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Beneteau Swift Trawler 50:
Trawler Utility, Cruiser Comforts
The Beneteau Swift Trawler 50 comes standard with two staterooms, but also has a third space that can be made into a third guest cabin with Pullman-style beds or an office with a large desk and elevated berth. An unusual feature is the dumbwaiter, which makes moving food and drink between the fly bridge and the galley much easier. High bulwarks, broad walkways, and railings make access to the bow lounging area easy and safe.
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Test Video
TAHOE 550 TS:
Turn-Key Runabout w/ Outboard Power
The TAHOE 550 TS is a turn-key runabout right-sized for a small family, and powered with a Mercury 150-hp XL 150-hp 4-stroke got 6.1 mpg at 3000 rpm going 24 mph during our test. That fuel efficiency is hard to beat. Standard equipment includes swiveling and sliding bucket seats, a stereo system, and three 12-volt power plugs, plus the factory-matched trailer with swing away tongue. A package weight of just over 3,000 lbs. (1,360 kg) means she's easy to tow with a mid-size vehicle.
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Test Video
Fortress Anchors FX-7:
Lightweight, Durable, and Easy to Stow
The Fortress Anchors FX-7 is far lighter than a galvanized or stainless steel anchor of comparable holding power, and it is made of smooth, strong, high-tensile aluminum alloy for much easier handling. The FX-7 quickly disassembles for easy storage, and it comes with a lifetime parts replacement warranty. The fluke angle can be adjusted for superb holding in both hard and soft bottoms.
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Test Video
Robalo 206 Cayman:
Tough, Practical Bay Boat w/ 10" Draft
One major feature of the Robalo 206 Cayman is her "extended V-plane hull": the boat's hull actually extends beyond the transom of the vessel in a pair of small sponsons. This extends the running surface, creating added buoyancy for quick planing and also for staying on plane at lower rpm. She floats in just 10" of water, motor up.
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Captain’s Report
SUN TRACKER FISHIN’ BARGE 22 XP3:
Triple-Pontoon Family Fishing Platform
SUN TRACKER’s new FISHIN’ BARGE 22 XP3 functions as both a family-friendly entertainment platform and a wide-beam fishing machine. Her multi-density foam seating, four swiveling fishing seats, easy clean-up vinyl deck, standard Bimini top and dual aerated livewells all come together to make a well-equipped, multi-purpose pontoon boat. She rides on three 26” diameter pontoons with six total lifting strakes for enhanced performance and increased stability and control.
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New Captain’s Report
Cruisers Yachts 54 Fly:
New, Sleek Flying Bridge Sedan
The Cruisers Yachts 54 Fly has low top hamper, which gives the boat a sleek look. The bridge includes an open air galley with grill, sink and refrigerator, and a flip-down top turns this area into counter space. The aft galley below flows out through a broad serving window into the cockpit area, where a couple of fixed bar stools welcome visitors to an evening drink.
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New Test Video
Sea Pro 208 Bay:
Important Things Are Done Right
The Sea Pro 208 is a bayboat with the most important things done right. All thru-hulls below the waterline are stainless steel and have shut-off valves, cleats are pop-ups and most hatches have stainless steel locks and pneumatic assists. LED lights are everywhere light might be needed, including the larger storage boxes and the livewells. She had a top speed of 42.5 mph at 5450 rpm when powered by a single Evinrude E-TEC G2 150 H.O. during our test. She has an affordable price point, but all the important things are done right.
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Test Video
Riviera 445 SUV:
Multi-Purpose Cruiser w/ 2 Ensuites
As the “SUV” designation implies, the Riviera 445 SUV is a sport utility vessel that can be used for fishing, cruising, entertaining, scuba diving, and all manner of day-boating activities. Her forefoot is sharp and deep, and the bow has a marked flare, promising good performance in bumpy seas. With two en suite staterooms, one of which has three berths, plus a convertible dinette option in the salon, the 445 SUV sleeps five to seven persons.
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Test Video
Boston Whaler 230 Outrage:
Roomy Trailerable CC w/ 52.7 WOT
The redesigned Boston Whaler 230 Outrage has increased deck area, legroom and seating space thanks to pushing the padded coaming out further and narrowing the caprails, adding space without increasing weight or beam. The standard leaning post backrest conceals a flip-down workstation that can serve as a prep and rigging station during fishing trips or as a buffet table for food and drinks. Rotate the entire seatback down a full 90-degrees, and it converts to an aft-facing seat.
