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contents

SEPTEM B ER/O C TO B ER 2017

MAGAZINE

VOLUME XXXVIII NUMBER 8

departments Editor’s Letter Outboards get bigger p. 4

Currents Bits from the boating world p. 6

Trailering Protect your rig p. 14 Watersports 10 tips for kneeboarding success p. 16 Fishing Choose the right lighttackle rod p. 18

Engines Suzuki DF350A p. 20

features

DIY How to install a TurboSwing

Skiff’s Notes A skiff provides an inexpensive and different sort of boating experience. p. 48

The Hull Story When’s the last time you thought about hull innovation? Now’s the time. p. 54 pg. 54

flagship of Chaparral’s H2O line has something never seen before: outboard power. p. 32

•

Gear The latest accessories, gadgets and electronics p. 28 no boater should make p. 47

Heyday WT-2 Now boaters can have their wake and eat it too … for a lot less money. p. 36

Formula 310 Bowrider The bowrider can cruise to the sandbar … or the Bahamas … in style. p. 40

pg. 40

2

Ask the Experts Our panel of experts answers your questions p. 24

Bonehead Blunders Mistakes

boats tested Chaparral 21 H2O OB Ski & Fish The

p. 22

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 BOATINGWORLD.COM

SunCatcher Diamond Elite 324SS The first-class

Contest: Name the Boat Win a $260+ Airhead G-Force 2 towable, a pump and a rope p. 64

cabin at G3 pontoons just got a lot more plush and stylish. p. 44

pg. 36

editor’s letter

BY A L A N J O N E S

Going Big I T WAS JUST 10 YEARS ago

that Yamaha came out with its revolutionary 350 hp V-8 outboard, a power plant I certainly didn’t expect to see on boats such as pontoons. But that was before pontoons really became cool or as fast as they are now.

Recently, I tested a 72 mph Manitou X-Plode that had a pair of Mercury Racing 400R outboards, and the interest that boat generated was off-the-chart crazy. The video we posted on Facebook reached more than 4 million people and was clicked on and viewed by nearly 2 million. What many observers, myself included, thought when we first saw the 400R was it would be a nice niche engine for the go-fast crowd.

Wrong, as usual (just ask my wife). This outboard has appeared on virtually every type of boat there is, from bass boats to center console fishing boats and everything in between.

This summer, Suzuki bumped up its power game with the DF350A: 350 hp and twin counter-rotating props (see page 20). I tested it — four of them, actually — on the SeaVee 390Z, which reached a top speed of 72 mph, and two more on an Avalon Windjammer pontoon. The hookup — with four props — was

spectacular, with a time to 30 mph of just 4.6 seconds with six people on board.

The Seven Marine 557 hp outboard was one I expected to be little more than a low-production curiosity. I was certain its horsepower would be the benchmark for quite a while, but Seven Marine upped the ante with a 627 hp model.

And it seems the company is poised to be a crossover mainstream hit, since Volvo Penta recently bought majority ownership. And I am pretty sure Volvo didn’t buy in just to be a fringe player. And yep, we’ve seen pontoons with a Seven Marine 627 on them. You know someone is going to install two of them.

Outboards are even showing up on boats from builders that have traditionally been sterndrive/ inboard companies, including Chaparral (see page 32), Formula, Crownline, Sea Ray and Cobalt, to name a few. That’s not to say sterndrives are dead; take a look at the Formula on page 40 and tell me that isn’t floating awesomeness. Until last year there had only been two players in the sterndrive world, but then Ilmor jumped in with its One Drive system and horsepower up to 430.

But no one in the near future will overtake Mercury Racing, which has horsepower up to 1,750. It even introduced a non-supercharged 860 Sterndrive model this year that carries a two-year warranty … something that never used to happen.

The horsepower race is definitely on, and nobody knows where it will end. The winner: everyone who wants to go just a little faster than the rest. BW

THE BOATING WORLD TEAM RESPONDS: You discover a long-lost love letter from Clyde Barrow to Bonnie Parker with a list of reasons he loves her. What’s the dopiest one?

PUBLISHER Duncan McIntosh Jr. The cant of your fine neck when you take aim ASSOC. EDITOR/PUBLISHER Jeff Fleming Please plug the hole in my heart EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alan Jones Your killer personality MANAGING EDITOR Mike Werling The touch of your trigger-finger callus on my cheek ASSISTANT EDITOR Stephanie Shibata You keep our hideout tidy without me asking ART DIRECTOR Julie Hogan Our codependence and need for approval are a turn-on PRODUCTION Mary Monge Your sweet gunpowder-scented berets CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Amelia Salazar When you mouth the word “bang” as you shoot FULFILLMENT OPERATIONS MGR. Rick Avila Your gold tooth reminds me of my bullets ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING

Call (949) 660-6150 Janette Hood Your snoring sounds like our getaway car

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING

REGIONAL SALES MANAGERS

Annabelle Zabala We smoke the same cigarette brand Felice Lineberry You hold a shotgun so elegantly MARKETPLACE SALES MGR. Jon Sorenson You can shoot jumping Mullet from 100 yards AD COORDINATOR Jennifer Chen Your lead foot, iron will and steely aim TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR Dave Kelsen I love “The Story of Suicide Sal” DIGITAL DIRECTOR Bryan Sheehy The way you hide weapons in your dress SUBSCRIPTIONS

Boating World – Subscriber Services P.O. Box 25859, Santa Ana, CA 92799 (888) 732-7323 circulation@boatingworld.com PUBLISHED BY DUNCAN MCINTOSH CO. INC.

Boatingworld.com 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 (949) 660-6150 • Fax (949) 660-6172 Duncan Mcintosh Co. is founded by Editor and Publisher Duncan McIntosh Jr. and Co-Publisher Teresa Ybarra McIntosh (1942-2011)

VOLUME 38 • NO. 8 Boating World Editorial and Advertising Offices, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708; (949) 660-6150. Boating World (ISSN 1059-5155, USPS 16200) is printed in the U.S.A. and published nine times a year in Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, Jun., Jul./Aug., Sept./Oct. and Nov./Dec. at 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 by Duncan McIntosh Co. Inc. Periodicals Postage paid at Santa Ana, CA 92799 and at additional mailing offices. Editorial contributions are welcome. Please submit all contributions to the editor, accompanied by return postage. We assume no responsibility for loss or damage of unsolicited materials. Boating World retains reprint rights, via print and electronic media. Contributor retains all other rights for resale, publication, etc. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Boating World, P. O. Box 25859, Santa Ana, CA 92799-5859. CANADA POST: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608 Canada Returns to be sent to Bleuchip International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE: Please send all subscription correspondence to Boating World, P.O. Box 25859, Santa Ana, CA 92799-5859. Please allow at least six weeks for the change of address to become effective. Include both your old and your new address enclosing, if possible, an address label from a recent issue. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: U.S. and its possessions, $11.00 per year. Additional postage for Canada is $15.00 per year and other foreign countries $30.00 per year. Single copy price $5.00; back issues, $8.50 (in the U.S. only) includes postage and handling. Boating World is a registered trademark of Duncan McIntosh Co. Inc. Copyright © 2017, all rights reserved. PERMISSIONS: Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission.

M AG A Z I N E

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 BOATINGWORLD.COM

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currents

BY STEPH A N I E S H I BATA

LEAD BOAT // MONTEREY MX6 SURF EDITION

WAKE UP MONTEREY UTILIZES FORWARD DRIVE TO LAUNCH A SURFING BOAT WITH PIZZAZZ.

At the helm, the driver has access to the Zero Off GPS speed control, which can be preset to each rider’s preference to deliver the best pull possible.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

BOATINGWORLD.COM

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive innovation, wakeboat manufacturers have been able to tap into watersports’ fastest growing activity: wakesurfing. Turning the props forward and tucking them well under the hull has made it safe for sterndrive boats to accommodate wakesurfers, and the 25-foot, 10-inch MX6 Surf Edition from Monterey is one of the latest to join the club.

Attached to the Forward Drive is a 6.2L Volvo Penta V8-430-CE EVC gas engine that cranks out 430 hp and uses variable valve timing to maximize torque, which is essential to get boarders up and going.

The MX6’s integrated swim platform, featuring a hidden boarding ladder, is deep enough to serve as the staging area for participants, and twin rear-facing cockpit lounges can accommodate sunbathers or observers. Forward of the lounges — part of them actually, and separated by a backrest — are two doublewide bench seats, each with a cooler built in to the base. Another aft-facing lounge stretches along the port side, opposite the helm. The bow has seating for five people around a round table.

The boat’s 5,400-pound hull is a good start toward wake building, and its 2,200 pounds of available ballast and surf tabs increase wake height. At the helm, the driver has access to the Zero Off GPS speed control, which can be preset to each rider’s preference to deliver the best pull possible.

To maximize comfort on board, SeaDek flooring is available. The wake tower comes with cam assist, for easy raising and lowering, and a Bimini to provide shade. A portable toilet is standard, but an electric head system is an option.

Monterey Boats, montereyboats.com

Enter Your Dog Now

S A LT Y D O G

WIN THIS

This month’s winner: GRACIE

Æ

OWNERS:

Gary & Mauri Collins HOMETOWN:

Scottsdale, AZ For your chance to win a CWB Dog Vest (ridecwb.com), send a picture of your boat-loving dog to editor@boatingworld.com or Boating World, Salty Dog, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. Please include a photo, along with your name and your dog’s name, your address and phone number.

OU TE R

BA NK S

Greenville Hatteras Island

Shelley Island

New U.S. Island

ACCORDING TO NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, just off North Carolina’s Outer Banks,

a new island poked through the surf in April. Nearly a mile long and wider than a football field’s width, the island is of a type called a “hoss,” and this one is a particularly large one. Dangerous currents surround the island, and whale bones poke out of the sand beside the ribs of old shipwrecks. Tiger sharks and large manta rays swim in the seas surrounding the new island. Experts say “Shelley Island,” as it’s been dubbed, will likely be gone within the year because the constant currents will erode and move the sand.

W H E R E I N T H E WO R L D?

Can you figure out the structure and location pictured in this image? Find out if you’re correct on page 10. We’ll give you a couple of hints.

• Samuel Clemens • America’s hometown BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

•

7

currents name the boat

To participate in this month’s contest, turn to page 64

contest winner

f

Sue Dawson from Hernando, Fla., was the first to submit the winning name, Transomdental Levitation. For rising above the competition, Sue receives a Customized Boat Care Package from Bel-Ray (belray. com), valued at more than $350.

Rick Martin illustration

MORE OF JUNE’S BEST ENTRIES:

Hang Zen

Swamiski

Mind over Water

Katherine Kuhl, Wichita, KS

Bruce Conn, Trabuco Canyon, CA

Robert Tewell, Woodburn, OR

Krishna-Craft

Buoyddha

CrewZen

Jim Gunter, Lake Ozark, MO

Sherry Bay, Wentzville, MO

Tom Kuhl, Chanhassen, MN

NaMastercraft

Zen Master-craft

Aquaguru

Gayle Arnett, Shell Knob, MO

David Malolepszy, Toledo, OH

Oscar Matlock, Chesterfield, MO

Nautical Nirvana

Magic Wake

Ski Mistique

Scott Duink, Sarasota, FL

Jeff Prewitt, Evanston, WY

Al Tesoro, Seminole, FL

> J U N E W I N N E R : T R A N S O M D E N TA L L E V I TAT I O N

Still Serving THE DEPARTMENT OF Environmental Protection’s artificial reef program is back after a hiatus of nearly U.S. Coast Guard photo

five years due to lack of federal funding. About 10 old vessels are slotted to be deployed by the end of fall 2017, to provide artificial reefs for organisms such as algae, barnacles, mussels, sea stars and sea fans to grow on. Colonization occurs in as little as two weeks, and the early organisms will attract smaller fish, which in turn will attract larger fish such as black sea bass, tautog, summer flounder, lobsters and other sought-after species. One of the boats in the queue is none other than the former U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tamaroa, which was immortalized in the book “The Perfect Storm” and the movie of the same name. Originally a U.S. Navy fleet tug, Tamaroa is the last surviving vessel from the Battle of Iwo Jima.

æ 'æ å EVERY YEAR, BOATUS compiles a list of the top 10 boat names based on requests to its BoatUS Graphics service. Its 2017 Top Ten Boat Names list looks like this:

D I D YO U K N OW ?

The fact that port refers to the left side of the boat as one faces forward and starboard refers to the right side seems very random, but the names make more sense given their etymology. The term “starboard” is from the Old English “steorbord,” referring to the side of the ship on which it’s steered, and since most people are right-handed, ships were steered from the right side. The “port” side is where the boat would be tied up — to the port or dock.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 BOATINGWORLD.COM

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A Body in Motion…

Christopher Columbus may be one of the most famous mariners ever, but that doesn’t mean his remains were allowed to rest in peace. He traveled a good amount after his death as well. After he died in Valladolid, Spain, his remains were moved to present-day Dominican Republic, and then 250 years later they were moved to Havana, Cuba.

Then, 100 years after that, they were moved from Cuba back to Spain.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Serenity Seas the Day Andiamo (Italian for “Let’s go!”)

Irish Wake Freedom Adagio (Italian for “at a slow tempo”) Ohana Oasis Happy Ours Firefly

.

O G T S U J

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Download and upload maps, software, and apps direct to your fishfinder / chartplotter.

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currents Watery Haunts

WHEN LATE OCTOBER nears, everyone loves a good scare. Boaters who

appreciate a good ghost or apparition might want to check out some on- or near-the-water haunts.

BIG NUMBERS

Fishing Stats

2

Fishing’s place on the list of most popular outdoor activities, behind jogging

4

Percentage increase in saltwater fishing in 2016

USS LEXINGTON. In Corpus Christi, Texas, this World War II carrier and Naval museum is said to be home to an extra ghostly docent — a blueeyed young man neatly dressed as a sailor who visitors to the museum call a “polite young man.”

