Sept/Oct 2016 – Boating World Magazine by Duncan McIntosh Company

BOATING WORLD • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 VOLUME 37 NUMBER 8

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 !

CRANK. IT. UP. Today’s marine stereos surprise and delight

BOATS TESTED FOUR WINNS HD240 SS OB AVALON EAGLE 1870 QL BENNINGTON 2575 QSBW

$5.00 USA and Canada

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 boatingworld.com

+BW OFC5.indd 2

8/12/16 8:14 AM

EVERY BOAT NEEDS A PROTECTOR.

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

ULTIMATE FOUR-STROKE

POWER Suzuki 4-stroke outboards deliver everything you’re looking for in an engine. Great acceleration out of the hole, blazing top speed, proven reliability, impressive fuel economy. Even a choice of shadow black metallic, cool white or matte black paint jobs. Whether you’re looking at a new boat or thinking about repowering, go with a new Suzuki 4-stroke outboard and stand out from the pack next time you’re on the water. For detailed information on our outboards and latest promotions, visit www.suzukimarine.com

©2016 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. Suzuki, the Suzuki “S” logo and Suzuki model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual.

SZ_NewSWAd2_WIP.indd 1

5/31/16 5:55 PM

contents

S E PTE M B E R/O C TO B ER 2016

MAGAZINE

VOLUME XXXVII NUMBER 8

departments Editor’s Letter

Reminiscing

on 20 years p. 4

Currents

Bits from the boating world p. 6

Trailering

Avoid wiring

mistakes p. 12

Watersports

10 hacks for better performance p. 18

Fishing

pg.

52 The largest mangrove forest in the world is in Bangladesh. Fortunately, the second largest is a little easier to get to — and it’s loaded with fish. p. 44 BY ALAN JONES

Sounding off on Stereos

Impervious to water, powerful enough to cut through wind noise and easy to connect to your phone, today’s marine stereos will surprise and delight. p. 52 BY DOUG THOMPSON

pg.

DIY

Install feet-friendly flooring pads p. 24

The builder’s newest model features something different: an outboard.

p. 40

Gear The latest accessories, gadgets and electronics p. 30 Contest: Name the Boat Win a $350 boat care

pg.

Bennington 2575 QSBW

Four Winns HD240 SS OB

p. 29

p. 64

Avalon has a totally different take on pontooning, and it shows. p. 32 Bennington takes top of the line to a cool, ultramodern place with the 2575 QSBW. p. 36

Mistakes no boater should make

package from Bel-Ray

Avalon Eagle 1870 QL

+ BW TOC2.indd 2

p. 22

Bonehead Blunders

boats tested

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Engine electrical problems are usually simple fixes

p. 26

Mangrove Madness

•

Engines

Ask the Experts Our panel of experts answers your questions

features

Mistakes that cost anglers fish p. 20

pg.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

8/3/16 2:19 PM

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

boating world apex.indd 1

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

editor’s letter

BY A L A N J O N E S

20-Year Stretch I

CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S BEEN 20 years since I wrote my first article for Boating World. A series of nine fishing book reviews launched my career under then-editor John Kiely, for whom I had done some freelance work. After that article, he casually said, “You could do this for a living if you want.” I took him up on it … and my life hasn’t been the same since. I have many vivid memories, including my first boat test, which was nearly my last. On that day back in 1996, I met Peter Truslow, the then-new president of EdgeWater Boats (now CEO of Bertram). He was demonstrating EdgeWater’s new 26-foot center console — hull #1, which hadn’t truly splashed yet and wasn’t even finished, having been hauled out of the factory for the test — minus its standard T-top. Anxious to show off its indestructible nature, Truslow pinned the throttles on the twin Yamaha 150s and we roared out of Ponce Inlet, near Daytona Beach, straight into five-foot head seas. Only after we launched high into the air did I discover there was nothing to hang on to, since the T-top also held the

boat’s grabrails. Despite applying the Vulcan death grip to a cupholder, I crashed to the deck, while thinking, “So this is marine journalism.” My first pontoon boat review was equally comical. I was documenting my musings in a reporter’s notebook, which handily fits in a back pocket, and had my pen jammed into the wire spiral. Only after I had sat in

I’d left indelible ink squiggles everywhere I sat. every seat did I realize my ballpoint pen was deployed. I’d left indelible ink squiggles everywhere I sat. That day I learned that no matter how furiously you rub spit with your index finger, the lasting power of the pen is mightier. The contents of the magazine back in ‘96 point out how far the marine industry has progressed. Honda was touting its new 90 hp four-stroke, the largest of its kind at

the time. Now, Seven Marine builds a 627 hp four-stroke. Also in that issue were six pontoon boat reviews. The fastest of the bunch was a JC Pontoon 226, powered by a 250 hp MerCruiser sterndrive. It hit an amazing-at-the-time 40 mph. Last year, Brad Rowland went 117 mph on his South Bay 925. Many of the companies within its pages are no more — e.g., OMC and Riviera Cruiser — and there were several other items that don’t exist anymore, such as Polaris and MasterCraft PWCs. But the years have also exacted a toll as partial payment for the fun I’ve had. I severed my ACL slipping on a salmon dock in Echo Bay, B.C., during a 1,500-mile trip on a 26-foot Glacier Bay from Seattle to Glacier Bay, Alaska. Then I slipped coming off the front deck of a boat at the Miami Boat Show, tearing the MCL in the same knee. In retrospect, I wish I had read the Chicago Tribune’s famous 1997 “Guide To Life for Graduates,” which talked about taking care of your knees and wearing more sunscreen. They weren’t kidding about the sunscreen. BW

THE BOATING WORLD TEAM RESPONDS: Fill in the blanks: A(n) ____ a day keeps the ____ away. Duncan McIntosh Jr. Masthead answer, Mike Werling ASSOC. EDITOR/PUBLISHER Jeff Fleming Hour of Fox News, rationality EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alan Jones Sitcom binge-watch, Brain waves MANAGING EDITOR Mike Werling Social media post, Human interaction ASSISTANT EDITOR Stephanie Shibata Like, Thirst trap ART DIRECTOR Julie Hogan Suicide net, Leaping Apple employee PRODUCTION Mary Monge Garlic clove, Zika CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Amelia Salazar Massage, Wine not to far FULFILLMENT OPERATIONS MGR. Rick Avila Kobe-free game, Championships PUBLISHER

ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING

Call (949) 660-6150 Janette Hood Glass of wine, Whining

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING

REGIONAL SALES MANAGERS

Annabelle Zabala Walk, Muffin top Felice Lineberry Coffee, Murderous thoughts MARKETPLACE SALES MGR. Jon Sorenson Onion, Wifey AD COORDINATOR Jennifer Chen Severe bout of road rage, Pleasant disposition TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR Dave Kelsen Political tweet, Truth DIGITAL DIRECTOR Bryan Sheehy Apple, Windows 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

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 2015 BOATINGWORLD.COM M AG A Z I N E

+ BW EdLtr new.indd 4

8/3/16 2:14 PM

LOG ON. LEARN MORE.

STARCRAFTMARINE.COM

HERITAGE. RECREATION.

The brand new SCX 231 Surf Edition deckboat from Starcraft lets you have it all. This surfable crossover deckboat equipped with a quick fill and empty ballast system, speed control and wave tuning gives you the surf capabilities that will have you shredding the waves in no time. Roomy swim decks and deep, spacious seating for up to 13 of your friends ensure you can take everyone out for the day comfortably, all with the capabilities of an inboard and the versatility of an I/O. So go ahead, surf over to www.starcraftmarine.com and see what all the talk is about.

SINCE

currents

BY STEPH A N I E S H I BATA

HE KNOCK ON MANY CENTER CONSOLE BOATS is a lack of quality seating, but the EdgeWater 262CC has a large U-lounge in the bow with a large trapezoid-shaped, side-mounted dining table. The table drops down to fill in the void and create a giant sunning area, with the addition of a cushion. Without the seat cushions, the bow area becomes a casting deck. In front of the console is a doublewide jumpseat that’s attached to a front-opening console door that accesses a people-sized head compartment. Passengers don’t have to duck down and enter LEAD BOAT // EDGEWATER 262CC spelunker style. There’s more seating in the stern on a bench seat that flips up to clear the deck for fishing. Behind the helm seats is a large bait-prep station that does double duty as a smorgasbord table for food presentation during parties. Its sink is fed by a 19-gallon freshwater system that complements the standard raw-water hose for post-fish cockpit deck cleanups. For fishing, the 262CC’s cockpit has high gunwales, a toe rail for security and plenty of rod

EDGY CENTER CONSOLE Hardcore anglers get what they want in a platform that can seamlessly shift into entertainment mode.

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW Currents2.indd 6

BOATINGWORLD.COM

8/4/16 7:03 AM

storage: four holders on the transom, four set into the gunwales and six more in the fiberglass hardtop. A 28-gallon livewell and two insulated fishboxes can hold the catch. Divers will love the starboard-side door that’s engineered like a submarine hatch. Many of the standard features are items usually only found on larger boats, such as 10-inch cleats and an electric windlass. EdgeWater’s exclusive Clear View windshield eliminates vision-obstructing aluminum tubing, and the twin side-to-side helm seats are equally comfortable for leaning or sitting. The hull is constructed using a process called Single Piece Infusion (SPI), which is a “green” closed-molding vacuum-infusion process that uses less resin to reduce weight for better performance, but it is stronger than boats built by traditional techniques. — Alan Jones EdgeWater, ewboats.com

S A LT Y D O G

This month’s winner: SCOUT

Enter Your Dog Now

WIN THIS

OWNER:

Madison Peterson



HOMETOWN:

Long Beach, Calif.

Send your picture to Bobby for your chance to win a CWB Dog Vest. Contact Bobby at bobby@boating world.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.

Close Quarters THE MOST DENSELY

populated island on earth is in the Archipelago of San Bernardo in Columbia’s Gulf of Morrosquillo. Santa Cruz del Islote is a meager 2.4 acres, or just .004 square miles of land. This tiny island is home to more than 1,200 people, making it four times as dense as Manhattan, and it has only two shops, one restaurant, and one school. Most of the residents of this tiny, close-knit community make their livelihood on the neighboring mainland or by fishing. Power is only available for a few hours a day from a single generator. Despite the close quarters, many of the island’s residents say they wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. No police, no crime and no locks on the doors. BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Currents2.indd 7

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

•

8/4/16 7:03 AM

currents

name the boat

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

contest winner



Nikki Tweet from Long Beach, Calif., was the first to submit the winning name, ME, MYSELF AND I-SOLATION. For keeping the competition in check, Nikki receives a Customized Boat Care Package from Bel-Ray, valued at more than $350. MORE OF JUNE’S BEST ENTRIES:

The UniBoater

Your Move

Unbalanced

John McDowall, Plymouth, CA

Bruce Rankin, via email

Dead Man’s Chess

A Hard Day’s Knight

Norma Mendoza, San Pedro, CA

Danny Brannan, Saraland, AL

Double Check the Mate Michael Pohl, Portland, MI

Man and His Castle

Neptune’s Nemesis

Scott Thomas, Apollo Beach, FL

Dick Larimer, Lynnwood, WA

Deep Thinker

Reel Stale Mate

John Lichty, Lander, WY

Eric Stovall, Mount Sinai, NY

Daniel Richardson, Columbia, TN

Checked Out Mate Rick Martin illustration

Robert Dale Sutton, Monclova, OH

Man Over Board Nick Franki, Rochester, NY

Fischer Man Frank Ball, Lower Salford, PA

Sole Mate Jeffrey Cohen, Vernon, CT

Reflections at Sea Billiam Nottage, Dallas, GA

> >J U N E ’ S W I N N E R : M E , M Y S E L F A N D I - S O L AT I O N

The Resolute Desk Many presidential desks have rotated in and out of the White House. But by far the most famous of them all is the Resolute Desk. It was made from the timbers of HMS Resolute, a British naval vessel that was abandoned in arctic pack ice in 1853.

Hoverboard World Record

ZAPATA RACING CAPTURED everyone’s

imagination a few years ago with its Flyboard, a wakeboard-like device that used a PWC’s jets to propel it up to 30 feet above the water. Zapata and its namesake founder Franky are back with a hovercraft that actually works: the Flyboard Air. According to Guinness World Records, he set the world record for longest hoverboard flight, at 7,389 feet. How is this possible you ask? Flyboard Air uses four turbo jets clustered in an array between the rider’s feet with a bladder of kerosene strapped to his back. It’s controlled with a handheld thrust controller. Many people thought the original video was a hoax, but in a small fishing port in France, Zapata soared over a crowd of 200 and landed nearly a mile and a half later to receive a World Record certificate from the Guinness World Record witness. The unit is not going to be available commercially for some time. 8

•

Middle-ofNowhere Regatta Australia’s Lake Eyre was once the world’s 13th-largest lake, but it hasn’t been full since 1974. Despite a 40-year downswing in the lake’s fortunes and its remote Outback location — 500 or so miles north of Adelaide — the Lake Eyre Yacht Club has about 220 members from Australia, the U.K., Germany, the U.S. and other places, and it sponsors a regatta — when weather and water levels cooperate. In 2016, after a two-year hiatus, the Outback Spirit Lake Eyre Yacht Club Regatta was back on, which meant that 20 rugged yachting crews loaded up their sleek one- and two-person catamarans and towed them through the Australian scrublands to arrive at the desert oasis and compete.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Currents2.indd 8

8/4/16 7:03 AM

Go With Confidence

. O G T S JU

GO5 XSE

GO7 XSE

Wherever you go, relax and enjoy the day with an easy-to-use Simrad GO XSE chartplotter navigation system. Take control with an intuitive, super-bright touchscreen display. Customise your GO XSE system with a range of accessories from music streaming, to engine monitoring, to fish-finding sonar – whatever it takes to make every day on the water a great one. Download and upload maps, software, and apps direct to your fishfinder / chartplotter.

