Florida residents Ralph Brown, 50, and his brother Robert Brown, 52, crossed the Atlantic in just one month this summer in a flats boat built by Dream Boats, which is owned by Ralph. They left Labrador on July 28th and arrived in the Orkney Islands, just north of Scotland on August 28th. The Brown brothers say that their boat is the smallest powered boat to have ever crossed the Atlantic, and that their Intruder
C-21 will enter the Guinness Book of Records. Their trip – intended to raise money for military charities and to publicize their boat’s seaworthiness so that the brothers can raise capital for their boat-building business – actually started in Tampa,
FL and took a total of 76 days, ending Sept. 10th in Landstuhl, Germany. Their course took them up the eastern seaboard to Labrador, Canada, where they powered 593-miles to the southern tip of Greenland, then to Iceland, the Shetlands, the Orkneys, Scotland, England, France, Holland and finally Germany.
To see videos, find out about the incredible little 21’ catamaran flats boat, and to read about the highlights of their trip -- dragoon your mouse --
The Bayliner 205 is a very impressive 20’ bowrider whose handling characteristics turned out to be surprising to our test team recently. Her comfort level earned high marks, and her looks -- well the picture above speaks for itself. And she looks as good in person as she does in this picture – no Photoshop needed. We asked Capt. Steve to see if he could shake anything loose during his tests so that we could temper our enthusiasm for the boat if need be. While he did find areas for improvement, which will be noted in our Captain’s Report, he came away with more praise than we anticipated, both in her handling, and features. Take a look at his in-depth test and see if you don’t agree.
Change into your swim trunks and follow us --
Sylvan builds fishing boats, pontoon boats and utility boats. Most of their boats are aluminum, but the Viper line is fiberglass. We tested the 206 Viper with a 150-hp
outboard and found the boat affordable and it has surprising performance. She has the features of a bass boat, the interior of a walleye or multispecies boat, and the performance of a conventional outboard skiboat. Sylvan is not a particularly well-known company, but in fact it has been in business since 1961 and is owned by the Smoker family which also owns Smoker Craft.
Capt. Rob Smith did the testing on the Sylvan 206 Viper, so you should see what he has to say.
We have to confess we are partial to the concept and design you see above. BoatTEST.com video production editor, Justine Hammond, cut her powerboat teeth on a boat very similar to the one above in her early teens on Long Island Sound. What kind of boat should a kid have? We say one requiring little to no maintenance, is safe, can hold a bunch of friends, can be used for all sorts of sports, is easy to handle and not over-powered, and doesn’t cost the old man an arm-and-a-leg. We call this dual console design a “utility boat” and to our way of thinking it's one of the most versatile and classic designs on the water in this size range. No matter what you want to do, not matter who is using her, the kids or granddad, this design spells trouble-free
boating. But in order to get an unbiased opinion on the new Wellcraft 210 Sportsman we asked Capt. Steve if he would run the boat thru his full test and let us know what he thinks of her.
Check out his full video report --
There’s not a lot left to want in this good-looking sportboat package. She is powered by a standard 190-hp engine. Tahoe claims the Q7 SSi will reach speeds approaching 50 mph. She has a respectable list of standard features and offers a generous selection of options that means buyers can customize to their needs. It’s also packaged with a custom matched trailer and comes to you with Tracker Marine’s famous “No hassle, No haggle” pricing structure that takes the pain out of negotiating the “real” street price when you get to the dealership. The only money factor that changes is delivery charges to your specific part of the country. You’ve got to see this.
Strap on your boards and follow us --
Premier’s 31’ Boundary Waters is one of the largest pontoon boats on the water. In yachting parlance, it is a “megatoon,” and we think that every yacht club, lake club or beach club, waterfront restaurant, and water tour company should have one. If your business is close to a lake, a river, or even protected saltwater, the 31’ Boundary Waters is an ideal platform for client entertaining, touring and enjoying the great outdoors. The model we tested had a galley, a changing “room” and 13’ bimini top. But the great thing about Premier is that they will customize this boat anyway you want it. Read Capt. Rob’s full test report and note that at a stately 12.7 mph she gets 6.2 mpg.
Read the Captain’s Report and see Capt. Rob's video --
The Monterey 214FS Sport Boat is designed for those who prefer action-packed days on the water. Set up for wakeboarding, skiing, towing or enjoying maximum UV exposure, this stylish bowrider puts the “sport” in the sport boat moniker. Equipped with the maximum 300-hp single stern drive package, the Monterey 214FS Sport Boat jumped
through Capt. Steve's performace paces in a recent test.
