New Tige R23 | Sharrow Propeller | Regal 38 XO - 03/12/20
BoatTEST Newsletter March 12, 2020
New Editor's Report
Tigé R23:
Highly Versatile Wake & Ski Boat
Has New GO System
The 2020 Tigé R23 has trim and wake controls that make it among the most versatile wake boats ever. It can expertly change from the smooth wake preferred by slalom skiers to waves ideal for surfing or boarding in just seconds. Its new GO system is one of the most sophisticated yet simple wave control systems we’ve seen. More...
Review Video
Sharrow Engineering Propeller:
Revolutionary Prop Wins NMMA Award
The Sharrow Propeller™, which we have extensively reported on since last fall, won the NMMA’s (National Marine Manufacturers Association) prized Innovation Award last month at the Miami International Boat Show. When we compared the aluminum Sharrow Propeller™ to two conventional stainless-steel 3-blade props on the same boat with the same outboard, we found the Sharrow was faster at every RPM level and also produced better fuel economy. It also planed the boat at far lower rpm. And, our team reported better cornering, less vibration and a more controllable reverse. The aluminum prop tested by BoatTEST last year was CNC machined out of a solid billet of aluminum by a 5-axis router. At the Miami show, Sharrow had several stainless-steel loop props on display that were also milled out of a solid stainless-steel billet. They weighed 5,000 lbs. (2,273 kgs.) and cost $5,000, according the CEO and inventor Greg Sharrow. Now, customers have the option of either aluminum or stainless-steel props. See the results of this thorough test here...
Test Video
Regal 38 XO:
Coastal Cruiser w/Triple 300-hp Yamahas
With a 24” (60.96 cm) draft when the triple 300 Yamahas are tilted up, the Regal 38 XO makes it possible for the family to visit a secluded beach for a swim and a bit of shelling or building sand castles. She can get the crew back to the docks fast when necessary, with a top speed of 49.2 mph in our tests. For those who might like to go even faster, triple 350 Yamahas are available. Most economical cruise came in at 4000 rpm and 31.2 mph, at which the engines burned 36.7 gph and got 0.9 mpg. Range with the 350-gallon (1,325 L) fuel capacity is about 268 miles, allowing a 10 percent reserve. The Helm Master joystick option, though pricey, makes docking a non-issue; or, the far less-costly Sea Star Optimist 360 joystick is an option. The master bed is at the bow just a step away from the head, which includes a separate shower. The VIP amidships includes a king-sized berth that slides apart to form twins. More...
Test Video
Sailfish 241 CC:
Sea-Kindly Bayboat & Offshore Fishing Machine
The Sailfish 241 CC rides on the company’s Variable Deadrise Stepped (VDS) hull, which has 22 degrees of deadrise where it meets the chines but steps up to 24 degrees at the keel. She’s suitable both as a sea-kindly bayboat and a competent offshore fishing platform. She offers multi-tone upholstery both bow and stern and a portable table to keep mom and the kids happy, with swing-out chaise-type backrests at the bow. The hard top with rocket launchers is part of the offshore tournament package, and a head can be added inside the console. We tested her with a single 250-hp Yamaha, recording a best cruise at 29.9 mph, where she got 2.6 mpg giving her a safe range of over 300 miles between fill-ups. More...
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Captain's Report
Ocean Alexander 84R:
Advanced Engineering,
Evan K. Marshall Design
The bold design and features of the Ocean Alexander 84R are the result of a collaboration between designer Evan K. Marshall and the Livorno, Italy-based Arrabito Naval Architects. The striking salon includes a custom-designed sofa with concealed drawers for smart use of space, a custom coffee table and a stone countertop dividing the salon from the galley. A/C vents are hidden away in the overheads, allowing massive windows that are among the largest in class. The stone countertops extend throughout the galley as well, and stone is also used in the decking here. There’s seating for eight in the formal dining area. The Skylounge model is available with a second luxurious salon with an outstanding view forward on the main deck, replacing the lower helm. More...
Test Video
Sealegs 7.1m Sports Rib:
Amphibious RIB w/Evinrude E-TEC G2 150
The Sealegs 7.1 Sports Rib is an unusual amphibious RIB, and powered with an Evinrude E-TEC G2 150, she had a top speed of 44.2 mph. A 22-hp air-cooled internal engine provides power to the drive wheels to allow her to roll right up out of the water onto any relatively flat, sandy beach. The system has both forward and reverse, making parking easy. The steering wheel controls both the outboard and the front wheel of the hydraulic drive system. She rides on a durable aluminum hull, more suitable for operation from a rocky beach than fiberglass. She “crouches” for easy boarding thanks to the hydraulics raising and lowering the wheels, and she has seating for eight. More...
5,000-Mile Cruise
Over Australia's Outback
A Riviera 50 Enclosed Flybridge in a Kimberely Canyon.
One of the most spectacular cruising grounds in the world stretches from Australia’s Great Barrier Reef across the northern coast to the province of Kimberley on the northwest coast. Few boaters are ever lucky enough to see it. There, the shore line is as rugged as anywhere in the world, with high canyon walls, emerald-clear water, uninhabited islands, pristine beaches, rivers full of feisty Barramundi, to say nothing of huge saltwater crocs. Most of the coastline is uninhabited, except for a few aboriginal people, who are descendants of the continent’s first settlers some 60,000 years ago. Petroglyphs and painted ochre drawings dating back 12,000 years can still be found here and there on the north coast. There are an endless number of gunkholes and bays to explore, and one need not worry about a crowded anchorage. More...
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