Nov/December 2016 – Boating World Magazine

BOATING WORLD • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 VOLUME 37 NUMBER 9

T H E L E A D E R I N R E C R E AT I O N A L T R A I L E R B OAT I N G

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : S P O R T B OAT S , D E C K B OAT S , WA K E B OAT S , F I S H B OAT S , P O N T O O N S A N D M O R E !

®

t h e 2016 h o l i d a y

GIFT GUIDE 3 dozen ideas to elevate your present-picking prowess

BOATS TESTED YAMAHA 190 FSH SPORT HURRICANE CC 19 OB PRINCECRAFT VOGUE 29 SE

$5.00 USA and Canada

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EVERY BOAT NEEDS A PROTECTOR.

1.800.PROGRESSIVE / PROGRESSIVE.COM Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. & affiliates.

IMAGINE CHOOSING ALL of boating’s smartest ideas for versatility in one ultimate platform.

It’s now available in the popular Formula 350 Crossover Bowrider with new outboard power.

This smartly balanced combination of expanded bow and cabin space is the perfect crossover for all your boating ventures, taking you farther than ever before. The unique Formula CBR design extends the fun into the bow entertainment zone without giving up the ever important flush cockpit. And the 350 is the only outboard in its class to give you a spacious, aft-facing sun lounge and extended swim platform that brings you closer to your on-water adventures. And, it’s also available in sterndrive power.

The cabin is perfect for overnight trips or taking a break from the sun with stand-up headroom, high-end private aircraft galley styling, enclosed head, double settee and permanent, full-size memory foam bed.

Of course, you know a good thing when you see it, so don’t overlook this smart sensation – absolutely the best today in all around boating for the fun of it. Imagine that!

CHOOSE THE BEST — THE FORMULA 350 CBR OUTBOARD!

Formula Boats • 2200 W Monroe St. PO Box 1003 • Decatur, IN 46733 260.724.9111 WWW.F

O R M U L A B O A T S .COM

contents

N OV E M B E R/D ECEM B ER 2016

pg.

54

Center console boats can be found from coast to coast, on lakes, seas and rivers. How well do you know them?

MAGAZINE

VOLUME XXXVII NUMBER 9

departments Editor’s Letter

’Tis the

(roundup) season p. 4

Currents

Bits from the boating world p. 6

Trailering

Winter prep p. 12

Watersports

End-of-season TLC for wake boats p. 14

Fishing

Tuck your tackle in for

winter p. 18

Engines

Yamaha F350C p. 20

DIY

Install a versatile track system p. 22

Ask the Experts Our panel of experts answers your questions

features

p. 24

Bonehead Blunders Mistakes no boater should make

Gift Guide 2016

More than three dozen gift suggestions should help you start — or wrap up — your holiday shopping. p. 43 BY BOATING WORLD STAFF

p. 28

Contest: Name the Boat Win a $350 boat care

Attitude Adjustment If you’re not sure what trim tabs do and why they’re considered performance enhancers, we have the lowdown. p. 50 BY CAPT. TOM SERIO Find Your Center Center console boats can be found from coast to coast, on lakes, seas and rivers. How well do you know them? p. 54 BY CAPT. TOM SERIO

boats tested

Yamaha 190 FSH Sport

Yamaha takes its comfortable and sporty jet boats to a place they’ve never been before. p. 30

Hurricane CC 19 OB

package from Bel-Ray p. 64

pg.

34

pg.

43

pg.

30

The new 19-foot deckboat is the builder’s first with a center console, but it’s more than just a fishing boat. p. 34

Princecraft Vogue 29 SE A lot of fun, luxury and versatility are packed into this flagship. p. 38 2

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Happy Hours

C H E R I S H E D T I M E W I T H FA M I LY A N D F R I E N D S .

Apex Marine, Inc. 300 Woodside Drive • Saint Louis, Michigan 48880 Phone: 989-681-4300 • Fax: 989-681-4333

QWEST • GILLGETTER • ANGLER QWEST • PADDLE QWEST Proudly Made in the USA American Workers - American Components

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www.QwestPontoons.com 11/18/15 8:16 AM

editor’s letter

BY A L A N J O N E S

On The Road Again F ALL IS TRADITIONALLY MY BUSIEST travel time of the

year due to the many companies that hold press events to unveil new products, but this year was especially frenetic. Often, I was home just long enough to do laundry before repacking and heading out. Fall is also our boat test season. I’ll provide the highlights of all three of our testing marathons in the January issue.

I just got back from Surf Expo, which is a good barometer of not only the state of the watersports industry’s health but also its direction for 2017. One thing was clear: Standup paddleboards (SUP) are still hot, and they have been made more boat-like by a plethora of accessories that allow users to fish, cruise or even perform yoga on them.

Some were so large they wouldn’t fit in a standard parking space. Kayaks are also increasing in popularity and have become little fishing machines with electronics and even propulsion systems (more on this later). The inflatable models are especially popular with boaters, because they can be stowed in hatches until needed.

Most ski boat manufacturers were represented — showing off their latest and greatest. Probably the most unusual boat I saw was the Chaparral 257 SSX, which had Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive, a system that tucks the twin props under the hull. We’ve seen it on other boat brands, but this boat also featured a licensed version of Malibu’s Surf Gate, which was kind of a shock, since these Forward Drive-equipped boats compete with the traditional wakesurf boats.

I even made it to Germany to test Torqeedo’s latest electric motors, which included a new inboard counterpart to its 80 hp Deep Blue model. In Germany,

almost all rivers and lakes have draconian restrictions against combustion engines, so electric motors have filled the void, powering small vessels and larger boats, such as the 30-foot Nimbus 305 cabin cruiser we tested. I even assisted the skipper of a becalmed sailboat by pushing it into the marina with a Torqeedo-powered Hobie kayak. It would be easy to dismiss electric motors as a novelty here, but they are a battery innovation away from being a real alternative to gas-powered motors.

Despite a grueling travel schedule, I did a little fishing in Jensen Beach, Fla., with Paul Michele of Navionics, and all we managed to do was have one of the great piscatorial days of my life, catching and releasing 15 rather large snook. The day was tempered by the fact that at the end of the outgoing tide, fluorescent green stuff — think giant cottage cheese curds — started flowing by. It was algae that’s the result of agricultural runoff from “Big Sugar.”

It’s being flushed down the Okeechobee Waterway, sullying the waters on both sides of the state. How long this great fishery can stand the onslaught is unknown. Sorry to end on such a bummer, but all boating depends on clean water, so make sure you vote for candidates who will work hard to protect it. BW

THE BOATING WORLD TEAM RESPONDS: A satirical news site needs a headline for its Black Friday coverage. What do you suggest?

PUBLISHER Duncan McIntosh Jr. Seeds of Shoppers’ Separation Sown at Saks Sale ASSOC. EDITOR/PUBLISHER Jeff Fleming Hundreds of Men Trip Over Huge Rack in Lingerie EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alan Jones Whisky Weekend Links Black Friday to Cyber Monday MANAGING EDITOR Mike Werling Coffee-Amped Mom Declares Low-Blow Guarantee ASSISTANT EDITOR Stephanie Shibata Black Friday Now YakPie Day After Listeria Outbreak ART DIRECTOR Julie Hogan Bargain-Hungry Crowds Bite: The Shopping Dead?

PRODUCTION Mary Monge Feisty Grannie Maced Over Early Bird Special CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Amelia Salazar Chaos at Walmart. Oh, it’s Walmart, duh!

FULFILLMENT OPERATIONS MGR. Rick Avila Kobe Shudders at Spending Xmas w/Family, Not on Court ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING

Call (949) 660-6150 Janette Hood Mall Santa Fired for Telling Child the Truth

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING

REGIONAL SALES MANAGERS

Annabelle Zabala Child: Mommy, Why did Daddy Kick Santa Claus Felice Lineberry Starbucks Black Friday Blend Requires MD’s Note MARKETPLACE SALES MGR. Jon Sorenson Fool’s Errand: Day In Life of a Black Friday Addict AD COORDINATOR Jennifer Chen Black Friday – Black Eyes TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR Dave Kelsen Finger Calluses Prove Cyber Monday Beats Black Friday DIGITAL DIRECTOR Bryan Sheehy Black Friday Followed by Buyer’s Remorse Saturday 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)

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 M AG A Z I N E 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 © 2016, all rights reserved. PERMISSIONS: Material in this publication may notMbe in any form without written permission.

AGreproduced AZINE

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 2015 BOATINGWORLD.COM M AG A Z I N E

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Leading the way with technology, comfort and CHOICE. Every Starcraft pontoon boat is built on three pillars of a better experience: advanced technology, luxurious comfort, and more choices to help you customize your pontoon and make it your own. From the Murphy touchscreen control system, to plush overstuffed loungers, to great floorplans and features packages, you’re sure to find something you love. And with tube options like stylish black painted tubes and our award winning HMX performance strakes that allow you to dig and pivot on the water, tow sports become a thing of ease. It’s all dedicated to giving you great days on the water, and it’s all from Starcraft.

Learn more at startcraftmarine.com.

currents

BY STE PH A N IE S H IBATA

LEAD BOAT De Antonio Yachts D33

D

e Antonio Yachts isn’t a household name in the U.S., but its seven-model line of uniquely shaped and memorable-looking boats will appeal to buyers seeking a social vessel with dayboat chops and overnight capability. Available in three lengths — 23, 33 and 43 feet — all of the boats have a plumb bow and a shearline that stays level from bow to stern.

The D33 Open includes seating for 12 people, with three-person bench settees aft and forward, a three-person helm seat and a U-shaped settee in the Spanish builder combines bow. When the boat is at rest, two or three passengers can lie on the aft sunpad style and sportiness in a and soak up the sun. That sunpad is possible because De Antonio designers versatile platform. decided not to let the twin outboards limit onboard space. A housing covers the engines — Evinrude, Suzuki, Yamaha and Mercury offerings from 200 to 350 hp — and creates a platform for the large cushions of the sunpad.

While the 11-foot, 2-inch beam will require trailering permits in most states, a permit might be a small price to pay for a boat that can facilitate watersports (with optional tow equipment) and entertaining and has a standard head and stateroom (with twin berths).

Buyers who choose Mercury or Yamaha power have the option to add a joystick system and/or a bow thruster, for easy docking. A 12-inch Furuno touchscreen is another option that will get a lot of consideration. Optional underwater lights will ensure the boat looks sharp after dark.

The Cruiser version eliminates the bow seating area and instead adds a standard galley below and a stateroom in the bow.

De Antonio Yachts, deantonioyachts.com

Open for Anything

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S A LT Y D O G

This month’s winner: CHUY

Enter Your Dog Now

WIN THIS

OWNERS:

Travis and Nancy Sandoval-Gavrity



HOMETOWN:

Rosemead, Calif.

Send your picture to Bobby for your chance to win a CWB Dog Vest. Contact Bobby at bobby@ boatingworld.com or Boating World, Salty Dog, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708.

Please include a photo, along with your name, your dog's name, address and phone number.

Bourbon Born at Sea LOUISVILLE’S JEFFERSON’S BOURBON

launched an excursion as old as whiskey production in this country, floating two barrels of bourbon down the river system of middle America and up the Atlantic Ocean as a means of transportation. Company founder and whiskey maker Trey Zoeller took a 23-foot Sea Pro downstream and landed in early August for a launch party in partnership with Chef John Besh, award-winning New Orleans chef and philanthropist. From New Orleans, the bourbon was loaded onto Besh’s renovated rumrunner boat and transported to Key West before being loaded on a sailboat to sail north up the Atlantic, landing in time for a tasting party in New York City scheduled for the end of September.

D I D YO U K N OW ?

Florida has 8,426 miles of coastal shoreline.

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currents

name the boat

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

contest winner



Robert Tewell from Woodburn, Ore., was the first to submit the winning name, DINNER CRUISE. For ringing the bell, Robert receives a Customized Boat Care Package from Bel-Ray, valued at more than $350.

MORE OF JULY/AUGUST’S BEST ENTRIES:

Wolf in Ship’s Clothing Jenifer Neale, Tampa, FL

Grim Ferry Tale Bernie Matsumoto, Half Moon Bay, CA

Trolling for Dinner Brenda Tesoro, Seminole, FL

Hood-winked Rick Martin illustration

Sandra Brown, Ridgway, CO

Fast Food Eric Alleshouse, Saugus, CA

All the Better to Ski You With

Granny’s L(a)unch

Gary Raasch, Claremore, OK

Wolf Bait

Frank Huberts, Vista, CA Cheri Mize, Lemont, IL

Meals on Keels

Snack Shack

Janet Adams, Daufuskie Island, SC

Phillip O’Connor, Torrance, CA

Bad Gramma Jamma

De Sea Ver

Josh Field, Hampstead, NH

James Gleason, Altoona, IA

Big Bad Boat

Yum Yum Express

Jimmy Tucci, Seminole, FL

Frederick, Kruger, Homosassa Springs, FL

Gramma’s Bight Tom Statham, Greensboro, NC

> J U LY/A U G U S T ’ S W I N N E R : D I N N E R C R U I S E

Boat for the Soul TAKEMEFISHING.ORG HAS COMPILED a list of

why boating is good for your soul. It’s not as if you need an excuse to get out there and spend time on the boat, but here are 10.

1 Boat trips create bonding experiences with family and friends.

2 A day in the sun allows your body to soak up a safe amount of vitamin D. 3 There is proof that being near water can lower anxiety.

