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Beneteau Swift Trawler 30:
Compact Trawler with 26.4 WOT
The Beneteau Swift Trawler 30 might be called a "pocket trawler," with the same general layout and functionality as larger trawlers in a more compact and affordable package and one that delivers on performance, as well. The test boat, powered by a 370-hp Volvo Penta D6, reached a top speed of 26.4 mph, thanks to her semi-displacement hull. At a cruise of 19.2 mph, she burned 16 gph, providing a range of just over 250 miles. At 7 knts, she has a range of 570 nmiles. Notably, the pocket-drive design allows a draft of just 3'5" (1.04 m), a major benefit for a boat that will likely spend her life cruising the ICW and other inside waters, where some of the most interesting locations involve shallow access.
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Captain’s Report
Four Winns H440:
Exceptional Express Cruiser w/ Huge Bowrider Seating
The Four Winns H440 is -- in our opinion -- one of the most exceptional new designs to be introduced in many years. She is a sleek express cruiser with a cockpit, bridge deck, and interior that are not only extremely functional, but also loaded with standard features that put this vessel squarely in the premium category. But what truly sets her apart from nearly everything on the market is her huge, luxurious bow seating area that we find nothing short of thrilling. She makes an ideal picnic boat, and when at anchor, a large, diaphanous sun awning can be deployed over the seating. When not being used for entertaining, the self-draining bow can be buttoned up with canvas. Best of all, the living space below is unencumbered.
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Captain’s Report
Monte Carlo Yachts 105:
Style, Elegance, and State-of-the-Art Engineering
The Monte Carlo Yachts 105 features the company's distinctive Italian styling as well as the creative engineering that makes her uniquely practical among large production yachts. Because of Monte Carlo Yachts' monocoque design, the interior of the yacht is built in modules outside the hull on the shop floor where the craftsmen can attack all four sides at once, allowing a much faster construction time with no loss in the custom quality of the build. Indeed, the process makes the build even better. The displacement is kept down for the genre at 208,000 lbs. (94,347 kg) via extensive use of Kevlar and carbon fiber laminations and exceptionally strong thanks to aluminum beam supports throughout.
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Test Video
Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht:
High Style in a Modern Motoryacht
The Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht is a high-style yacht with an open plan salon and aft galley that will entertain a crowd for dayboating, but also designed to sleep six to eight in three or four luxurious staterooms. She's also a bluewater capable, performance-oriented cruising yacht. A Webasto sliding sunroof opens the salon to the sunshine and an awning style bulkhead window hinges up abaft the galley to bring more of the outside inside. Skylights above the galley adds an open, airy feeling to the interior.
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Test Video
Sea Ray 470 Sundancer:
Versatile Yacht for Entertaining Cruising
The redesigned Sea Ray 470 Sundancer has an enclosed coupe and a layout that is designed as one continuous entertaining space between the exterior cockpit, interior salon, and fore-and-aft settee adjacent to the two-person helm. Below, there is a much larger mid cabin with a diagonal queen bed. The design is much more versatile for entertaining and more comfortable below for luxury cruising. The main social area of the lower deck is completely exposed with natural light from the open area above, an atrium-effect that adds a pleasant feel.
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New Captain’s Report
Wellcraft 241 Fisherman:
Stylish CC w/ 14" Draft
Wellcraft designed the 241 Fisherman to be a big bay boat that can venture into the shallows thanks to a 14'' (0.35 m) draft. Her deadrise at the transom is 15-degrees, making her fast and fuel-efficient. She can handle offshore fishing when conditions are right. She comes packaged with a tandem-axle, saltwater grade trailer, and the Family Package adds seating cushions and a console head. Pricing begins at about $59,000 with an Evinrude E-TEC G2 200.
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Test Video
NITRO Z20:
71.2 MPH WOT w/ 250 Merc
The NITRO Z20 is a turn-key competition bassing rig offered at a competitive price. She comes fully-equipped with all the basics for serious bass fishing, including a bow-mount trolling motor, Lowrance fishfinder, locking rod boxes, and two aerated 19-gallon livewells. A tandem axle trailer is also standard, as is a 200-hp Mercury OptiMax Pro XS outboard. With the optional 250 Mercury Pro XS used in our tests, turning a 25" pitch prop, the boat topped out at 71.2 mph, plenty of speed for most competitions.
