One of the unfortunate aspects of new boat ownership is the lack of aftermarket support from a dealer or the builder. We know a new-boat buyer who paid six digits for his boat and after the check was cashed, he couldn’t get a call back from the well-known dealership’s owner. It’s hard to think of another business or industry in which this sort of thing would happen, but after-purchase care has never been a strong point of some – not all! – dealers.
That’s why we have made a video about Formula’s noteworthy after-purchase customer experience. Formula is the only brand in class we know of that assigns a non-sales person to each buyer after the sale. Megayacht builders typically do it but below 50' (15.24 m) it is rare or only given lip service. The after-sale experience Formula owners have is one of the big reasons that the brand is at the top of the pyramid in terms of reputation — and one of the largest selling brands in class. See Capt. Steve’s video on the subject. More...
A boat the size of the Robalo R230 (23’/7.01 m) is considered the sweet spot in the market for entry-level buyers and folks looking to move up from flats or in-shore boats. She has one of the deepest cockpits in class (26”/66 cm aft and 31”/79 cm forward) — an important consideration when going offshore or when small kids are aboard. Robalo has a reputation for good value for the money and we can add to that — problems on Robalo boats in the Sovereign Boat Club fleet have been rare, if any. More...
Fouling of raw water intakes and hoses is the #1 reason for A/C failure, a problem that has plagued systems for years. Now, there is a proven solution and it is already being adopted by premium big boat builders as standard equipment. The system is made by ElectroSea and its patented electrochlorination technology keeps intake fitting and hoses clear. That, combined with the company’s SEASTRONG seal-less magnetically coupled seawater pump, will protect your equipment so you can keep your cool. More...
The Dyna 63 is a new motoryacht brand on the market in the U.S. and she will be on display at the Palm Beach Boat Show this March 24-27. We have tested and inspected the vessel and were, quite frankly, impressed with the fit and finish. For those in the market for a boat in this class and type, she is on display in Booth IW667. More...
Bravo is a 168-ton (152.41 metric ton) 100’ (30.48 m) aluminum-hulled expedition vessel that has seen extensive improvements including a gutting and rebuild from 1997 to 2000 at a cost exceeding $10 million. It was performed by McMullen and Wing Shipyard in New Zealand. In the last 24 months, Bravo has seen a multi-million dollar interior, exterior and system refit. She holds 7,020 gallons (26,574 L)
of fuel and 1,250 gallons (4,732 L) of water. She sleeps 10 guests and three crew members. More...
Sea Ray’s SLX 400 OB’s spacious cockpit gets even more expansive when the side “swim terrace” (bulwark) is opened. Even if all the seats are taken, there’s space to work at the bar that includes a refrigerator, sink and available twin grills. Three individual forward-facing seats are on the front of the console and there’s still space for port and starboard seats around a table fully forward in the bow. More...
Absolute Yachts is celebrating its 20th anniversary by introducing the Navetta 75, the company’s new flagship. The goal with the new model is to expand the Navetta range and the company calls her the Absolute Sphere because the shape is “a symbol of perfection, wholeness and harmony.” The Navetta 75 has large salon windows, high overheads and spaces designed on a single level on the main and accommodations decks. The owner’s stateroom is in the bow with private access and an en suite. More...
Inflatable tubes seem safe because they are soft and just a “play thing.” The trouble is that there are more accidents tubing than with wakeboarding or water skiing. For one thing, while boarders and skiers can choose which direction they want to go to avoid trouble, a tuber cannot. Swinging a tube with kids on it into a fixed object or another boat is one danger. But there are others, too. More...
From fires to floods, from heat waves to bitter cold snaps, climate change is making every type of extreme weather more common. The same phenomenon holds true for rogue waves — unpredictable bursts of water that tower far above every other wave in their vicinity. More...
We think that it’s fitting that a Corgi is enjoying a Sovereign Boat Club vessel. (If only Queen Elizabeth could come along too.) The Tampa Bay area has some of the best dog beaches and dog-friendly places to visit. Bring along your furry friend and enjoy a fantastic day out on the water. Annual memberships are available in the Pursuit DC266 located in St. Petersburg, Fla. Check it out here or call 727-200-3474.
A RIB, reportedly with a group of Ukrainians, tries to block Solaris, a yacht belonging to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, from docking in Bodrum, Turkey, on March 21. Photo: Irina Demiroglu/Facebook.
Some or all of the content contained in this newsletter may be sponsored. BoatTEST makes all possible efforts to ensure all material that is published in this newsletter is true and accurate.
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