April 2017 – Boating World Magazine

BOATING WORLD • APRIL 2017 VOLUME 38 NUMBER 4

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

DO-IT-ALL

DISPLAYS

MODERN MFDS CAN PRESENT ALMOST ANY INFO A BOAT OPERATOR NEEDS

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 !

®

BOATS TESTED HURRICANE FUNDECK 236 WB O/B FOUR WINNS TS 222 MANITOU 25 X-PLODE XT SHP RANGER 1850MS REATA

$5.00 USA and Canada

APRIL 2017 boatingworld.com

+BW OFC1.indd 2

3/6/17 12:25 PM

contents

A PR I L 2017

MAGAZINE

VOLUME XXXVIII NUMBER 4

departments Editor’s Letter The best week of the boating year p. 4 Currents Bits from the boating world p. 6

Trailering How to choose a PWC trailer p. 12

Watersports Steer clear of self-sabotage p. 14 pg. 48

If MFDs Could Talk…

Fishing Work the water column for more success p. 16

Engines Prepare for the season’s first launch p. 18 DIY How to install deck lighting

pg. 34

p. 20

Ask the Experts Our panel of experts answers your questions p. 22

features

Gear The latest accessories, gadgets and electronics p. 28

If MFDs Could Talk… Multifunction displays can do a lot for a boat owner. Here, we let one tell the story. p. 48 Stay Put Don’t know a fluke from a mush-

Bonehead Blunders Mistakes no boater should make p. 46 pg. 30

room? Then this quick guide to anchors is for you. p. 54

boats tested

Contest: Name the Boat Win a $350 boat care package from Bel-Ray p. 64

pg. 28

Hurricane FunDeck 236 WB O/B This crossover runs like a sportboat but entertains like a pontoon. p. 30 Four Winns TS 222

pg. 42

Wakesurfing’s possible behind something it’s rarely been — a sterndrive-powered boat. p. 34

Manitou 25 X-Plode XT SHP Manitou doubles the fun quotient with its first twin-outboard X-Plode XT. p. 38 Ranger 1850MS Reata “Settling” for a family boat instead of a hardcore fishing boat has never been this satisfying. p. 42 2

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW TOC2.indd 2

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/6/17 6:58 AM

editor’s letter

M

BY A L A N J O N E S

Best Boating Week IAMI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW WEEK is, without doubt, my favorite week of

the year. For the second time, it was held on Virginia Key in the shadow of the previously abandoned Miami Marine Stadium. It’s an ideal location for attendees, because previously the in-water section, where one can hop on a boat for a sea trial, and the inside displays with more boats, motors and accessories were miles apart — an hour-long shuttle ride in Miami traffic. Yachts Miami Beach, a separate in-water show, is still held a dozen miles away on South Beach’s Collins Avenue, but everything a trailerboat owner needs is in one place, for the ultimate one-stop boat-shopping experience.

Attendance was up at least 10 percent this year, and some of the major glitches from last year — to be expected at any new venue — were mostly ironed out. The transportation situation went from nightmarish to reasonable, and while there were more food vendors, the lines were still far too long. But nitpicking aside, it’s the place to go for boating fanatics who want to see what $3 billion worth of boats looks like.

I was fortunate to be one of the Boating Writers International judges for the NMMA Innovation Awards, for the eighth time. We always get a sneak peek at the latest game-changing boats and products, which I love. Here are some of the winners.

Sea Ray scored with its SLX 40, a giant bowrider dayboat with a well-appointed cabin. It had transforming seats and a flipdown gunwale that instantly added floor space for more expansive entertaining. The Boston Whaler 230 Outrage also wowed us with its convertible workstation behind a leaning post that changes into a luxurious doublewide trolling seat. Also scoring a win was the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx which immediately transforms any PWC rider into a trick artist.

Alternative docking systems that make it easy for anyone to dock a boat were on full

display, and none was more transformative than MasterCraft’s DockStar system, which won the Tow Boat category. Anyone who has ever tried to dock direct-drive ski boats knows they won’t back up in a straight line and can only be pulled up to a dock on one side. But MasterCraft used a three-rudder system to negate those traits. Also really cool was MerCruiser’s Joystick Piloting System for Inboards. On a Sea Ray SLX-W wakesurfing machine, the joystick coordinated a single direct-drive inboard with a bow thruster to perform maneuvers, including moving sideways, that used to be possible only with boats with two or more engines.

Among the 19 winners, others wowed us too. Ilmor’s GDI Engine Series includes the first five-star CARB marine engine with user-friendly features such as a water pump impeller that can be changed in one minute and software that resets blown circuits via a touchscreen. Fusion’s StereoActive is a high-fidelity portable stereo that can affix to almost anything that floats and has a mini-locker for cellphones, keys and wallets … and it floats. And for people who launch kayaks dockside but still want to preserve their dignity, there’s the EZ Launch Kayak System, which facilitates smooth shove off and return. BW

THE BOATING WORLD TEAM RESPONDS: What’s the URL for the new couples counseling website you just created?

Duncan McIntosh Jr. ResolutionOverDissolution.com ASSOC. EDITOR/PUBLISHER Jeff Fleming StickTwogether.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alan Jones SpouseGrouse.com MANAGING EDITOR Mike Werling WhatsLoveGotToDoWithIt.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Stephanie Shibata HappyWifeHappyLife.com ART DIRECTOR Julie Hogan ManCavesSaveMarriages.com PRODUCTION Mary Monge KeepMyVow$.com CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Amelia Salazar WhoIsSorryNow.com FULFILLMENT OPERATIONS MGR. Rick Avila DontBegLynnWolfe.com PUBLISHER

ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING

Call (949) 660-6150 Janette Hood NoAttorneyNeeded.com

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING

REGIONAL SALES MANAGERS

Annabelle Zabala KissAndTell.com Felice Lineberry BetterThanAlimony.com MARKETPLACE SALES MGR. Jon Sorenson CheaperThanACorvette.com AD COORDINATOR Jennifer Chen TwoWrongsMakeOneRight.com TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR Dave Kelsen JustNodAndSayYesDear.com DIGITAL DIRECTOR Bryan Sheehy LiquorMart.com 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)

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 M AG A Z I N E 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: Material in this publication may not beMreproduced in any form without written permission.

AG A Z I N E

4

•

APRIL 2017

BOATINGWORLD.COM M AG A Z I N E

+ BW EdLtr new.indd 4

3/6/17 7:53 AM

currents

BY STE PH A N IE S H IBATA

b Franken oat LEAD BOAT // SUPER AIR NAUTIQUE GS22

6

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW Currents1.indd 6

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/6/17 7:37 AM

Enter Your Dog Now

S A LT Y D O G

WIN THIS

This month’s winner:

The best of several hull designs are combined on the new Super Air Nautique GS22, to create a multitasking watersports machine.



SADIE OWNERS:

Kevin and Diane Leahy HOMETOWN:

Tt

Laguna Hills, 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.

Bottom of the World

WHILE RECREATIONAL BOATERS aren’t likely to visit Antarctic waters in their boat, one “mega-yacht” set the record for southerly navigation by reaching 78 degrees, 43.997 minutes south latitude on Jan. 28. Granted, The World isn’t an ordinary yacht — it’s a 644-foot privately owned residential ship that circles the globe every two to three years with its residents aboard, as families own homes on board — but that’s still a feat of navigation. Two years of preparation and the right conditions led to the record.

Multiple GPS units provide proof The World reached 78°43.997’ S and 163°41.421’ W at the Bay of Whales in Antarctica’s Ross Sea.

Andrew Peacock footloosefotography.com

he trend in watersports boats is to create a specialty boat, and these days that specialty is usually wakesurfing. But many riders still like to wakeboard and slalom, so Nautique took the best of some of its boat hulls and Franken-styled them together to create the Super Air Nautique GS22 — one boat that can do it all.

Up front, the hull uses design elements from the Ski Nautique, so it can throw a flat wake in a bow-down attitude, for slalom skiing. Amidships it channels G-Series Nautiques to create an outstanding wakeboard wake, with no ballast, that’s perfect for beginners, but thanks to 2,300 pounds of integrated sub-floor ballast, it can create the ultimate launch platform for advanced wakeboarders. At the stern, it takes its cues from the G23 to create a large, clean surfing wake.

A key element to making a huge surfing wake on either side is the Nautique Surf System (NSS), which takes recessed plates and extends them out and down on the opposite side the surfer is on, building and cleaning up the wake. Drivers can change the level of steepness by extending some or all of the plate, and when it’s time to change sides, the surfer can press one button on the wrist-worn Surf Select controller. This year the changeover is three times faster, for seamless transitions. And thanks to the Surf Pipe, which directs engine emissions down into the water, the exhaust comes to the surface behind the surfer. For better performance, the NCRS center plate controls the attitude of the boat, to dial in wakes, get the GS22 on plane faster and push the bow down for more responsive turning.

Rated for 15 passengers, this 22-footer has plenty of comfortable seating across its 100-inch beam.

— Alan Jones Nautique Boat Co., nautique.com

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Currents1.indd 7

APRIL 2017

•

7

3/6/17 7:37 AM

currents

name the boat

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

contest winner



Debbie Hurley from Pelham, N.H., was the first to submit the winning name, Man Overbored. For her precise psychoanalysis, Debbie receives a Customized Boat Care Package from Bel-Ray, valued at more than $350.

MORE OF FEBRUARY’S BEST ENTRIES:

Whoa Whoa Whoa Your Boat

Wet Dream

Counting the Daze

Eric Stovall, Mt. Sinai, NY

Bruce Mueller, Ann Arbor, MI

Ron Watson, New Buffalo, MI

Tub Boat

Knot In-sink

Surf’s Down

Nick Franki, Rochester, NY

Doug Brown, Ridgway, CO

No Wake Zone

Rub a Dub Tub

John Boat

Bert Browning, Midlothian, VA

Bernard Colletti, Mastic, NY

Albie Tesoro, Seminole, FL

Drain Pipe Dream

Wannabe

Blues Lagoon

Michael Pohl, Portland, MI

Paul Markovich, Niles, IL

Eric Alleshouse, Saugus, CA

Wake Envy

Punxsutawney Phil

Aaron Faber, Mt. Vernon, WA

Rich Osenlund, Holland, PA

Jim Carson, Ballwin, MO

Bath Tubing Rick Martin illustration

Tom Orifici, Babylon, NY

> F E B R UA RY W I N N E R : M A N OV E R B O R E D

Strange Brews AS CRAFT BREWS grow in number and popularity, beermeisters get more creative with ingredients and flavor profiles — from ghost peppers to bacon to pizza — and imbibers are enjoying the exotic novelty brews. Here are a few brews with ingredients from the briny deep.

2

1

3

4

1 1/Pearl Necklace Chesapeake Stout from Flying Dog Brewery in Maryland is brewed with local Rappahannock River oysters. Part of the proceeds benefit oyster restoration in Chesapeake Bay. 2/Chocolate Lobster Porter from Dogfish Head 2 Brewery in Maine is made with live lobsters and cocoa nibs and “tastes like the ocean.”

3/Bone Dusters Amber Lager from Lost Rhino Brewing Co. in Virginia includes scrapings from an ancient fossil of a protocetid whale, which was an ancient amphibious whale that could walk on land.

4/Nimble Lips IPA with Squid Ink is a small-batch beer from Wisconsin’s 3 Sheeps Brewery. The squid ink darkens the beer and enhances the hop profile.

5 8

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW Currents1.indd 8

5/Sea Belt Scotch Ale from Maine’s Marshall Wharf Brewing Co. is brewed with dried Maine sugar kelp.

BIG NUMBERS

Mississippi River

11

Width, in miles, of the Mississippi River at its widest

1.2

Average surface speed, in mph, of the river near the headwaters

260

Number of different fish species found in the river

2,350

Length, in miles, of the Mississippi River, from its source in Minnesota’s Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico Source: National Park Service

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/6/17 7:37 AM

currents

Perfect Platform

THE INLAND SEAS Education Association has a mission to inspire curiosity, stewardship and passion for the Great Lakes, and last fall it received a gift that will aid in its mission. Ellsworth Peterson donated Utopia, a 71-year-old 65-foot staysail schooner, to ISEA, and the association plans to use the big sailboat to run its new underwater course, which will involve a remotely operated underwater vehicle. Utopia was built in Wisconsin by the Peterson family and has served as an ambassador for Door County, Wis., and elsewhere.

“There is no doubt in our mind that Utopia is the perfect platform for developing a love of our Great Lakes. The love of the lakes that Utopia will inspire will help to ensure that they will be protected in the future,” said Fred Sitkins, ISEA executive director.

Men & Mercreatures Manatees and dugongs are unique and docile creatures boaters often encounter while cruising the Florida coast. Sailors of yore mistook the legendary creatures for the mythical mermaid. Christopher Columbus once wrote (Voyages of Columbus 218) that the ‘mermaids’ were “not half as beautiful as they are said to be, for their faces have some masculine traits.”

Knowledge Is Power BOATING SEASON is fast approaching — whether

it feels like it where you live or not — so now is the time to brush up on your boating knowledge, especially in regard to safety. As with almost everything safety related, the U.S. Coast Guard (uscgboating.org) is a great resource. To find courses near you or take an online course check out these sites too:

   

American Boat Operators’ Course, boatcourse.com BoatEd, boat-ed.com BoatU.S., boatus.com/courseline National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, nasbla.org  Safe Boating America, safeboatingamerica.com  U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, cgaux.org/boatinged  U.S. Power Squadron, americasboatingcourse.com

FOOL ME ONCE…

Can you spot the imposters? In the spirit of April Fool’s Day, we wanted to see if readers could separate the truths from the non-truths. Which of these headlines are from real stories?

1/ 1,800-Year-Old Shipwreck Found Almost Completely Intact off Spanish Coast 2/ Modern-Day ‘Noah’ Spends 32 Years Building Boat 3/ Swirling Eddy in Lake Michigan Egests Long-Extinct Fish Specimen 4/ New Americas Cup Yachts to Feature Airboat-Like Fans 5/ Hoover Dam to Install Boat Elevator to Facilitate Colorado River Voyages 6/ Builder Introduces Banana Peel–Powered Boat at Miami Boat Show So, which ones came from real sources? Hopefully you realized that the first two are real stories and the rest are figments of our editor’s imagination, which explains some things.

