Tabla de contenidos para November/December 2021 en Boating

TECHRON PROTECTION PLUS MARINE FUEL SYSTEM TREATMENT PROS: Techron’s alcohol-free formula does not contribute to water absorption in the fuel, helping to minimize corrosion damage caused by water separation in the fuel system. Its detergency removes and prevents deposits on valves and piston tops, and also prevents gumming and varnishing in the fuel system. Reportedly, its formula stabilizes fuel for up to 24 months. It can also treat diesel fuels. It’s available at many larger online and brick-and-mortar big-box retailers, and the pricing is competitive. CONS: Might not be available at local marine suppliers. PRICE: $10.49 for an 8-ounce bottle; chevron lubricants.com GAS-SHOK PLUS WATER ABSORBER & FUEL STABILIZER PROS: Gas-Shok advertises that it controls and disperses water in boat fuel tanks and systems, protects rubber and plastic seals and…

When I first bought my boat—a 19-foot open bow—my waterways were local lakes and, on occasion, the Hudson River in New York. Anyway, I was on our first trip with my three children—all under age 10 at the time—and my 80-something-year-old father on the Hudson. Familiar with the Hudson River by shore, we spied a riverside restaurant that my dad had always wanted to visit by water. We were looking directly at the restaurant from the main channel and could see it clearly. The way in appeared straight forward, so we headed for it—slowly, thankfully—and then we hit the submerged jetty. The Hudson River is an estuary. It is tidal for 150 miles inland to Troy, New York. At lower stages of the tide, the jetty is not submerged and…

Q: Mick, I own a 2017 South Bay 200 24-foot tritoon with a Mercury 150 hp engine with 118 hours. The boat is docked in fresh water during the summer months and then put on a trailer for winter storage. After putting the boat away for storage after the third season, I noticed corrosion near the starboard-side engine bolt that is below the waterline. After I cleaned the area, I could see paint was coming off near the mounting bolts from the Mercury motor bracket. The port side is also seeing some pitting as well. The first dealer I took the boat to said that was normal when a boat is left in the water. The second dealer added some magnesium anodes to the pontoon transom near the motor-mount bolts.…

Shrink-wrap offers quick, thorough protection against harsh weather, but most shrink-wrap jobs leave little—if any—access to boats while covered. If your plans include over-winter work beneath that cover, consider these enhancements to your boat’s wintertime wrap. ZIPPER DOOR It’s tempting to just rig a flap taped over an opening, but pros say that causes trouble. “Shrinkwrap tape sticks well on fresh film, but when it’s cold or snowy, that tape won’t stick,” says Ryan Polcyn from shrink-wrap supplier Dr. Shrink (dr-shrink.com). The result is frustration while you’re aboard, as well as a potential failure point in winter storms. “Zipper doors allow smooth, easy access as many times as you need,” he says. Dr. Shrink’s doors range from 36-by-30 inches all the way up to 82-by-42 inches to ease access for people,…

Hydrolock occurs when water intrudes into the combustion chambers of a boat engine. It can prevent starting (at minimum) and, because liquid water does not compress, it can crack blocks or bend connecting rods (at worst). Hydrolock can happen solely due to failure of parts such as cracked exhaust manifolds or a faulty head gasket. It can also happen as a result of operational error. In addition to keeping your gear in tiptop shape, boaters must avoid making the mistakes that can cause hydrolocking, especially for an inboard-or sterndrive-powered boat. Specifically, these types of engines can hydrolock due to cooling water being forced, or being siphoned, up the exhaust plumbing and into the cylinders with open exhaust ports. CAUSE AND EFFECT Two ways hydrolock can occur happen while launching the…

Regulator’s new 37 boasts a classically beautiful hull, and it fits neatly into the niche that boat buyers have clamored for since the 1940s—a hardcore fishing platform that converts easily at day’s end to a comfortable leisure platform. With plenty of seating in an open boat, everyone gets into the action. And yes, there’s a big V-berth in the console cabin (6 feet, 11 inches of headroom), with an enclosed head and shower (7 feet, 6 inches of headroom), and a galley. Regulator engineering considered customers’ requests for raised freeboard, plentiful storage, abundant air conditioning (with reverse-cycle heat) and a Seakeeper gyrostabilizer, all backed up by a big generator. Also, more refrigeration for food, drink, bait and fish. Seating at the bow adapts quickly from serious fishing to lounging, sunning,…

Axopar, Finnish builder of Boating’s 2020 Boat of the Year, the Axopar 28 Cabin, invited me to test its latest: the Axopar 22. When it comes to styling, traditional is my default setting, but I like this one’s sharp lines. The slightly reversed bow is all the rage in Europe, where I am based, and I love the bluff deck overhang forward that deflects spray. Beyond the center console, there is plenty of seating, a table and a sun pad, plus toy and decal options. Two versions are available: Spyder or T-top, each pre-rigged for single 115 to 200 hp Mercury outboard power. Our open test boat sported a 200, and with just two aboard, it easily topped 40 knots. At a fast cruise of 33 mph, the ultimate range…

