When offshore anglers first approached Fountain Powerboats founder Reggie Fountain II about building center consoles like the 38LS, it wasn’t because they wanted the fastest boat. They were more interested in the efficiency they were hearing about with his offshore performance boats and their twin-stepped Positive Lift bottom design. Our test boat topped out at 75.7 mph with triple 400-hp Mercury Verado outboards. Equally impressive, she got 1.3 mpg at 4000 and 4500 rpm, giving her a range of 503 miles at the latter and 492 at the former. More...
We tested Triton’s 18 TrX with a 200-hp Mercury Pro XS — an upgrade from the stock 150 — and she hit a top speed of 69.5 mph. The boat leapt on plane in a quick 1.6 seconds. Her beam is 7’10” (2.38 m), which is noteworthy because it’s only an inch (2.54 cm) narrower than the company’s larger models. It creates good-sized bow and stern casting decks with lots of storage below. More...
The Sea Ray SLX 350 has what the company calls Quiet Ride Technology. That sounds like typical boating marketing hype. It isn’t. When Sea Ray first introduced this new construction method, we tested it before and afterward and verified a 10-decibel reduction, which is equivalent to a 50% drop in perceived noise. This report on the SLX 350 explains how Sea Ray did it. More...
The Pershing 9X (92’/28.04 m) is an express yacht designed to draw attention. Her exterior was designed by Ital Projects’ Fulvio de Simoni and has a fiberglass hull and superstructure. She’s powered by twin 2,638-hp MTU engines that push her to a top speed of more than 40 knots and a cruising speed of 36. The engines have three years of extended warranty on them. She has twin Seakeeper 9 gyroscopic stabilizers and comes with a Williams 395 Sport Jet Tender in her garage. Below, she has four cabins and there are a total of seven heads on board. More...
Solar panels can come in handy when a boater is camping in a remote location. No, that is not an optical illusion — the mother RIBs are carrying tender RIBs.
Rigid hull inflatable boats (RIBs) have grown to as long as 50’ (15.24 m). Not surprisingly, their standard-equipment lists have grown accordingly. Many have refrigerators, freezers, heaters, microwaves, and more and now require more electricity than the onboard batteries can usually provide. This is where solar panels can play a role. More...
This hose is owned by a boater who is either close with a dollar and is waiting for a sale on raw water hoses or never takes the time to look under his deck.
Does your boat have hardening of the arteries, or how about an aortic aneurysm? In some cases, a clogged artery can cause a fire. In others, a burst (or disconnected) hose can sink a boat in minutes. Old rubber hoses can harden when exposed exposure to heat, petroleum and water over time. Then they crack or fail. More...
Trim tabs can help in a variety of situations from improving planing times to leveling loads.
There are many situations where trim tabs can help a boat. For example, as she slows from maximum speed, she begins to settle at the stern or “squat,” creating an inefficient, untrimmed condition. But that's just the beginning. More...
Boating accidents were up 35% last year and now we know why. Info-Link, a market intelligence firm serving the recreational boating industry, reported that 420,000 first-time boat buyers of new and pre-owned boats entered the market in 2021. Go boating this summer and follow Navigation Rule #5 — maintain a proper lookout. More...
The Sovereign Boat Club costs about the same each year as a membership in a good yacht club. But there is one difference — a boat comes with the membership. You don’t have to worry about maintenance, hurricanes or cleaning the bottom. You also don’t have to worry about getting the boat when you want it because SBC has limited memberships in each boat. Shouldn't you find out more?
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"Children are never too young to learn how to waterski and the next thing you know, they'll be wake surfing like the big kids."
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