Tabla de contenidos para August/September 2021 en Boating

If you’re a professional drag racer who often exceeds speeds of 300 mph on the drag-racing circuit, what do you do to relax? For Leah Pruett, who drives an NHRA Top Fuel dragster for Don Schumacher Racing, relaxation comes from wakesurfing—so much so that she recently bought a Supra SL550 to take surfing when she’s not racing. What’s the appeal of going slow? “I can’t snowboard or ride my motocross bike because of fear of injury. With wakesurfing, if I fall at 11 mph, it doesn’t ruin my career,” Pruett says. But there’s more to it. “Wakesurfing has allowed me to feel the board and the wave. It has helped me become more in tune with my body, and therefore more in tune with my race car,” she says. To…

Powered by quad Yamaha outboards—to shrink distances and expand time—and fitted with a Seakeeper 6 gyrostabilizer, which tames roll in rough seas, the Everglades 455CC proves truly multidimensional when you consider that it’s also rigged to fish, equipped for luxury, and hosts its owners for comfortable overnights thanks to the king-size berth within the console. Standard features for this unsinkable 47-foot-2-inch model include cabin amenities such as a galley, a convertible high-low teak table, a stand-up head with shower stall and skylight, air conditioning, a 32-inch flat-screen TV and more. Topside coolness includes a patented hydraulic sliding windshield, room for two 22-inch multifunction displays at the helm, a fiberglass hardtop, an electrically actuated table for bow seating, plus livewells, rod and tackle stowage, and a host of other fishing and…

On January 19, 2019, Tracy Haase and Maynard Poynter were cruising at about 20 to 25 mph to a fishing spot 6 miles off the coast of Huntington Beach, California, aboard Haase’s 25-foot twin-outboard Contender. It was a sunny day with calm seas, and they could easily see the sprawling, 100-acre well-buoyed aquaculture operation known as the Catalina Sea Ranch as they passed by it at around 10 a.m., according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department vessel accident report. But then things went terribly wrong. Haase, who was at the wheel, told deputies that the boat suddenly decelerated, the transom “went under,” and water began to spill in from astern. Poynter flew overboard on the starboard side. Moments later, the boat rolled to starboard and overturned. Though shaken, both boaters…

When trying to move a trailer boat—one that’s not attached to a tow vehicle—the difficulty factor ranges from easy to back-breaking, depending on the weight of the rig. Yet there are techniques and equipment, as well as pitfalls to keep in mind, that can help when jockeying trailer boats around the backyard, driveway, garage or RV pad. PAVE THE WAY If you need to move an un-hitched trailer boat, keep it on a paved surface such as asphalt, cement or pavers. These render movement exponentially easier than doing so on soft surfaces such as dirt, grass or gravel, where trailer- and tongue-jack wheels can easily bog down and sink, especially if there’s been rain or recent watering. DECLINE AN INCLINE Don’t try to move a trailer boat on a steep incline…

These touchscreen displays eliminate the black box for most forms of sonar systems, offering a built-in conventional sounder, chirp sonar and side-scan technology using a compatible transducer. Many also can be networked with radar, autopilot and other peripherals such as audio systems. WE’VE ANALYZED Nine-inch displays (measured diagonally) offer the optimal balance of screen size and cost. But each model is available in smaller 7-inch sizes and larger screens up to 16 inches. All of the units here require optional transducers that connect directly to the back of the device. Basic conventional 50/200 kHz transducers work well with these models for finding the depth, structure and fish, and are affordable. For more advanced side-scanning and chirp sonar used in locating fish and structure, a more expensive transducer is required. KEY…

The Blackfin name means hardcore offshore fishability and maximum seaworthiness. The new Blackfin has all that, plus luxury seating for your crew. The 302CC is all-composite, with no wood from stem to stern, and major parts are bonded in a unitized system that ensures each Blackfin not only makes it through the warranty period, but also lasts for years after. Our experience with these boats supports the company’s claim. Fuel and water systems were pressure-tested not just once or twice, but three times as we watched on a visit to the factory. Each boat spends an hour floating in a test tank, showered heavily from above, and if on the rare occasion a leak is found, they stop the test, repair the problem, and restart the clock on the test.…

Pathfinder’s 2600 TRS is like a fishable, high-performance SUV with handling that a sports car would envy. Thank Pathfinder’s proprietary VARIS resin-infusion system for light, robust construction and its High Performance Step hull for speed and sure-footed performance. Unlike some stepped hulls, our test boat stayed on our twisting course during tight maneuvers. Fuel effciency with its Yamaha F300 impressed us, as did its wide range of use-ful cruising speeds, plus a top-end of over 50 mph. Up to 400 hp is available, but we think 300 hp is plenty. Pathfinder’s extensive experience shapes the 2600 TRS into a robust package that floats shallow but can still work offshore waters in the hands of a prudent skipper with a good weather eye. Input from owners and Pathfinder’s hard-fishing employees helped…

