The Back Cove 390 has two cabins below: the mid-cabin has twin and the master has the typical forward island layout. There's a single head and between the cabins is a bench sofa, which is unusual. Triple 400-hp outboards propel this 26,000-lb. (11,818 kg) vessel.
The redesigned hull of the Boston Whaler 160 Super Sport, with the V-hull replacing the cathedral hulls of yesteryear, rides better but maintains added space forward with a rectangular bow. She’s easily trailered even by a compact vehicle. Like all Whalers, she’s unsinkable and will float level if swamped. (Pssst — She'll make a great Christmas present for a teen... or gramps.)
The new Neptunus 750SL features a fully-enclosed skylounge and an inspired new superyacht-style helm designed by Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architect Ltd. Access the skylounge from the interior of the yacht, or from an aft deck staircase. The skylounge offers outstanding visibility for piloting the yacht, and offers exquisite views.
The new Axopar 29 CCX, which will make her U.S. debut at the Ft. Lauderdale show, is built with seven interchangeable modules that allow an owner to configure the boat to a specific application. We don't know of any boat model that has ever offered such dynamic range of structural options in class. Axopar Founding Partner, Jan-Erik Viitala, gives our Capt. Boomies a thorough explanation of how this totally new design once again pioneers boat innovation.
Schaefer's new V44 is a European-looking dayboat with Brazilian salsa flare. With triple 400-hp Mercury outboards, the all-new Brazilian-built V44 has speed to burn. Fold-out balconies greatly expand aft lounging space and she can overnight four. All you need is the girl from Ipanema.
Capt. Shelley Hits the Road Team "Port & Starboard" Rank #7
If you ever wondered what our captains do when not testing boats, today we'll give you a peek at what Capt. Shelley (aboveleft) does in her spare time. Capt. Lou (at right) is the pilot and Capt. Shelley is the navigator of a 4x4, all-women rally going on this week in the American Southwest. Find out all about it.
In the early days of fiberglass boat construction, making the plug for a boat was a slow, costly process. The advent of 5-axis routers in the boat business changed all that. Today some builders make their own plugs rather than farm it out to independent venders. See how a plug is made and why boats cost so much.
Built in 1972 as a Russian Ice-Class hydrographic "survey" ship, her real job was tracking NATO ships and submarines in the North Atlantic. When the USSR collapsed in 1991, she was snapped up by western bargain-hunters. But as we often say, in boating those looking for a good deal often get a good deal less.
A gimpy wood boat more than 70 years old, a 1,680 NM delivery from Menorca to Brighton, England, a leaky hull, a volunteer crew — what could go wrong? Pretty much everything, it turns out, including a fire in the engine room.
In this day of black boxes that control every aspect of modern engines, if the problem is there we can't help you. But make sure the issue is there, before you scrub a day on the water. Here's where to look first and what to do.