New Test Video

Greenline 48 Fly:


Flybridge Cruiser w/Multiple Power Sources

Greenline 48 Fly

The Greenline 48 Fly is powered by twin Volvo D3 220-hp diesels as well as electric motors. The two motors also act as generators when in diesel mode and they charge three large Lithium polymer batteries. The batteries are also charged by solar power and shore power – so the boat actually uses four sources of energy. What she doesn’t have is a conventional generator, because it is simply not needed. This is a remarkably efficient cruiser and is the first production hybrid vessel of its type. She is not for everyone, but for those who want to do coastal and near island long-distance displacement speed cruising in comfort with low operating expenses, she is hard to beat.

More...

New Captain's Report

Jeanneau Leader 9.0:


Spacious Family Cruiser

Jeanneau Leader 9.0

The new Jeanneau Leader 9.0 is a twin-outboard-powered 29’11” (9.12 m) family cruiser with a V-shaped hull designed by Michaël Peters. Her cabin has a surprising amount of space for the LOA, in part because the galley is in the cockpit rather than below—there’s a cabinet and sink adjacent the dinette table, but cooking is al fresco. The head includes a vessel sink and a sliding glass door to close off the toilet/shower area from the rest of the compartment.

More...

Review Video

Hargrave 80 Deal Maker:


Easy Launching for the Ship’s Tender

Hargrave 80 Deal Maker

The Hargrave 80 Deal Maker includes pretty much everything the owner-operator could possibly want in a yacht for entertainment in the harbor as well as extended cruising to remote areas, including an Airtex hydraulic lift swim platform that allows easy transport of a tender weighing up to 2,000 lbs. (907.18 kg). Note that the platform can be raised higher than the boat’s deck for better clearance when the yacht squats, a definite attribute overlooked by some builders. A stainless-steel boarding ladder is built into the platform, and the teak decking is standard.

More...

Navigator Caveat

Check Your GPS Before April 6

The Garmin unit showing this BlueChart g2 image is well within compliance, but many units that are just passing their tenth birthday may be susceptible to incorrect positioning.

Time is a critical measurement for establishing position in GPS, and the time counter in the Global Positioning System in many legacy units may be resetting on April 6. This is NOT an April Fool’s Joke. GPS units that are 10 years old, and more, that have not had a firmware update may be susceptible to the problem, which stems from a rollover of the “week number” on coordinated universal time. The bottom line: owners of GPS units from 2010 and earlier should check their serial numbers with their manufacturers to be sure they will be getting proper positioning and time information through their units. In the meantime, those considering an upgrade should review our comparison of multifunction displays.

See our comprehensive GPS product chart...

Test Video

Tiburon ZX-25:


Tunnel-Hull Flats Machine w/6” Static Draft

Tiburon ZX-25

The Tiburon ZX-25 is part of an elite class of ultra-shallow-draft fishing boats designed for the shallowest of flats where anglers chase redfish and perhaps bonefish and hermit. Incredibly, this 25-footer (7.6 m) draws just 6" (0.15 m) of water, and a tunnel down her center feeds water to the outboard even when it’s raised high, allowing her to run even shallower than her static draft, according to the builder. Powered with the advanced two-stroke Evinrude E-TEC G2 300 turning a 4-blade stainless-steel prop with a 23” (0.58 m) pitch, she topped out at 48.6 mph. Perhaps more importantly, she can stay on plane at about 15 mph, allowing the skipper to stay on top while crossing shallow flats looking for fish — and rocks ahead. A hydraulic jack plate to allow vertically raising the engine for shallow running is standard.

More...

Test Video

Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 62:


Rigged for Luxurious Short-Handed Sailing

Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 62

The Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 62 welcomes an intimate sundown sail with a crew of just two. Logical and ergonomic layout of winches, running rigging, jammers, autopilot, and line handling bags make life simple for the captain, with a compact, easy-to-reach layout close by to each helm station. The optional roller furling headsail and mainsail eliminate mainsail dousing hassle, and allows both sails to be reefed easily.

More...

Factory Video

Boston Whaler:


One Reason Why Boston Whalers are So Popular

Boston Whaler Design and Engineering

There are several reasons why Boston Whaler was the largest selling brand of center console boats on the market in 2018 – no matter what the price. One of them is that it is customer-centric. And, while all builders are to one degree or another, Boston Whaler has formalized the process. For each new boat, there’s a rigorous process of discovery that involves seeking input from customers, dealers, veteran fishermen and avid boaters. Those observations are distilled and sent to Boston Whaler’s in-house designers and then to the naval engineers. Because all of these people work in Boston Whaler’s Edgewater, Florida facility, there is constant collaboration to make sure that everyone is on the same page throughout the process. See how it works and why it works.

More...

Boating Tips

How to Check Out a Charterboat

Boaters should get familiar with the operation of a charterboat, from helm electronics to engines and onboard equipment before they leave the dock.

Charterboats are equipped to ensure their crews have everything they need to enjoy a terrific week or ten days aboard. But that week of fun on the water will depend on how well the bareboat crew knows how to operate the various onboard systems, knowledge that comes chiefly from the walkthrough at the charter base. Pay attention to the key systems—and anything else you may want to use on the charter.

Learn the right way to check out a charterboat here....

Expert Boating

 BoatTEST.com’s


4-DVD
Boating Course

Sometimes it's not what you know, but what you've forgotten. We have the perfect solution for you.

Based on the feedback we’ve been getting about BoatTEST.com's Video Boating Course it’s clearly not only for beginners, but also for veteran boaters as well. Perhaps that is why the NMMA started promoting the course after just one look. It's the most complete boating course available… period. Order your 4-disc box set...

Watch the trailer...

BoatTEST.com, LLC

51 Bank Street, Suite 2A

Stamford, CT 06901

203-323-9900
[email protected]

All articles, Captain's Reports, video content or other
material which appear on BoatTEST.com and in its newsletters are accurate and factual
to the best knowledge of BoatTEST.com and its staff. All findings, beliefs, experiences,
or endorsements presented are the honest opinions of BoatTEST.com or its contributors.
In compliance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255 BoatTEST.com advises its readers that content
that appears in its newsletter or on its website may have been produced for compensation
or the prospect of future compensation. BoatTEST.com makes no claims for the veracity
or motivation of reader comments, Owners’ Reports, and other contributions which
are all clearly labeled as such.