Multi-touch display

Built-in GoFree™ Wi-Fi

ForwardScan® sonar ready

NMEA 2000® Engine Interface

Built-in 10 Hz GPS

SonicHub®2 ready

SIMRAD-YACHTING.COM/GO

currents Six Packs

FA S T FA C T S

10.5%

ACCORDING TO THE Ocean Conservancy, more than

600 species of marine animals are impacted by ocean trash. The six-pack rings have long been known to harm wildlife, so why not make a package design that instead of killing animals, feeds them. Saltwater Brewery out of Delray Beach, Fla., has pioneered a new way to package their cans of beer. Edible six-pack rings are 100 percent biodegradable and compostable. The brewery’s hope is that through their example, the rest of the beer industry might follow to make the trash we put into the ocean something that would actually feed the animals. These biodegradable rings are made from wheat and barley remnants, which are byproducts of beer production.

Year-over-year increase in traditional powerboat and personal watercraft registrations in the first quarter of 2016 Source: NMMA

986,124

Number of Registered boats in Florida

D I D YO U K N OW ?

Alligator gars are living fossils found in the freshwaters of North America. They got their name because their snouts resemble that of the American alligator. The largest alligator gar ever caught was recorded at 8 feet, 5 inches. These remarkable creatures have been around for over a hundred million years, and they can breathe both air and water.

Soggy Dogs DOGS ARE MANY people’s constant companions, on land and on the water.

While it seems most dog breeds take to water like fish, several breeds stand out as particularly adapted for a wet existence. Vetstreet.com compiled a list of the nine best dog breeds for living on the water.

1 American Water Spaniels were bred to hunt from a boat. If you’re a hunter, they can be trained to dive in and retrieve ducks or geese. 2 The Boykin Spaniel is the southern cousin of the American Water Spaniel. They were also bred to hunt from small boats with little room for big dogs. 3 Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are tough and hearty dogs, bred as hunting dogs in the brutally cold waters of Chesapeake Bay. They are protective of their home, and their coat is water-resistant. 4 The Irish Water Spaniel loves to swim. Their topcoats are thick, loose curls, which are water-repellent, with a soft insulating undercoat. These dogs are known for their distinct bare rattails. 5 Labrador Retrievers

6 Newfoundlands

7 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers

8 Otterhounds

9 Portuguese Water Dogs

Portuguese Water Dog

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW Currents2.indd 10

American Water Spaniel

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

BOATINGWORLD.COM

8/4/16 7:03 AM

THE ULTIMATE IN MARINE LUBRICATION NAME THAT BOAT! Go to www.boatingworld.com/name-the-boat/ and enter for a chance to win a BEL-RAYÂ® prize.

PROUD SPONSOR

trailering

W IR IN G M ISTA KE S

Trailer Wiring Mistakes If there is a single trailering bugaboo that drives skippers crazy, it’s the wiring. BY CHRIS CASWELL PHOTOS BY DAVID J. SHULER

•

RAILER WIRING ISN’T ALL THAT complicated,

but most of us don’t have electrical engineering degrees, either. Sadly, most wiring problems are the result of a cascading series of events that can have you tearing your hair out, especially if it’s 4 a.m. and the scheduled departure is in five minutes. Some wiring issues are easy to diagnose, such as a broken wire, and that’s a good example of a problem that can start small and get bigger. A broken wire is easy to fix, but you can be setting yourself up for more problems. Let’s say you find a broken wire, which could have been caused by age, brittleness, chafe or someone simply breaking it. Easy

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+BW Trailering2.indd 12

8/3/16 2:39 PM

W E C A N TA K E Y O U H E R E You’re not just buying a boat, you’re joining our family.

Learn more at:

RangerTugs.com Tugnuts.com

MADE IN USA

trailering repair, you think, grabbing a plastic box of pinch-wire connectors that cost a few bucks at Radio Shack. Big, big mistake, even though some trailer brands use pinch connectors, which cut through the insulation to join wires. Pinch connectors are fine for fresh water, but salt water migrates into the cut and corrodes everything. When you have a lighting problem, you’ll look at what seems to be a good connector, never guessing that it’s your problem. For salt water, and really for all connections, use crimp connectors protected with heat-shrink tubing to eliminate future corrosion failures. Let’s take a look at some other actions you can take that will keep everything lit and turn you into an electrical engineering whiz.

Don’t patch. Replace. When trailer wiring begins to have problems, your trailer is telling you it’s time to replace the entire wiring system. That may seem a monumental task, but it’s actually easy, as long as you have the correct new wiring harness and a notebook to take copious notes about where wires go. One experienced

various lights and connections. That way, he just has to match up the colors, make the connections and be finished.

Get the correct wire. If you buy a ready-made wiring harness as a replacement, you won’t have to worry about wire size. But if you plan to make this a DIY project, or if you’re

Electrical wire is like a water pipe: too small and the electricity/water won’t flow. harness replacer simply snips off the old wiring harness, leaving two- to four-inch lengths protruding from the

just replacing a few sections of trailer wiring, be sure you get the right AWG (American Wire Gauge) spools of wire.

Use the right connectors. Here’s where you

may need advice from your boat dealership. Trailer plugs, which link your car to your trailer, once came in a fairly standard flat-four connector. Today, however, there are fours, fives, sixes and nines. And round connectors, to further muddy the waters. In addition, foreign and domestic cars require different systems and connectors, and trailers with disc brakes may need a separate wire to deactivate the surge actuator in reverse. Then, you have to protect all those black boxes and computers in modern cars, too. Best advice: See your boat dealer.

Electrical wire is like a water pipe: too small and the electricity/water won’t flow. If you’re replacing factory-made wiring, match the wiring size, which is usually 12, 14 or 16 AWG, but that depends on the length of the wiring run and the loads on it.

A word about tinned wiring. It’s been said that tinned marine-grade wiring is absolutely, positively the only wire to use. It’s true that tinned wire adds a level of protection against corrosion, but it is not required on boats by either the Coast Guard or the American

Don’t scrimp on grommets. Every opening in the trailer frame a wire passes through must have a rubber grommet to protect the wires from chafe. Trailer owners make two common mistakes here. First, they allow the grommet to age until it becomes brittle, pieces fall off and the wires chafe. Test each grommet by feel, and you’ll quickly see which ones have lost their elasticity. The second problem comes when you replace the grommets, which come by the box at marine or auto parts stores. Before you buy, know the thickness of your trailer’s metal. If you install a grommet with a half-inch groove around it onto quarter-inch metal, it will rattle around and fall out, leaving the wires unprotected. 14

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+BW Trailering2.indd 14

8/3/16 9:14 AM

David J. Shuler photos

Boat & Yacht Council. In fact — some manufacturers prefer not to make this known — untinned wire that has been properly protected from moisture intrusion will last just as long as tinned wire. I use tinned wire on my boats and my trailers, because I never completely trust connections to be waterproof, and tinned wire gives me an extra level of protection.

Have the proper clips.

If you have a trailer built with a C- or I-beam frame, always keep a handful of galvanized wire clips in the toolbox. These flat S-shaped clips slide snugly onto a trailer frame, and wires can be slipped into the clip to keep them from dragging on the ground or chafing in the wind. The clips seem to disappear on their own, so plan to replace one or two every time you check your trailer.

Carry a spare flasher unit. Most standard flashers aren’t powerful enough to operate more than your car lights, which makes your trailer tail- and brake lights so dim as to be invisible. Before you tear everything apart looking for a short, reach under the dash

Tinned wire is not required on boats.

and replace the flasher with a heavy-duty flasher. It might solve the problem. Last, let me repeat myself: Don’t try to patch and fix your trailer wiring system. You’ll fix one problem before another

crops up. Better to bite the bullet and replace the entire wiring harness, making sure it’s properly connected and protected from chafe and corrosion. Sadly, that is the voice of experience speaking. BW

BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+BW Trailering2.indd 15

•

8/3/16 9:15 AM

OVER 300 BOAT TEST VIDEOS...

... AND COUNTING!

We answer the questions that really matter to you - before you buy a boat. Ride along with Boating World’s executive editor Alan Jones as he tests hundreds of makes and models, from ski boats to pontoons. Our boat test video vault includes over 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.

watersports

10 TI PS

10 Hacks for Watersports Enjoyment Small changes can yield big results, so use these tips to up your game. BY TRAVIS MOYE, THEBOARDINGSCHOOL.COM

I 18

•

’VE SPENT THE LAST 21 years in the boat helping people progress behind it. Some changes take a long time, but plenty of others can happen in an instant. Here are 10 quick watersports hacks to make your time on the water easier and more enjoyable.

Hold on loosely. People tend to create a couple of problems for themselves while riding or skiing: sore hands and tired arms. Both come from holding on too tightly. You want to hold the handle more in your fingertips and less in the palm of your hand. Doing so will take a lot of pressure off your hands and arms and allow you to ski longer — and in better position. 1.

2. Give it the gas and brake.

While surfing, think of your front foot as the gas pedal and your back foot as the brake. If you shift weight over your front foot, you speed up; if you put weight on your back foot, you slow down. With

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Watersports.indd 18

8/3/16 2:50 PM

this in mind, make micro-movements to start. That way, you can control your speed instead of just rushing toward the boat or falling out of the pocket.

Keep it planted. While driving

Get the boot. When you put your

the boat, keep your arm fully planted on the armrest and your hand on the throttle, which will allow you to make smaller, more controlled adjustments in speed instead of large abrupt ones. The pull will be smoother for the skier and the riders in the boat, whether it’s on the startup, the ride or after the fall.

boots on, if you have a platform on your boat, position things so the toes of the boots are facing the back of the boat. Most people put the heels toward the boat, but there are two problems with this. First, you put a binding on by using heel pressure, so if you are standing up you can use the heel pressure to get it on. If you are sitting on the back of the boat, you are just shoving your toes in the boot and more than likely kicking the back of the boat with the board, which is the second problem with a toesout posture. So get your bindings on easier and save the gelcoat on your beautiful boat at the same time.

5. Point the arrow. One thing

we always emphasize with our students — riding or skiing — is to make sure they keep their body in a leaning position. Most people have a tendency to let off when they hit the wake. Doing so takes away the support the rope is providing, and now, instead of getting help from the rope, a rider only has momentum to get him across the wakes. To keep this from happening, pretend you have an arrow that starts at the center of your board and comes out the top of your head. You want to keep the arrow pointing away from the boat at all times. You never want it pointed upward, and you definitely don’t want it pointing toward the boat.

Stand tall. This can go along

6. with the arrow. While skiing or

riding, you want to stay nice and tall. Sure, you are going to have a little bend in your knees, but you want to make sure you have your hips and your chest up. A lot beginners will drop really low, thinking it’s a safety position. Actually, if you stand taller, you are in a stronger position, and if something happens you have a little wiggle room. If you are in a crouch and something happens, chances are you’re going straight to your face.

Roll it tight. Tired of your rope always being in knots? Try using small rolls while winding the rope up. Make the rolls no more than 12 to 15 inches in diameter. The rope will coil up nicely in little circles instead of those figure-eights that can so easily get tangled up when the rope is unwinding. 7.

8. Eyes up. Your eyes play a major

role in what you are doing. A lot of people have a tendency to look right where they are instead of where they are going. It’s fine to look down, but look out in front of you. When you are riding a bike, you don’t stare at the front tire; you are looking down but constantly scanning the road out in front of you. You want to do the same thing on the water.

9. Bigger is better. When choosing

a board, if you are on the cusp of going smaller or bigger, always go bigger. Don’t get caught up thinking that a bigger board will be heavier or harder to maneuver. It actually makes things easier for you. It’s a bigger platform to stand on and to land on, and it’s more forgiving, so you don’t have to stand so perfectly over the board.

10. Take it slow. People often make

the mistake of trying to learn things going too quickly. When you are working on new tricks, do them with the boat going slower and over just one wake, instead of wake to wake. Get things sorted out at a slower speed — and take some pain out of the learning process. BW BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW Watersports.indd 19

•

8/3/16 2:50 PM

fishing

FIS H I N G M ISTA KE S A N G LERS M A KE

Mistakes That Cost Anglers Fish Sometimes it’s not what you throw at a fish, but how it is presented. BY DEAN TRAVIS CLARKE

OU CAN HAVE THE BEST fishing boat and the most expensive fishing gear made, but

if you don’t know how to present the lure or bait, the fish won’t be impressed. It’s not just faulty techniques, either. Sometimes the “right” presentation in the wrong situation is … well, wrong.

Tackle

1 / Having the wrong tackle is a common problem. Unfortunately, that means you sometimes have to own a lot of different rod and reel setups, each designed for a specific job, whether that’s to cast longer or throw a super light or heavy bait. Braided line helps you make longer casts and also helps fight the abrasion of a rock or piling. — Capt. Mike Holliday

2 / Anglers always seem to want the latest and greatest tackle. Then they end up fighting their tackle instead of the fish. Most people wouldn’t consider buying a car without test driving it and yet often buy rods and reels without trying them first. Test before buying. Then, before you actually go out on the boat, practice casting. When purchasing or selecting tackle to use, think about what bait you’ll be using and try to match tackle to bait. — Capt. Barry Brightenburg 20

•

Technique

3 / Fish are inherently lazy and don’t like swimming into the current. Never reel your bait upstream. Drift it downstream instead. Predators face into the current, just waiting for prey to get carried their way. — Capt. Fred Robert 4 / Anglers are often not alert. The best fish of the day can swim up to you at any time. You have to be ready, and when it happens, react quickly. The second you spot a school of cobia or tuna, you should be reaching for a rod and a bait, so when you’re close enough, you can cast. Sometimes, the first glimpse of the fish is the only one you get. — Holliday

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Fishing.indd 20

8/2/16 1:16 PM

Anglers need to work harder at keeping their baits healthy. If I put a live bait on your hook, it needs to go in the water immediately, so it can breathe and be fresh. The very last thing you do before you cast is take that bait out of the water. Standing there holding the bait in the air while you ready your reel just leads to a weaker baitfish.

