July/August 2017 – Boating World Magazine

BOATING WORLD • JULY/AUGUST 2017 VOLUME 38 NUMBER 7

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : S P O R T B OAT S , D E C K B OAT S , WA K E B OAT S , F I S H B OAT S , P O N T O O N S A N D M O R E !

T H E L E A D E R I N R E C R E AT I O N A L T R A I L E R B OAT I N G

®

HOTSHOT HOTSPOTS IF IT’S TIME TO TAKE THE WATERSPORTS SHOW ON THE ROAD, CHECK OUT 20 POTENTIAL DESTINATIONS ACROSS THE U.S.

BOATS TESTED

QWEST AVANTI 823 LANAI DS BAR

CUTWATER 242 SPORT COUPE

AVALON CATALINA PLATINUM 2785 QUAD LOUNGER $5.00 USA and Canada

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INTRODUCING THE ALL-NEW

RANGER TUGS R-27 You’re not just buying a boat, you’re joining our family.

RangerTugs.com Tugnuts.com

MADE IN USA

contents

J U LY/AU G UST 2017

MAGAZINE

VOLUME XXXVIII NUMBER 7

departments Editor’s Letter Take measures against the sun’s rays p. 4 Currents Bits from the boating world p. 6

Trailering How to tow a pontoon p. 14

Watersports Beat the midseason slump p. 16

Fishing After the catch, the cleanup p. 20 Engines Mercury Verado 400R p. 24

Features

DIY How to install a solar panel

Watersports Hotspots

Keep Pontoon Tubes Shipshape

Maybe it’s time to take the watersports show on the road. We have 20 potential destinations.

They keep the family afloat, so make sure the pontoon’s logs are ready for action.

p. 46

p. 52

Ask the Experts Our panel of experts answers your questions p. 28 Gear The latest accessories, gadgets and electronics p. 32 Bonehead Blunders Mistakes

boats tested

no boater should make p. 45

Qwest Avanti 823 Lanai Cutwater 242 Sport DS Bar Qwest’s latest pushes the Coupe An open design brings

Avalon Catalina Platinum 2785 Quad Lounger The

luxury bar for compact pontoons even higher. p. 34

Catalina series gets elevated styling and remains multitalented. p. 42

the outside inside. p. 38

pg. 38

2

p. 26

Contest: Name the Boat Win a $260+ Airhead G-Force 2 towable, a pump and a rope p. 64

pg. 42

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editor’s letter

Shade Is Good A

BY A L A N J O N E S

S I WRITE THIS, I am sitting at my desk and

wearing a life jacket, which might seem a little weird, but it’s national Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day (May 19). This is the day before National Safe Boating Week begins, which is a yearly reminder of the importance of being safe while on the water. Its primary focus is on wearing PFDs, which is understandable since 428 of the 626 boating fatalities in 2015 were drownings.

But one statistic rarely gets mentioned and poses a far greater danger to boaters: skin cancer fatalities caused by exposure to the sun. According to the National Cancer Society, an estimated 13,590 Americans will die this year of skin cancer, largely caused by exposure to UV rays.

Although no statistics are kept to ascertain how many of these are boaters, it stands to reason we are at greater risk.

Fortunately, there are ways to stay sun safe this summer.

There are two main types of UV rays: UVA rays penetrate deep into the dermis and cause the most long-term damage, while UVB rays affect mainly the surface skin, but only UVB rays are considered in the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating of sunscreens and clothing. And the ratings themselves aren’t linear. For instance, SPF 15 blocks 93 percent of UVB rays while SPF 30 blocks 97

percent. The first key to protecting yourself on a boat is to apply a heavy layer of water-resistant lotion or spray and repeat it often, especially if you go swimming.

Keep a Bimini top up to provide an oasis, but remember that water reflects UV rays, so you can still get burned. Don’t rely on cloud cover, which only prevents 20 percent of UV rays from getting through. The most obvious way is to cover up, but sometimes that’s not as effective as it seems. Surprisingly, a cotton T-shirt may have an SPF 5 rating or less. Most sports clothing items, such as fishing shirts, have an SPF 30 rating or higher. Long-sleeved shirts made from non-wicking material are best, whereas cotton shirts are the worst because of their tendency to wick water far up the sleeve if the cuffs get wet. Widebrim, full-coverage hats are better than baseball caps.

Don’t forget your eyes. Merely having dark lenses does little to protect them. Look for sunglasses that block close to 100 percent of UV rays. The Maui Jims I wear have a level 9 rating (99 percent protection). One of the latest weapons for sun protection for anglers is the full face masks that usually have SPF 30 ratings or higher and are surprisingly comfortable.

Last, every couple of years get checked by a dermatologist. Go at least once a year if you’ve had skin cancer and go immediately if you have a mole that is irregular in shape or color, larger than a pencil eraser or exhibits recent signs of change. Some boaters have checklists, and protection from the sun should be at the very top. BW

THE BOATING WORLD TEAM RESPONDS: What is the top 10 list your name appears atop?

Duncan McIntosh Jr. Duncans Without Donuts ASSOC. EDITOR/PUBLISHER Jeff Fleming Email Overload Psychos EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alan Jones Collectors of Marine Industry Swag MANAGING EDITOR Mike Werling Tall Stout Drinkers ASSISTANT EDITOR Stephanie Shibata Cute Animal Fans with Allergies ART DIRECTOR Julie Hogan Breaking Bad Bloodshot-Eye Binge-Watchers PRODUCTION Mary Monge Listeners to “Be Kind of Rich Slowly” Podcasts CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Amelia Salazar Suckers For Romantic Movies FULFILLMENT OPERATIONS MGR. Rick Avila Secret Matthew McConaughey Fans PUBLISHER

ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING

Call (949) 660-6150 Janette Hood Wine Club Memberships Holders

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING

REGIONAL SALES MANAGERS

Annabelle Zabala Crazy Cat Moms Felice Lineberry Walking Dead Fans MARKETPLACE SALES MGR. Jon Sorenson Beer Snobs (You Drink What?)

AD COORDINATOR Jennifer Chen Expert Simultaneous Health/Junk Food Aficionados TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR Dave Kelsen Wait Until the Last-Minuters DIGITAL DIRECTOR Bryan Sheehy Defenders of “Battlefield Earth” as a Great Movie SUBSCRIPTIONS

Boating World – Subscriber Services P.O. Box 25859, Santa Ana, CA 92799 (888) 732-7323 circulation@boatingworld.com PUBLISHED BY DUNCAN MCINTOSH CO. INC.

Boatingworld.com 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 (949) 660-6150 • Fax (949) 660-6172 Duncan Mcintosh Co. is founded by Editor and Publisher Duncan McIntosh Jr. and Co-Publisher Teresa Ybarra McIntosh (1942-2011)

VOLUME 38 • NO. 7 Boating World Editorial and Advertising Offices, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708; (949) 660-6150. Boating World (ISSN 1059-5155, USPS 16200) is printed in the U.S.A. and published nine times a year in Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, Jun., Jul./Aug., Sept./Oct. and Nov./Dec. at 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 by Duncan McIntosh Co. Inc. Periodicals Postage paid at Santa Ana, CA 92799 and at additional mailing offices. Editorial contributions are welcome. Please submit all contributions to the editor, accompanied by return postage. We assume no responsibility for loss or damage of unsolicited materials. Boating World retains reprint rights, via print and electronic media. Contributor retains all other rights for resale, publication, etc. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Boating World, P. O. Box 25859, Santa Ana, CA 92799-5859. CANADA POST: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608 Canada Returns to be sent to Bleuchip International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE: Please send all subscription correspondence to Boating World, P.O. Box 25859, Santa Ana, CA 92799-5859. Please allow at least six weeks for the change of address to become effective. Include both your old and your new address enclosing, if possible, an address label from a recent issue. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: U.S. and its possessions, $11.00 per year. Additional postage for Canada is $15.00 per year and other foreign countries $30.00 per year. Single copy price $5.00; back issues, $8.50 (in the U.S. only) includes postage and handling. Boating World is a registered trademark of Duncan McIntosh Co. Inc. Copyright © 2017, all rights reserved. PERMISSIONS: MMaterial AG A Z I Nin E this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission.

M AG A Z I N E

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M AG A Z I N E

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Leading the way with technology, comfort and CHOICE. Every Starcraft pontoon boat is built on three pillars of a better experience: advanced technology, luxurious comfort, and more choices to help you customize your pontoon and make it your own. From the Murphy touchscreen control system, to plush overstuffed loungers, to great floorplans and features packages, you’re sure to find something you love. And with tube options like stylish black painted tubes and our award winning HMX performance strakes that allow you to dig and pivot on the water, tow sports become a thing of ease. It’s all dedicated to giving you great days on the water, and it’s all from Starcraft.

Learn more at starcraftmarine.com.

currents

BY STEPH A N I E S H I BATA

Lead Boat Rand Picnic 18

Danish Treat

Picnics and harbor cruises are practically demanded by the layout and design of the Picnic 18 by Rand.

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Enter Your Dog Now

S A LT Y D O G

WIN THIS

This month’s winner: WAILEA



OWNERS:

Rand Boats, randboats.com

Mark & Debbie Robson HOMETOWN:

Newport Beach, Calif.

For your chance to win a CWB Dog Vest (ridecwb.com), send a picture of your boat-loving dog to editor@boatingworld.com or Boating World, Salty Dog, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. Please include a photo, along with your name and your dog’s name, your address and phone number.

QUIZ

Boating with a Bang!

INDEPENDENCE DAY IS nigh, so

we’ve devised a clever quiz that incorporates two summer favorites: boats and fireworks. Can you tell which of the following are boat models and which are fireworks?

1. Outrage 2. Haunted Fish 3. Cougar

4. Wolf Pack 5. Mudrunner 6. Falcon Rising

7. Phantom 8. Bumble Bee 9. Bull Dog

Answer key: All of the even numbers are fireworks. The odd numbers are boat models: 1, Boston Whaler; 3, Bass Cat; 5, SeaArk; 7, SmokerCraft; 9, Thunder Jet

IF JAMES BOND WERE A HIPSTER YUPPIE, then the Rand Picnic 18 might be his boat of choice to entertain — though not to escape from a villain. The Picnic 18 is a dayboat that is designed and powered to be eco-friendly but with a touch of luxury. Its clean, modern lines emerged from a design by Danish architect Carl Kai Rand, and its intended power is an electric Torqeedo outboard. In addition, its teak floors are made of recycled materials.

The 18-foot craft is designed for social interaction, with a built-in table and seating for up to 10 people toward the bow. The large seating area wraps to the sides and front of the helm, so the captain can be part of the social scene, even underway, and if sunbathing is more important than snacking, the table lowers to convert the area into a sun lounge. That’s in addition to the sunpad on the transom.

The hull is lightweight — around 650 pounds — so transporting it by trailer will be easy. Large storage areas in the hull mean it‘s simple to stow the cushions, life vests and other dayboating essentials. While the open-to-the-sky configuration will appeal to many passengers, a Bimini top can provide shade when it’s called for.

With a Torqeedo Cruise 10.0 electric engine, top speed is about 15.5 mph, but run time is about an hour. Slowing down to about 4 mph provides closer to 20 hours of fun on the water. With a 40 hp Mercury, top speed jumps to about 28 mph. Two smaller Torqeedo options and two smaller Mercury options are available.

The Picnic 18 starts at around $16,200.

W H E R E I N T H E WO R L D?

Can you figure out where this picture was taken? Find out if you’re correct on page 8. We’ll give you a couple of hints.

Sevens are wild.

Flagler is key.

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currents

name the boat

To participate in this month’s contest, turn to page 64

contest winner



Sandra Gore from San Diego was the first to submit the winning name, Delusions of Azure. For keeping things colorful, Sandra receives a Customized Boat Care Package from Bel-Ray (belray.com), valued at more than $350.

MORE OF MAY’S BEST ENTRIES:

Royal Flush

Bass Bottom Blues

Blue Buffoon

Alan Kelley, West Gardiner, ME

Shawn Donovan, via BoatingWorld.com

Gene Pedoto, Lincroft, NJ

Blue By You

Blue Gills Bayou

Eric Stovall, Mt. Sinai, NY

Michael Baum, Blythewood, SC

Marcus Eminhizer, Covina, CA

Courtesy Flush Rick Martin illustration

David Wabakken, Oak Hills, CA

Daddy & the Deep Blue Sea Janet Oberfoell, Monticello, IA

Lack of Reflection

The American Standard

Blue-It

Michael Galfano, North Bellmore, NY

Terence Friesen, Richmond, BC

SS Dumbow

Capt. Clueless Jimmy Tucci, Seminole, FL

Kenneth Brown, Scottsdale, AZ

Fishin’ Fer Cluz Bryan Withem, Salem, OR

> > M AY W I N N E R : D E L U S I O N S O F A Z U R E

I Call Bull Shark BULL SHARKS CAN live in both salt and fresh water and are sometimes found in the Mississippi River, as far upstream as St. Louis.

They can reach 11 and a half feet long and weigh more than 500 pounds. Imagine seeing one of those from your Jon boat.

BIG NUMBERS

Tides

53.5

Variation, in feet, of the most extreme tidal fluctuation, in Canada’s Bay of Fundy

50

Change, in minutes, of the approximate time for high and low tide each day, due to the moon’s rotation around Earth

1.6

Approximate variation, in feet, of tides in the deep ocean

444

Speed, in mph, at which the tides travel at average ocean depth (13,000 feet)

W H E R E I N T H E WO R L D?

South Florida residents, frequent visitors to the Florida Keys and fans of the movie “True Lies” are sure to recognize the structure on page 7 as the Seven Mile Bridge.

Both of them, actually — the obsolete one and the new one.

8

18.6

Length, in years, of the astronomical cycle that accounts for the varying changes in the range of tides (it’s complicated)

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6/1/17 10:30 AM

Discover the family-friendly versatility of Yamaha’s new FSH Series boats.

Now you can experience all the advantages of Yamaha’s legendary internal propulsion system in a layout that gives you wide-open access to everything you love about the water.

TM

YAMAHA. THE #1 BRAND ON THE WATER.