11,684 10

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW Currents1.indd 10

FA S T FA C T Length, in miles, of the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries — a lot of area for boaters to explore

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/6/17 7:38 AM

trailering

PWC TR A ILE RS

Trailers Get Personal Pick a platform for your PWC with confidence.

BY GREGG MANSFIELD

F

OR MANY PWC BUYERS, A trailer is an afterthought even though it protects one of their largest investments. It’s not until they are stranded on the side of a highway with a busted trailer that the workmanship and maintenance come into perspective.

Picking the right trailer and maintaining it properly can be the difference between a great day on the water or an expensive tow to the mechanic. Here’s what you should know about PWC trailers.

PICKING A PWC TRAILER

If the trailer will go into salt water even once, it should be built from either galvanized steel or aluminum. Powder-coated steel trailers are strictly for fresh water; dunking it once into brackish water will accelerate rust, which is the mortal enemy of trailers.

“With the powder-coat system, you can’t paint inside of a steel tube,” said Chris Meilahn of Karavan Trailers in Fox Lake, Wis. “When folks who aren’t aware start 12

•

APRIL 2017

+BW Trailering2.indd 12

dunking their trailer into salt water, they’re suddenly surprised that it’s rusting from the inside out.”

Single-axle PWC trailers retail for between $900 and $1,600, and generally the higher-priced models are better built and feature top-shelf components. Buyers should climb on the empty trailer to see how it flexes. Too much flex could be an indicator of cheap metal. Check out the paint to see if it was applied well and doesn’t easily chip or scratch. Bring a friend

who knows metalworking to check out the trailer’s welds. Poor workmanship could be a harbinger of problems down the road.

AXLE QUESTIONS

Axles on PWC trailers come in two flavors: torsion or leaf spring. Many manufacturers are including torsion axles as standard equipment, because they require little maintenance and provide a smoother ride. The only drawback to a torsion axle is if the axle is faulty, the entire suspension has to be replaced. A leaf spring axle can usually be repaired.

“Anyone who has towed a torsional axle trailer with the window down will notice the difference,” said Mike Sodano of Load Rite Trailers, whose company now only offers torsional axle trailers. “It’s a

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/3/17 12:36 PM

quieter and softer ride.”

Buyers should opt for more expensive radial tires made for trailers, if theirs doesn’t come so equipped. Radial tires run cooler and have a wider footprint to reduce slipping at the launch ramp. The rim bearings will be lubricated using either oil-bath or grease-type hubs. Both methods work well, but owners need to be on the lookout for water intrusion.

WEIGH IN

It’s important to know how much weight a trailer can support, or its gross vehicle weight rating, which can be found on a sticker on the inside of the frame near the hitch. The trailer has to hold the PWC, a full tank of gas and a normal amount of equipment, and all that needs to come in less than the GVWR. Overloading the trailer can be dangerous and will shorten the trailer’s lifespan.

Brakes aren’t required on single- or tandem-axle PWC trailers, because they are

A good winch with a sturdy strap to pull the PWC onto the trailer is a must, especially at a crowded launch ramp.

Retractable tie-downs provide convenience and security.

“Nobody wants to be straining to crank their PWC those final inches into the winch,” Mason said. “A good winch system allows you do this with ease. This is especially important in light of today’s bigger, heavier watercraft.”

Buyers can also add a storage locker and walk boards, but those accessories are usually found on tandem PWC trailers.

Rather than using a heavy metal box, companies such as ShoreLand’r are opting for molded poly storage units that are durable yet lightweight.

Many price-point PWC trailers don’t come with a tongue jack for attaching or detaching the trailer from the tow vehicle.

Ask the dealer to include one on the trailer or consider an aftermarket tongue jack.

Surprisingly, most trailers don’t include

A well-maintained trailer can last longer than the personal watercraft it carries.

LED lights are becoming standard for many applications, and PWC trailers benefit from their use. A good winch with a sturdy strap is essential to easy launch and retrieval.

Brakes aren’t required for most single- and tandem-axle PWC trailers, but overloading the trailer is a no-no.

TO THE WEB    

EZLoader.com KaravanTrailers.com LoadRite.com ShoreLandr.com

typically under the 3,000-pound capacity.

The same goes for boat trailers, which are beefier versions of PWC trailers and use a carpeted or roller bunk support system.

“The consumer needs to do some research, rather than just banking on the fact the dealer knows exactly what they need,” said Rick Norman of EZ Loader. “It’s worth your own while to research your own weights.”

PWC TRAILER MUST-HAVES

For Renee Mason of ShoreLand’r trailers, a must-have on a new PWC trailer is a fully grounded LED light system. LED lights are more durable and provide better visibility than incandescent lights. If the manufacturer doesn’t include LED lights as standard equipment, it’s worth the upgrade to not chase shorts that can occur with traditional lights.

a spare tire, and an owner’s regret will kick in on the roadside after a blowout.

Buyers should make sure the trailer has a tire hanger and buy the spare trailer tire on their own.

A TRAILER’S LIFE

A well-maintained trailer can last longer than the personal watercraft it carries. EZ Loader’s Norman said he gets inquiries from customers looking for parts for trailers built in the 1960s and 1970s.

Finding parts is one of the reasons Norman recommends going with a name brand manufacturer who has a history of building trailers.

“They’ve been around long enough to know how to make a good product,” Norman said. “Usually, big-name companies don’t become big-name companies by developing a poor product.” BW BOATINGWORLD.COM

+BW Trailering2.indd 13

APRIL 2017

•

13

3/3/17 12:36 PM

watersports

AVO I D S ELF-SA BOTAG E

rst o w own es r u o e y n it com b t ’ Don y whe your enemproving chops. to im rsports N waEtAe BRIE N O’

e g a t r o a b e l a S C r f l e Ste of Se

BY S

D

O YOU EVER FEEL LIKE you are

putting everything you have into your riding but are only progressing at a snail’s pace? When this happens, the frustration can become overwhelming. You feel hopeless, but instead of pushing forward and trying harder and harder, maybe it’s time to take a step back and analyze what’s sabotaging your riding. Depending on your skill level, there can be a variety of factors working against you. Let’s take a look at the things you are doing to sabotage your success.

14

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW Watersports.indd 14

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/3/17 12:38 PM

THE CULPRIT:

Trying to run before you can walk.

THE FIX: For too many people, as soon as they get up for the first time they want to start jumping. Then, as soon as they land their first jump, they are already thinking about spins or flips. They never take technique into consideration. Slow down and take your time! Technique is key in every aspect of wakeboarding, from getting up and riding to landing the hardest tricks in the sport. If you ever watch the pros ride, you’ll notice everything they do looks effortless. That’s because they are using proper body positions and technique to do all the work for them. Take this approach, and wakeboarding gets easier.

Manufacturers such as Nautique, MasterCraft, Malibu and others have speedcontrol systems that help drivers give boarders a better ride.

THE CULPRIT:

Relying on an incompetent driver.

THE CULPRIT:

Making excuses.

THE FIX: “It’s too choppy to ride.” I’ve heard it a million times. Everyone I know, myself included, has used this excuse when conditions are less than ideal. Sure, there are cases when it really is too rough to get any benefit out of riding, but unless you are on a heavily trafficked lake where it would be dangerous to enter the water or the entire lake is covered in whitecaps and there is no shoreline to provide shelter from the wind, then all you are doing is eliminating an opportunity for improvement. You may not be able to focus on a difficult trick you want to learn, but you can still work on things you’ve neglected. If this doesn’t sound appealing, then get on the water at the crack of dawn when conditions are probably at their best.

THE FIX: In a way, wakeboarding is a team sport. Riders rely on the driver to give them a smooth, predictable pull. A bad driver can quickly ruin a wakeboard set, so make sure your driver knows certain important things before you hop into the water: • Tell them what speed you like. To drivers, a difference in speed of 1 mph may not seem like much, but for the rider it may be the difference between going wake to wake or coming up short and having a bad crash. A boat with a cruise-control system, such as Perfect Pass or Zero Off, makes speed control so much easier.

• Drive straight. The driver should minimize the amount of unnecessary turns. A boat that is constantly turning impacts the shape of the wake and the pull the rider feels from the boat. Such inconsistencies make riding more unpredictable and unnecessarily difficult.

• The driver is responsible for finding the best water possible. He shouldn’t, however, zigzag all over the lake looking for calm water. Pick a shoreline and stick with it (unless the lake imposes regulations on boat traffic). When rollers — the wake from a boat that slowly makes its way across a lake — enter your line, have your driver cross them and straighten out again, so your wake isn’t constantly bouncing up and down.

• No power turns. After a fall, the driver should pull off the throttle and idle back to the rider. Hammering down on the throttle and doing a big wide turn does not improve pickup time. It just burns more fuel and makes the water rough, resulting in less riding time and worse conditions. Repeat after me: “No power turns.”

Given all of this, be kind to your driver. It is not an easy job.

THE CULPRIT:

Avoiding the things that feel awkward.

THE FIX: It’s

pretty rare for someone to get up on a wakeboard and immediately feel comfortable edging both heelside and toeside. Heelside feels more natural, so most people tend to focus on that and neglect toeside, especially when it comes to jumping. When riding switch is thrown into the mix, an entire other side of wakeboarding generally gets overlooked.

Being comfortable with all of these aspects is essential to good riding.

How is one supposed to have good heelside jumps if he struggles edging out on his toes to set up for the jump? How is one going to land her first 180 if she feels really uncomfortable riding switch? Being competent with these body positions is essential to good riding, so take plenty of time getting comfortable with them. Progression depends on it!

THE CULPRIT:

Trying too hard.

THE FIX: Wakeboarding is supposed to be fun. If you lose that element, riding becomes stressful and puts you in a bad headspace, which makes it difficult to progress. Relax.

THE CULPRIT:

Always doing it on your own.

THE FIX: There are great coaches all over the world, so take a lesson every once in while when you feel stuck.

They should be able to help you pinpoint things to work on. BW

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Watersports.indd 15

APRIL 2017

•

15

3/3/17 12:38 PM

fishing

D E E P TRO LLIN G

Work the Water Column Fish occupy all depths, so get the bait to where they’re hanging out.

BY DEAN TRAVIS CLARKE

B

EING SURFACE DWELLERS, HUMANS TEND to suffer

from “out of sight, out of mind” syndrome when it comes to subjects oceanic. When trolling, many anglers forget that fish don’t just live near the surface, but rather inhabit the entire water column. In order to ramp up fishing productivity, it pays to get lures to the various depths where the fish happen to be at that moment. But how? Here are some tried-and-true methods to cover more ground — er, water — in order from best and most involved (expensive) to the simplest and least expensive.

16

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW Fishing.indd 16

DOWNRIGGERS

Downriggers afford anglers the most complete coverage of a variety of depths in the water column, because each rigger can deploy several lines, each one at a different depth. For example, two downriggers (one in each aft corner) can combine to run as many as six lines at once.

Check the fishfinder and determine at what depths the fish are holding. Then set the first line at the deepest depth, the second 10 or 20 feet shallower and the third shallower still. Then, on the other rigger, stagger them to cover the column effectively. Remember that as the boat travels through the water, the water pressure

against the downrigger lures will cause them to rise toward the surface slightly, so the depth gauge on the rigger may read 100 feet, but the lures will actually be shallower than that. The faster the trolling speed, the more water pressure and the higher the baits will ride.

Outriggers usually come with one attachment at the weighted end, which is where to connect the fishing line. The line then trails out from the outrigger line or cable by whatever distance is set.

The easiest means to attach additional lines above the lowermost is with long-line clips, the squishy spring clips long-liners use to attach baits to their miles-long main

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/3/17 12:36 PM

Rapala Shad Rap Diving Plug

Hayward Fishing Trolling Weight

Cannon Trolling Weight

Zwing 350 Planer

line. Clips attach to downrigger line, and fishing line attaches in a pincher-style clip.

Weights come in several sizes and shapes, though some anglers prefer to use planer wings. Downriggers come in two basic styles, electric (12 VDC) and manual.

Both come with depth counters that indicate how far from the boat the end of the rigger line rests. Downriggers themselves work much like a fishing rod and reel, with a small arm extending out from the “reel,” which operates with a drag-like braking mechanism.

PLANERS

The planer design causes it to dive (like the planes on a submarine) as it moves through the water. Planer wings require only a stout line attached to a stern cleat.

Attach the line to a clip on the planer, though you can also use long-line clips in this application to deploy more than one line per planer. While this constitutes a less complex, less expensive means to troll deeper, planers also demand greater physical exertion, because pulling them up to reset lines can be a workout.

DIVING PLUGS

I have always had great success using diving plugs, the ones with the big lower lip. That metal or plastic lip performs identically to a planer in that as the water passes over it, it forces the head of the plug downward. Don’t expect these plugs to run as deeply as downrigger- or planer-deployed lures. Of course, they also cost much less than previous methods and can be retrieved or deployed with no more effort than any lure or bait. Just let the line run off the reel and the plug does the rest.

A downrigger, manual or automatic, can facilitate three lines at different depths. One on each corner of the boat means six lines can be trolling at once.

WEIGHTS

While downriggers utilize honking big lead weights shaped like balls or rudders, other weights can help get regular lures and baits to run just below the surface or up to about 10 feet down. Cigar or torpedo weights attach to the line between the main line and the leader. The depth at which it runs varies according to the weight’s size and weight, the size of the lure or bait, and the speed of the vessel.

The slower the boat travels, the deeper the lure travels.

Another kind of weight comes in very handy for trolling natural baits such as ballyhoo or mullet. Egg-shaped lead (or steel) weights attach to the bait under the chin with the aid of a piece of wire, a wire tie or a spring clip, which comes in particularly handy on days when the surface

water might be too rough for baits to troll smoothly and they need to be just below the surface instead.

