Boating is the world's foremost magazine for boating enthusiasts. Written by experts for those who love the sport, the editorial covers the waterfront -- from runabouts to sportfish convertibles to luxury showpieces, and everything in between.
“A pint’s a pound the world around,” goes the old rule of thumb. That works in many instances. A US pint equals 16 ounces, and an imperial pint weighs a close-enough-for-some-folks 1.25 pounds. But the last time I was in London, a pint cost about £5.50 at the Lamb and Flag in Covent Garden. This goes to show that context is all with regard to rules of thumb, and especially when making comparisons. It’s natural and normal to want to look for a simple, easy-to-remember basis of comparison. Unfortunately, universal rules or standards for comparing one thing against other similar things, as we boaters do when shopping for marine power, prove rarer to find than blenders and umbrella drinks at a UK pub. Horsepower seems a natural refutation of my…
Speed is second nature to Paul Tracy. The 53-year-old Canadian American started racing as a teen and competed at the apex of American open-wheel racing from 1991 to 2011, winning the 2003 Champ Car World Series title and placing second in the 2002 Indianapolis 500. Now living in Scottsdale, Arizona, Tracy has been a color commentator for IndyCar Series broadcasts, and is competing in the Superstar Racing Experience in 2022. Tracy has long had a passion for fast boats. We caught up with him at the Desert Storm Poker Run in Lake Havasu, Arizona. ON BOARD WITH… CAPTAIN’S TEST FOR COMPARISON’S SAKE FIRST IMPRESSION GEAR HEAD 5 THINGS ONLINE THIS MONTH How did you get interested in performance boats? When I was a young racer in Canada, a local dealer…
1. Your best boating buddy spent his youth working at outboard dealerships. He claims that outboards today are overrated and don’t make the horsepower they claimed to. Is he correct? A. Yes; outboard builders are in the practice of overrating engines to better compete with each other. B. No; infact, outboard horsepower ratings are largely governed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association to be within 10 percent of claims. In addition, outboards have been rated at the prop shaft since the early to mid-1980s, which more accurately reflects true power available to the consumer, as opposed to the powerhead ratings used previously. C. All outboards are underrated; they actually make more power than advertised. D. None of the above 2. You are considering replacing your 1997 two-stroke Johnson 150 with…
Helicopters, photographers, cruisers, ‘toons and chase boats: every issue of Boating is a major production, and Icom helps the team communicate during the controlled chaos of a big shoot. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the magazine, and tips on how to optimize your Icom marine radio like the Boating team does. SCAN ME Scan the QR code below to gain access to each new episode that includes advice/tips from our editors on maximizing use of your marine communication. MADE POSSIBLE BY…
STAINLESS STEEL THE SPIN: Very strong stainless-steel alloy permits thinner blades that reduce drag, flex less than aluminum and can be formed into complex blade shapes, which give premium props like the Mercury Enertia (about $955; mercurymarine.com) a real performance edge over other prop materials. The Mercury Flo-Torq SSR hub system limits shift clunk and fits most outboard brands. THE SLIP: It’s so expensive, you’ll want to cry if you hit hard bottom. Fewer choices for lower horsepower motors. PRICE RANGE: Between $360 to $1,000, depending on prop size and model. COMPOSITE THE SPIN: A fiberglass/nylon composite propeller like the Piranha (about $125; piranha.com) is designed to fail to protect your expensive prop shaft and gear case. Individual blades fit into a composite-covered aluminum hub and are secured by the…
Pull up aboard the Cobalt R33, and onlookers will know you have arrived. With its new side-entry door, you’ll step ashore with ease. While the available Seakeeper stabilizer eliminates one kind of rock and roll, the optional 4,000-watt Harmon Kardon audio system delivers the kind you want. Other options include the hydraulically actuated swim step, joystick engine control, and an electrically folding arch with sunshade. The R33 also promises to live up to Cobalt Boats’ legacy of performance. Twin MerCruiser or Volvo Penta stern-drives up to 860 hp deliver mid-50 mph speeds, and we expect the R33’s deep-V hull to flatten chop. Belowdecks, the cabin provides amenities such as a double berth, a head and a smart TV. Topside, an available cockpit galley ensures dayboating or overnighting convenience. Cobalt’s hall-mark…