4 Learning new boating skills can be an empowering and educational experience.

5 Boat trips allow you to unplug from the digital age, even if it’s just for a few hours.

6 Following your passion contributes to overall happiness.

7 Boating establishes a feeling of community on the water.

8 Broaden your range of experiences by trying different types of watersports, such as fishing or waterskiing.

9 Planning regular boating activities keeps your work-life balance in check.

10 A boat trip is an adventure.

Embrace it!

CORRECTION In the June issue of Boating World, we incorrectly listed the starting price for the Danilevi 24 (“Head-Turner,” p. 6). The correct price is $159,655.

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BIG NUMBERS

Fishing

2.5

Number of people, in millions, who had their very first fishing experience in 2015, up 4 percent from 2014

38

Number of people, in millions, who participate in freshwater fishing

2

Percentage increase overall in 2015 of youth fishing participants

6-17

Age group that made up 44 percent of new participants, and 46 percent of those were female Source: RBFF

BOATINGWORLD.COM

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The perfect blend of luxury and performance.

Spacious and well appointed, the all-new 212 Limited elevates the standard of 21-foot boating. Featuring Yamaha’s exclusive Connext® helm control system and industry-leading twin 1.8 liter High Output Yamaha Marine engines, nothing else on the water comes close. Innovative, luxurious and reliable, it’s every thing you’ve come to expect from the leader in marine performance.

YAMAHA. THE #1 BRAND ON THE WATER.

yamahaboats.com ©2016 Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA. Follow instructional materials and obey all laws. Drive responsibly, wearing protective apparel. Always drive within your capabilities, allowing time and distance for maneuvers, and respect others around you. Don’t drink and ride. For more information, visit yamahaboats.com or call 1.800.88.YAMAHA.

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currents R E A D E R S A I D W H AT ?

Well Connected

I’m writing in regard to “The Low Cost of Good Connections” (Engines, September/October, p.

22). I have been working on cars and boats for many years, and the most neglected connections I always find are the ones to the starter terminals. They are difficult to get at, so they are not cleaned. Wires have two ends, and both must be addressed each time.

Jack Hillyer, via BoatingWorld.com

For the Record Chad Dumble rode his wakeboard in circles behind a cable tow for six hours and 42 minutes in BliBli, Australia, on Oct. 9, 2014.

According to The Guinness World Records, the largest boat tie-up consisted of 1,651 boats and was organized by the Lake Cumberland Association on Lake Cumberland, Ky.

By Hook or by Book The Floating Library is a custom-designed raft with bookshelves that allow for easy browsing by people enjoying the water by kayak, canoe, boat or other form of small watercraft.

Patrons may drift nearby and read or they can “check out” a book and return it later in the day to the library’s raft or book deposit box on the beach. An estimated 2,000 people have visited the Floating Library in its various forms in the past four years, which has included stints on three different lakes in the Twin Cities and Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles.

No word on next year’s location as of press time, so for more information visit thefloatinglibrary.com.

All-Star Boating Locations

BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, THE thrill of a nibble on the line, and some fresh air are what fishing is really all about. Take Me Fishing has released its list of the Top 100 Family Fishing & Boating Spots in America, voted on by readers casting their votes. We have the top 10 here. Visit TakeMeFishing.org for the full list.

Everglades National Park

10

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1

Everglades National Park, Fla.

2

Bahia Honda State Park, Fla.

3

Blue Springs State Park, Fla.

4

Kissimmee State Park, Fla.

5

Clear Lake State Park, Calif.

6

Brannan Island State Recreation Area, Calif.

7

Dockweiler State Beach, Calif.

8

Hanging Rock State Park, N.C.

9

Guntersville State Park, Ala.

10

Lake James State Park, N.C.

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DISCOVER INNER

YOUR

EXPLORER

C u t wate r Bo at s .co m MADE IN USA

trailering

W INTE R PR E P

Procrastination Doesn’t Pay For boat owners who suffer through a real winter, make sure the trailer is ready to sit cold and idle.

BY CHRIS CASWELL

S

OME LUCKY SKIPPERS NEVER HAVE to think about winterizing their trailer, but for the rest of us, it’s that time (or past that time). If you want your next boating season to be painless, now is the time to invest some effort. I know, I know — you don’t want to do it. But if you don’t do the fixes now, you’ll have to do them when you’re champing at the bit for

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that first outing next season. Do it now!

Start by washing the trailer thoroughly, especially if it’s been used in salt water. If you have a pressure washer, all the better. Once the trailer is clean, go over the frame carefully and look for rust spots. Pay special attention to welds or joints. Give any rusty spots a quick scrub with a wire brush or sandpaper, and then spray them with some Rust-Oleum.

Leaving rust alone for the winter isn’t the brightest idea.

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IT’S ELECTRIC I LIKE TO MAKE THE electrical

system and components a priority, because checking the wiring harness is something you can do while hunting for rust spots on the frame. Obviously, a worn or broken wire needs to be replaced. Check carefully for chafing under the clips that hold the wires to the frame, or where they pass through grommets.

Now is the time to pop the lens covers off the taillights and sidelights. Is water present? If so, do two things. First, dry it out before it freezes and breaks the plastic light. Second, fix the reason it leaked. Most likely you’ll find a broken seal around the light or even a dent from when it was replaced incorrectly. Either issue allows water into the lights. Not good. While the lens is off, pull the bulbs and give them a squirt of anti-corrosive spray.

A word about anti-corrosion

potions. I like Corrosion Block for winterizing my trailer (and other stuff), and I find that it does a good job of protecting electrical doodads from corrosion. It’s your call, though, as CRC, West Marine, Boeshield and others have good products.

At the trailer’s aft end, pay special attention to the wiring connectors, because they just love to rust and corrode. I squirt mine with CB, while other folks slather them with Vaseline or a similar petroleum jelly for protection. I’m a belt-and-suspenders guy, so I also put the connectors into a plastic bag and tape it closed, for protection from dirt.

One last wiring tip: Find the ground on your wiring and back out the screw or bolt that holds it, then squirt it with some anti-corrosion product. It’s amazing how many electrical problems can be (finally!) traced to corrosion under the ground wire.

THE FRONT END WHILE YOU’RE UP at the front

end, take some time to winterize your winch. Start by pulling the strap or wire all the way out — and I mean all the way. Look for fraying or weak spots, and give the snap a once-over. If it has rust spots, hit it with a wire brush and dose it with anti-corrosion spray.

If your winch is the handcrank variety (poor you!), spray it with your anti-corrosion potion and cover it with a plastic trash bag. If it’s electric, give the wiring a check, coil up the remote cord and tuck it all under a bag for protection.

The hitch is arguably the most important part of your trailer, especially during that 70 mph run on the freeway, so keep it happy. Check for rust and then give the entire assembly a dose of CB. I like to cover it with a bag — again, to keep gunk away.

TIRES WHEN IT COMES TO TIRES, there are two schools of thought. One says leave ’em on, and the other says take ’em off and

store them for the winter. Leaving them in place is the easy way, but there are benefits to storing them off the trailer. First, it makes the trailer damn hard to steal. It protects them from sun and the elements, and they don’t get flat spots from long storage. If you do put them inside, lay them flat, if you can. And for the hopelessly compulsive boater, the tires can be removed from the rims.

If you don’t remove the tires, you should jack the trailer up and put a jack stand or a concrete block under the trailer, so the springs remain loaded and the tires are off the ground. If you don’t remove the tires, you should remove the lug nuts and squirt the hole with CB. If the springs have grease fittings, now is the time for a squirt of lubricant at the front and the rear shackles.

If you’ve maintained the trailer’s bearings, they should be ready for winter, but pumping in some grease ensures there’s no water to cause problems. Top off the brake fluid reservoir to prevent condensation from forming inside, and now is a good time to check the brake lines for leakage. Even if the trailer is washed and clean, it’s a good idea to have a brake drum flushing kit to prep them for the winter.

One last word of advice: Winterize your boat properly and do any needed maintenance now, because, trust me, when spring comes you won’t want to waste any time getting back on the water. BW

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watersports

W I NTER IZE A WA KE BOAT

Finish the Job A wake boat’s engine and ballast system need a little extra care to be purged of H2O for cold-weather layup. BY DOUG THOMPSON

T

HE WINTER BOAT LAYUP COMES complete with a checklist of basic chores, and every boat manufacturer recommends specific tasks. If temperatures dip below freezing — or below zero in the northern U.S. and Canada — winterization tasks include running antifreeze through the engine, topping off the gas tank and adding a fuel stabilizer, and storing sensitive electronics in a warm, dry place.

If you own a wake boat, however, you’re not quite done. Pumps that empty and fill ballast tanks need close attention, as do heaters, if the boat is so equipped. One quick tip is to make sure you raise the nose and drop the stern when draining the ballast tanks, to make sure all the water is removed, since the drains are in the rear of the tanks.

HORROR STORIES

The biggest problem for any boat in extremely cold weather, whether it’s a wake boat or not, is water that gets left in the engine block. It expands when it freezes.

“Leaving water in the motor is going to cause the most catastrophic situations,” said Kevin Grove, assistant service manager at Minnesota Inboard Water Sports in New Germany, one of the largest Malibu dealers in the U.S. “I repaired six frozen motors in the spring of 2016. How bad it is really depends on where the water stays. If you don’t get it out of the exhaust manifold, the water can freeze and crack it, and suddenly you are leaking 14

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water into the boat.

“But if you don’t get the block fully drained, frozen water cracks the block and you are putting in a new motor. What we do to prevent that is run all the boats up on antifreeze. We have tanks that sit on the back of the boat, and the boat can sit there with a Fake-A-Lake attached and recycle antifreeze through the whole cooling system.”

Grove tests the antifreeze coming out of the exhaust to make sure it’s good to 40 degrees below zero, and then the boat can safely go into the shed. When spring comes, all the antifreeze has to come out, so there’s not a pink puddle somewhere to cause an environmental problem.

HEATER CARE

A cracked heater core is another common wake-boat concern, because it doesn’t take much water to cause a major issue.

“It’s a big problem, because the heaters break easily,” said Jason Bridget, service manager at Action Water Sports in Traverse City, Mich. “The hoses are made of rubber and will stretch if ice expands, but if the heater pump has ice inside, it can split.”

To winterize the heater, disconnect the

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most convenient heater hose line and pump antifreeze through until it comes out the other hose and into the block. Another technique is to blow a lot of air through the heater hoses to purge the lines.

ANTIFREEZE IN BALLAST TANKS?

The decision whether to fill the ballast tanks with antifreeze for layup is up for debate. Some experts said that if the tanks are properly drained, only a little water will remain at the bottom, and it has plenty of room to expand without causing damage. Others, including Chris Eller, owner and head driver of Coble Ski School in Lillington, N.C., recommend using antifreeze.

“With the ballast tanks, it’s important to make sure that you put RV antifreeze in your tanks to prevent any freezing,” Eller said. “You would think there is enough room for expansion, but even a small amount of water in the right place can cause major issues.”

Eller says the best way to completely protect the entire system is to run antifreeze through the ballast pumps, which will fill the hoses and keep the pumps lubricated over the dry winter months.

“This is not quite as big of an issue with older bilge-style pumps,” Eller said. “It is more so with the impeller-based systems.

Most boats have to be split open to repair ballast tanks, so a little time spent on prevention can save some serious money and lost water time in the future.”

EMPTY FAT SACS

Fat Sacs, manufactured by Barefoot International out of Milwaukee, are essentially bags made out of the same material used to build whitewater rafts.

During layup, Fat Sacs should be drained and allowed to air dry. If necessary, separate the bag from the cover and let both dry completely before storage. Some boat owners roll them up and store them in an ice chest.

0.125” bleed

JABSCO PUMP-IMPELLER CARE

The filling and emptying of ballast tanks and Fat Sacs is often performed by a Jabsco Pump, a workhorse that is original equipment on some boats and added to other boats by the owners. These powerful pumps need attention once a year, because the rubber impeller can wear out.

“On some boats, there’s one really large pump that is used to fill and drain the ballast system,” Grove said. “It’s a cheap maintenance fix to change the impeller once a year. Some people also carry extra pumps in their truck or in their glove compartment if it’s a small pump for a Fat Sac, so they can change them out if they fail.” BW TO THE WEB ActionWater.com BarefootInternational.com (Fat Sacs) CobleSkiSchool.com MNInboard.com (Minnesota Inboard Water Sports) XylemFlowControl.com (Jabsco)

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10/6/16 11:31 AM

OVER 300 BOAT TEST VIDEOS...

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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 300 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.

Search ”Boating World’ on Youtube.com to access our video channel.

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fishing

TACKLE STO R AG E

Oil the bolt on the shaft of the tension knob.

Oil the bolt and shaft of the handle arm.

How to Tuck Your Tackle In Extend the life of your fishing gear by prepping it properly for winter storage.

BY DEAN TRAVIS CLARKE

N

ATURE DICTATES THAT A LARGE number of avid fishermen must store their fishing gear during cold weather. Taking good care of it pre-storage is less expensive than replacement. Here are some tips from the experts on the best way to prolong your tackle’s lifespan.

Rods

Reel seats and clamps tend to hold salt, dirt and algae like a magnet. Remove the reel from the rod, then wash and dry both thoroughly, making sure to tighten the drag 18

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completely on the reel first, to prevent water intrusion.

Today’s rods may be stronger and lighter than rods of old, but they’re also more fragile. Even the tiniest nicks and scratches can cause catastrophic failure.

Likewise, ceramic guides, though tough, can fracture, ultimately abrading your line and resulting in lost fish. Inspect your rod carefully for cracks in the finish. My grandfather taught me to run a piece of old nylon stocking through each rod guide.

Damaged guides will snag the pantyhose and alert you to the need for replacement.

Replacement guide liners can be found at most tackle shops, big-box sporting goods stores and Bass Pro Shops.

