SiriusXM Fish Mapping | Palm Beach 70 | Sea Ray 370 OB - 06/09/21

New Product

SiriusXM's Remarkable Fish Mapping

SiriusXM Fish Mapping gives users real-time information for fishing and weather conditions.

Serious offshore anglers rely on SiriusXM to take much of the guesswork out of fishing. The service recommends areas most likely to be active and gives data on weed-line locations, sea-surface temperatures, plankton-front strength, 30-meter subsurface temperatures and more. The service, which is available on Garmin, Simrad and Furuno products, also includes all of the SiriusXM Marine Offshore Weather features. More...

Test Video

Palm Beach 70

Designed and Built by a Perfectionist

When it comes to yacht building, the product mirrors the person at the top of the organization. If he/she is focused on the company’s bottom line, that will be apparent in the build. If the CEO is more concerned with the façade and not the bones, that will be obvious in the build. Those brands may last a while, but eventually, they’re found out. We have lost count of how many brands have bitten the dust because bean-counters were running the show or the person at the top had the emphasis on the wrong syl-la-ble.

Going out of business is an occupational hazard in yacht building.

That brings us to Grand Banks/Palm Beach CEO Mark Richards. He is a veteran yachtsman, a perfectionist and he commands this company from the board room to the shop floor. That’s why in the first 9 months of this public company’s fiscal year ending in May 2021, net profit was up 42% and its order book had reached a 12-year high. When people are paying millions of dollars for a yacht, there is no substitute for quality. And making a profit means the company will stay in business. It’s virtually the only combination that works in the yacht-building business.

All of that brings us to the Palm Beach 70. Take a look and you’ll see what we mean. More...

Captain's Report

Grady-White Freedom 335

A Husky Vessel w/11'7" (3.53 m) Beam

A fiberglass hardtop is standard on the Grady-White Freedom 335. Not only does it provide shade and protection from the elements, but the overhead storage also ensures that items like PFDs, towels and other soft gear don’t clutter up the cockpit. It also supports a SureShade awning that can be extended to provide the same protection for the cockpit. Want even more comfort and shade? Consider an optional awning over the bow! Convertible seating enhances the boat’s utility and comfort, and she rides on the SeaV2® hull. More...

VBS Promo

Sea Ray Sundancer 370 OB

Attractive Dayboat w/Modern Controls

Sea Ray knows that the modern-boat owner/operator wants total control of the Sundancer 370 OB. The triple Mercury outboards on our test boat had autopilot, Skyhook position keeping, a joystick, sport exhaust and Active Trim. The VesselView mobile app provides peace of mind so the owner can keep an eye on the boat from a distance. With triple 300-hp Mercury Verados, she tops 50 mph.

More...

See the New Solace 41 CS

(Pssst – She’s Available for Sale)

A Solace 41 CS is available after the Steelpointe Yacht & Charter Show.

This newest offering from Solace has a cabin with shower and napping berths, a Seakeeper stabilizer, helm shock seats (we recommend them) 16,000 BTUs of AC at the helm, triple Yamaha 425s and lots more. She will be on display at the Steelpointe Yacht & Boat Show in Bridgeport, CT June 17-20, 2021. To learn more right now, click here...

Used Boat Buying Advice

Is it Possible to Find a

Good Used Boat This Year?

Rarely has there been a time when both new and good used boats were in such short supply. Should consumers give up and just wait for the next recession before buying? One broker gives his opinion. More...

Pre-Owned Yacht

2019 Fillippetti Sport 55 Yacht

45 Knots w/Arneson Drives

The 2019 Filippetti Sport 55 Yacht is aptly named. She’s an express yacht powered by twin 1200-hp MAN V8 diesels paired with Arneson Surface Drives that tops out at 45 knots. She has a garage with space for a tender or water toys and the aft deck has a wetbar with a sink and grill. The aft deck links seamlessly to the salon via a large sliding door. Belowdecks, she sleeps 6. More...

Outboard Buyers' Guide

Cox 300: The Diesel Advantage

Proponents of diesel outboards love to talk about torque—and with good reason. The Cox 300 is rated at 300 hp, but it also puts out 479 ft. lbs. of torque. By comparison, the 425-hp Yamaha XTO Offshore produces 403 ft. lbs. Click here to see all the specs...

Boating Safety

Kayak Caveat

125 Deaths and Counting

In the last year for which the USCG has issued statistics, there were 125 deaths of kayakers. Kayaks were the second-highest vessel type involved with tragic deaths. Of the 125 deaths, 107 were by drowning, which means most could have been avoided had the unfortunate people involved only been wearing a PFD. The remaining 18 casualties were because of trauma or hypothermia.

BoatTEST monitors kayak accidents and we are sad to report that there are one or two deaths each week and virtually all were not wearing life vests. Powerboaters must pay particular attention to and be mindful of kayakers because: 1) They are hard to see, often only a speck on the horizon, or they blend in with the background, and; 2) a powerboat wake can easily capsize them. Remember, a boater is responsible for damage done by his wake.

Today, we offer a gripping video that investigates a kayak accident.

"Travel Slowly and Carry a Big Joystick."

 – Sovereign Boat Club Motto

Each SBC boat has a joystick. It is one of the many important details that separate our premium boats from the mass-market boat clubs. Affordable annual memberships in five premium boats ranging from 27’ to 35’ (8.2 m to 10.6 m) are now available in St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, Fla. Check them out at SovereignBoatClub.com or call 727-200-3474.

41 PWCs on Display

On display at BoatTEST's Spring Virtual Boat Show are 41 PWCs. Browse the selection by clicking below.

Photo Of The Day

"Bailey out for a ride with Mom."

Share your boating photos with us!