
truck and driving after the thieves while calling 911. That’s exactly what happened in Orange County Florida recently as some kids
made off with a boat right from the
owner's driveway. If you make it easy enough, you too can get your boat stolen.
We’ll show you how. Get your crowbar and hop onboard--
I’m a sail boater and I’m just about fed up with you stink potters failing to give
the right of way. Recently, I was tacking back and forth across the channel against
a stiff headwind, when here comes a ferryboat that just about runs me over. He slowed
but never stopped and never altered course to avoid me. I had to come hard about
to avoid hitting HIM. And this is coming from a professional. The Rules of the Road state
that powerboats shall give the right of way to sailboats, so why are powerboaters so thick-headed about this?
Some folks in Germany are giving a whole new meaning to the term “Personal Watercraft.”
They call it the Jetlev-Flyer and they say it will go 74 kmh, go as high as 15 meters
and has a range of 300 km. The builder’s website says that the new unit has been
under development for 9 years and has been tested for 6 more years. We couldn’t
think of a better time to introduce it. The inventor is looking for dealers
worldwide. Be the first in your marina to blast off over sailboat masts --
that will really honk-off the ragbaggers. To see a video demonstration --
This week Capt. Steve covers some basic rules of the road in these new lessons and
guidelines on give-way and stand-on vessels. These are rules which all recreational
boaters should be aware of. You’ll learn about the right of way for stand-on vessels
and corrective measure give-way vessels must make in order to avoid collisions.
Learn about making course corrections, making obvious changes so everyone knows
what you are doing, slowing down to help reassess a situation, how to determine
which boat is the stand-on versus the give-way boat, and other informative tips
about the rules of the road. These videos
presented this week are part of Capt.
Steve’s USCG-approved boating course called “Smart Boating.”
Watch Captain Steve's video boating lessons every week on BoatTEST.com.
We do not SPAM, nor do we sell, rent, or give your member information to ANY third party without your permission. You will receive our FREE weekly e-newsletter, which you may easily cancel at any time
Most of our content, boat tests and videos are available for free viewing. However, there is a small charge for access to archived videos and tests.
