Joysticks For Outboards//12 Tests & Reviews//First Time Buyer Advice
When we arrived to test the Chaparral 284 Sunesta, our first look was of this big deckboat coming out of the rack room. Immediately we were able to see that there were distinct differences between this boat and others in its class. Once we stepped aboard, we saw many more examples of how innovative this builder is. In fact, some of the items we saw in our tour were both clever and very functional. Rather than list all the features here, how about watching a video tour? The whole BoatTEST.com
Not all fish live in blue water, and not all boats are meant to fish the canyons. When it’s time to take on skinny water, a deep-V hull won’t get you far. But since these waters are teaming with fish, a purpose-built boat that can get you to these
The realm of wakeboats is getting more and more competitive and Tigé is cranking
Jeff Hansen's fleet of whaler interdiction vessels has just increased by one -- the 115' (35 m) trimaran pictured above that has a striking resemblance to Ady Gil (nee Earthrace) which reportedly was scuttled after a collision with a Japanese whale research vessel. A New Zealand maritime agency ruled that both vessels were at fault for the accident. We note that the new version, reportedly costing $4 million, has improved significantly on Ady Gil which had very poor visibility and was stiflingly hot below.
When Capt. Steve tested the new 2101 WA, he tells us that it took him back to a time when he was on a similar boat, working at hauling conch pots in Nantucket Sound. He says the Striper 2101 WA has a work ethic about her that he likes. But there’s more to a good workboat than handling, looks and layout: We needs the features that we’ve grown to expect. To see if our venerable 2101 WA meets these challenges, we brought our cameras along on a full walkthrough, and the tour is ready for viewing.
One of our latest tests of Glastron’s bowriders has us gawking at the GLS 215 BR.
The Genmar factory in Little Falls, Minnesota, has been building boat hulls with
Bayliner, well known for building price-point boats and getting more people on the water for less money, has recently launched a new 18 footer -- the 185 BR. This allows users not only to get a great starter package of boat, motor and trailer, but also adds options to the layout and features. In addition to building cost effective boats, Bayliner is also known for engineering their boats to perform with less horsepower.
The Sea Fox 236 DC (for Double Console) combines the most important attributes of a center-console fishing boat with those of a family bowrider to create a boat with a foot in each camp. But while a hard-core center-console or walk-around fishing boat this size sacrifices all else to fishability, the 236 DC manages to incorporate plenty of creature comforts that should make Mom and the kids happy to be on board, even when Dad is trolling or casting. There's room for two to lounge in the forward cockpit to read or catch rays, and the back-to-back passenger seat unfolds to form a narrow but adequate sun bed when the lines have been reeled in. In short, the Sea Fox 236 DC wears two hats, neither one the height of fashion, but both will do the job.
Tigé Boats and Wake9.com recently announced the winners of the "MyWake Global Wakesurf Challenge" event that ran through this summer. This revolutionary event, that combines
The 2575 RCWC is part of the luxury lineup that Bennington offers. Not only is this a comfortable boat, but the possibilities for customizing it to fit your needs are vast. A long list of options ranging from simple lighting and color decisions leads into more versatile amenities such as chaise lounges, storage, and entertainment centers. The result is a pontoon boat that has been adapted and built to your specifications and needs, rather than making you adapt to the boat. With that said, it all starts with the boat.
Bavaria Yachts doesn't just complain about the weather – they do something about it, and the Sport 30 HT is the result. A hardtop version of the company's 9.6-meter (31' 6") LOA Sport 30, the HT encloses the helm and forward half of the cockpit in a cozy fiberglass shell, turning a warm-weather-focused express into a bona fide three-season cruiser. The soft-top Sport 30 is fine for sunny climes, but lots of folks like to go boating when the water’s a bit rough, the sky’s a little grey and the wind carries a nip. And if it gets a little rougher, or a little colder, or a little windier, that’s OK, too, as long as they’re in a boat designed and built to take it – one like the Sport 30 HT. And we're not the only ones who think this way: In 2009 the Bavaria Sport 30 HT was named European Powerboat of the Year in the under 10-meter category.
When it’s time to pick out your first boat, more often than not the only consideration that comes to mind is price. Once you’ve gotten your use out of that first boat, and the love affair has started, then it’s time to consider upgrading to a features-packed, possibly larger boat. Alumacraft has managed to combine a remarkably cost-effective
Now is the time to make your summer 2011 cruising plans in the Northern Hemisphere. Perhaps one of the most picturesque and island-filled areas is the Finnish Archipelago and the Aland Islands, which certainly must rank in the Top 10 cruising grounds of the world. If you have ever wondered why so many recreational marine companies are located in Scandinavia, now you know one reason why. We recently attended a celebration at the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) for the Finnish Yacht Club's (Nylandska Jaktklubben -- NJK) 150th Anniversary and made our own plans to cruise there next summer.
