New Boston Whaler 405 Conquest | Sirena 88 | Axopar 28 Cabin - 01/31/20
BoatTEST Newsletter January 31, 2020
New Test Video
Boston Whaler 405 Conquest:
New Whaler Pushes the Brand’s Envelope
The Boston Whaler 405 Conquest is a game-changer for the builder, in our opinion. She proves what we have been seeing for the last five years or so. Namely, Boston Whaler can move into virtually any type of boat it wishes and have success right out of the box. There seems to be two reasons for this phenomenon: 1) the thought, market study, and hours of design and engineering put into a new boat and 2) The Boston Whaler name itself, which has been re-defined over the last couple of decades to one of excellence. She offers accommodations for six and all the amenities needed for a cruising and fishing vacation that might last a week or more. Her enclosed pilothouse design, standard A/C and 12 kW generator along with options like the “summer kitchen” spanning the transom welcome family and friends as well as hardcore fishing buddies. An optional port-side joystick, out of sight in a flip-up compartment until needed, provides eyes-on docking on either side. We tested her with the maximum quad 400-hp Mercury Verados, which pushed her to a top speed of 52.0 mph. At 4500 rpm and 32.8 mph, she got 0.6 mpg for a range of about 336 SM on her 600-gallon (2,271 L) fuel capacity. At 600 rpm and 3.6 mph, typical live bait trolling speed, her range more than doubles to 778 SM, and the sound level is only 64 dBa at the helm. Like all Whalers, she floats level if swamped. More...
America’s Boating Club:
Boating Education, Service & Special Deals
America’s Boating Club: Boating Education, Service & Special Deals
America’s Boating Club offers a wide range of boating courses and seminars for all levels, including boat handling, navigation, boating rules and regulations, marine electronics and boat maintenance. Lessons are available in the classroom, online, and on the water. The club also gives back impressively, with members teaching individuals and classes, providing free Vessel Safety Checks, crowd-sourcing navigation updates, waterway cleanups and more. And, members get special deals on products and services including towing, boat insurance, repairs, hardware and rental cars among others. The club is also a great place to meet like-minded boaters in your community. There is nothing like boating to bring people together. We heartily endorse the American’s Boating Club program. More...
Features Video
Sirena Yachts 88:
Highly-Customizable Yacht w/5 En Suites
Sirena Yachts 88 – this owner wanted an infinity pool on the bow.
Among the long list of customizable features available on the Sirena Yachts 88 are both a jet-tub on the flying bridge and an infinity pool on the forward recreation venue. A wide assortment of layouts and features are available on the salon level, including even a gas fireplace. An open American-style galley is an option as well as a closed version targeting European customers. The main deck master includes floor to ceiling windows on each side, with electric blinds to provide privacy. Below she has four en suites, including two designed as VIPs. The beach club aft can be fitted out as a dinghy garage or a lazarette. Throughout, all decks are “floated” to reduce noise and vibration. Generators and engines are mounted in sound-absorbing mounts. Her seagoing characteristics have been given high marks by delivery crews. Her profile takes some getting used to, but once inside, most observers fall in love with the remarkable things that can be done by an imaginative naval architect and all of that room. This look is definitely trending in Europe. More...
Test Video
Axopar 28 Cabin:
Euro-Style Meets Finnish Utility
Axopar boats seem to have captured the imagination of many people around the world. Essentially, they are back-ordered nearly everywhere. The brand is now the largest selling of any Scandinavian builder, and there is much more to come, say her owners. The Axopar 28 Cabin is ideal for exploring along the coast into small, out-of-the-way places. But she can also be enjoyable for family outings, with comfortable seating and necessities for overnighting. She has offshore capability for runs in open water with surprising performance, as our tests proved. Why brave wind and rain, when the protection of the pilothouse is so much more comfortable? The cabin version ensures that all aboard can stay dry – and cozy. The double-stepped hull is fast with twin Mercury V8 200s, with a top speed of better than 55 mph in our tests. More...
Test Video
Regal 26 OBX:
OB-Powered Bowrider Ready for Excursions
The Regal 26 OBX is an unusual design, as a deckboat with a stepped hull and a luxury package inside. She has a 12-person maximum capacity and can be used for entertaining, cruising, or watersports. With her higher freeboard, she is large enough to use in both large lakes and for coastal cruising, separating her from the competition. Our test boat was powered by a Yamaha 4.2 L V6 F300XCA outboard and top speed was at 50.5 mph. Her best cruise was at 3500 rpm, where she went 24.7 mph and burned 8.8 gph, getting 2.8 statute mpg. More...
Schedule A Test Drive Dealer Contact Request Pricing Request
Test Video
SUN TRACKER PARTY BARGE 20 DLX:
Feature-Rich Pontoon w/Entry-Level Pricing
Sun Tracker Party Barge 20 DLX
We are amazed at the people who spend a small fortune for a ponoon boat, when Sun Tracker offers nearly all of the amenities, the same performance, and a very good warranty, all for much less money. The Party Barge 20 DLX is a case in point. She offers entry-level pricing, but is loaded with features even though she’s only 22' ( 6.68 m). Her upholstery has pillow-top, multi-density foam furniture finished with UV resistant, marine-grade 26-ounce vinyl. The 2020 model has woven 16-oz. (.45 kg) marine-grade decking throughout and a color-keyed 9' (2.74 m) Bimini top with the Quicklift deployment system, LED lights and storage pockets. She has seats for 10, but is right-sized to be towed and launched by two. She’s priced at $19,995 with standard Mercury 40 ELPT FourStroke Command Thrust outboard, or add the tandem trailer shown here for an additional $3,375. With a package weight of just 3,742 lbs. (1,697 kg), she’s easily towed by mid-size and larger vehicles. More...
Schedule A Test Drive Dealer Contact Request Pricing Request
Boating Tips
To Deep-V or Not to Deep-V?
Deep-V hulls have 20 degrees of transom deadrise on up.
You’ve probably read “Its deep-V hull has a smooth, dry ride” before. The problem is that virtually every boat out there other than jon boats are marketed and sold as deep-Vs. Even when they certainly are not. More...
New Login Procedures.
New BoatTEST Website: New Login Required
Home page for the new BoatTEST website.
Most regular BoatTEST Members know that we have a new website with larger pictures, new functionality and easier to read Captain’s Reports. We are now requiring a password to access many of the important features of the site, such as —
- Pricing Information
- Archived videos and tests
- Boat-to-boat comparisons
- BoatTEST’s Seamanship Library
- New Boat Maintenance Log (coming soon)
- Ask a Question Feature
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- Free tickets to select boat shows
To log into our new website, simply click on the login button that appears in the upper righthand corner of every page. This will also keep your information secure.
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