February 2017 – Boating World Magazine

BOATING WORLD • FEBRUARY 2017 VOLUME 38 NUMBER 2

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

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 LOWE RETREAT 230 RFL SUNCHASER CLASSIC 8522 CRUISER SG COBALT R5 WSS SURF

GAME ON! 21 SPORTING EVENTS BOATERS CAN GET TO, SEE OR ATTEND BY BOAT

$5.00 USA and Canada

FEBRUARY 2017 boatingworld.com

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MADE IN USA *Options, freight & taxes extra. Prices, specifications, equipment and options may change without notice.

contents

FEB RUA RY 2017

MAGAZINE

VOLUME XXXVIII NUMBER 2

boats tested Lowe Retreat 230 RFL Lowe’s new Retreat Series will have your friends thinking you won the lottery. p. 36

SunChaser Classic 8522 Cruiser SG SunChaser found a way to offer a sporty well-appointed pontoon at a great price. p. 40

Cobalt R5 WSS Surf Cobalt’s new surf boat uses Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive to create an endless wave. p. 44

departments Editor’s Letter Measuring the outdoor rec industry p. 4 Currents Bits from the boating world p. 8

features

pg. 54

Trailering Hacks for safe, easy operation p. 14

pg. 44

Watersports Meet WSIA’s new

Power Progression Outboard

director p. 16

manufacturers have made vast improvements to their power plants, and boat owners have benefitted most from these eight. p. 48

Fishing How to measure the catch p. 18

Engines Torqeedo Deep Blue 80 inboard p. 20

Game On! Check out 21 sporting events boaters can get to, see or attend on their vessel.

DIY How to apply walnut-shell non-skid p. 22

p. 54 pg. 40 pg. 48

Ask the Experts Our panel of experts answers your questions p. 24 Bonehead Blunders Mistakes no boater should make p. 30

Gear The latest accessories, gadgets and electronics p. 32 Contest: Name the Boat Win a $350 boat care package from Bel-Ray p. 64 2

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editor’s letter

BY A L A N J O N E S

The Industry Bottom Line Y OU’LL NEVER GUESS HOW BIG the outdoor recreation industry is? Give up? Well, that’s the problem. No one really knows how big it is, because that question has never been adequately studied. At best it’s been a guess, and that’s no good, because so many decisions affect the health of that industry.

Estimates put the yearly annual impact in the U.S. at $650 billion — approximately 4 percent of annual GDP — which makes it larger than the U.S. auto industry plus the U.S. pharmaceutical industry. It’s also estimated that 6.1 million jobs are related to what I’ll call “Big Outdoors.” It’s likely that number is even larger, since no one has ever accurately tallied the many things that comprise this multifaceted juggernaut.

Fortunately, we’ll have a more accurate assessment of this number thanks to two bills that sailed through the House and Senate. The first, called the Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act of 2015 (S.2219), was a Senate bill cosponsored by Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). Its companion bill in the House of Representatives was HR.4665 (Outdoor REC Act of 2016), introduced by Donald Beyer (D-VA) and Dave Reichert (R-WA), and cosponsored by 12 Republican and 12 Democratic representatives. Both passed after minimal debate, with zero dissention and included no last-minute riders. Within a week, the Senate bill was signed into law by President Obama, in December. The law creates a mandate for agencies such as the departments of Commerce, Interior and Agriculture (to name a few) to produce a report within two years that details the economic effect of the outdoor industry, as it relates to GDP.

Why is this important? The engine that drives this massive industry is nature itself.

And its attraction is predicated on giving outdoor enthusiasts clean water, land and air. Not many people would spend their vacation on a badly polluted river or lake or camp amid industrial waste. In Aesop fable-speak, one doesn’t kill the goose that laid the golden egg. It’s bad for business.

And a pristine environment also supports American jobs such as those in the boatbuilding industry.

Economic information is a powerful tool organizations such as the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and the Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA) have used to successfully combat pending legislation that would restrict boat access in many locations. The industry’s effect on the economy and American jobs is an argument politicians seem to get.

The newly seated executive branch, led by President Trump, is a decidedly pro-business group, and there is concern the administration could dismantle many environmental protections or sell off or open up our many natural resources to consortiums from the private sector. It’s our hope that people in a position to alter the landscape will be good stewards of America’s greatest asset — if not for aesthetic reasons then because it’s good for the bottom line. And the first step is knowing what that number is. BW

THE BOATING WORLD TEAM RESPONDS: What sentiment would you recommend for this year’s candy broken hearts?

