Palm Beach 55 | How to Use the Throttle | Cruisers 338 BR - 08/05/21

Fastnet Race Starts on Sunday

With a New Course

The Fastnet Ocean Race is the most prestigious of the “triple crown” of offshore sailboat racing events that include the Sydney-Hobart and the Bermuda races. This year, for the first time in its 96-year history, the race's finish line will not be at its traditional Plymouth, England sea buoy. Instead, it will be in Cherbourg, France, making the race 695 nautical miles. The race made headlines around the world and shook the sailboat racing community to its core in 1979 when 19 people died in the race in the confused conditions of the Irish Sea on the homeward leg from Fastnet Rock (above).  Ted Turner won that race in Tenacious. In 2007, 207 boats out of a fleet of 271 withdrew due to gale-force winds and extreme sea conditions. This year, more than 450 boats will compete in the biggest Fastnet Race fleet ever. Find out more...

Test Video

Palm Beach 55

Details Make All the Difference

The Palm Beach 55 is a study in nuance. Examine the image above and you’ll see the classic, boxy, squared-off look that so many people associate with Downeast yachts. Those lines made the boats easier to build, but on the Palm Beach 55, they have been ever so carefully rounded off and smoothed into shapes that signal elegance. Her mid-engine location contributes to performance and handling without requiring counterweights. She’s so well balanced, she doesn’t need a stabilizer. Her deadrise is 8 degrees at the transom compared to 16 or more for most boats in class. This translates into improved efficiency, fuel economy, and stability. Finally, when compared to other boats in class, the Palm Beach 55 is lighter because of her vacuum-infused laminates reinforced with carbon-fiber. More...

Editor's Report

Dufour Yachts 470

Plan Choices Abound

Dufour Yachts offers the 48’9” (14.85 m) sailboat in three deck plans and four choices for accommodations. Regardless of the selection belowdecks, the salon is centrally positioned. It has a horseshoe-shaped lounge that wraps around a table and a movable two-person bench with a backrest can be pulled in to increase seating capacity come dinner time. More...

Review Video

Talos Lightning-Strike Detector

Peace of Mind Available in Three Models

Talos offers its Lightning Strike Detector SFD-1000 in three versions. The base unit for permanent installation in a single location on a boat retails for $139. The SFD 1000 RS looks like a rocker switch and fits into a spot for one in a switch panel. It flashes the corresponding color when a lightning strike is detected. The SFD-1000 R is a round puck-like indicator that mounts in a fixed spot. More...

Test Video

Cruisers Yachts 338 Bowrider

50-MPH, Seats 16, Sleeps 2

Cruisers Yachts 338 Bowrider is a 32’11” (9.98 m) day boat with a 10’6” (3.2 m) beam. Powered by a pair of Volvo Penta V-8 320 with DuoProps, our test boat hit a top speed of 50.3 mph at 5300 rpm. We recorded best cruise at 3500 where she ran 29.8 mph and had a range of 212 miles. She has deep seating in the cockpit and bow so even when the wind picks up, passengers should feel comfortable and secure. If a buyer prefers, she can be built with outboard power. More...

Test Video

Alumacraft Competitor FSX 185

The Extra-Tall Windshield is Welcome

For 2021, Alumacraft updated the bucket seats on its Competitor FSX 185, adding more wraparound support in the backrest and firmer padding in the bottom cushion to help keep a passenger in place. Four bucket seats can be installed in the cockpit and there are two more jump seats in the stern quarters. That means six people can be protected by the tall windshield. More...

Boat Handling

What You Need to Know About Throttles

When it comes to the finer points of driving any boat, especially a performance model, the throttle is vital to being in control. Yes, it regulates speed, but it can also control the boat’s trim and attitude. Learn the finer points of throttling a boat for optimum efficiency. More...

Is Florida Cruising or Fishing in Your Future?

There’s nothing quite like swimming off a boat in the crystal-clear waters in Florida – or, fishing 50 miles offshore and hauling in big grouper. SBC can put those experiences in your life at an affordable price for a premium boat.  Annual memberships in boats ranging from 27’ to 33’ (8.2 m to 10 m) are now available in St. Petersburg and Bradenton, Fla. Check them out at SovereignBoatClub.com or call 727-200-3474.

Photo Of The Day

"Dad is enjoying a ride on his son's new Fisher pontoon on Lake Conroe, TX." 

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