Yamaha’s New 425-HP Outboard | Absolute 58 Fly | Chaparral 223 VRX
The Absolute 58 Fly makes the most of her 600-hp Volvo Penta IPS 800s with efficiency all the way to the top of the rpm range, and her handling was also indicative of this propulsion. Our test captain took a close look in the engine room too.
Who needs a pontoon boat when the Chaparral 223 VRX can seat 10 in comfort? The side-mount table adds utility for both the bow and stern areas. A sport arch with Bimini is standard, and the towpoint at the top of the tower includes a Go-Pro mount with Bluetooth connectivity to the video screen at the helm. Twin 200-hp ROTAX jets provide impressive agility as well as a top speed of 52.9 mph.
The Beneteau Monte Carlo 5 has a 49'10" LOA and a beam of 14'1", giving her plenty of space both in the salon for entertainment and dining, and belowdecks for extended cruising for up to six guests, or seven if the crew cabin aft is included. The MC5 was popular from the time she made her debut, appealing to boaters who wanted something different and a bit more sophisticated.
The Boston Whaler 320 Vantage has a standard hardtop, bunks for two, and a standup head. While she may seem to be a family-first day cruiser, the cockpit is configured for fishing with a stow-away transom bench seat, dual in-deck insulated fish lockers, rod holders, a livewell, and loads of other features. Like all Whalers, she’s foam-filled, solid, and hull-slap noise is at a minimum.
Triple 26" pontoons and power options to 200 horses give the SUN TRACKER® PARTY BARGE® 22 XP3 plenty of speed for towsports or dayboating, even with the maximum 11-passenger load. She’s priced competitively, yet includes upscale features like comfortable seating, a QuickLift Bimini top, and a pop-up changing room.
The new Yamaha 5.6L V8 XTO Offshore engine announced this week has a number of features that boaters should like, including direct fuel injection into the cylinder. The engine was designed primarily to be used in large offshore boats for both fishing and cruising in multi-engine applications.
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