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Sealegs 7.1m Sport RIB:
4.0 Sec. Planing Speed
w/ Evinrude E-TEC 150
The Sealegs 7.1m Sport RIB is a truly unique multi-purpose watercraft, with three fold-down wheels and an auxiliary 22-hp air-cooled internal engine that makes it capable of launching and retrieving itself on nearly any beach. With the wheels up, it performs like a conventional RIB -- powered by a 150-hp Evinrude E-TEC, it ran 44.2 mph in our tests. The heavy gauge aluminum hull is made to rest on the sand, allowing the boat to be kept at ready for a quick launch through surf as a rescue vessel -- or simply to act as a go-anywhere tender for a large yacht. It is ideal for people who own waterfront homes.
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Test Video
Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht:
4 Staterooms, Multiple Entertainment Venues
The Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht has a flexible four-stateroom layout with a full-beam master stateroom, three bathrooms, contemporary and stylish hull windows and portholes, dual electric sliding sunroofs, and fixed skylights, as well as a large, open cockpit with grill and undercover seating and dining areas. Joinery work is exceptional, with high-gloss Walnut, Parquet, and leather throughout much of the interior. A summer kitchen at the transom and the aft galley means the cockpit will be entertainment central in good weather -- a serving window opens the galley to the cockpit's air and conversation.
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Captain’s Report
Grady-White Freedom 192:
Classic Dual Console for Cruising & Fishing
The Grady-White Freedom 192 has the seating and the layout most families want in a runabout, but she also has fisherman-friendly features such as lots of stainless steel rod holders, under-gunwale rod storage, and an optional aerated livewell. Options most families will probably add include the fold down sleeper seat/sun lounge that fits on the port side of the cockpit and the ski-tow pylon. A freshwater shower is also a useful option for boats used in coastal waters.
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New Test Video
Sea Ray 400 Fly:
Right-Sized Motoryacht w/ Flybridge
Multiple entertainment venues aboard the Sea Ray 400 Fly begin right at the transom, where the extended swim platform not only forms a teak beach/hydraulic tender launch but also provides access to the on-deck mini galley. Another cooking venue is available on the flying bridge adjacent the U-shaped settee and table, and the main galley is on the salon level. Two cabins are standard, and she's available with a second head that is en suite to the master stateroom as an option.
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Test Video
TAHOE 2150:
51.1 MPH WOT in an OB Deckboat
The TAHOE 2150 provides extra space in a deckboat design via outboard power. Our test boat was powered by a 225 Mercury Verado 4-stroke and got on plane in just 4.3 seconds and reached 51.1 mph at WOT. Optional packages for wakeboarding, entertaining, or fishing -- including a bow mount trolling motor and swivel fishing seats -- customize her for a variety of missions.
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Test Video
Bavaria Virtess 420 Fly:
Easy-Handling 3-Stateroom Cruiser
The Bavaria Virtess 420 Fly, powered by the optional 435-hp Volvo Penta IPS600 drive system, produced a top speed of 37.3 mph in our sea trails. The yacht offers a wide range of efficient cruising speeds with the steerable drive systems. Best cruise was at 3000 rpms and 29.1 mph at which she had a range of 232 statute miles, but the mpg curve is essentially flat from 2500 rpms up to full speed, so that the captain can adjust speed to suit sea conditions. She exhibited no vibration underway and surprisingly low sound levels ranging from only 72 dBA at idle speed to a maximum of 84 dBA at full throttle in the main salon.
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New Test Video
Yamaha AR240 HO:
Twin Jet Runabout w/ Articulating Keel
Powered by twin 1.8 liter Yamaha High Output jet systems, the Yamaha AR240 HO got on plane in 2.3 seconds and reached a top speed of 51.8 mph. Our test captain found the handling of the AR240 HO to be responsive and exact at all open throttle positions. Since the 155mm jet nozzle vectors the thrust, steering response is immediate. The drifting or wondering that is typical with jet boats is significantly reduced thanks to the Articulating Keel system. We also found it helped in cutting through the chop or when crossing wakes and generally improved tracking.
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New Captain’s Report
Andros Boatworks Offshore 32:
53.0 MPH WOT w/ 2 x Evinrude E-TEC G2 300s
With the sheer line of classic Bahamas builds, the Andros Boatworks Offshore 32 is a handsome center console that comes fully-rigged for full-scale tournament fishing. For live bait anglers, the livewells are particularly impressive -- there's a lighted 50-gallon (189 L) well in the transom, another 100-gallon (378 L) well in the aft deck, each fed by 1600 gph pumps -- she can haul baits big enough for billfish when desired. Another feature is the hydraulic lift on the forward fish box hatch, making access to this giant box easy even when one's hands are full of angry wahoo or tuna. Her 53 mph speed in our test runs, powered with twin Evinrude E-TEC G2 300s, means she's capable of getting far offshore fast -- and, even more importantly, getting home quickly when weather threatens.