Duncan McIntosh Jr. Be gone!

ASSOC. EDITOR/PUBLISHER Jeff Fleming My cat is allergic to you EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alan Jones It’s not me, it’s you MANAGING EDITOR Mike Werling Choke on it!

ASSISTANT EDITOR Stephanie Shibata #BoyBye ART DIRECTOR Julie Hogan Let’s not PRODUCTION Mary Monge Going going gone CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Amelia Salazar Quick, swipe left!

FULFILLMENT OPERATIONS MGR. Rick Avila Dead to me PUBLISHER

ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING

Call (949) 660-6150 Janette Hood Unfriend

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING

REGIONAL SALES MANAGERS

Annabelle Zabala Moving on. Next!

Felice Lineberry You’ll do.

MARKETPLACE SALES MGR. Jon Sorenson Suck it up, Buttercup AD COORDINATOR Jennifer Chen Next TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR Dave Kelsen Sanguine saccharine soliloquy adieu DIGITAL DIRECTOR Bryan Sheehy Hide your crazy 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

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Your Choice of 21’s a

215 SS

• Mercruiser 4.5L Alpha (250 HP) • Bow Flip-Up Arm Rests • Canvas: Bimini Top, Bow & Cockpit - Color Matched • Carpet: Highlander Cockpit Carpet, Snap-In • Cleats: (6) 6” Stainless Steel Pull Up, Embossed • Depth Sounder With Outside Air & Water Temperature • Dual Battery Switch • Helm: Moonrock w/Black Hand Wrapped, Double Stitched Brow & Black Executive Racing Wheel • F.A.S.T. TAB® Vented Hull Chine w/Reversed Chines & Delta Performance Pad • Gelcoat – Premium Pattern: Double Hull Band w/Middle Deck Band & Color Matched Deck Vents

NAP only available for North American sales in U.S. dollars. Freight and Prep not included.

s at $44,995

• Interior: Color Matched Super Sport w/Driver & Passenger Deluxe, Shock Absorbing Flip-Up Bucket Seats w/Stainless Steel Logo, Aft Facing Sundeck w/Adjustable Lean Back • Premium Smooth-Actuation Throttle & Shift Cable • Rack and Pinion Steering w/Tilt Wheel • Stainless Steel Cupholders, Grab Handles, Ski Tow Rail w/Eye, Bow Scuff Plate, Aft Crownline Nameplate, Rubrail w/White Extrusion, Windshield Lock & Four-Step Boarding Ladder • Stereo: Marine Audio, Waterproof, AM/ FM/WB/USB/Aux/iPod/iPhone Ready, Bluetooth • Stereo Speakers: (6), 2 in Bow, 2 in Cockpit, 2 at Transom • Trailer - Deluxe Tandem Axle w/Brakes on One Axle, Color Matched

E1 XS

• Mercury Four Stroke 150 HP w/Hydraulic Steering • Bow Flip-Up Arm Rests • Canvas: Bimini Top, Bow & Cockpit - Color Matched • Carpet: Highlander Cockpit Carpet, Snap-In • Cleats: (6) Stainless Steel Pull Up, Embossed • Depth Sounder w/Outside Air & Water Temperature • Docking Lights • Dual Battery Switch • F.A.S.T. TAB® Vented Hull Chine w/Reversed Chines & Delta Performance Pad • Handheld Shower, Freshwater – Cold • Helm: Moonrock w/Black Hand Wrapped, Double Stitched Brow & Black Executive Racing Wheel • Interior: Color Matched J-Shape Cockpit, Driver & Passenger Deluxe, Shock Absorbing Flip-Up Bucket Seats

w/Stainless Steel Logo, Aft Convertible Sun Lounge w/Three Positions • LED Lighting Package – Cockpit • Premium Smooth-Actuation Throttle & Shift Cable • Rack & Pinion Steering w/Tilt Wheel • Sea-Star Hydraulic Steering • Stainless Steel Cupholders, Grab Handles, Rubrail w/White Extrusion, Windshield Lock, Ski Tow Pylon & Four-Step Boarding Ladders at Bow & Stern • Stereo: Marine Audio, Waterproof, AM/FM/WB/USB/Aux/iPod/iPhone Ready, Bluetooth & Six (6) Stereo Speakers: 2 in Bow, 2 in Cockpit, 2 at Transom • Storage Areas w/Impact Resistant, Non-Marring Surface • Table: Side Mount, Portable • Trailer – Deluxe Tandem Axle w/Brakes on One Axle, Color Matched • Under Mount Cockpit Storage Drawers

S T Y L I N G •Q U A L I T Y •C O M M I T M E N T

Please visit www.crownline.com for more information on these models.

