Whaler 240 Vantage | Yamaha 252SD | 2 Crash Videos - 10/10/21

When Boston Whaler decided to replace the 230 Vantage with the 240, the company asked customers what they would like to see improved on the new model. One change was the location of the livewell. It was previously mounted underneath a seat in an awkward location. Now the 13-gallon (49.21-L) livewell is in the port quarter where it’s easier to access. The company also added toe rails for more security when working a fish. The new 240 Vantage is a multi-tasking dual console targeted at active families. More...  

Usually, we applaud a manufacturer for designing a yacht with a large flying bridge. With the 560 Sky, we give kudos to Galeon for taking the opposite approach. The company has created a sleek-looking motoryacht that can be a coupe-style express yacht when the weather doesn’t cooperate because the entire flying bridge can be closed off with a sliding carbon-fiber cover. When the sun comes out, push a button to uncover what Galeon calls the “Skydeck” with wraparound seating, a wetbar and full helm station. Voila. More...  

Honda Marine has introduced a new four-stroke outboard model and redesigned two of its most popular models. The Honda BF140 is targeted at what the company calls “the heart of the boating market” and replaces the 135-hp model. The company says that the new 140 has a “broader, flatter torque curve and smoother power delivery throughout the engine’s operating range along with additional innovative technological features and controls.” More...  

The company stepped up its game in terms of comfort, technology, amenities, handling and fit and finish in the new 2022 252SD. She’s designed for the active family with kids to grandparents. There have been so many advances like the Connext Touchscreen that our report must be read to appreciate how far Yamaha has come. But, one thing has not changed – her safe jet power. More...  

Capt. Steve checks out the Mercury Forward Drive engine which has counter-rotating  Bravo 4 S dual props. The six blades of this lower unit give the Chaparral 26 Surf a remarkable grip on the water, something that conventional wakeboats with a single straight shaft drive and a 3-bladed prop can’t equal. We wonder what the good captain is thinking about? Possibly that the engine’s forward-facing running gear creates much more utility for bowriders compared to both one-trick ponies and outboard-powered boats. That’s an important consideration before writing out a big check. More...  

With the temperatures dropping to more comfortable levels and the absence of tourists who don’t know what they’re doing, fall is a great time to extend a fishing season. We have 10 tips from the experts to make sure time spent on the water results in big catches. More...  

There are many uses for this technology that owners don’t always consider that helps extract the full value of radar. Most owners use it for collision avoidance, especially at night or in foul weather, but it has other uses as well. Click to learn about them...  

This week we have another episode from the Broncos Guru, compiling a week’s worth of boating mishaps that are as instructive as they are funny. At least most boaters can laugh at their neighbors, if not themselves. More...  

To see Mercury Marine’s video of its 400-hp Verados in use, click here...  

For those of you old enough to remember weekend double features at the local cinema, we are reviving the concept with our version of The Three Stooges afloat. More...   

YouTube stars the Gale Force twins know how to have a good time on and off the water. They’ve done videos on how to land many species of fish as well as how to dock a boat or pull up to the sandbar, but there’s one thing that Amanda and Emily never do behind the wheel of a boat or vehicle. More...