— Holliday

Whether you’re using a lure or live bait, you need to make it act like something a bigger fish would eat.

Here on the West Coast, I’d say 95 percent of fishermen use baitcasters or conventional reels whose physics dictate that it’s harder to get the spool moving and releasing line than with a spinning reel. Many fishermen just can’t get the bait away from the boat far enough, probably fearing a backlash, especially with braided line. The most common mistake I see being made is the casting motion itself. Many anglers try to throw the entire rod forward with their right hand (assuming they’re right-handed). In fact, the technique should be to use the right hand as a pivot point while pulling back and down with the left hand. This moves the rod tip rather than the entire rod. Plus, once you cast your live bait, actually peel line off the reel and let the bait swim unencumbered instead of just free-spooling. — Capt. Jimmy Decker

6 / If you fish with a guide, don’t step off the boat without at least one new nugget of knowledge. Ask him to show you something. How does he tie that knot? Bait that hook? Time that retrieve? Most lures work better with loop knots, but others need clinch knots. — Brightenburg

7/ Take a deep breath before casting when you see a fish, and try to relax. Anglers often suffer an immediate adrenaline spike, similar to “buck fever” in hunting. It screws up their timing. Instead of getting the bait or lure out to the fish, they end up with a huge bird’s nest on their reel — bye-bye fish. — Brightenburg

Bait

8 / You should always scoop just a few of your precious baits rather than a whole net full. Pick one and hold it as gently and loosely as possible, to avoid knocking off the scales. And finally, learn where and how to hook the bait. — Decker

10 / When fishing live baits, many people start reeling the bait back in when they miss a bite, instead of free-spooling, which just pulls the lure away from fish that want to strike it. When a predator strikes live prey, it will be stunned and just sit there. When fishing artificials, anglers often rear back on the rod rather than wind the reel and swing the rod tip up or to the side when they get a bite. Sometimes reeling a lure faster, with a twitch, simulates a panicked, fleeing baitfish. — Decker

Location

11 / The key to proper presentation is to know the habits of the fish you are targeting. For instance, flat fish such as halibut and flounder lie on the bottom, particularly in sand or mud. So don’t fish over rocky or coarse bottom, because these fish don’t like it. If you have a wide open bay with a sand bottom, look for areas that are holding baitfish. The flounder will lie underneath the baitfish schools hoping one of them gets close to the bottom. Get your bait down to the bottom. Around bridges, bait tend to hold close to pilings where they can get out of the current, so get your bait or lure as close as you can. —Holliday BW

To the Web • • • •

Capt. Mike Holliday (captainmikeholliday.com) Capt. Barry Brightenburg (alwaysanadventurecharters.com) Capt. Fred Robert (fishing-guy.com) Capt. Jimmy Decker (fishingwithdecker.com)

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Fishing.indd 21

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

•

8/2/16 1:16 PM

engines

EN G I N E ELEC TR I C A L S

ANY YEARS AGO I WENT to a

weeklong tech school about engine electricals. The first day opened with a guy talking about battery construction. As far as I was concerned, that was a 10-minute lecture, but he was well into four hours when we broke for lunch. Ever Mr. Polite, I asked when we’d be getting into engine electricals. He replied that all he knew was batteries, and that would be the topic for the whole five days! Maybe I should have stayed, but I went back to the motel, packed and went home. Here’s what I had hoped to learn that week, which has taken years to assimilate.

The Low Cost of Good Connections Most engine electrical problems are caused by easily fixed issues. BY GRID MICHAL

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW Engines.indd 22

I can’t count the number of times a week I hear that an engine won’t start. I hear that starters have been replaced; ignition switches unwired and replaced; batteries replaced; engine electrical cables replaced. Virtually anything that is engine-related gets a new home. What I find, though, is 99 out of 100 instances are O.E. — not meaning “original equipment,” but rather “operator error.” And most of it starts with dirty battery connections. Dashboard items require very little current to operate. I hear, “The bilge works, and so does the horn, but the starter just says ‘unh.’ I replaced both

BOATINGWORLD.COM

8/2/16 1:29 PM

The cleaner the connections at the battery’s posts and the stronger the cable, the less chance of engine starting woes.

batteries, but then all it did was click, so I replaced the starter and now, nothing.” Let’s go to the first stage of repair, which should cost $0. Battery cable connections are the prime culprit. Because they’re “out of sight, out of mind,” they’re like mushrooms in dark, dank holes, growing corrosion on the connections. Wing nuts come

engine for a starter rebuild or replacement. A rebuild might be $50. A replacement can cost $150 to $600. Properly prepping the battery connections to prevent premature replacement runs as little as $0. Batteries often get replaced because the real problem — cable connections — has been misdiagnosed. Replacing batteries without cleaning the connections achieves

Properly prepping the battery connections to prevent premature replacement runs as little as $0. loose. Somebody told somebody who told somebody to put grease on the battery posts before installing the cables, so the owner did that and created another barrier to conductivity. The posts and cable ends should be spotlessly shiny, sanded with emery cloth and cleaned of all residue. Cables should not reflect any breakage under the sheathing. Connections should be made with no stressful bends on the cables and fastened with stainless lock nuts or stainless nuts and lock washers. The more frequently a starter is engaged using poor battery connections, the quicker the brushes burn to a crisp, preparing the

nothing. One might as well save money and leave the old batteries in. However, the usual problem lies here: I encourage DIYers to use tie wraps to bundle each group of wires before they’re removed from the battery posts. As each bundle is removed, note how many wires/cables are in it, then clean them all while retaining the tie wrap. Red goes to positive, black, yellow and green go to negative. A dual battery system, simply, has one positive cable to each battery from the battery switch. One battery has one negative cable to the negative post, and that cable connects to the negative post on the other

battery. One of the two batteries will have the negative cable from the engine attached to its post. That makes a complete circuit. Most DIYers will drop one end of one of the negatives behind the batteries and end up with no response at all from the starter, or a minor response from both tilt and the starter as the engines may be grounded though the steering or ignition — but not well enough to work properly. Cost to “count sponges,” as the doctor says: $0. Last, if you accidentally touch a positive cable to a negative already connected to a battery and the spark doesn’t blow the whole boat up, you probably have not escaped unscathed. Odds are you just blew the main engine fuse. Everything on the dash will work, but there will be no response from the engine when you turn the key. Turn the key to ON but not to Start. Does the tach or voltmeter work? No? Blown fuse. Does the power tilt work from either the control handle or the engine lower cowl? No? Blown fuse. It’s probably a 20- or 30-amp fuse, nestled near the starter solenoid. It could be a glass or tubular fuse, or a large or tiny spade fuse. Don’t replace it with one for higher amps, in case there’s a problem you can’t diagnose. Cost to replace the fuse: $2. There you have it. Most electrical “problems” can be resolved for as little as $0, or as much as $2. Use the money you save doing it the right way to buy gas for the boat and enjoy life. BW BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Engines.indd 23

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

•

8/2/16 1:29 PM

diy

I NSTA LL FLO O R I N G PA DS

HAVE A 23-FOOT HYDRA-SPORTS

center console and do a lot of offshore fishing, spearfishing and diving. The deck on my boat can get pretty slippery, especially after I’ve had some fish on it. I also wanted to include padding to make it more comfortable, but it had to be easy to clean. After doing research and looking at reviews, I chose SeaDek. An added bonus is that it really gave my boat a great new look. The project looked pretty straightforward, so I decided to tackle it myself. If you prefer, you can make the templates and send them back to SeaDek and have the folks there precut the sections and apply black borders, which looks really good. I chose to save some money and cut the material myself.

GETTING TO IT

How to Install Feet-Friendly Flooring Pads Installing SeaDek flooring is one of the best upgrades you can make on a boat. BY JARED JOHNSON

•

First, I made the templates. You can order a template-making kit from SeaDek for $15, which includes 40-inch-by-80-inch sheets of clear Mylar plastic, along with an indelible marker, a data form, template instructions and samples of the EVA color foam samples. SeaDek will credit the purchase price toward your first order. Instead, I used a thick, clear painter’s drop cloth, cut roughly down to size, and secured the plastic sheet, using painters tape. Next, using a straight edge and a Sharpie, I marked all the straight lines and then did the corners by hand (1). Make sure you clearly mark each piece and where it goes (2). Next, I made a worktable with a piece of plywood, put the SeaDek upside down on top of it and taped the templates on top (3). Then it was time to make the cuts. Using a box cutter and a straight edge, I cut each piece slowly (4). Try to do this with enough pressure that you don’t have to make another pass with the blade, which can create problems later on. After I cut the sections, I rounded the corners using scissors (5). After trimming the edges, I then sanded the edges to make sure there weren’t any sharp corners (6). I used a palm sander with 80-grit sandpaper and worked my way up to a finer grit to create a smooth edge. You can also use this method to sand down any imperfections

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW DIY.indd 24

8/2/16 1:14 PM

TOOLS USED SeaDek flooring // Template making kit (optional) // Clear painter’s drop cloth // Painter’s tape // Straight edge ruler // Sharpie // Worktable // Box cutter // Scissors // Palm sander

from your straight-edge cuts. Once the pieces were cut to size and I was satisfied with the edges, I cleaned the deck with a rag and acetone. This is a really important step that will help the SeaDek stick to your boat. Grease and grime will make it peel off prematurely, so get it all off the deck. On my boat, I cut the pieces to follow the lines of the nonskid, which made it easier to line up the SeaDek. It comes with a peel-away material as backing, which you remove before sticking the piece down (7). Make sure to get this right the first time, because the adhesive is very powerful. I used the longest straight edge first to make sure each piece was correctly lined up, because peeling it off isn’t easy once it’s down. If you think you don’t have it lined up perfectly after you start putting it down, stop immediately, and start over again. This project was pretty simple, but the results speak for themselves (8). It was worth the time and effort of doing it myself, which saved my budget for other upgrades I want to make. The new surface looks amazing, feels great on my feet and should last a long time. Be sure to check out the helm pads, as well. I bought the one that uses Velcro to secure it, which makes it good for locations where you have a hatch. The kit came with everything to ensure a good bond with the hull, so it stays in place and marks where the Velcro goes. It makes a big difference driving the boat and helps reduce fatigue during all-day fishing trips. BW BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW DIY.indd 25

•

8/2/16 1:14 PM

ask the experts

R E A D E R SA I D W H AT ?

One More Task I’m writing in regard to your June Trailering column (10 Post-Submersion Trailer Tasks, p. 12). Although the article was mainly related to taking care of your trailer, I feel the article missed the most important post-submersion activity for any boater while still at the launch ramp area, and that is to prevent the spread of invasive species such as Eurasian milfoil. We all enjoy boating and want to keep the waters we boat on as clean as possible. Taking the time to inspect and remove any signs of plant or aquatic life not only from your trailer but

also your boat (including livewells) prior to even doing the recommended washdown will go far in preventing the spread of invasive species so that we can all enjoy our favorite pastime. Tom Thayer, submitted via BoatingWorld.com

 OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS: Zuzana Prochazka

Frank Lanier Capt. Lanier is an accredited marine surveyor with more than 30 years of experience in the marine industry and owner of Capt. FK Lanier & Associates, Marine Surveyors and Consultants.

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW ATE.indd 26

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.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

8/3/16 2:46 PM

B OAT I N G SA F E T Y

Sold on Safety

Q I’m a safety conscious boater but also a bit frugal. How can I improve the safety of my family and crew without endangering my wallet? Lloyd F., via BoatingWorld.com

Safety doesn’t always have to be expensive. There are a number of no-cost options to make your fun on the water safer. Start by conducting a pre-departure safety brief before each trip — especially with new folks aboard. Cover the basics, such as the location of safety equipment — fire extinguishers, life jackets, first aid kit, etc. — but don’t be afraid to include additional topics, such as use of the VHF radio. Post a diagram of the vessel that shows where everything is, from seacocks to fire extinguishers. Another free idea? Safety drills. Nothing can prepare you and your crew for an emergency better than regular safety drills. Draft basic instructions for events such as a fire, a man overboard

(MOB) situation or a sinking, and discuss safety equipment location and procedures with everyone aboard. Assign roles and responsibilities to crewmembers where appropriate and make sure all passengers know what’s expected of them in an emergency. Mix it up a bit to make drills more interesting and to better prepare for those “out of the box” situations (e.g., the captain as the MOB). Don’t forget to include younger crewmembers, too. Teaching your 10-year-old child how to make a distress

where you’ll be boating and when you plan on returning is a no-brainer. A float plan not only ensures that search-and-rescue agencies are notified in a timely manner in the event of an emergency but also speeds up response times by narrowing down the search area. Free float plan forms are available for download at Float Plan Central (floatplancentral.cgaux.org/). Make sure the information provided is both detailed and accurate. You’ll also want to avoid last-minute on-the-water changes.

Finally, another safety freebie would be filing a float plan. call instills confidence and may even save your life! Finally, another safety freebie would be filing a float plan. From a safety standpoint, letting a responsible person on shore know

Don’t switch your boating destinations, the launch ramp you’re going to use, etc., unless you can contact and update the person who’s maintaining your float plan ashore. — FL

BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW ATE.indd 27

•

8/4/16 7:14 AM

ask the experts SAFETY EQUIPMENT

ENGINES

Fall Checklist

Q I just bought my first PLB (Personal Locator Beacon). Other than attaching it to my person, what else should I do?

LAST YEAR, GRID Michal wrote an Engines column detailing the winterization process for

outboards. If you’re planning to start that process soon, take a look at this short recap from Michal’s column (boatingworld.com/engines/shutting-it-down).