LINE

Remember that friction and water pressure against the lure cause it to ride higher in the water. Choosing fishing line that suffers less friction or drag keeps the lure or bait deeper. Monofilament — being the thickest — will ride the highest. Braided lines — being notoriously slippery — help the lure ride deeper. Finally, though not as commonly used today, wire line helps a lure or bait run remarkably deep. However, wire line has its drawbacks. It’s harder to spool onto a reel, requires specialized reel arbors, has a tendency to kink (making a weak spot), and a full spool weighs much more than mono or braid. BW BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Fishing.indd 17

APRIL 2017

•

17

3/3/17 12:36 PM

engines

FI RST L AU N CH R E A D I N E SS

Are You Ready?

The first launch of the season should be a happy occasion, not a disaster in the making.

BY GRID MICHAL

I

N THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD, “CID” stands for “cubic inch displacement” — e.g., the

GM 5.7L engine is 350 cubic inches. It means the same thing in the marine industry, too. Come each spring, however, for mechanics, CID stands for “Customer Induced Disasters.” Two of the best examples of the alternative CID when it comes to outboards are starting and steering.

Dad lines up the boat at the ramp while Mama and progeny stand aside and let the driver show his skill. Generally that skill evidences itself in either dropping the trailer off the side of the ramp or off the end of the ramp. Same thing: somebody’s gonna get wet. The boat gets launched and pulled over to the pier where the guests board. The skipper lowers the engine and cranks it, but the battery is too dead to be effective. He borrows a jump-box, hooks it up backwards and blows the main fuse. Meanwhile, Mama’s thinking, Somebody in this boat sure ate a bunch this winter, because the boat seems lower than last year.

18

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW Engines.indd 18

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/6/17 8:51 AM

Check and Double Check

Boat owners can save themselves time and embarrassment by developing — and sticking to — a “First Launch” checklist. Consider this a starting point.

Install the battery correctly.

hoses (squeeze them) and belts.

Make sure the fluids are at the correct levels and are free of contaminants.

Check the lower unit for bare or corroded metal.

Replace a bad water-pump impeller.

Test the throttle cables to make sure they move freely.

Inspect the prop and skeg for dings, and repair them as needed.

Make sure everything’s lubricated.

Get a socket wrench and test all of the bolts to make sure they are tight.

Pull the prop and clean the spline of old grease and relubricate with marine grease.

Inspect the engine’s wiring,

Dad comes back with a new fuse and rearranges the jumper cables, which are barely effective because the battery posts are white with corrosion. Somehow, it starts. It won’t continue to run, but by golly it sure starts nicely. Keeping the key pushed in to engage the primer, Dad engages reverse and turns the steering wheel, which doesn’t turn. Mom comes forward to keep the boat level. Dad puts the same pressure on the wheel that he uses on his childproof medicine caps, and sure enough, the wheel turns. But the engine doesn’t.

Back to the pier where everybody exits while dad goes to get the car and trailer.

While he’s gone, Mama and the kids watch the boat sink to the bottom. Adding insult to injury, the Game & Inland Fisheries officer gives the owner citations for life jackets still in containers, no fire extinguisher,

Run the boat on the trailer at home to make sure it fires up (first attach a water supply).

Make sure the steering system is working: Crank it fully from lock to lock several times.

in the tilt tube and lubed the ram, stuck steering would have been a non-problem.

For real prevention, one of those greasenuts that screws on the tilt tube would have prevented all that nonsense.

STARTING

Head off starting and steering issues by completing a checklist of chores before the season’s first launch.

impeller. Then the bilge pump ran until the battery was dead.

If the owner had angled the stored boat up higher at the bow and let the water

Take the time to fix everything before the first launch. wet flares and blocking a public launch ramp (with a sunken boat). If you think I’m kidding, spend a few Saturday mornings at a public launch ramp.

What could have prevented this sadly laughable event? First, Dad should not have bowed to pressure. He should have mandated that anybody who wanted to boat that weekend could help prep the boat.

In the scenario just presented, the owner forgot to install the drain plug. Worse than that, over the winter snow and rain built up in the bilge and froze. The automatic bilge pump kicked in and stopped trying to pump when the vanes broke on the

Make sure the batteries are fully charged and are topped off with distilled water (those that require maintenance).

run out, the bilge pump would not have been affected at all. The removed drain plug should have been tie-wrapped to the ignition key.

STEERING

The previous year, the owner’s steering had been getting more difficult and he didn’t deal with it. Like knees, shoulders and hips, these things do not get better by themselves. This time, wrenching down on the steering wheel exacerbated the problem, not helped it. If the owner had separated the steering ram from the steering tube last fall, ground out the rust

Why was Dad having difficulty starting the engine? The connections at the battery terminals were making it impossible to carry the 12 volts from the battery to the starter, because even though the owner had installed a new battery the previous year, the terminals had wing nuts on them, loosening enough to leave room for corrosion, dirt, fish goo and oil to seep between the cables and the posts, which created a loss of connection. When that happened, the starter brushes burned, the starter ceased operating and he added another $600 to his Visa statement. The battery cables should have been tie-strapped POS and NEG before removal from the battery, then each wire or cable end sanded (to remove any sand residue) — ditto for the posts and nuts with lock washers, or lock-nuts, installed when reinstalling the wiring.

The last tank of fuel run through the engine should have had a proportionate amount of Seafoam run through it before the boat was put away for the winter. In addition to the aforementioned mechanical preventions, keeping the fuel system clean is paramount to turning a day in the water to a great day on the water.

If you didn’t take time to put the boat away properly, then take the time to fix everything before the first launch. I don’t care who it is, boat owners aren’t lucky enough to have a good beginning to summer without preparation. BW BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Engines.indd 19

APRIL 2017

•

19

3/3/17 12:43 PM

diy

D ECK LI G HTI N G

Installing Deck Lighting

TOOLS NEEDED Wire strippers

T-Tap connectors

Adding deck lighting makes nighttime boating safer and makes the boat look cool.

Crimpers

Tape measure

Power drill

Marker

1/8-inch drill bit

Clean cloths

BY CALVIN REYNOLDS

Properly sized fuse

Rubbing alcohol

Fuse holder

Wire (18/2 stranded)

Switch for

Marine-grade

I

LIKE TO GO NIGHT FISHING on my Lowe bass boat, but on moonless nights it can be

difficult to see. I don’t know how many rod tips I’ve broken by stepping on them. I’ve tried using a cap-mounted flashlight, but the harsh white light kills my night vision.

LED deck lights seemed to be the way to go. Not only would they allow me to see what I am doing, but LED lighting looks pretty cool. I did some shopping around, and Blue Water LEDs seemed to be the top choice among pro anglers, and the price was right. I have to warn you: Once you start lighting up your boat, it gets addictive.

For this project, I am only lighting my deck, but I will probably do the storage compartments and trailer later. LED lighting’s draw is low, only pulling .041 amps per 20-inch strip of lights, so running down the battery really isn’t a concern. I installed two red strips up front and three blue strips on each side, for a total of eight strips. For everything I wanted to do, the cost was around $200, and the project took about two hours to complete.

Blue Water uses an industrial-strength 20

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW DIY.indd 20

peel-and-stick adhesive from 3M to mount the lights, to keep drilling to a minimum.

The surface where the strips will be mounted needs to be clean, so wipe the surface with rubbing alcohol and a clean cloth (1), and let it dry thoroughly.

Once the surface was clean, I determined the best layout/position for the lights. I wanted to space them evenly (2) and avoid potential obstacles. I had to drill holes for the light strips’ wires, but before marking where I was going to drill, I checked

new circuit

silicone sealant

Dimmer

Fish tape

Male connectors

Wire splices

thoroughly underneath by feeling with my hand, to make sure I wasn’t going to drill into anything I shouldn’t. Other boat owners might need to use a mirror and a light to visually check it out. Once the layout was determined, I marked the wire hole locations with a Sharpie.

I carefully drilled the wire holes with a 1/8-inch drill bit. I started the drill in reverse, to make a dimple on the surface, so when I actually drilled it, the bit wouldn’t slip and mar the surrounding surface. I angled the drill downward (3). Doing so will help if there’s floatation foam in the bit’s path. If there is more foam in the way, use a rod to poke through until there is a clear path for the wire to pass.

With the holes drilled, I pushed the wire through the drilled hole and pulled it tight.

I peeled the backing off the strip (4) and, after making sure I had it lined up evenly, pushed it into place at the bottom of the gunwale just above where it meets the deck, starting at the wire side of the strip.

Following the instructions, I applied firm, steady pressure across the strip’s surface for at least 30 seconds (5), to ensure proper adhesion. The directions say users will get the best results if the ambient temperature is at least 65 degrees, for the adhesive to set. Use marine-grade silicone to seal the hole after the wire is in place. Repeat for the other strips.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/3/17 12:49 PM

2

3

1

It was time to wire all the lights together in parallel using 18/2 wire and wire connectors between the wires of the LED strips. I started on the left side and worked my way back. The two forward left and right strips don’t have to connect together, so my wiring pattern looked like a U when I was done. After I stripped the insulation, I made the connections, red to red, black to black (6). From the first light, another positive and negative wire ran to the next light, where I made the connections, and then I repeated the procedure until all the lights were installed. You may have to use a fish tape or a fiberglass rod to pass the wire through some sections. Use zip ties, periodically, to keep wires from sagging.

After wiring the four left strips, I connected the wires to the battery, then included a three-amp fuse in the circuit and then hooked up my rear starboard deck light. Then I sent the circuit to the console to connect the On/Off switch. (An extra accessory switch may already be on your dash panel.) I included a dimmer, to preserve my night vision. After connecting the dimmer, I continued the circuit to finish wiring the three LED strips on the front deck.

If you decide to wire deck lights and compartment lights, do them on a separate circuit with an additional switch. When I was done, I was able to bathe my boat in soft light.

Now, fishing at night is safer and easier. BW

4

5

6

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW DIY.indd 21

APRIL 2017

•

21

3/3/17 12:49 PM

ask the experts

Q

+A

MAINTENANCE

Rooting out Corrosion

Q I bought a 2006 Chaparral Signature 280 that has an aluminum radar arch that is showing corrosion problems. I already made arrangements for the arch to be removed from the boat, stripped and re-painted but my question is this: How can I prevent this corrosion from happening again? Carlos Maldonado, via BoatingWorld.com

The most likely culprit is galvanic corrosion, which is the interaction between dissimilar metals such as stainless steel fasteners and an aluminum arch. The best solution is a separation of the two

with plastic washers, if that works in your application. Another way to achieve the same thing is Tefgel, which is a corrosion inhibitor.

Apply it to the fasteners and then reinstall them, taking care not to cut through the new paint job, thereby exposing the bare aluminum.

If the corrosion isn’t near fasteners, then it could be the original paint job on the aluminum mast itself. It was most likely not prepared carefully, cleaned and primed before painting. Any contamination under the primer layer will lead to problems down the road.

Finally, it could be stray current corrosion if electrical equipment

 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.

22

•

APRIL 2017

+BW ATE.indd 22

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.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/3/17 12:47 PM

ask the experts on the arch has defective wiring. Check your radar or have an electrician trace the wiring and insulation at all points. — ZP OUTBOARDS

Winterization Thoughts Ed. Note: This letter to the editor is in reference to a story in our sister publication, Sea Magazine, but it applies directly to readers of Boating World, so we are presenting it here.

Every year I see the same advice about how to winterize your boat that typically includes the suggestion that the fuel tank should be drained. This advice is wrong for several reasons.

The three primary reasons that gasoline deteriorates are evaporation of volatile compounds into the air, oxidation from contact with oxygen in the air and contamination from absorbing water from the air. Diesel is damaged due to the latter two of these reasons. In all cases, reducing the ratio of air to fuel in your tank reduces

+BW ATE.indd 24

these problems.

No matter how much you try, there is going to be some fuel left in the tank.

Changes in barometric pressure and temperature will pump air into and out of the mostly empty tank and cause the fuel to “go bad” due to the previously stated reasons. Perhaps even worse, the oxygen and moisture may rust the inside of your fuel tank. Come spring, you will now have

running the risk of overflowing the fuel tank.

Gary Maxwell, Lynnwood, Wash.

Ed. note: We sent Mr. Maxwell’s letter to Grid Michal, who didn’t write the original piece Maxwell refers to, for some feedback.

His response follows.

Right now, there are few metal tanks left in marine use. Most of them are molded

Every year I see the same advice about how to winterize your boat. some nasty sludge in the bottom of the tank and rust that may come loose and plug your fuel filter.

So the best thing to do is add some fuel stabilizer, then fuel your boat up with fuel that does not contain alcohol (some marinas sell it) as full as you can without

poly, or “plastic.” Their worst problem is that they warp, especially around the fuel sender, and ingest water in volumes there, rather than in minuscule amounts via the atmosphere. I try to encourage everyone who has a boat with an under-deck tank to have a water separator filter. If the filter

3/3/17 12:33 PM

ask the experts can be mounted above deck, then a visible Racor-type bowl is great. No matter what type filter, no matter how or where the boat is stored — high-n-dry, under a tarp, in a garage — there will always be some water present from previous use that won’t disappear. However, a good water separator filter will interrupt its flow to the engine, and the engine’s fuel system remains safe. So, I’m accepting as a given there will always be water present for whatever reason, and dealing with it after it occurs and before it’s a problem is best. My boat has a metal tank and I expect I’ll have to deal with it sooner than later, as the boat is 29 years old now.

I expect even though I’ve purged the tank and have used only non-ethanol fuel with Seafoam in it, that just about the time I congratulate myself on taking a day off this coming summer, the bilge pump will puke 30 gallons of leaked fuel into the creek.

Until that time, though, I’ll keep on with the procedure that has worked for me.

There are still bazillions of carbureted

engines powering boats, and they are immediately subjected to the vagaries of stale fuel. If I fill my boat up this October for storage and use it in April, I’ve run the time limit of stabilized fuel. (And I don’t care what the bottle says!) Let’s say life gets in the way — as it does with 90 percent of my customers — and the boat doesn’t get used until next year’s striper season, and a trip to the fishing grounds is at 6000 rpm.

A two-stroke will melt a piston, either by detonating old fuel or burning the piston’s exhaust crown. I saved $150 by not using fresh fuel, but I just spent $4,500 for a remanufactured powerhead.

Even though a four-stroke EFI will have an airtight VST where the high-pressure fuel pump resides, the pump will suck the aged fuel into the filter, ruining it with the “gum,” and the hoses retaining the fuel will now be soft and squishy, collapsing once $1,500 worth of EFI work has been done, rendering the repairs useless.