Ben Secrest, the vice president at Accurate Fishing Products in California, stores his rods straight upright so as not to

BOATINGWORLD.COM

10/6/16 9:48 AM

Run old pantyhose through the rod guides to detect damage.

Inspect the finish carefully for cracks.

Wipe the metal reel seats with a soft cloth coated with WD-40.

Oil the screws on the reel feet.

All this preventive maintenance will ensure proper winter storage.

put any bend in them. “Do not lean them on anything,” he said, “since doing so will most likely put a set in them over time.”

Other rod storage methods include resting them horizontally on pegs against a wall or suspended in hooks on a ceiling.

Both methods require careful installation. The pegs must be aligned at exactly the same height to support the length equally. Likewise, hooks on a ceiling must be aligned so as to not induce a curve in the rod.

Secrest additionally squirts some WD-40 on a soft cloth and wipes down metal reel seats and guides. I like to follow that up with a drop or two of gun or reel oil on a rag to coat the metal.

And of course, never store a rod with the reel, line and lure attached and under tension. That surely will ruin your stick.

Reels

Before getting into deep cleaning and maintenance, be sure to remove all the line from the reel. You should be re-spooling it several times a season anyway.

Noted Northern fishing journalist (and the most hirsute member of Hobie’s Kayak Fishing Team pro staff) Dave Mull has perhaps the most important storage suggestion. “Back off your drags,” he said.

“You don’t want to let your reels winterover with the drag washers all mashed together. Your once-smooth drag can get pretty rough.”

Mull stores his tackle out in his barn.

“I wrap my trolling reels in plastic bags before putting them in outdoor storage — the rafters of our barn — where dust might be an issue,” he said, adding that anglers storing tackle in their garage

might do likewise. “Many light tackle reels come in ‘socks’ that you should keep and use for storage.”

Secrest goes considerably further. “I oil all the common corrosion spots with Corrosion X or Boeshield T-9,” he said.

Those spots include screws on the reel feet, two-speed mechanisms, the drag tension knob, and both the bolt and shaft of the handle arm.

Just before putting it away, Secrest tests the reel to be sure all parts are moving freely and advises anglers to do the same. “One way to do this is to back off the drag, hold on to the spool and turn the handle,” he said. “Doing so makes sure bearings are free and the internal gearing of the spool turns smoothly. I back the drag off to a light setting, or you can put the reel into free-spool and put the clicker on. I store my reels in a room in the open air. I prefer not to wrap them in plastic, in case they have any water or moisture in them.”

However, he adds, in a salty environment — say, by the beach — reels stored in the garage would be better off in a cupboard, box or drawer.

Tackle Box

Like rods and reels, all terminal tackle should be washed with fresh water and dried before being returned to the tackle box. If it rains into your open box while you’re fishing, make sure you remove everything and dry it thoroughly. Then add a moisture absorber or three to the box before storing.

Storing lures in inexpensive Tupperware boxes layered with paper towels to absorb moisture also works well.

Secrest uses waterproof Plano boxes for hooks and lures. “I make sure I wash my lures in fresh water,” he said, “and before I store them I spray them off with WD-40, which helps them get through the winter.” (Many commercial fishermen spray their baits with WD-40, claiming it is an effective fish attractant.)

All this preventive maintenance will ensure proper winter storage, help prolong the life of your tackle and save you money in the long run, which your significant other will surely appreciate. BW BOATINGWORLD.COM

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engines

W

YA M A H A F350C

HEN YAMAHA UNVEILED ITS F350 at the Miami Boat

You Can Have a V-8

Show in 2007, it was with a clandestine air. Select members of the press were let in through a convention center side door at 6:30 a.m. — an unheard of time for anything to happen in South Beach. Members of the marine industry’s fourth estate are notoriously difficult to provoke a visceral reaction from when it comes to any new product, but when Yamaha raised the curtain on its new 5.3L V-8 outboard, we openly gasped and applauded. How Yamaha kept this under wraps I’ll never know, because the F350’s development was accomplished in cooperation with several boat builders, who were looking to build bigger outboard-powered boats. And Yamaha delivered the engine that they’d been waiting for.

make its flagship motor more reliable and fuel efficient, which most boaters have at the top of their wish list.

The F350C received a modest cosmetic makeover this year with new graphics, but inside is a different story.

Since the day Yamaha started producing the F350, it has been improving the motor, and Team Blue decided enough changes had been made to call it a different model. And the cherry on top is a new five-year warranty, which is the longest in the industry.

So what’s changed? In its original iteration, one of its least desirable traits was the pronounced clunk when drivers put it in gear. I spent a lot of time on a friend’s Cobia 256 center console that had an early model F350; every time we shifted it, the clunk was loud enough that I thought this can’t be good, especially in docking situations that called for repeated shifts. Actually, it wasn’t doing any damage, but rather it was just a very positive engagement. In 2010, we got it retrofitted with Yamaha’s Shift Dampener System (SDS), which uses a uniquely splined rubber hub in the prop and a special cammed aft spacer on the prop shaft to absorb the vibration and deaden the sound — dramatically.

Here are some of the other major tweaks.

The F350 has slimmed down, to 763 pounds from

Yamaha’s focus on its flagship F350 pays off.

Fast forward nine years to a recent Yamaha press event in Baltimore, where the marine press eagerly awaited the announcement of Yamaha’s latest and greatest. For some, it might have been a little disappointing to learn the new motor was … an F350C. Wait, what? Many writers were expecting to see a larger number on the cowling, at least 400 — something Mercury accomplished with an engine block displacement of less than half Yamaha’s, by using a supercharger. But Yamaha has focused its efforts to 20

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804, largely by replacing metal parts with strong, lightweight composite materials.

The current F350C engine has a more advanced, owner-friendly electronic control unit (ECU) that alerts owners when the engine is due for selective maintenance

The outer cylinder sleeves of the F350C now feature a dimpled surface, which maintains the roundness of the cylinder, for decreased oil consumption, and increases the cooling surface area of each cylinder, for added reliability.

And the cherry on top is a new five-year warranty. points.

Yamaha improved the engine’s corrosion resistance in areas near the waterline.

The new-gen F350C has improved lubrication to critical bearings in the lower unit, to help them perform effectively, especially in prolonged high-load environments, a common occurrence for offshore boats used in heavy seas.

The F350C is now available for quad applications (1,400 hp!) and is compatible with Helm Master, Command Link Plus, Command Link Gateway, Y-COP, Variable Trolling RPM Switch (VTS), and it has an analog gauge interface, so owners repowering an older boat can use their older gauges.

Although originally designed for large offshore boats, the F350 quickly found

favor on many other boats — a surprise for Yamaha — such as the Bennington 2575 QSBW we recently tested. It’s a big, luxurious pontoon boat with a giant 32-inch elliptical center tube, and the F350C proved to be a great match for its 4,154-pound hull. It got on plane with very little bowrise in 2.5 seconds and powered its way to 30 mph in just 5.6 seconds. Top speed was an eye-watering 51.7 mph. What’s notable about the power curve is how flat it is. There are no peaky points or dead zones, so whether you are getting your boat on plane or working the throttle in heavy seas, the F350C responds instantly to any input on the Command Link Plus drive-by-wire throttle. BW

SPECS Type

32-valve DOHC four-stroke V-8

Displacement Full throttle range Weight Gear ratio Price

5.3L 5000-6000 rpm 763 lbs. 25 in. shaft 1.73:1 $31,305 (F350CXCC)

PERFORMANCE Tested with

Bennington 2575 QSBW

Time to plane

2.5 sec.

0-30 mph

5.6 sec.

Top speed

51.7 mph

Decibels @ idle Cruise

36.4 mph/4500 rpm/86 dBA

Peak

51.7 mph/6100 rpm/95 dBA

BOATINGWORLD.COM

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diy

I NSTA LL A TR ACK S YSTEM

6 Simple Steps to a Custom Track System Fishing. Entertaining. Watersports. All can be accommodated with a versatile track system.

BY ROSS ROBERTSON

A

S A FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL ANGLER, I don’t always fish for the same species, so I

need the versatility to adapt my boat quickly to fish for walleye, salmon or panfish.

I needed a heavy-duty system that would allow me to quickly add or subtract rod holders and downriggers, or remove them altogether for family days — without needing tools.

Bert’s Custom Tackle (bertscustom tackle.com) developed a patented track system that allows boaters to interchange different styles of rod holders and accessories ranging from downriggers to tool holders and gas grills. When not in use, the accessories slide out and an insert step plate can slide in place for a sleek and functional look. A small screw holds on an end plate to keep anything from accidently falling out, and it provides a finished look.

One added benefit to having an extensive track system is that it protects my boat’s fiberglass when people board or when I slide heavy coolers across the gunwale.

And best of all, anyone can install them with few tools in six simple steps.

1 /LAYOUT

The tracks are available in lengths that vary from six inches to 72 inches. A flat surface that’s at least three and a half inches wide, such as a gunwale or transom, works best, but a creative mind can greatly expand the mounting options. The selected area needs to have four inches of extra room at each end, in order to slide larger accessory bases in and out of the track system.

If any gaps of more than about one-half of an inch are present from the bottom of the track to the mounting surface, consider cutting a piece of starboard to act as a shim — to make for an easier install and to ensure items inserted into the track slide in and out easily.

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2 /MARKING THE HOLES

Marking the holes is a simple step but one that shouldn’t be rushed. Lay the track onto the mounting surface and make sure the track is perfectly straight. A second person makes this process much easier, but taping down the track is also an option.

Make sure to lift up and move the track piece as you align it, as it can mar the boat’s finish if you slide it.

3/DRILLING THE HOLES

This step will vary depending on the hull material. For fiberglass boats, using a countersunk stainless #14 screw is the best way to attach the track to its pre-drilled holes.

Make sure to pre-drill an appropriately sized index hole for whatever size screws you choose to use.

In aluminum construction, it’s best to check for access directly under where the track will be placed, to see if bolts and a locking nut can be used in place of a screw.

If bolts can be used, make sure to drill a hole slightly larger than one-quarter of an inch, to allow a 1/4-20 (1/4-inch diameter, 20-thread-count-per-inch) bolt to easily pass through. The manufacturer includes 2-inch-long, 1/4-20 stainless bolts and locking nuts.

4 /COUNTERSINKING

On fiberglass boats, use a countersinking bit to just slightly round out the top of the already drilled screw hole. This chamfer will help keep spider cracking from

occurring as the track is secured and over time.

5/ADHESIVE

Before placing the track back on the mounting spot, clear away any dust or debris and add an adhesive to the mounting area. In most cases, a marine-grade silicone in the screw holes and a little more along the bottom of the track will help secure it and keep water out of the gunwales. In situations where added torque or heavy objects may be placed in the track system, a small amount of 3M 5200 will help to ensure a tight bond. Make sure no adhesive can leak out and get into the threaded areas of the end-cap pieces. If this does occur, use a cotton swab immediately to clear out any adhesive from the threaded end piece.

6 /ATTACHING

Start at the flattest end, attach the track with screws or bolts, and work your way down the track. Doing so will help to curve the track down any slight angles in the gunwale itself. After either the screws or bolts have been started into the holes, a cordless impact wrench is helpful for getting screws in without stripping the heads. On an aluminum gunwale, attach the bolts with a screwdriver and socket or wrench, but not before putting a backing plate or heavy duty fender washers on the underside. A piece of narrow aluminum bar stock with a pre-drilled hole can be helpful when narrow access doesn’t allow a washer to fit.

The end result is a boat I can use to fish for anything that swims, and I can convert it to an entertainment boat by adding a grill and tables to hold snacks. BW

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2

1

3

4

4

EQUIPMENT LIST:

5

Measuring tape // Marker pen // Marine-grade silicone (3M 5200 optional) // Drill // Cordless impact drill (optional) // Drill bits for appropriate size screws // Screwdriver // 7/16 wrench or socket (aluminum) // Countersink bit (fiberglass) // #14 stainless steel countersunk head screw (fiberglass)

PARTS COST LIST Bert’s Track

6

7

MSRP

• 6-inch

$37.99

• 12-inch

$49.99

• 17-inch

$62.99

• 24-inch

$78.99

• 36-inch

$113.99

• 48-inch

$137.99

• 60-inch

$162.99

• #14 countersink head Phillips screw for fiber-

glass $0.15/each • Hardware for aluminum boats or through

bolting is included with track: 2-inch bolts, washers, locking nut • Tube of silicone (enough for several projects)

$5.99 • 3M 5200 adhesive (optional and enough for

several projects) $14.99

BOATINGWORLD.COM

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ask the experts

Q

+A

damage the engine) but are still getting near this boat’s normal top speed (we got 46.5 mph, but I don’t have the prop info). It also could be a faulty tach reading. Check out Mercury’s Prop Selector to help dial it in: https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/ us/propellers/selector/#/step-one.

Let us know how it works out.

Vacek replies: Yes, I did and thanks for your input. The prop we have on it is a 17 pitch. Meanwhile, we had another customer come in who had a 300, and said he was getting the same rpm but had checked it out with another tach and found out that he really was getting around 6300, so we are looking into the tach. Thanks.

WINTERIZING

That Time of Year

Q Today it’s 105 degrees and I’m thinking

P R O P TA L K

Selection Is Everything

Q We sold a Sylvan Extreme 5 to a customer who had us put a Mercury Pro 300 on it, and we are wondering if you have tested one and what size of prop and brand and what rpm you got with it. We put a 17 on it, and the pontoon will do 45 mph at 4000 rpm. The customer thinks the Mercury should be in the 5600 to 6000 rpm range. Any input would be a great help to us. Richard Vacek

Alan Jones replies: Yes, 4000 rpm at WOT for the Verado Pro 300 is far too low. It should be in the 5800 to 6400 range. When you say you put

a 17 on it, I am assuming it’s the diameter.

