Boston Whaler 320 Outrage:
Rugged Offshore Comfort
On a day when most boaters stayed at the dock, we took the Boston Whaler 320 Outrage out and she showed us she could take on big water and smooth it out. On test day we had rain, wind, chop and cold. Nevertheless, she delivered comfort and protection. We tested her with twin 300-hp Mercury Verados, so come aboard and see how she performed.
More...
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Boat Show
The New York Boat Show will be held this week starting on January 3rd and running through the 6th at the Javits Center. The BoatTEST team will be at the show doing reviews so if you see us, stop and say hello.
More show details here... |
New Survey Video
Beneteau Swift 34:
We Survey “The Greatest Loop” Boat
We’ve been forthcoming regarding our opinion of the Swift 34 as a capable cruiser, but that was after looking at her “fresh from the factory”. What we were most curious to determine was how she holds up to the rigors of hard use. For that answer, we didn’t have to look far. One particular Swift 34 just completed a well publicized and grueling 6,500-mile cruise over 4 months with 12 different crews on the famed “Great Loop” around the Eastern U.S. What better way to see how this model holds up?
Let's start the inspection...
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New Test Video
Chaparral 224 Sunesta:
Ready for Watersports Action
There are deckboats and there are bowriders, and Chaparral's 224 Sunesta blurs the line somewhat between the two. Her Wide Tech bow has a pickle-fork design which creates more room forward, but beneath the rail there is much more freeboard than found on a typical deckboat, and she's all V-bottom with an 18-degree deadrise at the transom. No need to question her watersports abilities -- as can be seen in the image above -- her stern is open and ready for action.
More...
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New Test Video
Beneteau Sense 55:
Ease of
Sailing and Spacious Comfort
The Beneteau Sense 55 is like
the breath of fresh air that fills her sails. The cockpit features twin helm stations, all within reach of the primary winches. Her galley is larger than on most 75-footers. Aft, her teak beach speaks of a coastal cruising boat with an easily recognizable pedigree. Take a look at our latest video and see why the Beneteau name is so popular in the sailing world.
More...
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Test Video
Intrepid 375 Center Console:
At the Head of Her Class
The Intrepid 375 Center Console was originally designed to replace the popular 370 CC with a boat that provide better comfort, styling, and the ability to handle the larger engines. What emerged is one of the coolest rides we’ve been on. She’s absolutely gorgeous, and handles like a dream - for some lucky boaters, a dream come true. Let's take a look...
Request factory-direct price quote
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Test Video
Prestige 620S:
A Compelling Luxury Yacht
With our test captain, the Prestige 60 was love at first sight. But he was soon swayed off course once he got a taste of the newer Prestige 620S. The 620S is a natural evolution of the popular Prestige 60 with a redesigned flying bridge that saves nearly 1,000 lbs (454 kg) over the 60, and permits the addition of a sunroof in the forward salon. With a pair of IPS900 engines she not only has a solid feel while underway, but precision maneuverability at the dock. More...
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New Test Video
Sylvan Mirage 8522:
Tested with Evinrude E-TEC 150
Our time onboard the Sylvan Mirage 8522 showed her to be a comfortable boat in a brisk chop and forgiving in sloppy conditions generated by 20-mph winds. It is not often we test boats in winds that high, but with her Revolutionary Planing Technology (RPT) tubes we stayed comfortable and dry at speed.
Let’s take a look at the full test and review video...
Request digital brochure
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Test Video
Sea Ray 370 Venture:
43.7 MPH WOT with 600-hp
Sea Ray has recently launched an entirely new venture, literally. She's called the 370 Venture and she not only has the largest mid cabin in class, but she's powered by twin outboard engines concealed in her stern. It's a clever setup and one that begs for a sea trial. So we climbed aboard to do what we do… test her performance.
More...
Request factory price quote
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New Captain's Report
Crownline E2:
High Dock Appeal and Loaded
At a recent in-water boat show we were struck with the remarkable dock appeal of the Crownline E2, so naturally we are passing along what we discovered. After drilling down we were impressed by the standard features list and the hardware and equipment used in the base-boat build. It all reminds us a bit of the Avis Rent-A-Car slogan of yesteryear -- "We Try Harder." It looks to us as if that is what Crownline is doing, and it has gotten our attention.
More...
Request digital brochure
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Lesson of the Week
The Basics:
How to Anchor A Boat
This week Captain Steve will go over nine short videos and guidelines on the different types of anchors and anchoring procedures. Learn about how to select a good spot to anchor, how to correctly set an anchor, and the step-by-step process to ensure the anchor is secured to the bottom. The videos presented this week are part of BoatTEST.com’s Boating Course which is USCG-approved. Watch these video boating lessons every week on BoatTEST.com.
To view this week’s lessons --
Order all lessons on DVD--
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Ducky Award
Winner
First Place
"(From the second row:) 'I hope that spray is just warm water!'" - S. Thompson
Second Place
"The hole shot on this thing must be incredible!" - J. Beleski
Third Place
"No wonder my group ski lesson was so cheap..." - M. Muckey |
What's Going
On Here?
You write the caption! Will you win the coveted "Ducky Award" for best caption?
Simply fill in your caption and you may get lucky -- quack here.
We need reader help!
If you have a picture that you think needs some explanation, email it to us.
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