Both two- and four-stroke carbureted

engines will bear the brunt of aged fuel’s vagaries, and will block main jets, idle jets — you name it — too tight to even electronically boil the crud out of them.

On the larger engines, I’ve been able to salvage fuel delivery systems because they are larger inside, but anything from 40 hp down I don’t give an estimate on, short of carb replacement.

Now, rather than just dump in stabilizer (and I suggest not mixing stabilizers, as in some instances I’ve seen LeBron James-sized basketballs manufactured), I suggest using stabilizer, such as Seafoam, year-round and running the last tank as close to empty as is safe. My preference is to run the fuel system dry as well. Store the boat. In the spring, fill the tank with fresh non-ethanol (if possible) that’s treated for operational use, not storage.

Having written all this, I agree that, in a perfect world, Mr. Maxwell’s thoughts are good. If he treats his boat like that, he deserves to be commended. BW

StarGazer Wake Edition

GPS Speed Control Turn your inboard/outboard into a true water sports machine.

Driving a stern drive at a steady 20 mph is almost impossible!

Let PerfectPass take the stress out of driving and enjoy your boat like never before. Available for 90% of Mercruiser and Volvo engines produced over the last 15 years.

• GPS Based (No Paddle Wheel required) • No Calibration required • Speed accuracy to within 1 mph

Upgrade Today

perfectpass.com or contact us at sales@perfectpass.com or call

1 902 468-2150 26

•

APRIL 2017

+BW ATE.indd 26

IT’S EASY! Any customer with an existing PerfectPass System can easily upgrade to Star Gazer-Wake Edition. In most cases it is a simple 5 minute “Plug & Play” installation. For more details, contact one of our customer service specialists.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/3/17 12:33 PM

gear

STU FF YO U WA NT

Baby Boomer $149.95, prospecelectronics.com Prospec Electronics’ new Milennia PRV19 round receiver fits into a standard tachometer cutout, making it an easy addition to a boat’s dash. It provides clear, quality sound without an exorbitant price tag. With 40w x 4 of power, the internal amplifier pumps out serious volume yet provides the clarity and finesse that audiophiles enjoy. The Milennia PRV19’s AM/FM receiver will stream Bluetooth audio, has a USB input for MP3 and WMA playback, and includes an auxiliary input. It will also charge most phones through the USB port.

Look Sharp $29.95, outdooredge.com Outdoor Edge has put a sharp new twist on the popular survival paracord bracelet with the introduction of the Para-Claw. Wear the Para-Claw anywhere and have an inconspicuous utility knife always at the ready, something anglers should appreciate. Developed by retired bounty hunter Fugi Escobido and Outdoor Edge’s David Bloch, the new knife features a one-and-a-half-inch hawksbill blade ground from 8Cr13MoV stainless steel with a BlackStone finish. The blade is integrally molded to a glass/nylon guard that ties into the bracelet.

Floating Tunes $229.99, wowwatersports.com For your next raft-up, WOW World of Watersports has the music covered. The WOW-Sound Speaker is an outdoor waterproof, shockproof, dustproof speaker. The round design delivers 360-degree omni-directional sound that is high volume and in stereo, and the speaker comes with a float, so it can join the action off the boat. Four two-inch active speakers are spaced evenly around the circumference of the system, and one four-inch passive radiator on the top provides big, deep bass. A 360-degree LED lamp has three brightness settings. The bottom of the speaker is stemmed, so it can fit it into most cupholders.

28

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW Gear3.indd 28

BOATINGWORLD.COM

Prim and Proper $269.80, acconmarine.com Multipurpose flush-mount lifting cleats from Accon Marine save deck space and maintain a vessel’s streamlined look. This versatile hardware incorporates a traditional mooring cleat with a secure lifting point into a single, stylish unit. When not in use, it recesses flush to the deck to enhance safety and aesthetics. The 203 Lifting Cleat complete assembly utilizes high-strength, marinegrade 304 stainless steel for its lifting hardware, including the full 12-inch rod, a cross bar, a sling casting and a bow eye.

SUBMIT YOUR GEAR TO STEPHANIE@BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/3/17 12:37 PM

Grab a Cleat $39.95, quick-cleat.com The new Quick Cleat heavy-duty portable pontoon rail fender clip uses a no-knot Quick Cleat mounted on a stainless steel bracket for easy fender height adjustment. The durable, all-metal construction is intended for larger pontoon boats that use bigger fenders. Position the portable fender clip along rail sections obstructed by tight fitting furniture or on any section of rail. No drilling is required. Works with 1/4 - to 3/8 -inch standard fender ropes and 1/2 - inch soft/hollow fender ropes.

Rapid Repair $19.99/4 oz., pettitpaint.com EZ-Tex 7100 Marine Epoxy Repair Compound from Pettit Marine Paint provides boaters with a two-part marine epoxy for use where permanent waterproof repair is needed. EZ-Tex can be used above and below the waterline to fill cracks and gouges.

Its 1:1 mixing ratio is simple, and once it is set, it can be sanded, drilled, tapped, sawed and painted.

Use the Force $1,789, parkit360.com

At-Sea Multi-Key $12.99, davisnet.com When one’s fingers are cold and wet, it’s difficult to get a stuck zipper on the canvas unstuck. Davis Instruments’ Snap Tool Multi-Key is a deck-plate key packed with features.

Its button snapper and unsnapper works for shrunken canvas or corroded snaps. The zipper puller tames stiff and sticky zippers, and comes in handy when the pull tab is missing. This palm-sized toolbox comes with hex wrench sockets, a scraper and a sharp, recessed cutting blade for line and cord. It has a slotted screwdriver and a Phillips head. Manufactured from hardened 304 stainless steel, it won’t corrode or break.

SUBMIT YOUR GEAR TO STEPHANIE@BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Gear3.indd 29

Backing a trailer into a narrow space can be a nerve-racking experience, especially with a large tow vehicle. Now, with Parkit360’s Force 10K power dolly, owners can confidently maneuver their boat around obstacles and tight corners with ease, and into the slimmest of spots. At only 67 pounds, the innovative Force 10K fits into the trunk of a sedan but has the power to move 10,000 pounds with a 900-pound tongue weight. The Force 10K is powered by a robust 1.5 hp Bosche electric motor with planetary gearing. The Force 10K is made in Canada and comes with a two-year warranty.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

APRIL 2017

•

29

3/3/17 12:37 PM

tested

H U R R I C A N E FU N D ECK 2 36 W B O/B

Hybrid Happiness Hurricane’s 236 WB is a crossover that runs like a sportboat but entertains like a pontoon.

BY ALAN JONES

W

HEN GODFREY MARINE CREATED THE FunDeck concept, it used best practices from across its holdings. It took what Hurricane had learned over the years about how to build a fiberglass deckboat hull that’s stable, fuel efficient and planes quickly at speeds lower than most other boats. Then it took the lessons gleaned from its experience building pontoons such as Sanpan, Aqua Patio and Sweetwater to produce a boat that does a lot of things really well, including providing enough room for a wet bar and enough open floor space to bust a move should “your” song come on.

UNIQUE FACTOR

While the Sundeck 236 WB has been in the lineup for years, it underwent a refresh this year, both inside and out. Capitalizing on one of the hottest trends in pontooning, the 2017 version of the 236 WB employs the blackout package, which includes black anodized aluminum D-rails, and for customization, buyers have a choice of five colors each of hull color, canvas, fencing and accent panel. The new rails contrasted nicely with the white fencing on our test boat and matched the black hull stripe over the white hull bottom.

The upholstery is all new. Its foam is more supportive but still soft, and its vinyl features elegant double top-stitching, which is a feature taken from Godfrey’s high-end pontoons. Our test boat had optional Soft Touch vinyl ($231) in gray that complimented the black rails. And the black/gray theme was carried over to the helm dash, which featured a gray matte finish and faux wood accents that didn’t glare in direct sunlight (like the prior dash accents were prone to do).

slight difference. Comparing the 236 WB to its closest Godfrey pontoon sibling — the 9-inch-longer Aqua Patio 235 CB — reveals the Hurricane is only 146 pounds heavier. Combine the weight savings with a relatively flat hull that measures 13 degrees at the stern, and the manufacturer didn’t have to use a lot of ponies to get decent performance. The 236 WB’s minimum recommended horsepower is 150, but owners who go this route probably won’t

the F150 to the F200, since they share the same in-line four-cylinder platform and both weigh 489 pounds, but considering the F150 and F200 are basically the same engine, the price differential of $5,661 seems pretty steep. Moving to the F250 means going to a V-6 that weighs 73 pounds more but runs a bit smoother thanks to the extra two cylinders. The price gap between the F200 and F250 is $6,431, which is more understandable given the significant differences. On the plus side, Hurricane will rig this boat with any major engine brand, so buyers have a whopping 63 outboard choices (I counted).

With the Yamaha F200, the Hurricane FD 236 WB got on plane in three seconds with very little bowrise. It reached 30 mph in 8.1 seconds and achieved a top speed of 40.4 mph. With the F250, I would expect a top speed in the mid-40s.

HANDLING

Despite an upper section that resembles a pontoon, the boat itself has a classic Hurricane deckboat hull. Its relatively shallow 13 degrees of deadrise creates a stable platform. When guests walk around, the boat won’t heel far over, which can happen on boats with a deep-V hull. That said, the lack of more deadrise can make

The boundaries of the 236’s usefulness can be pushed to include fishing. be thrilled by its performance, especially if they are carrying the maximum 12-passenger load.

Our test boat was powered by the “Mama Bear” of the power spectrum, a Yamaha F200, which is 50 hp shy of the max 250.

There is no weight penalty for moving from

for a bumpier ride when conditions get rough. Hurricane designed the hull with pronounced reverse chines that serve two purposes. They deflect spray down and out for a drier ride, and they help its tracking during hard turns. I can vouch for the effectiveness of both of those. We stayed

PERFORMANCE

One would expect a fiberglass hull that measures 23 feet, 6 inches to be substantially heavier than its aluminum pontoon counterpart, but there’s only a 30

•

APRIL 2017

+BW Hurrican.indd 30

(Clockwise from top right) Full-length couches provide plenty of bow seating. The helm console has storage. Class A seats at the wet bar are safe underway. The bar features a stainless steel sink and spigot. The compact helm preserves cockpit space. A pop-up changing station tucks away in the end of the port couch.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/6/17 8:03 AM

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+BW Hurrican.indd 31

APRIL 2017

•

31

3/3/17 12:35 PM

owner feedback  dry and the FunDeck handled hard turns very well. The flatter hull, combined with the chines, modulated its inward lean during hard turns, an excess of which can alarm rookie riders.

BEST USES

Purchased by Peggy Lindsay and Lyn Felice, Dunedin, Fla. Purchased at Pelican Marine Center, Hudson, Fla. >

W H AT W E L I K E D :

Roominess and quality of seating/Wet bar/ Quiet and powerful Yamaha F200/Freshwater shower/Plentiful storage/Handling and performance >

W H AT W E W O U L D C H A N G E :

I wish Hurricane offered a forward Bimini top as a factory option. We had an aftermarket one added, but it’s not a perfect match. >

WHY WE BOUGHT IT:

I grew up boating, and my most recent boat was a pontoon I had for 11 years when I lived in Rochester, N.Y. But since moving to the west coast of Florida near St. Petersburg, I really started missed boating, and because there are so many great opportunities here, I started looking for a new boat. Lyn and I loved the Hurricane FD 236 WB because it had good size and performance and also a bar for entertaining. We tried to find a used one, but we found out people weren’t selling theirs, so we bought a new one. We have grown kids and five grandkids who like to go tubing. We go out at least twice a week and one of our favorite things to do is take up to 10 of our friends out and cruise to places like the American Legion Post in Madeira Beach, Frenchy’s in Clearwater Beach, Three Rooker Island, Honeymoon Island and even as far north as Tarpon Springs. Sometimes it gets rough in the Gulf of Mexico, but the 236 WB handles it really well. Pelican Marine Center has been fantastic in all respects. We had a Bimini top extension put on that didn’t fit quite right, and even though they only had recommended the shop that installed it, they took our boat out and tweaked it to fit perfectly at no charge.

32

•

APRIL 2017

+BW Hurrican.indd 32

The beauty of the boat’s pontoon upper is it provides more passenger room than sportboats have, which gives it plenty of room for its signature feature: the aft wet bar, complete with a stainless steel sink and a spigot for cleanups. The working bar surface is a large acrylic table with plenty of room for food and four cupholders that are set into its curved length. Just aft are twin bar stools that are rated Class A, meaning passengers can schmooze on them at the floating Cheers station while the boat is underway. They are raised high enough to provide a great view forward and over passengers in front. The 236 WB is rated for 12 passengers, though there’s really only enough seating for 10 typical Americans.

There are two chaise lounges up front for folks who aren’t bellied up in back. The one in front of the driver’s console is longer because of the port gate. Just in front of the bar is a companion captain’s chair that can swivel around to join happy hour.

The FD 236 WB is more than just a party place, as our test boat showed with its standard stainless steel soccer goal–style ski tow. The flatter hull stays on plane at only 16 mph, which is perfect for towing youngsters on tubes. A bump of the throttle puts the boat at wakeboarding speeds, though its flattish wake is really

more suited for slalom skiing. The massive standard centerline locker takes care of all water toy storage needs — with room to spare — showing off one of its advantages over pontoon-based pontoons. An optional popup changing room ($400) tucks away in the portside bow lounge when not in use.

There’s even room here for a portable toilet ($208). The changing room also comes as part of the Preferred Option Group ($1,762), which includes a boat cover, a battery switch and a stern washdown, for rinsing off after a ski run.

PREFERRED SETUP

The boundaries of the 236’s usefulness can be pushed to include fishing by adding a few key options, such as a trolling motor harness ($270) for the scalloped bow section and a fishfinder; our test boat had a Lowrance Hook 3X fishfinder mounted on a gimbal. Also up front is something not found on most standard pontoon boats: an anchor locker with dedicated storage for a Danforth-style anchor.

