Table of contents for Next Marine 2025 in Boating

A lot can happen in 525,600 minutes. That’s one year, for those who don’t like to do math. We’ve seen artificial intelligence enter the world of collision-avoidance technology, AI-powered autopilots and even a safety drone with an infrared camera that can locate a person overboard and drop rescue equipment to them. Did I mention self-driving boats? They’re here too. And that’s just the start. There is now a selective catalytic reduction system for superyachts that enables them to cruise in environmentally sensitive areas by vastly reducing emissions. One superyacht builder, Sanlorenzo, has constructed a yacht that runs its house loads on green methanol. The builder developed the system with Siemens Energy, and the technology turns green methanol into hydrogen gas while fuel cells use the gas to produce electricity by…

Pretty much everything aboard boats will eventually fall apart, given enough time, exposure to the elements, and wear and tear. Even so, Sunbrella fabrics manage to keep their shape and color for a significant length of time. According to the company, that’s because durability is engineered from the start—based on a lot of years spent learning what works and what doesn’t in all kinds of textiles. Sunbrella is the flagship brand of Glen Raven, which was founded as a cotton mill in 1880. The company has made all kinds of textiles, including parachute fabric during World War II, panty-hose in the 1950s, and nylon fabric used in the American flag that the Apollo 11 astronauts planted on the moon. Back in 1961, the Sunbrella brand launched. “Awnings were kind of…

The concept of hydrofoils has always felt a little magical. Just as an airplane wing creates lift through air, a foil does the same in water, reducing drag and resistance and, in turn, boosting speed. As a kid surfing the East Coast, I followed the career of Australian pro Cheyne Horan. In the mid-1980s, he was among the best in the world in small to medium surf, the bread-and-butter conditions of eastern North Carolina. His secret weapon was a radical new fin design he developed with Ben Lexcen, the famed naval architect behind the winged keel of Australia II, the boat that shocked the world by winning the America’s Cup in 1983. Horan’s Star Fin borrowed those same hydrodynamic principles, giving his boards added drive, lift and speed, especially in…

Grady-White elevates the express-boat experience with the all-new 340. Successful sequels can be challenging to execute. The original has history and the audience is attached to it. High expectations are baked into the new concept, and the comparisons never end. That is, unless the sequel is the Grady-White Express 340. This midsize and mighty model follows the long-running and highly successful Express 330, a benchmark boat that set the stage for outboard-powered express craft ready to fish hard over the horizon or cruise with friends and family. The 330 was an early adopter of the SUV concept of boating—it could do it all. The Express 340 maintains that do-it-all ability and the patented SeaV2 continuously variable-deadrise hull form, but it also benefits from the experience of building an armada’s worth…

The holy trinity of sail material qualities has always been light, durable and resistant to stretch. Inevitably, as with many engineering problems, there are conflicts between these demands that require compromise. For example, a massively strong, overbuilt sail won’t stretch, and while it will be durable, it will definitely not be light. While two out of three ain’t bad, where the compromises are made will depend entirely on the sailor. And for cruising sailors, the priority is almost always durability. It’s important to understand then, that advances in sail material technology are context dependent. And not everyone will be willing, nor will they need, to pay for the very latest that technology has to offer. Since the 1950s and the advent of the polyester material known as Dacron, sails have…

It was absolutely incredible,” says Patrick Sciacca, Yachting’s editor-in-chief and a former professional musician, about his first time experiencing G3 Acoustics’ immersive audio system. Sciacca had just stepped aboard a Galeon 680 Fly in Miami, and a blues tune was playing. But instead of spotting telltale speaker grilles, Sciacca saw a clean-looking salon and heard consistent sound. It didn’t fluctuate in volume or levels. “Anybody who has a set of ears and listens to music could appreciate the level of awesome that the system provided,” he says. “No matter where you sat in the boat, the sound was equally good.” Sciacca assumed the speakers were hidden, but he soon learned that G3 Acoustics had transformed the ceiling panels themselves into speakers. The setup was fundamentally different from traditional speakers, which…

1 Wing Link The fuselage is the rod that connects the wings. A longer fuselage provides more stability, but it also makes it harder to make the pump with your feet to create lift. Most manufacturers use an aluminum fuselage, while only a few produce carbon fiber or hybrid versions, which are lighter. 2 Mast Matters This mast is the most important part of the wing foil. It forms the connection between the board and the wing set. On most boards, the mast is adjustable and can be moved forward or back for more or less lift. Most masts are made of carbon fiber or aluminum. Carbon has the advantage of being stiffer and lighter than aluminum, but more expensive. The carbon masts provide a slightly smoother feeling and are marginally faster.…

The road through Still-water, Oklahoma, was residentially quiet. Homes and trees framed the path toward my ultimate destination: Kicker. This is a 50-years-and-still-goingstrong audio company with automotive roots that has become a high-end marine-audio juggernaut too. Emerging from the quaint residential space a building appeared, a big one. Think campus-like square-footage. I passed through the doors to Kicker’s company headquarters, and the quiet was broken by the Wall of Boom, a concert-level monolith of speakers that not only showcases the company’s ability to drive sound at shake-the-roof volume, but with chic, crystal clarity. In fact, when the Kicker crew cranked up the dial on the squadron of speakers, my shirt bounced around like it was being hit with an air gun. And while loud-and-clear is all well-and-good, getting the tech…

SUZUKI A DF225 STEALTH This 225 hp, 3.6-liter V-6 is loaded with dual overhead cam, 24-valve powerheads, electronic multipoint sequential fuel injection, mechanical controls, keyless start, auto trim, troll mode and more. It features a sleek matte-black finish, along with an updated cowling and louvers for a refined, high-performance look. B CORROSION ANODIZING TREATMENT Suzuki’s corrosion anodizing treatment begins by immersing aluminum in an electrolytic solution and passing an electric current through it. This process creates a porous surface layer and a corrosion-resistant aluminum oxide coating. It can be applied to cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, crankcases and similar components, and helps reduce carbon emissions by up to 50 percent. C SUZUKI + VETUS Suzuki and Vetus are delivering ultimate close-quarters boat control by integrating outboards with a bow thruster. Suzuki’s…

A SUNBRELLA HORIZON MARINE VINYL COLLECTION The Sunbrella Horizon marine vinyl collection now includes a Tuscano leather-grain texture in cognac and cedar color options. Its four-way stretch properties help maintain seat shape and prevent cracking, while its fade resistance ensures lasting performance. The collection also adds 12 new colors to the existing Capriccio, Sorrento, and Textil texture. B SUNBRELLA PLUS EXPANDED COLLECTION Sunbrella Plus elevates marine shade with 17 color options to match any Bimini top, dodger or cover. Its high-performance undercoating enhances water repellency, while UV protection, mildew, mold and dirt resistance ensure durability. Easy to clean with bleach, Sunbrella Plus offers long-lasting protection and comes with a five-year warranty. sunbrella.com…