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Grady-White Express 370:
Weekender w/ Offshore Fishing Extras
The Grady-White Express 370 has two berths, stocked galley, full head with walk-in shower, as well as dining space, storage, air conditioning, and an optional enclosed three-sided pilothouse. She's fully equipped for fishing, including a large, refrigerated fishbox on the transom and a rigging station and aerated well behind the console seating. An electric grill is included in the cockpit. We like express boats like this one because of their closed bow and pilothouse, which shed green water when things get snotty offshore.
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New Captain's Report
Aquila 36:
Broad-Beam Cat w/ Twin Ensuites
The Aquila 36 is a combination of a twin-cabin cruiser with a large bowrider, taking full advantage of catamaran hulls and a broad 14' 7" (4.45 m) beam to provide lounging and seating space for up to 20 guests. The cockpit galley includes dual electric grills, refrigerator and sink. Each cabin offers a twin bed forward and an ensuite head. Power options to twin 350 Mercury Verado outboards are available, and joystick control is optional.
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New Features Video
Bavaria Virtess 420 Coupe:
Coupe with Hardtop Sun Lounge
The Virtess 420 Coupe is a three-stateroom, two-head yacht designed for family cruising. Her coupe design incorporates a power sunroof and large sliding side windows that bring lots of light and air into the interior, and a sun pad on the coach roof creates extra lounging space. An optional track system lets the tables and benches in the aft cockpit be moved while still being secured in place, preventing them from coming adrift at sea.
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Coverage
New 8-Year Evinrude E-TEC Engine Coverage
Evinrude recently announced its latest sales promotion which is 8-year coverage on all E-TEC models. Most things are covered, but not regular maintenance items such as fuel filters and spark plugs. New engines must be registered by June 30, 2017 to be eligible. Evinrude E-TEC engines have no regularly scheduled maintenance for 5 years or 500 hours, which goes a long way to explain why it can give this coverage. Evinrude engines normally have 2 or 3 year warranties, and the factory-backed extended coverage of 5 or 6 years is a valuable insurance policy. For example, the added coverage for 8 years on a 300-hp Evinrude E-TEC G2 would cost $5,500.
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New Captain’s Report
Boston Whaler 380 Outrage:
Easy Rider w/ 50 MPH WOT
The Boston Whaler 380 Outrage has a 23-degree deadrise at the transom, near the max available in production boats, and this results in an exceptional ride offshore -- as can be seen in our test video. Our test of the 380 Outrage was in some of the roughest water we have tested in and the 380 took it easily in stride. With an 11' 8" (3.56 m) beam and an equipped weight of over 20,000 lbs. with triple 350 Mercury Verados and a 23-degree deadrise, she felt like a far larger boat.
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New Captain’s Report
Riviera 4800 Sport Yacht:
Stylish Cruiser w/ Many Upgrades
The Riviera 4800 Sport Yacht is a premium-class yacht that comes equipped with extras like the hydraulic swim platform and C-Zone Touchscreen monitoring that are options on many competitors but standard on this vessel. Two staterooms and two heads comfortably accommodate four, and there's an additional convertible couch sleeping area in the below-decks lounge/atrium area. The swim platform has an outdoor grill with twin electric cooktops.
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Test Video
Chaparral 210 SunCoast:
Vee-Hull Performance, Deckboat Space
The Chaparral 210 SunCoast has the performance and eye-appeal of a planing V-bottom and the passenger capacity of a pontoon at a reasonable price. Outboard power provides added storage space aft compared to sterndrive boats, and also delivers good performance. The test boat ran 47.8 mph in our tests powered by a 200-hp Mercury Verado. A premium sound system with Bluetooth stereo and four speakers is standard.
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Test Video
Beneteau Gran Turismo 46:
Stepped Hull in an Express Cruiser
The Beneteau Gran Turismo 46 is the first stepped-hull boat available with IPS drives according to the builder, though she comes standard with twin 370-hp diesel sterndrives. We tested her with 435-hp IPS 600s, which resulted in a top speed of 32.3 knots, and a best cruise of 17.5 knots at 2500 rpm, where she delivered 0.9 NMPG. Sterndrives are generally just as efficient as pod drives, have joystick control and are less costly. She's available in two or three stateroom layouts.
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New Test Video
Intrepid 410 Evolution:
High Performance Express w/ Upscale Features
The double-stepped hull design of the Intrepid 410 Evolution provided impressive performance in our tests, reaching a top speed of 53.6 mph powered by triple V-8 Yamaha 350's. The boat has many luxury touches as standard features, including power helm seats, sun roof and cockpit shade, plus an 8 kW diesel generator and AC system. The high-gloss table in the salon rises at the touch of a button, or lowers to become part of an added berth. She includes a full-sized head complete with separate shower and porcelain toilet.
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Test Video
Hatteras GT 70:
Muscular Sportfish w/ 41-Knot WOT
The Hatteras GT 70 is offered with plenty of engine-room muscle. Powered with twin 2600-hp MTUs, she had a top speed of 41 knots in our test runs, a plus for those who fish big-money billfish tournaments where long offshore runs are the norm. Accommodations include five staterooms and four heads, with two 21.5 kW diesel generators to provide AC and other electrical needs. The GT 70 is also available with optional SeaKeeper gyros.
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Test Video
TRACKER® Targa V-20 WT:
Durable Multi-Species Fish Boat
The TRACKER Targa V-20 WT has an all-welded .125 gauge marine aluminum hull designed to handle grounding on gravel, as well as bumping off rocks and stumps. She's delivered as a turn-key fishing package including trolling motor, fishfinder, livewell and a tandem-axle trailer. An optional Sport Package with bow cushions, aft deck extension and jump seats, and a ski tow pylon make her more attractive for watersports. The foot pedal for the trolling motor can be tucked away in a compartment at the bow when not in use.
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Comparison
26'-30' Pontoon Boats:
We Compare 4 Hit Toons
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Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 XP3
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Manitou 25 X-Plode XT SHP
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Regency 254 LE3
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Premier 290 Grand Entertainer PTX Twin
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The summer solstice is just over the horizon, and that means it's time to plan summer boating adventures. Folks can party on a 'toon, fish from one, and ride a towline behind one if it’s a tri-toon. Bolt on a big outboard or two, and a 'toon can scoot. The four 'toons we compare this week range between 26' and 30' overall length. Compare all four in detail and you may be whistling a different toon.
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New Consumer Report
Which Boats are Best for Watersports?
Deciding which towsports are the family favorite, how serious they'll likely become about it and what the budget will be are all part of choosing which watersports boat is the best fit. Choice of inboard, sterndrive, jet power or outboard allows for specialty use, or for greater versatility, depending on the most common uses, and specialty features including ballast bags can turn a family runabout into an effective wakesports boat when the bags are fully loaded.
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