Tabla de contenidos para January/February 2022 en Boating

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…

The maiden voyage for Triple J, the Pursuit S328 I had just bought, was a crossing to the Bahamas for spearfishing and fishing. We departed Stuart, Florida, for the 90-mile run to Little Grand Cay, an island next to famous Walker’s Cay. Our trip was successful, and we filled the boat’s coolers with fish and tasty lobster. Before crossing back to the States, we calculated how much fuel we’d need. I prefer to buy as little fuel in the Bahamas as possible due to past problems with contaminants and water. My boat nets approximately 1 mile per gallon, and we were showing 125 gallons on the chart plotter’s fuel gauge. That would be more than enough for a 90-mile run, plus reserves—or so I thought. Thirty miles into our trip,…

Almost every boat today has a voltmeter of some kind—either as a dedicated gauge or as part of a multifunction display. But voltage does not tell the whole story when it comes to marine battery status and management. It also proves helpful to know how much electrical energy you have available in a battery, and at what rate that energy is being withdrawn or added at any given time. For this kind of information, you need a state-of-the-art battery monitoring system. Offered by a number of brands such as Balmar, Blue Sea Systems, Mastervolt, Veratron and Xantrex, these monitors keep you informed about a variety of battery measurements, including state of charge, rate of charge, amp draw and overall battery health, as well as volts. This kind of information not…

Hydrofin has set out to improve the performance and efficiency of the original multihull boat—the pontoon. An Innovation Award Winner at the 2021 IBEX boatbuilder trade show, Hydrofin’s patented Super Fly hydrofoil system enhances lift at speed, especially on bi-toon boats. Designed by Morrelli & Melvin Design and Engineering for single-outboard ’toons, the Super Fly system consists of wings that install under the boat on the inner walls of the sponsons, says Jason Minor, founder and CEO of Hydrofin based in Grapevine, Texas. Engineered to carry 40 percent of the boat’s weight while underway, the wings lift the front of the boat 4 to 8 inches to reduce drag, Minor says. He envisions the systems as an OEM option or dealer-installed upgrade. The aircraft-grade aluminum wings feature vertical struts that…

Regal’s 38 SAV is not defined by what it does. It’s defined by how you customize it to suit your desires. SAV stands for sports activity vessel, meaning it can be used for many boating activities. It has outstanding performance characteristics for cruising when equipped with triple Yamaha 300 hp outboards. Two dive doors and a swim platform for easy entry and reentry serve your inner Cousteau. The basics for fishing are already there, but the 38 SAV is ready to accept hardcore fishing equipment like Taco outriggers, downriggers and rod holders. But just as it is, the 38 SAV is a superb entertainer. For cruisers, the 38 has a roomy deck plan centered around the command center. Four luxury bucket seats face the helm, but the two outside seats…

Cutwater’s C-24 CW, or center walkaround, part of a three-boat series including a coupe and a dual console, combines a 24-degree deep-V hull, an 11-degree planing pad, and Laminar Flow Interrupters for stability in turns. Two hull steps reduce friction at speed. We hit 42.2 mph, a good speed for a 6,300-pound boat, with Yamaha’s F250 outboard. We’d favor the F300 Yamaha ($5,250) for boaters with a bigger crew. We noted an anchor windlass on the bow, with all-chain rode for holding in rough conditions, beside a telescoping, four-rung beach boarding ladder. The bow cockpit seats six, plus offers a table and four cup holders. It’s also deep enough to stand in securely and cast. Twin three-hole rocket launchers stow rods. The console is off-center to port, so the starboard…

We award Boat of the Year to the boat that best helps advance the state of boatbuilding art and delivers a new and better experience to boaters. The selection process starts with testing more than 100 boats per year, from PWC to cruisers and wakeboats to offshore fishing craft. We run a wide swath of boat types and numerous boats in each category. That’s important. A tow boat cannot be compared to a fishing boat, nor a pontoon to an ocean racer. We judge boats by others with the same mission. The Boat of the Year not only stands out on its own, but also stands out more than any other boat stands out in any other category. Environmental benefits and cool factor aside, the Ingenity Nautique GS22E’s electric propulsion…

This new chirp pulse-compression solid-state radar series from Raymarine sports a radical open-array scanner. It possesses the profile of an aircraft wing, a relatively thin design made possible by a scanner using dielectric radar technology. Post-processing is engineered to remove sea and rain clutter and replicate chartlike radar images. Designed to fit onto a wider range of vessels, the scanners are only 13.2 inches tall and weigh 51 pounds, and the aerodynamic design allows them to start and run in wind speeds up to 100 knots. Cyclone will be offered with 3-, 4-or 6-foot antenna arrays and with either a 55-watt, 6 kW-equivalent or 110-watt, 12 kW-equivalent pedestal and variable rotation speeds up to 60 rpm. A waterproof cable gland within the pedestal gives installers the option to conceal the…