The 236 WB comes standard with an upscale Marine Audio Bluetooth stereo, which can be bumped up with the addition of lighted Polk speakers for $508. To add to the entertainment capabilities, add a matte-finish wood-grain table ($262) and underwater lights for a mere $331. For some extra wow factor, there’s an available power Bimini top that costs $1,993.

Hurricane offers four choices of snap-in flooring, to replace the non-skid fiberglass deck, including three vinyl options ($1,047) and a carpeting choice ($662). BW

SPECS Length 23 ft., 6 in. Beam 8 ft., 6 in. Deadrise 13 degrees Capacity 12 people Dry Weight (hull) 3,475 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 48 gal. Max HP 250 PERFORMANCE Peak 40.4 mph/5400 rpm/93 dBA Cruise 28.4 mph/4000 rpm/82 dBA Time to Plane 3.0 sec.

Time to 30 mph 8.1 sec.

POWER Test Yamaha F200 Cylinders I-4 Displacement 2.8L Weight w/outdrive 489 lbs. WOT range 5000-6000 rpm Base Price w/test power $54,277 Value-Added Standard Features: Ski tow, centerline ski locker, anchor locker, wet bar w/sink and spigot, Marine Audio Bluetooth stereo, hour meter, SeaStar hydraulic steering Must-Have Options: Trailer, power Bimini top, marine electronics, cockpit table, underwater lighting, docking lights, stainless steel cupholders, changing room with portable toilet, snap-in-flooring Builder: Bennington Marine, hurricaneboats.com Financing: $389/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/3/17 12:35 PM

tested

FO U R W I N NS TS 2 2 2

Wake Up The Four Winns TS 222 brings wakesurfing to a place it’s seldom been — a sterndrive-powered boat.

BY ALAN JONES

F

OR YEARS, STERNDRIVE BOAT OWNERS have watched the fastest growing watersport,

wakesurfing, but their “participation” has been restricted to observing other boats providing the fun of catching the endless wave. But Volvo Penta changed the game with its Forward Drive system, which faces its twin props forward and tucks them under the hull, allowing a sterndrive to be used for wakesurfing.

UNIQUE FACTOR

Most inboard wakeboard boats’ cockpit layout maximizes the number of seats, because they usually have a surprisingly large passenger capacity. The similarly sized MasterCraft X23, for example, has a capacity of 15, which is three more than the Four Winns TS (Tow Sports) 222. Four Winns designers, it appears, were more interested in giving everyone on board a first-class seat with enough room to avoid the Tokyo subway syndrome. Covering the seats is a special vinyl called Silvertex Carbon Fiber, which has the weave-like look of carbon fiber but not the actual material. It features a sporty four-tone color combo that’s primarily white with gray, black and fluorescent yellow accents.

Like most sterndrive-powered boats, the TS 222 has an L-shaped cockpit seating group, but what’s unusual about its layout is the L isn’t part of the portside companion seat. It’s linked to the driver’s seat instead, unlike on its larger sibling, the TS 242, which has the more traditional layout with a starboard-side walkthrough and more seating to port. At rest, the driver’s seatback can move forward to form a chaise lounge. To starboard, the copilot’s club seat also has a backrest that flips, giving the passenger a choice of seating directions, and it’s close enough to the stern bench that the passenger can kick his feet up while watching the ski show. Even so, a flip-up footrest would be a great tweak.

The pickle-fork bow creates a lot of 34

•

APRIL 2017

+BW Four Winns.indd 34

acreage up front, and with the optional filler cushion ($331) in place, passengers can sit three abreast and face aft with their feet kicked up thanks to the center cushion’s extra length. There’s plenty of cockpit depth, for bow passenger security, and the forward swim deck is padded with Marine Mat and features a hidden ladder for beach boarding.

PERFORMANCE

One of the great features of Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive system is its ability to be trimmed like any other sterndrive, which gives the TS 222 an advantage over inboard-powered wakesurf boats. Their prop is fixed at a set angle downward, which has the effect of vectoring away power and preventing the driver from trimming the bow up at higher speeds to reduce wetted surface.

Buyers have two choices of Volvo Penta power: 300 and 350 hp versions of the same 5.3L V-8 engine block. Our test boat had the smaller of the two, but it still provided decent performance, considering the 22-foot, 7-inch boat weighs 4,240 pounds before adding passengers and up to 1,300 pounds of ballast in three sacks.

Wisely, our boat was propped for power rather than top speed, as evidenced by its performance numbers. The Volvo Penta

V-8 300 has Variable Valve Timing (VVT) that aids low-end torque when accelerating.

The TS 222 rose on plane, without using the Lenco Surf Enhancement Tabs, in 2.9 seconds with minimal bowrise thanks to the Stable Vee hull’s after-pods, which provide lift at slow speeds. It turned in an excellent time to 30 mph of 5.3 seconds, but it peaked at just 41.4 mph. Considering the mission and heft of this boat, the $4,808 upcharge for the 350 hp engine would be money well spent.

HANDLING

The TS 222 uses the Stable Vee SC hull, which gives it excellent side-to-side stability, delivers quick planing and ensures relatively level turns. It also has 20 degrees of deadrise at the stern, which came in handy on test day on a choppy Sarasota Bay. It ate up the lumpy seas in style. At a slower, pre-plane wakeboard speed of 11 mph, the TS 222 held its line easily

(Clockwise from top right) Padded swim platform sits low to the water. Seatbacks on the crew seats are reversible. Under-seat storage is abundant. Wide bow section creates plenty of seating room. Glass cockpit features a Touchscreen Command Center. The engine is attached to a Forward Drive system.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/3/17 12:34 PM

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+BW Four Winns.indd 35

APRIL 2017

•

35

3/3/17 12:34 PM

owner feedback 

Purchased by Richard Jr. and Nancy Meisinger, plus Alona, 22, and Richard III, 19, Westminster Colo.

Purchased at Rocky Mountain Boat Co. (RoMoBoCo), Pueblo West, Colo. >

W H AT W E L I K E D :

Style and overall design/Good surf wake/ Comfortable seating/Roomy, low swim platform/Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive system/ Ability to dock on either side/Dual-axle trailer >

W H AT W E W O U L D C H A N G E :

I wish it had the entire cockpit ringed with seating. >

WHY WE BOUGHT IT:

We live in the Denver area and like to make the trek to Lake Powell to cruise its beautiful canyons. The only problem with most direct-drive ski boats is they aren’t very fast and tend to beat you up when it gets choppy, which can occur on Powell. We love the way our TS 222 performs; it’s got a great kick in the seat of the pants with the Volvo Penta engine and handles the chop really well. Unlike direct-drive boats that can only back up in one direction, our boat has incredible maneuverability whether docking or going fast. We like to go surfing, slaloming, wakeboarding and fishing, and also like to just hang out and swim while my wife and daughter catch some sun. It’s just a great family pleasureboat. The people at RoMoBoCo are great. We had about a four-hour test ride, and they answered all my questions and delivered on everything they promised. When we first got it, the Zero Off system wasn’t working and they fixed it quickly and made sure everything else was working properly.

36

•

APRIL 2017

+BW Four Winns.indd 36

and was responsive thanks, in part, to its standard power steering. Also standard is the GPS-based Zero Off cruise control, which kept the speed dialed into the sweet spot, something that’s nearly impossible when the driver is controlling the speed manually.

Not only does the Forward Drive system tuck the twin, forward-facing, counterrotating props under the hull for surfer safety, but it moves the boat’s pivot point forward, which gives it the ability to carve a really sharp turn — warn your passengers first! The forward pivot point also helps with added control at idle, for more precise docking.

BEST USES

There’s no mistaking the TS 222’s primary mission, thanks to a host of surf-ready features, such as the wakeboard tower, which comes standard with surfand wakeboard racks (ones that swivel are an extra $385), an in-floor ski locker and a wet locker in the transom walkthrough.

The trio of soft bags, carrying a total of 1,300 pounds of ballast, fill quickly when the boat is moving at idle speed. The driver simply needs to flick the toggle switches that are to his right. To help the driver control virtually every system on board, Four Winns includes a standard glass cockpit-style Touchscreen Command Center screen that features a GPS for navigation.

The surf wake itself can be tweaked using the optional Lenco Wake Enhancement Tabs ($2,615), and because the boat’s a sterndrive, trimming the

outdrive up and down delivers additional control. While the wake might not get as giant as on other boats with more ballast, it was pretty clean and had a mellow wave face that’s better for intermediate surfers.

Turning slightly in the surfer’s direction improves the definition of the wake and cleans up the whitewash at the top. Thanks to the twin counter-rotating props, the port and starboard wakes are the same, unlike single-prop boats that usually have a good side and a bad side.

PREFERRED SETUP

Four Winns is a premium builder and packs the TS 222 with loads of standard features that are usually options. Two examples are the custom twin-axle trailer and the extra large swim platform, which sits really low to the water for easy access. Like the bow platform, it’s padded by the customlogoed Marine Mat, and buyers who like its look can continue it throughout the boat — like our test boat — for an upcharge of $417.

Doing so replaces the snap-in carpeting.

Also out back is a jump seat for lounging; it resides next to the padded sunning platform over the engine compartment. Boost the boat’s entertainment quotient by replacing the standard Sony stereo with a JL audio system that includes a transom remote and a subwoofer ($1,891). Add the JL Audio tower speakers for $1,177. Another key-off must-have option is the cockpit table ($487).

The boat has no head compartment. If that’s a deal-breaker, the slightly larger and more expensive TS 242 would be the way to go. BW

SPECS Length 22 ft., 7 in. Beam 8 ft., 6 in. Deadrise 20 degrees Capacity 12 people Dry Weight (hull) 4,240 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 44 gal. Max HP 350 PERFORMANCE Peak 41.4 mph/5800 rpm/94 dBA Cruise 29.8 mph/3500 rpm/85 dBA Time to Plane 2.9 sec.

Time to 30 mph 5.3 sec.

POWER Test Volvo Penta 5.3L 300 hp Cylinders V-8 Displacement 5.3L Weight w/outdrive 996 lbs.

WOT Max 5800 rpm Base Price w/test power $97,615 Value-Added Standard Features: Trailer, 1,300-lb. ballast system, tower with board racks, Zero Off cruise control, Touch Screen Command Center, power steering, Bimini top, depthsounder Must-Have Options: Cockpit table, Marine Mat flooring throughout, cockpit heater, GatorHyde galvanized trailer, Wake Enhancement Tabs, cockpit and bow cover, JL Stereo upgrade Builder: Beneteau Group, fourwinns.com Financing: $700/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/3/17 12:34 PM

tested

M A N ITO U 25 X- PLO D E X T S H P

Make It a Double This year, Manitou doubles the fun quotient with its first twin-outboard X-Plode XT.

BY ALAN JONES

E

VERY YEAR, WE TEST MANITOU pontoons, and while we never know what the reps will show up with, it’s usually something memorable that evinces some serious attitude. Even knowing this, we were unprepared for the sight of the 25 X-Plode XT SHP, positively aglow in neon green with twin color-matching Evinrude E-TEC G2 300 hp engines.

UNIQUE FACTOR

The overarching color scheme is part of Evinrude’s practice of working with a builder to create a brand-specific color all its own, aka the “Hero Package.” Some builders choose a more conservative hue, but Manitou selected the far end of the flash spectrum, to give owners the ultimate check-it-out color. Officially known as Metallic Lime Green, it’s actually a highend automotive paint. Even more unique is the all-fiberglass “fencing,” which is sculpted and rounded off in the corners.

The sides have a center panel for contrasting grayscale graphics that really makes its appearance pop. The bow gate, helm

fabric-like vinyl texture that diffuses light.

Three other interior color options are available, for owners not enamored of the green scheme.

PERFORMANCE

Anyone who thinks pontoons are for the adventure-adverse has never experienced the thrill of having 600 hp controlled by twin drive-by-wire throttles in the palm of his hand. Are twin 300s overkill on a 26-foot, 8-inch pontoon? Sure. But part of the fun of owning a model like this is making a bold statement. Granted, this is a pretty heavy pontoon — it weighs 4,310 pounds and has a 13-passenger capacity

With or without the Sport Tower, the 25 X-Plode XT is a ski boat. accents and grabrails are billet aluminum and add a special touch.

The optional Sport Tower ($9,250) is decked out in the Hero Package livery and lowers electronically. It does move slower than the grocery story line on double-coupon day, taking 73 seconds to drop, and it could drop even farther with longer rams, but it sure beats manual labor. The interior on our test boat matched the green-withenvy theme, and included white and gray panels. The dark gray sections stayed cool despite the sun’s beat-down thanks to a 38

•

APRIL 2017

+BW Manitou.indd 38

— but honestly, the single-engine version of this model is impressive. A couple of years ago, we tested a similar Manitou powered by a single Suzuki DF250 SS, and it accelerated to 30 mph in 7.6 seconds and reached a top speed of 48.7 mph.

The 600 hp version is a tad quicker.

Direct-injected two strokes such as the Evinrude E-TEC G2 and Mercury OptiMax

may have a bit of a hesitation at takeoff, but it’s fleeting. Once the whip was cracked and the engines were fully awake, the Manitou leaped on plane in 2.4 seconds and reached 30 mph in just four seconds, which was one of the fastest times we recorded all year.

Its velocity peaked at 61.4 mph, which is fast enough to smoke most of the boats on a given lake. But even at this speed, the 25 X-Plode XT was very stable and easy to handle, thanks to its SHP (Sport Handling Tubes) three-tube setup. Surprisingly, the price difference between a pair of G2 300 Evinrudes and 250s is only $2,375, so going max is a no-brainer.

HANDLING

The SHP tube package for the dual-engine 25 XT includes an oversized 27-inch center tube that’s mounted such that it is 5¼ inches lower than the 25-inch outer tubes, whereas the single-engine model has 23-inch outers and a 27-inch center log that also bottoms out 5¼ inches lower than its neighbors. This patented arrangement mimics a V-hull and delivers extraordinary turning capabilities. Manitou pontoons, unlike many other brands, actually turn sharper with a little up-trim that breaks the ultra-sharp Barracuda nosecones free of the water during aggressive maneuvers.

The nosecones have three horizontal stiffeners on both sides that make them stronger, to better withstand higher speeds and choppy conditions.