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New Features Video
Beneteau Monte Carlo 6:
60' Motoryacht w/ Retro Style
A curved back support spanning the width of the sunlounge on the bridge of the Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 adds comfort for sun worshippers, and the 8'-long couch and large fold-out table here will be popular spots for sundown cocktails and canapés. The main galley is aft in the salon level, giving easy access from the cockpit as well as the seating areas forward. The yacht features en suite heads for the mid-ship master and the forward VIP stateroom, while the day head also serves the guest cabin with a direct access door.
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Captain’s Report
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 41DS:
New Tri-Cabin Sailing Yacht w/ 2 En Suites
The raised cockpit design of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 41DS adds headroom in the large master stateroom below. The design also gives a drier ride to windward and adds freeboard aft. Numerous portlights, hatches, and extra large windows bring lots of natural light into the living areas, giving water views from virtually every seat and angle within the cabin. All joiner work is done in Alpi wood, which is more durable in the humid marine environment, has no defects or knots, and holds its finish longer.
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New Features Video
Volvo Penta V8-350:
All-New 5.3L Marine Engine
The Volvo Penta V8-350 is designed for efficient operation and longevity. With a 5.3-liter (323-cid) aluminum block with aluminum cylinder heads, it weighs 996 lbs. (452 kg) with a Duoprop drive. Like all of the models in the new Volvo Penta gasoline sterndrive line, it has direct fuel-injection, variable valve timing, catalyzed exhaust, and closed cooling. Volvo Penta’s Front End Accessory Drive (FEAD) bolts to the front of the engine and supplies all of the mounting locations for accessories such as the water pump, heat exchanger, and the element-style oil filter. Most hoses and hose clamps are eliminated. The engine can be paired with a Duoprop or with Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive, and it comes with a 5-year warranty.
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Test Video
Four Winns H290:
Big, Fast Bowrider with Power Helm Seats
The Four Winns H290 is a large bowrider with a lot of upscale features including a power backrest on the aft cockpit seat/sun pad and a power hoist for the motor cover. She's a robust, wave-crushing boat at over 9,000 lbs. (4,082 kg) wet, yet she ran 51.9 mph with the base twin 300-hp Volvo Penta DP power system. The unique "Stable Vee" stepped hull draws in air well aft at the stern quarters, improving running efficiency, according to the company. Wide reversed chines add to the stability when at rest and better turning performance at speed.
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Features Video
Boston Whaler 320 Vantage:
Family Friendly DC w/ Summer Kitchen
The Boston Whaler 320 Vantage departs from the builder's usual credo of building "pure" fishing boats that also function as upscale family boats -- she's clearly a family-first design with everything necessary to make weekends fun and functional on the water. The summer kitchen in the cockpit makes for easy food preparation, and three movable tables positioned from bow to stern as needed make lunch time easy. There's a head in the console, and the couch in the compact cabin converts to a double for occasional overnights. The hardtop is standard, as are the abundant seating options including an electrically-adjustable dual companion seat that swivels sideways when desired, and a massive sun pad/chaise in the aft cockpit.
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Test Video
TRACKER Pro Team 195 TXW:
57.9 MPH All-Welded Aluminum Bassboat
The TRACKER Pro Team 195 TXW delivers performance and tournament fishing amenities that make her competition for high-performance fiberglass bass boats with similar power, yet she's easier to afford at a base price of $24,795 including boat, motor, trailer, trolling motor and more. The all-welded Revolution variable deadrise hull has a notch at the transom, providing clean water to the prop, allowing higher trim and improving top speed.
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Test Video
Glastron GTS 187:
Jet Drive w/ Striking Graphics
The Glastron GTS 187 we tested was powered by the optional 250-hp supercharged Rotax jet propulsion system. She shot out of the hole in a remarkable 1.9 seconds in our tests, about the same time-to-plane as the typical PWC, but this is a well-equipped 19'6" (5.94 m) bowrider. With quarter-turn lock-to-lock steering, she delivered impressive cornering at speed, and the larger than usual bucket on the jet also allowed for better than usual handling (for a jet) at low speeds. Top speed was 46.2 mph.
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Test Video
Evinrude E-TEC G2 250:
Advanced Engineering in a Lightweight V6
Evinrude's all-new E-TEC G2 250 includes integrated hydraulic steering, creating an exceptionally clean transom. There's no external rod and cylinder exposed to corrosion, no third-party steering parts to complicate installation and adjustment, and the steering is speed sensitive, just like in a high-end automobile. The 558-lb. (253 kg) V6 has a 210-cubic inch displacement, and the magneto-style charger puts out 133 Amps. It's one of the quietest outboards on the market, producing just 66 dBA at idle in our tests.
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Prop Selection
PowerTech! 4-blade Prop:
Extra Lift for Heavier Boats
Choosing the right propeller for a given boat and motor combination can be challenging, which is the reason that PowerTech! offers some 5,000 models to meet every need. The way the boat is used and the owner's expectations are a big part of the process -- getting the right pitch and diameter is basic, but it's also possible to tweak performance by choosing specific rake and cup in the blade shapes, as well as deciding between three- and four-blade props. PowerTech! is the go-to source for BoatTEST for all prop questions.
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