New Hydra-Sports 41' CC
Is a Dragon-Slayer

The new Hydra-Sports 4100 SF is huge – look at the size of Capt. Steve! You are looking at the largest production center console on the planet.

It is not often that a new boat comes along that takes our breath away, but Hydra-Sports' new 4100 SF center console did it. With over 70 companies building center consoles, Hydra-Sports is now king of the hill with the largest production center console built. This is a mighty fishing machine designed for serious anglers who want to go out in virtually any sea condition and bring home the big ones. With a 23-degree deadrise – just one degree less than deep-V race boats – Kevlar composite construction, and powered by triple Yamaha 350s, she is made for both speed and rough water. Full of clever fishing amenities, this monster has comfortable seating for 8 people at the helm and behind. For anglers thinking about moving up, or owners of large convertibles ready to down-size, the 4100 SF is a “must see” because no matter what you buy, this boat will be a benchmark --

See video test of the Hydra-Sports 4100 SF --

See tests of all Hydra-Sports boats --

Boat Tests & Reviews

Formula 370 Super Sport

The 370 Super Sport is a fine choice if you want to enjoy weekends and even longer trips onboard. This boat gives you excellent space and amenities, and world-class performance along with the backing and support of one of America’s premier builders.  Formula has a comprehensive stem to stern 5-year warranty program.   Take a tour through Formula's 370 Super Sport.

Four Winns H310

At 31 feet, 4 inches long, the 310, is the largest bowrider Captain Ron's ever tested. The 310 has a 9 feet, 8 inch beam which gives some more elbow room too. But at 8,360 pounds you’ll need two motors to make her perform along with 130 gallons of fuel to keep those engines fed. For economy sake, the boat can be ordered with a single sterndrive, but we wouldn’t recommend anything less than twins.  There is nothing quite like her, and you should put the H310 on your "short list."  Join Captain Ron on his boat test of Four Winns' H310.

Larson Cabrio 370

The latest 370 builds on the success of the past models while adding new enhancements. The new extended swim platform adds an excellent place to play on the water. Now the platform is further off the water and horizontal to it. You have tons of room for entertaining without ever going below. The topside wet bar sports the move to more stainless steel, including the appliances onboard. The big difference is the Volvo Penta IPS power, not that IPS is new, except in this case, they were Volvo Penta IPS gas engines. Twin 8.1 L engines!  Larson has a 5-year stem to stern warranty program on all of their boats. Take a look at the Cabrio 370 from Larson.

Second Look

Rampage 45 Convertible
Beats Most of Her Peers

The Rampage 45 is a classic Carolina design made for performance and economy -- and when it comes to the stats she is tough to beat.

We count about a dozen 45' convertibles on the market these days. Most are surprisingly similar in fishing amenities and in salon and galley layout, but from there on they diverge. When we compared the Rampage 45 to the other 45' convertibles we discovered exactly how carefully she was designed to meet her competition, besting most in the critical areas of performance with economy, roominess and other areas. If you have always had your heart set on a 45 convertible, then you should read our surprising comparisons of the Rampage 45 and her peers --

See video test of the Rampage 45 --

Read the Captain's Report on the Rampage 45 --

See tests on all Rampage boats --

Second Look

New Doral 40-Footer
Has High Performance

This beautiful 40’ Doral Mediterra will turn heads wherever it goes.

Because the new Doral 40’ Mediterra is so long on styling and luxury amenities and is one of the most robust boats in her size-range, her outstanding performance is easy to overlook. Nevertheless, she is a winner here as well, and recorded the second highest speed at WOT and at best cruise – nosed out by only .5 mph in both cases -- that we have tested in her class. The boat we tested was powered by twin 370-hp IPS 500s (with a joystick) but she has many engine choices, gas or diesel, with both IPS and Zeus, Volvo or Mercury stern drives and Axius. To get our take on how the Mediterra stacks up against other express cruisers in her class -- parse the mouse. 

See our test video of the Mediterra --
Read our Captain’s Report --
5-year warranty video	See test on all Doral boats --

Express Cruisers

Cruisers Yachts 520
Runs With the Big Boys

The Cruisers Yachts 520 Sports Coupe is one of the top three boats built in her class.

There are not many express cruisers built in the 52’ range and when we compare the handful that are built we find that the 520 Sports Coupe by Cruisers Yachts comes out on top in most of the important criteria we examine. With a top speed of 41.4 mph she is virtually the fastest on the market with triple 435-hp IPS diesels. And at her best cruise speed of 22.5 those three mills are just loping along burning only 28.7 gph, pretty much best in class, giving her a 335-mile range. But there is a lot more to the 520 than performance. Her styling, room, layout, fit-n-finish and her beefy construction make her compelling. For most people a 52 boat is all that they will ever need in life. It can cruise virtually anywhere in the civilized world and do it in comfort with reliable systems and a joystick to boot. To see what we’re talking about check out our complete test with performance numbers, video and Captain’s Report --

M Hull Design

Darth Vader’s
New Motoryacht

Luke Skywalker has come down to earth, has made up with his dad, and they are both now cruising happily in the Caribbean, and when things get dull, they catch a drug runner or two.

