Four Winns H260 SS:
Upscale Sportboat w/ 51.0 MPH WOT
The Four Winns H260 SS looks fast, and she is; with the base 350-hp Volvo Penta V8-350 DP turning a FH4 propset, she leaped on plane in 2.8 seconds and reached a top speed of 51.0 mph. Her "stable vee" bottom shape is a big part of her performance. Read the captain's report for details. Our captain reports that she handled "exceptionally well." Overall, we think this is a well-designed boat with numerous features that set her apart from other boats in class.
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New Captain's Report
Galeon 500 Fly:
Sport Yacht w/ Focus on Entertaining
The Galeon 500 Fly’s ultimate goal is to entertain guests. On each side deck, bulwarks can be folded down, creating an expansive entertaining area of 90 sq. ft. Stainless steel stanchions line the bulwarks with a safety line of 29”, or they can removed to create a platform from which to dive or jump into the water. On the starboard and port side bulwarks, guests can sit on a converted outboard-facing lounge, or enjoy cocktails at the counter folded out from the galley.
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Captain’s Report
Beneteau Oceanis 45:
Versatile Sailing Yacht Accommodates a Crowd
The Beneteau Oceanis 45 offers four distinct layouts with up to four private sleeping areas and two heads, giving potential for everything from group chartering to functioning as a private cruising yacht for two. With a 14'9" (4.50 m) beam, hard chines, and relatively vertical hull sides, she offers lots of room below decks for her LOA. She's available in both a deep keel (7'1"/2.16 m) version and a shallow keel (5'9"/1.75 m) model, adding versatility to her potential missions.
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Captain’s Report
Icom IC-M25:
Versatile, Compact, and Innovative
VHF Marine Handheld
Distinguishing features of the Icom IC-M25 handheld VHF includes "Float N Flash": when the radio is dropped into the water, it emits an audible alarm. Additionally, the screen and a red light on the bottom of the unit flash to make it easy to find, especially at night. There's also an AquaQuake™ draining function: when the radio is retrieved from the water, the AquaQuake™ emits low-frequency sound waves that vibrate the unit enough to shake water out of the speaker, preserving sound quality. The unit weighs just 7.76 oz. (220 g) and measures 5.28” (134.2mm) tall and 2.23” (56.6mm) wide and 1.2” thick (30.5mm), which means it could fit in the pocket of a pair of board shorts or a pouch on a lifejacket or float jacket.
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Test Video
TRACKER® Pro Team™ 195 TXW:
57.9 MPH WOT w/ 150-HP Merc
The TRACKER Pro Team 195 TXW is a tournament-ready bassing machine that offers the light weight and long-term durability of all-welded aluminum in the hull, stringers, and transom. Performance is impressive -- pushed by a Mercury® 150 FourStroke, the 1,770-pound (803 kg) hull ran 57.9 mph in our tests and leaped onto plane in 3.3 seconds. Cut her back to a 2500-rpm cruise and 23.7 mph, and she delivers 7.8 mpg. The lighted 27-gallon (102 L) aft livewell should keep the limit of bass healthy all day. She comes fully-equipped with a Minn Kota® bow-mount 55-pound thrust trolling motor, Lowrance® sonar, centerline rod locker for rods up to 8' long, and lots of storage, plus the Mercury outboard and a factory-matched trailer with GALVASHIELD® Impact corrosion and chip protection, all at a highly competitive price.
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Test Video
Yamaha SX240 HO:
High-Performance Twin Jet Bowrider
Powered with two 1.8L Yamaha High Output jet systems, the Yamaha SX240 HO is a surprisingly quick watersports machine -- she leaped on plane in 2.6 seconds in our tests, zipped past 30 mph in 4.3 seconds and topped out at 52.2 mph. The Cruise Assist/No Wake control, a digital rocker switch on the throttle control binnacle, allows adjusting 500 rpms up or down per click and also synchronizes the engines.