HOTEL DEL CORONADO. Just across the street from Coronado Yacht Club in San Diego stands the (in)famous Hotel del Coronado. It is said that the ghost of Kate Morgan, who was staying in room 3327 when she died, is still there. Guests there report a feeling of being watched, lights and faucets turning on and off, and curtains swaying mysteriously.

31.8

Percentage increase in kayak fishing over the last three years

15.6 million

Number of people age 6 to 24 who participated in fishing in 2016 Source: RBFF.org

Hidden Hooch

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA. The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Castillo de San Marcos, both blocks from marinas, are said to be haunted. Lighthouse ghosts include buried pirates, lighthouse keepers of yore and two young girls who died playing too close to the cliffs. In the 17th-century Castillo, the ghost stories are too many to mention. Ghost-hunting TV shows have filmed there.

IOLANI PALACE. It has been reported that security guards spot the silhouette of a Hawaiian woman peering out from the window of the second floor bedroom where Queen Lili’uokalani was imprisoned after the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands.

W H E R E I N T H E WO R L D?

Boaters in northeast Missouri will recognize the structure on page 7 as the Wabash Bridge — a railroad bridge — over the Mississippi River at Hannibal, Mo. Mark Twain used Hannibal as his model to create fictional St. Petersburg, which appeared in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 BOATINGWORLD.COM

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ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE news reports, workers dismantling the Australian warship HMAS Sydney found a bottle of whisky in a mast on the ship. Acting on a tip from a former employee at Todd Pacific Shipyard in Seattle, where the warship was built, workers cut into the mast, found the small bottle of MacNaughton placed there in 1982 and freed it. Given that it was aged for six years before being bottled, the whisky inside is 41 years old.

S TA RT YO U R CHAPARRAL ADVENTURE! There is no better time than now to start your Chaparral adventure!

Chaparral has been building family dreams and adventures for over 52 years. We are the premier manufacturer of sterndrive and outboard ÄILYNSHZZ IVH[Z MYVT [V MLL[ :[HY[ `V\Y HK]LU[\YL [VKH` I` going to www.chaparralboats.com and build your dream!

CHAPARRAL BOATS, INC. 5HZO]PSSL .( <:(

OVER 460 BOAT TEST VIDEOS...

468 Boat Tests and Over 3,684,000 Views Search ”Boating World’ on Youtube.com to access our video channel.

... AND COUNTING!

We answer the questions that really matter to you - before you buy a boat.

Ride along with Boating World’s executive editor Alan Jones as he tests hundreds of makes and models, from ski boats to pontoons. Our boat test video vault includes over 460 clips — each with in-depth walk-throughs highlighting features and options, and running footage showing how the boat accelerates and corners (including the type of wake). We put ourselves in your shoes and deliver practical and objective opinions on how each boat measures up. ®

trailering

TR A I LER I N G S ECU R IT Y

Protect Your Rig From Theft Every year, about 5,000 boats are stolen. Here’s how to keep it from happening.

BY ALAN JONES

I

HAVE THE DUBIOUS HONOR OF living in the state with the highest rate of boat theft:

Florida. It’s a slightly misleading stat, since Florida also has the most boats, but it’s a serious problem that boat owners can do something about.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), which publishes a report every year, 73 percent of all boats stolen were on a trailer. Of these boats, only 15 percent had any sort of lock. Was this because locks can’t be defeated? Not even close. Virtually every individual security measure can be thwarted, but the best approach is to make one’s boat a hassle to steal compared to an easier one down the road (sorry about that, neighbor).

Taking a holistic approach is the way to go. Most thieves want to get in and out quickly, so anything that slows them down tends to work to great effect.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 BOATINGWORLD.COM

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START SMALL

A lot of thefts don’t involve the entire boat but rather the small items that are easy to steal and walk away with, such as stainless steel props, which cost about $500. The best bet is a quality prop lock 1 , such as the ones made by McGard, which cost $78. Electronics theft is a major problem, so if the boat has an extensive array, a custom, lockable cover might be a good idea. For flush-mounted gear, mangling the mounting-screw heads is a pretty good deterrent, though changing units becomes a hassle for the owner. Often, just covering the console so people can’t see, at a glance, what’s there is enough to prevent theft.

Outboards are an often-stolen item, but that action can be dissuaded by a lock 2 , also from McGard ($40).

LOCK ‘EM UP

There’s a reason trailerboats are the ones

watersports

K N E E B OA R D I N G

1

The biggest misconception about kneeboarding is that it is hard on riders’ knees. Over my career I have never had or heard of anyone getting a knee injury from kneeboarding on a properly suited board with a good-fitting strap. Truth is, riders’ back and neck will take most of the abuse, so it is important to keep those areas strong and flexible.

Yoga poses such as the upward-facing dog (1A) and triangle pose are great for keeping the back stretched and flexible. Even folks who stretch before hitting the water often overlook their neck. Stretching before each session and finding stretches that work, such as the seated neck release and the clasping neck stretch (1B), will help keep pain at bay.

Focus on keeping a strong core and exercising those muscles. Doing so is essential to any waterskier’s routine, and it will translate into all facets of watersports.

5

10 Tips for Kneeboarding 2 Success Minimize wipeouts by following a few simple suggestions.

BY TOM KOHL

T

WENTY-FIVE YEARS OF KNEEBOARDING HAVE taught me many lessons,

most of which have not come easy. Some trick attempts resulted in glory, high fives and new-trick ice cream, but more often such attempts ended with face-plants, sore muscles and frustration. The years have taught me 10 things that can help you avoid the latter and enjoy the new-trick ice cream and high fives.

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STRENGTHEN AND STRETCH

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

BOATINGWORLD.COM

PICK THE CORRECT BOARD

“What board should I buy?” That’s one of the first questions I get asked. My answer: “Pick the board that suits your skill level.”

Roto-molded boards are usually very thick and made of plastic. They are stable, forgiving, inexpensive and great for young kids. Compression-molded boards are for novice riders and are in the mid-range price-wise.

They are thinner, lighter, more responsive, and better for wake jumping and tricks, but they are less forgiving.

New sandwich-construction boards are rising to the top in terms of performance and ridability. They are the lightest, fastest and most responsive boards, resulting in huge air and forgiving landings. These are well built and look like a true wakeboard.

1A

3

1B

PICK THE CORRECT ROPE

When it comes to ropes, there are two types: low stretch and no stretch. Low-stretch ropes are low cost and great for kids. However, riders who want to get serious need a no-stretch rope. Not only will it provide a solid, consistent pull, but it is much safer for attempting wake tricks.

Also, find the rope length that works best. Rope length comes into play when it’s time to start jumping the wake. Start short. Really short: 40 feet. If you can jump the wake easily, lengthen the rope until jumping the wake is a challenge. Top-level riders vary in rope length preference, from 45 to 85 feet.

4

FIND THE RIGHT SPEED

Speed goes along with rope length.

Kneeboard speed ranges from 18 to 24 mph depending on skill level and rope length. Longer ropes generally require more speed.

5

MAINTAIN GOOD POSTURE

Good posture is key to successfully and safely performing wake jumps and wake tricks. Keep your back straight, shoulders back and elbows at your waist.

Doing so keeps your center of gravity slightly back and prevents an ignominious face-plant during a hard landing. Upon landing, don’t let your arms out! Keeping your elbows at your hips and your back straight all the way through the landing makes the difference between landing

safely or swallowing a mouthful of water.

Being able to hold good posture constantly on every wake jump and every landing is the most important concept in learning any new wake trick.

Anyone learning to jump wakes needs to keep her eyes up and straight ahead.

Looking down to see how high one is should be avoided. Yes, the water is still down there, and yes, it is still wet.

6

8

DON’T BAIL OUT

9

KEEP TRYING AND DON’T GIVE UP!

GET YOURSELF A SEAT

To get serious about wake jumping, use a seat of some sort. A seat is a pad of sorts that goes under your rear and acts as a shock absorber, protecting your back and legs from hard landings. A few companies make them, and DIYers are building their own. A quick internet search should reveal a few different styles. I prefer the Everett Super Seat.

7 6

DON’T LOOK DOWN

In all watersports the mantra is the same: Look down, fall down!

Commit. Commit. Commit. One of the worst things to do when trying any trick is to let go of the handle. Doing so instantly eliminates any forward and rotational momentum. Even if you feel like you are not going to make it, hold on until the landing. You may be surprised.

Remember, kneeboarding is supposed to be fun. If at first you don’t succeed, try again. Even some of the pros took years and years to land simple tricks.

10

HAVE FUN AND STAY SAFE

Ride with family and friends, and ride to have fun. That is what boating and kneeboarding are all about. When you ride to have fun, tricks and progression will come naturally. Push your buddies and let them push you. You will progress together and become expert kneeboarders in no time! Remember, don’t ride too far out of your comfort zone. Push to get better but stay in control. Injuries come with fatigue. BW BOATINGWORLD.COM

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

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fishing

CH O OS E A RO D

Choose the Right Light- Y Tackle Rod Know a little lingo and how a rod will be used before purchasing one.

BY DEAN TRAVIS CLARKE

ES, ANGLERS CAN ORDER POPEIL’S Pocket Fisherman

by Ronco — “As Seen on TV” — and certainly catch fish with it. In fact, I have. Fish have no idea what tackle an angler is using. But as people get better and desire greater accuracy and efficiency, they naturally upgrade their tackle, selecting more specialized gear. Want to skip a lure or bait under a dock or between pilings? Need a stick that will provide maximum casting distance rather than pinpoint accuracy? Whatever the parameter(s), someone has designed exactly the right rod. And while reels are important, they ultimately do little more than manage a pile of fishing line. The

Lesson in Lingo

Before someone can make an informed decision, he needs to know the lingo of fishing rods. Here are the important terms.

Action.

Action dictates how much a rod bends and where. Rods with light action bend along the length of the rod. Heavier action focuses the bend closer to the tip while the butt end remains strong and stiff. Small fish on light tackle demand a more flexible action; big game need stiffness.

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Spline.

Just as the human body bends forward better than to the side, so do fishing rods. Rods have a “spine,” meaning they bend perfectly in one direction. That bend must align with the guides.

When checking a particular rod’s action, be sure to bend it as if fighting a fish. If the rod twists such that the guides don’t form a straight line along the spine, pass it up.

Length.

Casting farther requires a longer rod. Shorter rods excel at accuracy. Additionally, casting calls for light- to medium-weight rods. For trolling and bottom fishing, go heavier and shorter. Be sure to know if there’s a maximum length your boat will handle. Open-air storage spots — rocket launchers and rod holders — have no length limit. Secure storage belowdecks or in a fish box may.

1

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3

Rod Rundown Mr. Striper Speed Stick casting and spinning rods (1 & 2) from Lew’s are graphite and fiberglass and cost about $35. St. Croix’s Mojo Jig casting and spinning rods (3 & 4) are a combination of graphite and FRS and cost $200. The Shimano Teramar WC Inshore casting rod (5) is a graphite-fiberglass combo and costs about $200.

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5

What’s It Cost?

rod — its action, weight, length and grip — performs the most important functions.

I read an interesting analogy between baitcasting and spinning rods: Spinning rods are the automatic transmission of fishing. Easy to handle but not as performance oriented.

Baitcasters demand greater skill and knowledge but perform better.

FLIPPIN’ AND PITCHING ROD TRAITS

Beginners should look for rods in the 7-foot, 4-inch range with a good, long handle. That’s long enough for distance and short enough to be easily handled.

As one improves, add an inch or three to that length. Rods with a flexible tip are preferred over stiff tips, because stiffness causes casts to turn into lobs and the baits to flip over. At the same time, the butt end needs to have some backbone so it can handle larger fish.

I would choose any handle material

Sensitivity.

Getting a lure or bait to a desired target represents half the challenge. Feeling the bottom and, most importantly, the strike is the other part of the equation. When testing a rod in the store, I try casting and retrieving to see if I can feel the different parts of the floor (e.g., carpet transitioning to wood). Better yet, before sinking a pile of money into a new rig, ask the store to let you try it out in the real world.

Graphite casting rods and Flippin’ sticks run between $25 and $500 for production models.

Order a custom rod and it could be more.

Fiberglass rods cost less, ranging from less than $20 to several hundred dollars, with the majority less than $100. Fenwick and Abu Garcia both offer fine, midlevel graphite rods at $69.99. Shimano’s midrange goes from $100 to $200, with lesser and greater quality product on both sides in the price range. Baitcasting reels cost approximately as much as the rod, though it might be wise to buy a rod/reel combo, so the manufacturer automatically matches the rod to the reel. Specialized children’s tackle (usually a push-button spincaster reel with a rod) with Spiderman or a Disney princess or Barbie on it (e.g., by Shakespeare) can be purchased at Walmart for less than $10. And before anyone sneers, I watched a 5-year-old girl catch a 20-pound red drum on one of those Barbie rods! The idea is to get them fishing with you, not to indulge in fishing snobbery.

Material.

Fiberglass stands up to abuse best and costs the least. Today’s glass rods weigh less than their clunky ancestors too.

Unfortunately, they still weigh more and are less sensitive than advanced materials such as graphite, carbon fiber, boron and so on.

Graphite represents the most expensive rod route and has proven lighter, stronger and more sensitive than other materials.

One caveat: Any chip or ding in a graphite rod instantly becomes a weak point where that stick may well snap.

except cork, which tends to get slippery when wet. Fighting a trophy fish, it’s hard enough to handle the fish without working to hang on to a slippery rod.

For skipping live baits under docks, I like braided line in every setting except crystal clear water, because braided line has no stretch and is very abrasion resistant. In vodka-clear water, I like to use fluorocarbon line for the same reasons as braid.

If distance casting is your holy grail, add a longer, stronger rod to your arsenal.

Demand a rod that loads up well, has a strong butt section and moderate tip flex.