That’s probably too big, according to Mercury’s suggestions. I am surprised you are only getting 4000 rpm (which can

about winter. My 20-foot SeaFox stays on a boat lift year round, and I really need to start thinking about service. What should I do with it where it is?

Vince Mitchford, via BoatingWorld.com

My first concern would be the gearcase, which should be drained of its contents and refilled with fresh gear oil. It is an awful job working under the boat, with unexpected winds blowing oil all over the water, so I’d suggest getting the boat to terra firma and

 OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS:

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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Zuzana Prochazka 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.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

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having the job done properly. It would also be a good time to change the water pump impeller, a job virtually impossible from below, in another boat.

Once back on the lift, your standard winterization procedure applies. There are as many opinions about this as there are tongues to wag, so I’ll offer the following

• If you have one, turn the battery switch off. Disconnect the negative cable(s) from the battery, and put a tie wrap around them so the same number go back on in the spring as came off in the fall.

• Remove the boat’s drain plug. Any water accumulating in the bilge will run out instead of freezing and ruining the bilge

To your last tank of fuel for the year, add a proper proportion of stabilizer. as opinions brought forth in tech schools I attend: • To your last tank of fuel for the year, add a proper proportion of stabilizer. I use Seafoam, an excellent stabilizer/cleaner.

Use the boat until the fuel gauge registers as low as you feel safe, then follow the winterization procedure the manufacturer recommends.

pump. If you’re over 21 and have children, leave yourself a note on the dash referencing the open hole in the stern. You’re kidding yourself if you think you can have kids and a memory concurrently.

• Come spring, reverse the process, trickle-charge the battery, Install the drain plug, start and run the engine at an easy idle at the pier, test its reliability into the wind

and don’t go any farther than you want to paddle back. When you’re happy with the results, summer begins. — GM TRAILERS

Bunk Talk

Q I have a Load Rite pontoon trailer, which was bought new for my 20-foot Premier pontoon boat. I’m just reading in my boat manual that I should not store my boat on a carpeted bunk. My trailer does have carpeted bunks. This will be the first winter I keep it in my driveway on the trailer. Will this present a problem with my tubes? If so, is there something else I could cover the bunks with? I told the dealer where I purchased the trailer that I was using the trailer only for storage over the winter, and he said nothing about this presenting a problem. I keep the boat in the water all summer. Any advice or input would be appreciated.

Peg Leonardi, via BoatingWorld.com

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ask the experts This is (or isn’t) a problem, depending on who you ask. My experience is that carpeted bunks can cause corrosion due to trapped moisture, but just how much will vary due to factors such as the type of carpet installed, where the boat is used (salt water vs. fresh) and construction of the boat itself. A simple solution to prevent possible hull pitting caused by trapped moisture is to replace your carpet with plastic bunk covers or slides, such as those available at gatorbak.com/ or surfixinc.com/.

A word of caution if you do make the switch. Plastic bunks are mucho slippery — way more so than carpet. This slipperiness makes launching easier, but there’s also a learning curve associated with it. One suggestion is to not unhook your boat before backing down the ramp, as the boat may well slide off before you reach the water. — FL ELECTRICAL

Fix the Wiring Mess

Q Three times now I’ve left my pier, run the boat flawlessly to the bay to fish, and had to be towed back because the engine wouldn’t crank over. Fortunately the VHF worked, so I was able to at least catch a tow. By the time I got home, I turned the key and of course the engine started immediately. Nothing looks suspicious to me, but I’d appreciate your insight. Shannon G., via SeaMagazine.com

There is an amazing space between looks suspicious and is suspicious. The first indicator I’d look at would be the voltmeter.

Turn the key to ON, then to START. If you have a good voltage reading when the key is turned ON, but it drops to zero when you turn the key to START, I’d look for loose, dirty or corroded battery/engine cable connections. When they’re hot after a run to the bay, the ability to carry current is diminished, not to mention charging capability. Like The Nurse says to me at day’s end, “Clean up your mess and your problems will disappear.

Oh, and dinner’s ready.” Sure, c’mon over. We always have room for one more, as long as you’ve cleaned up your wiring mess. — GM TRAILERS

Choose Stainless Over Galvanized

Q I have an aluminum trailer and I need to replace a lot of U-bolts.

What type of bolts should I use: zinc plated, galvanized, or stainless steel? The trailer is six years old and was used in Florida the whole time. The boat and trailer will now be used in fresh water in Michigan. I have read a lot of different information on what bolts to use on the internet, and I would like some help.

Rich Weber, via BoatingWorld.com

Both stainless steel U-bolts and galvanized U-bolts are more than strong enough to hold a boat trailer together, so the primary factors you’d be considering here are cost and longevity. Stainless steel hardware offers the most corrosion protection (not only in salt water but in other harsh environments) and will last much longer. Not surprisingly, it will also cost more, although this added cost should be recouped over the life of the hardware. If you are replacing a lot of U-bolts (as indicated in your question), you should be able to get a better price break by buying them in bulk from a reputable stainless steel hardware retailer.

Although galvanized hardware will certainly last longer in fresh water (particularly as compared to salt water), my vote is for using good quality marine-grade stainless steel hardware.

One point to remember when using stainless steel hardware is that it should be tightened by hand only. Threads for stainless steel bolts, U-bolts, etc., tend to seize or gall when impact tools are used.

For this reason, it’s recommended you use an anti-seize compound or thread lubricant during assembly. I also recommend you use nyloc nuts. — FL BW

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Service provided by 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.

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bonehead blunders

BY G R I D M I CH A L

Batteries and Boom BONEHEAD BLUNDER: A lack of

understanding THE BONEHEAD: A DIYer BONEHEAD RATING: 5 WHAT HAPPENED: Most of the locals eschew

“come-heres,” forgetting that unless they started life here as amoebas, they are comeheres, too. Me? I think the northerners — New Yorkers, particularly — bring with them a new sense of vitality to the area,

I wish my dad and I had bonded like that.

One of the things I normally did for them was replace batteries when they asked.

Apparently, New York batteries don’t last as long as Virginia batteries, so replacing them was a routine every couple of years.

They wanted to replace perfectly good batteries? I did it. This year, Dave, wanting to dip his toe into the retirement pool, decided to replace the batteries himself.

They wanted to replace perfectly good batteries? I did it. and may (depending on how badly you anticipate you’ll be beaten) have raised the IQ of the area by more than a few points.

Mind you, I was offered that observation by a New Yorker. Anyway, I know bankers, bakers, butchers, and … no, I don’t think I know any candlestick makers, but if there were one, I’d know one. One thing they all have in common is that they will do for themselves whatever someone might have charged them to do.

My friends, Dick and Dave (if they didn’t anticipate this column they’re in the big-time now; hi, guys!) are great. Dick is retired, Dave is trying to. They love fishing and own a boat together as father and son.

Dave couldn’t see the batteries, but he knew they were stuffed under the console somewhere. He found them, disconnected the cables, pulled out the old ones, installed the new, and … let’s see … were these hooked in parallel or series? Must be series, as a fourstroke needs plenty of “oomph” to crank.

The first call I got was from Dave, who said it was amazing how fast his 250 pounds exited a portable toilet console designed for a 3-year-old when something went “ZZZZZZZZPPPPPPPP” and smoke filled the compartment while he was trying to get to the battery switch. I made him take every cable off the batteries, explained the difference between series and parallel,

ASK OUR EXPERTS. Send your boating-related maintenance or repair question to our panel of experts at boatingworld.com/AskTheExperts.

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

and told him I’d be over. That evening I went there and made him get up into the console, and we went through the hook-up process again. I made certain he knew the ramifications of hooking red to black, and vice-versa. He assured me he had it covered. By golly, he was lucky. Everything actually worked!

Next call was the next day. He came back from fishing and the engine wouldn’t tilt. Does everything else work? I asked.

Actually, nothing does. Bunches of emails bounded through the skies: What did I do wrong? I dunno. How fast can you get to it? I dunno, but if you want, you can call ___. Nah, I’ll wait for you. (Damn!) Fish are running. What time can you be here?

In time to have a military funeral if you don’t get off my back!

I got into the console and understood the level of the sound it must have taken to get him out of the console lickety-split.

Even with no impetus, it took me an age to extricate myself. Every black wire in the system was crispy and had some portion of the wire showing metal. Three hours later, with Dick handing me tools and stuff, we were down to the last problem, which was a blown main fuse on the engine. We replaced that, strapped up the hanging repairs, and called it done. Funny, but I haven’t heard a peep from Dave since. I still think he and his dad add a lot to the community. I mean, look what they did for my checkbook!

LESSON LEARNED: If I’m lucky, Dave has learned to not touch anything other than the ignition key unless I say it’s OK. BW

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tested

YA M A H A 190 FS H S P O RT

Fish It Up Yamaha takes its comfortable and sporty jet boats to a place they’ve never been before.

BY ALAN JONES

I

T’S A KNOWN FACT THAT anglers will find a way to fish on any boat, and I’m certain Yamaha jet boats have been used as fishing platforms ever since they hit the market in 1996. And there are a lot of them out there. Yamaha is building 500 to 700 boats a month, which for many boat companies is a good production year. But Yamaha had never designed a purpose-built fishing boat until it unveiled the 190 FSH family of boats.

UNIQUE FACTOR

One of the things that has made all Yamaha boats so popular is the two-tier rear lounging area. Its designers know that most of a boat’s time on the water is spent with the key in the off position, so they created a space people gravitate to when its boats are at rest. With comfortable backrest cushions and padded decking, it also just happens to be one of the most relaxing places to wet a hook.

Thanks to Yamaha’s beam-forward design and an 8-foot beam, there’s an expansive raised casting deck in the bow that’s wired to accept a trolling motor. The forward deck is also a great place to toss a cast

to the fat aluminum tube frame. For more shade, head to the aftermarket and add a SureShade extended top.

PERFORMANCE

Powering the 190 FSH is a Yamaha 1.8L, four-cylinder four-stroke that’s mated to a 155 mm pump jet drive, which puts out approximately 180 hp (Yamaha doesn’t publish horsepower ratings). It has the highest displacement of any jet-powered boat in the industry, and because it’s non-supercharged, it makes its power in the easiest way possible. Although some mechanical efficiency is lost with a jet drive, its simple direct-drive system has

Its center-console design sets the tone for its fishin’ mission. net for bait, and there’s even a dedicated storage area in the stern for stowing a five-gallon bucket, where most people store their nets.

The 19-foot long 190 FSH is the first Yamaha jet boat to have a center console, which is a common thread among most saltwater fishing boat designs and gives anglers a platform that’s fishable in all of its 360 degrees. We tested the Sport model, which comes with a T-top with a lightweight canvas canopy for shade instead of a Bimini top, which can hamper fishing mobility. And at only $2,000 more than the 190 FSH Deluxe, it’s a bargain that gives passengers more places to hang on thanks 30

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far fewer moving parts than outboards or sterndrives, and it only draws 16 inches.

But the real beauty of this engine is its compact size, which makes the roomy accommodations in the back possible.

The lack of a propeller makes it attractive for owners with teenagers who will be driving the boat. One downside to some jet-propulsed engines is that they can ingest things such as seaweed or fishing line, but Yamaha has a patented clean-out port that can be accessed in the wet locker on the transom.

The High Output four-cylinder, four-banger engine moves the 190 FSH efficiently, but it’s not quite the

screaming machine Yamaha’s twin-engine HO-powered models can be. Granted, conditions were far from optimal on test day, with temperatures in the high 90s on Lake Oconee, east of Atlanta. Add a full tank of gas, glass-flat conditions (a little chop is better) and a couple of buffet-loving Americans on board, and it produced the pokiest numbers you’ll see on this boat. Its time to plane was 3.5 seconds and it took 9.8 seconds to reach 30 mph. Although we’ve seen this boat reach speeds up to 43 mph in other tests, on test day we could only wring 38 mph out of it at 7500 rpm.

But for waterskiing, this setup provides the perfect rate of acceleration, unlike quicker models that can be too abrupt if the driver hammers the throttle.

tk pullquote

HANDLING

Jet boats can be difficult to handle for boaters who are used to conventional power. Because there’s not much hull protruding into the water, jet boats tend to wander at slow speeds and can slide out during hard cornering. And the boat is steered by the thrust from the jet nozzle, so when the power is chopped, there is little or no directional control. Yamaha corrected these problems with an innovation called the Articulating Keel, which is a rudder that serves as an extension of the boat’s pronounced keel and tracks with the jet drive to deliver precise cornering and off-power steering — especially useful for docking — and allows even rookie drivers

(Clockwise from bottom left) Behind the forward jumpseat is an adult-sized head compartment. The center console has ample space for electronics. Removable cushions on the bow casting platform create more seating.

A doublewide jumpseat is in front of the center console. The leaning post has a reversible backrest.

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owner feedback  to back up in a straight line. At speed, the Articulating Keel helps the 190 FSH carve beautifully during hard turns as the boat leans in gently. One of the interesting side effects is that when you let go of the wheel (not recommended), it automatically resumes a straight-line course. The hull itself has 18 degrees of deadrise, which gives it a good blend of wave-slicing ability and side-to-side stability at rest.