You are looking at an experimental vessel that the U.S. military has been testing for four years. Last month it was put into active duty off Cartagena, Columbia in drug interdiction exercise with the Columbian Navy. Last fall it caught 3 aliens that had been turned to the Dark Side. The origins of this unique hull are bizarre, nearly every branch of the military has found uses for it, but in a day of increasing popularity of power cats, it has some interesting motoryacht possibilities. 88’ x 40’ x 3’, this vessel has 2000-sq.ft. of accommodation space and can travel 50 knots with quad Cats powering Arneson Drives. If you are intrigued by the possibilities -- go with the Force.

Stabilization

Seakeeper Gyro
Eliminates 50%
of Roll

With the Seakeeper gyro OFF our test boat rolled 12.25 degrees.	With the gyro ON the boat rolled 5.57 degrees – a 53% reduction in roll.

All boats roll not only in a seaway but also at anchor, on a mooring, and even at the dock. Even a small amount of boat motion can cause mal de mer in some people, and most of us at one time or another have been affected. Happly modern engineering has created a device that can reduce rock and roll by 50% or more. In amazing tests conducted by BoatTEST.com you can actually see how the Seakeeper Anti-Roll Gyro dampened the unpleasant effects of rolling down to a level that most people can tolerate. It’s hard to believe but true --

See video test of Seakeeper gyro --

---

Member Services

How Do You Know
Which is The Best Deal?

New powerboats have never been so attractive as now. But which one to choose?

One of the dilemmas that many new boat buyers are facing this spring is simply – Is the deal they’re getting the best deal possible? Is that beautiful new boat that dealer says is a steal for real? Or is there something better down the road? Last month Member Services helped a number of buyers find out the answer. Knowing where all of the non-current models are, what the dealer margin is and the whereabouts of any legitimate new boat repos can quickly answer the question. If you are seriously in the market for any size powerboat of any brand, just sign up for your FREE Member Services program -- you’ll be in hog heaven.

Industry News

Norberto Ferretti Negotiates to Buy Back Company

Norberto Ferretti sold the company of his name in 1995, built up a large luxury boat-building conglomerate, and now may buy it back.

In early February when it was reported that the Ferretti Group had missed payments on its debt service on over 1 billion Euros to two European banks, the industry has been waiting to discover the outcome. Last week it was announced that Norberto Ferretti and senior management within Ferretti Spa have offered to inject equity into the company as part of a new debt restructuring proposal that would give them ownership. Ferretti Group owns a number of brands including Bertram, Riva, Pershing, Apreamare and others. For more of the story --

Boating Tip

Do You Have
Spare Impellers?

Your boat has pumps all over it and most use impellers – which can fail for several reasons at any time.

The failure of a simple rubber impeller can spoil a planned weekend on the water. That’s why any well-equipped boat will have spares aboard. While you can’t have spares aboard for everything, you can have spares for a few of the most likely items to fail and impellers are high on the list. You might have as many as seven or more of them here and there on your boat. To find out more about maintaining and replacing impellers-- pump your mouse.  

Stooges Were Here

3 Stooges Steal
New Zealand Boat

Unmistakable proof that the Three Stooges are still alive was found last week Down Under.

Thieves stole a dinghy overnight last week from Lyttelton Harbour's Cass Bay, New Zealand, rowed it to a 34-foot yacht, started the engine and took off to sea. "They were idiots," said local Constable Richard Scott. The thieves did not know to turn on the seacock for the raw water engine cooling and “consequently it blew up” said the constable. Then the yacht began drifting toward shore. Not surprisingly, it was yet another narrow escape for the stoogefellows who always seem to get out of these scrapes. To find how the stooges escaped this time -- slap your stick.

Fish News

Record 771-lb. Stingray Caught

It took 90 minutes to catch on rod and reel, but since it took 13 men to bring it in, it won’t quite make the IGFA record book.

The Thailand capture of the massive female stingray was part of a program to tag fishy Maeklong River residents. The captive, part of a "vulnerable species" listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, measured a hefty 7 feet by 7 feet. That doesn't include the 10-foot-long poisonous tail. To find out more about this non-IGFA record --

State Government

New State Boat Taxes
Could Kill an Industry

New York Gov. Paterson has proposed a job-killing tax on boats to raise money for a state with already high unemployment.