NAP only available for North American sales in U.S. dollars. Freight and Prep not included.

11884 Country Club Rd.

West Frankfort, IL 62896

currents

BY STE PH A N IE S H IBATA

LEAD BOAT // REGULATOR 31

OFFSHORE AND MORE

A SPORTFISHER WITH A SOCIAL BENT IS THE LATEST FROM REGULATOR.

T

he problem with some boats whose builders claim they can do everything is that they don’t do any of them well. Regulator Marine’s new 31 aims to remedy at least part of that equation. Regulator doesn’t claim the 31 can do everything; rather, the builder points to the boat’s strengths: fishing accoutrements — many — its bow seating area — expansive and comfy — and its starboard dive door — convenient and practical. And twin Yamaha F300 outboards use their combined 600 horses to power the 10,500-pound boat to just more than 55 mph.

Fishing features abound on the 31-foot, 8

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4-inch-long Regulator 31, beginning with a fishbox and a livewell in the transom.

Rod holder racks occupy the back of the helm seat frame and the T-top roofline, and outriggers jut out of the T-top roof.

Three more fishboxes are in the bow, one built into the deck and the others hidden under the starboard seats. The latter are insulated and illuminated. A tackle station is built into the console immediately aft of the helm seats. Anglers battling the big one have a clear path all the way around the 10-foot, 4-inch wide boat, and thigh-high pads ring the inside of the gunwale. The dive door easily accommodates spearfishermen, divers and swimmers.

When the fishing action is done — or any time, really — the bow seating area has a U-shaped settee with room for six or seven adults to sit with their feet on the deck and enjoy a libation. Two more can sit on the bench seat in front of the helm.

That seat is atop an insulated cooler. If the crowd is smaller, two people can flip up the cushions at the aft end of each side of the settee and use them as a backrest to stretch out chaise-lounge style and face forward.

For an extended day on the water, a head is built into the center console and accessed via a door to starboard.

Regulator Marine, regulatormarine.com

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S A LT Y D O G

This month’s winner:

Enter Your Dog Now

WIN THIS 

WALKER OWNER: Dan Appleton HOMETOWN: Discovery Bay, 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.

WHERE IN T H E WO R L D?

Can you figure out the structure pictured in this image? Find out if you’re right on page 12. We’ll give you a couple of hints.

Opposite of inner.

Pirates beware.

R E A D E R S A I D W H AT ?

Adding to the List

In the November/December issue, you put together numerous great articles of interest for a bay boater like myself — “Tuck your Tackle,”“Attitude Adjustment” and “Find your Center.” However, no website list for center consoles is complete without the NauticStar brand.

Their XTS boats are rigged as ready as any and with two shallow steps to board the bow casting deck — the most fishing friendly for us short of leg and long on birthdays.

Doyle Jordan, via BoatingWorld.com A convenient dive door accommodates spearfishermen, divers and swimmers.

Thank you for the input, Doyle. “Short of leg and long on birthdays” paints a vivid picture. To point others in the right direction, here’s that URL: NauticStarBoats.com.

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name the boat

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

contest winner



Patrick Riggio from East Moriches, N.Y., was the first to submit the winning name, Freezing My Aft Off. For being aquati-tomically accurate, Patrick receives a Customized Boat Care Package from Bel-Ray, valued at more than $350.

