Tabla de contenidos para June/July 2021 en Boating

GRUNDÉNS SEAKNIT BOAT SHOES A contemporary lace-up sneaker designed for boating anglers, the new SeaKnit boat shoes from Grundéns feature a seamless knit upper, a unique polyurethane leather overlay for water resistance, and a thick, nonmarking natural gum-rubber outsole with razor-cut siping for on-deck traction. A shock-absorbing EVA midsole and a comfortable foot bed provide cushioning, and proprietary fabric treatments help guard against odor and stains. Available in gray or black in men’s sizes 8 to 14. $109.99 per pair; grundens.com HANKOOK VANTRA TRAILER TIRES Hankook has introduced its first trailer tires, the Vantra series. Engineered to deliver exceptional durability and stability while towing trailer boats, the standard Vantra is available in nine sizes, while the Vantra high-load tires are available in three sizes. All features a high stiffness pattern…

Since nearly all new powerboats—and pretty much all boats built in the past four decades—have an engine cutoff switch with a lanyard installed by the manufacturer anyway, it’s nothing new. The full text of the law and how it might apply to you can be read in our story at boatingmag.com/ecos. But what if a boat owner with an older vessel—or older engine—wants one? Can an ECOS or ECOSL be retrofitted to a vintage marine engine? Yes, an ECOS can be retrofitted to most any engine, even really old ones. These are readily available on the aftermarket. Check out T-H Marine’s Saf-T-Stop Kill Switches ($37, thmarinesupplies.com) and the Sierra Emergency Cut-Off Switch with Coiled Lanyard ($26.99, westmarine.com). Installation is typically easy for any modern CD ignition engine, and just a…

The lineage behind Mag Bay Yachts has coursed through three decades of sport-fishing boat history. The family that founded this brand—Mike and Barrett Howarth—also lays claim, along with Henry Mohrschladt, to the launch of the vaunted Cabo Yachts in 1991. With the introduction of the Mag Bay 42, the Howarths reignited the spirit of Cabo Yachts, not in name, but by incorporating marine technologies that make the Mag Bay 42 an even better offshore fishing boat than the original Cabos. “I call it a boat of details,” Barrett says. “We focus on building everything, even the smallest items, to the highest craftsmanship standards possible.” Indeed, I could not help but think of the quality of the early Cabos while examining the Mag Bay’s flawless bilge rigging, a specially designed compartment…

Over the years, Centurion has staked its claim and grown its brand on big boats that make great waves. With the introduction of its newest flagship model, the Ri265, that trend continues in epic fashion. At 26 feet, 6 inches, it’s not only Centurion’s biggest boat ever, but it’s also one of the biggest V-drive tow boats on the market. Built on Centurion’s acclaimed Opti-V hull, which features 20 degrees of deadrise at the transom (twice as much as many wakeboats), it can provide a smooth ride when you need to cross a choppy lake. Yet the Ri265’s Opti-V hull has been optimized for creating some of the most outstanding wakes and waves for watersports. The deeper V displaces more water and, coupled with up to 5,850 pounds of ballast,…

With its wide, pickle-fork bow, the MXZ line from Malibu has long been one of the wakeboat builder’s most popular. For 2021, the 24 MXZ receives a hefty dose of updating—including a new interior layout, the latest Malibu tech, and even more wake-boosting potential. Built on Malibu Boats’ acclaimed Wake Plus hull, the 24 MXZ sits deeper in the water at board-riding speeds, boosting wake size, while keeping the wake faces both clean and consistent. Add 3,385 pounds of water ballast spread between Malibu’s Quad Hard Tanks and plug-and-play ballast, and that wake grows dramatically. The Power Wedge III hydrofoil mimics yet another 1,500 pounds of weight, and depending on the selected angle, shapes the wake face from steep to mellow. Advanced riders will simply fill the ballast, deploy the…

Wakesurfing is undoubtedly cool, wakeboarding lets you experience the thrills of big air, and good old-fashioned water-skiing will forever be fun. But the most versatile towable remains the inflatable. Once made from literal tire tubes, which is how we still refer to them, today’s versions are more durable and maneuverable, and they amp up the thrill level far beyond the tubes of old. Yes, in the process some offerings have gotten a little, shall we say, unique. (Did we really see a four-passenger stand-up model that looks like a giant traffic cone?) But overall, inflatables have gotten a lot more fun—which, after all, is the point. How do you choose the best inflatable for your friends and family in this sea of durable, maneuverable, thrilling—and occasionally downright weird—blow-up toys? We’d…