Jump aboard the Monterey 214 FS here--
We tested the Glastron GLS 195 with a 190-hp 4.3 L Volvo Penta stern drive and were able to get her up to 47.8 mph WOT. Best cruise was at 3000 rpm where she went 25.6 mph and got 4.0 miles per gallon. That is good gas mileage and it is because the boat is relatively light and has a bottom design that is a nice compromise between a comfortable ride and a speed sled. One characteristic that sets her apart from her competition is her lack of bow rise before she gets on plane. The ID of the cockpit is 68” and the cockpit depth is 34” which is pretty deep in a 19’ boat.
But Capt. Smith has a lot more to say about this popular Glastron GLS 195 in his video – one of his best ever --
Recent Launch
The Scout 245 Abaco:
Fishboat with Cruising Potential
The Scout 245 Abaco offers serious fishability and comfort in a compact package. Its 60-gallon fishbox, 20-gallon aerated livewell, well-equipped bait-prep station and its 126-gallon fuel capacity give this trailerable fishboat clout both inshore and where the big ones live. But because she has a comfortable bench seat across the transom (which folds out of the way for fishing), a head and cuddy, she also makes a comfortable day boat or coastal cruiser for fun in the sun with Mom and the kids.
To find out more about the Scout 245 Abaco --
For many boaters in the northern parts of the world, the season is coming to an end and the next few weeks will see boats being hauled out and put to bed for the winter. So first things first: clean, restore, polish it and then put it in storage. Over the last few months we have shown you the range of Shurhold products, and tested a few, that will help to keep your boat in tip top shape and looking great.
To see the full line and pick up anything you need for next weekend, open the hatch here --
BoatTEST.com is asking its members to share their experiences with specific brands and models of stern drive systems as applied to specific boat brands and models. We always say that there is no test as good as the “test of time” and owner input
can be invaluable to buyers of new or used boats. Since both Volvo Penta and MerCruiser use the same GM Vortec blocks the differences between these two brands lies in the “marinization” equipment added, its electronic monitoring and control devices, the performance of their lower units, the quality and alacrity of warranty settlements, pricing, and general customer service. (No dealers please, the forum is strictly for owners.) To take part in this important information sharing program --
For the last six years BoatTEST.com has asked its readers for their feedback about boats they have owned or currently still own. We are firm believers that the best test of a boat is the “test of time,” and we have hundreds of “Owner Reports” that can help buyers of both new and used boats make a better decision and have a happier boating experience. If you enjoy the material in this newsletter and on the BoatTEST.com website, then we ask you to help make it even better by sharing your thoughts with fellow boaters.
Your fellow boaters will thank you --
Stern Drive News
Volvo Penta’s New Ocean X:
Is it the Anti-Corrosion Panacea?
In the beginning stern drive makers seemed to be oblivious to the fact that people used them in saltwater. After a decade or so, Volvo Penta, which is located in Gothenburg, Sweden (which is on saltwater) came out with an improved lower unit. Later, MerCruiser (located in freshwater Fond du Lac, Wisconsin) improved its product relative to corrosion resistance, and so the two companies went back and forth trying to find practical ways to keep lower units from being ruined by saltwater corrosion. In the meantime most stern drive owners in Florida and other places gave up waiting for the engine companies to solve the problem, and either bought a hoist and lifted their stern drive boats out of water or trailered them. But lately, the engine makers have made important anti-corrosion strides thanks to new metallurgy technologies among other things.
Read about Volvo Penta’s new, improved stern drive --
MacClugage, a multi-time World and National PWC Racing champion, won nearly every round of the Pro-Am Stock class on the APBA Watercross Tour this season, racking up an overwhelming points lead going into the final weekend of the 2009 National Tour. Read more --
Amy Green, a member of the legendary Dean’s Team race squad, switched to the Yamaha FZR mid-season, and went on to win every women’s moto she competed in on her way to the national title. Green is from Bay City, Michigan and has been PWC racing for 12 years.
Read more --
The impending EPA deadline for catalytic converters on all marine gas stern drive and inboard engines has forced the industry to convert and all have come up with their own new wrinkles. For example, MerCruiser has designed its own cylinder head (thanks to Mercury Racing) as well as to direct both exhaust manifolds into one catalytic converter instead of two, as other engine companies have done. (Yesterday, in fact, Mercury even announced that they will introduce an 8.2 liter engine in January with a converter, up from the 8.1 L engine, or 100 cc more.)
See Capt. Rob’s video explaining what is going on with the MerCruiser 350 Scorpion --
If you have a boat, you have metals that are being exposed to a harsh environment. We all can relate to the rusted screw, bolt, windlass safety pin, and various other metal parts on our boats and trailers. Royal Purple recently asked us to test their Maxfilm product and report back our opinion. One of the claims from Royal Purple is that “Maxfilm leaves an exceptionally tough and durable lubricating film for improved operation and long-lasting protection against wear, rust and corrosion.”