Anglers don’t need to spend a fortune for top-quality gear. The main players all make excellent equipment, and the purchase decision rests on an individual’s personal comfort and need. Penn, Shimano, St. Croix, Loomis, Daiwa, Shakespeare, Seeker, Star, Fenwick, Abu Garcia and Quantum represent the major players, but hundreds more small, quality rod manufacturers are in the market. BW

Line/Lure Weight.

Each rod is rated for a range of line and lure weights. The line weight should match the target fish’s size and the lure weight — pretty self-explanatory. The best performance on any given rod will be achieved by sticking within the manufacturer’s suggested boundaries.

Guides.

Stainless steel guides, most often with ceramic rings glued within, carry the fishing line from the reel to the tip. Sight down a rod to ensure the guides align perfectly. A seven-foot rod should include at least nine guides. More is better and quality is crucial. Fuji pretty much owns the quality guide market, so anglers can rest easy when a rod comes equipped with its products.

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engines

SUZU KI DF350A

Positive Spin

Suzuki raises the bar on high-horsepower outboards with a testosterone-laced engine that has a pair … of propellers.

BY ALAN JONES

One of the advantages of Suzuki’s system over Yamaha’s is found in reverse, where both of Suzuki’s props rotate. Pontoons can be a handful to dock, especially when the wind is blowing, so we appreciated the added maneuverability on the South Bay 525RS pontoon we tested with a single DF350A. Despite the added hardware necessary, Suzuki managed to keep the lower unit’s bullet hydrodynamic by moving the shift linkage above the waterline. The water intakes are at the front of the bullet for greater effect, and another is just in front of the skeg.

BIG EASY POWER

T

HE CONCEPT OF HIGH-HORSEPOWER OUTBOARDS was originally hatched primarily

to push large, offshore boats, but that has changed. During Suzuki’s rollout of the DF350A in June, that notion was further disabused by the wide variety of boats it was mounted on. The lineup included pontoons, a bay boat, a catamaran and medium to large center consoles, from 24 to 39 feet long with from one to four outboards. The message?

This 4.4L, twin-propeller motor that puts out 350 horsepower is a good fit for whatever scratches your boating niche.

CONTRA-ROTATING PROPS

The option to have twin counter-rotating props (or contra-rotating, as Suzuki calls it) on an outboard is available from boutique engine producer Seven Marine (CR gearcase) and as an accessory from Yamaha (TRP gearcase), purchased mostly by Texas wade anglers for its ability to get a boat on plane in really skinny water. But Suzuki is the only mass manufacturer to offer it today as a standard feature on all its 350s.

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Having lots of horsepower is great, but if it can’t be translated to traction, it’s wasted, like a dragster with passenger tires. Twin screws create more prop surface without increasing the size of the prop itself, and more prop surface gives a motor extra bite to get a boat out of the hole and keep it hooked up in turns or in lumpy seas, eliminates the prop torque caused by a single prop, and helps the boat track straighter when on plane or when docking.

Suzuki probably could have squeezed close to 350 hp out of the 4.0L block it uses on its DF300/DF250 without doing much more than tweaking the engine’s internal computer mapping. It could have added a supercharger too, but both could affect engine reliability, which goes contrary to Suzuki’s number-one goal. Instead, the displacement was increased to 4.4L by lengthening its stroke while keeping the bore the same diameter. In addition, its compression was raised to 12:1, which is the highest in the industry. Higher compression increases horsepower and torque but can cause engine knock unless steps are taken.

One of the main reasons for knock is uneven fuel detonation in the combustion chamber, so Suzuki provided two small injectors per cylinder rather than one and increased the number of fuel flow openings to 10 per injector, instead of four. That way, all the fuel can be injected at once for a more uniform and complete burn. This sudden rush of fuel creates a cooling effect, which reduces the engine’s propensity to knock. The air intake system is more efficient, which allows denser cool air to enter the combustion chamber to create more

diy

TU R B OS W IN G I N S TA LL

Outboard Towing Magic Installing TurboSwing to tow skiers behind an outboard-powered boat is one-person simple.

BY KEVIN HARRIS

I

HAVE A CUDDY CABIN BOAT powered by an Evinrude G2 300 hp outboard, and while I usually take it out in the ocean to fish, I also like to visit local freshwater lakes with my family and go wakeboarding or tubing. For several seasons, I clipped a tow harness to the transom with a float to keep the rope from sinking into the prop, which wasn’t ideal because when I turned the boat, the rope would get very close to the motor. Another drawback: the tie-downs on the transom were relatively close to the waterline, so the rope rode very low, which wasn’t ideal for wakeboarding.

The TurboSwing seemed to address two major problems: mounting point and rope height. The device’s mounting point for the tow rope is farther away from the motor, and the rope is elevated, for easier handling during wakeboarding. I discovered an added bonus after installing it: It provides protection from hitting the motor against docks or other boats.

To find the correct size, I went to TurboSwing.com where an online configurator provides buyers with the correct TurboSwing model for their boat and motor. For my Evinrude G2 300 hp, I needed the Giant. To order, put it in your cart, hit pay and the TurboSwing is on the way.

INSTALLATION

When my TurboSwing arrived, I immediately noticed they did a great job packing it for shipping.

Most of the time when I get oversized or oddly shaped packages delivered, there is always a little damage in shipping, but not in this case.

Remove all the packing material and inspect the TurboSwing for any damage. I was happy to see that there wasn’t a scratch anywhere on my new TurboSwing. I then read the directions and went through the parts list to ensure everything was present 1 . The directions mentioned greasing two of the bolts but didn’t specify what type of grease, so I got the waterproof grease I use for wheel bearings, which should do the trick. Other tools I needed were a drill and a half-inch drill bit to drill a hole for bolts that secure the TurboSwing bracket. My boat has a three-foot dive/swim platform on it, which made installation a little easier and less stressful, because I didn’t have to drill into my transom, but also cost me a trip to the hardware store for some different length bolts.

Time to mount the TurboSwing brackets to the motor bracket on the boat. Drilling comes into play. I did one side at a time to ensure that nothing would move or shift. I removed the nut on the motor bracket 2 and put the TurboSwing bracket there and realized that I was going to need longer bolts to accommodate the thicker bracket. I drilled a hole for the second bracket bolt 3 , so the TurboSwing bracket locks in place. This is when I realized I needed shorter bolts than TurboSwing supplied. The bolts they sent were very long and will be great for anyone attaching this to the transom. I discovered, however, that they were too long for the swim platform. I bought some three-and-a-half-inch stainless steel bolts, washers and locknuts that worked for both holes on both sides. and used a good silicone to seal the bolt holes 4 , to prevent water from entering the platform or boat. After bolting on the main bracket 5 , there is a large plastic washer and another bracket that bolts together with a bolt, locknut and the grease mentioned earlier. There is a smaller bolt and a round piece called a trim lock that also gets installed here that helps you prevent over-trimming the outboard and hitting the hoop. The other side was the same procedure and was easier after I became a pro on the first side.

Once the brackets were in place, the next step was putting on the main TurboSwing hoop. Be sure to install the pulley system before putting the hoop in the brackets 6 , unless you want to see how easy it is to remove when you aren’t using it.

A critical step is to position the TurboSwing to ensure the motor doesn’t hit it when the motor is being trimmed or turned. After about five minutes of turning and trimming, I was able to position the

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TurboSwing in a location where the motor was clear at every position, which meant it was time to tighten the trim lock (smaller bolt) on the bracket 7 .

Once the positioning was solid, I put stops on the Turbo Swing hoop to prevent the pulley from going too far and potentially hitting the motor when it is turned. The clips the manufacturer provided are very good, and I used a pair of pliers to lock them in place 8 .

The final step is to install the supplied clips (or bolts) that keep the TurboSwing from popping out of the bracket 9 .

I opted for the bolts because I figured the clips would rattle and possibly make me wonder if something was wrong.

During the first test, I was really pleased with how well the TurboSwing worked. It had a really smooth action when a skier made a cut, and I could tell it’s really sturdy. I even had several people come over and admire it and ask questions about it. BW

TOOLS NEEDED Before getting started, ensure the following tools and supplies are on hand: Drill Half-inch drill bit Three-quarter-inch wrenches to

remove motor mount bolts and tighten bracket bolts 13mm wrench for trim adjust-

ment bolts Pliers or channel locks Grease High-quality marine silicone

1

2

A TurboSwing provides a tow point and ensures the rope won’t rub against the engine cowling. The real plus is that one person can install the device in an afternoon.

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ask the experts

Q

David J. Shuler photo

+A

OK, the Parker is a nice boat. If I’m right in assuming the builder gave you all it could of the 21-footer by putting the engine on a stern bracket, there’s one source of irritation. If it did, then two inches above the bottom of the boat is about right. Less resistance, for one, but far less maneuverability for reversing.

The cabin on the (short) 21-footer acts almost as a sail at lower speeds. Couple that with a stern bracket holding an engine three feet off the transom and trying to drag the hull backwards is asking a lot of Seamanship 101.

If I’m wrong in my assumption about the transom bracket, and the engine is mounted directly to the boat, then lower it two bolt holes if you can. That should help things. If my assumption about the bracket is correct, call Parker and ask the folks there if they have that model without a bracket, and if they’d send you the specs so a boatyard can remove the bracket and cut the transom to accept the engine.

Unfortunately, far less expensive will be to plan your docking well ahead of your approach. — GM

ENGINES B OAT L I F TS

A Game of Inches

Q I recently purchased a 2000 Parker 2110 Walkaround with a 200 Evinrude Ficht Ram Injection and an SST 14-by-17 stainless steel prop. I took the boat out recently on a slightly windy day and noticed that the steering control was poor, especially when I slowed down when approaching the dock. Reversing seemed worse, because the engine revved up but the boat hardly moved and didn’t respond to my steering command. Later, I noticed that the anti-cavitation plate on the motor is about two inches higher than the bottom of the hull. Do you think that the motor height or the prop might be the problem?

Safely Maintain and Use a Boat Lift

Boat lifts are a common sight in many boating locales. They keep boat hulls cleaner, which results in better speed and fuel efficiency, and they save boat owners the work of scrubbing the hull or hiring

f OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS: Zuzana Prochazka Frank Lanier Capt. Lanier is an accredited marine surveyor with more than 30 years of experience in the marine industry and owner of Capt. FK Lanier & Associates, Marine Surveyors and Consultants.

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Grid Michal With 50 years of experience as a marine tech, Michal is also American Suzuki and OMC/ Bombardier (BRP) certified.

Prochazka is a freelance writer and photographer. She holds a USCG 100-Ton Master license, is the editor of her boat and gear review website, TalkOfTheDock. com, and serves on the board of Boating Writers International.

ask the experts a diver. The folks at Golden Boat Lifts (goldenboatlifts.com) recently shared some commonsense tips for safely using a boat lift.

The first step is to choose a lift that’s best suited to both the boat and location.

PWC, keelboat or motoryacht? How many hulls? How heavy is the vessel fully loaded?

Will additional piles be needed? Is it on a seawall? A qualified installer will take into consideration all the variables and advise buyers as to the optimal solution.

Stray current running through the water can be deadly if someone falls or jumps in. An electric boat lift should have a GFCI outlet and be wired by a licensed electrician.

Once the lift is installed, read the owner’s manual. Even if the installer runs through its operation, chances are the manual will contain something valuable that may eliminate a headache later on.

Boat lifts are rated for a specific weight and built for a unique hull design. Putting another boat on it that it wasn’t designed for could damage the vessel and/or the lift.

When using the lift, only the adult opera-

Not all boat lifts are created equally, so know which one is best for your dock and your boat.

cradles should be below the draft of the boat before driving off the lift.

When the boat is off the lift, keep the cradles out of the water. This will keep them clean and avoid premature corrosion.

Boat lifts are rated for a specific weight and built for a unique hull design. tor and perhaps a helper should be near the boat. It should never be unattended while in use, and everyone should remain off the vessel until it’s in the water. And certainly never go under it while it’s raised.

As the boat is lowered into the water, ensure that it remains level. Don’t let the cables run slack, but if they do, simply realign and tighten prior to lifting. The

3%

Potential increased fuel consumption caused by poor engine-room ventilation Source: Sea Grant

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When returning, ensure that the center of gravity of the boat is aligned with the center of the lift. Guide posts will help judge this, as will stickers that can be placed on the hull for guidance. Keeping the boat level, raise the lift so that the cradle is away from the highest point water will reach.

Maintenance is simple. Inspect the lift,

10/20% FA S T FA C T

A 10 percent reduction in power from top speed can save 20 percent in fuel Source: SailorsForTheSea.com

paying special attention to the cables, before each use. After, rinse the cradle and cables with fresh water to get rid of algae — and salt and barnacles if it’s in saltwater. Periodically grease the fittings, and check the zincs for wear and bunks for worn carpeting.

ENGINES

The Cure That Wasn’t

Q Last year I bought my first real fishing boat, a Sea Fox cuddy with a 225 OMC Ficht.

I’d been warned about the earlier engine’s reliability, but a boat I’d always wanted and could afford with 60 operational hours was a no-brainer. Last week I’m out in the bay trolling for cobia when the engine quits. I tried everything I could to restart it before finally getting towed in. The guys at the yard said they needed to replace the power distribution panel to cure that problem, so they did. The problem still exists. Any ideas?

T. Francis, via BoatingWorld.com

Divide and conquer! What did it sound like when the engine shut down? Was it immediate, as though you turned the key off? If so, start with having a BRP dealer do a download to see what electrical is amiss.

Did it kind of burble, stumble and quit?

More than likely a fuel problem. Could you get fuel from the tank to the engine? Is there fuel in the tank? These are just initial questions, but at least you’re dealing with just one half at a time. — GM WIRING

Get the Bilge Pump Working

Q I know sailboats aren’t Grid Michal’s bailiwick, but I’ve read his columns and books for many years, and learned enough to keep my powerboat operable.

I have an older Ericson that has a bilge pump mounted aft of the engine, and below it. Accessibility is close to none at all, so I’d like to get this resolved the first time.

