Galeon 500 Fly:

Innovative New Yacht Engineered to Entertain

The Galeon 500 Fly is an innovative cruising yacht that uses smart engineering to increase space for entertaining aboard.

The most unusual feature of the Galeon 500 Fly is the fold-out extensions of the aft deck, created by the drop-down bulwarks, complete with teak decking and railing. We have rarely seen this concept in a boat this size. Deployed, these extensions add square footage to the aft cockpit and give the feel of a much larger yacht when it's time to party. The aft salon windows slide forward, and the starboard couch converts to a sun pad, adding versatility. On the port side, removable stools can be put in place to provide seating for the flip-out bar. She is built in Poland and sold exclusively in the U.S. by MarineMax. The competitive price is also noteworthy.

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Comparison

33’-35’ Express Cruisers:

Four of a Kind

This week’s express cruisers are boats you could cruise and live aboard for a weekend or so. Moving from last week’s 32-footers to these four 33’ to 35’ boats adds a lot more than functionality: there’s more volume belowdecks, more area in the cockpit for living al fresco, more of a “big-boat” feel underway; these aren’t “pocket cruisers” anymore. With more length and hull volume, there’s room for more equipment, more creature comforts and more options than most people need.


The added length and weight lets these express cruisers handle deteriorating weather more comfortably and safely and keep going when smaller boats have to throttle down or head home. All of this week’s boats have accommodations in forward and mid-cabin berths for at least four -- the layouts of the boats are generally similar but differ in details. Compare and contrast them, then pick the one that best suits your needs. If you have questions about any one of them, as always, BoatTEST’s staff is here to help.

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Test Video

Beneteau Gran Turismo 40:


Sport Cruiser w/ Exceptional Handling

The Beneteau Gran Turismo 40 got up to 38.4 knots at 3620 rpm during our test. Best cruise came in at 2500 rpm and 23.6 knots. That speed dropped the fuel consumption down to 17.5 gph and increased the range to 208.8 nm.

The Beneteau Gran Turismo 40 incorporates the Air Step 2 technology, which is a hydrodynamic hull design that allows the Gran Turismo 40 to operate at planing speeds on a “cushion” of air. This also improves the handling of the Gran Turismo 40, according to our test captain. Her docile handling combined with her Euro-styling make for a pleasing combination both at the dock and on the water.

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New Test Video

Evinrude E-TEC G2 175 HP:


All-New 175-HP Outboard

The new Evinrude E-TEC G2 175 HP, like all in the G2 lineup, has state-of-the-art outboard engineering, including internal power steering, direct fuel injection, and the same lower gear case used in all E-TEC G2 models from 150 to 300 HP.

The Evinrude E-TEC G2 175 HP engine offers exceptional corrosion resistance thanks to an abundance of stainless steel parts and an electrostatically-applied titanium oxide coating. Each cylinder has its own high-pressure fuel injector for maximum efficiency. Using a light-weight magneto system to produce electrical power, it pumps out a max of 133 amps with 50 amps dedicated to the house battery.

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Test Video

Monte Carlo Yachts 76:


Elegant, Seaworthy, and Chic Motoryacht

Bold European styling and elegant interior finishes combined with intelligent engineering makes the Monte Carlo Yachts 76 a must-see for those fortunate enough to be shopping for a yacht in this class.

The Monte Carlo Yachts 76 offers three or four en suites as well as crew quarters. With her double tables and sun pads on the bow, her large aft deck, and her sizable flying bridge with sun-roof, she is a floating entertainment platform. Powered with twin 1200-hp MAN V8s with ZF POD 4000 drives, she had a WOT of 29.8 kts in our test runs, while best cruise was at 1750 rpm and 19 knots, where she had a fuel burn of 67.3 gph (254.8 lph) for a range of 268 nm. Joystick controls and the ZF drives make for easy handling in the harbor.

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Captain’s Report

Beneteau Oceanis 48:


Versatile Sailing Yacht Offers 2 to 5 Stateroom Layouts

The Beneteau Oceanis 48 combines sleek exterior lines with plenty of headroom and light below decks in an easy-to-sail package that can sleep up to 10 in a variety of layouts.

With optional layouts from two to five staterooms and two to four baths, the Beneteau Oceanis 48 offers notable versatility that should suit a wide variety of buyers, including those seeking a sailing yacht for charter duties in the islands. Her 15'7" (4.75 m) beam and hard chines provide unusual volume below decks. The helm area aft is efficient for short-handed operation, thanks to two electric self-tailing Genoa sheet winches just forward of the helm station with trim buttons within easy reach of the helmsman or crew sitting in the cockpit. Two self-tailing winches mounted on the coach roof manage halyards and additional running lines.

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Test Video

Bavaria Sport 400 Coupe:


Sporty Express Cruiser Sleeps 4

The American Edition of the Bavaria Sport 400 Coupe comes with a broad foredeck sun pad as well as a convertible sun pad in the aft cockpit.

The Bavaria Sport 400 Coupe combines fuel-efficient twin Volvo Penta diesel D4-300 EVCs with counter-rotating DuoProp sterndrives and joystick control to make an easy-to-handle package, both at speed and around the docks. Our test captain reports little change in fuel use at most cruising rpms short of WOT, allowing the captain to choose his speed to precisely match sea conditions without excessive concern for range. The yacht has lots of freeboard, and that translates to as much as 7' (2.13 m) of headroom in the accommodations below decks as well as making her more capable in open sea.