The 1st Mate allows the captain to move around the boat, obviating complaints regarding the inconvenience of lanyards. It also allows restarting the engine immediately following a man overboard (MOB), unlike a lanyard ECOS, which, unless crew aboard possess a spare lanyard, may not allow restarting the engine if the skipper goes overboard. The 1st Mate system is an app-integrated marine safety and security product developed through a partnership between Mercury Marine and Fell Marine. It integrates the benefits of Mercury’s industry-leading SmartCraft and Fell Marine’s WiMEA protocol, using WiMEA to communicate between a hub and fobs, which proves faster and more robust than Bluetooth in marine safety-critical situations. The 1st Mate system also uses Bluetooth for communication between app-loaded devices. Furthermore, the 1st Mate can be upgraded wirelessly to…

How long have you been a professional wakeboarder? I turned pro when I was 15, so for over eight years now. What does it take to reach the top of your sport? It seems like working hard, being motivated, and constantly trying to improve my craft have been the perfect recipe for me to reach the level I’m at. How often do you practice? If it’s before a contest and in the height of the season, I’m out on the water about five days a week. Our sport has a lot of high intensity, so I try to give myself time to rest and recover as well. What kind of boat do you ride behind? I ride behind my MasterCraft XStar. It’s so rad to live on the lake and…

FLOTATION BELT O’BRIEN HYDROSLIDE FLOTATION BELT WHY: Some old-school water-skiers still prefer the foam flotation belts because they are the least restrictive to wear on the slalom course and, of course, old habits die hard. They’re easy to put on and take off, and give the rider some buoyancy on a deepwater start without being too restrictive. WHY NOT: These are not Coast Guard-approved, and if you get injured or knocked out, you will float butt up. The Hydroslide’s suggested use is for water exercises, snorkeling, or taking a relaxing float in a lake or pool. PRICE: $19.99; obrien.com US COAST GUARDAPPROVED LIFE JACKET HYPERLITE DOMAIN WHY: Approved as a TypeIII life jacket, the Domain can be worn for watersports, and also for protection while on the boat or riding…

We gleaned this rendering and some details about the Stingray Boats 273CC. One reason we’re hot to sea-trial the 273CC is that it represents another opportunity to run Stingray’s exclusive Z-Plane hull. Simply put, the Z-Plane hull design creates three separate deadrise-angle zones: steepest between the keel and first strake; a bit less angle between the strakes; and even less angle between the outboard strake and chine. In years of testing Stingrays, the result has always been an easy-planing, efficient boat with excellent handling. This boat will also boast a high-tech build. For example, it is a fully resininfused hull, which minimizes weight and maximizes stiffness. It offers a carbon-fiber-reinforced deck, and it is a composite boat. The Coosa transom and composite main stringer grid provide rot-free strength and rigidity.…

5 THINGS MORE THAN 5 See more humorous things at boatingmag.com/five-things. 593,003 Cubic feet of water per second that flows from the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico…

SIZE WISE Blue Sea Systems offers marine wire-size info on its website and via its free Circuit Wizard app. WIRE GAUGE? Q:Doc, how important is wire size, and where can I find out what size wire is best? John Antowski Chicago A: Undersize wires seem attractive to some boaters because thinner wire costs less, but using undersize wire is a bad idea for several reasons. These reasons are related to the fact that thinner wire means more resistance. More resistance results in voltage drop, meaning lights burn dimmer and pumps spin slower. More resistance can also create a fire. And thinner wire is more subject to degradation via the ravages of corrosion and vibration. As a general rule, the longer the run, the larger the gauge of wire that is…

Q: Hi Doc. We just bought a 2018 Malibu, and the ballast tank is leaking. Can this be fixed? Jan McNeil St. Louis A:You’ll have to determine the source of the leak. Two common failure points in watersports boats’ ballast systems are the hose-barb-fitting nipple on the tank and the vented loop. To repair the former, remove the old cracked one and replace with a PVC fitting of the same size, sourced from a plumbing supply store. If the tank fittings screw in, this is relatively easy. If they are molded or welded plastic fittings, you could drill it out and replace with a flanged through-hull fitting of the right size. You’d probably need to cut an access panel to tighten the nut of the new fitting—cut this in the…

Marine battery charging systems represent must-have items aboard many recreational boats today. Far more sophisticated than old-school bench chargers with battery clips, marine chargers from brands such as Battery Tender, Guest, Minn Kota, Noco and ProMariner feature sophisticated electronics that monitor the state of batteries and charge accordingly. Waterproof and corrosion-resistant, such permanently installed systems offer convenience. Once the boat is tied up at the dock or at home on a trailer, just connect the charger to shore power or a household receptacle. Charging profiles replenish the juice in multiple stages and keep batteries topped off and ready to go without overcharging, overheating or causing damage, even when the system is plugged into 120 volts AC continuously between trips. Such automatic systems, designed for recreational boats up to about 30…