The pump’s operation is erratic. As I was preparing to replace the pump I accidentally brushed up against some wires and the pump began running. Because of that, I’m certain that the pump is OK and the wiring isn’t, but how can I tell what to repair? The

wires have all blended into that marvelous “Bilge Black,” and I can’t tell where to look once the wires cross over the engine stringer. It’s a Sahara 600 automatic with a manual override switch by the electrical panel. Thanks.

MAINTENANCE

Repairing Aluminum

Q How should I refinish my 17-and-a-halffoot aluminum hull with some pitting on the surfaces?

Robert Wietrzykowski, via BoatingWorld.com

Kirk Van Tine, White Stone, Va.

You’ll have to hedge a bet here that the installation was after the construction of the boat. Don’t worry about what’s between the switch and the pump. Make sure you have no power going to the pump.

Then snip the brown, brown/white, and black wires leading to up there. Using heat-shrink butt connectors, attach a length of 14/3 wire to the up there wires you just snipped. Disconnect the wires from the override switch and pull (and pray). Hopefully, momentarily you’ll see the 14/3 emerge from the murk. Make the connections to the pump with the aforementioned heat-shrink connectors. Finally, make certain the 14/3 isn’t passing over any engine pulleys. — GM

An aluminum vessel made of marinegrade aluminum should not develop pits, but if sits in the water at a marina that has dock power that is not properly installed, or that has been damaged over time, stray current corrosion could account for the pitting. That should be checked. The pits should be sanded clean — a Dremel tool works well on the smaller ones — and then filled with an epoxy paste or good fairing compound. The hull can then be cleaned and finished so that the pitted area matches the rest of the hull finish. However, the reason for the pitting should be tracked down and dealt with. Otherwise, the pitting will continue to occur.

— Roger McAfee

gear

STU FF YO U WA NT

Keeping Tabs $800, globaltec-solutions.com Hydrotab has a new interceptor trim tab, and it’s the smallest yet — the 160TB. Engineered for boats up to 20 feet, it creates lift with less surface drag than a traditional trim tab plate and delivers improved boat control and enhanced fuel economy.

The 160BT is a good fit for boats with propeller tunnels or multiple outboards, when paired with another set of Hydrotab blades. Its compact size is easy to incorporate into almost any hull configuration. The housing is manufactured from stainless steel and its blade from a lightweight, high-density composite.

Towing Tunes $900, prospecelectronics.com A good watersports session is enhanced by some awesome music. The Infinity by Harman Kappa 4100MSB Amplified Marine Soundbar from Prospec features four 4-inch-long excursion woofers and two 2-inch edge-driven dome tweeters. It can be separated into two towers to optimize sound quality for specific applications. Matched with its integrated double 120-watt class-D amplifier, it produces a premium sound. The shockproof mounting system comes with Bluetooth, 3.5mm and RCA inputs, and includes intelligent priority switching that eliminates manual source selection. The mount also includes a GoPro shoe to capture the action.

Cross Over $134.90, tacomarine.com Taco Marine introduced its Transom Cross Tie device, which allows docklines to remain up and away from outboard motors when tying off at the stern, protecting the cowling during temporary docking situations. The portable 15-degree S-shaped 9-inch cleat design accommodates up to three-quarter-inch lines and features a patent-pending latch that makes docklines easy to insert. The unit fits securely in standard 1 5/8-inch open-bottom gunwale rod holders.

The cleat comes in a brushed aluminum finish that matches most boat decors. This tie is not intended for permanent docking.

Stowable Safety $129.95, throwraft.com The compact footprint of the ThrowRaft TD2401 allows the lifesaving device to be stored discreetly and conveniently. It is the only inflatable throwable flotation device that is Type IV Coast Guard approved. The ThrowRaft can be thrown inflated or in its packed position, and once it is submerged it will automatically inflate. Made in the U.S., it is nine times smaller than a ring buoy (when packed), and five times smaller than a square cushion. Inflated by a 24-gram CO2 cylinder bayonet, the ThrowRaft can be repacked and recharged using a standard PFD re-arming kit.

CORRECTION: In the May issue of Boating World on page 30, we used the incorrect product photo with the TecNiq M51 Water Dragon Underwater Light. Here is the correct image of that product, whose housing is plastic, not stainless. (tecniqinc.com)

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SUBMIT YOUR GEAR TO STEPHANIE@BOATINGWORLD.COM

SAVE TODAY. SMOOTH WATER TOMORROW. See how much you could save on boat insurance.

for your boat

geico.com | 1-800-865-4846 | local office

Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company.

GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. GEICO Gecko image © 1999-2017. © 2017 GEICO

gear

STU FF YO U WA NT

More With Less $199, lumiteclighting.com Lumitec launched SeaBlazeX Spectrum Mini, which packs all the features and color output that the SeaBlazeX Spectrum has but in a smaller package more suited for trailerboats and skiffs.

With SeaBlaze’s reliability and ease of installation, the full-color RGBW SeaBlaze Mini Spectrum — constructed of hard-coat anodized aluminum and heat tempered glass — is surface mountable, requires no external drivers and offers nearly infinite output color options.

Plain Views $149.99, aquavu.com There’s a new show available for viewing on your smartphone and its stars are the fish beneath your boat or the waterskiers behind it. Called Aqua-Vu Connect, it’s a credit card-sized interface that connects to any underwater or waterski camera that has an RCA video out and creates a Wi-Fi hotspot that allows anyone on board to view the action on a personal smartphone. Then, he can send the images into cyberspace via Facebook or other social media-of-the-month.

To download the free AV Connect app, visit the App Store for either Apple or Android products.

Partner in Shred $399.95, jvc.com The GZ-R440 waterproof camcorder from JVC is ready for watersports action. Featuring a five-hour battery life, powerful optical zoom and all-weather features, it can capture and create unique videos that a smartphone can’t. The new camcorder features a Quad Proof design — water resistant to a depth of 16.4 feet, able to withstand a drop from almost five feet and buoyant. The GZ-R440 provides 4GB of internal memory and is available in matte black and orange.

Keep it Clean $65.98, shurhold.com Shurhold’s Deluxe Water Sprite Mop attaches to any of the company’s 11 handles and quickly soaks up water like a sponge, allowing for a spot-free dry after a day on the water. This convenient mop is made of a chamois material that resists mold, mildew and bacteria, and the rubberized internal guard protects against accidentally scratching the boat’s surface. With the adaptable handle, the mop can be used to reach all parts of the boat, high and low. Once the mop is saturated, excess water can be wrung out overboard.

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SUBMIT YOUR GEAR TO STEPHANIE@BOATINGWORLD.COM

Lon

HOT

s ay

m m e u rD S g

SUZUKI DEALS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THREE SUZUKI DEALS FOR MORE SUMMER FUN

Six Years of Protection at no extra charge on all new outboards 25 to 300 HP.

Cash Rebates on select models.

See your dealer for details.

REPOWER FINANCE

Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards (OAC).*

For details and the name of your nearest participating Suzuki Marine dealer, visit www.suzukimarine.com Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 300 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 7/01/17 and 9/30/17 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska.

Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase.

If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Cash Rebates apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 7/01/17 and 9/30/17. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate rebate form at time of sale. Customer will have the choice to either apply the cash rebate against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account) or have a check sent directly to the customer. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 7/01/17 and 9/30/17. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2017 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

tested

CH A PA R R A L 21 H 2O O B S KI & FIS H

Ski, Fish, Cruise, Save The flagship of Chaparral’s H2O line has something never seen before: outboard power.

BY ALAN JONES

S

INCE 1965, CHAPARRAL HAS BUILT its reputation on its premium line of sterndrive-powered boats, not introducing an outboard model until the 2015 model year.

But the 21 H2O OB Fish & Ski proves the builder from Nashville, Ga., can pivot with the best. The H2O series is its entry-level portal, meant to bring boaters into the Chaparral family at a lower price, but the builder manages to deliver a fully loaded boat with many of the high-end touches from its other boats, such as stylish looks.

UNIQUE FACTOR

The H2O line is Chaparral’s first foray into the fishing-ready, multipurpose market and brings with it the builder’s unique sense of style. The H2O lineup is fairly compressed in size, featuring an 18 and a 19 in addition to the 21-foot, 6-inch model we tested. While the 21 is roughly two and three feet longer than its junior members, it’s a full 10 inches wider at 8 feet, 4 inches, which has a huge impact on interior space and overall stability. The sterndrive counterparts in the H2O line came out in 2015, and it’s clear the designers didn’t reinvent the wheel for the outboard versions — didn’t need to. The giveaway is the giant stern storage compartment that’s, coincidentally, cavernous enough to house a V-6 engine.

The space will thrill anglers who carry lots of lures and is also a place to store the cushions. Chaparral did a great job of integrating its fishing features in this model.

Instead of a regular stern bench similar to the one on the 21 H2O Sport (pictured on the cover), a pair of fishing seats next to each gunwale can be removed and mounted on pedestals, fore and aft, which solves the problem of finding storage space for the fishing seats. Flipping the hatch on the center section of the stern bench reveals a 70-quart livewell.

While Chaparral probably decided to go 32

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with a diamond nonskid deck to keep costs down, it’s a good call for a boat that will see lots of fishing and skiing action. Fiberglass is easier to clean than carpeting and doesn’t get sodden when swimmers and skiers move in and out of the boat. Buyers can add snap-in carpeting for $335.

PERFORMANCE

Anglers overwhelmingly prefer outboard power, and this version of the 21 H2O Ski & Fish will likely outsell the I/O version by a handy margin. In almost every

Chaparral did a great job of integrating its fishing features in this model. case, the outboard will outperform the sterndrive-powered boat even if it has less horsepower, and that’s certainly the case here. Our test boat was powered by the Yamaha F150, which was a good match even though the boat is rated for up to 200 hp. Its time to plane was 3.3 seconds with

very little bowrise, and it reached 30 mph in 6.5 seconds. Top speed was 48.2 mph. A performance test by another independent online entity of a 21 H2O Sport with a 260 hp MerCruiser 5.0L V-8 engine timed it to plane in 3.2 seconds and to 30 mph in 8.9 seconds, and recorded a top speed of 50.2 mph. Since our testing protocol might be different than its, I compared those numbers with its test of the same boat with a Yamaha F150. On that test, time to plane was 3.0 seconds and time to 30 mph was 7.7 seconds, and top speed was 48.4 mph.

To be fair, the temperature was 18 degrees hotter for the sterndrive test, but with 110 less horsepower, it was faster to plane and to 30 mph, and only 1.8 mph slower at the top. The boat can be outfitted with Mercury power.

HANDLING

It’s surprising how much time we spend idling around, but not much is ever printed about how a boat handles at slow speed.

And to me, one of the big advantages of outboard-powered models is how much easier they are to keep in a straight line at idle. But at speed, this hull handles really well no matter the power choice. Its Extended V-Plane hull features 20 degrees of deadrise at the stern, which gives it good slicing action in the chop, like we had on test day on Lake Lanier, north of Atlanta. It stayed on plane at 17.2 mph at 3000 rpm, which allows the driver to go slow but remain in control should larger waves suddenly pop up. It was a bit cool, so the full walkthrough dam ($168) and the sportily raked, tall, curved glass windshield were greatly appreciated. The 21 H2O OB is easy to turn thanks to standard SeaStar hydraulic steering on every boat with 150 hp or more. The F115 gets BayStar hydraulic steering.

BEST USES

The Ski & Fish portion of the boat’s name reveals its two main missions. Usually, when

(Clockwise from top right) The conversion to outboard power creates a huge storage compartment.

The bow cushions stow neatly for fishing. Something not often seen on an outboard-powered boat is an aft sun lounge. The bow quickly transforms into a fishing zone. A compact helm station creates more interior space. Owners can add a ram-mounted Garmin Striker fishfinder.

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owner feedback

Purchased by Ed and Heather O’Flynn, plus Eddie Jr., 14, and Juliana, 10, Mays Landing, N.J. Purchased at Cecil Marine, Williamstown, N.J. W H AT W E L I K E D :

The incredible amount of storage/Powerful and quiet Yamaha F200/Great stereo with transom remote/Attractive styling/ Comfortable seating W H AT W E W O U L D C H A N G E :

I would love to have a Bimini top that would allow me to enclose the cockpit with isinglass, so we could increase the length of our season.

WHY WE BOUGHT IT:

I grew up boating with my dad and got into PWC racing later on. We’ve owned personal watercraft and had a 19-foot bowrider but wanted something that could accommodate more people and be seaworthy enough to take into the Atlantic Ocean when it’s calm.

The Chaparral 21 H2O OB is the perfect boat for us. We’ve had as many as seven people on board, and the kids are into tubing and kneeboarding. With the need to store life jackets, filler cushions, tubes and skis, and bring refreshments for all, a regular boat could get pretty cluttered. But because this is a converted sterndrive boat, the gigantic storage compartment can hold everything. We do most of our boating in and around Great Egg Harbor Bay, which is near the Ocean City/ Atlantic City area. We bought our PWCs at Cecil Marine, and the service has always been fantastic. It’s a family-owned business that knows how to take care of you before, during and after the sale.

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the word ski comes first, it’s because the fishing features are weak, but Chaparral created a competent boat for anglers without the need to add optional features. In addition to a rear casting deck, the boat has one up front once the cushions are removed and a filler section is added to the gap between the bowrider seats. It comes ready to fish with a standard 75-pound thrust, 24v wireless MotorGuide trolling motor that does away with the need for a space-consuming foot control. It also has a clever feature I’ve never seen before on any fishing boat: a solemounted rod holder, which will be handy for changing lures or waiting for a strike when using live bait.

Its skiing chops are good too, with features such as a centerline ski (or fishing rod) locker that includes a hole in its lid for curling an index finger through to open it, but it does allow rain to enter. It really needs the standard latch here, preferably a lockable one. The bow storage compartments are another clue this is a “price boat.”