YAMAHABOATS.COM

©2017 Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA. Follow instructional materials and obey all laws. Drive responsibly, wearing protective apparel. Always drive within your capabilities, allowing time and distance for maneuvers, and respect others around you. Don’t drink and ride. For more information, visit yamahaboats.com or call 1.800.88.YAMAHA.

ywc01378_boating_world_0617_yamaha_fsh_1a.indd 1

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currents QUIZ

Festivals Afloat SPECIALTY CRUISES ARE getting more and more popular as a way to bring fans of a show or a genre or a character together. We rounded up some of the current floating funfests — and made up one. Can you spot the fake?

The Rock Boat — It’s essentially a rock music festival on the

high seas.

Summerfest Cruise — DJ Khaled and his Miami rapper friends head

to the Bahamas.

Running cruises — Various cruises for running fanatics tour Alaska

or Hawaii. No gaining weight on this vacation!

As-Seen-on-TV Cruise — Attendees enjoy seminars about their

THE TALL SHIP Oliver Hazard Perry, Rhode Island’s

Official Sailing Education Vessel, hosted two backto-back programs held in partnership with the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS), in early May. Aboard were 28 midshipman candidates enrolled in a 10-month course of instruction at NAPS that began in July 2016. The candidates were aboard Perry for five days and learned the intricacies of life at sea and how to operate the ship. The mission of NAPS is to enhance midshipman candidates’ moral, mental and physical foundations to prepare them for success at the U.S. Naval Academy.

We hope you didn’t fall for our infomercial and believe the As-Seenon-TV Cruise is real. The other five are actual cruises.

Perry Preps Candidates

favorite Ron Popeil products, some presented by the man himself. All cruise meals are prepared using Ronco’s Showtime Rotisserie and Chop-O-Matic.

David Hasselhoff – the Official World Fan Cruise — Fans enjoy autograph sessions, a concert and a “David in Person” evening extravaganza.

Star Trek – The Cruise — George Takei hosts a cruise filled with special guests and out-of-this-world activities.

FA S T FA C T

D I D YO U K N OW ?

The largest parade of boats ever recorded consisted of 1,180 vessels, according to Guinness World Records. It took place Sept.

13, 2014, in Kemaman, Terengganu, Malaysia, as part of Malaysia Day.

10

580,000+ Number of registered boats in Texas, which ranks sixth nationally

D I D YO U K N OW ?

Tennessee has more than

1,062 miles

of navigable waterways within its borders.

Source: Tennessee Waterway Assessment Study

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sylvanmarine.com I 866-766-9698

With patented Revolutionary Planing Technology (RPT) Sylvan changes everything about pontoon performance.

Our exclusive tube design slices through the water with sports car handling and runabout exhilaration. The unique V-shaped tube provides increased top speed per horsepower and dramatically improved fuel efficiency. RPT is a revolution in pontoon performance. AND IT’S ONLY FROM SYLVAN.

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OVER 460 BOAT TEST VIDEOS...

468 Boat Tests and Over 3,684,000 Views Search ”Boating World’ on Youtube.com to access our video channel.

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... AND COUNTING!

We answer the questions that really matter to you - before you buy a boat.

Ride along with Boating World’s executive editor Alan Jones as he tests hundreds of makes and models, from ski boats to pontoons. Our boat test video vault includes over 460 clips — each with in-depth walk-throughs highlighting features and options, and running footage showing how the boat accelerates and corners (including the type of wake). We put ourselves in your shoes and deliver practical and objective opinions on how each boat measures up. ®

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trailering

TOW I N G P O NTO O NS

A pontoon’s width and deck area make it appealing for entertaining but difficult to tow.

Towing I ’Toons

HAD TOWED BOATS OF MANY sizes and

types all over the country for a couple of decades, so I, of course, thought I knew it all. And then I towed a pontoon for the first time. Yikes! I climbed into the cab of my SUV and glanced in the rearview mirror. Double yikes! The ’toon filled not only my center rearview mirror but both side mirrors too. My rear vision was somewhere around zero. That was lesson number one: Make sure the driver can see behind the vehicle. Especially if backing down a launch ramp is in the plans.

Lesson number two came when I hit the highway. In my state, the posted speed limit is 65 mph, but anyone going 65 is like a rock in the middle of a fast-moving stream. But when I hit 65, I felt like I was pulling a huge parachute. I had my foot well down on the throttle, and I could tell the engine was pulling hard. Believe me, there is a lot of windage to a pontoon boat in tow.

Despite the common problems associated with towing a pontoon, there are solutions.

Pulling a pontoon on a trailer is different, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating.

1 / Pontoon boats are wide. It’s a fact boaters buy pontoon boats for their space, so pontoon boat manufacturers always design them — regardless of their length — to the maximum trailerable 8-foot, 6-inch beam. That wouldn’t be a problem except that ’toons are box-shaped, so they block the view. A conventional boat tapers 14

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from the maximum width at deck level, so drivers have some vision to the rear along the boat sides, but not with a pontoon. It not only fills the view but the traffic lane as well.

The solution is to fit truck-style extendable rearview mirrors on each side of the tow vehicle. They retract for normal

driving but can be extended to provide a look behind during towing. Drivers just can’t forget how wide the mirrors are when driving into a carport or garage.

Recently, I’ve seen some ’toon skippers clamp a backup camera to the transom of the pontoon boat and put the monitor on the dash, giving them a live video view.

2 / Pontoon boats are wide. Sounds like the previous one, right? Well, pontoon boats are not only wide but they’re square.

So a ’toon is about the same width at the bow as it is in the middle, unlike a conventional boat. This can pose some problems during backing procedures, and there are more than a few tow vehicles with interesting vertical creases in their side from backing sharply enough that the ’toon’s bow bit the side of the tow vehicle. With a conventional boat, it’s possible to turn so the trailer is almost 80 degrees from the tow vehicle, but not with a pontoon on a trailer, so don’t get bitten.

3 / Pontoons sit high. Because of the intricacies of the trailer rails, most ’toon trailers place the carpeted bunks for the

BOATINGWORLD.COM

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Towing Tips It’s going to take some oomph to tow all that windage and still move at highway speeds, so pontoon owners are likely looking at needing a pickup or a large sport utility vehicle. Which brings us to engines and transmissions. I can’t think of a reason to regret having more engine than might be absolutely necessary, because my experience has been that I always end up needing it. I had a Suburban 2500 that I thought was plenty for ’toon towing, but it got a little weary on a long uphill to Lake Tahoe and kept wanting to kick down.

Many modern trucks and sport utes allow the driver to choose either manual or automatic use of overdrive, and it’s always better to turn off overdrive, because the engine will probably struggle. In automatic overdrive, the engine wants to kick down into passing gear and that gets old after a while.

I installed two things that haven’t improved my actual towing but made my tow vehicles last longer: a transmission cooler and a transmission temperature gauge. The cooler can keep the tranny from overheating, and the gauge tells me when I need to slow down or let the engine cool off. Either way, they have added thousands of miles to my truck’s transmission.

pontoons atop the rails, which jacks the boat up higher than a conventional boat. Two problems here. First, the center of gravity is raised, and second, it’s more difficult to launch and retrieve from a shallow ramp without getting the tow vehicle in the water.

Of the two problems, the easier to solve is the launching issue: Just choose ramps carefully, or add an extension to the trailer tongue so the boat floats off in deeper water.

The higher center of gravity, however, suggests pontoon owners need to change their driving style, if they have any cowboy tendencies. The trailer tires aren’t far apart and, if a driver turns sharply at speed, he can tip the whole pontoon boat and trailer over.

A high center of gravity combined with the windage of the pontoon boat can make for some challenging moments in a crosswind, or when an 18-wheeler blows by at 80 mph. High-speed swaying is never fun, but the cure is to slow down without hitting the brakes, because brakes can complicate things.

4 / Some ’toons ride on scissor-lift trailers. Rather than bunks under the pontoons, these have rails that fit between the pontoons to lift the underside of the deck. Since these supports can be raised or lowered, shallow-water launches are a cinch. The downside is that the wheelbase on a scissor-lift trailer is very narrow — perhaps half that of a conventional bunk trailer — which means these can be very squirrely in turns, in crosswinds and during emergency maneuvers. Each trailer type has its pros and cons. Each owner has to consider his needs and choose wisely. BW

• Pull tubes, wakeboarders, waterskiers— virtually all water toys.

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watersports

M I DS E A SO N S LU M P B USTERS

Dump the Slump If midseason finds you stuck in a rut instead of excelling, we have nine tips to break you out.

BY SEAN O’BRIEN

WITH ANY LUCK, BY THIS point in the season you’ve spent some quality

time on the water and knocked off the rust that accumulated during the off-season. Even if you’re not completely back to your old self, you probably feel a lot better than you did during your first set of the year.

That’s what we want: constant improvement. Unfortunately, most riders improve, improve, improve and then hit a plateau. All that progress comes to a screeching halt and frustration ensues.

What are you supposed to do now? Well, don’t freak out. You’ve hit the dreaded midseason slump. You haven’t hit your full potential yet, and there are probably a few things you’ve overlooked that are holding you back. So let’s explore some of the culprits and get you back on the path of progress.

16

1. Trying too hard. Relax and stop forcing it. If you ever watch really good wakeboarders, notice that their riding looks effortless. They are letting their body position and technique do all the work. Try to mimic that. The more tense and rigid you are, the harder any towsport is.

2. Blissful ignorance. Most riders have no idea what they look like when they ride. Get a friend to film you. It’s really important to see what you are doing on the water. You may feel like you are doing something properly when in reality you might be doing it completely wrong. You can use a phone’s camera, but a dedicated video camera will allow you to zoom in and maintain image clarity — easier to see what’s going on. Take the time to study good riders and compare what they are doing to what you are doing.

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watersports 3. Bad body position. Body position has a direct impact on every element of towsports, so it’s important to keep it in check. Bad body position usually means that the handle is up too high, your shoulders are being pulled toward the boat, you’re bending forward at the waist, your legs are locked straight, your knees are too bent — or any combination of these. So here’s what you’ll want to focus on regarding body position: Keep your head and chest up. Keep your arms relatively straight and the handle lower than your shoulders, so you are being pulled through your core.

Keep your hips forward; in other words, don’t stick your butt out.

Bend both knees slightly and keep an even weight distribution between both feet.

Always lean slightly away from the pull of the rope.

6. Fear of falling. Most people don’t learn a trick on their first attempt … or second … or third…

It’s OK to fall — everyone does. It means you are pushing yourself.

Embrace those crashes and learn from mistakes.

7. Relying heavily on speed. Lots of

people ride faster than they should. Going faster makes the wake narrower, which makes jumping from wake to wake “easier,” but at the same time it tends to take away the upward force that launches riders up into the air. So instead of a floating jump, they kind of skip across the wake. When you don’t have hang time, it’s difficult to complete new tricks and the crashes hurt more — mostly because you are shooting across the wake. So rely less on speed and

more on your edge and using your legs to launch you upward off the wake. Speaking of getting air…

8. Trying to physically jump off the wake. A lot of people think that jumping

on a wakeboard is the same motion as jumping on the ground; it’s not. Instead, it’s about maintaining an edge and standing tall as you are leaving the wake. That’s what delivers the vertical pop you are looking for.

Don’t overcomplicate it.

4. Looking at the wrong spot. Your vision provides you with a significant amount of awareness, and looking the wrong direction will leave you unprepared. Don’t stare down at your feet or randomly off to the side. Instead, stay focused on where you want to go. It’s best to remain in a state of preparedness and not have to react at the last second.

5. Not riding enough. If you are only

riding every once in a while, it’s difficult to see significant improvement. Make it a goal to ride three times per week. You’ll feel more comfortable on the water, which will translate into elevated performance.

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9. Not being challenged. Being the best rider in your crew is great, but if you don’t have someone who inspires you or drives you to be a better rider, you are missing out. Find some better riders in your local community and start riding with them on occasion. They may give you pointers or you may just pick up some techniques that drastically change the way you ride. BW

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fishing

CLE A N U P

After the Catch…

The trip back to the dock after a day of fishing should be used wisely, for cleaning up.

BY DEAN TRAVIS CLARKE

W

E HAD A RULE IN our family when I was growing up: If you use one of our boats, wash it and chamois it dry when you are done. Yes, non-compliance was severely penalized!

Today, the crew of most charter-fishing boats are hard at work for the entire ride home, knocking out a huge part of the cleaning process before they ever reach the dock.

The most crucial requirement for underway cleaning is, of course, fresh water.

Never rinse valuable tackle in salt water and then leave it to dry. It will destroy gear in short order.

RODS & REELS

Remove all the terminal tackle (yes, wash it too). Never leave a bottomfishing weight attached to a stored rod. It can cause a nick or a scratch in the finish, which can create a weak point in carbon-fiber and other composite rods. Tighten the 20

drags on the reels all the way, so no water, soap or dirt gets into the plate. Use a soft lambskin glove or a rag soaked in a bucket of soapy water to carefully wash from rod tip to butt, making sure to get into the guides and the nooks and crannies that may hold dirt. Rinse the rod thoroughly and then dry it with a chamois or a soft towel. Finally, loosen the drag on the reel so it doesn’t develop a pressure spot during storage. Now put it away. Repeat the process with the rest of the rods, reels, gaffs, nets, downriggers, pliers, etc.

Peel off a few yards of line that may have frayed from your last epic battle. Once in a while, use a Q-tip or pantyhose on the guides to check for sharp points or snags.

Those will part a tight line instantly.

BAITWELLS & FISHBOXES

The most common warranty claims on saltwater fishing boats are the macerators attached to baitwells and fishboxes. I avoid that issue by replacing the macerators with the biggest gusher diaphragm pump I can fit in the space. Where macerators can get choked by fish scales, bones and guts, a diaphragm pump can pump an entire baitfish through without a problem.

Make sure to clear the exhaust hole for each box, especially if it has backwash flaps installed. If there’s a live baitwell, drain it and toss the bait (unless you save it in a bait trap at home).

I’ve seen many deck drains (fishbox, baitwell, scuppers) where the rim of the strainer sits slightly higher than the deck, which

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fishing causes a small amount of water (and detritus) to pool around the hole. Such collection areas become a favorite place for fish blood, scales and such to sit in the sun and slowly rot, creating odors most foul. Make sure to scrub and rinse these spots carefully.

Once all the tackle is stowed safely, it’s time to take on the rest of the cockpit.

Scrub blood spots, rinse everything thoroughly and dry the shiny parts so they don’t end up with water spots.

for lubrication.

Everything in the cockpit gets grungy.

Gloves, fighting belts, knives, de-hookers, tools and the like may not be as expensive or delicate as tackle, but it all costs money.