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…

At 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 1, 2021, an alarm sounded in the control room of Platform Elly, one of six oil rigs off the coast of Huntington Beach, California. An undersea oil pipeline had lost pressure, the result of a rupture that would eventually spill thousands of gallons of heavy crude into the ocean, according to the Coast Guard, threatening wildlife reserves, killing fish and birds, and fouling beaches. The rupture, while still under investigation at the time of this writing, was almost certainly brought about by an anchor dragging from a huge commercial freighter, one of scores of ships stationed off the coast waiting to offload goods at the nation’s busiest port in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbor. Federal transportation investigators discovered that the pipe had been…

Outboard trim-and-tilt systems require regular service. I suggest the following procedures be included in an outboard owner’s maintenance routine and that boaters also familiarize themselves with the procedure for adding fluid to the trim-and-tilt system. GREASED RAMS So simple: Squeeze some grease on your fingertips and apply a healthy dollop to the tips of the trim rams. This inhibits wear and quiets the screeching sound that can occur when grease wears off. GREASE THE TILT TUBE Look for the tilt tube at the front of your engine, where it connects to the transom. Use a grease gun to apply waterproof grease to the grease fittings. Watch for the new grease pushing out the old grease, your indication to stop squeezing the grease gun. Wipe off excess. STATIONARY SUPPORT Always use the tilt…

Idling up to a bustling Florida Keys hotspot in Formula’s 500 Super Sport Crossover, I watched as patrons left their tables, stopped dancing and crowded out onto the dock, phones up and filming. We spun the gleaming blue 50-footer’s nose into the full-moon current, giving all assembled a first-ever public look at Mercury’s V-12 600 Verado—all four of them. We stopped abeam of a spot between two boats that, just maybe, allowed 4 more feet than the Formula’s 53-foot-4-inch length overall. A murmur arose from the crowd. With Joystick Piloting engaged, we shunted sideways into the space, tipped the dockhand and grabbed some lunch. Yep, Formula’s 500 SSC impresses as much as it proves practical. Its seakeeping and maneuvering definitely caught my attention during our test, which involved running the…

I’ve often heard musicians describe how they can immediately recognize other great musicians in a song. Guitarists can pick out someone by tone, and drummers can tell by feel, for example. And I get how that works because some boat brands are distinguishable by their lines, whether you’re staring at them at the fuel dock or gazing upon them from a considerable distance. Hinckley is one of those brands—you see one and you instantly know. At first glance, the new Hinckley 35 falls right into this; with its beautiful teak trim, immaculate paint job and transom tumblehome, it matches the classic Downeast Picnic Boat motif for which Hinckley is famous. But then, what to do about the outboards? That’s right. For its new 35, Hinckley eschewed its customary jet propulsion…

Crevalle’s 26 HBW represents one in a growing legion of craft that have evolved from strictly bay boats to hybrids suited for fishing offshore waters as well as shallows. The 26 HBW’s deep cockpit affords greater offshore security. A SeaStar jack plate on our tester elevated the outboard to traverse shallows. At rest, the boat drafts 12 to 14 inches. We discovered built-in covered tackle and rod storage within both gunwales. An abbreviated stern casting deck conceals a pair of 28-gallon livewells and a foldout 40-inch-wide bench seat with a cooler underneath. A step up to the wide forward gunwales lets you stand tall to fish in calm conditions. Our test boat had an optional bow-mounted Minn Kota Terrova Riptide 36-volt iPilot trolling motor ($2,923), as well as a 10-foot…

If you are ordering a new runabout this season, you’ll likely have dozens of decisions to make, from the hull color to options like those red-blue-green LED-infused drink holders. However, the most impactful choice on your build-a-boat checklist might be under the heading of power. To wit: outboard or sterndrive? The type of power you choose will influence the personality of the boat, how you can use the boat, and how much you enjoy the boat. The choice between outboard and sterndrive power can also be a big factor in the initial purchase price of a new boat. The new Four Winns H4 models present us with a fresh chance to consider these two power options. POWER OPTIONS Outboard power has been ascendant in the runabout/deck-boat category for a number…