Hayden Y., via BoatingWorld.com

Fall Chores: You’re required by law to register your PLB unit with NOAA at BeaconRegistration.noaa.gov/. Doing so informs search-and-rescue organizations who they’re looking for and who to call to verify that it’s not a false alarm. You’ll want to verify your information annually, and don’t forget to update any changes (e.g., contact phone numbers, sold units). If you’re planning an extended cruise, use the “Additional Data Field” to provide information such as number of passengers, special considerations (medical issues) and the like. Other good ideas include conducting a self-test of the unit on a regular basis (and prior to each trip), as well as noting the expiration date for the unit’s battery. — FL

•

The last tank of fuel for the season has to have a great stabilizer/cleaner, such as SeaFoam, in it, and the engine has to run at least an hour on that mix. Then fog the engine’s internals with thin fogging oil until the engine quits. Don’t remove the plugs to add oil to the cylinders — it ends up puddling at the bottom of the cylinder. If your engine is carbureted, drain the carburetor bowls. If it’s fuel injected, the air-tight system should be OK over the winter. After the engine has cooled, drain the gearcase of the season’s oil. This is when you find out if there’s water intrusion into the oil and can take corrective action before any expensive parts are ruined. If it looks like oil, refill it with fresh.

If it’s a four-stroke, change the oil and filter. If the steering has been getting sticky, that won’t be a problem in the spring: it’ll be seized, unless you remove the steering ram, grind out the rust and reinstall the steering system. If you can easily access it, remove the thermostat and clean it by boiling it in a solution of vinegar and water to ease out the corrosion. Look at the thermostat closely. If anything looks as though it could break soon, replace the thermostat — and be ready to pay $50-plus per thermostat. If it has a grease fitting, grease whatever the fitting is attached to. Put a tiny bit of tape over the “pee hole” so mud daubers don’t build.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW ATE.indd 28

8/3/16 2:46 PM

bonehead blunders

BY G R I D M I CH A L

Waterlogged Brains BONEHEAD BLUNDER: Failing to connect the dots THE BONEHEAD: A bunch of folks who surfaced in May BONEHEAD RATING: 5

of work finished and even more tons scheduled, the skies opened to create the rainiest May since the Pilgrims hit the shore. Even Noah was calling to see if I work on big boats, powered by two engines, of course. weekend and I was hoping you could slip by (60-mile one-way trip) and check it over before they arrive. I spent so much money with ABC Marina last year that my wife told me I had to find somebody cheaper. Do

At a minimum, if I take on no more jobs, I have enough work to last until July. Whether I have enough Grid to last until July remains to be seen. shop and folks brought their boats to me, those 19 jobs would be resolved in a week. But I don’t, they can’t, and it ain’t gonna happen. At a minimum, if I take on no more jobs, I have enough work to last until July. Whether I have enough Grid to last until July remains to be seen. Therefore, the phone continues to be abused by folks with an inability to relate my circumstances — weather, parts backorders, small-business paperwork, equipment failures and the need for the tech to try to get two hours of sleep a day whether he needs it or not — to the pressure brought on the owner by grandkids, wives, children and his own panicky-awareness that winter passed without his having gotten the boat ready in time for the aforementioned onslaught of family. Here are some of the conversations just prior to Memorial Day, summer’s official start. Grid! The kids decided to come this

Acceptably assinine Slightly slow

WHAT HAPPENED: After a perfectly lovely spring during which I managed to get tons

A bit about my work: Most of it is within a 50-mile radius, but even that means approximately an hour per job is relegated to travel. Because of constant rain, I’m 19 jobs behind as of today. If I had a covered

BONEHEAD RATING SYSTEM

you think you could come this afternoon? You’re scheduled for this afternoon; will you still be here? It’s raining, supposed to for another week or so. So you won’t be here? Probably not. It’s raining. Well, if it stops raining, what time will you be here? I know I haven’t paid your earlier invoice, but can you see about installing an anchor

Distinguished dunce Massively moronic Seek mental help

windlass I just got at West Marine? No, it’s raining. I’ll hold an umbrella over you while you work — that’ll help! Here’s an idea: hold the umbrella over a West Marine employee while he installs it in the rain. I don’t think they do that kind of work. My, my… I was all ready for you to come today to service my boat, went to lower it, and found only the bow would lower. I ran it back up, tried again, but nothing at all. I called the boat lift guy and he’ll be here by the afternoon. [I know the “lift guy,” and the boat owner will be lucky to see him this year, between fishin’ and huntin’ seasons!] I put a board across to the boat so you could get to the engine to work on it. I need it quickly. I know you think I look like Evel Knievel, but that’s still wrong. LESSON LEARNED: The weather forecast is for five more days of rain and thunderstorms. I swear, I’m going to make an audio tape of these calls! BW

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

Ask Experts 1/6H filler.indd 1

8/2/16 1:08 PM BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Bonehead template new.indd 29

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

•

8/2/16 1:10 PM

gear

STU FF YO U

WA NT

Hanging Helms

$249.99, navpod.com

The new PowerPanel Stanchion kits from NavPod are designed to mount electronics where an overhead box does not exist, in conjunction with the manufacturer’s precut SystemPods (sold separately), which are the housings for the electronics. The stainless steel kit allows boaters to customize the helm area for their specific boating style. Built from 1 1/4 -inch polished stainless steel tubes, the kits are pre-drilled to easily attach to the back of a SystemPod. Mounted with a cast stainless steel round base, the units are screwed into any solid fiberglass surface overhead. The kit position displays at a 40-degree angle off the vertical axis.

Water Plotter $599+, navico.com The Simrad GO7 XSE multifunction display is versatile, offering ease of use with intuitive touchscreen controls that smartphone users will find instantly familiar. Behind its superbright touchscreen lies a chartplotter with a built-in GPS receiver and Wi-Fi access to the latest charts and updates. Control your onboard sound system, monitor engine data and more over NMEA 2000, and choose from an array of built-in sonar technologies: ForwardScan, Broadband Sounder CHIRP sonar, and StructureScan HD SideScan and DownScan imaging.

Mount Up $1,799, tacomarine.com

Swipe and Go $55-$59, sacubar.com Boating on a sunny day is one of the purest pleasures, and sunglasses come in handy. Wiping them off can be inconvenient, and using the wrong material can damage them. Sacuba Eyewear has found a clever solution — installing the wipers right on the glasses. Sacuba frames are specially designed with built-in lens-cleaning pads around the lens’ edge. When the lens gets smudgy, simply push the lens up from the bottom edge and lower it. The cleaning pads are made from high-end microfiber, effectively removing dust, water drops and even skin oil.

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW Gear2.indd 30

BOATINGWORLD.COM

The Grand Slam Series of Outrigger Top Mounts from Taco Marine are popular mounts for boat builders and boat owners. The GS-380 is intended for fishing boats with hard- or soft-top installations, and is backed by a three-year warranty that ensures trouble-free performance and reliability. The new design incorporates a compact, easy-to-use elevation crank handle that folds up for convenient, out-of-the-way storage. It makes it easier to maneuver the long carbon-fiber outrigger poles used on high-performance center consoles.

SUBMIT YOUR GEAR TO STEPHANIE@BOATINGWORLD.COM

8/3/16 11:10 AM

First Scrub $34.99, meguiars.com Achieving the perfect finish on your boat’s gelcoat boat can be tricky. Meguiar’s Heavy Oxidation Scrub can quickly remove heavy oxidation from your gelcoat, fiberglass and nonskid surfaces. The gentle, abrasive formula works to break down the chalkiness that comes with gelcoat oxidation and sets the stage for further finer cleaning that finishes the job. This product is water-soluble, and biodegradable.

Wrist Preserver $89.99, kingii.com While there’s certainly no replacement for the security of wearing a life jacket, the Kingii is a good way to provide a little extra safety in situations where you wouldn’t normally wear one. It’s fully waterproof, so you can wear it while doing activities like fishing, surfing or swimming, and to engage it, simply pull the lever on the wristband and it will automatically inflate with enough flotation to support 275 pounds. People who aren’t strong swimmers will appreciate its security during near- or on-water activities. After it has been deployed, just repack it, replace the CO2 cartridge and it’s ready to go again.

Weatherproof Woof $269, aquaticav.com

Cool it Now $410, canyoncoolers.com The new edition to the Canyon Cooler lineup is the Prospector 103. The Prospector has a capacity of 103 quarts and weighs in at 43 pounds. The lid of the cooler doubles as a casting platform for sight fishermen. Rubber feet on all white models keep the Prospector from slipping, while the Australian-style burly skid plates on the non-white models make dragging and maneuvering very easy. Three cam lid latches make the cooler airtight. There are two drain plugs, one on the side and one in the back. Baskets can be purchased to section and organize the contents of your cooler. Ice retention for this cooler lasts weeks, not days.

SUBMIT YOUR GEAR TO STEPHANIE@BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Gear2.indd 31

The new Aquatic AV active subwoofer includes a built-in 288w amplifier that allows up to four full-range loudspeakers to be attached directly to it to create a complete subwoofer and speaker system. Designed, engineered and built to withstand the most demanding conditions on the water, this rugged, compact unit can be mounted discreetly within storage compartments and consoles or under seating. The subwoofer connects to any smartphone or MP3 player. An enhanced Bluetooth antenna greatly improves the signal’s range for superior performance.

BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

•

8/2/16 1:14 PM

tested

AVA LO N E AG LE 1870 Q L

The Art of Pontooning Avalon has a totally different take on pontooning, and it shows. BY ALAN JONES

ONTOONS ARE STILL ONE OF the boating industry’s top sellers, and one of the hottest

categories is compact models that are easy to tow and easy to own. Avalon proves it can go small but still remain artsy and elegant with its new Eagle 1870 QL (Quad Lounger). But the way our test boat was equipped, lounging was only one of its many talents. UNIQUE FACTOR

One thing about Avalon pontoons is they all have a recognizable style. Its designers are smitten with the Art Deco period, and each model — from the luxurious Ambassadors down to the Eagle line of compact pontoons — is a slice out of the same pie. Using its Deco 4 wall design element — a splash of chrome, radiused corners, optional two-tone accent paint scheme ($507) — the 1870 QL radiates luxury and sportiness. Recessed chrome docking light fixtures add a splash of flash, and the retro-modern theme is carried aboard to its simple but elegant Cadet helm station with features such as torpedo-style chrome gauge bezels that channel gauges found on cars such as the 1959 Chevy Bel Air. The driver is well-situated in a comfortable low-back driver’s seat with armrests. Some compact pontoon helm consoles are literally fiberglass boxes with vertical sides that have little legroom for the driver, but here the entire driver’s console is sharply slanted to provide lots of room, even for drivers who can dunk. Little touches, like the double-recessed sculpted areas molded into the lounge-seat walls, allow speakers to be mounted without having them protrude far into the living space. PERFORMANCE

Not long ago, the typical compact pontoon was powered by a 15 hp outboard that provided motion and steerage but little else. Our test boat had 100 more ponies

•

than that, in the form of a Mercury 115 FourStroke. While its overall length was 20 feet, 6 inches, at least a couple of feet of that was the long engine bracket, which not only made this pontoon feel like a larger boat but also provided 100 percent use of its extended rear deck. Weighing just 1,875 pounds and sporting triple tubes, its power-to-weight ratio is well placed for solid performance. Time to plane was a brisk 2.2 seconds as the 1870 settled in on its haunches in a slight bow-up attitude, which got the front of the tubes out of the water even before the engine was trimmed out. Time to 25 mph was 7 seconds flat, and top speed was 38.1 mph, which makes it fast enough for any watersport. HANDLING

With its short “wheelbase,” relatively narrow seven-foot beam and the optional Avalon Extreme Turning (AXT) triple-tube package ($10,078), the Eagle 1870 is Mini Cooper nimble and fast. The outer tubes are 23-inchers and the center one is 25 inches. Normally, a larger center tube configuration gives a pontoon a propensity to lean inward on turns, but I found the cornering to be relatively flat. Even so, the package lived up to its name, showing excellent turning ability that was enhanced by Sea Star hydraulic steering. Some buyers might order this boat with mechanical steering to save a few bucks ($1,797), but they will regret it the first time their kids want to go tubing or skiing.

The Eagle 1870 is Mini Cooper nimble and fast. (Clockwise from bottom left) Twin rear-facing stern loungers make ski observation seats. Twotone upholstery matches the fences. The angled helm console creates plenty of legroom. The helm features a vintage-car-like sculpted dash. Rear-deck storage bin can double as a bar top.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+BW Avalon.indd 32

8/2/16 12:50 PM

BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+BW Avalon.indd 33

•

8/2/16 12:50 PM

owner feedback  BEST USES

Purchased by Richard and Lorelei Begley, Mariposa, Calif. Purchased at Pacific Marine Center, Madera, Calif. > >W H A T

WE LIKED

Economical and quiet Mercury 40 FourStroke/Easy to tow and handle/ Loads of storage/Attractive styling/ Fishability/Comfort and quality of seating > >W H A T

WE WOULD CHANGE

We wish the Bimini top provided more coverage. > >W H Y

WE BOUGHT IT

My husband, Richard, and I have never owned a boat but over the years have borrowed them from family and friends, so when we retired, we decided to take the plunge and buy one. We knew we wanted a pontoon boat but didn’t want anything that was too large, so we could easily handle it and tow it. The 1870 was the perfect size for us. We do most of our boating on Lake Don Pedro, which is a beautiful reservoir, and take our Chesapeake retriever Jessie with us and go swimming and bird watching. We also like to fish for trout, and the Avalon Eagle makes a great fishing boat. We went to Pacific Marine Center first because they had more pontoons than anyone in the area, and we spent a lot of time asking questions and getting comfortable with the idea of buying a boat. There was no pressure, and they even encouraged us to shop around, but we knew what we wanted and got the 1870. After the sale they made sure we knew how everything worked and, even though they were quite busy, really took their time to make sure we were happy.