MORE OF NOVEMBER/DECEMBER’S BEST ENTRIES:

Numb Nuts

Endless Summer

Mushvroom

Gene Pedoto, Lincroft, NJ

T. Michael Leonard, Tucson, AZ

Pat O’Connor, via BoatingWorld.com

Snowboat to China

The Hus-ski Boat

Frank Mayo, Stoneham, MA

Larry Birchfield, White Hall, MD

Blade Runner

BowWow Riderrrr

Terese Laurance, South Pasadena, CA

Richard Foti, Point Pleasant, NJ

Darren Tremmel, Brick, NJ

Spousicle

Just Sleigh No

Chilla the Hon

James Trinidad, via BoatingWorld.com

David Breen, Hudsonville, MI

Pet Ski

Snow Wake Zone

Sandor Winger, Northridge, CA

Gary Haight, Emerson, NJ

Iditaboat Fernando Casillas, Alhambra, CA

SkiRay Rick Martin illustration

Robert Lupien, Bean Station, TN

Fish Sleigher

Douglas Brown, Ridgway, CO

> N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R ’ S W I N N E R : F R E E Z I N G M Y A F T O F F

BIG NUMBERS

Narwhals, Unicorns of the Sea QUIZ

Riddle Me This

We found this logistical problem to be interesting. Can you figure out how they did it?

THE RIDDLE

In my neighborhood lives a man who weighs 200 pounds. He has two sons. They both weigh 100 pounds each. On a festival day, they decide to go across the river on a boat to visit some relations. But the boat could carry a maximum load of only 200 pounds. Yet they managed to get across the river by boat. How did they?

Give it some thought. (We dare you to think about this without the Jeopardy! theme music getting into your head.)

First the two sons rowed across the river and one stayed behind while the other returned in the boat to his father.

The son remained behind while the father crossed the river. Then the other son brought back the boat and the two brothers rowed over together.

Source: RiddleMinistry.com

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50

Average lifespan, in years, of a narwhal

0

Number of narwhals in captivity (all attempts have failed within a few months)

ANSWER

10

2

Number of teeth Narwhals have (in males, one grows into a long ornamental horn and the other remains in the skull)

3,500

Weight, in pounds, a male narwhal can reach

BOATINGWORLD.COM

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MAKE IT A

GLASTRON SUMMER 60 YEARS SALES CELEBRATION

At Glastron we build summer fun into every model. 18' – 25' trailerable boats that go with you on your summer adventures. Our renowned SSV hull inspires confidence while a myriad of power options including outboard, sterndrive, and jet will put you back in your seats.

Leave the other choices in your wake—it’s time to make it a Glastron summer.

Januar y 1 - March 31, 2017

PICK YOUR POWER OUTBOARD / STERNDRIVE / JE T

GLASTRON.COM © 2016, Rec Boat Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved. ®/TM signifies trademarks of Glastron, LLC, its affiliates or suppliers.

currents

S r h u i o p C

THE

Love Afloat

PEOPLE NAME THEIR boats for all kinds of reasons — even love.

With Valentine’s Day upon us, we thought we’d search for some boat names that were obviously inspired by the gooiest of emotions, or something like that. Of course, some of the best ones aren’t suitable for a family magazine. > Seaduction > Blind Date

Whither the Weather?

SAYINGS ABOUT THE weather have likely been part of boating since

the beginning. How well do you know weather lore? We made up two sayings and slipped them into this list? Can you spot our “lore-geries”?

> Feelin’ Frisky > The Court Ship > Dream-Catch-her > Fuelin’ Around

1 Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.

2 Red sky in morning, sailors take warning.

3 Clouds only to port, the sailing day is short.

4 A rainbow in the morning gives you fair warning.

5 Dolphins in the wake, ocean’s calm as a lake.

6 When a halo rings the moon or sun, rain’s approaching on

the run.

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

The photo on page 9 is of the Ocracoke Island Lighthouse in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The 65-foot-tall lighthouse was built in 1823 and still functions today, though it is automated. The pirate Blackbeard met his demise off Ocracoke Island

Answer: Believe numbers 3 and 5, and you’ve surely fallen for jive.

Ferry-Tale Dream Home

THE OLDEST EXISTING Ellis Island ferry still on the

water is up for grabs. Built in 1907, the ferry, now named Yankee, served in World War I before being used by U.S. immigration services to serve as the Ellis Island Ferry until 1929. It was restored in 2003 and now is outfitted as a bona fide houseboat. As of press time, it was on the market for a measly $1.25 million.

What a steal!

D I D YO U K N OW ?

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is the only university in the U.S. that is situated on its own island.

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Redefining style on the water.

T H E A L L- N E W H D S E R I E S F R O M F O U R W I N N S

H

S

E

R

I

E

S

January 1 – March 31, 2017

By combining our 40+ years of boat building experience, the HD line is the culmination of stability, cockpit space, luxurious seating, and cavernous storage. A class defying boat that sets new standards of quality and innovation. Redefine your expectations with the all new HD line from Four Winns.

