The new Pursuit S358 Sport has a broad 11’4” (3.45 m) beam that provides space for twin 425-hp Yamaha XTO V8 outboards on the transom and allows the swim platforms to extend to either side of the engine for easier boarding. Her split mezzanine seat folds out of the way to access the entertainment center amenities. Below she has a fully enclosed wet head in addition to sleeping accommodations for two and lots more. See Capt. Steve’s first look at her during the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show here...  

Aquila named its new 30’9” (9.38 m) long catamaran Molokai after the famous Hawaiian island passage known as the Molokai Channel. She’s a center console, which is a first for Aquila. The manufacturer went that route because customers loyal to the brand wanted that style of boat. Fishing features include a livewell and lots of tackle storage. For the family, there are flip-out seats in the stern, plus lounges and a table in the bow. The console opens forward and has the largest head we’ve seen in this style of boat. More...  

Riviera’s 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition is the flagship of the series that the Australian builder launched a few years ago. The lines of this yacht are at once modern and conservative, head-turning, but not garish, sleek without being Euro. The platinum roof and hullsides telegraph purpose and taste. We think she will always be in style, sort of like a man’s pinstripe business suit. Inside, Riviera has cranked up the level of luxury to a level even greater than before, which was not easy. She comes in both a four-cabin/three-head layout or the “Presidential” version with three cabins and three heads. She is powered by twin 725-hp Volvo Penta IPS diesels. Capt. Steve says that this 66,000-lb. (30,00 kg) boat is one of the most agile he has experienced in class with an IPS. And she goes fast, as well. More...  

Vision Marine Technologies is the first electric outboard motor company to ask BoatTEST to take a close look at its system. That takes courage in a nascent technology where other outboard makers are long on hype, but short on details and are not quite ready for prime time.

For the last three months, BoatTEST’s captains and editors have been interviewing top management and engineers at Vision Marine to find out how its new electric outboard system will work and to determine what kind of experience consumers can expect with its new system.

Currently, two boat builders – that we know of – are fitting Vision Marine’s electric outboards in prototype boats for preliminary trials. We speculate that as early as this summer, conventional boats from some well-known brands will have electrically powered outboard boats ready for consumers. Following is our video report on what to expect from Vision Marine. More...  

The Cruisers Yachts 34 GLS is an open-style cruiser with a mid-cabin. Outboards or sterndrives are available and her interior is optimized for cruising and overnighting. Major features include a single-level main deck, twin L-shaped cockpit seats with convertible backrests and wraparound bow seating. Belowdecks, there’s sleeping for three in the private cabin and on the convertible dinette. More...  

Boaters can’t wait for help if there's a small hull breach, chafed hose, broken through-hull fitting or a split pipe. Building your own damage control kit can be the difference between the boat sinking or getting back to shore safely. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers practical advice for saving the day. In Part 1, we’ll look at how to handle hull breaches. More...  

Sea trials are an opportunity to identify problems and defects in running and steering gear, as well stabilizers and overall vessel seakeeping. Many of these issues will be obvious. For instance, if a vessel produces smoke under a heavy load, if there is too much resistance in steering or an indication of air in the hydraulic fluid, all should be identifiable in a sea trial. Some defects, however, are less obvious. More...  

Waves can be the most beautiful and the most fearsome aspect of the sea. Whether you float above them or dive beneath them, you had better understand them and most certainly respect them. This report is about that. More...  

The first yachting community to discover the advantages of RIBs (rigid-hull inflatable boats) 50 years ago were the British, followed closely by the French. Twenty years later Americans woke up to the remarkable functionality and safety of RIBs and finally discarded their legacy rigid dinghies. Now, the Greeks have firmly embraced RIB technology and are exploring the boundaries of large, fast, luxurious RIBs.

Ribco Marine is a Greek company that is dedicated to making high-quality and innovative designs with luxurious features. Now more than 20 years old, Ribco Marine is a highly-respected brand in the Med and has built more than 500 of these large, multi-purpose RIBs. Thanks to BoatTEST’s partner in Greece – e-Ribbing.com – we can bring you an in-depth report on Ribco Marine’s Venom 44, a rigid-hulled inflatable that can do most anything. More...  

There’s a reason why used boat sales outpace new purchases 10:1 — they can represent a heck of a good value, particularly when factoring in depreciation and owner outfitting — or they can be a nightmare. The trick is finding the most boat for the money with the least amount of previous owner headaches. Here’s a look at three important issues that can turn that potential dream boat into the proverbial hole in the water. More...  

Regal calls it the Sports Activity Vessel™. This luxurious day boat does it all and has overnighting capabilities, so it’s no wonder the Regal 33 SAV sold out of memberships at our St. Petersburg, FL, location in six weeks. Now SBC has a second 33 SAV available for members in St. Pete/Tierra Verde, FL, a tiny residential island with immediate access to the Gulf of Mexico. Don’t miss another opportunity to get access to a boat valued at more than $400k through an affordable annual or seasonal membership with the Sovereign Boat Club. More...