•

This one’s not too hard to figure out, especially when it is equipped with the optional powder-coated white aluminum wakeboard tower ($4,055), like on our test boat. It even has a Bimini top that can be unfurled for skiing and shade at the same time. The tower is full size, so it sits farther aft than on most pontoons, but it provides the high tow point wakeboarders like. Since it’s a fairly light boat with triple tubes, the wake is pretty small, but it’s a good way for junior boarders to get the hang of the sport and develop their leg-assisted launch technique. There’s a ski tow eye for tubing and slalom skiing. One of the tower’s quirks is that because it sits so far aft, the optional coffee can speakers are pointed forward instead of aft, so people in the cockpit can hear the tunes. Despite being a compact pontoon, the 1870 QL is big on entertainment. Its passenger capacity is nine, and there’s plenty of seating on quad lounges made of the same Matrix 50 seat vinyl as Avalon’s more expensive models, which company literature says is the thickest in the industry. Despite its thickness, it’s still very soft to the touch and highly resistant to stains and UV rays. As mentioned, the starboard-side loungers are shorter and are better suited for kids to recline on, but the portside rear chaise was long enough for 6-foot, 4-inch Avalon rep Greg Knight to stretch out on. Cockpit table choices abound; my favorite is the large rectangular smoked-glass version ($492) that includes four wire cupholders, four cutouts

for stemware and plenty of room left over for snacks. PREFERRED SETUP

An extensive options list allows buyers to keep it basic or load it up with goodies, depending on budget and needs. Our test boat featured the upscale Luna Metro vinyl ($2,188), which is soft on the feet and is easy to clean at the end of the day. Our boat also featured the High Performance sound system, which includes an Infiniti PRB 350 amp and a subwoofer for depth. It’s Bluetooth, so a loaded phone is all that’s needed. For boosting entertainment capabilities, add a wall-mounted grill for $359. If nighttime entertaining is in the picture, make this Eagle glow with underwater lighting ($313), under-rubrail lighting ($719) and interior mood lighting ($367). The fundamental decision is whether to make it a tortoise or a hare, performancewise. Equipped with twin tubes and a modest 40 hp outboard, it costs well below $20,000, but if watersports and cruising are on the agenda, the Waveglider Performance Package ($7,188) and the max 115 hp outboard are musts. For better range with the triple-tube option, the standard 24-gallon tank gets upgraded to a 38-gallon tank. You can definitely fish on the QL model, and there’s an option to add a trolling motor, but if angling is one of your main activities, consider buying one of the Eagle Fish models, which come in 16- and 18-foot sizes and have dedicated fishing seats and other piscatorial amenities. BW

SPECS Length 20 ft., 6 in. Beam 7 ft. Tube Diameter 23 in. outers, 25 in. center Capacity 9 people Dry Weight (hull) 1,875 lbs. Fuel Capacity 38 gals. Max HP 115 (Tri Toon) PERFORMANCE Peak 38.1 mph/6000 rpm/93 dBA Cruise 21.5 mph/4000 rpm/84 dBA Time to Plane 2.2 sec. Time to 25 mph 7.0 sec. POWER Test Mercury 115 FourStroke Cylinders In-line 4 Displacement 2.1L Weight w/outdrive 359 lbs. WOT Range 5000-6000 rpm Price as tested $35,700 Value-Added Standard Features: Suspension seating, Milennia Bluetooth stereo, Diamond Boca carpeting, vinyl rear deck, Cadet helm station w/tilt steering and captain’s chair w/armrests, Bimini top Must-Have Options: Wakeboard tower w/speakers and Bimini, High Performance sound system w/subwoofer, full vinyl flooring, larger cockpit table, ski tow bar, Garmin electronics, triple tube options Builder: Avalon, avalonpontoons.com Financing: $256/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+BW Avalon.indd 34

8/2/16 12:50 PM

GEICO and TowBoatU.S. have teamed up to help you on the water. As a GEICO policyholder, you’ll receive outstanding coverage for your boat at an outstanding price. Plus, when you add towing to your policy, you’ll have the beneﬁts of services provided by TowBoatU.S. — the nation’s largest ﬂeet.

geico.com/boat 800-865-4846

for your boat

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. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2015 GEICO

Boating World_9x10.875.indd 1

7/18/16 10:08 AM

tested

B EN N I N GTO N 2575 Q S BW

Quintessential Pontoon Bennington takes top of the line to a cool, ultramodern place with the 2575 QSBW. BY ALAN JONES

OME PONTOONS STRIVE TO BE a boat for the masses, but the goal for Bennington’s 2575 QSBW is to simply be the best.

UNIQUE FACTOR

Bennington’s top-of-the-line Q Series pontoons can be readily identified by a curved fiberglass bow section that gives them a sleek, sporty appearance, and it’s not a case of a sheep in wolf’s clothing. Perhaps the most eye-grabbing feature of the 2575 QSBW is a low-profile, smokedglass windshield that makes it look like it’s wearing a pair of cool Oakley Gascan sunglasses. In our case, that bit of protection, which pretty much protects one’s torso, came in handy on an unseasonably cool August test day on northern Indiana’s Lake Wawasee. Another unusual feature is the Swingback Ste rn Lounger, which is about the size of a queen-size bed. It can host at least four close friends, who can recline and look rearward when the boat is at rest. And when it’s time to roll, flip the backrest aft to form the upper section of the cockpit’s stern bench. The helm is ultramodern and functional, with deep-set brushed aluminum gauges and a standard flush-mounted Echo 100 Garmin fishfinder/depth gauge. The Corvina tilt steering wheel is leather wrapped and feels great but features a giant chrome hub that can reflect the sun in the driver’s face.

wide, so the boat rode high in the water and achieved a tremendous holeshot thanks to the large planing area. In fact, the center tube provides so much lift, it has no lifting strakes, which is unlike the setup most performance pontoons use. The outer tubes have a single lifting strake on the inboard side, though. In addition, our boat featured the Rough Water Package, which includes beefier splashguards and solid M-brackets that are designed especially to handle the washing machine conditions found on the Lake of the Ozarks. ESP also includes SeaStar hydraulic steering, an aluminum underskin and a fuel tank that more than doubles the smallish 23-gallon fuel tank, to 51 gallons; considering the Yamaha F350 can burn up to 31 gph, extended periods of high-speed thrills will require frequent pit stops. One of the main attributes of the giant center tube is it allows the 2575 to accept up to a 400 hp outboard, so a Mercury Racing Verado 400 is doable. Our test boat merely had a Yamaha 5.2L F350 V-8 engine, which tips the scales at a robust 763 pounds, but it didn’t cause this boat to lean backward. It got on plane with very little bowrise in 2.5 seconds and blasted its way to 30 mph in 5.6 seconds. Top speed on that chilly morning was an eye-watering 51.7 mph.

PERFORMANCE

Our test boat was rigged with Bennington’s Elliptical Sport Package (ESP), which features an oval-shaped center tube that’s a whopping 32 inches

•

HANDLING

Buyers can get a 2575 QSBW without the ESP setup and “save” $7,145, but they’d be missing out on one of the best things about

Another unusual feature is the Swingback Stern Lounger. (Clockwise from bottom left) The port console has a great working surface. The leather-wrapped Corvina steering wheel is all class. The stern lounge is huge and a signature feature of this pontoon. Even cupholders are a work of art on this Bennington. You can add a gate filler cushion to create a huge passenger arena.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+BW Bennington.indd 36

8/2/16 12:54 PM

BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+BW Bennington.indd 37

•

8/2/16 12:54 PM

owner feedback 

Purchased by Kristofor and Jennifer Lefebvre, plus Olivia, 10, and Alayna, 7, Mooresville, N.C. Purchased at Lake Norman Marina, Sherrills Ford, N.C. > >W H A T

WE LIKED

Quality, fit and finish/Powerful and quiet Yamaha F300/Stern lounger/Huge amount of storage/Changing room-head compartment > >W H A T

WE WOULD CHANGE

Being a scuba diver, I would like the electronics to be a little more robust. > >W H Y

WE BOUGHT IT

We had previously owned a Bennington and really liked it, but when we saw the 2575 and its huge stern lounge, we had to have it. Living in Mooresville, we have access to Lake Norman, the largest lake in North Carolina with 520 miles of shoreline. It’s really beautiful, and we love just cruising around and relaxing. We like to stop and go swimming or just hang out under the large Bimini top and have lunch or play cards. The kids love tubing and are getting into wakeboarding, and the 2575 is perfect for both watersports and entertaining. Lake Norman Marina is a family-owned business that’s been around for 40 years. When you buy with them, you feel like part of the family. Knock on wood, I haven’t had any major problems with our Bennington, but the dealer is known for its excellent service department and has taken really good care of us.

this boat: its extreme cornering ability. Another attribute of the ESP setup is that it can maintain plane — and precise steerage — at only 16 mph, which is great if the scenery is awesome and encourages loafing along. It also comes in handy when the water kicks up, as it did on Lake Wawasee on test day. We were able to rip over a nasty chop at 40 mph and still get a smooth ride.

play. Our test boat had a 52-inch removable ski pylon. A better option might be to ask the dealer to equip it with a TurboSwing, which is a giant hoop that encircles the outboard and eliminates any line chafing issues that can arise with a pylon on an outboard-powered boat. Even better is the available Sport Arch or Sport Tower. For ski storage, there’s an enormous in-deck locker set inside the 32-inch center tube.

BEST USES

PREFERRED SETUP

While the 2575 is rated to carry 15 passengers, it’s really suited for a passenger load of around 10, since the huge sunpad eats up some real estate and the cockpit only has a stern bench and two really comfortable V2 Pure Comfort captain’s chairs. Up front is Q Diamond-Stitched Pillowtop furniture with plenty of stretching-out space. Additional bow seating can be added with a filler sectional for the bow gate area ($834). For regularly carrying more passengers, Bennington makes other layouts, such as the QSB model, which replaces the copilot helm seat with an L-lounge but does away with the cool windshield. But for floating-aimless parties, our test layout has plenty of passenger space for standing. The passenger-side console also has a large countertop to augment the optional coffee table ($1,007). For real foodies who need even more snack and beverage space, a moveable ottoman cooler ($294) or an espresso teak table ($310) is available for the bow. Obviously, a boat with this level of performance brings all watersports into

One nice thing about Bennington is it will accommodate any engine brand, which helps make sure buyers can get the best service in their particular area. Make no mistake, the Bennington Q-Series boats are expensive. Equipped with the Yamaha F350 and ESP, they start at $103,557 (add $9,641 for the Mercury Verado 400R). A Yamaha F300 V-6 engine would provide good performance — top speeds in the middle 40s — and reduce the bottom line by $5,186, which could be used for adding some goodies. The least expensive 300 offered is the Suzuki DF300, which brings the starting price point down to $95,314. The 2575 QSBW comes loaded with standard features, such as the six-speaker Kicker Bluetooth sound system. Our test boat was upgraded with the optional Kicker subwoofer and amp for $1,375, and Wet Sounds speakers add $571. Carpeting is standard, but that’s so 2010; fortunately, Bennington has a staggering 15 choices of alternate materials, including the nutmeg Aqua Teak deck on our test boat ($2,918). BW

SPECS Length 27 ft., 1 in. Beam 8 ft., 6 in. Tube Diameter 25 in. outers, 32 in. center Capacity 15 people Dry Weight (hull) 4,154 lbs. Fuel Capacity 23 gals. Max HP 400 w/ESP PERFORMANCE Peak 51.7 mph/6100 rpm/95 dBA Cruise 36.4 mph/4500 rpm/86 dBA Time to Plane 2.5 sec. Time to 30 mph 5.6 sec. POWER Test Yamaha F350 four-stroke Cylinders V-8 Displacement 5.2L Weight w/outdrive 763 lbs. WOT Range 5500-6000 rpm Base Price w/test power 103,557 Value-Added Standard Features: In-deck ski locker, Marideck aft vinyl deck, 10-foot Bimini top, master power switch, waste basket, Kicker 6-speaker Bluetooth stereo, 6 pop-up cleats, stainless steel rubrail Must-Have Options: Electric Bimini top, bow gate seat, full vinyl deck, ski tow pylon, trailer, canvas covers, full camper enclosure, graphics, subwoofer and amp upgrade, cockpit table, Porta Potti Builder: Bennington Marine, benningtonmarine.com Financing: $743/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+BW Bennington.indd 38

8/3/16 2:20 PM

tested

FO U R W I N NS H D240 SS O B

Power Play Four Winns’ newest foray features something we haven’t seen in a while. BY ALAN JONES

OR MANY YEARS, FOUR WINNS has been synonymous with sterndrive power. Sure,

there are a couple of inboard-powered cruisers, and since 2012 there’s been a solitary outboard model, the HO 180. The last Four Winns longer than 20 feet with outboard power came out in 2001, the 214 Funship. But this year, Four Winns unveiled a new line of outboard-powered boats, anchored by the HD240, a hybrid deckboat/bowrider that is turning heads and sounding a lot different.