Never rinse valuable tackle in salt water

THE REST

Braided line hates sitting in the sun. UV rays weaken such line. Keep reels covered or in the shade when possible.

Every few trips, it’s good practice to remove reels from rods and wash the fastening, bolts and any other moving parts, so you don’t one day find them fused and immoveable.

Likewise, occasionally take reels apart and apply a very fine coat of rel oil or grease to the moving parts, both for protection and

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Take care of it all by washing and drying it and storing it out of harm’s way. Remember, a place for everything and … well you know.

While a quality chamois still qualifies as the best means to dry surfaces, soft squeegees such as the Water Blade cut drying time dramatically without scratching surfaces. The soft silicon blade bends around radius curves well where regular stiff squeegees do not. If you run a

sportfishing convertible or other boat with an aft bulkhead or curtains, don’t bother washing those areas until the boat’s back at the dock. A majority of such vessels suffer from the “station wagon effect” while underway, sucking exhaust and salt spray in over the ransom and into the cockpit — a prime reason to stow the clean tackle someplace clean and dry.

With the entire aft half of the boat spotless — the dirtiest half by rights — it should take barely a jiffy to clean the rest of the boat once it’s dockside. But there’s still one more item: After you take the cooler of fish home — hopefully already cleaned — and vacuum-bagged the contents, be sure to carefully clean the cooler with soap, water and bleach, to rid it of any smell.

One final suggestion: When washing the rest of the boat back at the dock, be aware of wind direction and strength. Nothing ticks off a crew faster than having the boat next door soak down the boat they just finished washing and drying! BW

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engines

M ERCU RY V ER A D O 400 R

W

HEN MERCURY JUMPED INTO THE fourstroke market in 2004 (not counting re-badged Yamaha engines) with its first generation of Verado engines, I wondered if those wouldn’t be the engines that clanged the venerable Wisconsin company’s death knell. After all, using a supercharged engine with only 2.6L of displacement to produce an at-the-time max of 275 hp seemed sheer folly considering the harsh marine environment it would be operating in. But the manufacturer wisely assembled a team of engineers led by Claus Bruestle, who was formerly with Porsche and led the development of its Formula One engine and the Cayenne V-8.

Let’s Go Racing What’s a racing engine doing on a pontoon, deckboat or bay boat? Creating new levels of excitement.

BY ALAN JONES

After two years of development and $100 million in R&D costs, Mercury’s Verado family became one of the most popular outboard engine lines ever. Soon, the little engine that could was able crank out up to 400 hp, which is an astounding 153 hp per liter. To put that into perspective, Mercury’s 150 FourStroke uses a 3.0L block — three times the displacement to achieve the same workload.

When people think of racing engines, they think of loud, ill-tempered engines that tend to blow up more often than a pro basketball coach. We recently tested the Mercury Verado 400R on a Playcraft XPR 2500 pontoon boat, and the first thing I thought after firing it up was how civilized it was. Like other Verado engines, it’s preternaturally quiet at idle, measuring 58 decibels, and a wine glass could stay on top of the cowling thanks to its lack of vibration. There’s nothing violent about its power curve, just a strong, press-youback-in-the-seat linear acceleration all the way to its 7000 rpm max. Time to plane was just two seconds and the XPR 2500 reached 30 mph in 6.9 seconds. Top speed was 74 mph.

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The notion of making the 400R a mainstream outboard was a wise one, and it’s been successful for a number of reasons other than its numerical superiority. While Mercury spokespeople insist the 400R isn’t a replacement for the 350 SCi, the latter — the previous Verado top dog of the racing set — is no longer available.

What’s helped this crossover is a number of consumer-friendly features that weren’t previously available from the racing engines. One of its advantages over the 350 SCi is that it can run on 89 octane thanks to its knock sensor. It’s also compatible with Mercury’s Joystick Piloting system, which, in addition to making the operator look like a docking genius, features the Skyhook virtual anchor.

It also includes an integrated autopilot that has Auto Heading, which allows the driver to make jogs in the boat’s direction — to miss obstructions, for example — without canceling the set course. Waypoint Sequencing allows the driver to link together different waypoints, which comes in handy for negotiating shoal-infested areas. Active Trim, which takes care of the task of trimming the boat at speeds less than 50 mph, is available on the 400R. It helps inexperienced skippers maintain proper trim, and even experienced boaters will appreciate it while turning or running in heavy seas, or if they simply want to reduce their workload.

One of the biggest differences in the 400R compared to most other members of Mercury’s inline 2.6L family, which starts at 200 hp, is its supercharger, which is used

to compress air so more fuel can be mixed with it. Unfortunately, that process creates heat, so to counter it, the 400R uses a watercooled supercharger (as does the newer, mainstream Verado 350).

To further reduce heat, a vented flywheel provides additional air flow. Often, just changing the engine mapping will yield extra horsepower, but Mercury Racing also changed the cam profile and gave it new valves. The 400R comes with a recreational two-year warranty (three-year corrosion), which is a year less than other Verado engines, but buyers can purchase a Mercury-administered extended warranty that extends it to five years total.

To accommodate the go-fast crowd along with the rest of us, Mercury gives owners a choice of gearcases. For boats with speeds in excess of 85 mph, the Sport Master lower unit has a lower water pickup, a more hydrodynamic torpedo and is more robust for extreme boating. The Offshore HD gearcase is designed for fishing boats, deckboats and pontoons, and it offers more lift with a larger 5.44-inch-diameter torpedo.

The 400R comes in 20-, 25- and 30-inch shaft lengths, but for owners racing with a boat that requires a 15-inch shaft, there’s the 400ROS model. It’s true to its racing heritage … in other words, no warranty.

A racing engine deserves a little extra pizzazz and the 400R comes in either Phantom Black or Cold Fusion White. The black only comes with red graphics, but the white has seven different accent colors to choose from. Another cool package is the Carbon Edition, which has a lightweight carbon fiber composite cowling. BW

Specs Type In-line V6, supercharged four-stroke Displacement 2.6L Full throttle range 6400-7000 rpm Weight 668 lbs.

(20-in. shaft) Gear Ratio 1.75:1 Price w/standard HD gearcase $32,320; w/Sport Master gearcase $34,575; w/Sport Master & Carbon Edition $39,300 PERFORMANCE The cutaway view (1) provides an inside look. The 400R’s vented flywheel (2) provides necessary air flow, and its watercooled supercharger (3) also compensates for excess heat.

Tested with Playcraft XPR 2500 pontoon Time to plane 2.0 sec. 0-30 mph 6.9 sec. Top speed 74.0 mph Decibels @ idle 58 Cruise 41.5 mph/4000 rpm/84 dBA Peak 74.0 mph/7000 rpm/99 dBA Mercury Racing (a division of Brunswick), mercuryracing.com

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diy

SO L A R PA N EL I NSTA LL

How to Install a Solar Panel Never worry about whether your boat’s batteries are charged again.

BY KEVIN HARRIS

I

HAD DECIDED TO PUT A solar panel on my Lance camper and ordered a 150-watt solar panel from Renogy. When it arrived, I discovered it was too big for its intended location.

Return shipping was more than I wanted to pay, so I decided to keep it for a future project. Little did I know that the project idea would come to me the next time I took my boat to the ramp.

As I backed the boat down the ramp, a sickening feeling came over me: I had not charged my batteries the night before. At the time I had a pair of older marine batteries, and sure enough, as I turned the key the motor struggled to crank. I had a jump box — it also hadn’t been charged in a while — on the boat, and it barely provided enough supplemental power to turn it over, but I got the boat started. I then sat at the dock for 15 minutes and allowed the motor to charge the batteries, so they would turn the motor over again if I needed to cut off the motor and restart it. While sitting there watching everyone else head to the fishing grounds, I decided what to do with the 150-watt solar panel.

At home I measured the space I had available on the hardtop of my 2004 Pro-Line

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25 walk-around: plenty. I have a 300 hp Evinrude E-TEC G2 with digital gauges, a Garmin chartplotter and radar, and two marine VHF radios. I also have a JBL stereo with Kenwood speakers and a subwoofer in addition to the normal pumps, lights and equipment. My power requirements are about average, and I’m sure some of the electronics have a parasitic draw on my batteries when it’s parked, which is why I always had to charge the batteries. I have since replaced the batteries with Optima Blue Top Marine batteries and wanted to keep them charged without having to think about it.

My boat has a 12v system. Solar panels can also be used for 24v and 36v systems.

The wiring is different, though, and the solar panel manufacturer’s instructions should be followed to wire these configurations.

Here are the materials I needed to complete my project: • Solar panel(s). Measure the space and order the biggest panel that will fit the 2

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space. Keep in mind any future upgrades — outriggers, radar, etc. — and plan accordingly. I used a Renogy 150-watt Monocrystalline Photovoltic (PV) Solar Panel.

• Solar panel regulator/charge adapter. This keeps the solar panel from overcharging the batteries. I used a Renogy 30-amp PWM charge controller with an LCD display.

• Solar panel mounting brackets (if they don’t come with the panel). Be sure they’re appropriate to where the panel is being mounted.

• Wire. You’ll need enough to run from the charge controller to the batteries and then from the solar panel to the charge controller. How much will depend on how long the wire run is from the controller to the battery and from the panel to the controller. Calculators on the internet will help determine what size (AWG/gauge) wire is needed for the required lengths. I have the controller installed in the overhead cabinet in my hardtop, so I used a 10-foot 12 AWG adaptor kit from Renogy that plugged directly into the panel.

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In-line maxi fuse holder (2).

Heat shrink butt connectors (4).

30-amp maxi blade fuse (2).

THE PROJECT

Once you have decided where to put the solar panel and checked to ensure the mounting bracket screws will not penetrate any wires or critical components, mount the solar panel. Keep the panel covered with a piece of the cardboard shipping box, because it will produce electricity as soon as the sun hits it.

Find the location for the solar charge controller, which should be as close to the batteries as possible, for the least amount of power loss. The area should stay as dry as possible. Again, ensure the installed screws won’t damage anything.

Using the appropriate wire size, based on the length of the run, connect the negative terminal of the battery to the negative battery input terminal on the charge controller.

If you are going to use an inline fuse, connect it to the wire being used for the

positive battery to controller wire. Use heat shrink butt connectors and connect the positive terminal of the battery and the positive input terminal of the charge controller. Insert the fuse, and the charger will provide a reading of the current status of the batteries.

Now, to the solar panel. Connect the negative wire from the solar panel to the negative input on the charge controller.

I recommend an inline fuse on the positive wire from the solar panel to the positive terminal to the charge controller (use heat shrink butt connectors). Insert the fuse.

Finally, remove the cardboard or whatever was covering the panel, and it will immediately start charging the batteries.

The strength of the charge will depend on the amount of sunlight. Clouds and time of day will affect how much power the panels will produce.

Enjoy never having to remember to plug in your charger or worry about your batteries going dead when you’re out on the water playing your radio or running your electronics. BW

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TOOLS NEEDED Tape measure Wire cutters/stripper/crimp Phillips head screwdriver Drill and bits (if drilling through the hardtop)

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THE MATERIALS Solar panel: Brackets:

PRICE BREAKDOWN $190 $13

Renogy 10-foot 12 AWG

adapter kit solar cable: Charge controller:

$17 $30

Fuse holders/butt connectors/stainless steel

bolts/nuts: Total approximate cost:

$10 $250

After ensuring no wires or other components will be damaged, install the solar panel (1). Find a place near the batteries that will stay dry and install the charge controller (2). An inline fuse (3) is a good idea on the positive battery to controller wire and on the positive wire from the solar panel to the charge controller (4). Connect the positive and negative wires from the panel to the controller (5). Once connected, the charge controller should immediately show results from the panel (6). Once the job is done, fill in the hole in the hardtop created by the wire run (7).

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ask the experts

Q

+A

TRAILERING

Tire Trouble

Q I’ve had the tires on my trailer for a couple of years now, and it seems to me they are wearing faster than they should be. My buddy said I might have too much air in the tires. How can I tell if he’s right?

To answer this question, we went to the Trailering column on page 14 of our May issue, written by Chris Caswell: The first indicator of a problem is often unusual tire wear, either in the center or along the edges (called “feathering”).

Tire pressure that is too high will cause the center of the tire to wear quickly, while low tire pressure is indicated by wear on the side of the tires, although this can also mean an alignment

Marion T., via BoatingWorld.com

problem. To find the correct tire pressure, look at the markings on the sidewall of each tire to see what the proper pressure is when cold (the trailer hasn’t moved) or hot (even a drive around the block). Get a good tire-pressure gauge or install a wireless tire-pressure indicator that provides the PSI of every tire right on the dash board of the tow vehicle. 

 OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS:

Frank Lanier Capt. Lanier is an accredited marine surveyor with more than 30 years of experience in the marine industry and owner of Capt. FK Lanier & Associates, Marine Surveyors and Consultants.

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Zuzana Prochazka Grid Michal With 50 years of experience as a marine tech, Michal is also American Suzuki and OMC/ Bombardier (BRP) certified.

Prochazka is a freelance writer and photographer. She holds a USCG 100-Ton Master license, is the editor of her boat and gear review website, TalkOfTheDock. com, and serves on the board of Boating Writers International.

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Sanpan 2500 Elite Godfrey’s Sanpan, the brand that started it all, introduced the first all-aluminum pontoon at the 1958 Chicago Boat Show. Since that time, Godfrey Pontoon Boats and its suite of pontoon lines continues to lead the industry with new innovations in styling, quality, safety, comfort and performance. Godfrey knows pontoon boats, and doesn’t just set the standard—they raise the bar. As the true original, Godfrey makes pontoon boats for every family, every lifestyle and every body of water.

Aqua Patio

Sweetwater Premium

Sweetwater

Sweetwater Sunrise

WHEN IT COMES TO PONTOON BOATS, GODFREY IS THE PIONEER.

GODFREYPONTOONBOATS.COM

ask the experts Uneven tire wear can suggest problems other than over- or under-inflation. If both tires are wearing on the same side, that indicates an axle alignment issue. It’s easy to fix, and will keep the trailer towing straight. If the wear is on the inside of both tires, it suggests the trailer is overloaded and the axle is flexing downward. Check the trailer’s weight rating and compare it to the boat’s weight. Don’t forget to include the weight of fuel and water: 100 gallons of water weighs 840 pounds, while the same amount of gas weighs 600 pounds.

