Boating January/February 2022

I’m writing this during a break from a spirited discussion with my fellow editors regarding Boating awarding its annual Boat of the Year. Two of the finalists this year for recreational boating’s most coveted award were catamarans, and we tested quite a few more multihull boats as well. That they are cats is no point of contention. But it does give rise to thoughts about the course that recreational boats might take. The soft ride offered by a catamaran proves infectious to many buyers sea-trialing the twin-hulled boat. A cat also provides more cockpit square footage than a monohull of similar length overall, which impresses many buyers, especially those transitioning from larger inboard sport-fishing boats. And catamarans deliver efficiency. Efficiency? Many choke on the word and scoff when we present…

BOATINGMAG.COM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ON BOARD WITH… CAPTAIN’S TEST 5 THINGS FOR COMPARISON’S SAKE FIRST IMPRESSION ON BOARD WITH… Leah Pruett Professional Drag Racer Leah Pruett is a professional drag racer who drives an NHRA Top Fuel dragster for Don Schumacher Racing. When she’s not blasting in a straight line at speeds that can exceed 330 mph, she likes to unwind at about 10 to 12 mph behind her Supra SL 550. We caught up with Leah shortly after she took delivery of her custom-designed Supra to find out about her passion for wakesurfing and being on the water. You drive race cars at extreme speeds for a living. What attracts you to a sport like wakesurfing? I can’t snowboard or ride my motocross bike because of fear of injury. With…

Thanks in large part to the pandemic, people are buying boats—new and used—like they’re going out of style. Used boats, engines and trailers are being snapped up by those eager to escape to the water. Buying used presents its own challenges. What are some things you might keep in mind? 1. Your neighbor down the street has a 1990s 17-foot center-console with a two-stroke outboard. It’s been sitting in his garage since 2012. He’s willing to unload it for $5,000. Before shaking his hand, what might you look at? A. Bring it outside to see if the gelcoat still shines in the sun. B. Check the outboard for compression and spark. C. Take fuel samples and check for water, stale fuel and debris. D. Check to see if it’s still…

Today, three marine lead-acid battery technologies dominate boating: flooded cell, absorbed glass mat (AGM) and gel. Here are the pluses and minuses of each lead-acid technology. AGM POSITIVE: AGM marine battery designs are sealed to eliminate acid spills, which allows them to be installed on their sides in tight installations. AGMs charge more quickly, have a lower discharge rate, and offer a greater number of charging cycles. They last longer than flooded-cell batteries, and are available in starting, deep-cycle and dual-purpose models. NEGATIVE: AGM batteries are priced higher than flooded-cell batteries. For the same physical size, they offer less amp-hours than flooded-cell batteries. PRICE: Varies depending on size and function (e.g., deep cycle vs. starting vs. dual purpose). The 27 series starts at about $180. FLOODED CELL POSITIVE: Marine floodedcell…

Making its debut at the Miami Yacht Show in February 2022 is the Viking 90. It will be offered in three versions—the 90 Convertible, 90 Enclosed Bridge and 90 Skybridge—exactly as the 92 model that it replaces was offered. Viking President and CEO Pat Healey says: “We’ve taken all the incredible qualities of the 92—the layout, the accommodations, the style, the amenities—and merged them with greater performance, technology and versatility. The 92 was the Bentley. This is the Ferrari.” Key features include six staterooms, a 224-square-foot cockpit, and power options up to twin 2,635 mhp MTU Series 2000 V-16 diesels. The master stateroom spans the beam of the boat, and the cockpit’s focal point is the Release Marine fighting chair. Guests enjoy a view of the action from dual mezzanine…

The Brabus Shadow 900 Cross Cabin (XC) Black Ops delivers a unique boating experience aesthetically, as well as in luxury and performance. It is borne of a collaboration between Axopar Boats and Brabus, a premium German car builder. Twin Mercury Racing 450R outboards provide 60 knots of on-water thrills—and look great too—with custom paint and special carbon-fiber panels. The tanktested, twin-stepped hull helps you harness all that power. Look at that finish. Weeks are spent fairing, polishing and applying the custom Gunmetal Grey paint. Inside, vibrant Brabus red upholstery is an apt color to get a boater’s blood running. The boat boasts multiple storage solutions for adventure gear, a large foredeck, and more-versatile social areas, with improved freedom of movement throughout. Belowdecks, there’s a significant, enlarged front lounge, also available…