Sharrow Prop | SiOnyx Aurora Night-Vision Camera | Fusion Apollo System - 01/03/20
BoatTEST Newsletter January 3, 2020
Here's a look at some of the top boats and products that appeared in our BoatTEST reviews in 2019.
These are not editor's choice, but your choice — they were the most-viewed videos and reports out of all the hundreds that we put together over the last 12 months. And if you didn't find just exactly the boat of your dreams in 2019, hang on — there is a lot more coming from BoatTEST.com in 2020!
Best wishes for the holidays from the BoatTEST.com staff.
Review Video
Sharrow Engineering Propeller:
The Next Big Thing in Powerboats?
The Sharrow Engineering MX-1 Propeller promises so much innovation in marine propulsion that BoatTEST sent a four-member test team to the Detroit River for seven days of intensive testing with company chief Greg Sharrow to check out the claims. This remarkable aluminum "loop propeller" proved not only to be faster and more fuel efficient than conventional 3-blade stainless-steel props at idle speed and mid ranges, but also at wide open throttle — an unheard of combination for any prop. The Sharrow MX-1 was 2 to 7 percent faster at WOT on the same boat with the same 150-hp Mercury FourStroke engine as well as the same fuel and passenger load. The prop put the boat on plane quicker and improved maneuverability at idle speed. Test team director Steve Larivee also reports increased smoothness and reduced noise with the Sharrow.
See the full test and numbers here...
Review Video
SiOnyx Aurora Night-Vision Camera:
Two Devices in One
SiOnyx Aurora Night-Vision Camera
The hand-held SiOnyx Aurora Night-Vision Camera can function as a color or monochrome night vision monocular as well as a night vision still or video camera. The eight-ounce device fits in the palm of your hand. It intensifies available light to give humans night vision. This makes docking in a dark marina or finding one's way through crab pots, floating debris, or around an unlit breakwater or jetty much safer. The device also functions as a video camera with zoom function and has a built-in compass, GPS, and image stabilizer. See it in use here...
Review Video
ULTRA Anchor:
Engineered for Easy Anchoring
The ULTRA Anchor includes a lot of engineering in one of the most basic pieces of boating equipment. The polished stainless-steel anchor has a hollow shaft and a lead-filled tip which, along with the design, ensures the anchor lands right side up every time and digs in quickly when strain is put on the rode. An anti-fouling bar prevents chain-wrap and also provides a location for a trip line, as well as a handle for hoisting the anchor. The company makes its own matching swivels, which allow 30-degree rotation and 360-degree swiveling, encouraging the anchor to enter the roller correctly every time. ULTRA anchors are available in weights from 11 to 800 lbs. (5 to 360 kg). More...
Review Video
SiriusXM Marine Weather:
Serious Forecasts for the Offshore Mariner
Captain Steve is a big fan of SiriusXM Marine Weather forecasts, which he says are essential for mariners who make continual runs offshore, are gone for extended periods, or take people for hire. While cell phones are okay for providing weather in port in most locations, they just don’t do the job more than six to eight miles offshore. They also may not provide the most updated information. And they don’t offer the instant access and big-screen readability that’s part of SiriusXM on a monitor at the helm. Captain Steve also notes that for serious boaters, the cost is minimal compared to the value received and compared to the other costs of offshore boating. More...
Captain's Report
Lumishore Underwater Lighting:
Lighting Up the Docks
Boat lighting, both above and below the water, has become popular since the advent of dependable and durable LED systems like those from Lumishore. These days, it’s rare to walk a busy dock after sundown without seeing some impressive displays. Lumishore offers an online "Configurator" that allows customers to see available light displays on 12 different types of boats, from bass boats to superyachts. Some of the more complex displays available include coordinated sound and changing color patterns. It's also possible to pair a smart device with the system to create an underwater light show that pulses and changes color in time with the music. More...
Review Video
Fusion Apollo Marine Entertainment System:
Premium Sound System w/Intuitive Set-Up
Fusion Apollo Marine Entertainment System
Audio entertainment systems have become an integral part of recreational boating. Premium boats are frequently equipped with premium sound equipment like the Apollo RA770 from Fusion, which is now a subsidiary of Garmin Electronics. The system can deliver playlists from smart devices via Wi-Fi rather than Bluetooth, greatly improving sound quality. It is also capable of optimizing the sound based on the location of the various speakers around the boat — more bass in the cockpit, perhaps, and less in the cabin. The Fusion Link app connects from the user’s phone to the system for quick, one-time tuning to suit the environment. More...
Basic Boating Tips
from Boston Whaler:
Operating an Anchor Windlass
Basic Boating Tips from Boston Whaler:
Operating an Anchor Windlass
Raising and lowering an anchor via a bow windlass is a simple and nearly effortless procedure when it's done right. However, improper use of the windlass can damage your boat. Here are some tips from Doug Wolf, Customer Relations Coordinator for Boston Whaler aboard a 345 Conquest, on doing it right as well as using both the controls at the helm and on a wired remote to securely anchor your boat. Tips on using the proper scope and on securing the anchor while underway are also included. 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
- Free invitations to VIP events
- 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.
LOG IN HERE...
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All articles, Captain's Reports, video content or other material which appear on BoatTEST.com and in its newsletters are accurate and factual to the best knowledge of BoatTEST.com and its staff. All findings, beliefs, experiences or endorsements presented are the honest opinions of BoatTEST.com or its contributors. In compliance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255, BoatTEST.com advises its readers that the content which appears in its newsletter or on its website may have been produced for compensation or the prospect of future compensation. BoatTEST.com makes no claims for the veracity or motivation of reader comments, Owners' Reports and other contributions which are all clearly labeled as such.