UNIQUE FACTOR

We’ve all seen deckboats that are about as sexy as the shoebox-like Nissan Cube, but Four Winns makes sure the HD240 has swagger, especially when it’s clad in the builder’s Signature Series trim level, as on our test boat. Probably the most striking feature of the SS package is the carbon fiber-looking Aquaflex upholstery, which gives it a luxe appearance. While the black panels feature a cloth-like texture that stays much cooler than standard shiny vinyl, Four Winns’ designers wisely chose to use the panels in places where humans probably won’t touch them or as vertical panels, which escape the full brunt of solar radiation. The Signature Series red, black and white design elements carry over to the hull to create a striking look. The HD240 doesn’t share its hull design with a sterndrive counterpart, like the flagship HD270 OB does, but a huge stern storage area can easily be flipped up to access where a sterndrive engine could have been located, which suggests we will be seeing such an iteration. It’s basically a giant bin that holds a bucket for cleanups or trash and an Igloo marine cooler to feed its smaller, under-seat counterpart when it runs low. But there’s still plenty of room for bulky items or 11 life jackets. In addition, a massive centerline, in-deck compartment can hold the entire fleet of watersports apparatus. PERFORMANCE

This is the first Four Winns to feature an outboard as large as the Mercury 40

•

Verado 250, a 2.6L V-6 that is one of the most versatile blocks in all of boating and can support an astounding range of horsepower from 225 all the way to 400. The HD240 can be equipped with as little as 200 hp (don’t do it!), but the 250 is the least amount of power that will deliver good performance. It pushed our 4,600pound test rig on plane in 3.8 seconds. The HD240 features Four Winns’ Stable-VEE SC hull (the SC stands for split chines), which has a stepped running surface to reduce friction, thereby improving performance. It allowed the HD240 to reach 30 mph in 8.2 seconds. While some stepped hulls need to go fast to stay on plane, the HD240 stayed on top at just 19 mph, which is useful when things get rough or for towing youngsters on a tube. Top speed with the 250 Verado surpassed the magic 50 mph barrier by one-tenth of a mph with two large passengers and half of the 54-gallon fuel tank occupied. Max horsepower for this model is 300, and the 300 Verado comes with no weight penalty, though it raises the price by $3,538. Four Winns will rig the HD240 with Yamaha or Evinrude power. HANDLING

One of the attributes of the Stable-VEE hull that can be felt before applying power is its lateral stability. Even beam-to the waves, it has a very earth-like feel for a boat of this length. In really hard turns, the HD240 tracked well without heeling over excessively, despite having a wave-cleaving 20 degrees of deadrise. The HD240 tends

While running at wide open throttle, there’s no drama. (Clockwise from bottom left) There’s plenty of passenger seating in the cockpit. The wide bow creates lots of elbow room. The automotive helm is a signature Four Winns feature. A huge stern storage trunk is rare for outboard-powered boats. The living room-worthy stern lounger is made for relaxing.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+BW Four Winns.indd 40

8/2/16 1:34 PM

BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+BW Four Winns.indd 41

•

8/2/16 12:50 PM

owner feedback  to ride very level in the water; even with the outboard trimmed out, the bow doesn’t rise very much. While running at wide open throttle, there’s no drama. At all speeds, it feels like a lot of the hull is still in contact with the water, which makes me think that the boat can easily handle 300 hp. BEST USES

Purchased by Mike and Alison Franks, plus Stella, 5, and Evelyn, 3, Chesterfield Township, Mich. Purchased at SkipperBud’s, Fenton, Mich. > >W H A T

WE LIKED

Roominess and comfortable seating/ Elegant styling/Large head compartment/Performance and handling/ Sofa-like stern lounge/Quiet and powerful Mercury Verado outboard > >W H A T

WE WOULD CHANGE

We wish there were a lockable glove compartment for stowing phones and valuables. Although the 250 Verado performs well, an extra 50 hp would have been nice. > >W H Y

WE BOUGHT IT

I used to own a boat with my father when I was in my 20s but haven’t had a boat for 20 years. We live on a canal leading to Lake St. Clair, so it made a lot of sense to get a boat that allowed us to be able to get out and enjoy this fabulous resource. While I wanted a fishing boat, my wife wanted something a little more family friendly; with two young girls, a head compartment was a must. We also wanted something large enough to handle the big cruiser wakes on our lake. We looked at the top brands, but the Four Winns seemed to be in a higher class than the others and we get lots of compliments from people who see it. When the girls get older I am sure we’ll get into watersports but right now we just enjoy cruising and hanging out. I rigged the cockpit table station to accommodate rod holders and have caught some nice muskie. We bought the boat at the Detroit Boat Show and Chris, our salesman, was great about answering all our questions.

•

Almost any boat can be fun during cruising, but how does it perform with the key turned off? A good gauge of a boat’s human friendliness is what I call the “dock” test. If a boat were tied to the dock, would it still be fun to hang out on? The HD240’s sedentary prowess is exemplified by the living room-worthy sofa at the stern, which is wide enough for two adults to commingle with a kid jammed in the middle. On sterndrive models, this would be the location of the sunpad, but thanks to the beam being carried forward like on a deckboat, there’s plenty of room to stretch out and tan, especially with the optional bow filler cushion ($377) in place. Watersports are definitely in the picture, and the HD240 can be rigged to maximize its potential. Adding the wakeboard tower, complete with Bimini top, costs $6,769 but also adds a dash of cool. A less expensive option is the TurboSwing ($1,223), which is a stainless steel hoop that encircles the outboard and keeps the line from chafing it. The boat’s entertainment quotient can be upped with the addition of a table ($585) that can be mounted in the cockpit, bow or stern platform. The four-speaker stereo

is adequate for listening to talk radio or the big game, but for partying it up, get the Premium Sound System ($2,192), which includes a Bluetooth JL Audio system with a subwoofer. PREFERRED SETUP

The Signature Series HD240 is a premium boat that comes at a fairly steep base price ($88,077 with the 250 Verado), but it also includes items that aren’t normally gratis, such as a custom, color-matched twin-axle trailer and a Porta Potti for the huge head compartment, which includes a sink with a spigot and a countertop. To make the boat more cruiser-like, option up to an electric toilet for $1,962. Carpeting is standard, but most people these days are going with alternate flooring, such as the Cabana Mat ($792) vinyl surface our test boat had. Let electricity do the heavy lifting; the optional electric windlass ($2,346) comes complete with rode, chain and anchor. Two of the strong design elements are the large padded fore and aft swim platforms. The stern pad is notable for its full width that allows easy egress from side to side. Up front is a four-step boarding ladder for hitting the beach, but be sure to get the optional shower ($231) for quick rinse-offs during reboarding. Even better, this option also includes a shower at the stern for après-ski hosing down. The last must-have option is the flush-mounted Raymarine array consisting of A75 and A77 displays. BW

SPECS Length 24 ft., 5 in. Beam 8 ft., 5 in. Deadrise 20 degrees Capacity 11 people Dry Weight (hull and motor) 4,600 lbs. Fuel Capacity 54 gal. Max HP 300 PERFORMANCE Peak 50.1 mph/6400 rpm/93 dBA Cruise 35 mph/4500 rpm/84 dBA Time to Plane 3.8 sec. Time to 30 mph 8.2 sec. POWER Test Mercury Verado 250 Cylinders Inline 6 Displacement 2.6L Weight w/outdrive 635 lbs. WOT Range 58006400 rpm Base Price w/test power $85,077 Value-Added Standard Features: Dual-axle trailer w/swing-away tongue, pop-up cleats, twin bucket seats with flip-up bolsters, Bluetooth 4-speaker stereo, courtesy lighting, Porta Potti, depth sounder Must-Have Options: Trim tabs, fore and aft showers, bow filler cushion, cockpit table, underwater lighting, wakeboard tower, Raymarine electronics, windlass, electric head Builder: Four Winns (owned by Beneteau), fourwinns.com Financing: $610/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+BW Four Winns.indd 42

8/2/16 12:50 PM

Just a Swipe Away

Enjoy Boating World no matter where you are. Our iPad app offers exclusive digital extras like videos and photo galleries — add bookmarks, zoom in and share stories with friends and family. Join our team and be enlightened, entertained and inspired.

Download and Subscribe Now Visit boatingworld.com/iPad

Apple, the Apple logo, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

•

MAY 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

BoatingWorld.com SEPTEMBER/OcTOBER 2016

•

MAD ABOUT

MANGROVES

The largest mangrove forest in the world is in Bangladesh. Fortunately, the second largest is a little easier to get to — and it’s loaded with fish. BY ALAN JONES

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW feature alan fishing.indd 44

BOATINGWORLD.COM

8/3/16 2:12 PM

BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW feature alan fishing.indd 45

•

8/3/16 2:12 PM

MAD ABOUT

’M NOT SURE WHAT POWERS OF REASONING FISH HAVE, but the

hefty jack crevalle I am tethered to is a damn smart one. While it might just be cantankerous, there’s a good chance it got a glimpse of my gray hair and figures if it can make me circumnavigate the boat three times while forcing me to tightrope-walk on top of the gunwale, it stands a fair chance of me going splash and it going free. The jack dives under the boat five times, causing me to plunge the tip of my Okuma Shadow Stalker rod deep in the water to avoid tangling the line on the outboard or trolling motor. I am pretty sure at this point the fish is having more fun than I am. But eventually I get the 15-pound rogue jack close enough for Capt. Patrick Ewald to grab it by its forked tail and hand it to me for a few quick photos before I let it go.

Less than 24 hours earlier I was in an Embraer Amazon regional jet, staring out of the starboard-side window at a sea of grass topped by blue sky as the jet made its base turn onto final approach to Miami International Airport. Between me and my destination — Marco Island, on the west coast — lay 100 miles of one of America’s greatest wildernesses: the Everglades. Although much mistreated over the past century, it’s still a source of mystery, history and wonder. Of course, it’s probably easier to fly into Ft. Myers and join the endless traffic pattern, mostly populated by drivers who maddeningly like to saunter along 10 mph below the speed limit, but for this trip, I’m going old school. Ostensibly, I am heading to a fishing event called Mangrove Madness, but in reality, I am coming home to a place I spent two of the greatest years of my life back in the early 1970s.

Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB

M A N G R OV E S

WILDERNESS DRIVING The original approach to Marco is a two-lane ribbon of highway called the Tamiami Trail, built in 1915 to link Tampa and Miami and to foster development of that pesky River of Grass that clearly needed to be drained and turned into

A geodesic house is slowly being reclaimed by Mother Nature.

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW feature alan fishing.indd 46

8/4/16 7:20 AM

Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB

usable land. Surprisingly, traffic is pretty light, with most drivers favoring the more homogeneous four lanes of the Interstate 75 extension just to the north. But they are missing the run between Big Cypress National Preserve and the northern border of the ’Glades, which cruises through Miccosukee tribal lands, home to a dozen or so airboat ride concessions, “authentic” fake tribal villages and the ever-present gathering of buzzards noshing on a traffic-illiterate raccoon. Big Cypress made the news recently when the U.S. National Park Service authorized wholesale oil exploration in our nation’s first “Preserve,” which will allow 1,100 miles of roads to be built in Sarasota an area half the size of the Everglades’ 1.5 million acres. I hang a left off of Highway 41, as the Tamiami Trail is also called (quick, cue the song “Ramblin’ Man” by the Allman Brothers), onto a stretch called Goodland Road, and the memories start their playback. The huge S.S. Jolley Bridge had been built two years before my family moved to Marco from Wisconsin, which made it a much shorter drive to Naples, where I went to high school. Despite that, I usually came and went via the Goodland Road backdoor, which was flanked by mangrovelined creeks and canals on either side and radiated pure Southwest Florida.

TIME WARP I decide to have a little fun when I check in at the front desk of the Olde Marco Inn and Suites. “Hi,” I say. “Hey, the last time I was here I left a library book. You didn’t happen to find it did you?” “When was that, sir?” “Nineteen sixty-eight.” Interestingly, the organizers of Mangrove Madness had booked us into the first place my family ever stayed when we used to vacation here. Founded in 1893 by “Wild” Bill Collier, it was the only hotel on the island for many decades and was actually listed in the Guinness Book of Records for the strangest reason: It had the world’s only two-story outhouse. I didn’t want to delve into the details of that accomplishment.

In the mangroves, the author found a jack crevalle to be a worthy adversary.

I am pretty sure at this point the fish is having more fun than I am.

Naples

Marcos Island

Goodland

Big Cypress National Preserve

Ten Thousand Islands 41

Miami

Everglades National Park

Key Largo

BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW feature alan fishing.indd 47

Key West

•

8/4/16 7:20 AM

MAD ABOUT

M A N G R OV E S

Jones’ captains for the event included Geoff Page (left), Stephen Ferrell (center) and Patrick Ewald, who drove to the fishing grounds (below).

At the get-together dinner that night, some 20 marine journalists gather to meet their captains for the coming week and be royally swagged by the sponsors of the event — a treasure trove of high-quality Yo-Zuri and Savage lures, Cuda tools, and logo-clad apparel from Navico, Okuma, Raymarine and FLIR, all of which we will use on our three-day mangrove assault. The next morning at dusk, we launch boats at the Calusa Island Marina in nearby Goodland. Some things never change, and soon we’re all swatting and scratching, thanks to the cloud of no-see-ums that have been making residents’ lives miserable for thousands of years. Rookie mistake on my part not bringing a Thermacell, which uses a small butane flame to cook a blue wafer whose active ingredient is derived from chrysanthemums and is incredibly effective against mosquitoes and I-can’t-see-ums-but-I-sure-can-feel-ums. Right off the bat we see one big problem: the water is muddy. But not from agricultural runoff issues just 50 miles to the north in Ft. Myers and on the east coast where the Okeechobee Waterway ditch has been flushed from the Big O due to high water levels. This is just the aftermath of a big blow that roiled the water, so our first order of business is to look for cleaner water, because most of the predators we are seeking, such as snook, trout and tarpon, are primarily sight feeders.

PROVING I KNOW JACK Although we are primarily using lures from Yo-Zuri and Savage Gear, finding 48

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW feature alan fishing.indd 48

8/4/16 7:20 AM

Buddy from Yo-Zurl releases a hefty snook

Wiser management practices have brought the snook population back.

