Chaparral 300 OSX | Boston Whaler 405 Conquest | Prestige 420 Fly - 01/12/20
BoatTEST Newsletter January 12, 2020
Most Popular Boats of the Week
Every week BoatTEST publishes news items on about 25 boats. Readers have asked which ones are the more popular each day, so below you can find the answer – by day.
Monday #1
Chaparral 300 OSX:
New Premium Boat for All Reasons
The asymmetrical design of the new Chaparral 300 OSX combines a center console helm with the comforts of an upscale dual console bowrider. By so doing, Chaparral has created a boat that should be compared to not only other conventional bowriders but also dual consoles that are built by traditional fishboat builders. The triple-wide bolstered helm seat assembly can pivot to face the L-shaped seating in the cockpit for social hour or can have an optional wet bar behind it. Below decks is a compartment that can sleep two and has a slide-out head. 12-V A/C is optional. The Vista View lounge aft changes configuration from seating to sun lounge at the touch of a button and the dive door on the starboard side of the cockpit is something few sportboats have. The standard fiberglass hardtop has a sunroof and can be fitted with cruising canvas for three-season use. There is a lot to like in this premium vessel, and Chaparral is putting dual console brands on notice. See the full test here...
Schedule A Test Drive Dealer Contact Request Pricing Request
Tuesday #1
Boston Whaler 405 Conquest:
Multi-Mission SUV of the Sea
A few years ago, the idea of powering a boat over 40' (12.6 m) long and weighing in excess of 30,000 lbs. (14,343 kg) with outboards would have seemed incomprehensible. However, the current availability of powerful multiple outboards with rigging eased via digital controls has encouraged designers to come up with some impressive yacht-class boats like the new Boston Whaler 405 Conquest. We tested her with maximum power, quad Mercury 400 outboards, which put her on plane in 4.7 seconds and pushed her to a top speed of 52.0 mph. She’s available with a full-glass enclosure under the standard hardtop. A generator and A/C system can cool not only this area but the galley, convertible dinette, the master and two guest bunks below decks. The company styles her as an SUV of the Sea, ready for extended offshore fishing trips as well as cruising, diving and day-boating. An option rarely seen on boats in class is the second joystick on the port side, a plus considering the 13’6” (4.11 m) beam. More...
Wednesday #1
Prestige 420 Fly:
Designed for Couples & Small Families
The Garroni-designed Prestige 420 Fly is in the same class as the company’s larger yachts and is intended for buyers moving up from a sportboat, or for those stepping down from a larger yacht. The extension of the flying bridge over the aft deck adds a surprising amount of entertainment space topside, and also provides shade and spray protection for those aft. Both the upper and lower helm stations have joystick controls (optional) for the V-drives coupled to the twin Cummins 6.7L 425-hp diesels. More...
Schedule A Test Drive Dealer Contact Request Pricing Request
Thursday #1
Now Leasing:
Pursuit DC266 Dual Console
in St. Petersburg, Florida
Pursuit DC266 Dual Console powered by 2 x 200-hp Yamahas and power steering.
BoattestLEASING is now offering a Pursuit DC266 dual console that's located at a premium marina in St. Petersburg, Florida. The boat has a head with an electric toilet and adult sitting headroom. The boat is set up for cruising (with cruising canvas) and entertaining with two tables and large sun awnings forward and aft to provide shade for mid-day picnics. There are two fold-down seats in the cockpit and a wet bar for entertaining. WOT speed is 49 mph with full fuel and three people aboard. The boat has a 20-gallon (76 L) livewell, a large fishbox, rod holders and racks, and is ready to go after the big ones. For watersports, the boat is already equipped with inflatable toys and an electric pump. At the helm is a premium electronics package, trim tabs, a VHF radio, and a Siren 24/7 monitoring system. The boat has been sea-trialed and fully outfitted by BoatTEST captains. Find out more information, including lease pricing here...
Friday #1
Aquila 36:
Multi-Mission Cat w/En Suite
Accommodations for 4
The Aquila 36 powered by twin Mercury Verado 350 outboards provides dayboat performance and plenty of on-deck space to host a party afloat, plus comfortable en suite accommodations for four. In our test runs, she got on plane in 3.0 seconds, which is not surprising since catamaran hulls typically plane rapidly. Top speed was 40.1 mph, while best cruise was at 3500 rpm and 17.7 mph, at which she got 1.2 mpg. Slow her down to 1000 rpm displacement speed, as you might to make a long crossing between islands, and she got 2.1 mpg for a range of better than 660 statute miles with her 356-gallon (1,350 L) fuel capacity. Noise levels at the helm are very low with these 4-stroke outboards, just 81 dBa at 3500 rpm and 61 dBa at 1000 rpm. More...
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