For many boaters the most stressful part of their day is launching and retrieving
their boat -- and with a crowd of on-lookers waiting for the inevitable foul-ups,
who can blame them? But in this video – which has been sponsored by the helpful
folks at Allstate Insurance – Capt. Steve explains step-by-step how to avoid embarrassing
mistakes and launch like a pro every time. The secret is to do what airline pilots
do before every take-off – they walk around the plane making an inspection, and
you should walk around your boat doing the same. Capt. Steve will tell you exactly
what to do – and one important thing that you should always do twice! See it now --
From PWCs to large motoryachts dealers and brokers across
the country have reported to BoatTEST.com that sales not only picked up in the second
half of March, but a few dealers had what they characterized as “terrific” business.
One dealer in Connecticut said he had the best March in years. Bayliner, Glastron,
Four Winns, Formula and other builders all reported that sales had noticeably picked
up in March from the winter doldrums. The lead article on the front page of yesterday’s
New York Times said that New York Times/CBS News polls indicate that “Americans
have grown more optimistic about the economy--” For more about the New York Times/CBS
polls and what is happening in the boating industry --
Two years ago Four Winns introduced their first “split
chine” bowrider in their new SL – for Sport Luxury – series and many people wondered
if the “split chine” concept would be accepted. The verdict is in: these boats are
Four Winns’ biggest sellers in class. Word on the
dock from owners we have talked with is that they like the boats more now than the
day they got them. When we asked our readers for comments on the SL series, high
on the list of compliments was comfort, room, ride, handling and in the words of
one reader, “I have the neatest boat on the lake.” Recently, Trailer Boats magazine
gave the SL 222 its “Excellence in Design” Award. To get a good feel for these three
boats we invite you read Capt.
Ron Svoboda’s captain’s report on the SL 262 --
Once you have selected the brand and the model stern drive
boat you want, which engine option should you select? In all likelihood the decision
you make will greatly impact how well you enjoy your boat – and how much it costs
both now and tomorrow. The days of “go-for-the-big-engine” are over. Now consumers
want to get engine selection right without being wasteful. Now consumers expect
both performance AND value for money. Recently BoatTEST.com looked at optional engine
pricing for six popular boat brands and discovered that you can save a lot of money
by selecting the right engine. Join us down the rabbit hole --
Industry News
Aluminum Chambered Boats (ACB)
Is Targeting U.S. Recreational Boaters
Several years ago when Aluminum Chambered Boats landed first
one, then another USCG contract, it changed the way the Coast Guard patrols the
U.S. coastline. Gone were the rigid-hull inflatables made by Zodiac, and entered
a
boat that looked like a RIB, but was all aluminum. Later the U.S. Marine Corps placed
a large order. Because the little Bellingham, WA boat builder was landing so much
military business -- overseen by some of the toughest procuring agents on the planet
-- recreational boaters across the country began asking about ACB. Now it is targeting
the national recreational market and offering some intriguing alternatives to traditional
fiberglass boats.
To learn more --
For many years now, boaters have debated the question of 4-blade propellers versus
3-blades. The traditional argument is that 4-blades are slow and 3-blades are fast,
end of discussion. Today, new trends in the marine marketplace, higher fuel prices
and challenging economic times are causing boaters to take a second look at this
old debate. Speed is now a much smaller part of the boating equation, and now practical,
real world performance is the name of the game for most people. Which props should
you be using, 4-blade or 3?
Join us to find the answer --
In 2008, the 23’ Yamaha out sold all other brands making
23’ boats -- not just in the jetboat category, but EVERY brand of runabout, whether
it be a bowrider, cuddy or skiboat. Not only that, but twice as many Yamahas were
sold than the #2 ranking boat in the 23’ runabout class! That is a resounding consumer
endorsement the likes of which is rarely seen in any industry. This accomplishment
is made all the more impressive because Yamaha is a relative newcomer to runabout
boat building, being the second newest entry among the top ten best-selling brands.
Not only is Yamaha a relative newcomer, it was also the only brand in the top ten
that is a jetdrive. What did Yamaha do last year to garner such incredible sales
success with its 23-footer? Was it customer service? Advertising? Low price? Free
toasters? To find out we interviewed the president of the Yamaha Watercraft
Group,
Mark Speaks --
We think the Glastron GS 259 is an ideal way for a young couple to start out the cruising
life. It is big enough to spend long weekends on, yet small enough to easily trailer.