They require users to lift the entire seat bottom off instead of using hinges. There’s a transom ski tow eye, but a brushed anodized aluminum ski-tow frame ($486) or a folding Velocity watersports tower in white or black ($2,300) is a better option.

The 21 H2O is a comfortable cruiser thanks to twin captain’s chairs and really comfortable bowrider seats. Coaming pads circle the entire boat, which makes it more toddler friendly. For extended cruises, the boat has a generous 40-gallon fuel tank. At rest, the stern sunpad’s ends can tilt up for more comfortable lounging.

PREFERRED SETUP

Chaparral gives owners a well-equipped boat, complete with a tandem-axle trailer, starting at a nationally advertised price of $34,450 that includes a choice of 12 styling schemes with color-coordinated UV-resistant upholstery. The addition of the Deluxe Package ($820) checks a number of must-have options, including a Bimini top, upgraded port and starboard captain’s chairs with flip-up bolsters, a digital depthfinder, a port console storage door and special badging. At the helm, buyers can add a ram-mounted Garmin Striker 4-inch color fishfinder/GPS for only $200. The stereo upgrade to a Clarion Bluetooth model with a transom remote is well worth $395.

For power, stay away from the F115 that’s part of the nationally advertised package, especially for skiing or fishing on larger bodies of water. Sometimes manufacturers gouge buyers who upgrade an entry-level boat to higher horsepower, but not here.

The bump to an F150 is a reasonable $3,000 and hits our price/performance sweet spot. The upgrade to the F200 from the F150 seems a bit steep at an additional $3,600, considering it’s essentially the same engine with different computer mapping, but doing so could make sense for buyers who are going to carry the max load of 12 people (we’re not sure where they will sit, though). At the high end is the Yamaha F200 with Digital Electronic Control for a package price of $41,495, or the supercharged Mercury Verado 200 with DTS for $41,670. BW

Specs Length 21 ft., 6 in. Beam 8 ft., 4 in. Deadrise 20 degrees Capacity 12 people Dry Weight (hull) 3,050 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 40 gal. Max HP 200 PERFORMANCE Peak 48.2 mph/6000 rpm/93 dBA Cruise 29.9 mph/4000 rpm/82 dBA Time to Plane 3.3 sec.

Time to 30 mph 6.5 sec.

POWER Test Yamaha F150 four-stroke Cylinders In-line 4 Displacement 2.7L Weight w/outdrive 491 lbs.

WOT Range 5000-6000 rpm Base Price w/test power $36,495 Value-Added Standard Features: Dual-axle custom trailer, 6-inch cleats, in-floor ski storage, 4-speaker stereo, 24v wireless MotorGuide trolling motor, coaming pads, hourmeter, hydraulic steering Must-Have Options: Aluminum trailer, Bimini top, ski tower, ski tow, saltwater trolling motor, mooring cover, lighting package, walkthrough dam, triple-bank battery charger, in-gunwale rod holders Builder: Chaparral, chaparralboats.com Financing: $262/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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tested

H E Y DAY W T-2

Wakesports For Working Sorts Heyday’s WT-2 allows boaters to have their wake and eat it too … for a lot less money.

BY ALAN JONES

F

OR 15 YEARS, JOHN DORTON was at the helm of MasterCraft, where price wasn’t as

much of a concern as building the ultimate ride. But in 2012, Dorton left and shortly thereafter acquired a controlling interest in Bryant Boats, a family-owned company just down the road in Tennessee that had a reputation for building affordable, quality runabout-style boats.

A few years later John’s son, Ben, a former pro wakeboarder, joined the team and it wasn’t long before they began working with hull engineer Cotton Welshan, who has been designing watersports boats for three decades, to create a different sort of boat. The idea was to distill a wakesports boat down to its essential elements, and Heyday — whose motto tells it all: Wake/ Tunes/Crew — was born. Last year, Heyday launched what it termed the Water Tractor, starting with the WT-1, which started at about $40,000, and later added the larger WT-2, which gets surfers and wakeboarders on the water for around $50,000. The concept proved irresistible to Brunswick’s Bayliner division. It acquired Heyday from Bryant because its philosophy dovetails nicely with Bayliner’s corporate mantra of getting new people on the water at a reasonable price.

way to the blunt bow section where the boarding ladder resides. The first WT-2 I saw had an Android tablet held by a giant Ram X-Grip holder instead of a display, but now that Heyday is part of the Bayliner family it’s being replaced with a large MerCruiser 903 display that gives it a glass cockpit look. In addition to controlling the stereo, the 903 display can also monitor a GoPro camera.

The WT-2 is purposedesigned to get people into wakesports.

UNIQUE FACTOR

There’s no mistaking the profile of the Heyday WT-2, thanks to a bulldog-like bow section that looks like it had its point sliced off. When some people see it for the first time, it strikes them as pug-ugly (guilty), but only after I delved into its function and spent some time on it did its beauty emerge.

The inside of the boat is nearly as jarring as its exoskeleton. The helm sits far forward and its console extends all the 36

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beef with the mini backrest is that it sits at a 90-degree angle to the seat bottom, which isn’t particularly comfortable. The stern of the boat is dwarfed by the huge engine compartment’s “dog house,” which doubles as a roomy sunpad when skiers take a break. The best seats in the house are on either side and feature a hump in the middle of the seat bottom, which creates really comfortable hot tub–style seating whether the occupant is facing fore or aft.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

The WT-2 has a seating capacity of 12, and it accommodates everyone in an unconventional way. Up front is a rearfacing bench seat whose portside section stretches into a really long settee that is bisected by a removable backrest. My only

PERFORMANCE

When Heyday was part of the Bryant family, the power choices came from PCM’s Crusader series of wakesports 5.7L V-8 inboards, and many of these are still in the dealer pipeline, but the one I tested had the MerCruiser Tow Sports 6.2L 320 hp. (Bayliner is a part of the Brunswick family, which also owns Mercury/ MerCruiser, so look for PCM-powered models to disappear in the next year or so.) The 6.2L Tow Sport Inboard comes in a 370 hp version, but the 320 hp pushed it just fine, even loaded with its 1,800 pounds of max ballast.

When I hammered the throttle, there was a bit of initial bowrise, but the nose quickly came down as the WT-2 settled in on plane in 2.5 seconds. Its time to 25 mph was only 4.5 seconds and its top speed was 39 mph.

HANDLING

At the helm, the driver holds on to a thick sports wheel and sits in a wraparound helm seat that has a flip-up bolster. Overall, the driver position and comfort level are really good. The boat’s LOA of 22 feet, 6 inches includes the SeaDek-covered swim platform that sits right at water level. Its hull length is only 20 feet, which helps account for the boat’s nimble handling during hard corners.

The WT-2 features an unusual hull

(Clockwise from top right) Wraparound helm seat holds the driver securely in place. The swim platform is cushioned with SeaDek and rides low to the water. Many Heydays in the dealer pipeline feature tablets for displays. The forward L-lounge provides plenty of passenger seating. The WT-2’s unusual interior layout has the helm positioned very far forward.

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owner feedback

Purchased by Drew and Monica Goss, plus Morgan, 16, and Tristan, 13, Whitehall, Mich.

Purchased at SkipperBud’s, Grand Isle, Mich.

W H AT W E L I K E D :

Super-low price point/Simplicity of operation/ Comfortable hot tub–style stern loungers/ Tower with Wet Sounds sound bar/Great surfing and wakeboarding wake W H AT W E W O U L D C H A N G E :

I’m not sure how to do this, but the bow of the boat comes to a point and is totally unprotected if you bump into something.

WHY WE BOUGHT IT:

My family has always been into watersports.

We’ve owned some high-dollar ski boats before, but our needs have changed. My wife and I are into slalom skiing and my kids really like wakesports, but we also wanted more room for entertaining on the water.

Thanks to Heyday’s low price, we can afford to buy it for our wakesports needs and still get a triple-tube pontoon for entertaining and slalom skiing. My son Tristan is a wake shredder and loves the big, well-formed wake the Heyday provides, and we all like to surf, so we have our bases covered. The WT-2 really turns heads with its unique look, and I like the fact it has a wrap that we can change if we want a new color. I added Vantage Protection film, which is like a vinyl clear coat that gives the wrap extra protection. We do our boating on White Lake in western Michigan and like to cruise to restaurants such as Buzz’s Lakeside Inn and Crosswinds on the Lake. Tom at SkipperBud’s made the buying process a pleasure, and the service department is first-rate.

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that doesn’t require extra running gear to help produce a great wake. The transom features an extreme 117-degree inward angle (longer at the top) that helps the stern settle low into the water and artfully controls the flow of water to organically form a wake. The deadrise at the transom is only 5 degrees, which makes it very stable laterally and prevents it from heeling far over in turns. I thought this would make it ride rough in the chop, but the entry is sharper and creates better slicing action.

We tested it on Lake Michigan, which was a little lumpy, and it rode well through the chop. An area of concern, initially, was the stubby bow section. Would it be prone to stuffing? Turns out this is one of the Heyday’s strengths thanks to twin sponsons up front that provide extra flotation and keep the bow riding high.

BEST USES

The WT-2 is purpose-designed to get people into wakesports, and it does so in the simplest possible fashion. The boat itself weighs 3,550 pounds, which is a pretty good start for wave making. Two ballast tanks each have a 900-pound capacity, and there are exactly two billet toggle switches that control them. Simply toggle up on the surfing side or toggle down to dump ballast. For wakeboarding, toggle both up. There’s no capacity to change from surfing on the regular side to the goofy side on the fly like fancier boats with tabs and gates possess, but this boat isn’t really designed for pros; it’s more for the 90 percent of surfers who stay on their “good”

side. The fill and dump takes longer than others to cycle, but that’s a small matter.

The surfing wake itself forms quickly and is surprisingly fat and long with a large sweet spot and plenty of push. The boat’s list during surfing isn’t too drastic, probably because of its relatively flat bottom. The wakeboard wake is medium in size and the ramp is clean and well-defined. For skiing, the wake never really flattens out enough to do more than cruise slalom over the lumps at speeds of around 30 mph with zero ballast.

PREFERRED SETUP

Heyday delivers a nice turnkey boat, including a trailer and a watersports tower, for the starting price of $50,000. It features a Wet Sounds sound bar for tunes and no option for spending more money. That’s sort of a theme. Most ski boats feature an options list longer than a CVS receipt, but Heyday keeps it simple and affordable.

Start with a choice of eight free color schemes and eight more optional schemes with more black in them for an additional $467. What’s cool is they are wraps, not gelcoat, so it’s possible and affordable to change the color scheme.

There is only a handful of must-have options, including the GPS version of Zero Off’s speed control ($1,143). Swivel board racks are an extra $993 and a ski pylon costs $800. Add a sunshade for $853 or a soft-sided cooler for $111. For a little more flexibility in controlling the wake’s shape, there’s an elevator plate available for $399. BW

Specs Length 22 ft., 6 in. Beam 8 ft. Deadrise 5 degrees Capacity 12 people Dry Weight (hull) 3,550 lbs. Fuel Capacity 35 gal.

Max HP 350 PERFORMANCE Peak 39.0 mph/5400 rpm/94 dBA Cruise 22.3 mph/3000 rpm/84 dBA Time to Plane 2.3 sec.

Time to 30 mph 4.5 sec.

POWER Test MerCruiser 320 hp ECT Cylinders V-8 Displacement 6.2L Weight w/outdrive 862 lbs.

WOT Range 5000-5400 rpm Base Price w/test power $49,995 Value-Added Standard Features: Single-axle custom trailer, popup cleats, in-floor ski storage compartment, rearview mirror, Wet Sounds sound bar, wakesports tower, speed control Must-Have Options: Dual axle-trailer, Zero Off GPS speed control, tower sunshade, custom color wrap, ski pylon, boat cover, LED light package, dash upgrade w/Android tablet, swivel board racks Builder: Bayliner/Heyday Boats, heydaywakeboats.com Financing: $359/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

tested

FO R M U L A 310 BOW R I D ER

Flexible Formula The 310 BR is a bowrider that can cruise to the sandbar … or the Bahamas … in style.

BY ALAN JONES

I

T’S INTERESTING TO WATCH THE evolution of a boat model from a company such as Formula, whose designers take a let’s-build-the-ultimate-boat frame of mind. The last time we set foot on a 310 BR, circa 2014, the interior was totally different. It featured a fixed U-lounge in the cockpit, a doublewide captain/copilot seat with static backrests and a stern lounger with one moveable backrest that ate up valuable cockpit space when deployed as a sunpad. Formula solicits lots of feedback from its owners, and it kept hearing the same message: “Give us more versatility.” Formula’s answer? “You got it.”

UNIQUE FACTOR

At the heart of the new seating scheme are individually articulating backrests, both at the helm and at the stern. This maximizes passenger comfort and flexibility whether the key is on or off. At the helm, Formula retained the doublewide crew seating, which is a great feature for cruising, because it allows occupants to have a conversation without yelling across the 310’s 9-foot, 6-inch beam. The copilot can flip his individual seatback forward and move behind to have a rear-facing seat to spot skiers or tubers or chat with passengers aft. At rest, the captain can join the cockpit social zone by doing the same.

To crank the relaxation factor up a notch, drop the ginormous cockpit table down and put a cushion on top, so people on the U-lounge can kick up their feet or stretch out to catch some rays. An identical table up in the bowriding section performs the same trick. The seat bottoms up front have a removable middle section, so instead of two people reclining, at least five riders can sit and place their feet on the deck.

At the stern, instead of a one-piece backrest, there are two that allow each person hanging out to determine his optimal comfort position, and one or both can face front or back. While this arrangement provides flexibility, some owners may

prefer the original seating arrangement, which allows two passengers to sit, facing aft, behind the captain and copilot. For them, the 310 FX BR is available and features a more exotic helm and interior design.

