Everglades 455CC | Grand Banks 54 | Brabus Shadow 500 Cabin - 08/15/21
BoatTEST Newsletter August 15, 2021
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.
Monday #1
Everglades 455CC
Center Console w/Worthy Helm
Historically, Everglades has been one of the most innovative builders of center console boats and the new 455CC keeps that tradition going. The helm has the largest console and dash panel in the company’s history. It starts with Everglades’ patented hydraulic sliding (up and down) tempered glass windshield that has a washer-wiper system. The angled vertical electronics panel has space for triple 22” (55.88 cm) flush-mounted displays and was developed with Garmin to use the electronics company’s digital switching with touch-screen controls. Recessed storage compartments have inductive cellphone chargers. Release Marine teak ladderback helm seats are mounted on SHOX shock-mitigating rotating bases. Everglades is one of the first production center console builders to offer these seats and like Seakeepers, we think they will soon be de rigueur within the next couple of years. Overhead, the hardtop has space for additional electronics including dual chartplotters that are viewable from the second row of seats – it’s like being at an outdoor movie with Surround Sound. More...
Tuesday #1
Grand Banks 54
A Goldilocks Size for a Couple
A friend of ours who is a veteran yachtsman, both power and sail, both small boat and Feadship, recently ordered a Grand Banks 54. He and his wife will cruise from Maine to the Bahamas and everywhere in between. That’s something they’ve done over the years in all manner of vessels and each trip is a new adventure. They stop in and visit with old friends along the way. And 54’ (16.45 m) is a size they like. She's easy for a couple to handle, but roomy enough for their kids and grandkids on special occasions. It will probably be a boat they’ll keep for a while – once they get it 14 months from now. More...
Wednesday #1
North Pacific Yachts 49’ Euro Pilothouse
LRC w/a Comfortable Bridge
Photo by Jim Raycroft.
The North Pacific Yachts 49’ Euro Pilothouse has a range of more than 2,300 nautical miles at 7.5 knots according to our tests, with a 10% fuel reserve. Power was provided by a single Cummins 600-hp diesel and fuel was drawn from a 920-gallon (3,482 L) tank. Twin 335-hp Cummins are also available so for those who want redundancy, this may be the preferred option. We must admit to being curious if the boat could be powered by twin 600-hp diesels because some of our tests indicate that the total fuel consumption of two engines loping might be less than a single working hard. There are a couple of things we like about the flying bridge seen above – the double Stidd seat for the skipper’s companion and faux teak on the deck that will provide better footing when gelcoated fiberglass is wet. More...
Thursday #1
Boston Whaler 220 Dauntless
Maximize Utility for the Dollar
Dollar for dollar, the Boston Whaler 220 Dauntless offers a lot of functionality in a fishing/utility boat and it starts at $85,246 MSRP powered by a Mercury 200 XL V6. On Boston Whaler’s website, they have a useful “Build Your Boat” feature that lets you price out the accessories you think you need, such as trim tabs. We always select bow and stern rails for safety plus some other basics and we ended up at $102,000. This is for a boat that’s designed for skinny water fishing, bays and sounds and offshore in the right weather. Our test video will give a far better idea of what the package contains. More...
Friday #1
Brabus Marine Shadow 500 Cabin
Luxury Meets Performance
Brabus Marine takes a 31’3” (9.53 m) Axopar twin-stepped hull and gives it the royal treatment inside and out. Overseas, Brabus is known for its premium custom cars and trucks and now the company has moved to boats. The Shadow 500 Cabin is available in four color choices for the 32-ounce (.91 kg) upholstery with custom stitching. The twin-step bottom is paired with twin 250-hp Mercury Pro XS outboards that pushed our test boat to a top speed of 62.1 mph and popped her on plane in 3.5 seconds. More...
Photo Of The Day
"Taken at anchor on Lake Tahoe, CA on a 2007 Bayliner 245."
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