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Features Video
Ocean Alexander 72 Pilothouse:
Long Range Cruiser for Entertaining
The Ocean Alexander 72 Pilothouse welcomes entertainment with wet bars both in the cockpit and on the fly bridge, plus lots of shaded open space and luxurious lounging facilities in both areas. A sliding electric door opens the salon to the cockpit area to make for seamless movement from exterior to interior. The elevated pilot house includes a large galley complete with full-sized appliances and granite tops. A sky-lounge option encloses the flying bridge and adds air-conditioning for all-weather cruising.
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New Captain’s Report
Premier 310 Dodici:
Mega-Toon w/ Triple Evinrude E-TEC G2 300s
The Premier 310 Dodici is truly unique in the luxury production pontoon boat field, starting with her industry-leading 12' (3.66 m) beam, supplying a remarkable amount of deck space. Also an unusual feature is that she is offered with triple 300 Evinrude E-TEC G2 power. She rides on a center tube that's 42'' in diameter, backed by side tubes 27" in diameter. The interior offers an unusual level of luxury, including granite floor tiles and a refrigerated drink holder for the captain, among many other touches.
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New Test Video
Robalo R242:
Quality Build in a Classic Center Console
The "Hydro-Lift" hull of the Robalo R242 includes wide reversed chines and a variable deep-V hull with a 22-degree deadrise at the transom. The design allows for quick planing and staying on plane at lower speeds, useful in running rough water, as well as improving fuel efficiency. Trim tabs recessed into the bottom provide instant boat leveling as needed. She comes fully-equipped for fishing with a transom fish well, rod racks and an 18-gallon (68 L) aerated livewell in the aft side of the leaning post. Kevlar in the keel provides an added measure of protection.
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Test Video
World Cat 230CC:
Rough Water Performer w/ Flats Fishing Capabilities
The World Cat 230CC is a highly versatile center console that can get into water a scant 9'' (0.23 m) deep, yet exhibits the handling and ride capabilities necessary for running an inlet or operating off the beach on most days. She also has more space than most monohull center consoles due to the extra volume provided in the broad bow. The two engines are connected to independent fuel systems and separate electrical systems, an important get-home feature. Powered with twin 115 4-stroke Yamaha's she jumped on plane in just 2.4 seconds, very useful when trying to get on plane in the shallows.
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Captain’s Report
SUN TRACKER FISHIN' BARGE 24 XP3:
Ready for Fishing or Family Fun
The SUN TRACKER FISHIN' BARGE 24 XP3 combines the comfort and space of a family-oriented pontoon boat with the basic fishing features that anglers want, including swiveling fishing seats fore and aft, an optional bow-mount, foot-controlled trolling motor, locking rod storage, and two aerated livewells/baitwells. She rides on three 26" diameter aluminum pontoons with lifting strakes and wave deflectors. Powered with a Mercury 115 ELPT FourStroke, she's competitively priced at $30,795.
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Features Video
Formula 330 Crossover Bowrider:
Entertainment Afloat
w/ Overnight Space for Two
The Formula 330 Crossover Bowrider combines the company's sportboat styling with the partying capabilities of a large bowrider, while adding a snug cabin and head below decks for those occasional overnights afloat. She delivers typical Formula performance -- 54.0 mph with twin 380-hp Merc 8.2 MAGs turning B3 drives. Weather-resistant cockpit seating features PreFixx coating, Tenara element-resistant thread, DriFast foam and StarLite XL synthetic marine panel construction, ensuring durability as well as style. The hull is topped off with the buyer's choice from thousands of luxury-auto grade painted finishes. See our special video on the Formula painting process.
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New Test Video
Andros Boatworks Offshore 32:
53 MPH WOT w/ 2x Evinrude E-TEC G2 300s
The layup of the Andros Boatworks Offshore 32 includes biaxial structural fiberglass, vinylester resin, and high-density foam coring. The transom is cored with high-density foam board, and stringers are installed with Plexus adhesives. The result is a durable bluewater CC that runs efficiently without the expense of triple outboards, particularly when set up with relatively lightweight two-strokes like Evinrude E-TEC G2 300s. With these motors, the test boat got on plane in just 3.8 seconds and ran 53.0 mph at WOT.
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