Last month we tested the new Hydra-Sports 2000 WA and in light of the consumers’
new interest in safety relative to swamping and quick dewatering to avoid capsize, it illustrates an important design feature. Namely the transom is cut down to just
above the waterline and the cofferdam of the outboard well rises only about 1/3rd
of the total transom height.
This design has several advantages. First,
it allows the outboard engine to be low which means a short shaft can be used on
this 20-degree dead rise boat and it lowers the center of gravity. Second, because
the transom is effectively cut down to about 1/3rd of its height, in case of swamping
most of the water can easily flow out, thus reducing the chance of capsize. Get Capt. Steve’s Captain’s Report --
As queen of Glastron’s Sport Cruisers, the all-new GS 289 has the special features
and amenities one might expect. The Glastron cruisers have served the company well,
so it made sense to build an even
larger boat. Glastron has certainly put the extras
in. Aboard you’ll find Alphastone counters, lots of stainless steel hardware,
plush leatherette upholstery, and brushed chrome accents. Glastron didn’t let all
that beauty stop the performance either. We clocked a top end of over 40 mph with
a single 300-hp sterndrive.
See complete test and video of Glastron's GS 289 Sport Cruiser.
Sylvan 8522 Sport
Did you know
the folks at Smoker Craft are behind the Sylvan brand leveraging their experience
and manufacturing knowledge? Pontoon boats
are relatively simple craft, yet their popularity over the last few years has exploded.
Builders are adding innovative features, increasing luxury and installing high horsepower
propulsion. Sylvan is one such builder and offers a wide variety of models that
deliver a range of great features and attributes. Come aboard the 8522 Sport from Sylvan.
Smoker Craft 151 Resorter
For three generations, the Smoker
family has been designing and manufacturing aluminum fishing boats. So it’s safe
to say they know what they are doing, and it shows in the newly released 151 Resorter.
The 151 is the baby of the Resorter series, featuring an all-welded hull finished
off with an attractive paint and graphic scheme and a classy interior. Captain Ron takes a look at the 151
Resorter from Smoker Craft.
Stratos 186XT
New
special offer on this popular model. Stratos
extends the popularity of the 176XT by offering the next level 186XT. This model
offers additional room up front and a wider beam for those needing a bit more space
to fish and compete. Larger than most in its class, this model comes in under $19,000
and has about 15” more length added to the bow over its sibling. Check
out the 186XT from Stratos.
Whether
you’re into racing, freestyle, or freeriding, the SuperJet is a popular choice across
the board. Both powerplant and hull strike a nice balance of design elements
which will meet the demands of novice, intermediate, and expert riders. Come aboard the Yamaha SuperJet with
Captain John Wenz.
Head-to-Head Tests
Wellcraft 21' Fisherman vs. 21' Sportsman
Yamaha F-200 vs. Mercury 200 Optimax
Capt. Steve wrings out both of these new Wellcraft
21' models with different outboard power -- which do you prefer?
In case you haven't gathered by now, Capt. Steve is not
shy about giving his opinion and sometimes he even gets a little grumpy, but what
do you expect from a Irish sea captain? Recently he took exhaustive looks at two
new Wellcraft 21-footers, one a center console, which is called a Fisherman and
one a dual console, which is called
a Sportsman. Each of these models share a completely
new hull design. We found it interesting that the
210 Sportsman powered by the 200-hp
2-stroke Mercury performed as well as it did with regard to fuel mileage at best cruise. The two boats with engines weigh about the same, but when
tested, the center console had 300 additional pounds in fuel,
yet at best cruise the Sportsman went 32.2 mph getting
2.99 mpg with the 2-stroke Mercury. The 4-stroke Yamaha on the Fisherman had a best cruise of 26.2
mph at 3.23 mpg. Both were turning 15-1/2 x 17 wheels. Guess which one had the fastest
WOT? We invite you to compare both models and the performance of both engines on
our test pages. And don't forget to watch Capt. Steve's video tests --
According to lone survivor Nick Schuyler, NFL football player Marquis Cooper's 21' Everglades swamped
then rolled over last month, and
subsequently three
men died. That Schuyler was able to sit on the level floating hull
and hold on to the outboard engine's lower unit is credited with saving his life.
