Boston Whaler 280 Vantage | Hatteras GT65 Carolina | Fairline F//Line 33 - 12/06/20

BoatTEST Newsletter December 6, 2020 

Most Popular Boats of the Week

Every week, BoatTEST publishes news items on about 25 boats and products. Readers have asked which ones are the most popular each day, so below you can find the answer.

 

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General Motors says it will have 30 new electric vehicles on the market by 2025, which will account for 40% of its production. Volvo Penta, the largest supplier of diesel engines to the boating industry, plans for its truck engines to be all-electric in the next decade. At least four companies are marketing electric outboards, and this is just the beginning. Just wait until Mercury and Yamaha get involved. Find out what’s going on and how it could change your boating future. More...

Episode #32 All BTR Episodes

 

Monday #1

Boston Whaler 280 Vantage:

New and Improved Over the 270

All-new Boston Whaler 280 Vantage.

Someone once said “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The Boston Whaler 270 Vantage not only wasn’t “broke,” it was, in fact, one of the brand’s most popular models. But, Boston Whaler takes customer feedback seriously and the new 280 Vantage is a good example. The successor to the 270 Vantage is all-new, not a warmed-over 270 hull. The 280 is more than 2’ (.61m) longer, 6” (15.24cm) wider, and more than 1,700-lbs. (771.11kg) heavier. She has redesigned bow seating, a hardtop integrated with the windshield and a port-side door, a port quarter livewell, and one-degree more deadrise at the transom. Most important for families, there is 36” (91.44cm) of headroom over the toilet seat for full adult sitting headroom that the 270 did not have. All of these refinements, and more, are the direct result of customer input, the company’s ingenious engineering staff, and the builder’s willingness to invest heavily in new tooling, something that comes right off the bottom line, which is why some builders hold on to old tooling forever. More...

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Tuesday #1

Formula 380 SSC Outboard:

1,350-hp Pegs 63.5 MPH

Powered by triple Mercury Racing 450R outboards, the Formula 380 Super Sport Crossover hit a top speed of 63.5 mph during our tests. She fills the void between Formula’s 330/350 CBRs and the larger 400/430 SSC and ASC models. For entertaining, Formula’s SmartZone design approach has the cockpit, helm deck and bow all on the same level, and the huge swim platform is ready to launch watersports, including fishing.

More...

 

Wednesday #1

Hatteras GT65 Carolina:

A More Efficient Battlewagon

The GT65 Carolina is the newest convertible from Hatteras Yachts. She has a larger cockpit than her predecessor, the GT63. A new hull and tunnel design are meant to get owners to the fishing grounds at a top speed that exceeds 40 knots. She’s also designed to accommodate twin Seakeeper 9 gyro stabilizers without sacrificing fuel capacity or range.

More...

Thursday #1

Fairline F//Line 33:

Stunning Euro-Styled Lux Crossover

The F//Line 33 is the first in a new line of luxury sportboats from Fairline Yachts. At 32’9” (9.9 m) long, she blends style, performance and crossover functionality in a boat that’s sure to draw admiring glances from seasoned captains and neophytes alike. The new models can be used as a family dayboat or as a tender because she embodies modern design. Below, there is a cozy dining banquette and a mid-cabin berth, making her a possible weekender.

More...

Friday #1

Leopard 53 PC:

Offshore-Capable Cruising Cat

The Leopard 53 Powercat is a cruising catamaran that can cover long distances in less-than-perfect conditions. We tested in 3’ (.9 m) to 5’ (1.52 m) seas and regardless of the wave direction, her sharp plumb bows cut through the water with ease. In our tests, her twin 370-hp Yanmar diesels pushed her to 22.5 knots and at a cruise speed of 2800 rpm, she ran 16.8 knots and had a range of 599 miles.

More...

 

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