PERFORMANCE

Many builders with sterndrive-powered boats give owners a choice of one brand to choose from. Lucky buyers will find a builder that allows them to choose between MerCruiser or Volvo Penta, but Formula ups the ante with a third choice: Ilmor, which earned its stripes building racing engines for offshore racers and land-based circuits such as Indy Racing and NASCAR. For the 310 Bowrider, buyers have 10 choices of dual-engine power, starting with a pair of 300 hp 6.2L MerCruisers (the standard engine package) or 5.3L Volvo Pentas. On the opposite end of the power spectrum is a trio of 430 hp options from the aforementioned manufacturers.

Our test boat showed that the upper-middle power echelon will provide all the thrills an owner could want without blowing up the already significant price tag, which starts at $272,790 with a pair of 300 hp MerCruiser 6.2L engines. Our boat had the MerCruiser 8.2L 380 hp motors,

The bow section converts easily from playpen (far left) to dining area (middle). The elegant dash (far right) has plenty of room for big-screen displays.

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owner feedback

Purchased by Mack and Denise Strasser, Cape Coral, Fla. Purchased at Formula Boats South, Naples, Fla. W H AT W E L I K E D :

Styling and eye-catching Imron paint job/ Axius Joystick Piloting system/Performance and handling/Convertible seating and cockpit layout/The security of dual engines W H AT W E W O U L D C H A N G E :

We have the tonneau cover for protection when we aren’t using it, but we wish it were easier to put on.

WHY WE BOUGHT IT:

We’ve been boaters for about 40 years but most of our experience is on lakes in Tennessee, where we used to live. We moved to Cape Coral on the southwest coast of Florida and wanted something larger that could handle the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. We’d always owned Sea Rays but were blown away by the styling and quality of the Formula 310 BR. One feature that was very important was the Axius Joystick system, which gives us the confidence to handle this boat in tight quarters. With twin 6.2L 350 hp engines, this boat performs like a sports car.

We do a lot of day cruising to places such as Ft. Myers Beach and are looking forward to taking some longer trips. We love taking friends out on the boat and entertaining them at places like Woody’s Waterfront, Lighthouse Restaurant and Bayfront Bistro.

Our experience with Formula Boats South has been outstanding. Scott and Steve have made buying a boat a fun experience, as it should be, and they’ve taken good care of us after the sale with outstanding dockside service.

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which increased the price by $19,150 but had a significant impact on performance.

Formula estimates this boat, with the standard setup, will have a top speed in the 47 to 49 mph range. With 160 hp more, the 310 BR reached 58.9 mph, which, for a 9,875-pound boat, is pretty fast.

Out of the hole, it performed very well, considering it has 22 degrees of deadrise at the stern, which tends to settle a boat deeper in the water than a flatter stern.

Deploying the standard Bennett hydraulic trim tabs down made a huge difference in time to plane and bowrise. Without them, the bow came up high enough to lose the horizon for a second or two as I timed it to plane in 4.9 seconds. With the tabs deployed, time to plane was reduced to three seconds with very little bowrise.

Once the boat was on plane, killing the tabs allowed it to accelerate in a very linear and smooth fashion to 30 mph in 7.5 seconds.

HANDLING

Most of the time I prefer calm conditions for testing a boat, but rougher conditions are my preference with a Formula test.

Like other Formula boats I’ve tested, the 310 BR’s balance is excellent. And making constant adjustments to get the trim just right won’t occupy all of the driver’s time on this boat. MerCruiser has done away with the dreaded learning curve. Its Active Trim feature does it automatically, to keep the boat running at its optimal attitude, with the simple push a button.

Of course, this boat tends to run fairly level, so the auto trim isn’t working too hard. But even experienced boaters will take whatever assistance they can get, especially when it’s MerCruiser’s Joystick Piloting for Sterndrives system ($18,705).

With it engaged, the driver can perform any docking maneuver necessary, including going sideways, which will come in handy when it’s time to fit this 33-foot, 11-inch (with extended swim platform) boat into a 35-foot space. Another great feature is Sky Hook, which will keep the boat stationary without having to deploy the anchor.

Some drivers (and passengers) might be taken by surprise the first time they whip the 310 BR into a hard turn at speed,

because it has a solid grip on the water and leans pretty steeply into the corner. It hooks up really well and performs a 180 easily, but until one learns its tendencies, it’s better to ease off the throttle a bit going into a turn and accelerate on the exit.

BEST USES

This boat is so much fun to drive, the passengers might have to yell at the driver to stop because he passed the sandbar. If that’s the case, he can pull out the skis or tubes and keep them entertained — and extend his driving time. If buyers want an arch for the cool factor, one is available for $8,610. If watersports are an absolute,

The new cockpit layout (top left) creates a giant social zone for passengers. The stand-up head compartment (bottom right) rivals ones on cruisers. An optional pull-out refrigerator (bottom left) keeps beverages close at hand.

an add-on and has a clean look, since the ladder is hidden underneath.

PREFERRED SETUP

The standard Formula 310 BR is about as far from a standard boat as I’ve seen, with features such as its yacht-like wood-decked, standup head compartment complete with a pumpout, a 36-gallon holding capacity and a vanity with a sink that’s fed by a 29-gallon tank. The helm is turnkey, featuring Livorsi gauges, a Raymarine eS78 chartplotter, a digital depthsounder and a leather-wrapped wheel. The standard six-speaker, 400-watt Clarion Bluetooth is good, but the premium stereo is a JL audio there’s a stainless steel sport top with a Sunbrella top, a wakeboard tow point and a mast light, for $14,120. At speeds around 21 mph, the 310 BR puts out a well-formed wakeboard wake, and there’s plenty of room for skis in the in-floor compartment.

The 310 BR is a great entertainer, whether while idling around or coving.

To port is a large entertainment center with four cupholders (17 in all) and a large Corian working surface. Underneath is a 30-quart cooler, but buyers can option up to a refrigerator for $2,105. While it’s an option, we’re pretty sure few boats leave the factory without the extended swim platform ($7,930), which doesn’t look like

unit with a subwoofer and lighted speakers ($1,340) that rocks with the best.

Standard decking is snap-in carpeting, but a host of vinyl options come at a $14,530 upcharge. On a premium boat like this, the crew would look a little weird manually handling an anchor, so the windlass is a must-have $6,155 option that comes with 75 feet of chain and a polished stainless steel plow anchor that doubles as a hood ornament. One of Formula’s signature features is the high-end Imron gelcoat it uses. The standard finish is heads and tails above that on most other boats, but the Flagship Fusion metallic finishes ($10,210) are conversation starters. BW

Specs Length 31 ft. Beam 9 ft., 6 in. Deadrise 22 degrees Capacity Yacht certified Dry Weight (hull) 9,875 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 119 gal. Max HP 860 PERFORMANCE Peak 58.9 mph/5000 rpm/93 dBA Cruise 40.6 mph/3500 rpm/83 dBA Time to Plane 3.0 sec. (w/tabs deployed) Time to 30 mph 7.5 sec.

POWER Test MerCruiser 8.2L ECT DTS Cylinders V-8 Displacement 8.2L Weight w/outdrive 1,122 lbs.

WOT Range 4500-5000 rpm Base Price w/test power $292,130 Value-Added Standard Features: Raymarine eS78 chartplotter, pumpout head, 2 cockpit tables, Bennett trim tabs, Livorsi gauges, Clarion 6-speaker Bluetooth stereo, stainless steel props, stern shower Must-Have Options: JL audio system w/subwoofer, windlass, Raymarine eS98 chartplotter, Joystick Piloting for Sterndrives, sport arch, extended swim platform, VacuFlush head, gas grill, refrigerator, shore power Builder: Thunderbird/Formula Boats, formulaboats.com Financing: $2,095/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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tested

S U N C ATCH E R D I A M O N D E LITE 324SS

Diamond Setting The first-class cabin at G3 pontoons just got a lot more plush and stylish.

BY ALAN JONES

F

OR SUNCATCHER PONTOONS, THE ELITE Series has always been its luxury gold

standard, but with the new Diamond Elite, the Yamaha-owned division of G3 found a way to up the ante and create a new class of luxury.

UNIQUE FACTOR

The new-for-2017 Diamond Elite 324SS we tested was a visually stunning exploration of the entire grayscale spectrum, from black to white. And while there may not have been 50 shades of gray in between, I saw at least five. Even the logs were a black powder-coated hue — a first for SunCatcher, as was the charcoal anodized aluminum fencing. Add pewter with harbor gray graphics and slanted-board, weather-grayed flooring from Aqua Tread, and the look is complete. Other fence color choices and interior schemes are available, but ours had an understated elegance.

The line’s all-new furniture features pillow-tops and a leather-feel vinyl in immaculate white with gray (what else?) panels that feature alternating white single, double and triple stitching. The vinyl fabric itself was eerily cool on a blazing hot day on Table Rock Lake, near Branson, Mo. — almost like air conditioning for the skin.

In addition to twin rear-facing recliners, the layout features a portside layback seat across from the captain that can be linked to the abbreviated forward sofa with a gate-filler sectional to create a really long couch. There’s a fourth chaise lounge in front of the captain.

To add some diamond flash to this absence-of-color design scheme, all the hardware is polished stainless steel, from the stout soccer goal ski tow to the

boarding ladder and its swimming pool– style grabrails. Unique to this line are the custom bow and stern boarding gates that have the SunCatcher name cut out of an oval plate. The stern gate blends seamlessly into the stainless steel grabrails that circle the aft third of the boat. About the only place I didn’t care for this chrome blitz was on the steering wheel, which tended to reflect the sun into my eyes as I drove.

PERFORMANCE

Since SunCatcher is a Yamaha company, don’t expect to see another engine brand on the transom. The 23-foot, 10-inch 324SS is rated to handle up to 250 hp. Every Diamond Elite model comes standard with triple 23-by-25-inch U-shaped tubes that have closed-cell foam inside to maintain flotation even in the event of a breach.

Given that triple tubes are standard, it’s a little puzzling to discover the engine choices start with an F90. There’s a special price of $67,995 for a Diamond Elite 324 with an F115, but don’t bite on that combo either. The minimum power buyers should get is an F150, but even that won’t do this boat justice. Our test boat had the V MAX SHO 225 on it, which showed off the boat’s potential nicely. Even with this hotrod of an engine, the MSRP is still a reasonable $77,495. The builder rigged the engine nicely, tucking the hoses and wires neatly underneath the ample swim platform.

(Clockwise from top right) The forward-swept tower provides an anchor for the Bimini top. Diamondstitched upholstery panels add a touch of class. Contoured seat bottoms add comfort to the wide recliners. The helm is visually stunning. The custom, etched metal bow gate exhibits SunCatcher pride.

Polished stainless steel hardware at the stern is stout and striking.

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While the 4.2L V-6 motor was originally designed for bass boats, its punch out of the hole was not wasted on this boat. Thanks to features such as Variable Camshaft Timing, when I slammed the throttle the boat really jumped, as evidenced by its time to plane of 2.4 seconds. The trip to 30 mph took just 6.3 seconds, and the Yamaha’s midrange throttle response was excellent. Top speed was 44.4 mph. Since the V MAX SHO 250 is essentially the same engine as the 225 with no weight penalty, I would go for the big MAX when choosing engines.

HANDLING

With two performance lifting strakes on both sides of each tube, this pontoon gets on top of the water quickly and stays there even at slower speeds, which comes in handy for towing really young kids on tubes. All that lift helps it ride high and dry

This pontoon gets on top of the water quickly and stays there.

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owner feedback

Purchased by James and Wendy Brewer, plus Mason, 11, and Haven, 8, Winter Garden, Fla. Purchased at Sonny’s Marine, Orlando W H AT W E L I K E D :

The gray, black and white color scheme and beautiful styling/Powerful and quiet Yamaha VF250/Mood and underwater lighting/Kicker stereo/Comfortable seating W H AT W E W O U L D C H A N G E :

The Kicker speakers and stereo are awesome, but I’ve had JL Audio stereos in every one of my vehicles, so when these speakers get older, I’ll change them.

WHY WE GOT IT:

Although we’ve been on a lot of boats, this is the first one we’ve ever owned, so we did lots of research before buying. There was a little bit of sticker shock on some of the models we liked, but when we went into Sonny’s Marine we loved the SunCatcher Diamond Elite 324SS with the black/white/gray color scheme that matched my truck. Orlando has countless boating opportunities, but we really like the Clermont Chain of Lakes, which has 13 lakes of all sizes. Mason and Haven love tubing and kneeboarding and also want to learn to waterski. We like to anchor and swim or take nighttime cruises with our friends. Sonny’s Marine is a family-run business and they treat you like you are part of their family. I was new to boating, but Keith answered all my questions and put no pressure on me to buy. I took my boat in for its first scheduled service and they detailed my boat and gave me some equipment I needed for a road trip at no extra cost.

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over the chop and reduces the potential of submarining when it crosses large wakes.

Strakes on the outside of the outer tubes deliver some pushback in hard corners that keeps the 324SS’s deck parallel to the water in hard turns — to the right, at least.

For some weird reason, probably owing to prop torque, there is a tiny bit of outward lean during left-hand turns. But in either direction, the driver can crank a satisfyingly hard corner without losing traction or prop bite. The 324SS responds well to trim and it’s easy to get the front of the tubes out of the water, to reduce drag and increase speed. And the standard SeaStar power steering system means mom and dad can tow the kids on tubes all day and not break a sweat.

SunChaser designers wisely resisted the trendy urge to include faux-headrests that jab lounging passengers mid-shoulder blade.

Instead, the seatback, which is perfectly angled, actually contours to the human form. Underneath the portside recliner is a cavernous storage area, but there’s less room under the one behind the captain because of the twin batteries residing there.

A centerline in-tube locker makes up for some of that lost storage, and it even has its own bilge pump to keep it dry. The captain sits at a well-designed helm station that’s raised for better visibility and includes a Garmin GPSmap 7610 XSV for navigation and Garmin’s 73 DownVü, which provides a near-photographic view of what’s beneath the boat.