Power is choice All HD models can be equipped with either stern drive or outboard power.

HD 220

Life should be a beautiful ride.

HD 240

©2016, Rec Boat Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved. ®/TM signifi es trademarks of Four Winns, LLC or suppliers.

HD 270

FOURWINNS.COM

trailering

SA FE T Y H ACK S

Create a UserFriendly Trailer Simple hacks make boat trailers easy and safe to launch and retrieve.

BY CHRIS CASWELL

W

HEN I WAS YOUNGER, I never

thought about my boat trailer. I towed my boat on it, launched and retrieved from it, and never gave it another thought. But as the years went by and I acquired more than a few creaks and groans, I started thinking about making my trailer more user friendly — both easier and safer to use. So here, in no particular order, are 15 ways to improve your boat trailer.

Get a Grip Put non-slip tape on the top of everything from the fenders to the trailer frame.

It’s easy to apply, cheap and provides sure footing even when the trailer is wet.

Remember to round the corners with scissors.

Winch Way Get an electric winch! It runs off the tow vehicle’s battery and is strong enough to drag even the most recalcitrant boat back onto the trailer. Be sure to opt for a long remote cord, to allow freedom of movement, and have the dealer spot weld the winch bolts to make it theft-proof.

Block Party A pair of chocks (made from 4-by-4-inch lumber) under the tow vehicle’s rear wheels provides an added measure of safety when launching or retrieving a boat on steep ramps. A short length of cord from the rear bumper to the chocks will retrieve them “automatically,” and you can put them away once you’re off the ramp.

Bring it In Vertical guides line up the boat on the trailer and make loading a cinch, and several ready-made ones (including lighted) are available. If you can find them, buy a couple of cheap, tall, old-style car radio antennas and mount them on each trailer fender. With a red ribbon or a ping-pong ball on the top of each antenna, centering the boat is simple.

Boat Buckle retractable tie-downs

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Bonus Jack Replace that hard-to-use trailer jack and

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One Step…

wheel with a smooth-rolling dual-wheel version, such as those from Fulton. They take all the effort out of moving a boat around or lining up the trailer hitch.

Accessing the entire boat is sometimes a struggle when it’s on the trailer. If your trailer doesn’t have step plates, a trailer supply can provide them to fit on the front and back of the fenders. A quick stop at a welder will literally give you a step up.

Slip Slidin’ Many trailers have carpeted bunks to support the hull, and those create a lot of friction. Liquid detergent makes carpeted bunks slippery but rinses away immediately. Trailer supply and marine hardware

Power Winch

Put non-slip tape on the top of everything.

Fulton Jack

Lining a boat up with the trailer at night can be troublesome. Find waterproof side marker lights and install them along the center trailer support. When wired into the trailer’s lights, they become “landing lights,” like at an airport.

Bye Bye Ties

On the Ball Quick Bite Coupler

Awesome Antenna Backing up the tow vehicle to the hitch is usually an exercise in frustration. The inexpensive way to provide a guide is with a radio antenna (as mentioned earlier).

Screw the base plate of the antenna into the trailer by the hitch, put a ball on the antenna and it becomes a highly visible guide.

Taco Marine Bunk Sticks

If you’re single-handing, it can get old getting in the car, backing up to the hitch, getting out of the car, moving the trailer a bit and then getting the trailer tongue onto the ball. Several companies, including Quick Bite, offer trailer hitches with a wide opening to guide the trailer ball into place and then automatically lock. All the driver has to do is close the locking pins for an effortless hook-up.

Get Organized If you’re like me, you have a lot of gear that goes with trailering, and it all gets tossed in the back of the tow vehicle. Instead, check out trailer shops and hardware stores for lockable storage boxes that can bolt onto the trailer. You’ll need enough room so they don’t get submerged, but they can be a godsend for cleaning up your gear.

Smile Alternatively, boaters can go high-tech to line up their tow vehicle. Discount warehouse stores and electronics stores offer backup cameras that are a cinch to install on the back of the car. With Wi-Fi, there aren’t even any wires to run, and the viewing screen can be placed on the vehicle’s dashboard.

Want to get all the way up on the boat without having to do chin-ups? Some trailers have ladders built into the winch stand on the front of the trailer. Trailers vary, of course, but a welding shop can easily tack some angle-iron steps to make access easy. If not, find a fiberglass — so it’s non-corrosive — stepladder at the hardware store and put some tie-downs for it on the trailer.