BEST USES

Purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Ari Sosa, Kissimmee, Fla. Purchased at BMC Boats Longwood, Fla. >

W H AT W E L I K E D :

Great performance/Portable toilet/Changing room/Light weight/Fishing features/ Comfortable seating/Shallow-water capability >

W H AT I W O U L D C H A N G E :

It has a raw-water washdown, but I wanted to have fresh water available, so I had a tank installed. >

WHY WE BOUGHT IT:

I’ve owned several kinds of boats, including cruisers and conventional fishing boats with props, but for the shallow, grassy areas I frequent, such as the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Tohopekaliga, I decided a jet boat would be a better fit. My first one was a 15-foot Sea-Doo, but it was too small for what I wanted to do. When I saw the Yamaha 190 FSH Sport, I knew it was the perfect boat for me. The front casting deck and rear seating areas are fantastic places to fish from. My wife likes the fact it has a head compartment. There’s plenty of storage and lots of comfortable seating, so when I have guests, there’s room for all. I love the way it handles and it has plenty of power. I’ve even driven it to Bimini four times in good conditions and have slept on it. The center console and leaning post make it easy to stand and drive, which I prefer over sitting when in the waves. The service at BMC Boats has been fantastic, both before the sale and after.

Ostensibly, the FSH stands for Family Sports Hybrid, but once we insert the all-important I, we know its primary mission. Its center-console design sets the tone for its fishin’ mission, and Yamaha provides plenty of space for installing big-screen electronics — either flush mounted in the dash or on a gimbal on top of the dash, which has a lip for containment of loose items. The double-wide leaning post sits high to accommodate a standard Igloo Marine cooler and has a tall backrest for comfort that can be flipped forward to provide rearward seating at rest.

Six vertical holders are on the sides of the console and four more horizontal racks are under the gunwale, with four more in-gunwale holders. Useful fishy features include an 18-gallon aerated livewell in the stern and a coaming pad that encircles the cockpit to protect knees during fishing. For storing the catch, an insulated cooler is set into the casting deck. There’s a raw-water washdown that’s tied to the jet drive system and eliminates the need for an additional pump, but I was a little surprised it

produced a weaker-than-expected blast, given the horsepower behind it.

The 190 FSH Sport shifts easily into ski mode, with a standard tow eye in the stern and a 100-degree rearview mirror for the driver, but unlike other Yamaha boats, it doesn’t have an in-floor ski locker. Cruise control helps dial in the perfect tow speed; it also includes no-wake assist to fine-tune boat speed in no-fly zones. Passenger capacity is eight, and there’s plenty of seating for all. On either side of the leaning post, which can hold two passengers, are flip-up jump seats. On the casting deck is a thick pad for two more passengers, and in front of the console is a doublewide seat with a tall backrest for comfort. Flip up the console seat to reveal a changing room within the center console that can be equipped with a Porta Potti. For cranking out your personal soundtrack, there’s a two-speaker Jensen Bluetooth stereo.

PREFERRED SETUP

The option list is short, because virtually everything is a standard feature on the 190 FSH Sport, which lists for $32,499. It even comes with a painted single-axle trailer; a galvanized trailer is the only other option. The Deluxe version is $30,499 and has a Bimini instead of a T-top, but has every other option, including a bow fishing seat, which, curiously, the Sport version is lacking. The 190 FSH version comes in at $27,999, but doesn’t have any sort of top for shade, nor does it have the bow seating cushion, leaning post backrest or the dual battery setup the other two have. BW

SPECS Length 19 ft., 2 in. Beam 8 ft. Deadrise 18 degrees Capacity 8 people Dry Weight (hull) 2,293 lbs. Fuel Capacity 30 gal.

Max HP 180 PERFORMANCE Peak 38.0 mph/7500 rpm/96 dBA Cruise 25.4 mph/6000 rpm/92 dBA Time to Plane 3.5 sec. Time to 30 mph 9.8 sec.

POWER Test Yamaha 1.8L High Output Cylinders In-line 4 Displacement 1.8L Weight w/outdrive N/A WOT rpm 7500 Base Price w/test power $32,499 Value-Added Standard Features: Single-axle painted trailer, T-top, compass, coaming pads, tilt steering, Cruise Assist, 18-gallon livewell, changing room, bow cushion, raw-water washdown, bow storage compartments Must-Have Options: Galvanized trailer, aftermarket fishing/GPS electronics, aftermarket trolling motor Builder: Yamaha, yamahaboats.com Financing: $233/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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tested

H U R R I C A N E CC 19 O B

Transformer Hurricane’s newest 19-footer is its first deckboat to sport a center console, but it’s more than just a fishing boat.

BY ALAN JONES

B

OATERS WANT MORE OUT OF their boat than the ability to handle just one task. In fact, they want to do more than one thing at a time. Normally, center console boats are all about fishing — usually to the exclusion of anything else. Hurricane’s new CC 19 OB (outboard) might be the smallest center console the builder makes, but its designers made sure it can handle fishing, watersports and entertaining.

UNIQUE FACTOR

One’s first glimpse of the CC 19 can lead to many questions. The first one has to do with the four seatbacks sitting shoulder to shoulder at the stern: How in the heck can a boat this short have room for four abreast at the stern? The answer: While it’s a couple of inches short of 19 feet, it’s only one inch shy of having the same 8-foot, 6-inch beam of Hurricane’s largest center console, the SS 231, which is more than four feet longer. My next question was Aren’t those backrests going to get in the way during fishing? Then I noticed they’re removable. So I asked, Where are you going to put ‘em all? They’ll eat up all the storage in the compartments. So many questions.

Fortunately, Hurricane’s designers thought of all this and came up with a brilliant solution. When not in use, the seatbacks fit together, two-by-two, and hang under the gunwales, out of the way.

PERFORMANCE

While the Hurricane CC 19 is rated for 200 hp, our test boat featured Suzuki’s DF150, an in-line, four-cylinder four-stroke with a whopping 2.9L of displacement (the Mercury 400R has a 2.6L block) and a huge 2.50:1 gear ratio that allows it to swing a prop with up to a 15-and-a-halfinch diameter, for more thrust. The result was snappy performance out of the hole; the CC 19 got on plane in 3.1 seconds. It reached 30 mph in 9 seconds and topped out at 43.3 mph. While such performance is acceptable, moving to a more powerful

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Suzuki, such as the DF175, doesn’t result in a weight penalty, since it has the same block as the 150 and both weigh 474 pounds. The DF200 is marginally larger in displacement and only weighs 24 pounds more, so that’s another good option, because who doesn’t want to go faster?

And in the case of the Suzukis, going from 150 to 200 hp only costs about $3K. The standard engine is a 115, but I don’t feel like that’s enough to push this wide-beamed boat in an acceptable fashion. Hurricane can rig the CC 19 with any major outboard brand.

HANDLING

The Hurricane CC 19 hull has a cathedral/tri-hull configuration with 13 degrees of deadrise at the transom. The setup is a yin/yang proposition. The wide, relatively

The CC 19 excels in its versatility but doesn’t shirk its fishing duties. flat bottom offers exemplary side-to-side stability and quick planing. Most people picture center console boats as being seafaring vessels, but the aforementioned attributes make this Hurricane more suited to inshore waters such as lakes, bays and rivers. But for a deckboat, this model has an unusually high freeboard, so it offers a

(Clockwise from bottom left) A tournamentstyle livewell resides on the centerline at the stern. Stern backrests stow neatly under the gunwale when not in use. The large center console allows plenty of space for customization.

The four-wide stern bench has removable backrests. Optional filler cushions turn the bow into a giant sunpad.

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owner feedback 

Purchased by Jerry and Barbara Porter, Spartanburg, S.C. Purchased at Matthews Marine, Bluffton, S.C. >

W H AT W E L I K E D ;

Powerful and quiet Yamaha F150/Front fishing seat/Twin livewells/Convertibility from fishing to recreation/Fore and aft boarding ladders/ Large Bimini top >

W H AT W E W O U L D C H A N G E :

We have a rather small electronics display that we would like to upgrade to at least a 10-inch monitor. >

WHY WE BOUGHT IT:

I work on Daufuskie Island and bought the Hurricane in partnership with my work associate, David, to commute from nearby Hilton Head, but that’s not the only reason we got it. I love to fish and his family is more into recreational boating, and the Hurricane 19 CC is the perfect boat for us. I fish for trout and redfish in the creeks, and the Hurricane has no problem getting into shallow water.

I mostly use shrimp for bait, so I love the twin livewells as well as the comfortable bow fishing seat. When I go out alone, the center console design makes it really easy to handle.

When David’s family uses the boat, they install the cushions up front and cruise around and explore the many islands and beaches in the area. It’s light and easy to tow and we’ve taken it to Florida. Before we bought the boat, Rob Matthews, the owner of Matthews Marine, invited us to his house to demo the boat. He took us out on the river to show us how everything worked. The service there has been really fantastic; everything gets handled really quickly.

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greater level of safety should a sudden blow materialize.

The flat bottom helped the Hurricane stay on plane at just 17 mph at 3300 rpm (so going slow and in control is an option), and at top speed there was no problem with directional control. It’sw an easy boat to drive. Wisely, Hurricane mandates the SeaStar hydraulic steering system ($1,140) on boats with 150 hp or more, to prevent anyone from trying to save a few bucks in the worst possible way. The builder also mandates at least the BayStar hydraulic system ($802) for anything up to 140 hp engines, but except for 115 hp outboards (don’t do it!), buyers should get the SeaStar.

During hard turns, the CC 19 leaned in a little and hooked up pretty well, with a

little more slip than on boats with a deeper V hull.

BEST USES

The CC 19 excels in its versatility but doesn’t shirk its fishing duties, which would cause it to have to relinquish its center console merit badge. Once all the backrests at the stern are removed and stowed, a roomy casting deck is revealed, and under the center two seats is a huge 30-gallon, lighted oval livewell with an acrylic top.

One big rap on most deckboats — as fishing vessels — is low gunwale height, which tends to rub anglers’ knees raw on long days, but the cockpit on the CC 19 was solidly mid-thigh high on this six-foot-tall reviewer, so most folks will be able to really lock in

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when tied to a big one. Our test boat was equipped with a T-top ($3,780), which is highly recommended for hardcore anglers.

It gives riders plenty to hang on to when the boat is running and includes three rocket-launcher holders, which augment the triple under-gunwale racks on both sides and the four holders on top of the gunwale.

At the helm is a flip-flop doublewide seatback on a leaning post that covers an Igloo marine cooler. The large dash would have plenty of real estate for up to 12-inch displays, but the accessory rocker switches are arranged in a long strip at the bottom, so by the time gauges and a stereo are installed, it’s Tokyo-tight. One work-around would be to use a gimbal mount for electronics at the top of the dash. Up front are

Starboard planks ($214) that can be put in place to create a huge deck, and since this is a beamy deckboat, there’s room for more than one angler at a time. There are twin storage compartments in the stern and storage in the bow.

When it comes time to put away the rods and relax, optional filler cushions ($500 with Starboard planks included) turn the bow into a sunpad, or it can revert to a more standard bowrider configuration. Two removable backrests can convert to armrests if passengers are sitting with their feet on the deck. Another unusual feature is an optional changing room ($375) that makes use of the large center console and is accessed by lifting the bottom of the jump seat in front of the

console. There’s plenty of room here for a Porta Potti ($199).

PREFERRED SETUP

To expand the CC 19’s entertainment potential, a few options are called for, such as the wood-grain bow cockpit table ($368) and Infinity Bluetooth fourspeaker stereo. For nighttime adventures, underwater lighting is available for $309.

Watersports are definitely in the picture if the fixed ski tow bar ($750) is added.

Buyers who want to anchor quickly in shallow water can get a Power Pole ($2,258) installed. And for a post-skiing or fish-handling rinse, it’s nice to have a freshwater hose ($236). Nine hull-color choices make the boat customizable. BW

SPECS Length 18 ft., 10 in. Beam 8 ft., 5 in. Deadrise 13 degrees Capacity 10 people Dry Weight (hull) N/A Fuel Capacity 36 gal. Max HP 200 PERFORMANCE Peak 43.3 mph/6000 rpm/94 dBA Cruise 29.9 mph/4500 rpm/85 dBA Time to Plane 3.1 sec. Time to 30 mph 9.0 sec.

POWER Test Suzuki DF150 four-stroke Cylinders In-line 4 Displacement 2.9L Weight w/outdrive 474 lbs. WOT Range 5000-6000 rpm Base Price w/test power $38,479 Value-Added Standard Features: Sony Bluetooth stereo, 30-gallon livewell, leaning post w/cooler, 10 rod holders, dedicated 5-gallon bucket storage, SS hardware and Bimini top, 4 stern seatbacks Must-Have Options: Trailer, snap-in carpeting, fishing electronics, Power Pole, bow filler cushions, changing curtain and Porta Potti, upgraded Infinity stereo, bow table, washdown, bow fishing seat Builder: Hurricane Boats, hurricaneboats.com Financing: $276/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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tested

PR I N CECR A F T VO G U E 2 9 S E

En Vogue Princecraft packs a lot of fun, luxury and versatility into its flagship model.

BY ALAN JONES

W

HEN BOATING SEASON IS AS short as it is in Canada, any time spent on the

water had better be quality time, or else you are wasting a precious commodity.

The Vogue 29 SE represents the top of Princecraft’s luxury food chain, and the builder from Princeville, Quebec, has taken everything it’s learned over the past 62 years to deliver a boat that packs in as many quality features between the fences as possible.

UNIQUE FACTOR

Instead of sporting outside-the-fence rails, the sides are a blank canvas for splashing on the bold, dark graphics that are in vogue now. Up close, folks will notice it has a sparkly finish that’s subtle enough to be classy rather than flashy. Combine that with a radiused fiberglass bow section that’s uniquely sculpted and a black forward-swept watersports tower ($6,502), and buyers get a pontoon that personifies their refined yet sporty attitude.