13 months ago BoatTEST.com editor Jeff Hammond spoke with the president of Everglades,
Steve Dougherty, about the very subjects of level flotation, swamping and scupper
size -- all issues that impinged on last month's accident. We urge you to watch
the three important videos above wherein Everglades President Dougherty gives his
views of boat building for safety.
Seaswirl, a Genmar company which makes the Striper line of boats from 18’ to 33’, is a company that
believes in giving its customers choices. In the case of the 2101 WA/DC Striper
there are three different basic configurations, each with 11 or 12 engine options
in outboard or stern drive, gas or diesel, from 150-hp to 290-hp – which adds up
to at least 35 different choices. We took a stroll through the Striper plant to
see how these 23 different versions go together and to find out more about the boats.
Join us for our voyage of discovery --
Being a good boater starts long before you get out on the water. And if you have not properly
prepared your trailer rig you may never even make it. Just as airplane pilots walk
around their planes checking out control surfaces before they get into the cockpit,
so too, should you, make a careful check of all the straps, chains, connections,
bolts and landing gear on your trailer before you head to the launch ramp.
Capt. Steve gives us his take on the best way to prep so that you will not have
a costly accident on the road --
Capt. Rob Smith has some sage advice about sifting through all of the prop scuttlebutt
that is easy to get free along the dock. The bottom line is that it all comes down
to your engine(s), your specific application and the props' geometry. If you are
repowering, replacing worn out props, buying a spare, or just tired of lack-luster
performance, why not speak to the the nation's leading authorities on props for
powerboats -- the folks at PowerTech! Watch Capt. Rob's video and you'll see what we mean.
The art of wake boat tower design has come a long way fast. Tigé’s new Alpha Z tower
is one of the coolest we have ever seen.
It has an incredible anchor light that turns
into a running light and then a dome light. There are handholds, integrated speaker
pods, lights and chromed wakeboard racks, all in a beautiful swept back towing arch.
See this
quick Tigé video of the coolest arch on the market -- pump the ratone.
The McMurdo E5 SMARTFIND is a 406 MHz EPIRB designed to operate with the COSPAS-SARSAT
international search and rescue system. Once removed from its Carry Safe Manual
Bracket the unit can be activated automatically by immersion in water, or manually
by following the activation instructions printed on the unit. See Capt. Rob Smith's videos explain its features --
Good old Captain Rodney Dangerfield may have departed this life some years ago,
but his legacy of seamanship and boat handling lives on. We have published in the
past pictures and videos of German, Japanese and several other navies slamming
into each other and hapless civilian vessels, now the U.S. joins their ranks. How
two Navy vessels chock full of SOTA electronics could hit each other, much less
hard enough to rupture the USS New Orleans’ fuel tank, is a question only Capt.
Rod could answer. To find out how it’s done -- hit your mouse.
This week Capt. Steve goes over nine new lessons and
guidelines on reading charts
and using a compass.
Learn about the different numbers on charts and why there are
so many, how to find a specific buoy or locate rocks on a chart. Capt. Steve goes
over the difference between True North and Magnetic North, Degrees of Variation,
and other important aspects of navigating. 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.com.
“Here, class, we will be demonstrating Newton's 3rd Law...” - W. Sorensen
Second Place "In today's news, the Coast Guard demonstrated their zero emissions outboard
which is compliant with the EPA's 2010 Marine regulations.” - G. Lamb
Honorable (Almost) Mention "They used to laugh at Billy and his 10' dingy... until he sat down to
play."
- D. Gallagher
"Not everyone can be a Marine!"- R. French
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