A scene from the 1974 James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun depicts Bond racing through the canals of Bangkok, fleeing from bad guys in a sleek sampan powered by what looked like an F150 engine sprouting a long, straight shaft ending in an open, two-blade prop known as a Thai longtail. Bond ended the chase by cutting his pursuer’s boat in half with his own longtail buzz-saw propeller. I was in college when that movie came out, and I’ve pined for such a motor ever since. When I stumbled across an ad for a DIY kitbuilt longtail, I talked to Steve Cadwell, manager of SPS North America, which manufactures the parts in Thailand and offers what some refer to as “mud motor” kits under the Swamp Runner…

Besides introducing me to the new Galeon 410 HTC, this sea trial provided several reminders. First, why Boating always does two-way performance runs. With 35 mph of wind over the deck and gusts to 40 off Stuart, Florida, our speed difference upwind and downwind was sizable: nearly 2.5 mph at top-end. Second, as a Califloridian, flybridges are as natural to me as apple pie and ice cream. But comfortably ensconced at the calm inside helm aboard the Galeon, I realized that express cruisers (the HTC stands for Hard Top Coupe) are relevant in all climes. I would not have wanted to be on the bridge of the sistership Galeon 400, which shares the same hull but adds a flybridge. (Although there is an inside station.) With Capt. Rick Castellini at…

This new L Series flagship of the Barletta Pontoon Boats line incorporates all the cool, desirable extras, including a welded-aluminum sport arch rated to tow 1,500 pounds that incorporates a 10-foot sun top, four speakers and a light bar, and raises and lowers at the touch of a button—very convenient. Triple 26-inch tubes feature dual-stage lifting strakes, which Barletta says reduce drag and help guide the boat through turns, plus internally reinforced nose cones and “wave tamers” to knock down spray from the outboard tubes. Heavy-duty double I-beam cross members are installed on 16-inch centers. The rubber Barletta Vibration Isolation Pads between the I-beams and each M-bracket effectively isolate the plywood deck from engine vibration, a feature in testing these ’toons that really shows. This robust construction enables engine options…

Moomba’s craftsmanship really shines in the Mojo. Hitting the Goldilocks size in the middle of the fleet, the Mojo is not too big to tow or difficult to maneuver, nor is it too small to bring a few extra friends. At 23 feet, the Mojo creates a crisp, clean wake and wave. By default, the shape of the wake sits comfortably between vert and ramp, making it user-friendly for all levels right out of the box. It can also be customized and programmed to keep things consistent for an ideal learning environment. The strategically designed interior of the Mojo maximizes comfort and functionality without adding any extra cost to the consumer. This is evident in the thoughtful distribution of the cup holders, phone holders and USB charging ports, the nonskid…

On April 1, 2021, a new federal boating-safety law went into effect, requiring mandatory ECOS use. What is an ECOS? It’s an engine cutoff switch (or ECOSL, engine cutoff switch link). Test your knowledge of this new law. —John Tiger (Answers on page 22) 1. Engine cutoff switches are mandatory in which situations? A. Boats with 115 static pounds of thrust or more (about 2 to 3 hp) B. Boats less than 26 feet long C. Boats operating above displacement speed (“on plane”) D. None of the above E. All of the above 2. Your boat has an ECOS, but the lanyard is broken and won’t attach to your life vest anymore. What should you do? A. Leave it on the switch; at least you could grab it and pull…

When we tested our cover boat, the Centurion Ri265, we were proud to note that it was being used as part of Operation Wake Surf (operationwakesurf.com). What is Operation Wake Surf? It’s an organization created to provide watersports experiences to our military veterans and first responders. Founded last year by Robby Maschhaupt in Charlotte, North Carolina, the nonprofit group works with sponsors such as Centurion, Roswell Marine, Monster Energy, and others to take first responders and military personnel out for a day on the water and teach them how to wakesurf. The combination of learning to surf and the healing relaxation of being on the water helps these groups deal with adversity, while also showing them respect for their work and saying thank you for their service. The group has…

Boasting triple Yamaha 425 XTO outboards, Helm Master EX and a 507-gallon fuel capacity, the new Regulator Marine 37 serves as a smooth-riding and well-equipped off shore fishing machine. Regulator’s MyHelm interface connects functions in one application, with a wireless key fob to turn on batteries and lighting, activate pumps and more. New seating and a tackle center showcase Regulator’s craftsmanship. “Every new model we introduce marks a new opportunity to give our customers more of what they are asking for as we stay true to our heritage and deliver the ultimate Regulator ride,” says Joan Maxwell, president and co-founder of Regulator Marine. Beneath the aft-facing bench seat is a pump room with access to fuel tanks, an optional Seakeeper 5 and other systems. A queen berth, galley and head…