It has a hot water heater, head, shower, stove top, microwave, refer and all of
the other basic equipment you need for short cruises. We tested the boat with the
standard 5.0 L engine and were pleased to find a WOT speed of 41.8 mph and a best
cruise of 27.7 mph giving you 3 mpg and a range of 151 miles. So, you don’t have
to get a bigger engine and the base price of about 55k MSRP will get the job done. The
great thing about a pocket cruiser is that you can get within striking distance
of the good cruising grounds with your tow vehicle, then launch, saving both time
and fuel.
See Capt. Rob Smith’s video test --
You don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy the pleasures of fishing in a new boat
with the 162 Pro Mag by Smoker Craft. This lightweight aluminum boat has high
windshields for protection, five lockable storage compartments, and bow and stern livewells
among many other features usually only found on expensive fiberglass
boats. She weighs just 960 lbs. which means she can be towed by almost anything
except a Smart Car. We tested the boat with a 90 hp 4-stroke Honda and her 2.7 seconds
time to plane is as good as any 2-stroke. If you are in the market for an aluminum fishboat
and have not checked out the Smoker Crafts, then we think you’ll be pleasantly
surprised by what you’ll find. We were. Watch Capt. Rob’s video test of the 162 --
The most popular cruiser in Larson’s trailerable line is the Cabrio 274. But when
it comes time to pick your engine option, which way should you go? We have tested
the 274 with 5.7L 320-hp and 8.1L 375-hp engines, both built by Volvo Penta. Most
people would guess that the big block would go faster and burn more fuel, but when
we compared the numbers we discovered a surprise. While the 8.1L did propel the
274 at 40.9 mph at best cruise vs. just 25.1 mph for the 5.7L engine, fuel consumption
was actually a hair better with the big block – 2.20 mpg vs. 2.18 mpg with the 5.7L.
So, with best cruise operating costs the same, the next question is how much do
you want to pay for the extra speed provided by the big block? Is it worth an extra
$4,000 to you? Check out our two tests and decide—
Best MPG
at WOT Stratos 294 XL
200-hp Yamaha
3.76 MPG
View Test
--
Fastest
“Best Cruise”
Ranger 185 VS
150-hp Mercury
47.7 MPH
View Test
--
Best MPG at
“Best Cruise”
Nitro Z-9 CDC
250-hp Mercury
5.30 MPG
View Test
--
Fastest
to Plane
Skeeter
TZX 200
200-hp Yamaha
2.0 Seconds
View Test
--
Fastest
0 to 30 Stratos 294 XL
200-hp Yamaha
4.6 Seconds
View Test --
Over the last several years BoatTEST.com has
tested nearly 50 bass boats from 13 major manufacturers – most of whom are the major
builders. This week we thought it would be fun to see how the FRP (fiberglass reinforced
plastic) boats stacked
up, one against another, in terms of major performance metrics. A couple of these
boats are no longer in production under the designation that we tested them several
years ago, but we assure you that they live on with a new name in a slightly altered
form. If there are better boats out there, we haven’t tested them. Our general experience
is that some boat companies (and most engine makers) simply don’t want an independent
3rd party testing their boats (or engines) because it pins them down to performance
numbers that can be compared to competitors. So if we haven’t tested your favorite
brand that is probably the reason. Of course performance isn’t the only criteria
you should use when buying a new boat – warranty, features, construction, durability,
re-sale value and customer service are probably all important reasons. To find out the specific engine models involved, click
on the tests. In two
weeks we’ll take a look at the aluminum bass boats we have tested and see how they rank.
To see all our bass boat tests --
PWC News
New Hull Design Gives Yamaha FZ Tight Turning at High
Speed
One of the things that makes PWCs so exciting is the ability to carve a turn like
a slalom skier. Knowing that, and knowing how competitive PWC owners are with their
friends, Yamaha’s designers created a completely new hull to turn tighter and
faster than the competition. And, according to our test captain the new FZ Series’
angled outside chine allows him to lean into a turn like a motocross racer. Capt.
John has made a video about this innovative new Yamaha PWC hull and explains
why it works so well. Then he took the new FZ PWC out on the water with our cameraman.