ENGINES

Rising Temperatures

Q I have a 2003 Bayliner 245 with a Mercruiser 5.0 and an Alpha One, gen two. Last year the temperature gauge went from slowly normal to the bottom of the range several times and then I got an engine warning horn. The engine failed with warped heads and block indicating

there was an actual over temp, although the gauge never showed an over temp. The mechanic replaced the engine, thermostat and outdrive water pump. Everything was normal for approximately 25 hours when the temp gauge started repeating the

I ever owned when the end dropped off the radiator and there was no coolant to measure and, therefore, no warning via the temp sender. I’d accept the mechanic’s theory, but why is the problem apparent for the second time? Did the engine fail again,

If both tires are wearing on the same side, that indicates an axle alignment issue. previous fluctuations. Have you ever seen this problem before? I don’t believe it’s a gauge problem, because there was an actual engine failure. The mechanic said it was probably a failed head gasket that pumped air into the cooling system.

Howard Malloy, via BoatingWorld.com

I haven’t seen that problem in a marine engine, but had it happen in the only Chevy

or were you able to prevent it? I think lots of questions are in order: Was the replacement engine new or remanufactured, or was yours rebuilt? Do you have a closed or open cooling system? If closed, was the system checked for leaks? If a failed head gasket pumped air into the coolant, then there should be evidence of coolant in the oil, not to mention a poor-running engine and low compression on at least one

Photo: meddock.com

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cylinder. If the problem has occurred again, did the evidence from the first failure present itself in the same fashion or place the second time?

Unless it took several years for the problem to show the second time, there may be some responsibility on your mechanic’s part to join in the expense reduction with you. — GM ENGINES

Must-Heed Maintenance Commandments

Our resident curmudgeon, outboard expert and Motor Doctor, Grid Michal, recently found an interesting list as he and his brother were culling their father’s papers. Their father, who was with diesel train-engine maker Electromotive in the 1930s and ’40s, had saved a list called “Ten Commandments for Diesel Maintenance” written by Chief Mechanists Mate W.C. Conder who served aboard USS Tatnall, a

U.S. Navy destroyer that served in World War I and WWII. Michal said his many decades of work on outboard engines have convinced him the word “outboard” can be substituted for “diesel” in nearly every instance and not lose a whit of accuracy. DIYers might want to hang this list in their garage or workspace.

1. Thou shalt keep thine engine clean and in adjustment, that thy life in its company shall be long, and that the owner shall increase thy pay.

2. Know thine engine and all its parts and functions, else thou shalt be in some unholy spot.

3. Be not wise in thine own conceit; remember the factory instructions and keep them holy, lest repairs be thy undoing.

4. Be not loose in thine jaw hinges, for no man knoweth all about diesels (outboards).

The truly wise absorbeth much knowledge and exceedeth little, and he who so doeth

shall gain repute among his fellows, and favors among his superiors.

5. For all things in this life that thou desireth thou shalt also pay plenty, and for the wisdom of experience, no less. Advice from the multitudes costeth nothing, and is usually worth just that.

6. In the books thou mayest read what to do, and when, but only the voice of experience may tell the why and how, else thy reading of what and when shall plague thee with smoke.

7. God maketh the Earth to rotate endlessly without bearings or oil, but not thy diesel (outboard).

8. Curse not thine engine when it turneth not. Curse, rather, thine own stupidity.

9. Steam engines and gas engines may long turn over, though sloppy; a diesel (outboard), not so with gauges and mikes.

10. The eternal eye watcheth universal operations, but thou shalt not rely upon it as to thy diesel (outboard). Thine own vigilance is the price thou payest for thy job. BW

Photo: meddock.com

CREATE THE MEMORIES SHARE THE SMILES PASS THE HANDLE

Introduce someone you know to watersports July 23rd, 2017 #PassTheHandle Visit us at connellyskis.com

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Insta

/connellyskis 31

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gear

STU FF YO U WA NT

Floating Tote

$199.99, kayakkaddy.com Hydro Kaddy is a convenient place to stow belongings, ice or the catch of the day, adding valuable storage to any kayak. This tiny trailer for a kayak or SUP is fully customizable with rod holders, gear tracks, GoPro mounts or visibility poles. An adjustable tethering strap is included and doubles as a shoulder strap. The patented design from Extreme Sports Outfitters cuts through the water while paddling to minimize drag and effort for longer trips. The Hydro Kaddy has approximately two cubic feet of internal storage, and can hold up to 50 pounds of cargo. The access hatch is 11 inches in diameter.

Life Aquatic

$419, aquaticav.com The new Aquatic AV AQ-MP-5UBT-S Media Player features Bluetooth, USB and Sirius XM capabilities built in. It also includes an internal USB for device charging and a surface USB socket to connect USB flash drives and smartphone and MP3 player cables.

A built-in 288-watt amplifier will power up to eight speakers, or a combination of eight speakers and subwoofers. Boaters can connect wirelessly via a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone to s tream music and view the track information on the three-inch LCD display. Wired connections can also be made via stereo RCA inputs.

Better in Stereo

$299.99, fusionentertainment.com Fusion’s StereoActive Portable Water Sports Stereo is meant for any aquatic activity that would be enhanced by tunes. This stereo is a fully integrated system that brings crystal clear, audiophile-quality music to SUPs, canoes, hot tubs and more. The battery lasts 20 hours, and the unit floats and features Bluetooth, USB and Garmin compatibility for connecting. Twelve unique voice prompts are available, and a variety of different mounting options accommodate myriad different surfaces.

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Keep Cool

$89.95-$159.95, icemulecooler. com Anglers know that keeping their catch cool helps maximize a day on the water. The new IceMule Pro Catch Cooler comes in three sizes — 22, 32, and 42 inches — and is built for fishing and paddling. The exterior is tough, and the interior fabric can be used with or without a liner. IceMule patented insulated dry-bag technology keeps the catch cool for up to 24 hours. The bag features clips, straps and bungees all over, so boat owners can secure it to a vessel in a multitude of ways.

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All-Around Vision $299.99, 360fly.com

The 360fly HD Video Camera allows watersports enthusiasts to capture all the action with the world’s widest single-lens camera. The device can capture up to 30-frame-per-second videos and tag them with GPS info, with built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and two hours of battery life. The 360fly HD Video Camera is dustproof, shockproof and water resistant. Easily share videos in 90 seconds in fully immersive 360-degree video, VR-compatible footage and 360-degree stills. The HD model has a 16GB capacity at a 1504-by-1504-pixel resolution. There is a compatible app for desktop computers and a mobile app to edit and share footage.

Safety Belt

No Pain Drain

$99.99, westmarine.com The West Marine Manual Inflatable Life Jacket Belt Pack is a compact life jacket for people who are active on the water — boaters, kayakers, standup paddleboarders. Worn around the waist, the pack’s neoprene inner lining is smooth and comfortable on bare skin, and the low profile design allows for full range of motion. The belt pack provides 26 pounds of buoyancy, offering nearly twice the buoyancy of a typical foam life jacket.

Additional features include an attached rescue-call whistle and two zip-closure pockets to keep small items safely stored.

$TBD, volvopenta. com

One of the biggest hassles in winterizing a sterndrive boat is making sure all the water is drained, to prevent catastrophic damage should it freeze.

Previously, this required removing three hoses that are located under the engine in cramped engine compartments. Volvo Penta turned this frustrating chore into one where users merely pull a pin and push what we’re calling “the easy button” to release all the raw water from the engine. The Easy Drain system ties all drainage points from the heat exchanger and seawater pump into one manifold to make it a foolproof process that takes just minutes to complete — even with the boat in the water. This, in effect, extends one’s boating season, because instead of having to perform this task well in advance of a cold front, he can wait until the last minute.

Cool Tunes

$1,500, alpine-usa.com The PWD-CB1 Alpine ICE (In-Cooler Entertainment System) allows for hot tunes and cool beverages by combining a 180-watt sound system and a 56-quart Grizzly cooler. Features include a two-way 5 1/4-inch waterproof speaker system with 4-by-10-inch bass radiators and a compact audio amplifier. A Bluetooth connection streams audio and pairs to a portable device. There’s a 3.5 mm auxiliary input and audio input, plus a 16-foot cable that plugs into a 12v auxiliary power outlet.

SUBMIT YOUR GEAR TO STEPHANIE@BOATINGWORLD.COM

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tested

AVA NTI 82 3 L A N A I DS BA R

Qwest For the Best The Avanti 823 Lanai DS Bar pushes the luxury bar for compact pontoons even higher.

BY ALAN JONES

E

ARLY COMPACT PONTOONS FROM A certain company that brought us “barges”

were the very definition of spartan. The goal was to hit a low nationally advertised price that anyone could afford, and it was obviously a successful strategy. Once pontooners got a taste of the lifestyle and the versatility of these tubed wonders, however, they wanted more, and that’s where Qwest Pontoons comes in. Qwest management quickly discovered luxury sells and started building its smaller boats with more upscale amenities, which became its niche in a very competitive segment. Its LS (Luxury Series) models became huge sellers, and even though the standard models are pretty plush, the sales team noticed most of its boats were rolling out of the factory in St. Louis, Mich., maxed with options. That observation led to the next evolution of the Qwest family: the Avanti Series, whose models are the builder’s most extensively equipped pontoons ever, with even more high-end finishes and longer lengths.

UNIQUE FACTOR

Stepping aboard the Avanti Lanai 823, I immediately noticed the upscale seating.

The settees have high backs for comfort and contrasting pinstripes for good looks. The upholstery has a unique, linen-like texture that feels great, and its surface diffuses the sun’s rays, so it stays cooler on blazing hot days like we had for our test. Called Comfort Touch, the 33-ounce expanded vinyl undergoes an embossing process that gives it its unique appearance and its sun-diffusing quality. The upholstery comes in tan or light gray and features pleated panels for textural contrast.

On the rear deck, which Qwest calls its social platform, is an aft-facing bench that features striking striped Sunbrella upholstery, to better weather the elements.

The rear deck is huge and not just an overhang, which is how some other builders do it; it’s fully supported by the tubes.

Although Qwest builds many dedicated fishing models, such as the Pro Troll series, the Avanti’s rear-deck setup is a good one for fishing, especially on the three Fishtail models, which include two stern 34

fishing chairs and a large rigging station in between that has cupholders, vertical rod racks, rod holders for trolling and a large working surface that does double duty as a place to present food.

PERFORMANCE

Our test boat featured the Gen II Triple Tube (TT) setup, which includes three 24-inch tubes that all have lifting strakes on both sides. The TT option ($5,064) means owners can power this 23-footer with up to 175 hp, but our test boat featured the Honda BF150, which has many of the same high-performance features as its flagship model, the BF250. Honda bases many of its outboard designs on its car engines, and the BF150’s 2.4L four-cylinder dual-overhead block is the marinized version of the engine in its Accord and CRV models, so it has billions of miles of realworld experience under its belt. Pushed by the Honda and aided by the lifting power of its six strakes, the Avanti 823 Lanai got on plane in 2.9 seconds. The Honda BF150 features Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Timing (VTEC), which ensures

power that comes on strong and acceleration that’s smooth throughout its power curve, as evidenced by the Qwest’s time to 30 mph of 7.8 seconds. Top speed for the 2,650-pound boat was 37 mph.

HANDLING

The Avanti features a new fiberglass helm design that has three flat surfaces for mounting items such as the standard Humminbird Helix 5 fishfinder/GPS display front and center and a standard

With strakes on the outside of the outboard tubes, it corners very flat and hooks up well.

Infinity Bluetooth stereo controller to the right, to operate a six-speaker stereo that includes a subwoofer. The captain even has a refrigerated cupholder with an on/off switch to conserve battery power.

Some observers might question Qwest’s use of tubes smaller than the usual 25-inchers, but for its pontoons, tubes that size would be a bit of overkill. The seats are built in house and are constructed with Dura-Lite bases and an Ultra Flow seat ventilation system to keep biology experiments from forming. Given its light weight

(Clockwise from top right) This Qwest is ready for entertaining with an amidships bar and a stern flip-up snack table. One of the many standard features is the hose, which facilitates quick cleanups. The all-new fiberglass helm station comes with a Humminbird Helix 5 GPS/ fishfinder and is in close proximity to all of the other seating aboard.

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owner feedback

Purchased by Jeff and Laura Pike, plus Logan, 12, and Summer, 7, New Germany, Minn.

Purchased at Foster Bros.

Marine, Delano, Minn.

W H AT W E L I K E D :

Huge amount of storage/Entertainment center and bar/Luxurious upholstery/Great performance and handling/Roomy layout/ Large number of standard features W H AT W E W O U L D C H A N G E :

We wish it had a centerline storage area for skis and jackets.

WHY WE BOUGHT IT:

We previously had an old pontoon with a 25 hp outboard and liked being out on the water, but its performance made it impossible to do more than just idle around. We wanted to upgrade to a tri-toon with a larger motor so we could do things like take the kids skiing and tubing. We were really impressed with the huge list of standard features that were options on other pontoon brands. We do most of our boating on Lake Minnetonka and Lake Waconia, and we like to cruise around and entertain. Thanks to the standard GPS/ fishfinder and rear bench seat, it’s a great boat for fishing for walleye and crappie. On Minnetonka, there’s a sandbar near Big Island where we hang out with other boaters. We like to go to restaurants such as Maynards and Lord Fletcher’s Old Lake Lodge. Our buying experience at Foster Bros. was outstanding.

Mark Foster really went out of his way to take great care of us. After the sale, he gave us some great tips on trailering and driving the boat. When we have any questions, we just call him and he is happy to help us.

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and its narrow 8-foot beam, the Avanti has plenty of flotation. The Gen II TT setup, with six lifting strakes, rides high in the water and easily supports the maximum 12 passengers it’s rated for. To reduce spray and prevent submarining when crossing large boat wakes, oversize nosecone caps are used at the bow. Its six-strake setup gives the tubes a wider footprint, which keeps the boat more stable and less prone to rocking in beam-sea conditions, and reduces the speed necessary to keep it on plane (14.9 mph), which is a handy trait when towing small kids on tubes. With strakes on the outside of the outboard tubes, it corners very flat and hooks up well.

Our test boat featured the DS Bar floorplan, which is one of nine offered.

Just behind the high-back captain’s chair is a bar that features cupholders and a large working surface for drink and snack assembly and presentation. In the drawer is a knife holder to reduce cutlery rattle, and there’s a pull-out cutting board.