The resin-infused hull for the first Albemarle Spencer 53 was completed in August. We’re eager to get aboard. This new boatbuilding venture gives the buyer the styling and custom layout of a Spencer while leveraging Albemarle’s ability to produce high-quality boats in a production setting. As many know, a custom boat build often overruns price and time estimates. These two builders putting their strengths together is said to mean the best of both production and custom worlds for boat buyers. The first 53 will be a flybridge that delivers high-cruise speeds with great seakeeping, the builders say. The interior boasts an open salon, three staterooms and two heads. An island helm offers excellent visibility, while the 160-square-foot cockpit features a mezzanine design with engine-room access and molded boxes that can…

I’m sitting on the cooler seat of my Regulator one recent morning, about 14 miles south of Shinnecock, on a cloudless August day with just a zephyr of wind and a gentle roll on the sea. My daughter Keira is running the boat while I’m kicked back and snoozing, resting up for the day of fishing we’d set out on with my other daughter, Margaret, and their friend Jake, rounding out the crew of three teens and me. So, I’m sitting there, eyes closed, content. Content, that is, until I feel the rising sun’s warmth move from my left ear to my nose. “Keira!” “Yeah.” “Two-oh-five.” “Oh, OK.” And in an instant, my left side was being warmed and we were back on course. But we went through this routine…

OIL CHANGE? Q: Should I change my engine oil prior to winter storage? Ben Gavel Via email A: Yes, you should. Old oil might contain water and can become acidic, both of which can attack engine internals. Change your oil in the fall. SUDS Q: Dear Doc, what is the best boat soap? Jeanne and Tim Herman Via email A: I get this question all the time. Just about any soap with good suds ability will be fine. If you don’t have a marine boat soap, try car soap or a household product, like Simple Green. Many boats will require several soaps for the best job—something mild for general use, something abrasive for non-skid surfaces, and something with disinfectant properties if you’re cleaning a head or a fish box. ASK…

Shrink-wrap heat guns range from a few hundred bucks to more than $1,000. While it’s true with heat tools that you get what you pay for, DIY boaters probably don’t need—or even want—some of the features available on top models. To get to the heart of heat-tool comparisons, I asked two industry pros for their hot tips on selecting the right gun. REACH Chuck Milliken, president of heat-tool manufacturer Shrinkfast (shrinkfasttools.com), says it’s safer to minimize climbing ladders while heating shrink-wrap. Less ladder work speeds up jobs too, which is why professional installers appreciate Shrinkfast’s 998 top model ($599), a heat tool that offers several extension combinations spanning from 2 to 8 feet. But that reach and flexibility is beyond what most DIY boat owners require, although large boats, particularly…

The rise of the mega-center-console has been one of the most eye-popping trends in boating over the last 10 years. Just the sight of one of these long, lean and ornately outfitted machines adorned with multiple truck-size outboards is enough to make you stop in your tracks. Yet even among these bluewater beasts, the Everglades 455cc stands out. Whether you’re a serious angler or a super-social partygoer, this boat has the goods to deliver. Let’s start with the ride. One thing I noted during sea trials was how effortlessly the 455cc climbed onto plane, with no loss of visibility at the helm. Many mega-consoles I’ve tested 435cc. Everglades tweaked its weight distribution and design to combat this problem, and the 455cc took off like a much smaller, lighter boat. The…

I used to dis on catamarans. The early designs were soft-riding but wobbled over the seas like a drunken sailor. That’s all different with Invincible’s Morrelli and Melvin hull designs. The hull-style name is a mouthful. A “hybrid semi-asymmetrical hull” applies the best characteristics of an asymmetrical catamaran with the stable-at-rest and soft-riding behavior of symmetrical cats. Yep, it’s a mouthful. To visualize an asymmetrical catamaran hull, imagine a V-bottom boat sliced longitudinally from stem to stern. Separate those two halves and you have a symmetrical cat with vertical inboard side walls and tapered outside side walls. A symmetrical cat has identical sponsons, tapered equally inboard and outboard. Blending the two styles provides turn-hugging inboard sponson side walls with wave-deflecting outside side walls. As a result, the boat makes sharp…

Scania might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of marine diesels. But that could well change thanks to a powerful, lightweight and effcient new model showcased in a twininboard installation powering the new 46-foot Billfish from Viking Yacht Company. Swedish-based Scania—one of the world’s leading manufacturers of engines for trucks, buses, industrial applications and boats—introduced the DI13 marine diesel to North America earlier this year. That prompted one of the United States distributors for Scania North America, Mack Boring & Parts Co., to put a pair of the 900 hp versions of the DI13 in its new Viking 46BF company boat. Mack Boring christened it Mack 900. After testing, Viking seems delighted with the Swedish diesels. “We’re very impressed with the performance of the…

