Let’s cut to the chase – Cabo has gotten to where it is
today by building better boats than its cheap competition, and lower-priced boats
than its high-quality competition. Cabo builds the important things right, yet does
not lavish money on fine-yacht grade joiner work, gadgets, complex systems, re-inventing
the wheel, and expensive marketing eyewash. What you see is what you get, and if
you don’t see it, chances are it’s not there. For the last five years or so Cabo
has given Bertram and Viking fits at the small end of their lines, and now it takes
on the big battlewagons of the big three – Bertram, Hatteras and Viking. To find out more about the newest entry to the heavyweight navy
--
New Product Breakthrough
Volvo Penta Plans Hydrogen
Generators for Boats --
--
Kiss Diesel and Gas
Generators Good-bye!
Next month a Volvo Penta subsidiary will hire around 60 people in an entirely new
plant in Gothenburg, Sweden to manufacturer an environmentally friendly electrical
power generator for powerboats and over-the-road trucks. The new system will use
hydrogen and it will replace diesel generating systems putting out from 5 kw to
15 kw. That means it will be applicable to powerboats from about 25’ to 45’ – the
heart of the diesel and gas generator market for companies such as Onan, Westerbeke
and Kohler. The new system appears to have few, if any, moving parts and will therefore
eliminate the annoying noise and vibration that current diesel-powered generators
produce. Volvo says the emissions are a big improvement over current diesel generation
technology. The big news here is that the new Volvo system does not have to wait
for hydrogen distribution “stations” to be set up around the country, as its new unit will simply
make its own hydrogen gas out of conventional fuels, including ethanol, biomass,
alcohol, biodiesel. For more on this exciting development -- shock your mouse
At the London Boat Show last January Sunseeker introduced its new Predator 64, a
boat that the builder calls a “performance motoryacht” and says is capable of 35
knots, with the big diesels. She has three staterooms, a bunk for a crewman aft
and décor that is as chic as anything the Italians could dream up, in fact it is
Italian. Last winter BoatTEST’s COO visited the London Show and made a video of
the new Predator 64, so if you have never been aboard a Sunseeker, here’s your chance.
But be forewarned that this boat is not for everyone, nor does Sunseeker want to
sell it to just anyone. The company is very particular.
Take off your Topsiders,
please --(Gucci loafers are okay.)
Of the 40 or so boats we wrote about in June, our readers
once again exhibited their discerning eye and picked out the ones that were the most
innovative or unusual. Probably most surprising (because she is so big) was
that the Ocean Alexander 68 ranked #2. She is a go-anywhere Ed Monk design and her
popularity among our readers attests to the fact that serious cruising is on the
minds of a lot of our readers. That notion was reinforced by the #1 rank of the
Regal 44 SC, which is a cruiser that is about 24’ more affordable. One of the smallest
boats we covered ranked #4, but because it sells for about $10k one might think
she would score #1 on the hit parade. To find out the rest of June’s Top Ten List --
Capt. Steve Says
Grand Banks 59 Aleutian RP:
Cruiser for the Last Harrah!
The fastest growing segment of the big boat market is offshore
cruising motoryachts. Why are people buying these boats that typically cost anywhere
from $600k to several million dollars in these troubled times? We think the reason
is simple: for many retiring couples, it is simply now or never. Grand Banks’
Aleutian Series is the newest of their yacht lines and it is designed to appeal
to the more sophisticated and adventuresome yachtsmen who have been spoiled by the
planing speeds of express boats. In other words, people who are used to going fast
and who don’t think that they can tolerate the more stately speeds of its Heritage
Series, and who want more room, and have greater ambitions than its Eastbay Series
might offer.
To get Capt. Steve’s take on the Grand Banks 59 Aleutian RP --
“Kahuna” is a Hawaiian word, defined as a "Priest, sorcerer,
magician, wizard, minister, expert in any profession." Prior to 1820 there were
“kahunas” who built boats and it was their job to pass the skill on to the next
generation. We couldn’t think of a better name for the Hydra-Sport 4100 as everyone
could learn from this massive, 23,000 lbs. center console. She is the ultimate production
center console in her class and price range. Owners of center consoles in the 30’s
are moving up into the 4100. And owners of big battlewagon convertibles are down
sizing and selecting this big kahuna of a center console because she has the beef
they are used to. Let’s see what she looks like as Capt. Steve tests --
Why settle for an express cruiser when, for almost the same price, you can have
a sedan with 25% more deck area for entertaining, sunbathing, or just sightseeing?
