Indholdsfortegnelse for November/December 2025 i Boating

87 THE BURN: The most common gasoline because it’s the least expensive, 87 fuel is fine for most marine outboard and inboard engines. Check your owner’s manual. If your engine requires only 87 gas, spending more on 89 or higher won’t improve your engine’s performance or help you run any faster than it would burning regular 87. THE KNOCK: While any engine can burn 87 and likely be fine, it can cause knocking in engines that require 91 fuel or higher, which could impede overall performance. 89 THE BURN: If your engine experiences knocking from using 87 fuel, jumping up to 89 could solve the problem without resorting to high-performance gasoline, which can cost upwards of a dollar or more per gallon. Consider it a happy medium if 87 isn’t…

ODYSSEY OBC-15-A MARINE BATTERY CHARGER The Odyssey OBC-15-A marine battery charger is lightweight and engineered to handle 12-volt AGM, flooded lead-acid batteries, and lithium batteries (LiFeP04, Li-Fe, Li-iron, LFP). This comprehensive compatibility makes it an ideal choice for boat owners who may have different battery types across their vessels. Because it can sense voltage as low as 1.5 volts, it can recover fully depleted batteries, and I have found it does that reliably. I've used it to recharge and maintain depleted tractor, boat and AT V batteries. With a maximum of 15 amps of charging power, batteries are brought back to serviceability quickly. The unique Supply Mode pushes power to fully depleted batteries that are undetectable by most automatic chargers. Supply Mode can also be I used to bench test…

Trim tabs were once just a device fixed in place to lengthen a boat’s running surface and provide lift to its transom for a quicker, more level hole shot. When Bennett first introduced adjustable hydraulic tabs (installed in pairs on each side of the transom), skippers quickly learned how to use them to adjust the ride for choppy water, crosswinds, and beam seas or to lift 350-pound Bubba Wilson and his side of the vessel. Interceptors (usuallly in pairs) began to appear on boats 20 years ago, but it wasn’t until recently that they entered the mainstream as wake-shaping tools in surf boats. It was advancements in micro-processing and actuator-response speeds that gave rise to this new approach to adjusting the ride. Dynamic trim control systems employ inputs such as…

You’re shopping for a boat that gets the job done, offers a high degree of reliability, durability, fishability and comes with a price that doesn’t rival the cost of a house, a fast-food franchise or four years at a top-rated college. It’s a type rarely seen today, as the new-boat market seems to be one of extremes. Lower-priced boats that a few serious anglers seem to want occupy on one end. At the other end are luxuriously equipped boats, which while also usually offering excellent engineering and a top-rate build, design and ride, cause many anglers to wince at the price. After inspecting Bay Rider Boats’ Wilson, North Carolina, factory, and spending the day aboard its new hybrid the 269 Bay, powered by a Yamaha 450 XTO, I became certain…

It’s traditionally the most giving time of year. For that reason, and because most boaters are just plain gear heads, each holiday season we present one of our most popular features: Boating’s Holiday Gift Guide. This year’s collection is a categorized list of the best boating gifts curated by the world’s foremost powerboat experts, the editors at Boating. On these pages you’ll find great ideas whether the boater on your list is a DIYer, wakeboarder or angler. Looking for sunglasses, marine electronics, or something boaty to read? You’ll find items that fill in those blanks here as well. You’ll even find a free item or two. Many of the gifts presented have been personally tested by us aboard our own boats. While you shop for friends, family and fellow boaters,…

BOATINGMAG.COM NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025 ON BOARD WITH CAPTAIN’S TEST FOR COMPARISON’S SAKE ONLINE THIS MONTH FIRST IMPRESSION Did you grow up on the water? My father was an avid sailor. Growing up, we had a number of sailboats. I learned to handle a boat long before I learned to drive a car, and I spent countless days sailing on Puget Sound with my family. When did you first start hydroplane racing? I was 5 years old in 1963 when I saw my first race. I fell in love with the sights and sounds of the sport. The boats’ bright colors and their flashing roostertails were stunning, and the throaty roar of the engines sounded like music. I immediately started scheming to get my own boat and by 1977 I had my…

With more personal bests and world records than any other water-ski boat in history, the Ski Nautique stands as the most-coveted and best-selling ski boat in the world. Completely redesigned, and significantly lighter than the previous generation, the 2026 Ski Nautique seamlessly integrates ease of use with unprecedented performance. The Ski Nautique incorporates a proprietary method of combining carbon fiber and fiberglass, plus an all-new integrated stringer system that is infused into the hull for a perfect balance of strength and weight. In tandem with the patented Micro Tuner and redesigned Hydro Gate technology, it creates naturally flatter wakes with more support in the troughs, resulting in gains across the range of speeds and line lengths. The Ski Nautiqueisa USA Water Ski-approved tournament tow boat, sanctioned for use in International…

Boat maintenance might be grouped into two categories: obvious tasks and not-so obvious tasks. Charging the batteries, waxing the hull and repairing a ding in the gelcoat represent obvious tasks. Renewing caulking, going around the boat and tightening fasteners and replacing gaskets and O-rings fall into the category of what some would name less-obvious tasks. It’s that last job—changing gaskets and O-rings that we will concern ourselves with in this installment of Quick Study. This is an easy DIY boating task, yet essential to your boat and engine’s overall performance. FUEL FILLS Your boat’s fuel fill (or fills) is fitted with a cap that seals out water by way of an O-ring located at the top of the threads, abutting the cap’s flange. Tighten down the cap, and the rubber O-ring…