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Test Video

Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht:


Flagship w/ Seaworthy Design for Offshore

The Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht has a flexible four-stateroom layout with luxurious full-beam master, three bathrooms, contemporary and stylish hull windows and portholes, dual electric sliding sunroofs, and fixed skylights, among many other features.

An entertainment center on the transom of the Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht welcomes al fresco dining with a double-wide electric grill and refrigerator, while the slide-out sunshade keeps everyone cool. The optional hydraulic swim platform makes for easy launch of a tender, which fits into a garage in the stern. Two Webasto electric sunroofs -- one in the salon, the other in the cockpit -- bring in plenty of light and ventilation when the weather is right. A 17'8" (5.38 m) beam provides lots of living space on the main deck as well as on the accommodations level.

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Test Video

Sea-Doo GTX Limited 300:


New High-Performance V-Hull PWC

With a weight of just over 900 lbs. (408 kg) powered by 300-hp, the Sea-Doo GTX Limited 300 has more than enough power for spirited performance with two or even three riders aboard.

The Sea-Doo GTX Limited 300 is powered by the new Rotax 1630 ACE (Advanced Combustion Efficiency) engine, which is 9% bigger than the venerable Rotax 1503 and creates 15% more power with a boosted 300-hp engine, according to Sea-Doo. This is a PWC that easily exceeds 60 mph and can readily carry up to three riders aboard her deeply-padded, contoured seats. The S3 hull, or Stepped, Stable, and Strong Hull, as Sea-Doo calls it, has narrow deep-V inner surfaces to ease the ride plus steps to help break suction for better speed.

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Test Video

Hargrave 116 Raised Pilothouse:


Elegant New 5-Cabin Yacht Ideal for Charter

The striking elegance of the Hargrave 116 Raised Pilothouse features five cabins, including a full-beam owner’s suite forward on the main deck.

Exquisite high-gloss woodwork, even in the pilothouse, marks the Hargrave 116 Raised Pilothouse as a true premium-class yacht. An added control station on the starboard side of the flybridge will be used in docking to that side, while a thruster and throttle station on the port side eases the chore on that side. There's also a cockpit control station, and warping windlasses make line-handling easy despite the 324,000-pound (146,964 kg) displacement, loaded. She's designed for crew use with the team provided private access to their own accommodation areas as well as to all functional areas of the yacht.

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Captain’s Report

SUN TRACKER® FISHIN' BARGE® 24 XP3:


Fully-Equipped for Family Fishing and Fun

The triple-pontoon SUN TRACKER® FISHIN' BARGE® 24 XP3 provides plenty of performance for family cruising and watersports and also comes equipped with all the basics for freshwater or inshore saltwater fishing.

Lots of multi-density foam seating, four swiveling fishing seats, hideaway Bimini top, and loads of storage make the SUN TRACKER® FISHIN' BARGE® 24 XP3 a good family boat as well as a comfortable fishing machine. She rides on three 26'' pontoon logs with lifting strakes and wave deflectors and is rated for outboards to 200-hp, making her a good choice for watersports. Two swiveling fishing seats at the bow provide easy control of the optional bow-mount trolling motor, and two added swivel seats are adjacent the stern baitwell.

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Test Video

Beneteau Monte Carlo 4:


European Style w/ Modern Approach

The Monte Carlo 4 has an LOA of 45'3" (13.79 m), a beam of 13'4" (4.06 m) and displaces 26,499 lbs. (12,020 kgs.). Note the sunning areas both on the foredeck and on the flying bridge.

Beneteau’s Monte Carlo 4's main attraction is her exterior styling, which reflects her European origin. Details like a stainless bow plate contribute to a high-style modern affect. The Monte Carlo 4 also has an open layout to let in plenty of light, and with two en suite staterooms, this could be a perfect vessel for two couples or a small family.

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Captain’s Report

World Cat Glacier Bay Edition 2780:


Fishing Catamaran for Weekend Warriors

The World Cat Glacier Bay Edition 2780 is a walk-around fisherman equipped with all the essentials for a weekend of bluewater fishing, as well as the basics for couples to spend a weekend cruising the ICW.

The World Cat Glacier Bay Edition 2780 combines two of the best-known brands in fishing catamarans into a pocket cruiser that can readily handle a self-contained weekend on the water.
She has some standard features that are optional in most boats of this size, including a large hardtop with sliding sunroof and center windshield vent and a windlass for the bow anchor. Separate fuel and battery systems for the standard 150-hp Yamaha outboards give a redundancy factor that ensures getting home, and the 8'9" beam carried almost all the way to the bow adds lots of extra space that's missing on monohulls of similar LOA.

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Test Video

Tidewater 252 CC Adventure:


297 S. Mile Range w/ 2x Evinrude E-TEC 150s

Standard Lenco tabs combined with a 21-degree deadrise and a 9'3" (2.82 m) beam make the Tidewater 252 CC Adventure a solid performer in offshore runs.

The twin Evinrude E-TEC 150 HP engines delivered on fuel economy as usual in our test runs of the Tidewater 252 CC Adventure. Best cruise at 2500 rpms was 23.6 mph where she got 2.6 mpg, WOT was 44.7, and time to plane 3.5 seconds. The Tidewater 252 CC Adventure comes standard with an integrated powder-coated hardtop, Lenco tabs, and tilt steering, all extra-cost options on most in class. She has lots of freeboard and a 34" (.84 m) interior cockpit depth from amidships forward.

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