The Windy 25 Mirage is a capable cuddy-cabin cruiser from the land of the Vikings, a 7.68 m (25' 2") LOA pocket rocket that's popular among quality-conscious boatmen from the North Cape to Southeast Asia. Despite her small size, the 25 Mirage meets CE Category B standards for offshore service, more toughness than most folks need in a 25-footer. Her cockpit has plenty of seating on a U-shaped lounge; drop the table and it turns into a sun pad for catching rays under the midnight sun. Folks willing to rough it a bit can cruise overnight or for a weekend, either sleeping under the stars (a canvas top is standard) or on V-berths below, where there's a head but not much else in the way of creature comforts. Nevertheless, folks with the Viking spirit might find the Windy 25 Mirage is all they need for coastwise adventures.
Skeeter is famous for fishing boats, and the slick 22i is certainly that – a full-blown bassboat with amenities to satisfy any angler – but here at BoatTEST.com, we think she's more: With sexy styling, blazing speed and ample deck space, the 21' 8" (6.6 m) Skeeter 22i should be a fun boat even for folks who never wet a line – people like wives, girlfriends and kids. Bolt the maximum recommended horsepower to the 22i's transom and the Skeeter will scoot across the lake fast enough to satisfy almost any speed freak. Stock her iceboxes with food and her live wells with drinks and you can carry enough for an all-day picnic. Lay out a couple of beach towels and her foredeck becomes a sun pad, leaving enough room aft of the console for Dad, and maybe Junior, to flip lures. Her 50 gallons (189 L)
BoatTEST.com receives a lot of mail each week from would-be first time boat buyers. We’re happy to help new participants in the sport and are pleased to be able to lend any assistance possible in the process – that is our reason for being! This week we offer a tutorial on how a first time buyer should approach the process to minimize his chances of making a mistake. For most people it takes a little courage to buy the first boat, but once done most people never look back. Boating is a nearly limitless and certainly a very exciting world.
Last week the USCG gave its second highest civilian commendation to Sea Tow Capt. Lee Kellerman for the rescue of three people – a grandfather, son and grandson – who were in the water after their boat sank from under them. A Coast Guard helicopter with only 20 minutes of fuel left spotted the boaters in the four to six foot seas and directed Kellerman to the area. More... See local news video...
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Here you can see how the Shurhold PVA Towel dried the hull of our test boat without leaving streaks or water spots. |
When we asked the team at Shurhold what is different about their PVA towels they told us that they absorb 50 percent more water than natural chamois, making for faster and more effective drying. So we translated that into they do a better job drying your boat and leaving a shine. We gave the towels a shot on our test boat after a few hours on the water in Long Island Sound. All we did was spray her down with fresh water and wiped her down from the windscreen to the keel. The total elapsed time to completely dry a 24 foot boat was 11 minutes and 20 seconds. Take our word for it, there were no spots or streaks left behind, just quite a nice shine. The towels come in an extra large size of 17" x 27" (43 cm x 69 cm).
Learn more here...
Visit Shurhold.com.
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Without going to classes, you can improve all of your boating skills at your home or work computer with our boating DVD course. |
We would all like to be better boaters and wish we knew more of the basics, and
not so basics. With the BoatTEST.com DVD boating course our own Captain Steve will
walk you through everything from boat handling to navigation to safety. First time
boaters have told us this course was the “best way to learn proper boating” and
experienced boaters have told us they “learned many new things” that will help them
become even better boaters. It really is one of the best and most informative boating
courses around, easy to use and best of all, easy to retain the information. This
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Where in the World
Picture of the Week
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Eugène Delacroix’s 1830 painting of “Liberty Leading the People.” This iconic depiction of Gallic determination is symbolic of the French boating industry today. |
The French marine industry federation FIN says that French boat production has grown seven percent in the year September 2009-August 2010 compared to the year previous. The announcement came during a presentation made by FIN on Monday, before the opening of the Paris International Boat Show. Even more impressive is the fact that growth in the powerboat category was up 20.7% for a total of 19,984 units. The export rate grew 63.3%.
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Safety Procedures
How to Refuel Safely Every Time
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Don’t rely on the fueling station attendant to tell you how to refuel. You are responsible for safe refueling. |
Every year there are dozens of boat explosions after refueling. In fact, with a
gasoline-powered boat, the moments just after refueling when the blowers are turned
on and the engines are started is the precise time when explosions are most likely
to occur. Fuel leaks can happen on any boat at any time in any number of places.
While explosions after refueling typically happen on older boats, Murphy’s Law holds
true for new boats as well. How to refuel safely...
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The seas will build up more as you approach an inlet so you’ll want to watch the waves closely and notice the pattern before heading in. |
This week Capt. Steve goes over seven new lessons and guidelines on how to dock
your boat in a strong current and how to carefully approach an inlet in heavy waves.
Learn about a sea anchor, and what it’s used for. Capt. Steve will demo some approaches
that show you how to dock going into the current, he’ll also go over how to dock
with the tide behind you, and how to slowly drift into the dock with the tide. These
are basic procedures which all recreational boaters should be aware of. The videos presented this week are part of BoatTEST.com’s USCG-approved boating course called
“Smart Boating.”
Watch these video boating lessons every week on BoatTEST.com.
To view this week’s lessons --
To view past lessons --
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First Place
"I should have listened to my mother!"
- M. Burton
Second Place
"Ok John, now you've really gone off the deep-end." - J.D.
Honorable (almost) Mentions
"Don't look at me like that! The guy only wanted to buy the trailer, where else was I going to put the boat." - C. Nikel
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