Greenline’s 48 Fly has a hybrid bottom design that is an evolution of the company’s displacement hull. It’s streamlined to cruise efficiently at displacement and higher speeds and stabilizers on the running surface enhance the ride. When the situation calls for it, her twin 220-hp Volvo Penta D3 diesel inboards can push the boat to speeds exceeding 20 mph. Slow down to 1200 rpm and 5.8 mph and she’ll cover 1,668 nautical miles. Solar panels on the main cabin roof collect power that can be stored in three lithium-polymer battery packs in the engine room. More...  

Formula’s 270 Bowrider was one of the first performance versions of this style of boat when she was introduced. She has remained popular because she combines Formula’s vaunted rough-water abilities with premium amenities and features and some of the best fit and finish we’ve seen in class. Open the engine compartment and get an eyeful of gleaming gelcoat, batteries that are properly secured with covers protecting the terminals and double clamps on all the hoses. It’s all protected by a 10-year structural warranty and five years of coverage from the Formula Guard protection for the components.

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The Grand Banks 54 is a flying-bridge model that hit a top speed of 29 knots during our tests. She's powered by twin 725-hp Volvo Penta D11 engines with straight shafts. Advanced construction techniques and materials such as carbon fiber help keep the weight and the CG low, which also improves handling and the ride. Her flattish bottom sections aft make her efficient and more stable. More...  

At the recent Palm Beach International Boat Show, Capt. Steve and Denison Yachting’s Jake Garber took a closer look at Hull No. 1 of the new Bertram 28XC, an outboard-powered dual-console. She has a 9’9” (2.95 m) beam and is equipped with a hullside door, a bar with a grill and a refrigerator and…well watch the video to find out. The price is given at the end of the video.

Those interested in owning hull #1 of the new Bertram 28XC, click here...

Fairline Yachts has always produced well-built boats, but the company has stepped up its game with the fit-and-finish. We have recently tested and inspected the new Squadron 68 flying bridge motoryacht. We can report that she is second to none and world-class. Our glossmeter recorded 92 and 94 out of 100 on walnut tables and cabinets. When two pieces of wood meet, good luck finding the joint. There are curves everywhere and they literally define the brand as it moves forward. Couple the styling with designer Alberto Mancini’s open concept and layout and we think this boat is compelling. More...  

A massive salvage effort is underway in the northern Chesapeake Bay to free a container ship that ran aground on March 13. Crews are dredging around the ship holding 4,900 cargo containers. Named Ever Forward, the vessel draws 42’ (12.8 m) and is stuck in the mud in 24’ (7.3 m) of water. The ship’s owner had another cargo container that famously blocked the Suez Canal last year. More...  

In late March the Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, announced that it was proceeding with a 10% luxury tax on boats sold in Canada valued at more than CAD$250,000. If this sounds like deja vu all over again, you are right. At least 5 countries — including the U.S. — have tried luxury taxes on boats in recent history and all have repealed them because they killed thousands of jobs and actually netted less tax money.

Cutting to the chase: Historically, the rich resist being soaked. Since no one needs a boat except a drowning man, the wealthy buy other things or purchase stocks.

BoatTEST has gone to the trouble to examine the actual sales in Canada of new boats costing more than CAD$250,000. We’ll tell you how much the Canadian government would raise in luxury taxes on boats even if the COVID-19 boat-buying frenzy continued and the rich defied the laws of human nature and decided to let themselves be soaked. More...  

When it comes to learning the basics of the “Rules of the Water,” the first thing a new operator needs to learn is which side of the boat is port and which is starboard. When the driver of the boat is facing forward, port is the left and starboard is the right. To learn five other essential rules of the water, click for the video... 

Batteries for marine use, whether engine-start or house batteries (deep-cycle), can mean the difference between blissful boating or an exercise in crisis management. This article takes a look at the technology and makeup of marine-battery systems. The objective is to help boat owners make informed decisions, understand what is happening to batteries on board, know when to consult a specialist marine electrician and what makes up the various battery technologies that affect their life and performance. More...  

On November 5, 1990, the U.S. Congress took careful aim at the boating industry with a 10% luxury tax on new boats costing more than $100k and fired. Before the law was repealed more than 2 1/2 years later, no fewer than eight major builders had gone out of business. The rest were on life support. By 1999, at least six more had thrown in the towel. The whole category of the business was so weakened that in the years to follow, at least nine more builders of large boats died a merciful death. More...  

Sovereign Boat Club’s latest addition to its growing fleet is an Everglades 235CC. This is a fisherman’s dream, but also a good boat for family outings. All of SBC’s vessels are permitted to go up to 50 miles offshore, which means she can get to the grouper and red snapper fishing grounds. Best of all, she has the lowest annual dues of any boat in the SBC fleet — and is based in Tampa Bay ready for action. More...