And don’t forget a lock.

Light it Up

stores offer polymer pads that bolt directly to the bunk and are incredibly slippery. The boat will slide much farther onto the trailer, so be careful the first time.

Tie-downs are always a pain, because they must be removed, stored and hooked up again. Several companies offer retractable tie-downs that bolt to the frame and, when not in use, disappear completely.

Two Step…

Extend It

West Marine LED guides

If your favorite launch ramps slope gently, add a trailer tongue extension so you can submerge the trailer without having to dunk the rear of the tow vehicle. Stow the extension on the trailer itself and then fit it when needed. BW

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WS I A INTERV IE W

Driving the Boat

benefit of a six-month trial as assistant director. Our industry leaders have given me incredible guidance and have invested in me with professional leadership training.

Our board is full of smart and talented businesspeople and innovators, many of whom I’ve known for a long time. Larry Meddock held this position formerly and set me up for success. I can’t imagine filling any other role at this point in my career. I love towed watersports and I live it every day. It has always been who I am and I love working hard for it, because it has always been there for me.

Larry Meddock

WSIA’s director reflects on his first year in charge.

Kevin Michael is the director of WSIA.

W

ATERSPORTS AFICIONADOS HAVE AN ADVOCACY

organization in the Water Sports Industry Association, which fights to keep waterways open to behind-theboat activities (among many other tasks). The person leading that organization, Kevin Michael, 41, is himself a longtime watersports partaker who understands the needs of everyday participants and the industry that serves them. Michael, a former professional show skier, magazine editor, and business owner and father to a 14-yearold daughter, has been on the job for almost a year now, so we decided to catch up with him and see how things are going, for him, the WSIA (wsia.net) and the industry.

Were there any surprises, good or bad?

I don’t know if surprising is the word, but our annual charity efforts have really impacted me. I’ve lived a very fortunate life filled with amazing experiences, but it’s tough to beat the feeling of cutting sizeable checks to athletes who’ve injured themselves severely while pushing the sport, as well as others who have suffered and could use some help. Our industry has always felt like a family to me, and it’s great to know we are here for each other in times of need.

BW: How did your first year go?

Michael: Too fast! Prior to this year, the WSIA granted me the

Amber Wing

watersports

Is there a niche of the industry that’s growing more than others right now?

It’s no secret that wakesurfing is blowing up exponentially. From 2012 through 2015, the segment showed 30 percent growth in sales, year-over-year. For 2016, we’re projecting more than that, possibly way more. Wake parks are also booming — more than 100 in North America. Opening a new cableway is a great project for entrepreneurs who want to do something cool and fun as a business.

Rodrigo Donoso

What are a couple of the biggest issues facing WSIA members right now?

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Discourteous boat drivers. If they annoy their neighbors, these disgruntled homeowners can try to ban the activity. I say “try” because in most all of these cases, the WSIA jumps into action and defuses the situation. As Meddock says, “When you peel the onion,” these issues stem from a personality conflict started by factors such as loud music and running too close to

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Amber Wing

docks and shorelines. When confronted, the driver may be likely to flip the homeowner the bird, and now it’s an issue. So we are getting out in front of this with a new campaign to proactively educate participants on how to conduct themselves to preserve waterway access for years to come. Anyone who hears of a threat to towed watersports can call our hotline at (508) 507-9742.

What is a big priority for the coming year?

We are coming out with some really cool videos on safety and general WSIA activity. #PassTheHandle is also a big participation effort that gives back as much or more than we decide to put into it.

Our industry has always felt like a family to me. wave without having to lean the boat to one side. In 2012, the design was brought to market and participation boomed. A lot of people don’t realize that we’ve been wakesurfing in a modern way since around 1998. But it took these surf-specific boat innovations to make it easier to wakesurf and also to switch activities on the fly.

What are a couple of recent boat manufacturer innovations that have positively affected towed watersports?

What is your favorite towed watersports activity to participate in?

In 2011, an incredible engineer discovered a way to create a clean wakesurfing

When I was younger, freestyle waterski jumping was everything. Given the boat

speed of 35 mph and a double-wake cut, I fell in love with the speed and ability to be upside down, flying over the water. Today, wakeboarding behind a boat is the ultimate thrill. I get to ride in a couple major competitions each season, and that sets a goal for me to be in good shape and get back in rhythm.