Trailering is something most boaters have to do, if you’re not fortunate enough to live on the water or keep your boat at a marina. So, it’s necessary to have a safe trailer—one that fits your boat well, and is maintained and ready to tow—and that includes your tow vehicle, which is easily half the equation. How well do you know trailering safety and good towing practices? 1. What is the function of hydraulic surge trailer brakes? A. To help your rig stop when trailering by providing braking to the trailer wheels. B. To add complexity and maintenance to the boat trailer. C. To cause other boaters’ jealousy and angst. D. To meet state towing regulations where trailer brakes are required. E. A and D F. None of the above…

No, it’s not a riff on SpaceX. The Beneteau Flyer 9 Spacedeck is one of two configurations you can order if you buy a Flyer 9. (The other is the Flyer 9 Sundeck with its large bow sun pad, and a cabin that sleeps four and off ers a head with shower.) A center-console, the Spacedeck affords its owner more flexibility to enjoy a variety of waterborne activities due to the wideopen room on deck, a fact now especially true thanks to the foldout cockpit side that increases cockpit space and provides easy access to the water. The bow offers high gunwales and unobstructed room for anglers; a bait-prep station and rod holders are optional. There’s also an optional bow seat that converts into a sun lounge. Belowdecks, there is…

“Neither is better than the other,” Davis says. “But there are situations in which one might be better-suited than the other.” TRANSOM SAVER Most transom savers keep an outboard straight while trailering, but with a motor tote, steering locks such as the T-H Marine 4-inch clips ($14.99 per pair, thmarine supplies.com) are needed to keep the engine from flopping over. Transom savers offer length adjustment. The West Marine transom saver ($64.99, westmarine.com), for example, adjusts from 26 to 38 inches, depending on how high you want to tilt the lower unit. Motor totes, on the other hand, are fixed in terms of how high the lower unit is tilted. On smaller aluminum boats or older fiberglass boats with wood-core transoms, a transom saver is often the best choice, Davis says.…

According to David Wilson, Valhalla Boatworks design manager, “Our customers wanted more of everything, and we could not stretch the V-41 to do it.” The extra 6 feet in length overall for the Valhalla V-46 and almost 2-foot-wider beam checked every box, not only in volume, but also in performance, fishability and human-size accommodations. The hull, drawn by Michael Peters Yacht Design, features a double-stepped running surface with a centerline tunnel. The vertical walls of the tunnel act like keels, which afford lateral stability and direction most noticeable at the helm when ripping into achieved speeds just under 70 mph. Push the throttles forward, and the acceleration is furious. The EPS SeaStar Optimus power steering proved precise and effortless. Set with 4½ turns lock-to-lock, the carbon-fiber Edson wheel provided sports-car-like…

SCAN ME To watch our video review of the Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless, visit boatingmag.com/3250. At first glance, the new 250 Dauntless from Boston Whaler seemed too pretty to fish—too comfortable, too dandy to get bloody. With all the fine dayboating features, its fishing armaments are nearly concealed like a professional gambler’s pearl-handled derringer. Never assume this Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless is unarmed. Our test boat’s 250 hp Mercury V-8 pushed it to a top speed of 48 mph. If it wasn’t set up for speed, it was definitely propped for the hole shot, coming on plane in 2.6 seconds. We think the power will lift the boat easily on plane even with a passenger load of six, with power the max of 400. But, fill the livewells and coolers,…

The evolution of Bayliner’s Element Series continues with the introduction of the M15, a new entry-level deck boat that features a more open cockpit design and upgraded upholstery, with a starting price below $14,000 including a trailer. Despite being a foot shorter and nearly a foot narrower than the E16—the original Element—the M15 feels larger because it does away with the space-eating rear playpen and fiberglass dividers between seating areas. Moving the helm seat to the aft bench also creates more usable space in the cockpit. A major evolution is the integrated swim platform, which gives the boat a more grace-ful sheerline and creates a one-level back porch that’s perfect for key-off lounging facing rearward. Bring on that sunset! The standard engine is a three-cylinder Mercury FourStroke 40 EFI, but…

