New Sea-Doo GTI SE 170 | New Boston Whaler 325 Conquest | Cruisers Yachts 60 Fly - 02/24/20
BoatTEST Newsletter February 24, 2020
New Test Video
Sea-Doo GTI SE 170:
Wider Hull, Improved Stability &
Better Cornering
The Sea-Doo GTI SE 170 has seats for up to three riders, including a rear seat designed to allow a spotter to face aft during tow sports. Stirrups here help secure the spotter in place. The 2020 redesign has a wider hull and lower center of gravity for improved stability and better cornering. It offers two Rotax engine packages in 90- or 130-hp and two-color schemes. The GTI’s 4.5” (11.43 cm) digital display sits just forward of the fixed handlebars and is controlled by the left and right handlebar keypads. The BRP audio-premium speaker system is completely waterproof, and the console also includes a waterproof cellphone box with connections. More...
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New Captain's Report
Boston Whaler 325 Conquest:
New Hull Design, Accommodations for 4
The Boston Whaler 325 Conquest has a 10’8” (3.25 m) beam, as much as 8" (20 cm) wider than some in this genre, adding lots of usable space in the cockpit for fishing as well as entertaining. Designers make good use of all that space with features like a fold-away seat in the transom, a stowable table and a slide-out grill in the back of the leaning post, allowing the decks to be cleared when the mission is strictly fishing. There’s a hullside door on the starboard side, with a stainless-steel clip-on dive ladder that stores under the transom seat when not in use. Belowdecks, the dinette converts to a berth and there’s a galley, an amidships berth and standup head, as well. She rides on an all-new hull design, with sharp chines for quick planing and stability. She has a 20-degree deadrise aft for a good compromise of an easy ride and better fuel economy than extreme deep-vees. More...
Features Video
Cruisers Yachts 60 Fly:
Express Yacht Style, Flybridge Utility
The Cruisers Yachts 60 Fly is designed with a flying bridge that blends in with the arching flow of the house below. The topside helm is centered, with chaise lounges with adjustable backrests on both sides and another lounge just forward against the center console. The helm is under the flybridge’s hardtop, which stops short of extending entirely forward to allow for sunning, but protects all the way aft. There’s a U-shaped settee and dining table aft plus a grill, sink and refrigerator. She also has a fully-equipped helm to starboard on the main deck, and an extra joystick control station is available for the aft deck. She’s powered with standard 725-hp Volvo Penta IPS950s. Below, she has a VIP in the bow, the en suite master with a king bed amidships, and either a pullman style guest quarters between or an added settee is optional. More...
Test Video
Triton 206 Allure:
Multi-Species Boat Converts for Family Fun
The Triton 206 Allure is a premium multi-species fiberglass package, priced at $56,295 including a 250-hp Mercury Pro XS outboard with a stainless-steel prop and a Triton tandem trailer with brakes and swing-away tongue. Fishing features include a Lowrance Hook 2 sonar/GPS at the dash and a Minn Kota Terrova 80 trolling motor up front. She has large locking rod and tackle boxes, rod retainer hold-downs and an aerated and timed livewell. Add the family package ($2,287), including a snap-in carpet, ski tow bar, bow cushions and filler and front connector curtain and she’s ready to function as a dayboat for tubing, skiing, swimming and picnicking. A large standard Bimini can shade the entire cockpit when needed. The transom is also set up to mount a small auxiliary outboard to function for low-speed trolling, which favored among northern anglers who chase walleyes and salmon. More...
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Test Video
Chaparral 280 OSX:
Fast & Family-Friendly Bowrider
The Chaparral 280 OSX, powered with twin Yamaha 250 XCAs in our tests, proved very fast compared to most in class, topping out at 59.5 mph with 19” (48 cm) pitch props. The 21-degree deadrise hull had a best cruise at 3000 rpm of 28.0 mph, where she got 2.1 mpg for a projected range of 222 SM with the 120-gallon (454 L) fuel capacity. The dual console seats pivot to form a social area facing the L-shaped settee when not underway. Passageway to the bow seating is on the port side through a swing-away windshield. A filler cushion for the bow sun pad hides away under the seat ahead of the console until needed, then swings out into place. A seating area, vanity sink and slide-out head are found in the console cabin. More...
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Electronics
How to Use Touch Screens
Touch screens have arrived on boats, so here’s what you need to know.
The last few years have seen a proliferation of touch screens. They are everywhere, on our phones and tablets. Now, a few steps behind, we find them taking over our navigation displays. Touch screens look so quick, easy and logical, but they have their drawbacks. Let's take a look...
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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...
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