Underneath resides a padded cooler customized with the Qwest name. At the stern is a flip-up table for more hors d’oeuvre display space. There’s a matching captain’s chair for additional seating around the bar, and to port is a comfortable recliner sofa with yet a third captain’s chair opposite the helm.

BEST USES

PREFERRED SETUP

The large number of floorplans makes it easy to find the right model for a buyer’s particular lifestyle, and the DS Bar setup is ideal for both entertaining and for watersports. The TT tube package includes a sturdy dual-tube ski tow bar that sits high above the Honda. The rear captain’s chair and aft-facing recliner to port make ideal ski spotter seats, and the driver has a large rearview mirror that’s part of the TT package. An aluminum underskin and hydraulic steering also come with the TT package. There’s no in-floor ski storage locker, which preserves the clean look of the optional faux gray teak flooring. Don’t look for carpeting, because Qwest doesn’t offer it. Instead, standard flooring is a vinyl weave. The large rear deck has plenty of room for sports staging and a curved boarding ladder for extra easy reentry.

Because the Avanti comes totally loaded, there are only a few options to consider.

Owners who enjoy some shade are in luck, thanks to a rear Bimini extension ($434) and a forward Bimini ($582). Qwest incorporates an easy-to-use quick-release mechanism on its Bimini tops. For nighttime excursions, the $579 lighting package includes LED lighting beneath the outer deck and two underwater lights. Interior lighting and dock lights are standard.

There’s a playpen mooring cover for $964.

A trailer option is available from Qwest dealers. One option that will be a hit is the LilliPad diving boat, which will easily install on the swim platform and provide endless hours of kid fun. Its clever design doesn’t transmit the force of the dive to the boat itself, and it’s easy to detach when not in use. BW

Specs Length 24 ft. Beam 8 ft. Tube Diameter 24 in. Capacity 12 people Dry Weight (hull) 2,650 lbs. Fuel Capacity 25 gal.

Max HP 175 (Tri Toon) PERFORMANCE Peak 37.0 mph/6000 rpm/91 dBA Cruise 20.3 mph/4000 rpm/80 dBA Time to Plane 2.9 sec.

Time to 30 mph 7.8 sec.

POWER Test Honda BF150 four-stroke Cylinders In-line 4 Displacement 2.4L Weight w/outdrive 478 lbs.

WOT Range 5000-6000 rpm Base Price w/test power $46,590 Value-Added Standard Features: Bimini top, refrigerated cupholder, ski tow, interior mood lighting, Humminbird Helix 5, 6-speaker Infinity Bluetooth stereo w/subwoofer, cooler, RAM cellphone holder Must-Have Options: Playpen mooring cover, trailer, LilliPad diving board, exterior and underwater lights, triple tubes, front and rear Bimini top extensions Builder: Apex Marine, qwestpontoons.com Financing: $334/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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tested

CUT WATER 242 S P O RT CO U PE

Let the Sun Shine In The Cutwater 242 Sport Coupe model features an open design that brings the outside inside.

BY ALAN JONES

F

EW TRAILER BOATERS DON’T HARBOR the secret desire to own a yacht. The thought of having the ability to load up a boat with supplies and embark on an extended cruise to places landlubbers can’t reach — and do it in comfort — is a powerful dream. But most owners don’t want to give up the ability to fish or do watersports, so they shove aside that fantasy. And that’s where the Cutwater 242 Sport Coupe comes in.

UNIQUE FACTOR

The minute I saw the 242 SC sitting at the dock, I immediately realized it is a different sort of vessel. For one thing, it’s a substantial looking craft — a high bow with tall rails — that reeks of seaworthiness. Its “skyline” hints at its interior spaciousness, but the Yamaha F300 at the stern and the open rear deck and swim platform immediately point to a fishing boat. The tall pull-up ski pylon just happened to be deployed when I first saw it, which let me know what this boat is really designed for:

he said nothing, but he opened an in-floor hatch to reveal a Westerbeke gas generator.

The ramification was immediate: air conditioning! Now we’re talking. They are pricey options — $15,000 for the generator and $3,240 for the A/C — but they greatly expand the boat’s geographic comfort zone.

Alaska’s in the picture with the optional diesel forced-air furnace heater, for $4,250.

PERFORMANCE

I was curious to check out the performance of the 242 SC with only a single

At speed, the 242 feels very nimble and responds quickly to course changes. everything. It’s also 8 feet, 6 inches wide, so it can be towed without jumping through any regulatory hoops.

I do most of my boating in Florida, and the most popular style of fishing boat down here is a center console, so the first thing a boater like me thinks when he sees a mostly enclosed cabin is the interior is going to be like a sauna. But when I was talking to Rob Stott, the Cutwater rep in Jensen Beach, Fla., where we tested it, he mentioned this boat had been sold to someone in the Bahamas. Seeing one of my eyebrows rise, 38

Yamaha F300, considering the boat is nearly 29 feet long from tip to tail (including the engine) and weighs 4,900 pounds.

It features an ultra-sharp 24 degrees of deadrise, which makes it harder to get out of the hole, but its large reversed outer chines counter that by providing lift, and a 13-degree planing pad assists with planing, stabilizes it during launch and helps it track straight.

The 242 Sport Coupe features a double-stepped hull, which has some advantages … and a few quirks. One thing

I’ve noticed over the years when driving stepped-hull boats is that they are a bit slow to get rolling. With the standard trim tabs down, we jammed the drive-by-wire throttle and the Cutwater gathered pace smoothly to get on plane in 5.7 seconds.

Its time to 30 mph was a bit stately at 16.1 seconds, but it’s at about that speed that the stepped-hull advantages start to kick in. Because the steps introduce air under the hull, drag is greatly reduced, delivering higher-than-normal speeds and improved fuel economy. And this was borne out by its exceptional top speed of 45 mph. Yamaha techs ran numbers on this boat with the same model engine and were able to coax 50 mph out of it.

HANDLING

One of the many advantages of the 242 SC’s stepped hull and steep deadrise is its ability to keep cruising through a moderate chop without getting beaten up. As long as the trim isn’t too high, the boat’s sharp leading edge acts as a cleaver and avoids pounding. At speed, the 242 feels very nimble and responds quickly to course changes. Certain stepped-hull boats can lose traction during hard turns. Another potential issue is boats with 24 degrees of deadrise are prone to heeling over nearly to the gunwales. During our test, we had added difficulties thanks to the narrow channel we were running in and a freakishly low tide that day. Stott was gracious enough to allow me to demonstrate its turning ability in this tight arena, so either I was going to be a hero or a zero on the rocks.

Stepping behind the real wood wheel — little, if anything, on this boat was faux — I checked out the Garmin 7610 GPS set into the real carbon-fiber dash to find out where I could run. Scootching to the far right

(Clockwise from top right) At the helm, the driver grips a real wood sports-car–style wheel.

A built-in cooler hides under a seat cushion. One of the more innovative features is the removable Kenyon grill. A high/low wood dinette table drops down to form a berth. The galley has a deep stainless steel sink. The V-berth has plenty of room for two adults to sleep in comfort.

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For fishing, rod holders are standard, and two elevated jumpseats are perfect for watching a trolling spread in comfort.

An aft sunshade ($1,090) should keep the cockpit cool during a fight with resistant quarry. Despite the hot Florida day we had for our test, we didn’t even need the air conditioning thanks to the airflow through the salon. The sunroof can be revealed by removing canvas panels (they were a little unwieldy to put back on). The side windows have cutouts to provide ventilation too, though it would be useful to be able to open and close the gap as needed. of the channel, I whipped it hard over to port and the boat started carving a really tight arc thanks to Cutwater’s Laminar Flow Interrupter technology, which breaks surface suction and provides lift at the bow to give it great cornering ability in hard turns. The 242 heeled over, but not excessively, because of reversed hard chines that push back during cornering.

Back at the tight marina basin after the test, I pulled up to a gnarly concrete seawall to let Stott jump off and get the trailer. We had a bit of wind and tide, but I was able to pull an ace out of my sleeve in the form of a Lewmar bow thruster ($2,499 with batteries) that allowed me to spin the boat around in that cramped space with ease.

PREFERRED SETUP

Cutwater loaded up the 242 SC with standard features, as evidenced by a well-appointed stateroom that has a V-berth with a high/low table to provide a larger sleeping area at night and a working surface during the day. There was plenty of headroom for my six-foot frame, even in the head compartment, which is very yacht-like and comes with a pumpout marine head and a hot-water shower. For entertaining, there’s a standard TV/DVD combo, and the off-the-rack stereo is a top-of-the-line six-speaker Bluetooth Fusion that comes with a subwoofer. On the foredeck is a full-blown lounger chair. Underwater lights are standard.

Only a few options are needed in addition to the ones mentioned, including a windlass that is available for a reasonable $1,199. Of course, owners will want to take the show on the road, so a factory aluminum trailer is an option for $10,740. BW

BEST USES

The Cutwater 242 SC is equally good as a dayboat or a weekender, especially if advanced on-water dining is your thing.

One of its most clever innovations, which shows off its multitaskiness, is found by flipping up a transom hatch to reveal a standard Kenyon grill. My first thought was that it eats up a lot of prime fishing real estate. But this one can be removed to reveal a huge livewell. Just to port, another hatch reveals an insulated cooler. Dining in the salon is a yacht-like experience at the dinette, whose wooden table can be lowered to help form a berth. The fabric for the cushions, both inside and out, is striped and imbues a tropical feel. Flippable seatbacks at the dinette deliver more seating flexibility. The galley comes well-equipped with a microwave and a 12v refrigerator/ freezer. For cleanups, there are three sinks throughout the boat.

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Specs Length 25 ft., 11 in. (w/pulpit) Beam 8 ft., 6 in. Deadrise 24 degrees Capacity Yacht certified Dry Weight (hull) 4,900 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 116 gal. Max HP 300 PERFORMANCE Peak 45.0 mph/5100 rpm/93 dBA Cruise 32.3 mph/4000 rpm/84 dBA Time to Plane 5.7 sec.

Time to 30 mph 16.1 sec.

POWER Test Yamaha F300 four-stroke Cylinders V-6 Displacement 4.2L Weight w/outdrive 562 lbs.

WOT Range 5000-6000 rpm Base Price w/test power $119,937 Value-Added Standard Features: Kenyon grill, refrigerator/freezer, TV/DVD, hot-water shower, 6-speaker Fusion stereo w/subwoofer, Garmin 7610 GPS/chartplotter, underwater lights, microwave Must-Have Options: Trailer, generator, A/C unit, autopilot, windlass, aft sunshade, downrigger plugs and plates, auxiliary bracket w/Yamaha F9.9, bow thruster Builder: Cutwater Boats, cutwaterboats.com Financing: $860/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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tested

AVA LO N C ATA LI N A PL ATI N U M 2785 Q UA D LO U N G ER

Platinum Upgrade The Catalina series gets elevated styling and remains multitalented.

BY ALAN JONES

F

OR 2017, AVALON GIVES A Platinum bump in luxury to its Catalina series to create the 2785 Quad Lounger, a pontoon with a style all its own that’s made for watersports and entertaining.

UNIQUE FACTOR

The Art Deco period made curves mixed with geometric shapes ultramodern, and it’s a style that still holds up, as evidenced by Avalon Pontoons models that channel the Deco era, which makes them recognizable all the way across the lake.

The Catalina Platinum series uses Deco 2 two-tone retro exterior panels, and buyers have plenty of color choices to help make one their own. Outside toward the bow are three chrome vents on each side that observers might assume are merely design elements but are actually functional. They create air flow into the storage area under the forward chaise lounges, to keep things dry underneath.

The sportiness factor is increased by the addition of a Decosport tower ($8,438) whose stylized struts support a generous shade-producing Bimini top. The canvas can be removed easily thanks to a no-snap design that uses Velcro instead. Integrated into the tower are two lighted speakers, and there’s an option to add a pair of coffee-can speakers that can be rotated for optimum effect, for $1,367. A rarity among pontoon boats is a full windshield that’s smoked for a little extra cool factor.

Inside, the Deco furniture is all new for 2017 and is unlike anything we’ve seen, with sculpted sections on top of backrests that are highlighted with black accents.

The overstuffed foam underneath is extra plush, and the Matrix 50 Soft Touch vinyl seats seem to hug passengers. The 42

intricate kick panels up front are made possible by the aluminum furniture frames and have quintessential Deco-style vents that radiate off the stereo speakers and also help promote air flow. Instead of the usual round, white cockpit table, there’s a smoked acrylic model that has chrome wire cupholders. And for a cleaner look, the inside fencing is covered by composite panels that hide the aluminum skeleton.

PERFORMANCE

The Ensign II fiberglass helm is a new look for Avalon and features a sculpted

At night, the 2785 Quad Lounger is positively aglow with mood lighting.

Black Soft Touch wraparound design for better gauge viewing. There are a couple of surprising standard features, including the Garmin Striker 5DV color GPS fishfinder, which provides a great view of the bottom — a useful thing even for non-anglers.

Mechanical speedometers on pontoon boats have always been problematic due to placement issues, but on the 2785 Catalina Platinum, a GPS speedometer is standard and is really helpful for towing skiers of

all types, allowing the driver to dial in the proper speed.

Powering our test boat was a Suzuki DF250SS with a sporty flat-black finish and bold red graphics. Although this outboard was originally designed for tournament bass boats and high-performance flats boats, it’s a great choice for pontoons.

It features a best-in-class 4.0L displacement, which allows it to make “easy” power, and has a low 2.08:1 gear ratio, allowing it to swing a larger prop and move more water. Out of the hole, the Suzuki pushed this 27-foot, 5-inch-long pontoon to plane in just 2.8 seconds. Time to 30 mph was 7.4 seconds and top speed was 40.2 mph, though the Suzuki only reached 5200 rpm — far short of its 6300 rpm max.