The answer to that simple question is one reason the Cruisers Yachts 447 has been
so popular the last two years. It is simply a lot of boat for the money. Women like
it because they feel secure both in the cockpit, on the flying bridge, and because
it so big it is almost like a summer cottage. Men like it because the helm is high
on the flying bridge which gives them great visibility when running and docking
and the boat simply has a big-boat feel. The kids like it because of the great mid-cabin
and a swim platform that is just above the waterline. And everyone loves the boat
because it is powered by twin IPS 600 diesels with joystick control! Now let’s see
what
Capt. Steve likes about the boat – and what he doesn’t like --
The Bertram 46 was the offshore convertible of choice in the early 1970s and the
model was built until 1988 when it was retired. The Bertram 46 was sold all over
the world and is probably preferred by more fishing charter captains than any other.
By our count there are about 100 currently on the market and most are powered with
Detroit Diesel 8V92s or 8V71s. We found used Bertrams with anywhere from 435-hp
to 750-hp, depending on how much bailing wire and duct tape was on them. Most people
would choose not to own a boat powered with these engines at any horsepower. That’s
why used Bertram 46s with DDAs are so inexpensive. To find out how much it would cost to repower one of these great
old Bertram 46s with twin Yanmar 720-hp engines --
Not officially a part of the US Navy fleet yet, the USS New York LPD-21 (Landing
Platform Dock #21) has started her sea trails. She is the newest entry to the U.S.
Navy's fleet of San Antonio-class LPD warships. BoatTEST.com’s very own COO Christopher
Hughes is helping to arrange what is sure to be one of the most memorable commissions
of any US Naval Vessel. BoatTEST.com will be testing the USS New York sometime in
November and you will be getting the usual performance numbers of speed, fuel burn,
noise levels along with a video of accommodations, engine room, and the helm. This
is one vessel where all Americans are fractional owners. Setting this ship apart
from the rest of the fleet is the fact that she carries within her bow, 7-1/2 tons
of steel from the World Trade Center, which is intended to serve as a tribute, not
a memorial. For more information and pictures --
We must confess that when it comes to engine oil we have
always thought that it was all pretty much the same and didn’t make much difference
which brand or type we used. And when it came to synthetic oil – Wow! – do you know
how much that stuff costs? Live and learn. We’re not embarrassed to admit we’re
still learning and that is why we are so enthusiastic about passing on what we have
found out about Royal Purple synthetic motor oil. Around the offices of BoatTEST.com
we are so impressed with the stuff that we are all using it both in our boats and
automobiles as well! It ain’t cheap, but because you don’t have to change oil as
often and because of its incredible increase in lubricity we think that it is worth
every dime. In fact, one of our staffers says that using Royal Purple has given
him “peace of mind” because he now knows he’s using the best oil possible in his
engine.
To see how much Royal Purple reduces friction--lube the mouse
Whether it’s traveling to an offshore rendezvous with the sunset, or docktails at
a remote marina at the edge of your chart, the Four Winns V338 will take you there
with panache. With the Axius joystick stern drive system the whole family can take
turns docking the boat just for the fun of it. At 33 feet, Four Winns has done a
good job of getting the capabilities of a far larger express cruiser designed into
a more affordable package. And as you can see in the picture above, the Four Winns
V338 will turn heads and get thumbs up when you motor along. We asked Capt. Steve
to take a good look at the V338. Here’s his report --
Tony Fleming's shakedown of a lifetime on his new Fleming 65 now takes him 900 miles
from the Galapagos Islands to the Panama Canal. Along the way we learn about the
failure of some important equipment. We also find out about how much fuel this vessel
is burning and what sort of range is possible. Once in the canal, Tony gives us
a lock-by-lock commentary about what it is like to take one’s pride-and-joy through
this very commercial waterway amongst towering Panamax vessels. Join us as we transit from the Pacific to the Caribbean --
Even with low prices, some boaters are still heading out the inlet without a chartplotter
onboard. We find that a bit mind-boggling, but perhaps the old ones were too expensive,
or too complicated, or too big, or hard to install. Garmin’s new 440 sells for only
$399, and has a street price even lower, so we decided to take a look at it to see
if it is worthy of a BoatTEST recommendation. If it would be good enough for a small
boat, then why not also use it as a remote on a large boat? Read what Capt. Steve has to say about it --
Save the dates: September 16-20 in Monaco. The word over cocktails at Harbor
Court (the New York Yacht Club’s Newport, RI station) over the 4th of July weekend
was that the Monaco Classic Week will be the one “don’t miss” yachting event in
the Fall. While the emphasis on the water will be the great old classic sailboats
from just before and after the turn of the 19th Century, there will be numerous
classic steam-powered motoryachts and vintage powerboats on hand and there is even
a predicted log race for the coveted Hublot Trophy. As always, finding dock space
or a mooring in Monaco’s beautiful but snug harbor will be next to impossible, but
don’t delay booking at marinas down the coast – and thanks to the economy there
are still some slips available. For pictures and an itinerary of the week’s festivities
--
With so many cleaning products on the market, the team at Shurhold asked us to give
their “Serious Marine Cleaner” a try. Removing nasty stains, scum marks at the waterline,
grease, dirt, scuff marks and other grime on a boat's various surfaces is an age-old
chore, and one that can take a lot of time and effort. Let's see how it worked.
