Hatteras GT45X Open | Robalo R180 | Sirena 88 - 07/23/21

Test Video

Hatteras GT45X Open

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Over the last 10 years or so, many owners of the huge battlewagons have been downsizing, giving up their room and cruising advantages for a capable day boat for tournament fishing. The Hatteras 45 is a good example of that trend. She is one of the most popular boats in class with our BoatTEST audience, so let’s take a look.

The Hatteras GT45X is built in four different versions, including the GT45X Open shown above. All of them can be fitted with twin Seakeeper 6 stabilizers and all have a painted hull as standard. They also all come with a pair of 835-hp CAT C12.9 diesel inboards and can be upgraded to 985-hp engines.  With the upgraded power, our test boat hit a top speed of 36.1 knots at 2280 rpm. We found best cruise at 26.2 knots and 1750 rpm, where she had a range of 330.6 nautical miles. 

For those who missed the announcement several months ago, Hatteras is now owned by White River Marine Group, a division of Bass Pro Shops. More...

Captain's Report

Ocean Alexander 45 Divergence Coupe

Mission Entertainment

For those who have no interest in serious fishing, the Ocean Alexander 45 Divergence Coupe might appeal. She has an enclosed pilothouse that provides year-round protection from the weather. On the days when pleasant weather beckons, however, she also has a cockpit with more than meets the eye. A table that lowers into the floor can be raised to two different heights and a fold-away seat pulls in from the stern. Add two more folding chairs and that’s seating for five and the chairs stow in a custom rack in the mechanical room hatch. There’s an outdoor galley beneath a protected hatch and fold-out bulwarks expand the available space into cool port and starboard balconies. More...

Test Video

Robalo R180

Entry-Level Center Console

The 18’4” (5.59 m) Robalo R180 is the company’s smallest center-console and the manufacturer came up with a mix of features to help her appeal to an angler who wants a quality coastal fishing boat and a family boater who wants to hang at the sandbar. She has a nonskid casting deck running across the stern plus a 15-gallon (56.78-liter) livewell. Fold up the outer sections of the aft deck to reveal jump seats. There’s a 72-quart (68.14-liter) cooler secured between the two-person leaning post at the helm. The bow has a casting deck, plus a seat on the front of the console. More...

Test Video

Sirena Yachts 88

LRC Tops 23 Knots When Needed

The Sirena Yachts 88 is powered by twin 1,551-hp MAN V12s and when we spooled them up to a max of 2300 rpm, we hit 23.2 knots. Because she’s designed for long-distance cruising as well, it’s tough to pinpoint a best cruise. We’ve found that most diesel engines like to run at 80% load, which put us at an average of 16 knots, where we recorded an average of about 1850 rpm. That produced a range of 461.7 nautical miles. For maximum distance, drop down to 1000 rpm, which gave us a range of 1,617.7 nm. More...

Boating Safety

Rogue Waves – Part III

Most boaters can’t fathom a wave the height of a 12-story building, but there is now plenty of evidence that proves that these giant walls of water exist. Ocean-research vessels and weather ships are fitted with devices that can measure wave height that pass the vessel. There are also buoys moored in the oceans that gather data on wave heights. Still, the most chilling information remains personal accounts of encountering monster waves and we have some. More...

Boating Advice

How to Save a Submerged Outboard Engine

This is how we like to see our outboards, clean and above the surface, but if they go under, there are steps that must be taken quickly to save them.

Once in every boat owner’s life, it’s likely to happen. A Titanic tragedy it is not; someone just forgot to replace the drain plug, and your boat lies submerged at the ramp. Fear not. A dunked outboard can happen, but you need to act fast. More...

"The soul is healed by being with children."

– Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Imagine you and your family using a premium boat at an affordable price. Annual memberships in premium boats ranging from 27’ to 33’ (8.2 m to 10 m) are now available in St. Petersburg and Bradenton, Fla. Don’t miss another summer. Check them out at SovereignBoatClub.com or call 727-200-3474.

Good Boating Idea Of The Day

There are actually two ideas here – the handhold rail and the “scare-gull.”

As baby-boom boaters age, they are not as nimble as they used to be and boats are generally not geriatric-friendly. That is why the 84-year-old owner of this boat installed the raised inboard handhold on the top of the trunk cabin of his 32' (9.75 m) powerboat. It makes it safer for him to go forward for anchoring and mooring chores, as his 82-year-old wife handles the helm. The stanchions are through-bolted, so the unit is sturdy. The second idea is putting the twirling “scare-gull” on the rail and it reportedly does the job.

If you see a good boating idea, why not take a picture of it and send it to us, so we can pass it on. The best idea of the week wins a BoatTEST signed by Capt. Steve.

Photo Of The Day

"Lake Boating in Vonore, TN."

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