How might a watersports professional describe your riding style?

So far, I haven’t been able to master the style that I see in my head. Maybe that’s why I always come back for more. Let’s ask wakeboarding legend Shaun Murray: “Kevco’s style is all about flow. You can tell that he’s in search of a good feeling when he’s riding. I like watching people like him ride, because when things feel good to a rider, they usually look good, which is always easy on the eyes. Soft landings, floaty in the air and best of all, in control from start to finish.” BW BOATINGWORLD.COM

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fishing

M E A SU R I N G TH E C ATCH

The Big Unit Even if you think you know how big your catch is, does it really measure up?

BY ANDY WHITCOMB

S

INCE THE FIRST IMAGES OF the “big one” — cave drawings done of the perspective-cheating, hairy arm’s length fish pose — were met with a neighbor’s unibrow furrowed in skepticism, the necessity to measure and record an underwater creature has been an integral part of every angler’s routine.

Our internal fish data–gathering processor needs a number to remember not only for ourselves but to communicate to other anglers who also require a figure.

But what to measure?

Depending on the species and your region of the country, one fish size may be communicated better with a unit of length, while another may require a unit of weight. For example, which would you rather catch, a largemouth bass that is 21 inches long or one that weighs five pounds? Robert Earl Keen didn’t sing “21-inch Bass” — and for a reason. His audience would have been frustrated,

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because they still wouldn’t know how big the largemouth bass was.

The Length Crowd tends to seek fish that prefer cooler, flowing water, such as trout.

Other quarry might include smallmouth bass, walleye or proportionally long fish such as pike or muskie. They love to cast dainty lures made from feathers, and they delight in landing six-inch brook trout.

If they speak glowingly of a weight, it is usually related to how light their gear is, such as a “two-pound tippet” or a “4-weight fly rod.”

The Weight Crowd casts for fish such as largemouth bass and catfish, lurking in warmer, more static water. “Weighters” may throw lures the size of six-inch brook trout and use 65-pound braided line to power chunky fish through aquatic weeds or away from a submerged brush pile. To

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FORK LENGTH

GIRTH

Note: Mouth should be closed and the tail pinched closed. Girth is around the fattest part of fish.

T O TA L L E N G T H

them, mass equals merit. They look for excuses to lug around car batteries.

Northern largemouth bass anglers often get confused and try to pass along a length to fellow anglers. However, all southern largemouth bass anglers will only measure the length of a bass to verify that it meets a minimum harvest or tournament regulation for a body of water. With its handy big-mouth lip handle, a largemouth bass is the ultimate, one handed, lift-friendly fish. And because of this, most fishermen demand a unit of weight.

The Length Crowd will argue that, with a measuring board or tape measure, length is easily determined and that this figure will not shrink. Most fish have “indeterminate” growth. That is, even old fish have the capability to grow longer.

Weight, on the other hand, fluctuates with seasonal stresses, such as spawning, or changes in temperature, habitat or water conditions. Also, a weight measurement, gathered perhaps with a rusty scale, on a bobbing boat, may lack in accuracy.

To the weight crowd, mass equals merit.

Another advantage of length is that it can be communicated immediately by the international gesture of holding your two hands apart. Try to indicate weight similarly.

“How big was it?”

Pantomime lifting an anvil.

“What?!”

“Here, uh, hold my hiking boots. That’s how big that fish was.”

It kind of loses something.

Still, if a firm, reliable weight can be established, it is an undeniably powerful number. Noted author and angler Keith “Catfish” Sutton believes “worthy catches always are measured by weight.” Indeed, even though minimum size regulations around the country are always in length, record fish are almost always listed by weight.

Every once in a while, some anglers may

throw in another unit of measurement: girth. This quirky faction of the Length Crowd loves to focus on the distance around the largest midsection of a fish. As much as I enjoy the word “girth,” without at least one of the other measurements, it fails to convey overall fish size to anyone outside of the package shipping industry.

As we travel and catch different species in different locations, we may be forced to struggle with generalized charts of length and weight conversion rates. The resulting derived numbers are wholly unsatisfying and difficult to communicate. Unless you can get the right size unit for that fish, in that particular part of the world, no one will fully understand or appreciate your data.

This morning an angler sent me a report that he caught a 30-inch channel catfish. I wonder how big it is. BW BOATINGWORLD.COM

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engines

TO RQ E ED O D E E P B LU E IN BOA R D

Power Trip Could electric boat power be in your future?