BEST USES

PREFERRED SETUP

With the gleaming hardware on the stern, this boat is ready for any watersport, except wakesurfing. Because the 324SS rides so high in the water, it throws a very flat wake at 30 mph, making it an excellent slalom boat. The flat wake will be kid-friendly for tubing, too, because they won’t go airborne every time dad pushes the throttle. At wakeboard speeds around 20 mph, the driver can boost the wake a bit by trimming the motor up. While not huge, it’s enough wake for young boarders to develop their wake-jumping technique.

There is a standard black powder-coated forward-swept tower, but it’s just the frame for the Sunbrella Bimini top.

With twin rear-facing luxury recliners, ski spotting has never been more comfortable.

Normally by now, readers would have seen a bunch of parentheses around the prices of the options, but most everything mentioned — including the 10-inch color display — is a standard feature. The 324SS comes loaded for entertaining with a premium Kicker stereo and six lighted speakers and a subwoofer. It’s perfect for nighttime cruises thanks to blue interior mood lighting and RGB LED underdeck lighting with changing colors that anyone can control with a smartphone app. Buyers who want a bar boat should look at the 324SS’s sister ship in the Diamond Elite series, the slightly longer 326SS. About the only must-have options are a trailer, a mooring cover, a filler sectional for the forward or port gates, and a bow Bimini top. BW

Specs Length 23 ft., 10 in. Beam 8 ft., 6 in. Tube Diameter 23 in. x 25 in. Capacity 11 people Dry Weight (hull) 3,340 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 38 gal. Max HP 250 PERFORMANCE Peak 44.4 mph/6000 rpm/94 dBA Cruise 31.5 mph/4500 rpm/83 dBA Time to Plane 2.4 sec.

Time to 30 mph 6.3 sec.

POWER Test Yamaha VF225 hp four-stroke Cylinders V-6 Displacement 4.2L Weight w/outdrive 505 lbs.

WOT Range 5000-6000 rpm Base Price w/test power $77,495 Value-Added Standard Features: Garmin 7610 XSV 10-inch display, 6-speaker Kicker stereo w/subwoofer, SeaStar power steering, Bimini top w/arch, vinyl deck choices, underdeck lighting Must-Have Options: Dual Axle-trailer in powder-coated paint or galvanized upgrade, bow filler sectional, mooring cover, bow Bimini top, drop-in storage tray Builder: G3 Boats/SunCatcher Pontoons, suncatcherpontoons.com Financing: $556/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

bonehead blunders

BY G R I D M I CH A L

Not Sinking In BONEHEAD BLUNDER: Hearing but not

listening THE BONEHEADS: Most of eastern Virginia BONEHEAD RATING: A full five (plus a few) WHAT HAPPENED: By this time of the

year, I usually have a stack of Boneheads incidents. This year, however, has provided weeks upon weeks of unrelenting rain, washing away most folks’ desire to go boating. At the same time the regular boaters were sluiced downstream, they were replaced by nebbishes from upstream. The possibility exists that they are Martians, as what they do and say leads me to believe they really are from another planet.

As a mobile mechanic, I need decent weather to get my jobs done. I count on a couple of quick oil changes during each week to give my brain a few minutes to concentrate on upcoming jobs that require thought. Yesterday I reviewed my list (again) and called customers (again) to reschedule. Of the 38 repair orders on my board — about 10 percent of my client list — only one was for an oil change. Thirteen were for electrical diagnosis and repair, and 24 were for fuel-related problems.

To a one, the 24 fuel issues involved folks who have been spirited away on spaceships and replaced by Martians who have no clue that the boating industry is battling fuel mandated to have the same qualities as corn syrup. When I taught marine tech at the community college, I encouraged my students to ask “why?” I wanted them to get right down in the gutters with me and ask: “Why did you buy a new $20,000 outboard for your 20-year-old boat with an aluminum gas tank and elect to not install a water separator filter for $50?”

“Why do you think fuel injection, because of its technology, is immune to the same outside factors that bring carburetors to their knees?”

“Why do you think they make plastic fuel carry-cans in different colors? Say … red for gasoline and yellow for diesel?”

“Why do you think that the carry-can you found in the shed even has gas in

it? It might be Uncle John’s potty for his workshop. Or kerosene for his space heater.

What color is the can, anyway?”

“If you know that marinas who charge far more than I are backed up at least four weeks, why do you think I’m sitting at home reading a magazine waiting for you to ask me to ‘slip by’ your place 80 miles up-country?”

“Why do you attend my seminars, listen to me tell you the ramifications of the wrong way of doing things — and passionately beg you to do them the proper way — then go right out and do them wrong?

Perfectly!”

I’m of the age I expect boat owners to think. If I take a Saturday away from my family to teach folks for free how to respect their engines and “do the right thing,” then if they don’t, they should understand it will

HAS YOUR DOG GOT THE SALT?

BONEHEAD RATING SYSTEM Acceptably assinine Slightly slow Distinguished dunce Massively moronic Seek mental help

cost them serious bucks. Especially if I have to “slip by” a summer home 80 miles up the road.

LESSON LEARNED: I despair. I don’t believe boaters in the heat of racing to the water will ever, ever think. Ever. Each time I think I’ve taught them well, I find the lesson they learned lying in the ditch, right next to a roller from their trailer. BW

Enter your pooch in our Salty Dog of the Month contest.

Email your pet’s photo and name, your name, address and phone number to editor@boatingworld.com, or snail mail to Boating World Salty Dog Contest, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. Your pet could win a cool PFD from CWB.

This month’s Boating World Salty Dog will win this cool CWB dog vest.

*Shown above is our current prize, a CWB Dog Vest valued at $24.95. Prizes are subject to change.

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Lowe L1648 M Aura

Skiff’s Notes

A skiff provides an inexpensive alternative to the big boat and delivers a different sort of boating experience.

BY ALAN JONES

The other major ingredient is

S

o what is a skiff

that it be inexpensive enough

anyway? While there

to allow almost anyone to get

are many official

out on the water — important

definitions, for our

because most people reading

purposes we’re going to call it

this magazine already have

a light, relatively flat-bottomed

a family boat eating into

fishing boat that can operate in

their boating budget. But the

shallow water and be powered

beauty of a skiff is it makes

by a low-horsepower engine.

a viable option for a second boat … one that’s easy to own

and allows the owner to get away with maybe one or two friends or family members. It is a more intimate flavor of boating that really makes occupants feel one with the water, mostly because there’s usually not much separating them and it.

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Ultraskiff

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Carolina Skiff J16

Mako Pro Skiff 17

Carolina Skiff J16

Fiberglass Jon Boat Carolina Skiff is the major player in the skiff world and has probably built more

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boat hulls than any other boat company. Founded in the early 1980s by Terry Stark, who sold the company in 1998 to travel the world, the company’s goal was to build a boat anyone could afford. The original models had totally flat bottoms that beat riders up in a chop and took corners like a car on black ice. Newer entry-level models have a modified Shallow Vee hull that rides softer and knocks down spray better and their keel tracks better in corners. Many current models are more like fancy-pants boats, with liners and deep-V hulls, such as the 27 HFC that sells for more than $100,000, but Carolina Skiff still makes skiffs the likes of which built its reputation. They feature a rolled-edge design and a speckled interior devoid of a liner. J-models such as the J16 CC are durable, functional and affordable. For buyers looking to get one as inexpensively as possible, Carolina Skiff’s dealers will even sell a kit, which is a barebones hull that allows buyers to add only the features they want.

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Flats Boat Most of the boats in this category are far too expensive to be called affordable. Even a used Egret, Hell’s Bay, Chittum Skiff, or Lake and Bay can cost $65K or more. Often they are made from exotic materials such as Kevlar, which will come in handy for folks who do their boating in bullet-infested waters. But there are some inexpensive models, such as the Xpress Boats Skiff 165, which is powered by a Yamaha F70 and comes with a trailer, for a nationally advertised price of $19,995. The secret ingredient? Although it

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Mako Pro Skiff 17

XPress Boats Skiff 165

Original Jon Boat This is the original skiff and is one of the least expensive ways to get on the water. They haven’t changed much over the decades other than being much safer with greater flotation. They feature flat bottoms, which allow them to be very stable for their size, and they don’t need a lot of power to move them. Models such as the Lowe L1648 M Aura can be powered with up to a 35 hp FourStroke Mercury and has a hull weight of just 275 pounds but can carry up to 1,014 pounds (including the engine).

Most Jon boats are designed for calm inland waters and some are small enough to be hauled in the bed of a pickup truck. Because of their light weight, most Jon boats don’t need a traditional boat ramp, just back up the trailer to the lake or pick it up and carry it.

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Lowe L1648 M Aura

looks like a fiberglass boat from a distance, its hull is made from 0.100-gauge aluminum. Like its more expensive brethren, this 16-foot, 3-inch boat features a raised casting deck in the bow that’s totally devoid of any obstruction that could snag a loose fly line. It can float in inches of water with the motor raised and even offers a raised platform at the stern that can accept an elevated platform, to allow the “guide” to push the boat with a pole while spotting fish for the angler in the bow.

Because of their light weight, most Jon boats are designed for calm inland waters.

Tunnel Hull Skiffs

This is the exception to our relatively flat-bottomed skiff description in the opening paragraph, but these boats are clearly in the skiff family. Models such as the Mako Pro Skiff 17 feature a unique catamaran-like Advanced Inverted V hull shape that traps air under the hull and makes it fast and stable and gives it a more comfortable ride than flattish-hulled boats. This variant is one of the more “seaworthy” models in this roundup, even though its own literature notes it is designed for inshore waters. Powered by a modest 60 hp Mercury FourStroke, the nationally advertised price with a trailer is a budget-friendly $15,995. Its deck layout includes fore and aft casting platforms that can accommodate pedestal seating. A center console design, it has a padded cooler for a seat, whose low height encourages the driver to stand while underway, which provides better visibility. Some care needs to be taken when turning it hard over for the first time, because its ability to hook up and carve a tight turn is surprising.

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Ultraskiff

Ultraskiff 360

I saw a couple of Ultraskiffs in the Atlantic Ocean not long ago and didn’t fully understand why anyone who already owned a bigger boat would haul them offshore. They are powered by a trolling motor, which is used more for maneuvering around a set point than as propulsion to get from point A to point B. My first thought was that it would be great if your pesky brother-in-law wanted to go fishing. Just drop him off and tell him you’ll be back in a couple of hours to pick him up. But after watching them in action, I started to understand (sort of) what they are for. With a pedestal fishing seat in the middle, it makes a really stable platform for one person to catch a fish, either sitting or standing. On regular boats, fish will often make an angler circumnavigate the boat’s perimeter multiple times during a fight, but here, when the fish takes a lap, one can just spin around in the seat.

Angled footrests all the way around provide good leverage when fighting a fish. Because of its shape, it can be moved around by tilting the 6-foot-diameter, 123-pound hull on its side and rolling it. The price before adding accessories is $1,495.

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Gheenoe

Boston Whaler

In 1956, Boston Whaler made skiff history when it introduced its 13.

Featuring a hull designed by Dick Fisher and tweaked by noted naval architect C. Raymond Hunt, the Boston Whaler 13 was touted as the first unsinkable boat (technically the second, counting Titanic).

Using a new material called polyurethane foam, Fisher constructed a hull that consisted of a fiberglass/foam sandwich that would float even when sawed in half.

Whaler still channels the original design in its newer 130 Super Sport, which has a 14-degree deadrise, to give it a smoother ride in the chop than with flatter-bottomed boats. This 13-footer still can accommodate a payload of 933 pounds and has an amazing swamped capacity of 1,600 pounds.

Powered with a 40 hp Mercury FourStroke, it’s priced at $13,995, with a trailer.

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Boston Whaler 130 Super Sport

Bōte Rover

One of the fastest growing watersports is standup paddleboarding (SUP), and it started with boards that were designed for riders to paddle around, get a little exercise and check out the scenery. In recent years, this genre has exploded and the boards have evolved to handle many more missions. Just how far they’ve come was in evidence at this year’s ICAST convention, an industry-only show that is all things fishing.

In the New Product Showcase were hundreds of new items that writers and buyers voted on to find out which was Best in Show. The winner? The 14-foot Bōte Rover, a standup board with some serious fishing chops. In addition to having clever features such as a slot to quickly store a paddle and a large Kula 5 bucket cooler that doubles as a seat, what turns it into a skiff is a motor bracket that can hold up to a 6 hp outboard and is designed to lift the nose out of the water to allow it to achieve speeds up to 16 mph, with a range of 180 miles.

The bow features a sharp-V configuration, which allows it to slice through the water easily.

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Solo Skiff

Essentially a mashup of a kayak, an SUP and a skiff, Solo Skiff can achieve surprising performance — top speed up to 17 mph — with up to a 5 hp outboard. This rotomolded polyethylene skiff is designed for one person and is stable enough to allow an angler to stand up and fish. With a 200-pound passenger and the outboard in the raised position, it only draws three inches of water. It comes with a four-gallon cooler and a seat that doubles as a surprisingly large dry storage area. The skiff itself is priced at $1,895 but doesn’t include the engine, which Solo Skiff recommends buyers get at onlineoutboards.com.

There, a 15-inchshaft Tohatsu 5 hp model costs $1,395 and is the recommended engine because of its slim lower unit profile. Motors other than the Mercury 3.5 and 5 hp (also built by Tohatsu) may make it impossible to steer.

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Solo Skiff can achieve surprising performance — top speed up to 17 mph – with up to a 5 hp outboard.

Bōte Rover

Gheenoe

Essentially, Gheenoe is a flatbacked 13- to 16-foot long canoe that will accept a small outboard, up to 40 hp, and can reach 35 mph with a 25 hp motor. What makes this different from most other canoes is its extremely wide beam, 4 feet, 7 inches on the larger models, which gives it incredible sideto-side stability that makes it possible to stand while casting or poling it around on the flats. A wide array of accessories allows buyers to customize it. It can accommodate a livewell and a side-stick steering system. I used one to explore the Ocklawaha River, in central Florida, in places where conventional boats couldn’t go because of downed trees blocking the waterway. BW

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Solo Skiff

The Rover ($3,499) can carry two people and gear, up to 500 pounds, even though it weighs just 105 pounds. For safety when running, there’s a Grab Rac that can serve as a “leaning post” while fishing. Other customizations exist. For anchoring, a Sandspear pole can fit through one of the holes in the board, or buyers can option up to an electric Power-Pole Micro.