HANDLING

Avalon gives owners several options to improve handling over the standard two-pontoon setup. Based on budget and need, the progression upward starts with a basic $3,281 triple-tube package that adds a 25-inch center tube. The center tube can be upgraded to an Express log with lifting fins for $4,061. The first major jump is the Waveglider 25” Performance Package ($8,281), which has lifting fins (strakes) on both sides of all three 25-inch pontoons and other goodies such as an aluminum underskin. This configuration is ideal for owners who tend to load their boat with up to 14 people; it also delivers improved performance, since the fins are lifting as much of the pontoon out of the water as possible to reduce drag. The downside comes during hard cornering, because the tracking fins on the outside of the outer tubes “push back” and result in a flat attitude in corners. If maneuverability is high on the list of must-dos, the AXT7 Extreme

(Clockwise from top right) The stern battery box doubles as a snack table. The swim platform is extra-wide. The upholstery is sculpted with black accent panels. A high-back captain’s chair to port matches the skipper’s. The helm features a Garmin Striker 5DV GPS/fishfinder. The windshield opens wide for easy bow access. An acrylic cockpit table has cutouts for wine glasses. Store skis in the centerline locker.

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owner feedback Turning Package ($10,820), which our test boat had, is the ultimate. It has a larger 27-inch center tube with twin turning fins and 25-inch outer tubes that have the fins only on the inside. The larger center tube and fin configuration promotes a healthy bit of inward lean, enabling the driver to spin the included power steering wheel quickly for a crisp turn.

BEST USES

Purchased by Peter and Laura Foster, Moresville, N.C. Purchased at North Point Watersports, Moresville, N.C. W H AT W E L I K E D :

Beautiful styling/Quiet and powerful Yamaha F200/Spill-friendly upholstery/Rear-facing recliners/Easy-to-deploy Bimini top W H AT W E W O U L D C H A N G E :

We would like an onboard refrigerator for beverages and food.

WHY WE BOUGHT IT:

Our two-tube pontoon boat was getting old, and we wanted something with more performance and better seakeeping ability, so we did a lot of research before we walked into North Point Watersports. I went one way and my wife made a beeline straight for the Avalon and said, “This is the one I want.” When I saw it I totally agreed. It had everything we wanted: three tubes, a big engine, a great layout and amazing looks. We do our boating on Lake Norman, a large lake frequented by lots of go-fast boats owned by NASCAR drivers. Slow, clunky boats stick out here. The Yamaha is really quiet and smooth and makes driving the Avalon feel like we are in a luxury car. We love to go out early in the morning by ourselves, and late in the day we’ll invite friends along for a sunset cruise while listening to music on the amazing stereo. We both ski and want to learn to wakeboard this summer. North Point Watersports did a great job from start to finish. I’ve been in sales for 30 years and I could tell immediately I was in good hands. There was no pressure and they took lots of time to show me how everything operated after we bought it.

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Our test boat was set up to be a watersports machine, but it can entertain with the best. The Quad Lounger setup includes twin rear-reclining stern lounges that are ideal for spotting, spectating and lounging, and the Platinum Edition includes twin stern storage compartments that open like a car’s trunk and make it easy to store all the skis and equipment. The rear deck is huge on this boat and includes standard Better-Than-Teak flooring with Deco carpeting inside the fences. Also included in the Extreme Turning Package is a stainless steel ski tow, so skiers and tubers have a lower tow point, in addition to the Decosport tower option. The stainless steel four-step boarding ladder with oversized grab bars is elegant and functional.

For entertaining, the standard stereo is an Infinity four-speaker system, but the JL Audio upgrade ($3,672) our pontoon had is a serious upgrade. Underneath the stern ski tow is a box containing batteries and other rigging apparatus, and its greatest utility is to provide a snack display board complete with cupholders. At night, the 2785 Quad Lounger is positively aglow with mood

lighting on speakers, cupholders, side vents and the floor. To beef this up, add underrubrail lighting for $719 and underwater lighting for $313.

PREFERRED SETUP

Avalon’s Platinum Catalina package begins with a number of upgrades, including the twin Ambassador high-backed captain’s chairs. And for once, someone built a seat tall enough to make the ever-popular headrest bump function as it was intended instead of jabbing passengers in the shoulder blades. The helm can be upgraded to a raised platform, but it’s pretty pricey at $1,266.

For recreational skiers, replacing the Decosport tower with a standard Bimini top might make more sense, since there’s a ski tow on the stern already with the highly recommended Extreme Turning Package tube setup. For added shade, include an extra Bimini for $1,719 or add some pizzazz with an electric Bimini ($1,367).

The 2785 is highly transformable to handle different missions. Turning this Avalon into a floating camper is incredibly easy thanks to the full enclosure ($5,313) and the filler option ($719), which turns the bow section into a bigger-than-king-size bed. For hardcore anglers, the Catalina Fish is probably the way to go, but thanks to the 2785’s huge fore and aft decks, it can be fished up by including options such as a livewell ($305) and a trolling motor plug ($205). The rear-deck storage box makes a great rigging station and place to mount aftermarket rod holders. BW

Specs Length 27 ft., 5 in. Beam 8 ft., 6 in. Tube Diameter 25 in./27 in./25 in. Capacity 14 people Dry Weight (hull) 2,650 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 29/45 gals. Max HP 300 PERFORMANCE Peak 40.2 mph/5200 rpm/92 dBA Cruise 28.1 mph/4000 rpm/79 dBA Time to Plane 2.8 sec.

Time to 30 mph 7.4 sec.

POWER Test Suzuki DF250SS four-stroke Cylinders V-6 Displacement 4.0L Weight w/outdrive 578 lbs.

WOT Range 5300-6300 rpm Base Price w/test power $72,586 Value-Added Standard Features: Infinity 4-speaker Bluetooth stereo, Garmin Striker 5DV color fishfinder, trash can, GPS speedometer, 3-in. rubrail, full cover, Bimini top, suspension seating, twin Ambassador high-back chairs Must-Have Options: Trailer, Decosport tower, AXT7 Extreme Turning Package, Sea-Star hydraulic steering, Saltwater Package, electric Bimini, livewell, in-floor ski storage Builder: Avalon Pontoons, avalonpontoons.com Financing: $523/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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bonehead blunders

BY G R I D M I CH A L

No Good Deed…

BONEHEAD BLUNDER: Lack of civility —

and engine care THE BONEHEAD: Mr. Intimidator BONEHEAD RATING: A full five WHAT HAPPENED: Last August I got a call from a guy whose family had been friends with my mother’s family a century ago (seriously). Despite that, I’d never worked on any boat he owned, until… He said every time he slowed his engine down it shut off before he reached the dock, and he wanted me to “slip by” that afternoon and fix it. At that point, The Nurse and I were working 18-hour days with no letup in sight, so I left a message thanking him for calling, but no.

Late February, another call: Boat’s in the yard, “slip by” and fi x it. He thought he’d fi xed it with a $400 part a dealer had sold him — read about it on the ’net, so that had to be the cure, right? — but the problem was still there. I didn’t make any special effort, but I did go by, where I noted several things: 1) Seven rusty wires attached with vice grips to the positive battery post probably accounted for hard starting — unheard of on a Suzuki 140 with EFI. 2) The engine was covered with rust and corrosion where water had poured out the hole where the oxygen tester screws in.

3) His crankcase was full of gas and oil mix.

Dealing with the easy stuff first, I (fortunately) broke no bolts removing the thermostat housing and then replaced the stuck-open thermostat: the source of gas in the oil. I changed the oil and filter, then sprayed the entire powerhead with anti-corrosion spray. I ignored the battery post. For a triage repair, I ground out the rotten metal for the O2 sensor and installed a brass plug. That works forever 99.9 percent of the time. Little did I know this was the 0.1 percent. I sent him a recap of what I’d done along with a very reasonable invoice.

Thirty days later I’d not been paid. Fortyfive days later I received a check without the rebilling charge. Forty-seven days later I’m told, “The plug’s leaking, there’s water

in the oil, boat’s in the yard, fix it now.”

Sure enough, the plug hadn’t worked, so I ground everything flat and bolted in a nice, gasketed aluminum plate. I explained to him that gas in the oil was different than water in the oil, which it had not had before, and he needed to get the base that the oil filter screwed onto, then change his oil and filter.

While I was there and had my laptop, I told him I’d do a download from his ECM just for his information about the engine’s history. I emailed it to him when I got home.

Easter Sunday comes a text: “Grid: went for a boat ride today and engine only turned 4000. I think you need to bring your old computer back and reset my motor. Call me tomorrow.” Twelve hours later, 0400 Monday morning, I’m still wondering if my return text — explaining that all the laptop did was take info from

HAS YOUR DOG GOT THE SALT?

BONEHEAD RATING SYSTEM Acceptably assinine Slightly slow Distinguished dunce Massively moronic Seek mental help

the ECM, and he should try changing water-in-oil fouled plugs first — got through to him.

LESSON LEARNED: I just don’t think this saga has an end. A couple of years ago a son-in-law gave me a big wooden doubleopen-end wrench that says Can’t Fix Stupid. I always thought he meant me. I think it’s time to pass the torch… BW

Enter your pooch in our Salty Dog of the Month contest.

Email your pet’s photo and name, your name, address and phone number to editor@boatingworld.com, or snail mail to Boating World Salty Dog Contest, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. Your pet could win a cool PFD from CWB.

This month’s Boating World Salty Dog will win this cool CWB dog vest.

*Shown above is our current prize, a CWB Dog Vest valued at $24.95. Prizes are subject to change.

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tested

B U LLE T 21S D C

Faster Than a Speeding…

Bullet’s newest tournament-style bassin’ wagon puts owners on the fast track to catching more fish.

BY ALAN JONES

T

HERE ARE TWO KINDS OF fishing holes during a tournament: the one you are fishing

on and the one someone else is fishing because he got there first. And that’s where the 21SDC comes in, but there’s one big downside. If you lose the tournament, you won’t be able to blame the boat.

UNIQUE FACTOR

Bullet is essentially a custom builder that marches to its own beat. It is one of only 6 percent of U.S. manufacturers that don’t belong to the National Marine Manufacturing Association’s (NMMA) certification program, so its boats won’t display a yellow plate that shows maximum passengers, weight or even max horsepower. It does abide by Coast Guard regulations, though, and those say that a boat more than 20 feet long isn’t subject to the aforementioned restrictions. In other words, Bullet don’t need no badges.

Of course, common sense should be the watchword here. The way the boat is set up, a payload of two anglers is ideal and three doable, but any more than that will require a different kind of boat. Like Superman, it’s “bulletproof,” with a Kevlar-reinforced hand-laid hull that’s cored for light weight.

A Bullet spokesman points out that no fiberglass chop is used in its construction: “We don’t even own a chop gun.”

The DC in the 21SDC’s name stands for dual console, and the co-angler will enjoy having the same protection as the primary.

This might be the first tournament bass boat I’ve tested where the co-angler has nearly as much square footage on the rear casting deck as the primary has up front, largely because of its narrow bow profile.

The 21SDC bucks the modern trend of bass boats having a tall dash that can

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accommodate flush-mounted big-screen electronics. Same goes for the bow section.

But there is an optional bracket, so owners can mount a display on top of the dash without having to look at it through the wheel. Bullet offers either a Humminbird Helix 9 with a bracket for $2,000 or the 12-inch model for $3,000.

PERFORMANCE

The dominating design elements of the 21SDC are its narrow profile and light weight. Everything on this boat is designed to maximize its speed. With a 91-inch beam, it’s five inches narrower than the Ranger Z21 at its widest, and even more so in the bow section, and at 1,380 pounds it’s 570 pounds lighter, which translates to higher speed. With a direct-injected two-stroke Mercury OptiMax 250 Pro XS, it reached a blazing 82.1 mph. When I tromped the standard Hot Foot throttle, it exhibited surprisingly little bowrise during its holeshot as it reached plane in just 2.7 seconds. It took a beat for the OptiMax’s prop to hook up, but when it did, the boat accelerated hard and clocked 7.2 seconds from zero to 30 mph.

A good call is the standard trim stalk right at the wheel, so the driver can keep both hands on the wheel for control. The fuel tank holds just 36 gallons, so the available time at wide-open throttle is limited, though it can be extended by twin optional

auxiliary tanks, which hold 11 gallons each.

Mercury is Bullet’s choice for motors and, in theory, one could power the 21SDC with more horsepower, such as Mercury Racing’s 300XS — a factory bored-out 3.2L version of the 250 Pro XS, which displaces 3.0L and also weighs 505 pounds. An out-there option is Mercury’s supercharged 400R, but it weighs 668 pounds, which could affect the boat’s excellent balance, starting with increased bowrise. By all reasonable yardsticks, the 250 Pro XS is the right engine for this boat. Besides, anyone dreaming about fishing in the big leagues will be restricted to no more than a 250 anyway — power that seemed to work out well for Bullet pro Andy Morgan, who won FLW Angler of the year in 2013 and 2014.

Bullet will pre-rig for a Yamaha and let the dealer finish the job.

HANDLING

During our test of the new 21SDC, we

A cooler resides under the jumpseat between twin SAS Quad-Spring seats. The co-angler has lots of stern real estate and a deluxe fishing seat.

Up front, a locker can hold Plano boxes or fishing rods. The helm can accommodate a bracketmounted fishfinder. Bullet’s narrow, pointy bow gives it a sleek, predatory look. A divided livewell separates the catch for culling.

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owner feedback

Purchased by Donnie Feagle, Lake City, Fla. Purchased at McDuffy Marine and Sporting Goods, Lake City, Fla. W H AT I L I K E D :

Light weight and speed/Ability to run and float in shallow water/Abundance of rod storage/Improved two-lid livewell/Great cornering ability at speed/Rough-water ride W H AT I W O U L D C H A N G E :

I added a metal plate to the floorboard in order to move the Hot Foot throttle pedal to a more ergonomically correct position.

WHY I BOUGHT IT:

I like to fish in Open and Extreme Bass fishing tournaments in north central Florida, especially the ones on the Suwannee River where I do most of my fishing. I also organize a local tournament to raise money to fight breast cancer, which claimed my wife a few years ago (suwanneeawareness.com). I’ve had a boat since I was 17 and have owned many different brands, but the 21SDC is the best boat I’ve ever owned. I have it rigged with a Yamaha VMAX SHO 250 and it runs nearly 82 mph. I fished a tournament on Lake Okeechobee, and despite 2-foot waves I was able to run near 80 mph in comfort. McDuffy Marine’s service is fantastic. The service techs gave me their cellphone number, and I called them on a Sunday (their day off) and they talked me through a problem I had.

[We jokingly asked Donnie to go out and catch a 10-pound bass for the photo. He caught this 8-pounder instead.]

