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[Newsletter Archive](/articles/newsletter-archive)# New Boston Whaler 325 | Boat Use Booming | Cruisers Yachts 38 GLS - 03/27/20
Mar 27, 2020
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BoatTEST Newsletter March 27, 2020
[](https://boattest.com/)
## New Features Video
Boston Whaler 325 Conquest:
New Design Sleeps 4
[](https://www.boattest.com/boat/boston-whaler/325-conquest-2020)
[Boston Whaler 325 Conquest](https://www.boattest.com/boat/boston-whaler/325-conquest-2020)
The new Boston Whaler 325 Conquest has a design that includes a hardtop and full height windshield that provide shelter in less-than-ideal conditions. Electric vents at the top of the windshield provide ventilation and options include a full pilothouse enclosure. Portside seats on the helm deck have convertible backrests that can face forward, aft or fold flat. She has a standard hullside door, and an open-air “summer kitchen,” as Whaler calls it, is optional. Belowdecks, she has a convertible V-berth plus a galley, a wet head and a mid-cabin double berth. An 8,000 BTU AC/heat system and a 7-KW generator are available. [More... ](https://www.boattest.com/boat/boston-whaler/325-conquest-2020)
Good News: Boat Clubs Booked,
Waterways Busy in South Florida
Docks used by the Freedom Boat Club at a location in South Florida are almost empty because the boats are on the water. We’re told that the boats are booked out for the next full week, with two shifts every day.
John’s Pass on the west coast of Florida was a busy place last weekend. Local residents tell us that traffic seemed to be about double of what is was a couple of weeks ago.
Not a great shot with an iPhone, but the boaters anchored out on a popular Florida sand bar do not seem to be rafted up and are keeping separation. We have gotten reports that in some places they are rafting up, but it looks like good separation here.
Since the advent of the COVID-19 crisis, people in the boating industry have wondered how the boating public would react to the quarantine and social distancing. The answer can be seen in the pictures above taken last weekend in Florida, which give us insight into what we can expect to see all over the country this summer. Boaters will be using their boats to get out of the house, into nature, and on the water.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) says the average number of days a boat is used a year is just 25. But this year, that number will undoubtedly spike upward, as other family activities that have crowded out time for boating become off limits. No more weekend soccer matches for the kids, the country club pool is closed, that trip to Europe has been cancelled, forget about baseball games and going to the starlight symphony. This year, more than ever, families will be spending time together, and we can’t think of any better place than on a boat.
## Test Video
NITRO® Z20:
Faster Than the Fish
[](https://www.boattest.com/review/nitro/3917_z20)
[NITRO® Z20](https://www.boattest.com/review/nitro/3917_z20)
How fast will it run? That’s often the first question customers ask when looking at a tournament class bass boat. Equipped with the optional 250-hp Mercury Pro XS 4-stroke on a 12” (30.48 cm) manual jackplate, the Z20 ran 76.6 mph in our test, which is about 4 to 5 mph faster than most in class without fine-tuning. Speed is important to high-dollar tournament anglers because being the first to the best spots means more casts. The 50-gallon (189-liter) fuel tank is good for about 148 miles at WOT, enough for a long day on a big lake. For $52,995, she comes from the factory ready to fish with a Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor, two Humminbird Helix sonar/GPS units, a Mercury 225-hp outboard and a tandem axle trailer. [More... ](https://www.boattest.com/review/nitro/3917_z20)
[Schedule a Test Drive ](https://www.nitro.com/boat-dealers.html)[Dealer Contact Request ](https://www.nitro.com/boat-dealers.html)[Pricing Request ](https://www.nitro.com/build-and-price.html)
## Captain's Report
Lumishore LUX Lighting:
Set the Mood After Sundown
[](https://www.boattest.com/lumishore-lux-lighting-collection)
[Lumishore LUX Lighting](https://www.boattest.com/lumishore-lux-lighting-collection)
Advances in LED lighting for recreational boats and yachts have progressed from underwater illumination to new multi-colored lighting above the waterline, including the LUX Lighting Collection from Lumishore. The series offers waterproof, colored lighting that strobes, sweeps, fades from one color to the next, or pulses to music. The LUX Lighting Collection includes neon flex, down, strip and courtesy lights. The company also offers Fusion Speaker Drivers to integrate lighted speakers into above deck lighting. The lighting can be controlled from existing multi-function display screens. [More... ](https://www.boattest.com/lumishore-lux-lighting-collection)
## Features Video
Cruisers Yachts 38 GLS:
Lux Cruiser w/ “Beach” Included
[](https://www.boattest.com/boat/cruisers-yachts/38-gls-2020)
[Cruisers Yachts 38 GLS](https://www.boattest.com/boat/cruisers-yachts/38-gls-2020)
Fold-out bulwarks have become more common on yachts longer than 42’ (12.8 m), expanding exterior deck space, but the Cruisers Yachts 38 GLS is one of the few we’ve seen in size and class. The hydraulic “Beach” lowers at the touch of a switch to add a lounging area on the aft starboard side. The seat back on the adjacent seat swivels to face the platform. A locking bar secures the bulwark in the “up” position when retracted, and a lockout prevents accidental deployment when the engines are running. For accommodations, she has an amidships double berth and a U-shaped dinette at the bow that converts to another double. She also has a full galley and standup head with shower. Outboard power is new for the Cantius line the triple 300-hp Mercury Verados pushed our test boat to a top speed of 51.9 mph. [More... ](https://www.boattest.com/boat/cruisers-yachts/38-gls-2020)
## Equipment Tips
Primer on Livewells for
Offshore Boats
[](https://www.boattest.com/view-news/5756_all-about-livewells-for-offshore-boats)
[Menhaden, also known as bunker or pogies, are a favorite baitfish.](https://www.boattest.com/view-news/5756_all-about-livewells-for-offshore-boats)
When it comes to onboard equipment, the livewell is an important piece. Some varieties of baitfish can cost $100 per dozen on tournament days and anglers want the best return on their investment. Here are some considerations when looking at the livewell on a potential offshore fishing boat. [More... ](https://www.boattest.com/view-news/5756_all-about-livewells-for-offshore-boats)
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Based on the feedback we've been getting about BoatTEST.com's Video Boating Course, it's clearly not only for beginners but for veteran boaters as well. Perhaps that is why the NMMA started promoting the course after just one look. It's the most complete boating course available... period. [Order your 4-disc box set...](http://smartboatingdvd.com/order_smart_boating.htm)
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All articles, Captain's Reports, video content or other material which appear on BoatTEST.com and in its newsletters are accurate and factual to the best knowledge of BoatTEST.com and its staff. All findings, beliefs, experiences or endorsements presented are the honest opinions of BoatTEST.com or its contributors. In compliance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255, BoatTEST.com advises its readers that the content which appears in its newsletter or on its website may have been produced for compensation or the prospect of future compensation. BoatTEST.com makes no claims for the veracity or motivation of reader comments, Owners' Reports and other contributions which are all clearly labeled as such.