New York’s Governor Paterson proposed a 5% tax on new boat sales in December and we’re concerned that not only New York might implement it, but that other states might copycat the idea. Already a bill has been introduced into the Illinois state legislature and been swatted down just as fast because it was an obvious job killer. In 1991 to 1993 over 500,000 people lost their jobs in the marine industry thanks to the 10% boat tax, and many boat builders and dealers went out of business.  To find out what is going on, why it can kill an industry and what you can do about it -- strangle your mouse.

BoatTEST News

 Thomson Reuters Copies BoatTEST.com

Thomson Reuters CEO Tom Glocer announces “videos-on-demand” and his company declares it a “completely new” idea.

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, someone once said, and for that reason the BoatTEST.com staff gives Thompson Reuters (the multi-billion dollar global information service) a hearty: “THANK YOU!” The news company is going to create informative videos (Great Idea!) and make their database of videos “searchable” (sound familiar?) on their website (Brilliant, lads!). Obviously the folks at Thomson Reuters are not powerboat owners, but we won’t hold that against them. Last month BoatTEST.com served over 510,271 video plays “on demand” for new boats, engines and related equipment and has been doing it since Sept. 15, 2000. Congratulations Thomson Reuters for dreaming up such a great idea!

For Dealers ONLY

$10 Million in
New & Used
Boats Wanted

Boat buyers are still searching and more boats are sold each week.

Over 200 members have signed up with BoatTEST.com looking for new and used boats worth over $10,000,000. If you have a good deal on one of the boats listed we will put you in touch with a customer ready to buy. View list of boats wanted --

New Products

Great New Touch Screen on Wellcraft’s 340 Coastal

The E-Plex System puts all the boat's electrical controls at the helm.

We recently took a look at Wellcraft’s new 340 Coastal. This fishing and family-friendly boat had several nice innovations that we liked, and hardly any we didn’t like. But one item that topped the nice list (and we checked it twice) was its new touch screen controller for the electrical system. Check out its features and see if you agree. Power up and follow us --

Accident of the Week

NFL Players Caught
Offshore in High Seas

Lone survivor Nick Schuyler sitting on the bottom of the 21’ Everglades center console which was capsized, but floated level probably saved his life. Photo at right shows the boat after rescue.

The day started out mild as four friends left the Clearwater, FL launch ramp at 6:30 am last Saturday morning. By mid-afternoon the weather turned nasty and the sea began building up. By Sunday the nation learned of the four missing anglers, two of whom were NFL players. Monday morning the USCG rescued one of the men, Nick Schuyler, who had managed to perch himself atop the capsized hull and was holding on to the outboard motor’s lower unit. The three other men were not found after an extensive USCG search and yesterday the mission was called off because after 72 hours in the 68-degree water the men must have succumbed to hypothermia if not drowned. The boat involved was a 21’ Everglades, a brand that is well-known to have among the best floatation systems in boats.  The fact that the boat floated level in its capsized state is credited with saving Schuyler’s life.  To read how this accident happened and some of the back story -- read on.

See Reuters video report of the accident --

Late-breaking story from the St. Petersburg Times -- Did Football Players Give Up? --

Capt. Steve's Lesson #26

Using Sound Signals
To Alert Other Boaters

This week Capt. Steve goes over sixteen new lessons and guidelines on using sound signals to alert other boaters of your intentions on the water. By using specific sound signals boaters can communicate whether they want to pass another boat to port or starboard, cross in front of a slower boat even though they are the give-way vessel, need to hold their position perhaps in a drawbridge scenario, or whether there’s a blind spot and need to alert boaters around the bend. These are basic rules which all recreational boaters should be aware of. The videos presented this week are part of Capt. Steve’s USCG-approved boating course called “Smart Boating.” Watch Capt. Steve's video boating lessons every week on BoatTEST.

To view this week’s lessons --

To view past lessons --

Ducky Award Winner

First Place
"The dealer said we should baby it for the first few hours." - E. Cavoli

Second Place
"All my life I've been wanting to drive this boat." - D. Rouchka

Honorable (almost) Mention
"Bob's new skiboat really attracts the babes."  - G. Lamb

"This is so much fun driving, I'm peeing my pants!" - D. Mead 

What's Going on Here?

You write the caption! Will you win the coveted "Ducky Award" for best caption?

Please send all submissions by 3/8/09.

We Need Reader HELP!

If you have a picture that you think needs some explanation by our witty and clever readers, please send it to: lis@boattest.com.

BoatTEST.com, LLC
51 Bank Street, Suite 2A
Stamford, CT 06901
203-323-9900
editorial@boattest.com