Why Boats Are So Expensive | Astondoa 66 Flybridge | Formula 350 BR OB - 09/16/20
BoatTEST Newsletter September 16, 2020
Editor's Report
Astondoa 66 Flybridge:
Semi-Custom Yacht w/Panache
The Astondoa 66 Flybridge’s salon and cockpit connect easily.
Astondoa Yachts is a Spanish boat builder that has been in busines since 1916. It builds boats in several facilities in fiberglass and steel that range from 44’ (14.43 m) to 197’ (60 m). On its fiberglass 66 Flybridge, Astondoa Yachts offers a choice of an aft or forward galley, all on the same level as the salon, with a lower helm station. Long tall windows along the sides provide expansive views from both decks. The basic design has four staterooms and three heads, and crew quarters aft. The builder will happily customize the boat within its fiberglass skin to meet the needs of an owner. More...
Test Video
Formula 350 Crossover Bowrider:
Re-Engineered for Outboards
The Formula 350 Crossover Bowrider’s swim platform is clean and uncluttered.
Formula’s 350 Crossover Bowrider was one of the models that ushered in the trend of big outboards replacing stern drives in this style of boat. The three Mercury Verados were installed on Armstrong brackets nestled under the swim platform. The choice of the brackets was a smart one because Formula didn’t have to drastically alter its existing tooling and they allow for the engines to be trimmed all the way out of the water, something that can’t be done with a sterndrive. Additionally, all the rigging hoses, cables and wire harnesses were run through three large openings in the transom beneath the swim platform. The 9’-wide (.23 m) swim platform measures 2’6” (0.76 m) fore to aft, so it provides the same basic real estate that would come with the sterndrive version. More...
Test Video
Grady-White Freedom 275:
A “Goldilocks” Dual Console
Grady-White’s 275 is a dual-console designed to serve an active family’s myriad of needs for fun on the water. At 26’ 11” (8.20 m), she’s not too big and not too small, but just right for most family needs. She’s large enough to take offshore with confidence, but small enough to save money on operating costs. The aft cockpit has all of the fishing amenities needed to keep anglers happy, but the DC models offer the comfort and amenities that families want when it’s time to cruise or hang out at the sandbar. More...
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Test Video
Yamaha FX HO:
A Machine Rich in Amenities
The Yamaha FX HO waverunner has endured as long as it has because it offers what riders want in a full-sized luxury machine. A 4.3” Connext touchscreen puts control at the rider’s fingertips while the multi-mount system makes it easy to customize the craft with a GPS/fishfinder, Bluetooth speakers or a smartphone mount. RiDE technology makes it easier to back up and maneuver at slow speeds and Cruise Assist/No Wake Mode takes over in no-wake zones. Power is provided by a 1.8-liter high-output engine. More...
Video Report
Leon Slikkers: Why Boats are So Expensive
Tiara Yachts founder Leon Slikkers, probably the only man alive that has worked in the boat industry from 1946 until today, has seen it all in his lifetime. In our exclusive interview, he explains the most important developments in boat building and sheds light on why boats have gotten so expensive these days. More...
Boating News of the Week: Episode #22
Women from around the world are forging new frontiers in the sport, as well as building the boats – and to a surprising degree, running the show. Part one of our Women in Boating special explains how the fiberglass ceiling is being broken.
See Episode #22 See All Episodes
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