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. When I’m driving down that road, it seems I’m usually towing a boat. It’s a nice day. The cooler is iced. The tube is inflated. The worms are wiggling. The vehicle is scented with sunscreen, my co-pilot has on her favorite shades and is smiling, the kids are not sulking, and we are off to the lake. Our prospects are promising, and the road ahead is indeed paved with the intentions to have a good day. What could go wrong? Trailer trouble, that’s what. In my nautical lifetime, I have suffered more aggravation and had more close calls with the trailer than with the actual boat. I have diagnosed bad wiring roadside with a flashlight in my teeth. I…

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…

If you ask someone who can land inverts, they’ll tell you there’s nothing more exciting than landing a flip for the very first time. It’s the ultimate welcome into a world of possibilities. Growing up in the south of Mexico, with posters of WaterSki magazine plastered on the walls, the first time I saw someone upside down in a photo was Canadian Kreg Llewellyn flipping around a 20-pound neon Skurfer back in the 1980s. But way before the sport of wakeboarding came on the scene with a multitude of inverts, there was trick skiing. While the first inverts landed in history date back to the times of Cory Pickos and Sammy Duvall, in the sleepy town of Tequesquitengo, Mexico, a handful of trick skiers became obsessed trying to land flips.…

It’s hidden away under a hatch at the bow, but what’s inside can say a lot about your boat. Of course, there are certain things to look for in an anchor locker to help the stowed anchor inside do its job, but it also can reveal much about the quality of your boat’s construction. Take a look inside the anchor locker shown here, from a Regulator 41, to get an idea of what to look for in a quality build. [1] GAS-ASSISTED STRUTS Gas-assisted struts or shocks that hold open the hatch are essential for keeping your hands free to work the anchor. The last thing you want in rough seas is to have one hand holding up the hatch while you work inside the locker. [2] GASKETED HATCHES A…

Boating is ultimately about experiences. Slipping through a harbor without the noise and, more noticeably, without vibration from idling diesels is certainly a unique experience aboard powerboats. But electric handling is just a small part of what makes the Huckins Hybrid Sportsman 38 a couple’s cruiser for the 21st century. Let’s start where cruisers spend their time. The helm deck is enclosed on three sides by a large windshield and side windows, while stout stainless-steel stanchions—styled from a prewar vintage Huckins Sportsman—support the cabin top’s aft corners. The result feels like an open bridge but also keeps crew dry. Farther aft, cockpit seating wraps around the stowable mahogany folding-leaf table, where an electric retractable awning provides shade. Huckins opens up belowdecks accommodations too—literally. The entire dash opposite the helm opens…

Guests haven’t been this eager to get off a boat since the Titanic! Bennington’s L25 Quad Bench Top Deck sports an elevated platform with a slide to whisk crewmembers into the waters. Bennington’s L25 marks its first foray into the top-deck segment. The supporting structure, through-bolted to the crossmembers, is wider at the base for added stability. The pebbled King StarBoard deck features a perimeter channel to funnel away water. Maximum occupancy is four people or 585 pounds. An open perimeter rail sits at about knee height, maintaining a sleek appearance but not quite offering the security of the taller enclosures found aboard competitors. The slide itself is lubricated with water fed by the shared washdown pump. While the deck-slide combo will certainly delight, the accommodations below will see the…

Wakesurfing continues to ride a wave of popularity, and Mercury Marine joined the party last year with the debut of the MerCruiser Bravo Four S forward-facing sterndrive, a response to the market and a volley back to the competing Volvo Penta Forward Drive. Both of these drives exist for one reason: Moving the props under the boat facilitates wakesurfing and makes this fun activity, once restricted to inboard towsports boats, available to owners of family runabouts. There is no performance benefit to a forward-facing drive, and neither Mercury Marine nor Volvo Penta would offer one except for the desire of boating families to surf. Following our test of a new Four Winns H2 with the Bravo Four S, Dave Waldvogel, Mercury’s drive systems engineering manager, and Jeff Reifsnyder, Mercury’s manager…

The first word that comes to mind in terms of a boat’s performance is almost always horsepower. But as racetrack punters know, there are “horses for courses.” Some horses run best on a dry track, some in mud. A Clydesdale—that Caterpillar tractor of draft horses—would be as out of place at the Kentucky Derby as a sleek Thoroughbred would be pulling a plow. With that in mind, in the world of boats there’s something major to think about beyond propulsion, and that is hull shape. Boats possess deep-V hulls, flat-bottomed hulls, and everything in between, and that’s just monohulls. Catamarans open up a whole other dimension. Some boats are perfect for bonefishing the flats in smooth water; others are best skating along in offshore races or heading for the canyons…