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found out why the company is named Bullet. But while speed on a tournament bass boat is important, without stability it’s a recipe for disaster. The start of a tournament — even some club events — is chaos personified. It’s a drag race to the best fishing spots, and niggling details such as 100 boat wakes amplified by the wind won’t cause competitive anglers to let up on the throttle. On test day on giant Lake Lanier, north of Atlanta, there was a brisk breeze to help test the Bullet’s rough-water ride. The 21SDC’s deadrise of 22 degrees is unusually deep for a bass boat and helped provide a surprisingly smooth ride with slicing action that was amplified by its narrow beam.

This configuration felt a little spooky when we crossed a parallel boat wake at speed, because it does heel over more than some, but it remained easily controllable.

The two SAS Quad-Spring seats helped smooth the ride in the chop, and I appreciated their uncluttered design that didn’t feature any weird protrusions toward the top. The rider in the center gets “jumpseated” on a less elaborate perch that flips down to form the step-up to the rear deck.

The step-up to the front deck could serve as a fourth seat.

BEST USES

In case it isn’t clear, the 21SDC isn’t a crappie boat. It’s designed for bass fishing, professionally, at the club level or during weekend excursions for personal glory. In the bow section, aka the primary angler’s office, there are three main storage compartments. The portside locker is

the dedicated rod storage area with nine built-in tubes to protect fragile tips, but the center locker is voluminous and is extralong, so it can also be used for rod storage or it can be loaded up with Plano tackle boxes like the one to starboard. The livewell has a double aerator system with a FlowRite air injector with two lids and a divider to keep potential culls separate and secure.

Being essentially a custom company, Bullet will trick out the boat to the buyer’s preference, including the placement of the trolling motor footwell. It will even let buyers choose the material they want the hull cored with: either standard balsa or composite.

PREFERRED SETUP

Bullet makes sure owners start with everything they need to go straight to the lake, including a custom Boatmate trailer, for $73,500. That price includes needed items such as a battery charger, hydraulic SeaStar Pro Steering, a Hydrodynamics Rapid hydraulic jack plate and a MotorGuide 24v trolling motor. Buyers get their choice of gel or flake in whatever color they want. At the helm, Mercury SmartCraft gauges are standard, as is the upscale Gussi steering wheel. We’re a little surprised the padded foredeck was an option ($750), given the long days most bass anglers spend on the water. Lithium Pro batteries are a $3,000 option, including the charger. For fishing on shallow bodies of water, a pair of Power Poles ($4,500) is the preferred anchoring solution, for their speed and quietude. BW

Specs Length 21 ft., 10 in. Beam 7 ft., 7 in. Deadrise 22 degrees Capacity N/A Dry Weight (hull) 1,380 lbs. Fuel Capacity 36 gal.

Max HP N/A PERFORMANCE Peak 82.1 mph/6000 rpm/97 dBA Cruise 55 mph/4500 rpm/86 dBA Time to Plane 2.7 sec.

Time to 30 mph 7.2 sec.

POWER Test Mercury Pro XS 250 direct-injected two-stroke Cylinders V-6 Displacement 3.0L Weight w/outdrive 505 lbs. WOT Range 5500-6000 rpm Base Price w/test power $73,500 Value-Added Standard Features: Dual-axle Boatmate trailer, battery charger, SeaStar Pro Steering hydraulic system, Hydrodynamics Rapid hydraulic jack plate, Gussi steering wheel, trolling motor Must-Have Options: Power-Pole anchoring system, choice of electronics, padded front casting deck, Lithium Pro battery w/charger Builder: Bullet Boats, bulletboats.com Financing: $527/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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Just a Swipe Away

Enjoy Boating World no matter where you are. Our iPad app offers exclusive digital extras like videos and photo galleries — add bookmarks, zoom in and share stories with friends and family. Join our team and be enlightened, entertained and inspired.

Download and Subscribe Now Visit boatingworld.com/iPad

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WATERSPORTS HOTSPOTS

BY ZENON BILAS

N O R R I S L AK E

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Photo Courtesy Moomba Boats

Summer is in high gear, so maybe it’s time to take the watersports show on the road. We have 20 potential destinations for families and their boat.

The United States has a variety of waterways that offer a diverse experience for watersports fanatics, from waterskiing and barefooting to wakeboarding and wakesurfing to tubing. From smaller lakes that dot the upper Midwest and Northeast to dammed sections of rivers that have been transformed into large bodies of water in the West to lakes specifically designed for waterskiing, the U.S. has a waterway that will suit every family’s needs.

Some spots provide perfectly calm conditions while other sites provide scenic backdrops and amenities such as waterfront lodging and restaurants.

So go experience our waterways and enjoy a healthy sport with family and friends. To give your vacation planning some oomph, we found 20 watersports hotspots that are sure to please (and maybe improve everyone’s geographical awareness). 

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EAST P R I STI N E B E AUT Y

CLOS E TO N YC

WRIGHTSVILLE RESERVOIR, VERMONT

LAKE ZOAR, CONNECTICUT

Watersports families searching for peaceful beauty can head to Wrightsville Lake in central Vermont. Near Montpelier, this picturesque lake, almost two miles long, features an undeveloped natural shoreline with vivid green trees and surrounding mountains.

Wrightsville features a public slalom course, and the ski club on the lake hosts waterski competitions throughout the summer.

Marshfield and Waterbury are two other small lakes near Montpelier with ideal locations and slalom courses.

Connecticut offers plenty of waterways for watersports, including picturesque Candlewood Lake near Danbury. For calmer water conditions, though, head to Lake Zoar near Newtown in southwest Connecticut. A 10-mile dammed-up section of the Housatonic River, this river-like waterway offers spots for calm waters no matter the wind direction. With hills in the background and trees lining the shoreline, Lake Zoar is a gem, just an hour northwest of New York by car, with trailer in tow.

P E ACE F U L R E SO R T D E STI NATIO N

SEBAGO LAKE, MAINE Sebago Lake, in southern Maine, is a clear-water gem. It is 12 miles long with a 45-square-mile area that encompasses plenty of open water and coves, such as Sebago Cove, for calmer waters when it’s windy. Sebago Cove is home to a slalom course and Sun Sports, which offers watersports lessons.

With a number of of resorts and lodges, Sebago is perfect for families who want to tow a boat for a watersports vacation away from the crowds.

MAN MAD E G E TAWAY

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE, VIRGINIA Nestled in the foothills of the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains between Roanoke and Lynchburg, Va., Smith Mountain Lake is a manmade reservoir that offers 32 square miles of water and 500 miles of shoreline. Smith Mountain has plenty of open waterways but also plenty of fingers and coves.

There are two slalom courses on the lake, and interested parties can learn to wakeboard or wakesurf at Smith Mountain Wake Co. S E BAG O L AK E

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WR I G HTSVI LLE R E S E RVO I R

B R A ZOS R IVE R , TE X A S

S M ITH M O U NTAI N L AK E

Barefooters love the Brazos River for its long, calm glass stretches.

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SOUTH

B UTLE R CHAI N

Courtesy Nautique Boats

E P ICE NTE R O F WATE RS K II N G

NORRIS LAKE, TENNESSEE

BUTLER CHAIN, WINDERMERE, FLORIDA

Norris Lake is situated in the foothills of the Cumberland and Smoky mountains in eastern Tennessee, near Knoxville. It features a reservoir that is 206 miles long by 1.2 miles wide and has 800 miles of natural shoreline, which minimizes backwash. There are plenty of coves and fingers to find calm, crystal clear water. Folks who need to can rent a wake- or a wakesurf board or take a lesson at G-Rides, which has two locations on Norris Lake.

Though Orlando is known throughout the world for its theme parks, it is also the epicenter for waterskiing and wakeboarding.

Near Orlando, the Butler Chain of Lakes in Windermere offers ideal conditions for year-round watersports. The chain consists of 11 interconnected lakes that cover almost 5,000 acres. The lakes are clear and the shores are lined with Cypress trees, sawgrass and sandbanks. The natural shoreline reduces backwash, which results in calmer water. There are plenty of ski and wake schools in the Orlando area, so newbies can learn to run the slalom course, do a flip on a wakeboard or wakesurf from a pro.

N O R R I S L AK E

H I STO RY- MAK I N G L AK E S

Dean Treml, Red Bull Content Pool

CHAIN OF LAKES, WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA The Winter Haven vicinity includes the Northern Chain of Lakes, which consists of 10 lakes that are connected by canal, and the Southern Chain of Lakes, which features 16 lakes also connected by canal. Winter Haven is where much waterski history was made.

Surfing behind a boat was first accomplished at Cypress Gardens, which is now a Legoland park on Lake Eloise. The park maintains the lake’s history with a daily kid-themed waterski show. Enjoy endless glassy water conditions for any activity, or learn to barefoot ski at the World Barefoot Center or take a waterski lesson at nearby Lucky Lowe ski school.

Steven Schnitzer

FANTA STIC FOOTH I LL S L AK E

CO M P E TITIVE S K I S ITE

OKEEHEELEE PARK, WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA Okeeheelee Park offers year-round waterskiing in sunny, warm West Palm Beach, Fla., for the more ardent waterskiers. Consisting of five lakes, Okeeheelee is designed specifically for waterskiing and waterski competitions and has hosted many, including the Water Ski World Championship and U.S. Water Ski Championships and Barefoot Championships.

Okeeheelee Park features four slalom courses and one jump ramp. One of the slalom courses features lights for night skiing.

Though Okeeheelee Park is public, the park requires everyone to use an approved specialized ski boat and acquire an annual permit decal for the boat.

BAR E FOOT G L A SS

BRAZOS RIVER, TEXAS The 1,240-mile Brazos River winds from north-central Texas southeast past Dallas to the Gulf of Mexico. The winding river’s natural shoreline, with bluffs and sandy banks, absorbs boat wakes and provides calm conditions no matter the wind direction.

Barefooters love it for its long, calm glass stretches. Possum Kingdom Lake, Lake Ganbury and Lake Whiney are some dammed-up hotspots.

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MIDWEST N O R TH E R N TRO P IC S ?

TORCH LAKE, MICHIGAN The crystal-clear turquoise waters of this sandy-bottom lake will make vacationers think they are in the Bahamas. At 18 miles long, glacially formed Torch Lake is Michigan’s second longest inland lake and is part of the Lower Chain, which includes Intermediate Lake, Lake Bellaire, Clam Lake, Lake Skegemog and Elk Lake. Torch Lake offers plenty of resorts and lodges on it or nearby, for families who want to tow the boat along for a watersports vacation.

Q U I E T B E AUT Y

MINOCQUA, WISCONSIN For quiet outdoor beauty and watersports fun, head to the northern Wisconsin resort town of Minocqua and its surrounding area, known as “Nature’s Original Water Park.” Lake Minocqua is a smallish lake that covers 1,360 acres (2.13 square miles) and is a part of the Lakes Region of northern Wisconsin. Lake Minocqua is connected by canal to a group of lakes that includes Tomahawk Lake, and the area includes many lakes and rivers, such as Eagle River, for endless water for all watersports.

Make sure to catch the Min-Aqua L AK E M I N OCQ UA

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Bats waterski show, performed three times a week from mid-June through the end of August. Lodges and motels are abundant in the area.

R E SO R T D E STI NATIO N

LAKE DELTON, WISCONSIN Located next to family tourist destination the Wisconsin Dells, Lake Delton is centrally situated between Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis. It’s a smallish lake that covers 267 acres, but there is plenty to do in this family resort town once the on-water session is done, including tons of attractions.

A must-see for any watersports family is the Tommy Bartlett Show, which features a waterski show on Lake Delton three times a day from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The 8:30 p.m. show under the lights is spectacular. There are ample motels, lodges and restaurants on Lake Delton or in the Wisconsin Dells.

OA S I S I N IOWA

LAKE OKOBOJI, IOWA An oasis in northwestern Iowa, this natural, glacial body of water features six beautiful blue lakes that cover 15,000 acres. The three main lakes of Okoboji include Big

TO RCH L AK E

Spirit, West Okoboji Lake and East Okoboji Lake. All the lakes include plenty of fingers and coves for calmer conditions. Several locations, including Parks Marina, offer lessons in watersports, and there are boat rentals on Lake Okoboji, for folks who don’t want to tow their boat.

I NTE RCO N N EC TE D L AK E L AN D

BRAINERD LAKE AREA, MINNESOTA Minnesota, which boasts “Land of 10,000 Lakes” on its license plates, is a hotspot state for watersports thanks to its multitude of ideal, calm waterways. Waterskiing was invented by Ralph Samuelson on Lake Pepin in Lake City in 1922.

However, the Brainerd Lake Area in northwest Minnesota is especially notable for watersports, as it has more than 500 lakes and includes the 14 interconnected lakes of the White Fish Chain, which offers plenty of open waters and coves and many resorts and lodges on the water. C&C Boat Works, located in Crosslake near Brainerd, offers lessons in wakeboarding and wakesurfing, and the Brainerd Ski Loons, a local waterski club, perform a few waterski shows throughout the summer for the public.

CALI FO R N IA D E LTA

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WEST LAKE POWELL, UTAH & ARIZONA With its majestic canyon walls, Lake Powell offers a spectacular, surreal backdrop. Part of the Colorado River, Lake Powell is the second largest manmade lake in the U.S., and its 186-mile length spreads over southern Utah and northern Arizona. Towing the boat to Lake Powell is easy, but families can rent a boat for watersports or take lessons from coaches at various marina locations throughout Lake Powell. Either way, bring a camera.

L AK E P LE A SANT

P IC TU R E SQ U E D E S E R T

L AK E D E LTO N

L AK E P OWE LL

Wisconsin Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau

LAKE PLEASANT, ARIZONA About an hour from Phoenix, Lake Pleasant is a perfect spot in the desert Southwest — quiet water in a picturesque location. It is in a state park, so the shoreline is natural and undeveloped and lined with cacti. Mountains rise in the background. The shore features a shallow, rocky bank, so backwash is minimal, and protected coves are abundant. Rental boats are available and lessons in watersports are offered.

P E ACE & Q U I E T

LAKE NAVAJO, COLORADO & NEW MEXICO About 30 miles from Durango, Colo., Lake Navajo spans 25 miles in length from southern Colorado into northwestern New Mexico. At an elevation of 6,000 feet, Lake Navajo features an arid climate and a cliff-lined background. The banks are undeveloped and feature a gentle natural slope of

TO U R NAM E NT TI M E

small rocks and sand, which minimizes backwash. Lake Navajo is a quiet lake with fewer boats than other lakes in the West, so there are plenty of ideal, peaceful conditions.