See what we found --
Capt. Cefus McRae is the host of a cable TV fishing program seen in the Old South called Nuts & Bolts. We watch his program every week looking for unusual or informative how-to videos to pass onto our members. This week’s video explains in detail exactly how to best affix a wire leader to your hook. Now if you were like us you are thinking something like, “That’s so easy, of course I know how to do it.” Guess what, you probably DON’T know the best way to do it. This is the ultimate video on the very important subject of wrapping a wire leader.
Watch Professor McRae in action -- wrap you mouse
With blood on his website, it is almost like “Murder He Wrote.” Brian Brush who owned North River Boats in Roseburg, Oregon has been charged with first degree murder of a woman who has been described as his “on again, off again girlfriend.” Witnesses said she wouldn’t get back into Brush’s truck. Two police officers standing nearby saw Brush shoot Lisa Bonney three times with his shotgun at close range.
To find out more about North River Boats and how Brush robbed Wells Fargo Bank --
USCG Recall
Evinrude, Kawasaki and MasterCraft
This month the recalls from the USCG are for products made by Evinrude, Kawasaki and MasterCraft. Certain Evinrude models have a problem with their vapor separator that can cause a fire or explosion. There are some models of Kawasaki PWCs which can experience a cracked fuel tank. One model of MasterCraft could potentially have a problem with its steering gear rubbing on the fuel tank. If you know anyone who has these brand products, please pass on this safety recall item to them.
To find out the specific models involved in the recalls for this month --
Warning
Do Not Go Boating
in Flood Waters
Flood waters may look fun and they may even look safe, but each year several people die when their boats are swept away.
The American Southeast is experiencing serious flooding this week and BoatTEST warns boaters not to venture into these waters. Water flowing over dams, rapids, under bridges, and through restricted passages can easily and quickly submerge or capsize a boat. In fact it happens every spring in Canada, and the American North, as eager boaters take to the water in what appears to be a safe place only to later be carried into a maelstrom of brown water and be fighting for their lives. You can not fish or partake in normal watersports in these conditions, so why go boating?
New Boat
From Russia With Love:
The New Ellips 28 Express Cruiser
The Russian boat builder Paritet has been building glass bottom excursion boats for tropical resort locations for several years and has boats in operation all over the world. But now this innovative builder is making boats for consumers as well and the new Ellips 28 is certainly eye-catching. Talk about thinking out of the box! Russia has long been a world leader in hydrafoil ferryboat building, and Paritet has combined that technology with its strong acrylic viewing port and futuristic design to produce an express cruiser the likes of which the world has never before seen.
Step aboard the Ellips 28 see boating of the future --
View video of the Ellips 28 in action --
Each week our readers buy new and used outboard boats and repower old ones. BoatTEST.com is asking for your input about SPECIFIC brands and models you have had experience with on your SPECIFIC application. In this way new buyers can learn from your experience and make better choice. Please tell us what you think a prospective engine buyer should know, based on your own experience, about the mating of specific engine models with specific boat applications. Future buyers will be grateful for your feedback. (PLEASE, no dealers.)
BoatTEST.com in collaboration with Capt. Steve is now offering five different video courses on separate CD-ROMs that will make you a safer, more confident boater. These short video clips on dozens of topics will make your boating experience less stressful and more enjoyable. Your family and friends will have greater confidence in your boating skill – and so will you! After watching these videos you should be able to instantly react to most emergencies and boating problems that arise.
To learn more about these new video courses and to order --
No matter what size or brand boat you are looking for, no matter where in the world you live, BoatTEST.com has used boat listings for you. BoatTEST.com has partnered with two of the world’s largest listing websites – BoatTrader.com in the U.S. and BoatShop24.com in Europe – to bring to you classified boat listings. We know that about 30% of boat buyers almost ALWAYS buy new boats, 35% almost ALWAYS buy used boats and about 35% will buy either new or used. But no matter if you are going to buy a new or used boat, be sure to read what BoatTEST.com’s captains have to say first.
To find out other ways to use our incredible used boat database -- data ya mouse
This week Capt. Steve goes over new lessons and guidelines on the importance of helping other boaters that may require assistance. There are countless numbers of reasons why a boater may need assistance. For example, their motor may have broken down, or they ran out of gas, or perhaps there is a life threatening situation aboard with only minutes to spare. Whatever it may be, it is the law to help out another boater that’s in distress. If you fail to render assistance or choose to ignore them and the accident results in someone’s death you could be prosecuted for a felony. Even if no one dies, you can still be prosecuted for a misdemeanor. So the lesson here is, be a smart boater -- but be a friendly one too. These are basic procedures which all recreational boaters should be aware of. The videos presented this week are part of BoatTEST.com's USCG-approved video boating course narrated by Capt. Steve. Watch Capt. Steve's video boating lessons every week on BoatTEST.com.
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