Aviara AV32 | Beneteau Swift Trawler 47 | Pardo 43 - 12/30/19
BoatTEST Newsletter December 30, 2019
Here's a look at some of the top boats and products that appeared in our BoatTEST reviews in 2019.
These are not editor's choice, but your choice — they were the most-viewed videos and reports out of all the hundreds that we put together over the last 12 months. And if you didn't find just exactly the boat of your dreams in 2019, hang on — there is a lot more coming from BoatTEST.com in 2020!
Best wishes for the holidays from the BoatTEST.com staff.
Test Video
Aviara AV32:
U.S.-Built Bowrider w/European Style & Luxury
The Aviara AV32 is an elegant U.S.-built bowrider with European style and luxury. Her open transom and hatchet bow give distinctive eye-appeal. With a 10’4” (3.16 m) beam and abundant seating, she has space for a crowd of bon vivants to enjoy the ICW. That seating is covered in “Cool Feel” vinyl, which stays much cooler than conventional coverings in direct sunlight. The floors are covered in SeaDek matting, which can be matched to the upholstery colors. The matting provides cool, non-slip footing throughout. Below the swim platform is a broad hydraulic step that can form a teak beach for swimmers. She’s available with twin Ilmor 380 MPI sterndrives as well as twin Mercury 300 or 350-hp Verado outboards. We tested the Ilmor version, which produced a top speed of 54.9 mph. See the full inspection and test run here...
Test Video
Yamaha VX Cruiser HO:
Fast Fun in a Safe, High Tech Ride
The Yamaha VX Cruiser HO includes Yamaha’s largest 1812 CC H.O. 4-stroke PWC engine, new technology and more rider comfort. It seats up to three riders, is certified for tow sports and comes with a competitive price tag, starting at $11,799. The NanoXCel molded hull keeps weight moderate, 767 lbs. (348 kg), and combined with the fast windup of the four-cylinder, results in impressive acceleration. She went 0 to 30 mph in about 1.8 seconds in our test runs. Just as importantly, the RiDE system allows rapid straight-line braking from high speeds. Just squeeze the trigger on the left handle, engine rpm slows and the reverse bucket drops over the jet nozzle to rapidly decrease speed. The system also allows positive low-speed reverse for easy launching and docking. More...
Features Video
BENETEAU Swift Trawler 47:
Planing Trawler w/26-Knot Top Speed
The Swift Trawler 47 is built for mid-range cruising, with a range of approximately 970 miles at an economical 8 knots, allowing a 10% fuel reserve. She can carry up to 510 gallons (1,931 L) of fuel. True to her name, she can also get on plane and cover the distance to port quickly when a storm threatens. Top speed was 26 knots in our tests, powered by the standard 425-hp Cummins QSB 6.7L diesels. Though the engines are mounted directly under the cabin sole, heavy sound-proofing keeps noise levels to a minimum — just 73 dBa at 8.1 knots and 84 dBa at WOT. She’s also considerate of neighbors in an anchorage, with the generator exhaust exiting underwater. More...
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Test Video
Pardo 43:
Innovative Express
w/Accommodations for Four
One of several innovative features on the Pardo 43 is the optional telescoping pulpit with trefoil anchor, which stows the hook out of sight in the bow peak while underway. The compartment opens, the pulpit rolls out, and the anchor is lowered at a touch of the helm control or the wired remote at the bow. A video camera shows the position of the anchor on the helm multifunction display for remote operation. Access to the device and the rode is via a flip-up seat at the bow. Also seen here is the ax bow with a very sharp forward entry and the broad reversed chines carried all the way to the bow peak, designed to provide a smooth ride in a chop and also to keep spray out of the boat. Despite her sleek lines, she fits accommodations for four below decks. More...
Test Video
Axopar 28 Cabin:
Utilitarian Luxury in a Fast, Sea-kindly CC
The Axopar 28 Cabin looks like, and can be, a utility boat ready to take on tough duty for harbor patrols, commuting and others where great rough water performance, durability and plenty of available speed can be important. But the consumer model also offers plenty of comforts. The cabin includes teak decking, double-stitched suede upholstery and a huge sliding sunroof. Though she’s clearly a dayboat design, the aft seats combine with the swiveling helm seats to make a double berth. Those helm seats can be tilted forward to reveal a sink and an electrically-chilled cooler, and a small table mounts on the back side of this assembly. The head, accessed from the bow deck, has 4’2” (1.27 m) of headroom. More...
Features Video
Hatteras GT59:
Ready for Extended Fishing
Adventures Worldwide
The design team for the Hatteras GT59 brought together 40-knot top-end speed, outstanding seakeeping ability and one of the most comfortable rides in class in this handsome new convertible. With an 18’9” (5.72 m) beam, she offers considerably more interior space than some in class, and the added width increases stability in beam seas. She rides on a resin-infused solid fiberglass bottom, considerably tougher than cored designs aimed at saving weight, and part of the reason for the company’s reputation for building very durable fishing boats. Below decks she offers three luxurious en suites, providing overnight comfort for fishing adventures anywhere in the world. More...
Boating Tips
How to Find a Boat
w/Long-Term Value
Good boats bought today can be gems 20 years from now, with proper maintenance. Here are some tips on finding a boat that will fit one’s needs as closely as possible and will be functional for many years to come, and when the owner is ready to sell, will have depreciated less than the average boat in its class. A few classics may even be worth the same or more in 10 to 15 years. More...
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