The rear swim platform on the Vogue 29 SE is one of the largest I’ve seen on an outboard-powered pontoon. Our test boat had an optional polished stainless steel soccer goal-style ski tow ($779) encircling the Mercury outboard, which tubers and slalom skiers will love. Many of the special touches on our test boat, such as the swimming pool-style boarding ladder, are part of the Prestige Package, which also includes LED lighting on the speakers, cupholders, floor and even on the pontoon logs themselves. There’s also lighting under the simulated-granite dual-height bar that is highlighted by towering cupholders that make it easy for a mixologist to concoct some creative treats. Surrounding the bar are four A-rated stools, making them acceptable to use when the Vogue 29 SE is in motion.

PERFORMANCE

Princecraft has been a member of the Brunswick family for 15 years, so the Vogue 29 SE is going to have a Mercury engine on the transom, and our boat was certainly not lacking for power with 38

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a Verado 350. It uses a supercharger to deliver instant-on power when the driver throws down on the drive-by-wire DTS power lever. Despite all that fury, the big Verado is one of the quietest outboards on the market, especially at idle, where its 55 decibels wouldn’t even get shushed by a librarian. Guests probably won’t even notice it’s running as they board.

Wisely, Princecraft only offers this model with the top-of-the-line Performance Configuration, which includes an aluminum underskin and three 25-inch-diameter tubes that have two lifting strakes each, which helped it get on plane in just 2.9 seconds with very little bowrise. The Verado pulls very strong in the mid-range and reached 30 mph in 5.9 seconds, which is impressive considering this 29-foot, 10-inch boat weighs 3,603 pounds. Top speed cracked the 50 mph barrier by 0.5 mph after I trimmed the Mercury out to reduce wetted surface and drag. It comes with as little as the standard in-line 4 cylinder Verado 200, but anything less than 250 hp will cause instant regret the first time you jam the throttle.

Proving that pontoons aren’t just for the thrill-challenged, the Vogue 29 SE can be equipped with Mercury’s new 400R, which comes straight from its racing division. The only downside to such a move, besides the nearly $8K price bump over the 350, is that it comes with a two-year warranty, which is one year short of the coverage given to its more mortal Verado brethren. But like with the mainstream engines, Mercury offers optional extended three-year coverage, for a total of five years.

(Clockwise from bottom left) Polished stainless steel ski tow matches the boarding ladder.

Clarion stereo upgrade ups the party factor.

A huge port-side galley is a buffet waiting to happen. A head and holding tank can be added to the popup changing station.

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owner feedback 

Jon and Sharon Finley, Leeward, Kan. Purchased at Midwest Boating Center, Osage Beach, Mo. >

W H AT W E L I K E D

Powerful and quiet Mercury Verado 350/ Forward-swept watersports tower/Modern styling/Quality of fit and finish/Rough-water handling and cornering ability/Comfortable seating >

W H AT W E W O U L D C H A N G E

While the rest of the boat has high-end stainless steel cupholders, the ones set into the cockpit table were made of plastic and looked cheap. >

WHY WE BOUGHT IT

We do most of our boating on Lake of the Ozarks, which can get quite rough, so our boats have tended to be offshore go-fast boats, and our most recent one was a 36-foot cabin cruiser. As we are getting older, we wanted something that was easier to handle, but we didn’t want to feel old by getting an ordinary pontoon; it had to have style and performance. We looked at several high-end pontoons but really liked the Princecraft’s looks and quality of build. We weren’t too sure how it would handle the rough conditions here, but the first large wakes we went over were a non-event. We love cruising around the lake and stopping to cook on our grill.

We’ve had as many as 12 people on the boat and there’s plenty of room for all. Midwest Boating Center has been awesome. When I pointed out the cheap plastic cupholders on the cockpit table, they replaced them with stainless steel at no charge. Their follow-up on service issues has been outstanding.

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HANDLING

Because of the double lifting strakes on all of the Vogue 29 SE’s pontoons, cornering is very flat, since the ones on the outside of the outer tubes push back when it’s thrown into a hard corner. On some boats, such a setup inhibits really sharp turns, but not this model; I was able to turn one of the tightest diameter ohs! I’ve ever pulled on a boat of this size. And while its speed dropped pretty quickly during the maneuver, it was really smooth throughout, so picking up a downed skier can be done quickly. Other handling benefits to its

quadrants, so skippers can pull up on the starboard side where they have a clear view of everything.

BEST USES

It’s pretty easy to see Princecraft had entertaining on a grand scale in mind for the Vogue 29 SE, given its bar setup and a massive amount of countertop space on the rear port quarter, which covers the standard 12v refrigerator. The countertop is there begging for a smorgasbord-type spread of goodies to be laid atop its simulated granite working surface that has plenty of storage

Taking young kids on a G-rated tube ride is easy and economical. six-strake setup include exceptional sideto-side stability at rest and low planing speed — 17 mph at 2900 rpm — so taking young kids on a G-rated tube ride is easy and economical.

Docking a pontoon can be difficult if its boarding gate is on the port side, because the driver approaches a dock he can’t see because of the pontoon boat’s fencing. The Vogue 29 SE has boarding gates on all

beneath, as does the bar. Of course, this setup and the large rear deck do whittle down the passenger seating capacity, but the premium Clarion stereo setup ($1,517) with a CMS5 stereo and a 10-inch subwoofer will get most guests up and busting a move anyway. Seating is handled by a starboard-side chaise lounge and twin forward-facing recliners up front that are joined into a U-shaped seating group by the

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standard bow filler cushion. And for beverage-holding capacity, optional moveable cupholder/armrests ($200) can be added, in addition to the one included in the Premium Package ($2,504), which includes the firstlevel stereo upgrade with a subwoofer, a raised helm and a battery switch.

With the watersports tower and stern ski tow, the boat is ready for nearly any sporty activity, although with its multistrake setup, the Vogue 29 SE rides high in the water and throws very little wake, so it’s probably more of a slalom-friendly pontoon than a wakeboard launching machine. The upgraded Clarion CMS5 stereo has a rearview camera, so the driver can watch the skier on a display to the right of the dash.

PREFERRED SETUP

The Vogue 29 SE is Princecraft’s top-of-the-line model and comes loaded with standard features, but there are a few must-haves to make it a complete package.

Canada has more than 2 million lakes and America has about 125,000, so it would be folly not to get the optional triple-axle galvanized trailer ($6,244) to facilitate

traveling to all those lakes, especially since the boat has an 8-foot, 6-inch beam, which requires no special permitting. There’s an available full camper enclosure ($3,756) for overnighting or extending the season. Down south, a double-Bimini setup ($1,613) might be the ticket, to combat the relentless sun.

To increase the entertainment quotient, add a pedestal-mounted gas grill ($470) to the rear deck and a head with a holding tank and pumpout to the popup changing station

($473) in the port bow lounger. Other fun options include underwater lighting ($589) and speakers for the watersports tower ($880), with the upgraded stereo system.

For flooring, the standard setup includes a rear deck with a faux-teak finish and True Mica Mist Magnitude 24-ounce carpeting in the cockpit. Our test boat was upgraded to the antiskid Infinity vinyl flooring, which looks like a reed mat and is easier to maintain than carpeting. BW

SPECS Length 29 ft., 10 in. Beam 8 ft., 6 in. Tube Diameter 25 in. Capacity 16 people Dry Weight (hull) 3,602 lbs. Fuel Capacity 52 gal. Max HP 400 PERFORMANCE Peak 50.5 mph/6400 rpm/93 dBA Cruise 28.3 mph/4500 rpm/81 dBA Time to Plane 2.9 sec. Time to 30 mph 5.9 sec.

POWER Test Mercury Verado 350 Cylinders In-line 6 Displacement 2.6L Weight w/outdrive 668 lbs. WOT Range 5800-6400 rpm Base Price w/test power $74,243 Value-Added Standard Features: Refrigerator, cockpit table, bow gate filler, Lowrance depthfinder, galley w/electric faucet, 4-speaker Bluetooth Clarion stereo, LED mood lighting, triple-tubes w/in-deck ski storage Must-Have Options: Trailer, watersports tower, upgraded stereo w/subwoofer, double Bimini top, camper enclosure, stern ski tow, SmartCraft gauges, head w/holding tank, wakeboard tower speakers Builder: Princecraft, princecraft.com Financing: $533/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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• 2016 HOLIDAY •

Gift Guide More than three dozen gift suggestions should help you start — or wrap up — your holiday shopping. Good luck.

BY

Boating World Staff

W

e know it feels like only weeks ago we were wishing each other a happy July 4, but the holidays are almost upon us. If this news is a surprise to you, perhaps you haven’t been to a big-box store recently. As the holidays draw ever nearer, they bring with them the pressure to buy the right gifts, and there is an inversely proportional relationship between the closeness of the big day and the pressure associated with shopping: GRH = A x T x TL. (Gift receiver happiness is equal to Appropriateness (times) Thoughtfulness (times) Timeliness.)

You no doubt have a boater or two on your list. Perhaps you’re the boater on someone’s list. Either way, our compilation of products is sure to satisfy your inner Santa or widen your wish list. From stocking stuffers to year-making big-ticket items, we have something — or many things — you’ll find to your liking. Read on.

Our first and best item, naturally, is a subscription to Boating World. Get someone new started or extend someone’s existing subscription. A three-year (27 issues) subscription costs $15.97, so you can be generous to multiple folks. folks 

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For the Boat

A BOAT IS an owner’s baby, and as such, it gets spoiled appropriately. While he has certainly purchased many things to make life on the boat better, there is always room for a well-thought-out gift. We have nine suggestions sure to fit right in.

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stocking-stuffer size. when it moves. It’s peace of mind in a boat’s location and sends alerts uses satellite technology to track the installs in an out-of-the-way spot and Spot Trace, an anti-theft monitor that is Bluetooth ready.

Help a friend protect her boat with four full-range loudspeakers can be attached directly to the unit, and it monitoring) amplifier and is built to handle toughestfor on-water conditions. Up to FindMeSpot.com, $119.95the ($99.99/year The new active subwoofer from Aquatic AV features a built-in 288W 99 / Trace Theft Monitor AquaticAV.com, grade $269 materials that glue to nearly any clean surface.

99 / AQ-SWA8-1BT Subwoofer cockpit, so TackleWebs created hook-and-loop holders out of marinein full fishing use. Those old plastic cupholders don’t last long in a busy Cupholders can be hard to find on some boats when the rod holders are TackleWebs, $14.99 99 / Hook and Loop Cupholder

1 / Hook and Loop Cupholder TackleWebs.com, $14.99 Cupholders can be hard to find on some boats when the rod holders are in full fishing use. Those old plastic cupholders don’t last long in a busy cockpit, so TackleWebs created hook-and-loop holders out of marinegrade materials that glue to nearly any clean surface.

3 / Jump Starter 44 MyWeego.com, $149.99 Don’t get stuck with a dead battery at the end of an exciting day on the water. The Jump Starter 44 from Weego will start a gas engine up to 6.4L and diesels up to 3.2L. In addition, folks can charge their phone and other USB-compatible devices.

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2 / AQ-SWA8-1BT Subwoofer AquaticAV.com, $269 The new active subwoofer from Aquatic AV features a built-in 288W amplifier and is built to handle the toughest on-water conditions. Up to four full-range loudspeakers can be attached directly to the unit, and it is Bluetooth ready.

4 / Marine Kettle 3 Gas Grill MagmaProducts.com, $249.99 For onboard dining — maybe of the fish caught that day — a grill that can mount using an existing rod holder is handy. Magma’s Kettle 3 grill is compact, strong and built for the marine environment. It uses disposable one-pound propane fuel canisters.

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6 / Trace Theft Monitor FindMeSpot.com, $119.95 ($99.99/year for monitoring) Help a friend protect her boat with Spot Trace, an anti-theft monitor that installs in an out-of-the-way spot and uses satellite technology to track the boat’s location and sends alerts when it moves. It’s peace of mind in a stocking-stuffer size.

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5 / Team Boat Hook DavisInstruments.com, $36.99+ Delivering up to 900 pounds of pulling force, telescoping Team Boat Hooks from Davis Instruments can help snag lines, fend off contact with the dock or pass a bag from the dock to the boat. Made of anodized aluminum, they float and include a molded vinyl grip.

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8 / Milennia MIL-MR70BT Receiver ProspecElectronics.com, $119.95 Compact and Bluetooth and USB ready, the Milennia MIL-MR70BT receiver from Prospec delivers crisp sound from an internal 40W x 4 amplifier, and it’s only seven and three-sixteenths inches long by two and a quarter inches tall by four inches deep.

stocking-stuffer size. when it moves. It’s peace of mind in a boat’s location and sends alerts uses satellite technology to track the installs in an out-of-the-way spot and Spot Trace, an anti-theft monitor that is Bluetooth ready.

Help a friend protect her boat with four full-range loudspeakers can be attached directly to the unit, and it monitoring) amplifier and is built to handle toughestfor on-water conditions. Up to FindMeSpot.com, $119.95the ($99.99/year The new active subwoofer from Aquatic AV features a built-in 288W 99 / Trace Theft Monitor AquaticAV.com, grade $269 materials that glue to nearly any clean surface.

99 / AQ-SWA8-1BT Subwoofer cockpit, so TackleWebs created hook-and-loop holders out of marinein full fishing use. Those old plastic cupholders don’t last long in a busy Cupholders can be hard to find on some boats when the rod holders are TackleWebs, $14.99 99 / Hook and Loop Cupholder

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7 / Gen 4 FF12 LED Underwater Lights Aqualuma.com, $547 Help someone spruce up his boat’s nighttime ambiance with Aqualuma’s new Gen 4 FF12 Surface Mount LED underwater lights. The surface-mount units use two wires, draw less than two amps, and come in white or blue.