From the builder of BoatingÕs 2019 Boat of the Year comes the Axopar 25 Cross Bow. At a glance, this new boat sports a long waterline, a double-stepped hull, a narrow(ish) beam, a low freeboard and outboard power, features designed to maximize the performance, effciency and seakeeping of its fleet mates. Multipurpose functionality proves another marker in the Axopar DNA evinced by the 25: It will serve as either a dayboat or a weekender. The cuddy features two berths, a head, a sink and a seat. Atop the cuddy, crew can recline in the lounge, access the anchor locker, or step off the bow as needed with ease. Choose from three different cockpit layouts: a six-person, U-shaped sofa; a multistorage compartment with seating (either for four seated sideways or two…

A lot has changed since we checked in with Canada’s Ben Le Claire. The last time was in the summer of 2016, right as he’d wrapped up filming and winching through the Paris floods. The video became an instant hit, and later an award-winning piece that aired in film festivals and brought wakeboarding into neighborhoods and through backyards, launching Le Claire to legendary status. Then he suffered a life-changing injury, but still remains heavily involved in promoting wake-boarding. Here’s the latest check-in with the 27-year-old native from Valleyfield, Quebec. When did you start winching? The first time I ever rode a winch was in a wakeboard contest back in 2009. I remember being quite intimidated by the super-fast start launching you directly toward the rails, having barely a second to…

Q: Dear Boat Doc, are LED lights worth it? I keep burning out my navigation lights. Steve Americo Alpine, New Jersey A: Yes, LED lights are durable, long-lasting, and more vibration-and corrosion-resistant than their incandescent counterparts. But you need to find out why you keep burning out bulbs. LEDs won’t fix that. The lighting circuit on your boat needs a complete going over. Consult this article for how to proceed: boatingmag.com/how-to/locating-ground-faults-current-leaks-and-short-circuits. STORM LINES Q: Hey Doc, can you offer some tips for storm tie-up? I keep my boat in the water. One specific question relates to the length of lines: How does that matter? Bob Dunlap Wilmington, Delaware A: Storm surge and heavy rain mean that tide heights or freshwater levels can rise well above normal. Boats tied to pilings…

Portable coolers are traditionally stowed under a leaning post or seat module aboard many of today’s center-console boats. This keeps the ice chest tucked away to eliminate a stumbling point; unfortunately, this also restricts full access when you want to grab a cold drink. You often need to drag the heavy, ice-laden cooler over a nonskid deck just to open the lid. Pushing it back underneath for stowage can be even more arduous. That’s why many new center consoles come with bases on slide assemblies to ease the task of pulling out the cooler and pushing it back for stowage. Springloaded locking pins on the assembly keep it from sliding to and fro in rough seas. If your boat did not come equipped with a slider, don’t fret. You can…

With honest 3-to 4-foot seas running close together, Intrepid’s 438 Evolution delivered confidence and control at about 32 mph, the triple Mercury Racing 450R outboards revving at 4,000. Still, I wanted to see more. Throttling back to 3,050 rpm, applying full trim tabs and full negative engine trim, the 438 Evolution stayed on plane at a super-comfortable 17 mph. Many boats force you to either drop down to trolling speed or subject yourself to slamming your way through big seas at speeds in the 20s. While the 438 as great—and just one feature I discovered about this new Intrepid. A rough test day also allowed me to discover that the 438 Evolution’s seat cushions do not bottom out. Notably, Intrepid regularly produces custom seating options for owners. I also was…

Calling any boat model iconic risks hyperbole, but Horizon bowriders have defined the Four Winns brand for a generation. So it’s with some caution that Groupe Beneteau Americas charts a new course for its runabout line, seeking to elevate the series with some fresh design while retaining the Four Winns DNA. The name is changing to H Series, and the 2022 line will include a 20-foot H1, a 22-foot H2, and this 23-foot-11-inch H4 model, each offered with sterndrive or outboard power. The current Horizon 260, 290 and 350 models will stay in the line for now. The H4 rides a newly designed hull with an 18-degree deadrise at the transom, significantly shallower than the 20-degree deadrise of the Horizon 230 model it is replacing. The new vertical stem gives…

40 OF THE WORLD’S BEST BOATING PRESENTS Whether you deck the halls, light candles, or celebrate in your own way, if you exchange gifts this holiday season, we’ve got some great ideas for the boater in your family. And let’s face it, when there’s a boater in the family, there is always something they need. So, leave the ties and desk sets for other people to buy. Here are 40 great gifts for real boaters. —THE BOATING TECH TEAM KICKER PREMIUM MARINE MEDIA CENTER Give the boater on your gift list a sound investment with Kicker Marine Audio’s Premium Marine Media Center. It is loaded with features, including a 240-watt source unit with a color, nonglare LCD screen; RCA output for front and rear subwoofers and a second zone; Bluetooth;…