Stephen Ferrell

live bait to use as a control to compare the effectiveness of our artificial offerings is the first order of business, so Capt. Ewald points his Lake & Bay 24 Back Water offshore and hits the throttle on his Mercury 250 OptiMax Pro XS 250. He tosses the cast net close to a channel marker but no one is home, so he does an about face and takes us into the heart of the Ten Thousand Islands. Ewald, of Caloosa Charters, is a veteran of mangrove fishing, but his primary fishing grounds are farther north in the Pine Island/Boca Grande area. “Fishing down here is a little different than in my home waters,” Ewald said. “I might have 50 to 60 known spots where I can go at certain phases of the tide and have a great chance to catch fish. Down here, I am looking for deeper water where I can have the wind at my back with the tide hitting the banks of mangroves. Although I don’t know this area as well, what I love is there’s far less fishing pressure here.” We find a place Ewald declares to be “fishy,” and Chris Bishop and I start firing Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows as close to the mangroves as we can get and do a “walkthe-dog” retrieve. The fourth crewmember is Vatche Arabian, the social media marketing manager from FLIR, who is along to document any fishing mistakes on our part that could go viral. Quickly, we get into some large jack crevalle, one of the hardest-pulling, most underrated gamefish. Bishop hooks the first one, and then I get a huge topwater blowup and hook my aforementioned “smart” fish, which puts me through its repertoire of advanced non-cooperation. We start working a shoreline that the tide is hitting perfectly, and Bishop nails a nice snook, which is the real prize down here. We are practicing catch and release on this trip, but snook season has just closed anyway. Neither catch-and-release nor a set season was practiced when I lived down here in the early 1970s, and anglers can take the blame for hammering

Buddy from Yo-Zuri releases a hefty snook after a battle.

BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW feature alan fishing.indd 49

•

8/3/16 2:12 PM

MAD ABOUT

M A N G R OV E S

the snook population, especially during breeding season when they would gather off beaches and in the passes. During those times, we would stack 20-pounders on the dock like cordwood, which sounds incredibly stupid now. Wiser management practices have brought the population back to what it was in pre-massacre days. In a few minutes, a huge redfish attacks but manages to evade the hook. We catch some chunky trout and the action remains steady, despite the roiled water. Ewald has been keeping his eyes open for tarpon, which is one of his specialties, but today we are in a state of tarponlessness, so after a full day of action, we head back. At our condo-like suites at the Olde Marco Inn, we grab a quick shower and have another surprisingly good banquet-style meal. After dinner, most of us take a short walk to the Snook Inn, a happenin’ tiki bar with two happy hours Monday through Friday; the second starts at 10 p.m., to keep the party going after the live music is done. I prefer its original name: the Snook Hole, so named for the large population of snook that still hang out at the end of the docks in the green underwater lights.

CAPT. PAGE’S WILD RIDE As soon as we clear the no-wake zone coming out of Goodland the next morning, Capt. Geoff Page announces, “Hang on, we’re going on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride,” a reference to one of the first Disney rides. He isn’t kidding. Page hammers the throttle on his Yamaha V MAX SHO 250, sending his Pathfinder 2300 HPS skipping along the

Chris Bishop from Yo-Zuri shows off one of many snook caught during Mangrove Madness.

up in 2014 to win the IFA Redfish Tour Championship, running more than 100 miles one way to find the right fish. Our run today is about half that, and we find cleaner water and immediately get into a nice trout bite using Yo-Zuri Fingerlings and Savage Gear 3D Manic Shrimp. Page’s usual fishing grounds are around Sarasota, and he’s looking for good moving water, baitfish, birds, hard bottom or turtle grass. He rates local “intel” from other fishermen as the key, though, and has worked

I hoist the four-pound fish aboard for photos. surface at 55 mph as we head deep into the Everglades on our way to a spot just short of the Shark River’s mouth. Somewhere along the way, a dolphin is probably trying on my Boating World hat that blows off. Long runs are nothing new for Page; he and fellow pro angler Rick Murphy teamed 50

•

his sources. When the tide slows, Page heads offshore to a nearby reef where I see one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen. When we get to the reef, there’s a boat on it captained by Brian Sanders, one of the area’s top guides. Page asks his permission to fish alongside, which is a courteous thing

to do on smaller reefs, and we start catching — of all things — trout, which normally favor shallow, grassy flats. Sanders’ group lands a large pompano, which they are keeping for dinner. Doug Olander of Sport Fishing magazine, who is fishing with us, asks to take a photo of it. He has Sanders hold the fish over the water, at which point it suddenly squirms and escapes his grasp. Here’s the weird part: It swims on top of the water straight at Olander, who is 30 feet away. He reaches down, scoops it out of the water and returns it to a relieved Sanders. A strange ending to a great day.

A “BLOODY” INVASION The final day I am fishing with Capt. Stephen Ferrell, who is based in Melbourne on Florida’s east coast and is also a fine artist who specializes in fish drawings. With us is Ray Gardner of Yo-Zuri, who has obviously fished with Ferrell before, based on the pithy, familiar banter being bounced back and forth,

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW feature alan fishing.indd 50

8/3/16 2:12 PM

Captain Ewald tosses the cast net for bait

which prompts me to ask, “So how long have y’all been married?” Aboard Ferrell’s Canyon Bay 2470, powered by a Suzuki 250 SS, we’re heading deep into the mangrove section of the Everglades. I notice on our Raymarine screen that we’re very close to the Chatham River, which is famous for being where “Bloody” Ed Watson began operating a sugar cane farm back in the late 1800s. His moniker came from the fact he is said to have killed more than 50 people, mostly workers who wanted to be paid. His exploits were chronicled in a masterful semi-fictional book by Peter Matthiessen, “Killing Mister Watson,” so named for his last day on earth, in 1910, when the residents of nearby Chokoloskee all opened fire, hitting him 33 times. I had camped at the Watson Place before and caught snook not far from here, so when we turned into the mouth of the Chatham, my heart rate shot upward. Down here, you never know what you are going to catch, and Alex Mei of Tackle Tour catches the largest lookdown, or moonfish,

I’ve ever seen. It’s a curiously thin fish with a sloped forehead and beautiful pearlescent coloration. Then we head back into a small bay and start catching trout. There are numerous oyster bars here, so we expect to catch a redfish at any moment, but they are not to be found. Gardner wants to get some drone footage, so we drop him off on an oyster bar and keep fishing. Ferrell waits until the drone is in a perfect spot and chooses that time to hook and land our first snook of the day. What a professional! We have several other shots at snook holding tight to the bank, but they aren’t in a feeding mood. Toward the end of the day, we start working our way back to Marco Island, which is the northernmost of the Ten Thousand Islands. Ferrell had noticed a long line of crab traps just offshore earlier in the week,

TO T H E W E B > CaptainGeoff.Weebly.com > CaptainStephenFerrell.com > CaloosaFishingCharters.com > CanyonBayBoatworks.com > CudaBrand.com

and I know what he has in mind: tripletail, a weirdly prehistoric fish that’s among the best eating fish in Florida. They tend to hang on the surface right by the buoy, so we begin following the string of traps, while on plane, and it isn’t long before we spot the telltale flash of brown. I fire a pink jig, tipped with a shrimp just up-current and after a surprisingly tough battle, I hoist the four-pound fish aboard for photos, which is a great way to end our mangrove adventure. Marco Island has changed from a small village on a large mangrove island to a fully developed community with a skyline resembling Ft. Lauderdale, but the mangroves that stretch from here to the Keys are still as wild and as fishy as Florida gets, and it’s the perfect winter getaway for anyone with a boat on a trailer. BW

> FLIR.com > LakeandBayBoats.com > MercuryMarine.com > Navico.com > OkumaFishing.com > OldeMarcoInn.com

> PathfinderBoats.com > Raymarine.com > Savage-Gear.com > SuzukiMarine.com > YamahaOutboards.com > Yo-Zuri.com

BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW feature alan fishing.indd 51

•

8/3/16 2:12 PM

SOUNDING OFF on STEREOS Impervious to water, powerful enough to cut through wind noise and easy to connect to your phone, today’s marine stereos will surprise and delight you, in at least 10 ways.

BY DOUG THOMPSON

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW feature stereos new2.indd 52

8/4/16 7:11 AM

BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW feature stereos new2.indd 53

•

8/4/16 6:39 AM

summer day with the Beach Boys’ “Surfer Girl” cranked while anchored in a cove can only add to a good time. Or maybe Beethoven’s 5th Symphony is called for while roaring through rough water. Whatever your musical choice, today’s marine stereo receivers (also known as head or source units) are more powerful, versatile and easier to use than ever before. The same technology used in smartphones and other electronics has been adapted for the marine environment. Boat owners searching for premium sound must overcome the twin bugaboos of sound-blocking wind noise and the damaging

•

effects of sun and water on electronics. However, now that music can be stored digitally and retrieved easily through a variety of methods, the marine stereo landscape has become friendlier. “Digital technology has not only changed how music is played on a boat, but it has changed how marine stereos are shaped, as well,” said Matt Champneys, owner of Rock the Boat Audio, an online marine stereo retailer. “Most manufacturers are beginning to discontinue CD players, and when you lose the CD mechanism, that opens up all kinds of possibilities for different shapes and sizes of stereos.” Here’s a look at 10 aspects you might not have known about marine stereos.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW feature stereos new2.indd 54

8/3/16 10:11 AM

Waterproof and UV-resistant Construction Kenwood’s KCA-RC55MR waterproof wired remote works with all of its current stereos and is IPX7 rated. IPX7 means a product must be able to withstand a depth of one meter (3.3 feet) underwater for 30 minutes and then be expected to work. For a remote located near the swim platform and in danger of water immersion, that level of IPX7 waterproofing is crucial for long-term operation. Dash-mounted units that will be sprayed with water during cleanup also need to be waterproof, not to the level of total submersion, but for water contact via a hose. The Aquatic AV MP-5UBT stereo is rated IP55, so it can be hosed down without any effect. The standard for IP55 is the ability to withstand a 6.3mm spray of water in any direction for at least three minutes. “A few years back, we also had a stereo — albeit another model — that had been submerged in a sunken boat,” said Richard Platt, marketing manager for Aquatic AV. “It still worked after the boat had been hauled out!” Marine stereo units are conformal coated, using a protective chemical polymer film that protects electronic circuits from moisture. UV-resistant plastic is also used for the exterior, since most units are always in direct sunlight. “Stereos used in cars and RVs that are put into boats won’t last,” said Steve Meade, director of aftermarket for Clarion Marine and RV. “Some people still put car stereos and speakers in boats, and they just don’t hold up or work well.”

Display on an MFD

MARINE AUDIO MA100 AQUATIC AV AQ-WR-SF

POLK PA 4A

Receiver Shapes Are Changing

ne big trend today is the use of round gauge-sized stereos. What used to have to fit under the dash or in a dedicated cutout can now go on the console. “On a boat, you don’t always have room for a standard sized stereo, but you may have an extra gauge hole on your console where you could slip one of these,” Champneys said. “They have just as much power as traditionally sized stereos, even though they are tiny by comparison. The JBL PRV175 (180-watt built-in amplifier 4 channels x 45 watts) is our most popular.” The small-gauge size JBL does not have a CD player, and instead plays MP3 and WMV music files directly from an MP3 player, smartphone or thumb drive via the rear USB port.

M FURUNO TZ TOUCH

ultifunction displays deliver a host of boat-system information to operators, and integrating marine stereos is an important feature. “Our ASA Electronics stereos can be controlled from the source unit and with a wired remote,” said Matt Wood, marine industry manager for ASA Electronics. “Depending on the model, the source unit can be controlled via MFD either through proprietary communication or soon through NMEA2000 connectivity, as NMEA is finalizing the first true entertainment spec (PA4A).” Clarion is introducing an NMEA2000 interface at IBEX 2016 this fall, which will allow all its units built since 2009 to be shown on an MFD, while Fusion also offers MFD display. BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW feature stereos new2.indd 55

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

•

8/3/16 10:11 AM

Control Yourself — with Your Phone

E ASA ELECTRONICS MARINE AUDIO APP

FUSION-LINK REMOTE CONTROL APP

nabling your iPhone, smartphone or tablet to control the marine stereo means you can easily change songs and much more. ASA Electronics now offers full-function app-control technology, allowing users to control all the primary functions of select Jensen, Marine Audio, and Polk Ultramarine audio systems directly from any mobile device. “The fact is, most people have their phone in their hand much of the time,” said Wood. “Why not give them a full stereo remote while in the boat as well with AppControl? They can adjust volume, bass, treble, balance and fade, change between AM, FM and Bluetooth streaming, or even turn the stereo on or off.” Fusion has also entered the app game. Designed for iPhone or iPad, the Fusion-Link Remote Control app allows navigation, streaming and control of music sources and independent audio zones. Users are able to navigate iPod albums, artists and playlists with the same ease as the Fusion stereo interface. Additionally, the app allows users to navigate the menu of DVD-enabled systems with most functions replicated by the Fusion-Link Remote Control — eliminating the need to carry two remotes. The Fusion-Link Remote control Bluetooth app for iOS is compatible with the following new stereos: MS-UD650, MS-AV650, MS-UD750 and MS-AV750. An Android version of the Bluetooth app is in development. Clarion also offers app control for its stereo units with Android and iOS phones, using its marine MF2 remote module. “We went a little different route, as the phone connects to the MF2 via Wi-Fi,” said Meade. “By going through Wi-Fi, it doesn’t tie up Bluetooth and there is no latency. The MF2 has a Wi-Fi chip built into it.”

Bluetooth is overwhelmingly what customers want, due to its ease of use and user familiarity with other products. Connectivity Is Key — and Bluetooth Is King

Because the smartphones and iPhones we carry around 24/7 also can carry thousands of songs, being able to stream that music through the marine stereo is important. For example, like almost all of today’s marine stereos, Aquatic AVs AQ-MP-5UBT unit can connect to smartphones, iPhones and portable music devices via Bluetooth, USB, RCA (phono) or 3.5mm jack. “Providing multiple means of connection gives our users the most flexibility for onboard entertainment for the whole family and friends,” said Platt. “Album artwork is displayed on the three-inch color screen, even if connected wirelessly over Bluetooth.” Bluetooth is overwhelmingly what customers want, due to its ease of use and user familiarity with other products.