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9 / Journey Rearview Camera HyndsightVision.com, $499 Whether it’s for watching the action behind the boat or for monitoring the boat and trailer on the way to the water, seeing what’s behind is important. Journey from Hyndsight Vision Systems is a wire-free camera and sunlight-readable monitor system that provides real-time video in or out of the water.

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For the Boater

BOATERS ARE ALWAYS glad to receive something for their boat, but sometimes it’s nice to get something for oneself. Don’t forget the actual boat owners on your list. If they’re on the nice list, reward them with something cool.

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12 / Boss Sunglasses WileyX.com, $150 We’ve tested these sunglasses, and they do a great job on the water of eliminating glare and providing contrast, which is good for spotting fish or in-the-water obstructions. The frame is light and big enough to fit our editor’s rather large head. Wiley’s T-Shell lens coating provides resistance to scratching, and polarization cuts glare.

10 / Bluetooth Heated Insoles ThermaCell.com, $199 Does someone on your list take the boat out long after the warm weather has gone? Help him keep his feet warm with Heated Insoles from Thermacell. Not only are they warm, they can be controlled via a smartphone app.

12 11 / Motu Sunglasses CostaDelMar.com, $249 Protecting one’s eyes on the water is important, so sunglasses are always a good gift. The Motu style from Costa features a light, comfortable frame (four color options), and polarized lens choices from everyday to harsh sun. UV light is 100 percent blocked for protection.

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13 / Key Buoy DavisInstruments.com, $6.99 Plop. The one sound a boater never wants to hear, because it usually means something has fallen into the water. Help particularly drop-prone boaters on your list keep their keys safe with the Key Buoy, a fob that automatically inflates when submerged. An orange tube keeps the keys at the surface for easier retrieval.

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14 / Rapid Deployment

Survival Bracelet

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SurvivalStraps.com, $29.99 Stylish, strong and simple, the Survival Bracelet from Survival Straps is one of those things you hope you never have to use but will be glad to have in a pinch. Fifteen feet of military-spec paracord unravels quickly for a variety of situations.

15 / CoolSwitch Shirts UnderArmour.com, $54.99 Using technology found in NASA spacesuits, CoolSwitch Thermocline shirts from Under Armour are meant to pull heat away from the wearer’s skin and provide a cooling sensation. Styles for men and women mean you can buy for anyone on your list.

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For the Watersports Fanatics

SURFING OR BEING pulled behind the boat is a great thrill, and

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the nice thing is people don’t have to be accomplished to enjoy it.

We found some items that will help everyone get involved, and a couple of extras, too.

Saturn MotoSUP BoatsToGo.com, $399 Standup paddleboarding is great, but sometimes the paddling part gets tiring. The Saturn MotoSUP includes a transom attachment for an electric motor and a bracket for a battery. Add a beach chair and umbrella, and the SUP is a floating front porch.

Dyna-Core Wakeboard Rope WestMarine.com, $34.99 With the same look and low stretch as Dyneema and Spectra, DynaCore is a less expensive alternative. The 70-foot rope has three take-offs and a five-foot handle bridle. The 15-inch handle includes an EVA grip.

16 / Wrap It Up Fasteners WestMarine.com, $6.99/three pack Help a friend keep his boat tidy by giving him Wrap It Up hook and loop fasteners from Kwik Tek. Ropes can be coiled, wrapped and stored out of the way — without becoming unruly rat’s nests.

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19 / Pro Drybag 45L SubtechSports.com, $399 Keeping things dry aboard is important, whether those items are for post-watersports wearing or for emergencies. The Pro Drybag 45L from Subtech Sports is waterproof to 164 feet and floats when fully loaded. Its shockproof inflatable system can keep all manner of sensitive equipment safe and dry.

17 / Board-Mounted Speaker StickySounds.com, $68.95 Lots of wakesports enthusiasts like recording the action with body- or board-mounted cameras. Now, they can add a live soundtrack to the video with the Sticky Sounds speaker, which mounts much like GoPro cameras and delivers tunes. It floats, is shockproof and has an eight-hour battery life.

20 / Nomad Wake Longboard SlingshotSports.com, $449 For a more casual wakeboarding experience on your boat, the Nomad wakeboard is essentially a longboard that can be pulled behind the boat — and it doesn’t have to be a wakeboat. Its larger sweet spot means it’s easier to ride, the boat can go slower and it can be used behind boats with a smaller wake.

18 / Quest Soft Cooler CanyonCoolers.com, $99.99+ For the avid kayaker on your list, the Canyon Quest Soft Cooler is a rugged, watertight cooler that can double as a Camelback, to keep rowers hydrated on long journeys. IceSkin insulation delivers three times the insulation found in other soft coolers.

21 / The Thing Kneeboard ConnellySkis.com, $249.99 Does someone on your list need an easy way into watersports?

The Thing from Connelly Skis might be the ticket. It’s a kneeboard that accommodates people standing up, and with the fins installed, it can be a wakesurf board.

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For the Angler

ANGLERS ARE FAIRLY single-minded: catch fish. You can definitely help them do that,

and we have some suggestions to make it happen. But if you have a fishing fanatic who doesn’t do a great job keeping the sun at bay, we have suggestions for that, too, and those gifts might be the ones that get used a lot.

22 / iBobber Bluetooth

Fish Finder

23 / Fish Head Shorts Shop.Grundens.com, $55 Boardshorts with fishing features, Fish Head shorts from Grundens deliver UPF 50 sun protection, stain-resistant fabric that dries quickly, a pocket lined with ceramic armorplated SuperFabric and a zippered cargo pocket. Fashionable, comfortable fishing for all.

ReelSonar.com, $99.99 Cast the iBobber into the water, use the app to sync it to your smartphone, and see what’s in the water under your boat. Some features are sonar, weather forecast, trip log, GPS tag, water temperature, fish alarm and strike alarm.

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24 / Tactical Fluorocarbon P-Line.com, $22.99+ Tactical Fluorocarbon line from P-Line was named the New Product Showcase winner at ICAST 2016, and its strength and invisibility will help anglers land more fish. Available from 6- to 20-pound test in 200-yard spools, Tactical Fluorocarbon will fit in most any stocking.

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26 26/ Garage Door Rack CobraStorage.com, $30/set Help an angler on your list — or maybe you — turn the garage into storage nirvana with Cobra Garage Door Racks. The six-rod holders clamp to the garage door without tools or can be mounted to the wall or ceiling. They’re adjustable to fit equipment of any size.

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25 / UVX Mask BuffUSA.com, $35 Long days on the water stalking fish can be fulfilling, but the sun can do a number on one’s skin.

Help the anglers on your list protect their face and neck with a UVX Mask from Buff USA. The masks block 95 percent of UV rays and feature breathable, wicking Coolmax Extreme fabric.

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27 / Trapper Dropshot Hooks TrapperTackle.com, $3.79/six Help a spouse or some friends improve their fish-landing ratio with a better hook. Winner of the Best of Show Terminal Tackle category at ICAST 2016, the Trapper Tackle Dropshot/ Live Bait/Finesse hook features a fully exposed box and a horizontal line tie, for better presentation. It comes in five sizes.

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For the Furry Crewmembers

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BOAT DOGS ARE fun to have around, and

most of them take to water like boating writers take to free buffets. Help them stay safe and look sharp with dog collars, life vests and helpful boarding ramps.

Pet Boarding Ramp

28 / Women’s PFG

Bonehead II Shirt Columbia.com, $35 With a relaxed fit and venting, the PFG Bonehead II shirt for women is a gift that will tell her you want to spend time together on the water. It comes with a built-in rod holder and is available in seven colors.

DoggyDocks.com, $349+ Is your boat’s swim step too difficult for your dog to get onto after a dip? Get a ramp from doggydocks and make life easier for your pooch. The ramps attach to a swim step or a dock. The folding model makes storage simpler.

31 / Nautical Dog Collar WestMarine.com, $27.99 For a less personalized but more nautical look, get your furry mate a Pirate Dog Collar (or other boaty style) from Leather Man. With sizes to fit any dog, Leather Man can help your dog look like a sailor.

30 / Rover Neo Dog Vest ConnellySkis.com, $29.99 Connelly has your canine covered with its Rover Neo Dog Vest, a neoprene pet life jacket that comes in many sizes and two color choices: flannel and hula. It features a grab strap and reflective tape.

32 / Personalized Dog Collar BlueberryPet.com, $16.99 Your four-legged first mate might not be able to read, but the person who finds her if she gets lost probably can, so a personalized collar from Blueberry Pet Store with her name and your phone number on it could lead to a reunion.

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29 / Sunshield PelagicGear.com, $22 Neck gaiters are good ways to protect one’s neck and face from the sun’s rays. The Sunshield from Pelagic Gear delivers protection in a variety of styles and prints. Find the right one for your special angler.

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33 / The Beacon RuffWear.com, $19.95 Make it easier to spot your boat dog, especially after dark, with a flashing light that clips to the collar. The Beacon from Ruff Wear is watertight and includes a bright LED with three settings. Battery replacement is tool-free.

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by CAPT. TOM SERIO

Y

ou may have seen flap-like appendages hanging off a boat’s transom and been unsure of what those plates might be used for or why. Even if you are aware of what they are and what they do, how much do you really know about them? Let’s level the playing field here and explain what benefits they offer the boater.

THE TAB THAT TRIMS

Attitude Adjustment

If you’re not sure what trim tabs do and why they’re considered performance enhancers, we have the lowdown.

The flaps we’re referring to are trim tabs, and they essentially do what their name implies: trim a boat to run at a preferred pitch and/or roll (terms you may have heard because they are also associated with airplanes). Pitch is the up/down angle of the boat, from bow to stern. Roll, or list, is the side-to-side movement, across the beam. (Yaw is another dynamic in flying and boating, and is the lateral movement controlled by the rudder or outboard angle, and we’ll save that for another time.)

Trim tabs are attached to a boat, flush to the hull’s running or wet surface, at the transom. They are actuated to deflect pressure off the water that is running under the hull. Ineffective when a boat is not moving or drifting with no power applied, they require a flow of water across the bottom surface to work. They’re different than stabilizers, which are part of a different discussion.

Along with a set of installed trim tabs is typically a set of rocker switches or buttons on the dash that, when pressed, will activate the trim tabs, lowering or raising them via a piston or actuator attached to the hull and tab. Adjusting them in unison or individually will have different effects on the way a boat responds. The benefit is that the operator can improve the efficiency of the running angle, fuel economy, balance and load, and the actual safety aspect of the operation.

LIFT THE LIST You may have come across a boat that’s listing a little or even quite a bit, from passengers sitting to one side, gear or provisions that aren’t properly distributed, or seas taken on the beam or quarter. Such symptoms can make a boat run stern heavy or make the bow dig due to forward weight. Trim tabs will actually help reduce (not always eliminate) listing, if the driver adjusts one tab or the other until the boat is running level. Tabs, for the most part, can also raise the stern, giving an improved running attitude, decreasing drag and softening the wake.

There are varying types of trim tab systems, so let’s explore the options and their pros and cons.

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Attitude Adjustment

Hydraulic vs. Electric

Actuating the trim tabs can be done hydraulically or electrically, each of which has its pros and cons.

Hydraulic Pros The electric motor and pump are located inside the boat and protected from the environment, with one or two hydraulic lines routed to the actuator.

They offer precise control and no run-on when the switch is released.

Hydraulic systems are more durable, with seals mounted internally.

Hydraulic Cons The electric motor is mounted inside the boat, taking up valuable real estate, especially on smaller craft.

A hydraulic pump or line failure can leave hydraulic fluid in the bilge — fluid you don’t want going overboard.

Hydraulic setups typically cost more due to a more complex system.

Electric Pros Users claim that electric tabs respond faster but not as precisely as hydraulics, important on go-fast vessels.

Electric tabs are better on smaller boats such as flats and bass boats.

It’s easier and faster to install electric tabs.

Electric Cons With the motors located within the actuators, they’re more prone to failure, since the actuators are usually underwater.

Seals are more prone to damage from sand and marine growth.

There may be more need to pull the boat to make repairs.

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THE HOW AND WHY Once you understand which system is best for your application, it’s time to figure out how they help. When a boat is listing, the hull doesn’t perform as designed.

Strakes and chines are too high on one side, too deep on the other. Lift may be compromised, and so may turning ability. When the tab is actuated on the side with the list, water pressure against the down-trimmed tab pushes against the tab, forcing it up.

More tab actuation will provide more lift, so ease off when the boat is level again. If people are moving around in the boat, trim may be hard to maintain.

Proper trimming will assist a boat in getting out of the hole and on plane faster, which gets the boat up and on top of the water instead of pushing it. Not only is this effective for level cruising, but it also helps to navigate in shallow water. Getting the tabs all the way down lifts the stern, potentially gaining more clearance and lessening the draft.

Varying sea conditions will dictate how tabs are used. A boat driving into a head sea needs a little tab to lift the stern and lower the bow, allowing the hull to slice into the swell or waves. Don’t give too much trim, though, or you might bury the bow.

In a following sea, trim tabs should be off and fully retracted, which will help to maintain steering. If the tabs were fully extended, the force of the sea could make the stern hard to control.

tabs are properly sized for your boat and for how you boat. The folks at Bennett Marine understand that varying engine configurations, the amount of weight and its distribution in the boat, the type of boat and other variables will dictate the size of tab used. But as a general recommendation, Bennett promotes at least an inch of tab span (side-to-side measurement) for every

On most any boat, trim tabs can be a beneficial system.