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Test Video
World Cat 320DC:
Roomy Cat w/ Big Versatility
The hardtop of the World Cat 320DC connects to the massive glass windshields to provide complete spray protection while underway, and a flip-down vent in the center can provide air flow when needed. Accommodations for overnighting are hidden away in the port hull; this area includes a TV, microwave, and a convertible berth area that converts to a seating area for day use. The starboard side contains a wet-head. She comes fully-equipped for angling, including a large livewell in the transom, plenty of rod holders, compartmented tackle drawers, and a dive door in the starboard side.
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Test Video
Monte Carlo Yachts 70:
Sport Cruiser Style, Motoryacht Class
The Monte Carlo Yachts 70 demonstrates strikingly modern exterior design that is distinctive and a signature statement for the brand. She also delivers strong performance and predictable handling, according to our test team. The overall design looks more like a sleek and capable sport cruiser than a motoryacht. The forward section of the flying bridge is covered by a stylish hardtop with a large retractable center section. The helm features a "glass cockpit" with only large digital screen displays, no analog gauges. Powered with twin 1200-hp MAN diesels with Z-Pod drives, she has a top speed of 32.9 knots, while at an idle speed of 7.6 knots, she can cover 1799 NM between refuelings.
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Features Video
Bavaria Virtess 420 Fly:
Smart Engineering Plus Competitive Pricing
The Bavaria Virtess 420 Fly displays touches of clever German engineering throughout. One option includes cockpit furniture mounted on a rail system that allows the couches to be positioned in various configurations, yet they always remain locked in place. The optional hydraulic swim platform features integrated stairs that rise from the flush position to give easy access to the cockpit. Movable stools in the salon convert to padded chairs by simply flipping up the backrest. Factory-direct sale from U.S. sales offices gives a lot of value in this yacht at a competitive price for the LOA.
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New Test Video
Scarab 255 Impulse WAKE Edition:
53.2 MPH WOT Speed w/ 2x Rotax 4-TEC 250s
The Scarab 255 Impulse WAKE Edition features hull graphics and a fold-down tower along with a ballast sack system to create a wakeboarding and surfing boat that offers the added safety of propeller-free propulsion. With twin Rotax 4-TEC 250 jet systems, she's a rocket sled on takeoff, reaching plane in 3.1 seconds and 30 mph in 5.7 seconds. Top speed is 53.2 mph lightly-loaded.
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Test Video
Regal 2300 RX Surf:
Wake Sports Platform w/ Forward Drive
The Regal 2300 RX Surf is equipped at the premium level for wakesports, with the PowerTower, JL Audio speakers, and Bimini as well as the 1,500-pound (680 kg) auto-fill ballast tanks and the RegalVue touch screen front and center above the steering wheel. RegalVue provides customizable engine data, GPS navigation, optional Cruise control and will even record and play video on board to evaluate the last wake/surf boarding session. The Volvo Penta Forward Drive moves the props forward under the boat giving wake surfers added safety because the props are 26" farther forward than on a conventional aft-facing sterndrive lower unit.
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Test Video
Riviera 52 Enclosed Flybridge:
All-Weather Offshore Cruiser
The Riviera 52 Enclosed Flybridge clearly shows her bluewater sportfishing heritage, but her large aft deck, available mezzanine seating, and open plan interior with aft galley will entertain a crowd. With two en suite staterooms and a third guest stateroom, she sleeps six in comfort. There's no lower helm, adding more living space in the salon area. A 12,000 BTU reverse cycle air conditioning system is standard, or opt for the tropical package, with 48,000 BTU, which also includes flying bridge AC and heat.
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Test Video
Robalo 226 Cayman:
Fully-Loaded Bayboat w/ 12" Draft
The Robalo 226 Cayman is a well thought-out mid-sized bayboat that includes all of the angling extras serious fisherman want. Three 30-gallon (114 L) insulated livewells with dividers, pop-up cleats, and flush-mounted hardware to avoid line tangles and stubbed toes, elevated casting decks front and rear, two lockable rod boxes in the bow, dedicated storage for a 5-gallon (19 L) castnet bucket, and lots more are standard. With Kevlar in the keel area and a ceramic composite transom, she should be durable. She comes in a competitively-priced package with an aluminum tandem trailer designed to handle saltwater.
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