CRESCENT BAR (COLUMBIA RIVER), WASHINGTON Most of the manufacturers of waterskis and boards are based in the Seattle area, but they often head to Crescent Bar on the Columbia River in western Washington for its calm water and picturesque bluff backdrop to conduct watersports photo shoots. Crescent Bar, known as Washington’s favorite summer vacation spot, offers ideal conditions and plenty of water-

S K I R ACI N G

LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA There aren’t many hotspots for watersports in the arid Southwest, but a really good one just southwest of Los Angeles is Lake Elsinore. With the Ortega Mountains in the background, the 3,300-acre lake offers watersports fanatics calm waters. Lake Elsinore is also a hotbed for waterski racing, and the lake is closed occasionally for waterski racing competitions hosted by the National Ski Racing Association.

They are a sight to behold.

E VE RY P OSS I B LE S P O R T

CALIFORNIA DELTA The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, also known as the California Delta, is watersports heaven for West Coast enthusiasts. Formed by the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, which flow into San Francisco Bay, the Delta offers more than 700 miles of waterways. Canals ranging from 150 to 1,000 feet wide go in every direction and deliver calm conditions no matter the wind direction. Everything that can be done behind a boat is done on the Delta, from tubing to barefooting to wakesurfing to sit-down hydrofoiling. The warm time of year for watersports on the Delta is from May to October, but hardcore enthusiasts wear a drysuit the rest of the year.

CR E SCE NT BAR

Courtesy Connelly Skis

CAN YO N WALL S

ways. The INT League is hosting a fun family tournament featuring slalom, kneeboard, wakeboard, wakeskate and wakesurf competitions at Crescent Bar from Aug. 25 – 27, 2017, in conjunction with the Crescent Bar River Fest. Facilities such as Columbia River Boat Rental offer boat rentals. BW TO THE WEB •

CCBoatWorks.com ColumbiaRiverBoatRental.com • CrescentBarRiverFest.com • GRides.net • LuckyLowe.com • Min-AquaBats.com • ParksMarina.com • SkiLoons.com • SMWake.com • SunSportsMaine.com • WisDells.com • WorldBarefootCenter.com •

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KEEP PONTOON TUBES

SHIPSHAPE

They keep the family afloat, so make sure the pontoon’s logs are ready for action.

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BY BOBBY E MILLE R K E N YON

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN. Longer days, warmer temps and mild breezes signal that boating season is in high gear and pontoon enthusiasts are powering ahead for a summer of boating adventures.

Today’s pontoon boats are miles ahead of the first design by Minnesota farmer Ambrose Weeres, in 1952. That wooden platform on twin columns of steel barrels welded together end to end in no way resembles the versatile models traversing today’s waterways — some topping out in the 70 mph range.

The pontoon lifestyle provides an array of on-water experiences, from cruising and entertaining to fishing and watersports. It’s important, however, to know what steps to take toward maintenance, especially preventive maintenance. A top priority is making sure the pontoon’s tubes are seaworthy. After all, an on-the-water mishap that lands the vessel in the shop for days shouldn’t be on anyone’s boating itinerary.

Pontoon protection such as the Megaware PontoonGuard on this Sun Tracker can extend the life of the tubes.

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PONTOON TU B E MAI NTE NANCE

In an effort to provide pontoon owners with insight into the importance of proper care and maintenance of pontoon tubes, we posed a list of need-to-ask questions to a group of industry leaders for their input and recommendations. Our experts weighed in with valuable guidelines that should steer summer cruising excursions forward on smooth seas.

While it’s too late to take care of preseason maintenance, take a look at the “Tube Care” sidebar to see if there’s anything you can do better next year. For this year, however, read on.

Q

What do owners need to do during the season to care for the tubes on their pontoon boat?

Several things can be done, but it’s always a good idea to pull the boat out (if it’s kept in a mooring slip) and power wash the tubes so they are devoid of algae and barnacle growth. Bottom painting is a great way to inhibit algae growth. There are several products out there to help ease cleaning or help release elicit growth. The existence of algae will slow a boat down substantially, costing it up to several miles per hour at top speeds.

— BRAD DUPUIE, ANGLER QWEST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, QWEST PONTOONS

— JEAN-PHILIPPE MARTIN-DUBOIS, MARKETING AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE DIRECTOR, PRINCECRAFT

Impacts from an object at or under the waterline are common in the springtime, after heavy rains or storms, where the waters can be contaminated with debris in the water.

— JOHN SCHMIDTBAUER,

Q

What are the ways tubes can get damaged?

For sure, the most common damage on the tubes is caused by the bottom of the lake and the docks. If an owner hits the dock with the nose or the side of the tube, he might 54

crack it, and it could start leaking. The bottom of the lake or a shallow obstacle is one of the biggest issues. We are not talking about beaching a pontoon but really hitting something underwater. This could bend or crack the tubes and then create a leaking point at the same time. Every single year, when an owner thinks he might have an issue with something, he should ask his dealer to inspect the tubes.

Sometimes, a really small crack could potentially become a real safety issue.

TECHNICAL CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, MARQUISLARSON GROUP

Trailering has a high potential for damage. If your roads are “rough” and pothole riddled, then damage can occur.

— DUPUIE

B

TUBE CARE

efore owners start thinking about care during the season, they should think about preseason tube prep. If tubes are worn or stained, they should be pressure-washed, cleaned and treated with a chemical that restores the aluminum finish. Once the tube is completely clean, multiple products in the industry can be used to apply a layer of protection. A couple of popular options are Vantage Pontoon Shield and Sharkhide aluminum coatings.

Wash or chemically treat the pontoons to ensure they have a smooth finish, because growth prohibits performance, and

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Q

How can an owner tell if it’s serious?

Higher stress impacts can cause serious damage and affect the safety of one’s

pontoon. These strong impacts can sometimes puncture a tube and allow water to enter the inner structure. When shopping for a pontoon, look for brands that have sectioned baffles and compartments in their tubes. This confines any puncture damage to that

section of the tube. If an impact is strong, it’s advised to inspect the area and all the welds both above and below the waterline for damage. Owners with questions should consult their local dealer.

— MIKE MENNE, CAPTAIN AND PRODUCER, STRAIT PRODUCTIONS

It’s easier for a dealer to tell if it’s serious, but if the owner takes a look at the tube where it was hit and he sees a dent, this is the first sign. But a dent isn’t always leaking. Then, if he looks at the pontoon when it’s sitting at the dock and the pontoon doesn’t seem to be level, there is a good chance that one of the tubes is filled with water. Tubes are built with two, three, four different airtight chambers, so it could potentially not affect things that much, but if a pontoon is losing weight capacity, it’s not really safe to [drive it]. The owner could also feel that it’s “sinking” when he’s driving around. If the pontoon isn’t exceeding its weight capacity, this is another sign that something could be wrong.

— MARTIN-DUBOIS

clean ’toons should discourage growth.

Once the tubes are clean and looking good, they should be covered and wrapped with a protection product such as Vantage Pontoon Wraps or Vantage Protection

Megaware PontoonGuard

Film — products that adhere to the pontoon tubes and cover the aluminum tubes with a clear or colored wrap material. This wrap protects the tubes from wear and dock rash and creates a barrier of entry to the

Megaware PontoonGuard

elements, keeping them off the aluminum.

After a wrap is applied, the tubes are easy to wipe clean, and good wraps will make pontoon tubes look new for years to come.

— Menne

Sharkhide

BOATINGWORLD.COM

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PONTOON TU B E MAI NTE NANCE

Q

P R E - L AU N C H CHECKLIST You might want to hold on to this list until next year, when it’s time to launch after the boat spent the winter in storage.

MOTOR MAINTENANCE. Make sure your local dealer has serviced and gone through the basic maintenance schedule.

BATTERY STATUS. Taking a battery to an authorized dealer is critical to make sure a battery has not had cell life loss. Charging an existing “good” battery may also be necessary. Ensure there is not corrosion at the battery posts and ensure good continuity exists.

SWITCH FUNCTIONALITY. Always check switch functionality and that all critical items — navigation lights (front port, starboard and Bimini lights), horn, helm gauges, livewells, etc. — are functioning correctly.

TUBES. Most pontoon manufacturers recommend removing the plugs from tubes after the summer season to ensure there isn’t water in the tubes from condensation. Ensure the plugs are in the tubes and sealed before spring launch (consult owner’s manual and/or manufacturer).

LOOK IT OVER. Examine the boat for any fatigue or wear before starting the season.

GEAR INSPECTION. Make sure safety gear such as horns and life jackets are in good condition.

Ensure that fire extinguishers and safety flares have not expired. — Dupuie BILGE AND PLUMBING. If you have a bilge, clean and test it. Sinks, galleys and plumbing should be tested and run through with fresh water, to ensure proper operation.

TRAILER. Conduct a walk-around and full inspection of the trailer. Check the tires, brakes and lighting. Check the tie-down strap(s) for wear and replace them as needed. The trailer manufacturer should have a full checklist in the owner’s manual.

MOORING AND DOCKING. Make sure you have proper dock lines, bumpers and equipment to properly dock. — Menne

Q

What kinds of nicks/dings/dents can an owner fix? Which ones require more help?

Dings, dents and scratches can occur during normal outings. If the ding has a sharp edge, in most cases, the barb can be lightly sanded and buffed with an aluminum polish. Painted surfaces can be touched up with some touchup 56

paint, which usually can be obtained from a dealer or a service center.

Larger dents may require special tools to pop out, and those will require a certified specialist to fix.

— SCHMIDTBAUER

Q

How can owners protect their pontoon’s tubes?

Most companies offer keel guards that get welded to the side of the outside of each

A small crack can become a safety issue outer tube. This can help minimize damage from floating docks, vertical members on docks, etc. Rubrails should help keep damage minimal, too, but sometimes side keels can be the best preventive measure, if the boat is susceptible to damage on the docks the owner is using.

— DUPUIE

What about the joinery between the tubes and the boat deck itself?

The area between the tubes and deck should be supported by the boat builder during the construction on the boat.

High-end boat builders use a large-footprint “M bracket” to support the area between the tubes and the deck. Quality builders also use a foam tape and don’t pre-drill their decks where rotting can occur.

Look for pontoons built with screwed decks or tek-fasteners with multiple points of connection for secure decks.

Owners should examine the tubes and deck connection on an annual basis. Inspect the welds and connection points to ensure everything is fastened properly. When the boat is out of the water, I recommend a tube and undercarriage inspection to make sure the pontoon is structurally sound. On tripletube models, also inspect the performance kit or underskin sheeting for loose fasteners or damage.

— MENNE

Q

What issues can owners spot to head off trouble?

Examine riser welds near the rear of the boat. Heavy impact loading can damage tubes or the connection zones of risers to tubes. Owners should always have a “transom saver” if they have a twin-tubed boat or a center-tube bunk support if they own a triple-tube boat.

— DUPUIE

BW

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advertiser index PR O D U C T I N FO R M ATI O N A N D PH O N E N U M B E R S

BOATS

McGard, Inc. (800) 669-6887 ......... 63

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Parkit360 (888) 926-5517 ............... 61

Godfrey Boats (574) 522-8381 ........ 29

Survival Products (954) 966-7329 .. 62

Manitou Pontoon Boats (517) 322-3822 ....................... CV4

Swim Platforms (602) 431-8225....... 37

Ranger Tug (253) 839-5213 ............... 1

The Durabak Company (303) 690-7190 ........................ 62

SmokerCraft, Inc./Starcraft (866) 719-7873........................ 5, 11

West System Inc. / Gougeon Brothers, Inc. (989) 684-7286 ................... 22

Splendor Boats (260) 352-2835...... 63 Stingray (843) 383-4507 ................ 23

SERVICES

Yamaha Watercraft (800) 888-2624 ......................... 9

1-800-Progressive (800) 776-4737...................... CV2 Boat Angel (800) 227-2643 ............ 57 Boat U.S. (800) 283-2883 ............... 19

SIMRAD (800) 628-4487 ................ 17

GEICO Insurance (800) 865-4846.... 41

ENGINES

Water Sports Foundation (407) 833-0383 ........................ 37

SternDrive Engineering (813) 925-7127.......................... 60

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Yamaha Outboards (800) 962-7926 ..................... CV3

Connelly Skis Inc./CWB (425) 775-5416..................... 30-31

C A LL 949/660 - 6150

ELECTRONICS

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GEAR & ACCESSORIES Aquatic AV (877) 579-2782 ............58 Harbor Freight Tools (800) 423-2567 ....................... 59

Perfect Pass Control Systems (902) 468-2150 ........................ 62 Turbo Swing (855) 228-8726 .......... 15

BOATINGWORLD.COM

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6/1/17 12:16 PM

R E A D ER CO NTE ST

Rick Martin illustration

name the boat

Gen. Washington could never prove it, but he was certain the British sabotaged his powdered wig and spent the rest of his life working on an invention he called Sticky Scalp — essentially toupee adhesive. Send us your name for our boat. If it wins, we will give you an Airhead G-Force 2 towable, an AIR PIG 12v pump and a 60-foot tow rope, from Airhead, valued at $262.97, and your name will appear in the November/December 2017 issue of Boating World.

YOURS FREE

WIN THIS 64



> SEE THE WINNING ENTRY AND THE BEST OF THE REST FROM THE MAY CONTEST ON PAGE 8.

The first person to turn in the best boat name will receive an Airhead G-Force 2 towable, an AIR PIG 12v pump and a 60-foot tow rope, from Airhead (airhead. com), valued at $262.97.

Airhead (airhead.com) G-Force 2 is a two-person towable that features topside stabilizer fins, neoprene knuckle guards, Kwik-Connect and Patented Speed Safety Valve. Included are an AIR PIG 12v High-Pressure Pump with alligator clips and a Deluxe 60’ 2-Rider Tube Tow Rope.

HOW TO ENTER:

We’ll reprint the cartoon with the winning boat name in the November/December 2017 issue.

Submissions are due by August 10.

Email editor@boatingworld.com with “Name the Boat” in the subject line, or send snail mail to Boating World Magazine/ Name the Boat, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. Please include your full name, address and phone number, along with your entry. Duncan McIntosh Co. and Airhead/Kwik Tek employees and their families are prohibited from entering.

Prizewinners are responsible for any applicable taxes. Decisions of the judges and the editor are final.

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