Unconventionally, both sides of all three tubes feature positive-angle lifting strakes, which normally would cause the outer tubes’ outer strakes to push back in turns and keep the boat flat, but with the larger center tube mounted so much lower, this doesn’t happen. And all that lift helped our test boat ride higher in the water for better seakeeping and contributed to its tremendous time to 30 mph.

An overlooked aspect of pontooning is low-speed handling and docking, which can be a problem due to a pontoon’s higher

(Clockwise from top left) Flip the middle cushion of the aft lounges up to create two seats. Multiple displays grace the dash. Joystick docking is a game-changer. Here’s the rear lounge with the middle cushion in place. A stainless tow bar extends between the outboards. The captain’s chair locks the driver in place.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/6/17 8:26 AM

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+BW Manitou.indd 39

APRIL 2017

•

39

3/3/17 12:33 PM

owner feedback 

Purchased by Jaime and Jennifer Beattie, plus Elisa, 13, and Ashton, 4, Owosso, Mich.

Purchased at Indian River Marina, Indian River, Mich. >

W H AT W E L I K E D :

600 hp twin engine performance/Roughwater handling/Great stereo system/ Convertible rear seating/Unique and eye-catching looks >

W H AT W E W O U L D C H A N G E :

With twin engines it’s an easy boat to dock, but I wish we had gotten joystick docking. >

WHY WE GOT IT:

My previous boating experience was with larger offshore boats, and I am into performance. We live in the northern part of Lower Michigan, which has an incredible number of places we can cruise. We’re on Mullett Lake, but from there we can go anywhere, including Lake Michigan or Lake Huron, but they can get rough, so I wanted something that could handle the conditions. I had a single-engine Manitou XT with a 300 hp Evinrude that could go around 50 mph, but when we piled 10 people on board, top speed went way down. I saw the twin-engine 25 XT with bigger tubes and demoed it with eight people on board, and it still performed really well. The handling is fantastic. Everywhere we go we get lots of compliments on our pontoon. I can’t say enough nice things about Indian River Marina; the owners, Neil and Ed, are great guys and are really service oriented. When I took delivery of my last boat, there was a steering problem right before July 4 weekend, and they knew I had a bunch of people in town.

They sent two mechanics who were a couple of hours away, and they didn’t leave until midnight to save my weekend.

40

•

APRIL 2017

+BW Manitou.indd 40

windage. No matter how challenging the situation, however, a Manitou pontoon equipped with the optional I-Dock Joystick steering system can handle it. The unit, a rebranded SeaStar Solutions Optimus 360 system that isn’t cheap at $16,000, delivers unparalleled maneuverability and allows the driver to perform maneuvers such as walking the pontoon directly sideways. It is the only such system that is retrofit-ready and includes features such as a Boost button that delivers more oomph if the wind is howling.

BEST USES

The Manitou 25 X-Plode XT isn’t just for blazing along at top speed, though it does have a great chaise lounge in all quadrants and a companion captain’s chair that lock passengers in nicely when the boat is underway. But what makes the lounges in the rear unique are the middle sections that can flip rearward to create forward-facing, feet-onthe-deck stern club seats that sit opposite the rear-facing club seats that were created at the same time — and they include power seatback adjustment. For dining or playing cards, each chaise has a cockpit table that mounts between the seats, on the gunwale for more unencumbered legroom.

With or without the Sport Tower, the 25 X-Plode XT is a ski boat, and Manitou engineers used the space between the outboards wisely. They fashioned a stainless steel tow bar that extends rearward to put the tow rope behind the outboards and still had enough room to install a four-step boarding ladder that allows people in the

water to climb aboard between the twin supports of the tow bar. The tower delivers a tall tow point and a structure on which to hang coffee can speakers ($1,875). Even if skiing isn’t number one on the hit parade, the optional centerline locker ($1,500) makes a great place to store many items besides skis.

PREFERRED SETUP

As you can imagine, a top-of-the-line boat with twin 300s from a premium builder isn’t a “price” boat. The smallest engines offered for the dual-engine setup are 150s from Evinrude, Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda. The starting price with twin Evinrude E-TEC G2 150 hp outboards is $127,389, but buyers can get it equipped with a single G2 300 hp for $108,099, so I’d recommend the big single instead of minimum twin power, unless the joystick is a must. As mentioned, the price difference between Evinrude 250s and 300s is negligible, so go big.

The main choices begin with flooring.

Carpet is standard. Simulated teak is available in several colors ($2,113) as is woven vinyl called Luna ($1,575), whose snap-in version is slightly less expensive ($1,300).

Other than the arch, a filler sectional for the bow gate, a ski mirror ($438), a portable Ottoman ($750) and a ski mirror ($438) are mandatory. Our test helm was loaded with goodies such as a 7-inch Evinrude I-CON smart screen ($1,875). One thing that doesn’t need tweaking is the 800-watt, six-speaker JL Audio Bluetooth stereo with a subwoofer. BW

SPECS Length 26 ft., 8 in. Beam 8 ft., 6 in. Tube Diameter 25 in. outer tubes, 27 in. center Capacity 13 people Dry Weight (hull) 4,310 lbs. Fuel Capacity 90 gal. Max HP 600 PERFORMANCE Peak 61.4 mph/5800 rpm/95 dBA Cruise 41.2 mph/4000 rpm/89 dBA Time to Plane 2.4 sec.

Time to 30 mph 4.0 sec.

POWER Test Twin Evinrude E-TEC G2 300 hp Cylinders V-6 Displacement 3.4L Weight w/outdrive 537 lbs.

WOT Max 5000-6000 rpm Base Price w/test power $142,462 Value-Added Standard Features: Privacy station, 2 cockpit tables, 800-watt JL Audio Bluetooth stereo w/subwoofer, carpet, 7-inch Manitou Touch Screen display, ski tow bar, master on/off switch Must-Have Options: Sport Arch, vinyl flooring, centerline in-deck locker, Joystick Docking, soft-side cooler, gas grill, 7-inch Evinrude I-CON display, trailer, saltwater package, Ottoman cooler Builder: Manitou Pontoon Boats, manitoupontoonboats.com Financing: $1,022/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/3/17 12:33 PM

tested

R A N G ER 1850 M S R E ATA

Ranger Rover “Settling” for a family boat instead of a hardcore fishing boat has never been this satisfying.

BY ALAN JONES

W

ORKING ANGLERS WITH FAMILIES SOMETIMES don’t consider premium brands like Ranger because they think such boats are out of reach. A fully rigged tournament battlewagon such as the Z522D Comanche can run well past $80K and might take care of an owner’s fishing requirements, but if the family comes along and wants to ski but can’t, he might have some ’splainin’ to do. Fortunately, anglers can see a Ranger badge on their boat without having to look at it from a doghouse. The newly redesigned 1850MS Reata includes many features from Ranger’s high-end bass boats, adds plenty of family friendly features and stays affordable — its price starts at $40,995, including a trailer.

It comes with the Ranger look, too, including a choice of six standard four-tone sparkly gelcoat combinations and a nearly unlimited number of custom combinations.

UNIQUE FACTOR

Despite being one of the shortest boats in Ranger’s fleet, at 18 feet, 10 inches, it’s one of the beamiest, at 8 feet, 4 inches (not counting the rubrail), which creates a huge amount of passenger space. It’s even 6 inches wider than the 212LS, which is the Reata line’s flagship model. For a sub-19footer, the 1850MS is really stable, a fact I noticed as soon as I boarded and started moving around the boat. The primary angler’s office in the bow lets observers know this is a serious fishing machine, with a large casting deck and an electronics panel that can accommodate up to a 12-inch screen. There’s even an insulated cooler to port just in front of the console, and on the opposite side is a baitwell, so live-bait anglers don’t have to trek to the stern livewell to grab a shiner.

Probably the 1850MS’s cleverest feature is the foredeck filler sectional, which is usually one or two pieces of starboard that have to be stowed when the fishing is done. Here, the bi-fold deck filler stays connected and folds accordion-style to store vertically, and the entire process takes all of two seconds. When it’s time for play mode up front, two pads can be attached to the deck to form lounge seats, though the low gunwale height and lack of a grabrail means they shouldn’t be used when the boat’s on plane. The backrests are 42

•

APRIL 2017

+BW Ranger.indd 42

permanently set into the front of the twin consoles, to make the conversion quick, but their verticality makes them less comfortable than others.

PERFORMANCE

Our test boat featured Evinrude’s new E-TEC G2 150 hp direct-injected two-stroke, which proved to be a good match even though the 1850MS is rated to handle up to 175 hp. The G2 150 has lots of torque and pushed the boat on plane in 2.4 seconds and to 30 mph in 5.8 seconds, so it has plenty of oomph for waterskiing. Its speed peaked at 48.4 mph, which is respectable. Ranger will rig the 1850MS Reata with Mercury and Yamaha power, but curiously, they are the only two brand choices for the full 175 max hp rating. Ranger’s official reason is that the Evinrude 175 doesn’t provide a significant enough improvement over the 150 H.O. to warrant carrying it in stock, which could be because Evinrude fudges a bit on its horsepower ratings, especially with its H.O. version. That is allowable under the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) guidelines, which marine engine builders follow and allow 10 percent wiggle room either above or below the posted rating.

A 150 can produce up to 165 hp, which is likely the case with the E-TEC G2 150 H.O. model.

HANDLING

Despite the 1850MS being the second shortest boat in the Reata lineup — 2 inches longer than the 190LS — it is the heaviest of the bunch at 2,290 pounds, mostly due to the extra beam, though the 190LS has the same beam and weighs nearly 300 pounds less. To me, this is an advantage, because while more weight makes a boat a little slower, it improves the ride when conditions get rough — a tradeoff I’ll make every time.

Conditions were pretty benign on test day on Table Rock Lake, near Branson, Mo., but we had just enough chop in more exposed areas of this huge lake to appreciate its

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/6/17 8:23 AM

(Clockwise from top right) Casting deck becomes a bowrider section in seconds.

Fold the stern jumpseats down to create fishing room. There’s dedicated cockpit seating for six. The helm can accommodate bigscreen electronics. The bow section mimics those found on more expensive models.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+BW Ranger.indd 43

APRIL 2017

•

43

3/6/17 8:24 AM

owner feedback  ride. The hull itself has 17.5 degrees of deadrise, which puts it between deep-V and flatter hulls, but when that deadrise is combined with the 100-inch beam and the boat’s weight, side-to-side stability is much improved. The 1850MS turns well, only losing prop traction toward the end of really hard turns. If skiing is a frequent activity, a four-blade prop will help get larger skiers up and slashing and whip the 1850MS into a 180 to pick up downed skiers.

Purchased by Brian and Kate Moody; San Jose, Calif.

Purchased at Gone Fishing Marine, Dixon, Calif. >

W H AT W E L I K E D :

Fishability/Individual seating for six/Ranger reputation for fit and finish/Twin livewells/ Rod storage/Attractive styling >

W H AT W E W O U L D C H A N G E :

It came with the Evinrude 3.5-inch ICON information screen, but it’s pretty small. I would like to upgrade to the 7-inch touchscreen. >

WHY WE BOUGHT IT:

My previous 19-foot bass boat was really tippy. I am 6 feet, 7 inches tall, and my brother, who fishes with me a lot, is an inch taller. When we fished together we had to tell each other where we were stepping, to avoid going overboard. I also really wanted a boat that could seat all six of my family members, so I started doing a lot of research. The 1850MS Reata blew me away, so I checked it out thoroughly, even calling Ranger directly.

We usually fish Clear Lake and it can get really rough, but the Ranger handles it beautifully.

We bought a huge tube for the kids, who also like to wakeboard. My first experience with Gone Fishing Marine told me everything I needed to know. The first boat I bought from them was used and had no warranty, but Mark, the owner, said the engine had just been rebuilt and should be good to go.

Well, we had an overheating problem right away and Mark said bring it in. They ended up tearing the head apart and found a valve problem caused by the people who rebuilt it.

They fixed it and gave it back to me with no charge. That let me know they stand behind everything they sell.

44

•

APRIL 2017

+BW Ranger.indd 44

BEST USES

As you might guess, the Fish-N-Play series is Ranger’s answer to the Swiss Army knife. Notice the word fish is first, because Ranger is not going to produce a boat that isn’t a great fishing machine. And buyers really don’t have to check a lot of boxes on the option sheet to go right out and start catching fish. Included is a 27-gallon recirculating livewell at the stern. That’s only four gallons smaller than the ones found on bass pros’ Rangers. Under the port gunwale is a lockable rod locker for a pair of rods up to 8 feet that does double duty by providing dedicated storage for the standard ski pylon. The in-floor storage compartment houses six rods up to 7 feet with tubes to protect fragile tips, but 8-footers will fit loosely on the floor.

At the dash is a standard Lowrance Hook 5 fishfinder that’s dwarfed by a huge panel that can handle up to a 12-inch screen. The 1850MS even comes complete with a 24v Minn Kota Power Drive 70 trolling motor and twin pedestal fishing seats for the bow and stern that do double duty in the cockpit

behind the captain and copilot seats when running. I didn’t really care for the bulge in the upper part of the seatback that prodded between my shoulder blades. Anglers like to get an early start on the day, as did we, so the extra-tall walleye boat–style windshield was greatly appreciated on our cool fall test day. A Velcro-attached dam would be a nice addition to block the wind between the twin consoles.

Shifting into ski mode is as easy as dropping in the standard aluminum ski pylon.

The in-floor locker can accommodate rods and skis at the same time, since the rod tubes are on the sides and leave plenty of room in the middle. And unlike hardcore bass boats, the 1850MS Reata has individual seating for six thanks to the two jump seats that flip up at the stern. An Infinity Bluetooth stereo is standard.

PREFERRED SETUP

Large-screen electronics should be first on the upgrade list, and Ranger can rig it with a wide assortment of displays up to twin 12-inch Lowrance HDS-12 Gen3 screens ($3,312 each). Ranger offers a Family Fun Package for $2,135 that includes a Bimini top, bow cushions, a stainless steel ski pylon, upgraded trailer wheels and retractable trailer tie-downs.

For protection from the great outdoors, a custom boat cover is available for $1,000.

There is a wide range of trolling motor options, chargers and outboard kickers.