Ten years ago the first Selene Ocean Trawler yacht arrived in the U.S. and they
tell us, since that time the Chinese company has sold nearly 400 boats. The company
builds
boats from 36’ to 66’ and has plans for a 75-footer. The boats are displacement-speed
vessels designed to make 8 knots or so, most with one engine, but as you see in
the picture above, that boat has twins. Howard Chen is the founder, designer and
CEO, and has done tank testing to refine his hulls into a new, more rounded shape.
The
read more
--
The British media is saying this is the largest fish ever caught on rod and line
in the waters of the British Isles. And it was caught by a 70-year old Swiss pensioner.
It took Joe Waldis 35 minutes of almighty struggle to bring the 12’ 9” bluntnose
six-gill shark to the side of his boat off the coast of County Clare in south-west
Ireland, after it took his mackerel bait. This decisively smashes the record for
the heaviest rod-caught fish in British or Irish waters, overtaking a 968 lb. bluefin
tuna caught in 2001 (also off Ireland), and is more than double the weight of the
heaviest rod-caught fish within the UK, a porbeagle shark of 507 lbs. taken off
Orkney in 1993. To read more of this fishy tale --
Reader Report
Readers' News & Submissions Invited
Bill Noble is one of BoatTEST’s most consistent contributors. He is pictured
here during 4th of July celebrations last weekend with a cool Coors Light, his payment
of choice.
Some of the best material that appears in the BoatTEST e-newsletters comes from
our readers. With over 300,000 members around the world our readers are constantly
on the water, shooting pictures, making Three Stooges sightings, learning seamanship
lessons, catching big fish, to say nothing of surfing the web and running across
photos and videos of interest to fellow powerboat owners. We invite all readers
to submit anything you think your peers might enjoy or learn from. Submissions can
be most anything of interest: pictures, links to videos on YouTube, articles, how-to-do-it
tips, Stooge sightings, complaints, advice, I-learned-about-boating from-that stories,
dead fish pictures, local newspaper stories, or your favorite boat pix. Be sure
to include your full name and address as all submissions used will receive a BoatTEST
coupon for one six-pack of Coors Light, or if you are under 21, a coupon for one
six-pack of Dr. Pepper. Send to:
Editorial@boattest.com.
Boating Safety
Video of
23 Awesome Race Boat Crashes!
This is the most awesome boat crash video we have
ever seen!
All over America this summer there will be all types of boat races from small outboard
boats to huge offshore racers. If you think that boat racing is a lot safer than
Indy Car racing, then you better think again and take a look at this video. While
we know of no comparative statistics, our guess is that boat racing is far more
dangerous. People might think water is soft but at 60 mph + it is as hard as concrete
both for the human body and lightly-fabricated fiberglass boats. Not only that,
as this video will show, at high speeds just about anything can make a boat get
squirrely and cause the driver to lose control. Let’s go to the video tape --
Capt. Steve's Lesson #44
How to Handle Your Boat
in Different Sea Conditions
This week Capt. Steve goes over five new lessons and guidelines on understanding
wave characteristics and how to handle your boat in different types of sea conditions.
Learn how to approach a head sea and make the ride more comfortable for you and
your passengers, learn how to handle the boat in a following sea. These are basic
procedures 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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