The 367CX is a versatile adventure boat designed for those who seek more than just standard fishing experiences. This meticulously crafted vessel merges premium construction with thoughtful design elements to create a truly multipurpose maritime platform. Its fishing features are comprehensive without overpowering the recreational angle of the design. Strategically placed rod holders on the transom and gunwales, a dedicated livewell, fish box, and tackle storage create its functional fishing environment. Yet the 367CX transcends the traditional fishing-boat role, establishing itself as an ideal platform for diverse marine activities. The dive-friendly deck plan includes a convenient side boarding door with a removable dive ladder, complemented by a transom door. The helm area is well-protected by a fully enclosed hardtop with a safety-glass windshield and side windows, creating a comfortable weather-resistant…

A mechanic would never use a wrench as a hammer, so if you are primarily an inshore angler, why would you want a boat that is also designed to go offshore if it came at the expense of being less efficient for its primary mission? One of the hottest trends is hybrid, multipurpose boats, and they make sense for those who split their time equally between fishing inshore and offshore. But if going skinny in pursuit of fish is your passion, a boat like the Pathfinder 2300 HPS is the right tool for the job. Sure, flats boats can go shallower, but they can’t carry five anglers and handle large inshore waters in style and comfort when the wind kicks up. On those balmy days, it can go past marker…

I have bought a half-dozen coastal fishing craft in the past, and all were preowned. I gravitate toward “experienced” vessels for a few compelling reasons. As my needs drifted toward running larger and more-seaworthy craft, the new-boat price tag was becoming less realistic for my budget. Another inducement to consider purchasing a late-model used boat was the usual depreciation hit that a new boat takes in its initial three to five years. These craft are still in great condition, with the remnants of a transferrable factory warranty. But not all preowned vessels are created equal, and I have learned a few things during my many used-boat-buying escapades. I’ll share a dozen nasty nits with you here, along with potential solutions. ROD HOLDERS THAT DRAIN INTO THE BILGE Flush-mounted gunwale rod…

(Answers on page 19) 1. What should you do to the engine to help keep your outboard’s fuel injectors clean and free from stale fuel and carbon deposits? A. Run engine with a few drops of Dawn dish soap in the fuel. “Dawn keeps grease out of your way!” B. For your last start-up of the season, first condition the fuel with Gas-Shok or a similar fuel conditioner. Then, while running the engine, inject most of a can of Engine Tuner, Power Tune, Sea Foam or equivalent into the engine’s intakes while running the engine at a fastidle speed. Shut the engine down, wait overnight, then start the engine again and inject the rest of the can into the intakes. C. Nothing. You will harm the engine by injecting anything…

Here is MJM’s new cruiser-sportfisherman hybrid, the 38RS. Based on the MJM 38R cruiser, the 38RS adds fishing functionality. Working with Zurn Yacht Design, MJM created a layout that allows owners to take advantage of the boat’s fishability, according to MJM Yachts President and CEO Natascia Hatch. The versatile MJM 38RS offers an open, aft cockpit with transom doors that expand the fishing area to the swim platform. A 40-gallon livewell with an 800-gph recirculating pump and rounded corners is on centerline. Two insulated fish boxes store your catch. MJM included six rocket launchers on the hardtop, two rod holders on the livewell and four more in the gunwales. A gunwale-mounted, removable bait-prep station is also standard. The 38RS offers the comfort of a 360-degree pilothouse with large, sliding side…

Q: Dear Boat Doctor, I am trying to remove the steering wheel of my boat. I have removed the nut, but the wheel just won’t budge. Can you help? A. Darby Springfield, Massachusetts A: Because it’s on a tapered shaft, it does get stuck. Here’s what I do: Remove the nut and washer, then rethread the nut on partway so that part of it is sticking past the end of the shaft, protecting the threads. Now, while pulling/pushing on the wheel from behind with one knee and one forearm, rap the shaft with a dead-blow hammer. It should pop off. You can also use a bearing puller to remove the steering wheel. BOARD-RACK INSTALLATION Q: Dear Boat Doctor, we often take our boat to the beach to surf. Now we are…

Salt, sand, and debris take their toll on your outboard’s water-pump impeller, housing, and related parts. Despite many “I’ve never replaced the water pump” stories, good preventative maintenance practice includes replacement of the pump and housing at regular intervals—annually is best. Because every engine is different, these instructions are general. Buy a service manual, such as a Seloc manual, for your specific engine before attempting this job. Then budget an hour or so to remove the gear case, replace the pump, then reinstall the gear case. 1 Disconnect the shift cable under the engine cowl. It will be easy to see if your helper shifts the control as you watch the cable. There also might be a shift-rod connection to address. Most Mercury and Yamaha engines have a shift-rod connection…

If anyone is wondering, “How can my family and I spend a perfect day or weekend on the water?” let me introduce you to the new Beneteau Antares 9. This is truly a boat for all reasons, making it one of brightest new models in the recreational boating market. Antares, by the way, is the brightest star in the constellation of Scorpius. For day outings, the Antares 9 cockpit offers a 6-foot-wide U-shaped bench that, when the table is used as a fill, becomes a sun pad worthy of a bigger boat. That’s not hype: A Beneteau hallmark is a cockpit lounge that slides aft when the engines are in the running position, increasing the cockpit space. When it’s time to tilt the engines up into the storage position, the…

Designed for the specific needs of mariners, as well as law enforcement, the Ocean Scout Pro monocular proves more intuitive to use than previous models, and its price point makes it accessible to a wide range of boaters. I had the opportu-nity to test one of the first available models and found the 32-degree field of view felt natural, closely aligning with my unaided vision. In addition, the images were easily decipherable, something I can't claim about earlier scopes. With an extended 500-meter detection range, the scope allowed me to continuously and completely focus on observed target scenes without the obstruction and confusion of on-screen menus and settings. Measuring just 7 inches in length and weighing 18.4 ounces, the Ocean Scout Pro is easy to handle to scan the waters…