Improved LCD Tech

rying to read an LCD screen made for a car interior in bright sun is nearly impossible, but Clarion has improved its marine stereo displays with positive-segment LCD screens. “Very often you have a radio sitting at the helm baking under the sun,” Meade said. “With our positive-segment LCD display screen, even in bright sunlight you will still see the digits.”

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW feature stereos new2.indd 56

CLARION M606

BOATINGWORLD.COM

8/3/16 10:11 AM

Hard-Wired Control Still Works

AQUATIC AV MP-5UBT

Power Where You Need It

rying to turn up the volume and finding there just isn’t enough power can be disappointing. Aquatic AV marine stereos feature a 288-watt amplifier (max power) capable of driving speakers in both 4 ohm and 2 ohm configurations. Aquatic AV stereos produce an exceptional quality of sound with high-output 4V pre-out connections able to deliver perfect audio for high background-noise installations, such as boats, with wind and sea noise to compete with. “The 4V pre-outs (to connect to external amplifiers) provide the loudest, highest quality output, which makes a huge difference to the sound quality,” Platt said. “We have some unique technologies on our stereos including dual 12V trigger outputs that can be connected to deck lighting, for example, and controlled via the AQ-MP-5UBT or its remote control AQ-WR-5F.”

fixed-mount wired control AQUATIC AV RFBC-5UBT box may seem old school, but don’t knock it. While wired and wireless remotes remain available, the trend is moving away from wireless remotes, because phones are taking over that role, according to Champneys. “Waterproof wired remotes are here to stay, I think because you don’t need to carry them around and they can’t get lost,” Champneys said. “Mounting one on the swim platform, for instance, is a great way for swimmers to have easy access to control the stereo without getting out of the water. On larger boats, people will often mount the stereo in the cabin and then mount a wired remote at the helm.” BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW feature stereos new2.indd 57

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

•

8/3/16 10:11 AM

Awesome Speaker Upgrades

n open-air environment isn’t the best environment for musical clarity. If you are not in front of a speaker, you might hear the music poorly or be without any sound at all. Clarion speakers, such as the 200-watt, 8.8-inch CM2223R, are designed for the marine environment. “Volume is definitely important, because boats are a challenge,” Meade said. “Our speakers are voiced for the outdoors. Our marine speakers are completely different than a speaker made for a car or an enclosed space.” Prospec offers Milennia speaker models with a range of sizes and colors. The Milennia MILSPK352G speaker delivers powerful sound in a small size. It’s a complementary speaker to a larger system or can stand on its own. “Replacing speakers or adding an amplifier is a do-it-yourself job for the most part,” Champneys said. “The hardest part is running and fishing the wires throughout the boat and getting the speakers to fit in the cutouts. But it’s just work, it’s not rocket science, and there are marine audio installers who can do the job for you.” KICKER KM84LCW

To the Web

Find out more about the companies and products mentioned in this story. AquaticAV.com ASAElectronics.com • Clarion.com • FusionElectronics.com

JBL.com Kenwood.com/usa/car/marine • ProspecElectronics.com • RockTheBoatAudio.com

•

More Music Sources

Music sources are growing. Good old AM/FM is still around, but what about eight-track, cassette tapes and CDs? These ways to store music are either gone or disappearing. In addition to digital music, there are now sources such as Spotify and Pandora — users can just search for the latest song and play it. “The ability to stream Pandora from your phone and connect to our Clarion M606 marine digital media receiver via Bluetooth is what everyone wants, hardly without exception,” Clarion’s Meade said. “Our stereos are also SiriusXM ready, and that service goes to about 100 miles offshore.” Of course, you can also just play music stored on your phone via Bluetooth, no cell service needed. BW

HAS YOUR DOG GOT THE SALT? 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.

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

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

Salty Dog 1/2 HZ filler.indd 1 58

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW feature stereos new2.indd 58

8/2/16 1:00 PM BOATINGWORLD.COM

8/4/16 6:37 AM

CONNECT PLAY ENJOY the latest digital media devices, smartphones, MP3 players and more.

your music wirelessly with Bluetooth.

a superior marine entertainment experience.

Aquatic AV marine stereos are compatible with the very latest digital media devices and smartphones, include built-in Bluetooth and a powerful 288W amplifier, all the high-quality input & output connections you’ll need, plus a truly unique feature set. Our new Pro-Series speakers and subwoofers deliver a superior audio performance, while our fully waterproof IP66 amplifiers are the only sensible solution for a truly reliable marine entertainment system.

. .. e n li n o e r o m t u o d Fin

� Superior sound � Cost-effective � Reliable � 2 year warranty

WWW.AQUATICAV.COM/BOATINGWORLD t: 1-877-579-2782

e: info@aquaticav.com

products with a watertight reputation

Got An Old Boat?

DONATE IT TODAY!

marketplace

C A LL 949/660 - 6150

Call Us At 800-227-2643 www.boatangel.com

HAS YOUR DOG GOT THE SALT?

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

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Marketplace2.indd 60

8/3/16 10:05 AM

How Does Harbor Freight Sell GREAT QUALITY Tools at the LOWEST Prices? We have invested millions of dollars in our own state-of-the-art quality test labs and millions more in our factories, so our tools will go toe-to-toe with the top professional brands. And we can sell them for a fraction of the price because we cut out the middle man and pass the savings on to you. It’s just that simple! Come visit one of our 650+ Stores Nationwide.

SUPER COUPON

WOW

1650 PSI PRESSURE WASHER

• 1.3 GPM

Customer Rating

SAVE $70 LOT 68333 69488 shown

comp at

9999 $149.99

$7999 $

LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 12/18/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

SUPER COUPON

SAVE $59

R PE ON 60", 4 SU UP CO Customer Rating

SAVE $230

SUPER COUPON

WOW

LOT 95272 shown 63308/69397/61427

Customer Rating

WINNER

Truckin’ Magazine

Best Mechanic’s Tool Cart

• 704 lb. capacity

comp at

18999$399.99

$16999 $

comp at

$159

$395

LOT 67514

Customer Rating

$33.66

comp at

• 225 lb. capacity

1999 R PE ON SU UP CO

SAVE $180

20"

RAPID PUMP® 3 TON • LOW PROFILE HEAVY DUTY STEEL FLOOR JACK Customer Rating

LOT 61282 shown 61253/62326

comp at

$269.99

Weighs 73 lbs.

LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 12/18/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

SAVE 40%

EASY-STORE STEP LADDER

R TWO TIER PE ON SU UP COLLAPSIBLE CO

9999

Customer Rating

LOT 69667 68740 shown

2 HP, 8 GALLON 125 PSI PORTABLE AIR COMPRESSOR

Tools sold separately.

comp at

$ 99 139 $8999

SAVE $255

LOT 69054/93454 62603 shown

DRAWER HARDWOOD WORKBENCH

LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 12/18/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

R PE ON SU UP CO

30", 5 DRAWER TOOL CART

QUALITY TOOLS LOWEST PRICES EVERYDAY SUPER COUPON

POWDER-FREE NITRILE GLOVES PACK OF 100

LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 12/18/16. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day.

LOT 69030/69031 shown

VALUE

$497

1" x 25 FT. TAPE MEASURE

WITH ANY PURCHASE

20% FREE

ANY SINGLE ITEM

OFF

130 PIECE TOOL KIT WITH CASE Customer Rating

YOUR CHOICE

SIZE LOT 68496/61363 MED LG 68497/61360/97582 68498/61359 X-LG

comp at $ 99$15.99 LIMIT 7 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 12/18/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

$999

comp at

1999 $34.95

SAVE 71%

LOT

12 VOLT MAGNETIC KIT TOWING LIGHT6310 0

At Harbor Freight Tools, the “comp at” price means that the same item or a similar functioning item was advertised for sale at or above the "comp at" price by another retailer in the U.S. within the past 180 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of "comp at" should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.

• HarborFreight.com • 800-423-2567

800-423-2567. Cannot be HarborFreight.com or by calling LIMIT 7 - Good at our stores or or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase used with other discount or couponwhile supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon with original receipt. Offer good 12/18/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day. must be presented. Valid through

Customer Rating

WOW SUPER COUPON

Item 68498 shown

• 5 mil thickness

SAVE 62%

R PE ON SU UP Customer Rating CO

Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, automotive lifts, compressors, floor jacks, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Badland, CoverPro, Daytona, Diablo, Earthquake, Franklin, Grant’s, Holt, Jupiter, Lynxx, Maddox, Portland, Predator, StikTek, StormCat, Union, Vanguard, Viking. Not valid on prior purchases. Nontransferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 12/18/16.

R PE ON SU UP CO

SAVE 63% LOT 63091/69331 63248/68998 shown

$89.98

$3299 comp at

4000 PEAK/ 3200 RUNNING WATTS 6.5 HP (212 CC) GAS GENERATORS

R PE ON SU UP PER CO SU QUIET

SAVE 179 $

comp at

$469

Customer Rating

LOT 63079/69729/63080/69676 shown LOT 69675/69728/63090/63089 CALIFORNIA ONLY

28999

• 70 dB Noise Level

On All Hand Tools

• 650+ Stores Nationwide • Lifetime Warranty

• 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed • Over 30 Million Satisfied Customers • No Hassle Return Policy

R PE ON SU UP CO

SAVE 66%

72" x 80" MOVING BLANKET

Customer Rating

LOT 66537 shown 69505/62418

$17.97

$ 99

comp at

LIMIT 8 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 12/18/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

POLISHER/SANDER

WOW7"SUPVARERI ABLCOUE PON SPEED Customer Rating

LOT 92623 shown 60626/69474/62861

$2999

99 SAVE $ 57% comp at $69.97

or by calling stores or HarborFreight.comcoupon or prior LIMIT 5 - Good at our with other discount or 800-423-2567. Cannot be used original purchase with original receipt. purchases after 30 days fromNon-transferable. Original coupon must be Offer good while supplies last. 6. Limit one coupon per customer per day. presented. Valid through 12/18/1

R PE ON SU UP

$39.94

comp at

1999

LOT 69780 41005 shown

CO 1000 LB. CAPACITY SWING-BACK TRAILER JACK Customer Rating

SAVE $ 49%

2999

$69.99

comp at

SAVE 57%

LOT 63351/60581 60653 shown

12 VOLT, 10/2/50 AMP BATTERY CHARGER/ ENGINE STARTER

R PE ON SU UP CO

Customer Rating

7/18/16 12:08 PM

hft_boatingworld_0916_M-REG84762.indd 1

EMERGENCY LIFE RAFT BUY or RENT for Service/Sales/Rentals of Aviation and Marine life rafts and vests since 1974.

The World’s Smallest Package

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

BOATS Apex Marine (989) 681-4300.......................................3

SIMRAD (800) 628-4487..............................................9 Survival Products (954) 966-7329......................... 63

SmokerCraft, Inc/Starcraft (866) 719-7873............5

Swim Platforms (602) 431-8225...............................27

Splendor Boats (260) 352-2835.............................. 63

The Durabak Company (303) 690-7190...............60

Stingray (843) 383-4507......................................... CV3

West System Inc. / Gougeon Brothers, Inc. (989) 684-7286........................................................ 28

DOCKS & MOORINGS Merco Marine (800) 396-3726.................................60

4-6 Man 4” x 12” x14” 12 lbs $1510

ENGINES

SERVICES 1-800-Progressive (800) 776-4737..................... CV2

SternDrive Engineering (813) 925-7127................. 62 Suzuki Marine (800) 247-4704....................................1

Boat Angel (800) 227-2643......................................60

C A LL 949/660 - 6150

NEW!! FAA TSO Approved Life Rafts Available

Weego/Paris Corporation (609) 265-9200......... 15

Ranger Tugs (253) 839-5213...................................... 13

Lightest Weight • Least Expensive 9-13 Man 5” x 12” x 14” 18 lbs $1960

marketplace

Survival Products, Inc.

BoatingWorld iPad App (888) 732-7323.............. 43 Chubb (800) 215-0871..............................................CV4 GEICO Insurance (800) 865-4846...........................35

GEAR & ACCESSORIES Amsoil (800) 777-8491............................................... 39

SURVIVAL PRODUCTS, INC.

5614 S.W. 25th St., Hollywood, FL 33023 (954) 966-7329 • FAX (954) 966-3584 www.survivalproductsinc.com Made in U.S.A

Aquatic AV (408) 559-1668...................................... 59 Bel-Ray Company, Inc. (732) 938-2421................... 11 Harbor Freight Tools (818) 836-5497..................... 61 NuShield, Inc (215) 500-6426...................................60

BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW Marketplace2.indd 63

•

8/3/16 10:05 AM

R E A D ER CO NTE ST

Rick Martin illustration

name the boat

If he doesn’t catch anything, it won’t be for lack of not trying — or something like that. Do you have a name for our lazy fisherman’s boat? 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 January 2017 issue of Boating World. > SEE THE WINNING ENTRY AND THE BEST OF THE REST FROM THE JUNE CONTEST ON PAGE 8.

YOURS FREE

WIN THIS 64

•

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

+ BW NTB2.indd 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. 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 January 2017 issue. Submissions are due by October 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.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

8/2/16 12:48 PM

I am your escape from it all. Protect me. I am exhilarating. I am the perfect balance of speed and agility as you cruise 30 knots across open water. I am all your cares flowing away as soon as you leave the dock. I want the kind of coverage crafted from decades of experience protecting boat owners from unique maritime risks. The kind of protection and service Chubb provides. Not just coverage. Craftsmanship.SM Not just insured.

Chubb. Insured.

ÂŠ2016 Chubb. Coverages underwritten by one or more subsidiary companies. Not all coverages available in all jurisdictions. ChubbÂŽ, its logo, Not just coverage. Craftsmanship.SM and all its translations, and Chubb. Insured.SM are protected trademarks of Chubb.

new.chubb.com