New Fleming 65 | Greenline 45 Fly | Aquila 32 - 02/21/20
BoatTEST Newsletter February 21, 2020
New Captain's Report
Fleming 65:
Dream Trawler for World Cruising
From keel to masthead, the Fleming 65 is the real thing – and what thousands of cruising folks aspire to. She carries the iconic lines that have made a pilothouse trawler with a Portuguese bridge the envy of anyone who dreams of a far horizon. Unfortunately, only a handful can be built each year, so don’t expect to see many on the waterways. While the 65 is just 10’ (3.04 m) longer than the Fleming 55, she has around 70% more displacement. Her 18’8” (5.7 m) beam gives her lots of living area, wide side decks, and the heft that it takes to handle challenging sea conditions. Therein lies the important difference between the Fleming 65 and the 55. To starboard on the bridge deck is a day head that can be ordered as a "wet-head," and an insert for the settee creates a convenient watch berth. This arrangement allows the pilothouse to be used as an extra cabin when necessary. Either one or two Stidd helm chairs can be installed. Water-tight sliding doors on either side give the operator a good view for docking. Note the large destroyer-type wheel and the electronics controls on the armrest of the captain’s chair. More...
Test Video
Greenline 45 Fly:
Italian Flair in an Eco-Friendly Cruiser
Greenline is best-known for producing hybrid diesel-electric yachts that offer clean, silent electric propulsion at low displacement speeds, plus twin-diesel horsepower for extended travel or to get to harbor fast when necessary. Large solar-electric collection panels allow operation of the house systems without running a generator. But the Greenline 45 Fly also has many impressive interior features via Marco Casali, an Italian designer known for projects in the superyacht sector. The amidships master, well-lighted by large hullside windows, includes a full king-size berth. The mirrored headboard adds to the feeling of space, while Alpi veneer, in a choice of wood finishes, provides handsome but durable finishes on the furnishings and doors. Standard configuration includes a VIP at the bow and a walk-in closet for the master, but she can be ordered with this space as a guest room for two. More...
Test Video
Tiara Sport 38 LS:
54.6 MPH w/Twin Seven Marine 527s
The Tiara Sport 38 LS is an asymmetrical enclosed center console with a double berth and head in the console. She is designed as a lux-class dayboat rather than for fishing. The model we tested was powered with twin Seven Marine 527-hp outboards. The big engines, built on marinized GM 6.2-liter V8 blocks, are supercharged and fuel-injected, and the DuoProp lower units are from parent company Volvo Penta. The G6 propsets put the 22,086-lb. (10,018 kg) package on plane in 5 seconds and pushed her to a top speed of 54.6 mph in our tests. The outboards include ZF electronic transmissions designed to handle the power of large diesels, and the wet clutch system provides quiet shifting. Volvo Penta’s joystick system is standard equipment with these engines and can be used to drive the boat at speed. See the full test here...
Test Video
Aquila 32:
Ready for Dayboating — or a Long Weekend
How do you provide a clean, wide-open swim platform on an outboard boat where the engines and rigging are usually in the way? The Aquila 32 provides an inventive answer, placing the platform behind the engines with a pass-through between. A hydraulic option turns this feature into a teak beach with the boarding ladder in the center. She has all the usual power-cat advantages forward, including a broad 12’8” (3.9 m) beam that provides far more lounging and living space than what's found on monohulls of similar LOA. Though she’s primarily a dayboat, she’d also be suitable for a couple to weekend — there’s a double bunk in the port hull plus a head and shower in the starboard hull. During our tests, we recorded a top speed of 39.4 mph with twin Mercury Verado 250s. More...
Test Video
Dusky 278 Open Fisherman:
Fuel-Efficient Evinrude 3-Cylinder Power
The Dusky 278 Open Fisherman, like all in the factory-direct Dusky line, mounts the outboards on the “Dusky Drive” transom bracket for improved performance, reduced noise levels aboard and more freeboard aft. We tested her with twin Evinrude 150 E-TEC G2 outboards turning 15 3/8 X 18 three-bladed Rebel props, which pushed her to a top speed of 45.4 mph. The fuel-efficient 3-cylinder DFI engines produced a best cruise at 3500 rpm and 26.1 mph. The 10.2-gph fuel burn at that speed translated into 2.6 mpg and a range of 230 miles, while keeping 10% fuel in reserve of the 100-gallon (379 L) total fuel capacity. The oil supply is integral to the engine and incorporates an easy-fill oil funnel, eliminating a messy external tank and hose. An available in-dash oil-level gauge system eliminates the need to remove the cowling and check oil level before every use. More...
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Boating Tips
Understanding Traffic
Separation Schemes
Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS) have been around for a long time now, and we have gotten used to seeing the purple lines on the chart indicating where they are, their limits and their no-go areas. But should vessels of a smaller size still adhere to these routes? More...
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