Standard is a single-axle Ranger Trail trailer that can be upgraded to a dual-axle model, if desired, for $1,537. BW

SPECS Length 18 ft., 10 in. Beam 8 ft., 4 in. Deadrise 17.5 degrees Capacity 7 people Dry Weight (hull) 2,290 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 34 gal. Max HP 175 PERFORMANCE Peak 48.4 mph/6000 rpm/95 dBA Cruise 30.6 mph/4000 rpm/86 dBA Time to Plane 2.4 sec.

Time to 30 mph 5.8 sec.

POWER Test Evinrude E-TEC G2 150 hp Cylinders V-6 Displacement 2.7L Weight w/outdrive 512 lbs.

WOT Max 6000 rpm Base Price w/test power $42,895 Value-Added Standard Features: Trailer, Infinity Bluetooth stereo, ski tow, built-in cooler, twin livewells, hydraulic steering, Lowrance Hook 5 fishfinder, fore and aft fishing seats Must-Have Options: Bimini top, Bert’s Tracks, choice of 10 hp kicker motors, wide range of electronics from Lowrance and Humminbird, up to three trolling motor batteries Builder: Ranger Boats, rangerboats.com Financing: $308/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/6/17 8:24 AM

bonehead blunders

BY G R I D M I CH A L

Oy of the Hurricane BONEHEAD BLUNDER: Having a one-track

mind THE BONEHEAD: A new “customer” BONEHEAD RATING: 5+++ WHAT HAPPENED: In the days leading up to

Hurricane Matthew, those of us in Virginia were unsure as to how much of a wallop the storm was going to pack by the time it got to us. We were overdue for getting whacked, so most people were getting prepared, hauling their boats or lashing them to their lifts. Except one. On our way home from vacation, I fielded this call.

“Hi, is this Grid?”

“Yes, it is. May I help you?”

“Yes, this is Mary and I live near you. I have a boat that the bilge pump is floating around in, and with the hurricane coming, I want to be ready. I haven’t used the boat

HAS YOUR DOG GOT THE SALT?

this year — it probably needs a new battery — and I’d like you to get it running. Can you slip by in the next couple of days and take care of this for me?”

Readers: I am not making the rest of this up.

“Mary, the phone has been ringing the entire time we were on break, and I’m booked from the minute the car’s unpacked until the storm passes. Is there a chance you could securely snug the boat stern-to the shore?”

“No, it’s on a lift.”

“Ah! Can you remove the drain plug and lash the boat to the lift?”

“The lift doesn’t work. I’ve called ____, and they won’t come until after the storm.”

“Do you have insurance?”

“I do, but the agent said if I knew within

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.

46

•

APRIL 2017

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Bonehead template new.indd 46

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

30 days in advance of an impending hurricane and didn’t have my boat on land, damages wouldn’t be covered.”

“Do you have a trailer?”

“I do, but another boat is on it.”

“Do you know where another trailer might be available?”

“I called ____ Marina and they’ll haul it for $300, but that’s too much money.

And they want it running before they bring it to the haulout ramp.”

“Mary, I’ve done everything I can think of to offer alternatives, but it sounds to me as though you’re going to have to tie ’er down and ride this one out. Can you get to

Never answer the phone during any phase of a vacation. the drain plug to remove it?”

“Oh, the drain plug has been out of it.”

“Then how is the bilge pump ‘floating around in it’?”

“Well, it was last year…”

LESSON LEARNED: You know I sometimes embellish. This is not one of those times. I have repeated this word for word. The only lesson my dumbfounded brain can think of is two-fold: One, never answer the phone during any phase of a vacation, and two, definitely don’t answer it on I-95 coming through NYC. It scares the crap out of everybody as you swerve while talking.

Then again, maybe paybacks are… BW BOATINGWORLD.COM

APRIL 2017

•

46

3/3/17 12:37 PM

You almost caught a big one here.

Should I mark the waypoint?

What kind of tunes are you in the mood for today?

Raymarine es9

I know our destination, so I can take it from here. You sit back and relax.

48

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW feature electronics.indd 48

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/3/17 12:29 PM

Mouthy MFD If you get lost in the menus, I’m here for you.

With all this functionality, you don’t need those other gauges.

Multifunction displays can do a lot for a boat owner. Here, we let one tell the story.

BY ZUZ A NA PROCH A ZK A

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW feature electronics.indd 49

APRIL 2017

•

49

3/3/17 12:29 PM

Editor’s Note: We tasked our writer with anthropomorphizing a multifunction display on a boat. Not an easy task, as MFDs operate slightly differently and have a few different functions, but for the most part, they are do-almost-everything control centers that are making boat operation simpler. Our generic MFD has a bit of an attitude, but it provides a pretty good look at what a boat’s command center goes through during a typical day on the water.

information coming right up. Hmmm, it doesn’t look too bad. Let me bring up the surface buoy reports and the NOAA marine forecast. Perfectly sunny. No raindrops to mar my pretty LED backlit screen.

Good morning and welcome aboard. That’s right, it’s me, your hardworking, multitasking, onboard multifunction display. Surprised? Don’t be, I can do all sorts of things, so come over here and let’s get started. But put your coffee down and please wipe your hands — I don’t like fingerprints all over my nice touchscreen and sleek bezel.

Everyone in the marina is still asleep, but we can put on some tunes via Sirius satellite radio while the engines warm up. Or, I can stream music from your Bluetooth-connected smartphone. You know I always make you feel better than Siri. (I never did like her.) Oh, you brought new tunes on a USB drive? Well, plug those MP3s in right away. Sorry, is that too loud? Well, you know I also work as a stereo head unit, so just turn it down using commands on my screen. Hello, Marvin Gaye.

First, let’s check the weather and the water conditions for a bit of fishing. You know we have to be back to pick up the wife and kids by noon. SiriusXM real-time weather

A LITTLE TRIP PLANNING OK, now let’s set up the screen, since my interface is totally customizable. Use my shortcuts to create split-screen views and panel layouts, so you can see everything you need for fishing this morning on one screen or a combination of screens that is to your liking. I can show you depth, speed, water temperature and wind. Oh, and let’s bring in the info from the outboards, because if they’re NMEA 2000-capatible, I can probably display the data, cutting down on

Features, Features

Some of the most popular MFDs for trailerable boats come from Garmin, Simrad, Raymarine and Furuno. All of the devices featured here are NMEA2000 compatible.

Highlights of the Simrad GO9 XSE:

Highlights of Garmin GPSMAP7608xsv:



Easy-to-use multitouch interface



Built-in advanced sonar capabilities and Wi-Fi



Full-featured chartplotter with wide cartography support (Insight, Navionics, C-MAP)



Preloaded BlueChart g2 and LakeVü HD maps



Heading and position refreshed 10 times/second



FUSION-Link entertainment system



Radar display for Simrad Broadband 3G/4G and Halo Pulse Compression radar systems



TripIntel technology



View and control device from a smartphone or tablet



9-inch flush- or bracket-mount display



Enhanced Auto Guidance



Panoptix Down and Forward Transducer



Create your own HD maps Multiple depth range shading



TotalScan transducer for medium/high frequency CHIRP sonar and StructureScan HD imaging



Built-in GoFree Wi-Fi





Dual microSD card slots







Compatible with the Simrad WM-3 SiriusXM satellite weather module (North America only)

Catch all the action on the water with a Garmin VIRB camera

NMEA 2000 compatible

50

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW feature electronics.indd 50

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/3/17 12:29 PM

the dash space needed for other gauges. I can display fuel level and flow, speed and rpm, and even some basic diagnostics, so you know everything is ready to go.

Now let’s plan that quick run out to dip a line. Depending on how fast you want to get there this morning, I can lay out the fuel range over the chart. No sense in getting low on fuel. And yes, the tides are fine, so you won’t scrape the keel like last time.

The redraw on these charts is lightning fast even as we zoom along at 30 knots.

GONE FISHIN’ Ah, it’s nice to be out of the marina and up on plane. Why don’t you turn on the autopilot and adjust the heading via my screen so you can relax? We should try those two spots we hit last time — fishing was great. Now, where are those

Highlights of the Raymarine eS9 models:  

 

 

HybridTouch pinch-to-zoom Freedom to choose from C-MAP, Navionics, and Raymarine’s LightHouse chart catalog

waypoints? I can store up to 5,000 of them. Just tap waypoints you want to use and drag them onto our route today. I like that we can switch between Navionics, C-MAP and other charts, to get just the info we need. My charts come pre-loaded, or owners can swap them out via my microSD card slots.

The redraw on these charts is lightning fast even as we zoom along at 30 knots.

It’s my 10 Hz GPS receiver, you know. It updates the position 10 times every second and makes our progress on the chart smooth, accurate and real-time without that weird jumping from point to point. All my charts are seamless, and I can display traditional 2-D chart views or a 3-D display that will help orient you — and blow your

Highlights of Furuno TZTouch9: 

Touchscreen with MultiTouch



Easy-to-use RotoKey



Home Key for immediate access to the menu and a carousel of customized display configurations

Support for Navionics sonar charts and community edits



Navionics Boating App syncs charts, waypoints and routes between mobile device and MFD



Custom apps to wirelessly view and control TZtouch from iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch

Navionics Auto Routing and/or Jeppesen Easy Routing



Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity



Add Radar, Network Fish Finder, AIS, and a variety of other sensors



Preloaded with free official NOAA raster and vector charts

10 Hz GPS/GLONASS internal receiver for rapid chart position updates and faster satellite acquisition



Wi-Fi for mobile app integration



Bluetooth for remote and MP3 control



Fusion Stereo control



Optional GA-150 external antenna connection





Marine Weather Forecaster, unlimited access to free weather forecasts worldwide, 24/7

Optional C-Map by Jeppesen and Datacore by Navionics vector cartography available for purchase Save up to 30,000 user points, 30,000 ship’s track points and 1,000 planned routes with up to 500 waypoints per route

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW feature electronics.indd 51

APRIL 2017

•

51

3/3/17 12:29 PM

Simrad G09

I can check the conditions — I have a buddy who’s a buoy.

Raymarine es9

52

•

APRIL 2017

mind. You can drill down on the chart by using my pinch-to-zoom feature, just like on your smartphone. Hey, watch the pinching.

You know what would help? Let’s turn on the radar and see if there are any birds around; they’re probably hanging out around the fish. The 4G and pulse compression radar is amazing, and you may remember that when it was installed, it was all plug-and-play.

You can even overlay the radar directly on the chart, which delivers a better feel for the surroundings.

CASTING TIME What a glorious day, and we got here so fast. Are you going up on the bow to do some casting? Why don’t you use the Wi-Fi feature and make your phone mirror my screen? That way you have the info up there in your pocket. I’ll display information from the built-in CHIRP-enabled sonar, so we can see what’s happening in the water column. The clear definition and target separation of new fishfinder software is fantastic. You’ll even have a scrollable depth history, so we can backtrack in case you see a bait ball or something bigger hiding near some structure down there.

I can display down or side views, to provide a clear picture of what’s happening in the murky waters, and you can designate different colors for different depths. You know, the fishfinders are so advanced that you can see exactly what’s swimming around. Heck, I’ll even show you the forward-looking sonar for a clear two-dimensional picture of what’s ahead, in case there’s something we could run into. Look, I can see your lure down there. Let me integrate the

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW feature electronics.indd 52

3/3/17 12:29 PM

info from the trolling-motor transducer, so we don’t have to run the big engines.

Woo hoo! Those last two were some big fish. Nice job. OK, let’s put them in the cooler and pick up the kids for some tubing.

It’ll be best to set my screen to cruising mode, since we don’t need all this fishing info anymore. I can even plot a safe route along a virtual pathway that will help us avoid any low bridges or shallow spots.

I’ll calculate your time to get back to the marina. We mustn’t be late. Oh, and let’s change up the music to something a little peppier, make you the “hip” dad.

FUN DAY WITH THE FAMILY Man, those kids are crazy back there.

You should get all the action on camera. I can integrate with many action cams and play it for you right on my screen. The kids sure know their way around my utility.

Of course, that’s because I’m so intuitive for them to use. Come on, admit it. You’re pretty confident yourself. I mean, I’m

The clear definition and target separation of new fishfinder software is fantastic.

getting more and more like the phone and tablet you use every day, so it’s no wonder you look like a pro out here.

It’s such a lovely evening for a cocktail cruise, but I guess you had better find a place for dinner now that we’re back. Just

jump on the marina Wi-Fi to read some restaurant reviews. And make it a nice place, because you know it’s your anniversary, or did you forget?

Boy that was a great day. We did so much. And I’ve archived all that info so we can do it again next week. You can save everything and even create your own personal fishing charts for next time.

TALK TIME What’s that? So after the good time we’ve had you say I can’t talk like some Star Trek computer? Just wait. Siri will have nothing on me soon enough.

Disclaimer: No, they can’t talk to us yet, but that’s coming. MFDs such as the Simrad GO9 XSE, the Furuno TZTouch9, the Raymarine eS9 models, and the Garmin GPSMAP 7600xsv models function as the virtual brain of a boat. Check in with your MFD and see how much more interesting your day on the water can be. BW

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

• Corrosion resistant 316 stainless steel tow bar elevates the tow rope clear of the wake and prop wash • Improves vessel stability, fuel economy and towing power • Tow bar can be quickly removed

T U R B O S W I N G . C O M / B W • 855-22-TURBO (855-228-8726) TurboSwing BW Ad 2017.indd 1

2/23/2017 10:34:03 AM BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW feature electronics.indd 53

APRIL 2017

•

53

3/3/17 12:29 PM

W

hether a fisherman is trying to stay over a favorite spot or a ’toon commander is looking for the perfect anchorage for lunch, having the proper ground tackle on board to hold the boat in place is an indispensable part of everyday boating. Even for folks who typically don’t anchor, having an anchor ready to deploy in the event of an emergency is not only crucial but just plain good seamanship. Here’s a look at common anchor types and how to choose the right one.

54

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW feature GT2.indd 54

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/6/17 7:47 AM

Don’t know a fluke from a mushroom?

Then this quick guide to anchors is for you.