Why not be the first on your block to turn high-speed circles inside your friends
with their antiquated PWCs? See Capt. John carve up the competition --
We bet you thought the great thing about fiberglass boats is that they don’t need
any maintenance -- right? We are sorry to be the bearers of bad news but while the
fiberglass doesn’t need much maintenance, the gelcoat on top of it does. Believe
us when we say we have tried as hard as you to avoid coming to this conclusion,
but if you want to keep your new boat looking new you must wax it from two to three
times a year. There are several reasons, among them dirt and soot which will get
into the porous gelcoat, oxidation which will make it chalky, and ultraviolet rays
with will fade the pigment in it. Now, for the good news --
One never knows what a captain used to megayachts is going to say when he gets on
a 22’ boat, and Capt. Vince Daniello has an eye for detail and leaves
no aspect of the Maxum unexamined. He tested it with the standard 220-hp 5.0L Alpha
I package and she had more than enough speed to our way of thinking. Best cruise
was a respectable 28.9 mph, getting 3.55 mpg. The boat now has a larger engine option:
a 300-hp engine for an extra $3843.
Time to plane was 3.8 seconds with the 220-hp engine. If you want faster hole shot, we’d try a four-blade
prop before going to a larger engine.
Take a look at Capt. Vince’s test to get a better idea of the boat’s capabilities
-- See all tests of Maxum boats --
We remember the days when Bayliners at the low end of the line came standard with
hardly enough power to get on plane with two people in the boat. Well, those
days are over. Standard power now on the 195 BR is the 190-hp 4.3L MerCruiser with
Alpha I drive ($23,986 MSRP).
For $1600 more, you can get the boat with the 220-hp 5.0L engine ($25,586 MSRP).
With that engine we recorded a WOT of 52.8 mph and her best cruise is 35 mph, getting
4.14 mpg. Since operating costs are about the same with either engine at best cruise,
what you are really getting for your extra $1600 is 10 mph more at "best cruise,:higher top-end, and a faster hole shot. Take a look at Capt. Rob’s video and decide --
Over the years BoatTEST’s captains and staff have gotten around to most major boat
builders in the U.S. and many around the world. They know good construction practices
when they see them. While all builders are proud of their construction and building
procedures, the fact is that a few builders stand above the rest as doing an outstanding
job of boat building. One of them is Ranger in Flippin, Arkansas, a town of about
6,000 people. Ranger is the largest employer in Flippin, and its employees take
what they do seriously. But even more important, Ranger top management has implemented
SOTA boat building techniques from start to finish and tenaciously holds the bean
counters at bay with a bark that few people want to test. Join us as Capt. Rob Smith takes an in-depth video look at small
boat construction as good as we’ve seen it --
If you have ever wondered where Formula takes the photography for their boats, it
is in the Bahamas, and the boats makes it across the Gulf Stream and back
each year on their own bottoms. They’ve been doing it for two decades and being
able to make the trip and back on a tank of fuel is one of the company’s design
criteria for every boat they build. The 270 pictured here is an ideal boat to take
to Bimini, Gun Cay or Cat Cay for a day of snorkeling, swimming, scuba and sunning
in the gin clear waters of the Bahamas Banks. On a flat day, the 270 can make it
there in just over an hour, and have plenty of fuel for a day of excitement and
make it back to Miami in time for cocktails. You might not take your Formula to the Bahamas,
but it's nice to know that you could. To find out more about the Formula 270 Bowrider --
Ever since the sinking of the Titanic,
international maritime authorities have been
working to increase the number and quality of lifeboats on ocean going vessels.
As time has gone on organizations such as Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the
IMO (International Maritime Organization) have promulgated rules and regulations
involved with all aspects of launching life rafts, construction and their capabilities.
While visiting the Cheoy Lee shipyard in Doumen, China last week we noticed this
lifeboat going on a 200’ oil platform anchor tending vessel in its final stage
of construction at the yard. Given the capsize of a small boat in Clearwater, Florida
in February it occurred to us that this design is food for thought. To find out more about this boat --
Food for Thought
You Can Put Lipstick On a Pig, But It's--
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its flavor comes
through.
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This week Capt. Steve goes over eleven new lessons and
guidelines on how to use
the basic tools of the trade to plot your course on a chart. You’ll learn how to
correctly use parallel rulers and dividers, and how to calculate the amount of time
your trip will take using a circular slide tool. Capt Steve will also go over how
to calculate time between buoys and explains why knowing your estimate time of arrival
or ETA is important. 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.
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