My cousin, his wife, and my wife and I loaded up our 27-foot cruiser for a great day on the Ohio River to watch Thunder Over Louisville, a festival at Waterfront Park. The weather couldn’t have been better—it brought everyone out for the air show, and the fireworks later that night. Boats were everywhere, which had me worried because the river was above pool, and the current was very strong. Boats were everywhere, which had me worried because the river was above pool, and the current was very strong. At 3 p.m., two young men in a runabout lost power, and the current slammed their boat into our anchor line, which became entangled with their outboard. The river’s strong current made it difficult to get everything untangled, but we finally…

In this no-no, the boat owner needed longer main-battery cables to reach from the engine to the battery compartment, but chose poorly in solving the problem. He cut two OEM cables and spliced them together with copper crimp connectors, sealing the slices with two layers of heat-shrink tubing. However, moisture and salt took their toll, and nine years later, the splices under the tubing were caked with the green crud of corrosion. Stripping away the insulation revealed copper filaments that had turned black and brittle for several feet in both directions and refused to carry enough current to crank the engine. A better solution would have been to use a high-amperage power-post connector such as the Blue Sea Systems Dual PowerPost ($19.99, westmarine.com) to connect the main conductors to the…

Marine upholstery represents comfort, aesthetic appeal and value. For tips on extending its life and beauty, we talked with Bill McDaniel, marine market manager for Sunbrella Horizon, which supplies high-quality marine vinyl fabrics to a wide range boatbuilders and fabricators. Be forewarned: Some of his advice goes contrary to conventional wisdom. TOP-GRADE VINYL Most new-boat upholstery is made with top-grade marine vinyl from brands such as Sunbrella Horizon, Morbern or Spradling. When reupholstering, insist on similar-grade vinyl. “Selecting the right fabrics will ensure a beautiful and functional boat season after season and limit time spent on maintenance and repairs,” McDaniel says. Also, look for a warranty on the vinyl. “Horizon fabric offers a five-year warranty with a three-year warranty specific to microbial pinking,” he points out. CLEANING SCHEDULE Today’s quality…

A mirror can be the captain’s most effective tool when participating in wake sports. The driver can continue to face forward, and quickly look in the mirror and then back at the water ahead. This allows the captain to gain greater situational awareness in terms of what is happening both in front of and behind the boat. The mirror has been a standard feature on specialized wake-sports boats for the past 60 years, but it is not yet standard on other types of boats. Brands such as Attwood, Cipa, PTM Edge and Roswell offer mirrors in various shapes and sizes. The most common design attaches to the windshield frame, but manufacturers also make mirrors that mount to the dash, the plastic windscreen found on deck and bass boats, wakeboard towers,…

SLIMMSHADE From $249; slimmshade.com This snazzy-looking shade is designed to mount in T-top rod holders. It comes in eight color patterns including solid black, navy or royal blue ($249.99), and special printed designs such as the US flag, mahi, and blue, orange or tan compass roses ($299.99). SlimmShade will even add your custom logo. The fabric is densely woven of a fast-drying polyester thread and can be machine-washed. MOST LIKE: A pop-up tent, but easier to set up. WORKS BEST ON: Designed for rod holders on a T-top or arch. WITHSTANDS WINDS OF: Up to 10 mph DIMENSIONS: 6 feet wide by 7 feet long STOWAGE: It stores in a plastic map-case-style tube with a shoulder strap for easy carrying. Roll the shade snugly around the folded tent poles and…

Disclosure: I’m a fallen-away California surfer with chops from Steamer Lane to K69 in Mexico, and I used to pity those who lived far from an ocean because they could never surf—wrong! With the new Cobalt R8 Surf, you can surf any lake, river or large puddle. Even better, you can create perfect curls to your taste. Sure, you can also use the boat for family outings, water-skiing and whatever else. But Cobalt drew from Malibu, its corporate owner, to create an amazing wave-maker. You can load a water-ski boat with people and water-ballast bladders, but it can’t dial in a wave at the touch of a button like the R8 Surf. This is one rad-looking boat, from the huge speakers hanging on the tower like engines on a 747,…

Axis updated its flagship A24 with more comfort and a smoother ride for 2021. With an extra 4 inches of freeboard and new design cues, the A24 looks sleeker yet still maintains the bold stance for which Axis is known. The bow’s pickle-fork shape is subtler than seating and a higher freeboard provide previous model years but still allows for plenty of space and comfort. Aft, wraparound seating and a higher freeboard provide ample comfort for its 18-person capacity. Plus, compartments below the hinged seats feature some of the deepest storage we’ve seen. New colorways and customization options provide more ways to personalize the A24. Billeted aluminum dash accents add style. The A24’s wakes and waves prove great, thanks to nearly 4,000 pounds of integrated ballast, plus Malibu’s Surf Gate…