Bōte Rover

To the Web BostonWhaler.com BoteBoard.com CarolinaSkiff.com Gheenoe.net LoweBoats.com Mako-Boats.com SoloSkiff.com UltraSkiff.com XpressBoats.com

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THE HULL STORY WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU THOUGHT ABOUT HULL INNOVATION? NOW’S THE TIME.

BY CAPT. TOM SERIO

M

any people who buy a boat focus on the amenities and features, such as the layout of the deck and helm, the type of propulsion system, and even how many speakers and cupholders it may have. One area that is often overlooked, despite being more critical than any other, is the hull. I don’t mean the above-thewater portion that will feature the buyer’s favorite color or graphic signature. I’m talking about the below-sea-level section, the wetted surface, the part that interacts with the H2O.

Hull types vary by shape, displacement, construction and other attributes.

Just like boats are designed for different uses, so are — and should be — hull configurations, for bass and flats boats, bowriders and cruisers, center consoles and ski/wakeboard boats, and jet- and pontoon boats. Let’s see what makes the hull so interesting.

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B OAT T Y P E S

Build It Right Hull construction may vary from process to process, but for the range of boats discussed, the material of choice is fiberglass. Sure, pontoons are made of aluminum, and that’s great, especially since additions or changes to the pontoon just require some welding.

And wood in most cases has gone away. Fiberglass is a durable and lightweight material. Mixed with the proper amount of resin, the combination bonds to create a hard laminate, suitable for pounding the waves.

The layup of a fiberglass hull is critical to the desired results.

With fiberglass, woven glass-fiber sheets or mats are laid up in a jig or mold, usually on the previously applied gelcoat or outer surface. Mats are laid out at 45-degree angles for improved strength, with additional mats used at points of higher stress and through-hull fittings. Resin is rolled into or drawn through

Cutwater’s 242 Sport Coupe features a double stepped hull, which reduces drag and increases speed and efficiency.

U N DER STA N DI NG H U LL S H A PE S

JET BOATS

Yamaha 242 Limited S Jet boats are unique in that they can offer a modified V forward and a shallow draft but need to flatten out aft. Why? Because the jet drive sucks water in through an opening on the bottom of the boat, and that intake needs to be in contact with the water all (or most) of the time. The hull does offer speed thanks to the flat surface and is perfect for beaching.

PONTOON BOATS

Larson Escape Many pontoon builders make their pontoons with V fore sections for wave slicing, as well as with strakes and spray knockdown rails.

Pontoons are typically made of aluminum for durability and ease of repair, but more importantly, aluminum is non-corrosive. Also made of steel, older pontoon boats are usually less expensive to build but susceptible to corrosion.

the matting to create the hull structure. Stringers are added for increased rigidity and mounting points.

Chopped-strand construction includes short pieces of fibers sprayed onto a hull mold through a gun that includes resin. It’s not as strong as matting in general, but it is equally strong in all directions.

Strakes and other appendages on a hull have to be built into the hull mold, so the entire hull component is formed together for maximum strength. It is near-impossible to add strakes or knockdowns to a fiberglass hull after it has been produced.

Generically, we know hulls should have a V-profile, for the most part, which starts sharp in the bow and flattens toward the stern. That does change with the intended use, desired comfort level and need for speed. There are some terms everyone should know up front.

Displacement hull

Planing hull

Deep V

Modified V

Pushes water ahead X Hull likely rounded X Limited in speed

X

Pushes water, or plows, at slower speeds X Rises up and rides on top of water as power is increased X Usually V or flat-bottom boats

X

Sharp bow entry X Sharp V carried aft X Smooth ride in rough water X Fast design but may be unstable at rest

X

X

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Sharp but broad bow entry (offering more interior space) X Flattens a bit aft X Not as much rocking as deep V

BASS & FLATS

Nitro Z-18 “Bass is for glass” is what I say.

Built for chasing fish in a flat to light chop and likely in skinny water, flat-profile or bass boats are basic fishing platforms. The draw is that they can be fast, with up to a 300 hp outboard engine, to get out and back in a hurry. The hull surface is fairly flat, with a small V for cutting the chop and strakes to lift it out of the water, adding to the speed factor. They are not built for open-ocean or rough conditions.

BOWRIDERS & CRUISERS

Glastron GTS225 With modified-V hulls, bowriders and cruisers try to offer the best in many aspects, such as efficiency, handling, speed, comfort and seakeeping ability. A modified-V hull will have hard chines, strakes and usually a shallower deadrise than a deep V, which make them suitable for cruising and even fishing.

Feature Presentation Today’s hulls include many features that are designed to help a boat run more efficiently and safely.

A stepped hull is a hull that has an aft-angled channel or vent in the hull, dividing the running surface and allowing a cushion of air under the running surface. Benefits are improved efficiency and boosted speed on the higher end.

Pontoons X

Flat-deck boat supported by pontoons, or sealed tubes

CENTER CONSOLES

Regulator 31 With a pronounced sharp entry forward, significant deadrise carried aft and longitudinal strakes to provide lift, these boats are designed to run fast. When getting to the fishing grounds and back is important, such as during a tournament, a deep-V hull can make the difference between placing or going home empty. The deep V allows for better tracking in choppy waters, slicing through the waves and maintaining speed as conditions change.

Double or twin stepped hulls are hulls with two channels in the hull, adding more efficiency as the hull lifts out of the water (water is a drag component) and reducing the amount of running surface in contact with the water.

The Z stepped hull is a product of SeaVee Boats. It’s a cross-ventilated hull with twin steps, coupled with SpeedRails (lifting rails).

Reverse chines take the edge of the chine

SKI/WAKEBOARD BOATS

Super Air Nautique G23 For skiers and wakeboarders, it’s all about the wake size, as in height and width, and that is a product of the hull and/or tabs.

Many entries in today’s market offer systems that can vary the size of the wake, to attract wakeboarders and skiers alike.

These are purpose-built boats, to create large wakes in inland lakes or coastal waters.

and turn it downward, offering improved stability, a better “bite” of the water and a drier ride.

Keels — even on mid-20-footers — improve straight-line tracking, help to reduce rolling and can protect running gear.

From The Builders Tigé Boats specializes in wakeboarding boats, with innovation at the heart

Chine

Strake

Deadrise

The edge that turns up from the hull bottom to hull side X Can be wide or narrow, hard (right angle) or soft (rounded)

X

Hull-length (or partial) rails that provide lift and increased speed for planing hulls X Help to knock down spray and improve cornering

X

X

Amount of V angle in the bottom of the hull, typically measured at the transom X The larger the deadrise angle, the more V in the hull

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DOUBLE FE ATURES The Malibu 21 VLX (top) has reverse chines for lift at ski speeds but is rounded aft for a deeper set at surf speeds. The Nautique Surf System on the Super Air Nautique G25 (bottom right) includes a Waveplate and a Configurable Running Surface to create 36 wake combinations. The Revolutionary Planing Technology on the Sylvan S3 Extreme’s tubes (bottom left) provides better lift and fuel efficiency.

behind a boat, and Nautique Boats is another builder that excels in this space.

The Nautique Surf System (NSS) allows users to dial in customizable waves on demand. Nautique’s custom system of six set points on the Waveplate and Nautique Configurable Running Surface results in 36 combinations of height, shape and length of the trailing wave.

Tigé and Nautique have unique systems that dynamically change the running surface of the hull, delivering wake options for wakeboarding and skiing.

Pontoon Envy Pontoon boats have come a long way, and Sylvan knows a thing or two, having been in the business since 1948. Its RPT tubes (Revolutionary Planing Technology) are structured with a V nose and running surface along the bottom, allowing for sharper entry, more lift and improved fuel efficiency over round pontoon tubes.

Sure it builds sport- and fishing boats, but did you know Larson Boats also builds pontoons? With its TTT (Tapered Tube Technology), each pontoon acts like a wave-piercing hull, thanks to the V nosecone. Added to each tube are keels and reverse chines.

Not to be Forgotten

of what it does. The patented Convex V hull curves up toward the transom, working the flow of water out and up from the transom to generate a surfable wake. Taking the laws of physics and the properties of the Coanda Effect — where a fluid jet stays attached to a convex surface, basically the water trail following

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the shape of the hull — Tigé adds in its TAPS 3 system, which is a series of three trim tabs (two outboard and one center tab) adjusted independently to help the Convex V hull attain maximum wake style by adjusting the list, yaw and draw of the hull.

Wave riding is about riding the wake

Catamaran-style boats are a unique breed. With twin hulls, they offer more stability than standard hulls. One builder, Larry Graf of Aspen Power Catamarans, has been building dual-hulled crafts for 30 years, but Aspen takes innovation to another level. Its cats have one engine, not two. Placing the powerplant in the starboard hull and making the port hull 35 percent thinner, Aspen’s patented Power Proa Hull and drive system allow for the asymmetrical shaping of the hulls to offset thrust and torque, creating a straight-running vessel. And with fewer appendages in the water, drag is reduced and efficiencies are increased.

Hull design plays a very important part of the boating lifestyle. Buyers need to know what’s happening below in order to boat the way they want. A flat hull isn’t good for wakeboarding, and a displacement hull may not offer the speed one needs. BW

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HAS YOUR DOG GOT THE SALT?

Enter your pooch in our Salty Dog of the Month contest. Email your pet’s photo, name, your name, address and phone number to bobby@ boatingworld.com, or snail mail to Boating World Salty Dog Contest, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. Your pet could win a cool PFD from CWB. *Shown above is our current prize, a CWB Dog Vest valued at $24.95. Prizes are subject to change.

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Powerful. Agile. Responsive.

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PR O D U C T I N FO R M ATI O N A N D PH O N E N U M B E R S

BOATS Apex Marine (989) 681-4300 ......................................................................................................... 3 Chaparral Boats (229) 686-8602 ..................................................................................................11 Formula Boats (800) 736-7685 ................................................................................................CV4 Ranger Tug (253) 839-5213 ............................................................................................................. 1 SmokerCraft, Inc./Starcraft (866) 719-7873 ............................................................................... 5 Splendor Boats (260) 352-2835 ................................................................................................. 60 Stingray (843) 383-4507 ...............................................................................................................25 ELECTRONICS SIMRAD (800) 628-4487 ................................................................................................................. 9

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ENGINES SternDrive Engineering (813) 925-7127 .....................................................................................62 Suzuki Marine (714) 996-7040 ......................................................................................................31 Yamaha Outboards (800) 962-7926 .......................................................................................CV3 GEAR & ACCESSORIES ECSTAR (714) 996-7040 ...............................................................................................................35 Harbor Freight Tools (800) 423-2567 .......................................................................................59 McGard, Inc. (800) 669-6887 .......................................................................................................63 NuShield, Inc. (215) 500-6426..................................................................................................... 60 Parkit360 (888) 926-5517...............................................................................................................61 Survival Products (954) 966-7329..............................................................................................63 West System Inc. / Gougeon Brothers, Inc. (989) 684-7286 .............................................. 27 SERVICES 1-800-Progressive (800) 776-4737 .........................................................................................CV2 Boat Angel (800) 227-2643 .........................................................................................................63 GEICO Insurance (800) 865-4846 ..............................................................................................29

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R E A D ER CO NTE ST

Rick Martin illustration

name the boat

When Bob built the AquaTrainer2000, he thought it would be a great way to work out and relax at the same time.

He was half right. Send us your name for our boat. If it wins, we will give you an Airhead G-Force 2 towable, an AIR PIG 12v pump and a 60-foot tow rope, from Airhead, valued at $262.97, and your name will appear in the January 2018 issue of Boating World.

YOURS FREE

WIN THIS 64

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 BOATINGWORLD.COM

Ð

> SEE THE WINNING ENTRY AND THE BEST OF THE REST FROM THE JUNE CONTEST ON PAGE 8.

The first person to turn in the best boat name will receive an Airhead G-Force 2 towable, an AIR PIG 12v pump and a 60-foot tow rope, from Airhead (airhead. com), valued at $262.97.

Airhead (airhead.com) G-Force 2 is a two-person towable that features topside stabilizer fins, neoprene knuckle guards, Kwik-Connect and Patented Speed Safety Valve. Included are an AIR PIG 12v High-Pressure Pump with alligator clips and a Deluxe 60’ 2-Rider Tube Tow Rope.

HOW TO ENTER:

We’ll reprint the cartoon with the winning boat name in the January 2018 issue. Submissions are due

by October 10.

Email editor@boatingworld.com with “Name the Boat” in the subject line, or send snail mail to Boating World Magazine/ Name the Boat, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. Please include your full name, address and phone number, along with your entry. Duncan McIntosh Co. and Airhead/Kwik Tek employees and their families are prohibited from entering.

Prizewinners are responsible for any applicable taxes. Decisions of the judges and the editor are final.

ONE POWERFUL DESIGN. TWO RELIABLE NEW OUTBOARDS.

FOUR STROKES THE COMPLETELY REDESIGNED F90 AND F75 MIDRANGE FOUR STROKES. Yamaha’s all-new 90-hp and 75-hp four strokes feature SOHC designs with four valves per cylinder. This increases volumetric efficiency, and at the same time, saves weight. In fact, they’re each 13 pounds lighter and have increased to 1.8L displacement. Their lighter, more powerful design creates an outstanding new F75, and makes the F90 a top performer in torque and acceleration. That’s one rock-star design and two thrilling new outboards.

Learn more about the all-new Yamaha F90 and F75 four strokes at 2017NewProducts.YamahaOutboards.com.

REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. © 2017 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. 1-800-88-YAMAHA

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