DOMETIC PRO-TRIM Dometic Marine has updated the Pro-Trim control system with a contemporary design. Popular on bass boats, bay boats and flats skiff s, Pro-Trim offers fingertip control of trim and jack-plate height while keeping both hands on the wheel. It fits SeaStar hydraulic and cable steering helms, and is available in single- and dual-function versions. It comes with stainless-steel brackets, ABS switch covers and mounting hardware. $62.66 for PT1000 single control, $120 for PT2000 dual control; marinepartssource.com EPROPULSION OUTBOARD The Spirit 1.0 Plus outboard from ePropulsion features a 1,276-watt-hour battery and a high-efficiency propeller design. The 48-volt Spirit 1.0 Plus can reach up to approximately 5.7 mph, with a range of more than 7 miles and a one-hour-15-minute runtime at full speed, according to ePropulsion. At lower speeds, runtime…

New gelcoat finishes project a radiate shine, but that new-boat gloss can grow dull and chalky over the years. Polishing helps bring back the luster, and applying quality marine wax products help protect it from fading. Eventually, however, it will grow dull again, and as time marches on, it gets tougher to bring it back to like-new condition. Such was the case with a 1970s vintage Enterprise cathedral-hull bowrider restored and repowered by Nadean Corbisier, with help from her fiancé, Matt Cevallos, and her dad, Dean Corbisier, a district sales manager for Suzuki Marine. The old boat looked nice. But the avocado-green gelcoat (a popular color in the ’70s) on the topsides needed help. Despite lots of polishing and waxing, elbow grease failed to restore the shine of its glory…

Hey, cheer up. Maybe the sale of your boat is so you can buy a diffierent one—bigger, faster, prettier and better equipped. Regardless, it is true that at some point all of us will face the prospect of selling a boat. No matter how you feel about selling your boat, the process will go easier if you have kept a detailed maintenance log extending all the way back to when you bought it. The reason this will ease the process is because the prospective buyer will feel much happier and more confident about the condition of your boat if he or she can see that diligent attention has been paid to maintenance. Along that same line, when you buy a used boat, you will want to be able to check…

Fountain’s Chief Operating Officer Jeff Harris jumps aboard our Fountain 42-foot Lightning test boat and hurries me to hop in. As we don our vests, he plugs in the fob that changes the tune on the Mercury Racing Dual Calibration sterndrives from 1,100 horses each to 1,350 each. Whoomph—they come to life. With a lumpy-cam lope, we fast-idle away from the Iconic Powerboats dock. Spinning 36-inch-pitch propellers, the slowest idle possible is about 7 mph. Harris eases the go sticks forward; the turbos hiss and whine, and Fountain’s trademark the most economical cruise speed, the Mercury Racing engines loaf at 3,500 rpm—but speed is a ripping 71 mph, truly illustrating that old boast, “At cruise, we’re already faster than most boats will go.” Winds are light. Chop is just under…

When the 32-foot Ocean Craft 9.8M AMP, powered by twin 300 hp Mercury Pro XS outboards, rolled up the boat ramp and into the parking lot on its own wheels, every nearby head swiveled to look. The Ocean Craft has three hydraulic legs that raise and lower, powered by a 40 hp Briggs and Stratton gasoline engine parked under a motor box in the transom. Each rear leg sports a custom 26-by-12-by-12-inch Turf Tire wheel, and the leg that tucks up against the bow has dual wheels. The ability to drive at jogging speed (a governor keeps top-end down to around 6 mph) across asphalt, sand or just about any reasonably firm surface in all-wheel-drive sets this boat apart from the mainstream. While the amphibious nature of this craft grabs…

On I recent surfing trip to Puerto Rico, I witnessed something I’d never seen before. My son, Kai, and I paddled out into a crowded lineup, where the local surfers chitchatted while hungrily waiting for waves. When a set approached, a figure appeared on the horizon moving toward the break, silent and swift like a shark but hovering a few feet above the water. Through squinting eyes, I made out the silhouette of Nick Leason foiling toward us, towing wakeboarding legend Brian Grubb with a rope. In an instant, Leason disappeared behind the swell as he whipped Grubb into the steep face of the wave. Grubb let go of the rope and breezed by us, foiling right through the lineup. In awe, we watched him surf the foil down the…

That’s the idea behind the new Aqua-Vu Multi-Vu Pro Open-Water system. While some underwater video systems have their own viewing screens, the Multi-Vu Pro lets you view real-time images of the underwater world on an existing multifunction display (MFD). And in split-screen mode, you can view the sonar and/or chart plotter at the same time. A cable tether supplies power down to the camera and feeds a video signal up to a control module on the boat. The module connects to 12-volt DC power (either an onboard battery system or the supplied battery) and net-works via HDMI or RCA ports and supplied connector cables with compatible video-enabled MFDs from brands such as Garmin, Lowrance, Raymarine and Simrad. You can also network the system with an onboard flat-screen TV. The Aqua-Vu…