Reader Mail Now Qualifies for Ducky Awards

Let’s face it, not all of us are witty enough to win one of the coveted BoatTEST.com Ducky Awards in the weekly photo caption contest. But don’t despair! Now, you can win a coveted Ducky by submitting an e-mail letter commenting on something that you think would be of interest to our readers on any boating subject. Our panel of graybeards will select what they think is the most interesting or unusual letter every week and award a coveted Ducky. (Which might be a little stiffer than the ones seen above.) Pictures aren’t necessary but they may help.



BoatTEST.com members are a diverse lot. They live and boat all over the world in all manner of powerboats from 12-footers to megayachts. But all have one thing in common, and that is a deep and abiding love of boats, the activity of boating, and the water -- be it fresh or salt – and all want to know more! You don’t know what you don’t know and you know it! Likewise, we don’t know what we don’t know – and we want you to tell us. Often, we find that the things that are most interesting to us are aspects of boats or boating that we had never before contemplated.

The BoatTEST.com purchasing agent inadvertently doubled our monthly order of duckies and we are now up to our topsider laces in these coveted critters. Thus, a new contest.

1. First Place-- “Mailbag” Ducky Winner of the Week

After looking through magazine after magazine, website after website, boat show after boat show, I’ve found there was no boat on the market unless it was 100 ft long with a 20 ft beam that would accommodate me being in a wheelchair. So after a quite exhaustive search I found a manufacture in Florida that makes a trimarand that is used more as a sport boat than your grandfather’s pontoon boat. I had been on the water for the first 27 years of my life, broke my neck in a car accident and out from behind the helm for 20 years. I wish that you would’ve done a boat test on this manufacture’s boat line. (Catamaran Coaches in Bradenton, FL.) Mine is being delivered sometime next week complete with accessible helm, heat/AC, fresh hot water, shower, head holding tank, full electronics, etc.

--Michael J. Brigham

Good on ya, Michael. You are an inspiration for us to work harder to cover boats for ALL of our readers. Congratulations on being the first “Mailbag Ducky” winner. – Ed.

2. Second Place -- Clever Thinking

My first boat was a Bayliner 245 2004 which, as you said, was a bargain for the boat. I then bought a Chaparral 290. This season, I took possession of a new Bayliner 340 (which they don’t make anymore). After comparing it with Chaparral 330 (now 350) which was $345,000 Can., I bought the Bayliner 340 for $160,000 Can. and put in $35,000 Can. to have wood soles and cabinets, Stainless everything, Corian countertops, high-end curtains and had all the exterior cushions recovered in the beige and caramel Chaparral colors.

Bottom line is, you guys helped me see that there is not a lot of difference between a quality boat and a cheaper one. Even a cheap one can have a quality hull. They all come with the same engines and that putting these options together myself allowed me save over $135,000 Can. I know that I don’t have a Chaparral anymore but for a lot less money I have a boat that fits my needs and I enjoy entertaining on it just as much.

--Roger Robillard

Congratulations, Roger, for thinking out of the box. Who said frugality is the mother of invention? – Ed.

3. Honorable Mention -- Timing is Everything

I purchased a new 2009 Lund 1850 Tyee Grand Sport last August. The decision was influenced by advice in your articles discussing the pros and cons of buying new or used boats as well as articles on increasing 2009 inventories with the approach of the 2010 models. I could not be happier with my purchase and actually got more boat than I ever thought possible. Attached is a picture of my grandson Kaden “driving” the new boat a few of weeks later. As you can see by the smiles our family really enjoys boating.

--Doug

When it comes to boat buying, timing -- and knowing the products – will usually result in getting a boat that both fits your needs and is good value.—Ed

A Mash Note for Capt. Steve

Keep Capt. Steve coming. He's awesome! I love how he adds negatives into his reviews and actually drives the boats. Your other guys seem to look at the boat and then go home and record what they think and never drive them. At least that we can see.

And what the hell??? Did Capt Steve actually drive that Hargrave down that narrow channel or was there someone at the lower helm and he faked it? Is he that good that he can run a 16' Bayliner and a 72' motoryacht? Bastard! Very cool.

--Rick

Actually, Rick, whether it looks like it or not, all of our captains drive the boats they test. Yes, that was actually Capt. Steve driving the Hargrave down the New River – something that he could probably do in his sleep. Don’t tell anyone, but he was the captain of the Jungle Queen for six years. If he can handle that old pig in hairpin turns with 5 knots of current running, we guess he could handle most anything.—Ed.

Proper Propping

I was on YouTube and saw a test you did on a 222 Bayliner Classic. I own an ‘04 model. You said you were getting 40 mph at 4500 rpm and 30.9 at 3500 rpm. What pitch and size of prop were you using to get these results. I cannot achieve this with my boat which has a 15.25" X 15 pitch prop. The weight of my boat loaded is probably around 5200 lbs.

-- Dean Rusinek

This might surprise a lot of people, but from time to time we test boats and the local dealer does not know what prop is on the boat. Dean, our suggestion is to contact our “go-to” outfit for prop questions and that is PowerTech!. They’ll be glad to help. http://www.boattest.com/products/Product-test.aspx?id=8
– Ed.

A ‘Rude Suggestion

Last time I looked on BoatTest.com for engines, you guys were lacking in the Evinrude department. That'd be my one suggestion.

--Billy Gewin

Thanks for pointing that out, Billy. We’ll work on it. – Ed.

Too Elementary, My Dear

I find many of your videos and articles to be quite elementary. I suppose that’s necessary and valuable for newbies. Perhaps there could be a “novice” section and then another one for those of us that can judge a swift current most of the time and splice three strand but are not dumb enough to begin to think we know it all?

Or, maybe you could rate the articles/videos – like one star for beginners, two for intermediates, three stars for novice, four stars for highly skilled & five for pros...

--Skip Case

Good idea, Skip. We've got lots of time on our hands. No problem.—Ed.

Used Boats Are Best

I think your focus on only "new boats" is exaggerated - without a good second-hand market new boats would be much harder to sell! I appreciate your boat-testing, even though it is not critical enough -- too obviously as if you are "in the pocket" of all the producers!

I look forward to you testing as many boats as possible - leave no stone unturned! - and good luck!

--Hans K.

Actually, Hans, the last couple of years we have been trying to get into those pockets and have discovered that there is not a hellava lot in them. But we’ll keep trying. – Ed.

Hash and Re-Hash

Your "boattests" are little more than re-hashed OEM marketing. You need to provide some critical analysis of the products you say you test as well as some on the water objective data i.e. GPH, MPG, WOT, RPM, etc.

--Jim

Jim, our captains may never get over this. We have been telling them their reports are a lot better than OEM marketing. – Ed.

If you have something you’d like us to pass along to our readers, or to tell us, or to tell us off, don’t hold back. We’re all ears and would love to hear from you. Who knows? You might win a coveted Ducky! Right this way...