B Y C A P T. F R A N K L A N I E R

St ay t

P u

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW feature GT2.indd 55

APRIL 2017

•

55

3/6/17 7:43 AM

The Basics

M

ost anchors are fitted with a combination rode, which consists of a short length of chain and a long nylon line or rode. The chain adds weight to the rode, which increases the horizontal pull and helps the anchor remain set. It also protects the rope rode from chafe and wear. Nylon is preferred because it stretches, which allows the rode to absorb the sudden loads and jerks of a boat bouncing around in the waves.

Manufacturers publish tables to help boat owners select the correctly sized anchor, but a common rule of thumb for steel and cast-iron anchors is roughly one pound of weight for every foot of vessel. Boat owners buying an anchor should probably avoid imitations and stick with the name brands.

They cost more initially, but a quality anchor will pay for itself many times over in security and peace of mind.

POWER-POLE

Anchor Types & Selection

Anchor selection is based on a number of factors. The type of bottom (mud, grass, sand, rock), windage of the boat, and wind and water conditions are all factors to consider. Anchors themselves come in a number of styles; however, they’re all designed to hold a boat by using the weight of the anchor and hooking it to the bottom or burying it into the bottom, or a combination of all three. While an anchor’s weight is important, even more so is its holding power — how well the anchor digs in and holds. A modern, well-designed, lightweight anchor can provide significantly more holding power than a heavy, older model that relies more on weight. It’s important to know the common anchor types and a few of the pros and cons associated with each.

Fluke Anchor Traditional Danforth anchors and the newer FORTRESS aluminum-magnesium alloy Fortress Marine anchors with adjustable fluke angles are popular examples of fluke anchors. Their large flukes hold well in clay, mud and sand but are less effective in rocks and grass. A pipe-like stock keeps the anchor from twisting and pulling out as the boat shifts, but if the direction of pull goes past 180 degrees, the anchor will most likely break free — and usually reset itself in the new direction. While its lighter design is attractive, a fluke anchor can be awkward to stow, and it has a lot of angles that can snag lines and toes. As such, fluke anchors are a popular choice for boats with a dedicated anchor locker — bowriders, midsize and larger fishing boats, etc. They’re also popular with pontoon owners.

56

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW feature GT2.indd 56

LEWMAR MANSON

Plow Anchor

Claw Anchor

The plow is a stockless, single-point anchor that is so-named because of its shape, which resembles the plows farmers use. Popular examples include the CQR (a name derived from “secure”), Rocna, Delta, and Manson Supreme anchors. Plow anchors perform well in sand, stiff mud, grass and shell bottoms, but are less effective in soft mud or clay.

Many boaters consider a plow anchor to be the ideal overall anchor for vessels longer than 30 feet, and while it may not be the best in any one type of bottom, it holds well in all of them. Plow anchors, which are typically heavier and bulkier than Danforth anchors, are easiest to stow and deploy on boats with a bow roller and a dedicated anchor locker.

Although similar to the plow, instead of a single point of penetration, claw anchors have a scoop design. The Bruce and the Lewmar Claw are good examples.

Claw anchors perform well in a wide variety of bottom types (sand, mud, grass) but are not ideal for rocky bottoms. Like the plow, they’re more easily stowed and deployed on boats with a bow roller and a dedicated anchor locker, due to their size and weight.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/6/17 7:43 AM

SEAFIT

Grapnel Anchor

Grapnel anchors are similar to those nifty, clawed hooks ninja assassins use to climb a palace wall.

Grapnel anchors typically have at least four large arms, or flukes, and work best on rocky or weedy bottoms, where their arms can hook something. They’re particularly useful in heavy vegetation, where one or more flukes can penetrate the bottom, while the outside ones can hook into the surface vegetation. While they excel in rocks and weeds, they should be considered a temporary anchoring solution in most other cases.

Grapnel anchors are popular choices for smaller craft — dinghies, kayaks, PWCs — due to their light weight and ease of stowing. Most have folding arms and can be tucked away in a surprisingly small space.

Spike or “grabber’ anchors are a variation of the grapnel anchor but typically have five or more shorter, fixed spikes or prongs attached to a centrally weighed shaft or base. They have more heft than a similarly sized grapnel, but since the arms are fixed they can be more of a pain to stow.

EXTREME MAX

WEST MARINE

Shallow Water Anchor While not an anchor in the traditional sense, the PowerPole is a flexible spike that lets anglers silently “spud down” over a favorite shallow-water anchorage (8 feet or less). The spike is deployed via a push button–operated folding hydraulic arm. One Power-Pole can hold a boat in place, but two allow a boat owner to position the boat in the most favorable position regardless of prevailing wind and current.

While typically found on bass boats, they can be installed on most any fishing boat that anchors regularly in shallow water.

SLIDE ANCHOR

Mushroom Anchor

River Anchor

Box Anchor

Named for their shape, mushroom anchors resemble an upside down mushroom.

Their holding power comes from their weight and the bottom suction they generate once they’re buried, which is why they are often used as mooring anchors. Many models have holes or slits in the circular bowl or “cap” area, to help release the suction during retrieval.

Ideal for canoes, Jon boats and other small craft, mushroom anchors work best in silt or mud bottoms, but not where they will have trouble burying themselves (e.g., rocks, weeds).

Derived from the mushroom anchor, River anchors are similar in shape but have broad flukes rather than a mushroom cap. The flukes, which have rounded rather than pointed ends, allow the anchor to penetrate the bottom better than mushroom anchors. They also improve the anchor’s ability to grab and hold, meaning river anchors not only work well for soft bottoms but in a pinch can give decent service on rougher bottoms such as weeds and rocks. They’re good for use aboard canoes, Jon boats and similar small craft.

Another anchor with a shape-derived name, the Box anchor is a square unit with eight angled flukes — four per side, two each at the front and back. Box anchors provide holding power by maximizing surface area contact with the bottom. Once deployed, the anchor’s scoop design allows the narrow panels to set, cookie-cutter like, into muddy bottoms.

Especially popular with pontoon owners, a Box anchor requires no chain, sets quickly, retrieves easily and folds flat for storage.

Non-traditional Anchoring

T

raditional anchors still do the job for boats large and small, and they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, but technology has given boaters a new way to anchor, and it doesn’t even involve being attached to the bottom.

While safety and common sense dictate that every boat carries a suitable anchor and rode at all times, virtual anchoring has come to town, and it’s pretty damn cool!

Minn Kota’s i-Pilot features Spotlock, a GPS anchor that keeps the boat in position over a favorite fishing spot. With i-Pilot iTracks, anglers can return to the same spot (or spots) with the push of a button. Spot-lock, which makes use of i-Pilot’s internal GPS receiver, maintains the trolling motor within a 5-foot circle of a GPS-identified position. If current, wind or waves move the trolling motor out of that 5-foot circle, i-Pilot automatically adjusts prop speed and direction to return to the 5-foot circle. Once back in the circle, i-Pilot will adjust the motor speed to zero. MotorGuide and Rhodan also offer trolling motors with virtual anchoring.

Joystick docking is red hot right now, and most joystick systems BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW feature GT2.indd 57

APRIL 2017

•

57

3/6/17 7:43 AM

Virtual anchoring has come to town, and it’s pretty damn cool!

Virtual anchoring makes it easy to stay in one location — or several over the course of the day — without having to deploy an actual anchor every time.

offer a stationkeeping feature such as Skyhook from Mercury and MerCruiser, which acts as a digital anchor that locks a boat’s position using GPS technology.

Automatically working with both outboards and sterndrives, the system maintains the boat’s position and heading regardless of wind or current. Such a function comes in imminently useful

58

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW feature GT2.indd 58

while fishing, waiting for a bridge to open or sitting in line at the fuel dock. It’s also easy to operate; simply place the levers in neutral and push the Skyhook button to lock position and heading. SeaStar Solutions’ Optimus 360 for outboards and Volvo Penta’s Dynamic Positioning System for its IPS pod drives also offer this useful innovation. BW

TO THE WEB FortressAnchors.com Lewmar.com (Delta, CQR) Manson-Marine.co.nz MercuryMarine.com MinnKotaMotors.com MotorGuide.com

Power-Pole.com RhodanMarine.com Rocna.com SeaStarSolutions.com SlideAnchor.com VolvoPenta.com WestMarine.com

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/6/17 7:43 AM

marketplace

C A LL 949/660 - 6150

Insurance for Powerboats & Sailboats • Competitively priced products • 24-hour claims reporting • Exceptional service • Dedicated expertise

Contact Us for a Free Quote

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Marketplace2.indd 59

APRIL 2017

•

59

3/6/17 8:38 AM

Got An Old Boat?

DONATE IT TODAY!

marketplace

C A LL 949/660 - 6150

Call Us At 800-227-2643 www.boatangel.com

For five generations and counting, our family has been dedicated to building boats that deliver better experiences on the water.

Each year, we put our heritage on the line with great new models and features that are responsive to today’s boat buyer and are backed by the industry-leading Lifetime +6 Warranty.

See our 2017 lineup at THEBESTBOATBRANDS.COM.

62

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW Marketplace2.indd 62

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/6/17 8:38 AM

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

Swim Platforms (602) 431-8225 ....................................... 62

Cutwater Boats (800) 349-7198 ............................ 1

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

Hurricane Boats (574) 522-8381 .......................... 41

West System Inc. / Gougeon Brothers, Inc. (989) 684-7286 ......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

NauticStar Boats (662) 256-5636 .....................................23

SERVICES

SmokerCraft, Inc/Starcraft (866) 719-7873 .........................................................5, 11, 62

1-800-Progressive (800) 776-4737 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CV2

Stingray (843) 383-4507......................................................25

The World’s Smallest Package Lightest Weight • Least Expensive 4-6 Man 4” x 12” x14” 12 lbs $1510

9-13 Man 5” x 12” x 14” 18 lbs $1960

NEW!! FAA TSO Approved Life Rafts Available

SURVIVAL PRODUCTS, INC.

5614 S.W. 25th St., Hollywood, FL 33023 (954) 966-7329 • FAX (954) 966-3584 www.survivalproductsinc.com Made in U.S.A

Survival Products (954) 966-7329................................... 63

Apex Marine (989) 681-4300 ............................... 3

Manitou Pontoon Boats (517) 322-3822 ...................................................................27

Yamaha Sportboats (800) 962-7926 ................................9

ELECTRONICS

Allstate Insurance Co. (866) 414-2628 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CV4 Boat Angel (800) 227-2643 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Five Star Houseboat Vacations (417) 988-1387 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

SIMRAD (800) 628-4487 .....................................................33

GEICO Insurance (800) 865-4846. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

ENGINES

Water Sports Foundation (407) 833-0383 ................... 47

National Marine Underwriters (800) 262-8467 . . . . . . . 59

SternDrive Engineering (813) 925-7127 ..........................60 Yamaha Outboards (800) 962-7926 ........................... CV3

WATERSPORTS EQUIPMENT Perfect Pass Control Systems (902) 468-2150 ............ 26

GEAR & ACCESSORIES

Turbo Swing (855) 228-8726 ..............................................53

Cook Manufacturing Corp (800) 654-3697 ................................................................ 63

WOW World of Watersports (844) 969-9063 .............37

Harbor Freight Tools (800) 423-2567 ............................. 61 McGard, Inc (800) 669-6887 ............................................. 63 NuShield, Inc. (215) 500-6426 ........................................... 59

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW Marketplace2.indd 63

C A LL 949/660 - 6150

Survival Products, Inc.

for Service/Sales/Rentals of Aviation and Marine life rafts and vests since 1974.

marketplace

EMERGENCY LIFE RAFT BUY or RENT

APRIL 2017

•

63

3/6/17 8:38 AM

R E A D ER CO NTE ST

Rick Martin illustration

name the boat

And tomorrow they’re going to learn how to distinguish trees using only their bark. They already know how to tell a good campfire tail. Send us your name for this boat. If it wins, we will give you a Customized Boat Care Package from Bel-Ray, valued at more than $350, and your name will appear in the June 2017 issue of Boating World. > SEE THE WINNING ENTRY AND THE BEST OF THE REST FROM THE FEBRUARY CONTEST ON PAGE 8.

WIN THIS 64

•

APRIL 2017

+ BW NTB2.indd 64

The first person to turn in the best boat name will receive a Customized Boat Care Package from Bel-Ray, valued at more than $350.



YOURS FREE

A Boat Care Package from Bel-Ray (bel-ray.com) can include All-in-One Fuel Treatment, High Performance Gear Oil, Rust Preventative Coating, Multipurpose Lubricant, SemiSynthetic Engine Oil, Contact Cleaner, Extreme Pressure Waterproof Grease and more.

HOW TO ENTER:

We’ll reprint the cartoon with the winning boat name in the June 2017 issue. Submissions are due by April 17.

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 Bel-Ray employees and their families are prohibited from entering.

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

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/3/17 12:34 PM

ONE POWERFUL DESIGN. TWO RELIABLE NEW OUTBOARDS.

FOUR STROKES THE COMPLETELY REDESIGNED F90 AND F75 MIDRANGE FOUR STROKES. Yamaha’s all-new 90-hp and 75-hp four strokes feature SOHC designs with four valves per cylinder. This increases volumetric efficiency, and at the same time, saves weight. In fact, they’re each 13 pounds lighter and have increased to 1.8L displacement. Their lighter, more powerful design creates an outstanding new F75, and makes the F90 a top performer in torque and acceleration. That’s one rock-star design and two thrilling new outboards.

Learn more about the all-new Yamaha F90 and F75 four strokes at 2017NewProducts.YamahaOutboards.com.

REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. © 2017 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. 1-800-88-YAMAHA

YMOB0745-B-F90-75_Sgl_9x10.875.indd 1

1/25/17 10:23 AM

Does home insurance cover your boat when you’re not at home?

You might not be sure, so let an Allstate Agent help.

Allstate Agents can help you understand where your home insurance ends and your boat insurance begins. You can trust them to help you tailor your Allstate protection to make sure you avoid coverage gaps. Call today to see what the personal service of an Allstate Agent can do for you.

Local Agent Allstate.com 866-414-BOAT

Auto Savings vary. Based on coverage selected. Subject to terms, conditions, availability and qualifications. Allstate Indemnity Co., Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Co. and their affiliates: 2775 Sanders Rd., Northbrook, IL 60062. Š 2017 Allstate Insurance Co.

Home

Motorcycle

Boat

ATV

RV

Snowmobile