When running a quartering sea, determine which side of the boat is lower as you come off a swell or wave. You don’t want to be jockeying the tab switch every time you crest a wave, so I prefer to set the tabs for the downside or back of the wave, to compensate for the dip.

MOUNTING EFFORT Installing trim tabs is not difficult, but care must be taken, especially when drilling through the transom. The first order of business is to make sure the

foot of length. Keep in mind that the largest trim tabs that will fit will be the most efficient.

On multiple-engine boats, there may not be sufficient space to install a tab with sufficient span. Not to worry. There are tabs that have very narrow span but are much longer. They may require more hardware, possibly a second actuator per tab due to the added force of a longer tab.

During installation, tabs are generally mounted three to four inches from the chine toward the keel. On inboard boats,

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Fully Deployed Position

the entire run can be used even if strakes are built into the hull. For outboards and I/Os, the tabs need to be kept clear of the drives, so turn the outboard or I/O fully left and right to ensure there is clearance.

The standard configuration for mounting tabs includes a mounting hinge that is fastened to the transom. If tabs are being mounted through the hull, use a backing plate and a sufficient sealant. Some tabs are mounted to the boat bottom, when there is no transom space. They require a flat bottom with no strakes or protrusions.

TABS VS. POWER TRIM

Trim tabs are an efficient performance enhancer on most any size boat.

Fully Retracted Position

Interception

I

would be remiss if I didn’t mention another type of trim tab, and that’s the interceptor tab. It isn’t a tab in the traditional sense, but rather a “bar” that extends down from a housing mounted flush on the transom at the turn of the transom. When the bar is extended, it interrupts the flow of water along the hull and creates a pressure area in the water just in front of the bar. Essentially it places the lifting pressure up against the hull, and not along the surface of a conventional trim tab. Interceptors are rated for trailerable boats and yachts to more than 200 feet, because they can be sized for the application.

Interceptors help to reduce friction and resistance typical on a trim tab. They are constructed of composite materials, thereby reducing marine growth and the need for zincs, and they can be customshaped to follow the contour of the hull.

Without Trim Tabs

With Trim Tabs

Way of the Wake

Trimming a boat is not only to maximize the running efficiency, but a different trim setting will change the size of the wake. Putting the tabs down in a slow or no-wake zone will minimize a wake signature while allowing you to maintain a safe speed. Trimming up while adding speed will increase the wake wave and possibly create a rooster tail. For boaters who enjoy waterskiing or wakeboarding, the trim tabs can become your next cool tool to enhancing the skier’s experience.

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Your boat may have power trim on the outboard, giving an operator the ability to trim the engine — that is, to trim the direction of the propeller. And many folks think that if they have power trim they don’t need trim tabs. Understand that a propeller’s job is to force the boat forward; trim tabs trim the hull’s attitude.

Trimming the hull with the power trim is highly inefficient, as it can cause prop slippage and reduce fuel economy and performance. Power trim also can’t do anything to correct listing.

The proper way to use both systems, and to maximize economy and performance, is to adjust the trim tabs to level the boat to a planing attitude and then adjust the power trim to maximize the efforts of the prop by trimming it parallel to the water.

BOTTOM LINE On most any boat, trim tabs can be a beneficial system to have in order to maximize the vessel’s efficiency and performance. They can also make the ride more enjoyable and safe. But do your homework to determine what is best for your vessel — hydraulic or electric, the proper size and the final cost. BW TO THE WEB Much more information regarding trim tabs and interceptors can be found on these major manufacturers’ websites.

• Bennett Marine, bennetttrimtabs.com • Humphree, humphree.com

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• Hydrotab Marine Engineering, hydrotab.gr • Lenco Marine, lencomarine.com

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Find Ce YOUR

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The center console fills a void in boating.

Typically larger and safer than an inflatable but smaller than a beefy sportfisher, they appeal both functionally and economically to a broad class of boat buyer. By virtue of their design and build, they can be multitaskers — from a mean fishing platform to a family coastal cruiser. Read on for a look at their evolution, purpose and practicality, especially in the sub-30-foot range.

BY C A P T. T O M S E R I O

Center

AS AMERICAN AS BASEBALL AND APPLE PIE, CENTER CONSOLE BOATS CAN BE FOUND FROM COAST TO COAST, ON LAKES, SEAS AND RIVERS. HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THEM?

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Not Quite Neanderthal EVOLUTIONARILY, THE CENTER CONSOLE design certainly resembles the deckboats of yore. People who worked the seas, whether fishing, seining or clamming, typically had a small deckboat or a skiff with low gunwales, to make it easier to haul in their catch, and a simple console in the middle that made the rest of the boat workable. No fancy helms, electronics or the like. In the bays near where I grew up, clammers dotted the horizon with their flats boats and tall rakes, and the crew mounted an umbrella to stave off the blazing sun. Speed was critical to get their catch back to market, so the boat bottoms were relatively flat. Additionally, they were used as simple modes of transportation and as work boats, pushing and pulling other vessels around yards.

Who invented the modern CC is up for debate. Credit can be given to Boston Whaler, which crafted 13-foot and 16-foot CCs in the very early 1960s, complete with a mahogany wood console and the signature blue interior (on some of them, anyway). By interior, I mean the backside of the glass hull. AquaSport Boats took the spotlight with the launch of the “modern day” center console to the recreational market in 1967. It may be a case of semantics when it comes to who was first and how, but those early days of CC history have yielded a plethora of builders today, packing their CCs with features and comforts found on larger boats.



BOSTON WHALER 210 DAUNTLESS Go with the Activity Tower on the Boston Whaler 210 Dauntless. It serves as a poling platform, ski pylon and wakeboard rack.

COBIA 277 CC

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W H AT’S IN A NA ME?



COBIA 296 CC Offering an 82-square-foot cockpit, the Cobia 296 CC also handles twin outboards up to 600 hp. All deck hardware is recessed to prevent line snags and for a clean look.

T

ODAY, THE TERM “CENTER CONSOLE” is often interchanged with “walk-around.” Some folks reason they are different because a CC has a one-level deck, whereby a walk-around has a deck or decks that passengers must step up or down to. For now, let’s propose that a CC is exactly that: a vessel with the console in the middle, regardless of decks. And I say that because builders themselves are morphing the definitions a bit. Why? Namely, it’s about offering the most in a product and getting it out the door.

PURSUIT C238

COBIA 277 CC

FISH ON

C

ENTER CONSOLES WERE, AND STILL are, used

primarily for fishing. The open, walk-around layout makes it easier to tend lines and fight a fish. Jockeying the boat to stay with the line, like anglers have to do on a sportfisher with a cockpit, is minimized and even eliminated, as the angler has full 360-degree access (take care around the outboards). That also means more room for swinging a net or a gaff. But don’t think a CC can’t be rigged like the big sportfishers. Builders offer fishing packages of sorts, which can include gunwale rod holders, live baitwells, tackle drawers, in-deck fishboxes, rocket launchers, fighting chairs and more fishing goodies.

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

EVERGLADES 275 CC There are twin forward console seats in front of the three-sided helm with a fiberglass hardtop and a sliding windshield.



PURSUIT C238 CC A great feature on the entry-level Pursuit C238 CC is the walk-in helm console with a head. The fiberglass hardtop is a bonus, too.

THE NEED FOR SPEED

A

NGLERS HAVE A NEED FOR speed, and CCs can deliver. A visual check

reveals that most CCs’ hulls have modified to deep-V deadrise configurations for wave-slicing ability, high performance and stability at speed.

Longitudinal strakes help provide lift while knocking down spray. Chines — the area where the hull bottom meets the side — are another feature that abate the spray and help with stability. (So you know, chine walking is the side-to-side oscillation of the hull, a potentially dangerous situation. Google it.) Deadrise decreases aft toward the stern, providing a relatively flatter surface, which allows the boat to ride on top of the water and adds stability when drifting. A CC with a sharp entry and beefy deadrise aft will certainly go fast but will also rock pretty well when drifting, so choose your pleasure.

Powering a CC is pretty straightforward: outboards. From single to multiple — yes, three, four or even five on larger models — two-stroke to the preferred four-stroke, and bracketed to bolt-on, the outboard engine is the powerplant of choice. (Four-strokes are becoming the go-to engine, as they are more reliable and more efficient). Sure, one may find a CC with an inboard or a sterndrive, but those engines steal deck space and require an engine box that gets in the way. Outboards maximize interior room, have higher speed ranges and decrease overall draft. There are purists who love their inboards, and that’s OK. But skinny water is in sometimes.

With the right hull/power package, CCs are regularly seen running offshore to remote fishing grounds or out islands, or on lengthy cruises. I’ve seen them 50 miles offshore during fishing tournaments.

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Not Just for Fishing IT’S NOT ALL FUN and games out there with the fishing team. Sometimes, the family wants in on the action, and builders have noticed. First, the helm does not always have to be in the open, exposed to the elements. Many builders offer a three-sided fiberglass enclosure around the helm, as an add-on or an integral component. Some owners opt for a T-top or a hardtop with tubular framing, or a half-tower.

Some up their features game with dual helm seating, a forward helm seat and preferred electronics. Convertible seating options can be found all around, from removable filler bow cushions and loungers to flip up/down cockpit seating. Don’t forget the helm seats with

BOATINGWORLD.COM

10/5/16 2:29 PM

TO THE WEB

BOSTON WHALER 210 DAUNTLESS

reversible backrests for aft-facing seating, bolsters and leaning posts.

Also morphing for the better over the years has been the safety factor. Gunwales are sufficiently high to keep all passengers, even those engaged in a fish fight, inside the vessel.

Grabrails and railings are fitted to make them easier to hold on to. And some CCs offer retractable bow anchors, to keep swimmers away from the engine props.

HAS YOUR DOG GOT THE SALT?

Surprisingly, some CCs have helm consoles that are large enough to contain an enclosed compartment below, perfect for a changing room and even a portable toilet. With the right power package, CCs are great for skiing or tubing. Or just sit back and take a leisurely cruise.

Either way, manufacturers are making the CC market more family oriented and user friendly.

Many center-console manufacturers’ websites offer the option to build a boat, right

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 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.

AquaSportBoat.com BostonWhaler.com CobiaBoats.com EvergladesBoats.com EWBoats.com (Edgewater) GradyWhite.com HydraSports.com IntrepidBoats.com ParkerBoats.net PursuitBoats.com RegulatorMarine.com Robalo.com ScoutBoats.com StriperBoats.com Yellowfin.com

online. Buyers can research which one suits their boating desires and then choose colors, packages, engine options and much more. The right one may just fill a void in your boating life. BW

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hft_boatingworld_1116_M-REG91466.indd 1

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by calling HarborFreight.com or or prior at our stores or discount or coupon LIMIT 7 - Good l receipt. be used with other 800-423-2567. Cannot days from original purchase with origina must be 30 coupon l after le. Origina purchases per day. s last. Non-transferab er supplie custom while per good coupon Offer h 2/20/17. Limit one presented. Valid throug

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ON WOW SUP44"ER,IAL13CODRQUUPAW ER ALITY

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9/16/16 2:35 PM

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BOATING WORLD SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION OFFER.

BUY 1 YEAR, GET 2 YEARS (27 ISSUES) FREE. Go to boatingworld.com/ads

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.

Get 27 issues of both the print and digital editions of Boating World for only $15.97. Or get one year (9 issues) for $10.00.

Digital editions offer exclusive extras like boat test videos and photo galleries.

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

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Got An Old Boat?

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C A LL 949/660 - 6150

GEAR & ACCESSORIES Bel-Ray Company, Inc. (732) 938-2421 ...................................................................................................................33 Harbor Freight Tools (818) 836-5497 .......................................................................................................................61 NuShield, Inc (215) 500-6426 .................................................................................................................................... 60 Weego/Paris Corporation (609) 265-9200 ..........................................................................................................25 SIMRAD (800) 628-4487 .............................................................................................................................................29 Survival Products (954) 966-7329............................................................................................................................59 Weems & Plath (800) 638-0428 ...............................................................................................................................26 WM Barr (888) 326-7743 ..............................................................................................................................................15

SERVICES 1-800-Progressive (800) 776-4737 ...................................................................................................................... CV2 Boat Angel (800) 227-2643 ........................................................................................................................................63 BoatingWorld iPad App (888) 732-7323 ................................................................................................................62 Chubb (800) 215-0871............................................................................................................................................... CV4 GEICO Insurance (800) 865-4846 ............................................................................................................................27

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R E A D ER CO NTE ST

Rick Martin illustration

name the boat

Jimbo insisted on boating long past the dog days, and may just wind up in the doghouse. Do you have a name for our canine cruiser? Send it to us. If it wins, we will give you a Customized Boat Care Package from Bel-Ray, valued at more than $350, and your name will appear in the February 2017 issue of Boating World. > SEE THE WINNING ENTRY AND THE BEST OF THE REST FROM THE JULY/AUGUST CONTEST ON PAGE 8.

WIN THIS 64

•

The first person to turn in the best boat name will receive a Customized Boat Care Package from Bel-Ray, valued at more than $350.



YOURS FREE

A Boat Care Package from Bel-Ray can include All-inOne Fuel Treatment, High Performance Gear Oil, Rust Preventative Coating, Multipurpose Lubricant, SemiSynthetic Engine Oil, Contact Cleaner, Extreme Pressure Waterproof Grease and more.

HOW TO ENTER:

We’ll reprint the cartoon with the winning boat name in the February 2017 issue. Submissions are due by December 12.

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 Bel-Ray employees and their families are prohibited from entering.

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

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

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