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Comparison
30'-32’ Bowriders:
We Compare an Easy Riding Quartet
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Sea Ray SLX 310
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Regal 3200
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Formula 310
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Four Winns H290
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This week's roundup compares four bowriders from 30’ to 32’, a size that works for a family, for two or three couples, or a gang of friends. In all four of these models, there’s ample room for setting up a table, or two, for lunch; secure seating fore and aft, both underway and at anchor; and plenty of room to stow food, drink and gear. These boats are big enough, and seaworthy enough, to take a summer-afternoon squall in stride, but small and light enough to produce exciting performance even with standard power. All four can hold as many or more people than most pontoon boats, so entertaining is an important attribute of them all. But there are important differences.
Find out what they are here…
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New Review Video
Yamaha SX210:
Affordable and Versatile
"Affordable" can be a pejorative word in the marine industry. Most often it translates to “stripped down” but Yamaha seems to take the term more seriously and does so without compromising its integrity. With the all new Yamaha 210 series, we see two boats that offer a spacious layout, versatility, and quality components like the Connext touchscreen. All in an easily handled 21’3” (6.48 m) package that actually is… affordable.
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Captain’s Report
World Cat 295CC:
9'6" Beam in a Super-Stable Catamaran
The World Cat 295CC’s high freeboard makes her among the safest and driest center-consoles in class, and with dual everything -- engines, fuel tanks, and electrical systems -- she has the ability to get home despite most problems. Her upscale, multi-tone upholstery adds comfort and class for the nights when she's used for entertaining rather than chasing fish, and the hardtop with integrated curved windshield is a standard feature that would be pricey on most competitors.
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Captain’s Report
Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 62:
Versatile Layout in a Luxury Sailing Yacht
The Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 62 has a spacious cockpit with tables to port and starboard, opening a center path for easy access fore and aft. Behind the dual helm stations a bench seat covers the top of a hydraulically-lifting barbeque and sink. All lines run aft to winches at the helm stations. Layout can be set up as a 3/3 or a 3/2, both with added crew quarters in the forepeak.
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Test Video
Chaparral H2O 21 Ski & Fish:
Multi-Mission Boat w/ Competitive Pricing
The Chaparral H20 21 Ski & Fish is a well-equipped bowrider, but she also comes ready for angling with a bow-mount trolling motor, livewell, swiveling fishing seats, and plenty of rod storage. For family fun, there's also a ski-tow eye, swim ladder, in-deck board storage, and built-in ice chest plus plenty of storage space. Options include a ski tower. She has an affordable price tag.
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Captain’s Report
Bavaria Sport 360 HT:
Express w/ Mid-Ships Cabin, Full Beam Master
The relatively high freeboard of the Bavaria Sport 360 HT creates a seaworthy hull and also provides increased internal volume from stem to stern. The salon area is bright thanks to the large hullside windows. Topside, a standard sliding sunroof allows air flow as well as sunshine into the interior. Side windows slide down to enhance the open feel.
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Test Video
Sailfish 270CC:
High-Tech Build in a Hard-Core Fisherman
High-tech construction including carbon fiber reinforced decking and Kevlar reinforcement in the keel, stringers, and transom make the Sailfish 270 CC one of the lighter center-consoles of similar dimensions. This allows her to run well on economical 4-cylinder 150s and 200s. The variable deadrise stepped hull has a 24-degree deadrise at the aft keel to soften the ride, stepping to lesser values at the chines to provide quicker planing and better stability. She comes fully-loaded for fishing, and upscale features include a Yeti cooler.
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Test Video
Evinrude E-TEC G2 200 H.O.:
Future-Tech for Outboarders
The Evinrude E-TEC G2 200 H.O. includes a host of refinements over previous generations of outboards, including the integrated power steering which eliminates exposed rams and greatly cleaning up the engine well. The new SLX gearcase features larger gears and prop shaft inside a hydrodynamic housing designed to reduce drag. The new E-TEC G2 from Evinrude is the most high-tech outboard on the market.
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