BY ALAN JONES

G

AZING OUT ONTO LAKE STARNBERG, on the outskirts of Munich, I watch

a fleet of boats line up side by side. They range from 14 to 37 feet long.

It looks like the start of a race, but when they leave the starting line, instead of the furious sound of combustion engines roaring into action, the only sounds are seagulls protesting and water slapping against hulls. The scene is so eerily quiet because all the boats are powered by Torqeedo electric motors (torqeedo.com), built not far from here.

An electric motor for a boat is not a new notion. Moritz von Jacobi built one of the first DC electric motors that could be used to power things. Within four years, Jacobi had improved it enough that it propelled a boat with 14 passengers across a wide lake ‌ 178 years ago!

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combustion engines on its lakes and nearly all its rivers. It was that prohibition on this very lake that provided the catalyst for the founding of Torqeedo, in 2004.

Since then, Torqeedo has experienced phenomenal growth, going from being a garage-based startup to the industry leader in electric propulsion, with motors ranging from 1 to 80 hp.

In the U.S., a number of smaller lakes prohibit combustion engines or restrict horsepower, and Torqeedo is helping to

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the Deep Blue inboard, which comes in either a 40 or 80 hp configuration.

At a compact 14 inches tall and less than 20 inches wide, the new Deep Blue allows boat builders to maximize a space that is normally occupied by an engine sized for a car. To keep it small, yet more powerful and efficient, it employs a permanent-magnet-excited motor, instead of an electromagnetic motor that needs a secondary coil. Typical mechanically commutated motors have brushes that make constant sliding contact and eventually wear out; Torqeedo’s electrically commutated motors, on the other hand, create the necessary alternating field via electric switching, which makes them virtually maintenance free. Deep Blue which is 98 percent efficient, is then connected to a simple direct-drive propulsion system.

surprisingly quick.

Acceleration was immediate and swift, as the boat got on plane in 2.5 seconds. Top speed was 29.2 mph at 6500 rpm, but wideopen throttle will result in a rather short day on the water, since the battery life at WOT is only about 30 minutes, even with two batteries.

Throttling back to 1000 rpm provides a range of 127 miles. I found that the throttle and shift lever worked smoothly, but it felt cheap and insubstantial in my hand and could use a redesign.

The Johnson monitor used to be the weak link of the system. It showed 14 valuable tidbits of info, but the display itself was dim and difficult to read. But at the Miami show, consumers will learn about a new high-def display that replaces the old 5.6-inch monitor and delivers a multitude of info, including range and battery time

Deep Blue is 98 percent efficient.

Torqeedo’s new Deep Blue inboard will now be powered by a BMW lithium-ion battery (top right).

fulfill the demand for alternative power.

Boat builder Qwest, in particular, has embraced Torqeedo power for its line of compact luxury pontoons, shipping around 10 percent of its boats with a Torqeedo. In 2013, Torqeedo unveiled the Deep Blue outboard, which produces 80 hp and won many accolades, including the coveted NMMA Innovation Award at the Miami Boat Show. Last summer I was lucky to be one of two U.S. marine journalists to be invited to Germany to see Torqeedo’s latest,

While writing this, I discovered Torqeedo finalized a deal with fabled automaker BMW to use the new-for-2017 BMW lithium-ion battery that it uses in its i3 car.

A marinized version of the battery will be displayed in the U.S. for the first time at the Miami Boat Show in mid-February. A single one of these will replace the previously necessary two-battery packs (still available for the 40 hp version) and is rated at an astounding 33 kWh, which is 8 kWh more than the two-battery system; plus, it is lighter (563 vs. 660 pounds), smaller and less expensive. Its nominal voltage is a whopping 360v, and it carries the same nine-year warranty. Even if you use it every day, at the end of nine years it retains 80 percent of its charging capabilities.

We tested the Deep Blue inboard on a 20-foot Designboats Tender 06e (with the older-gen batteries), and the boat was

still available at each throttle setting.

Now for the bottom line. The Deep Blue 80 inboard comes at a price of $19,999, which includes the charger, controls, 12v starter battery, motor, direct drive system and all connections. The previous-gen batteries cost $15,999 apiece, and the 80 hp model really needed at least two of them, which pushed the total cost to near $52k. With the new BMW i3 battery, that cost is reduced by $4,499. Torqeedo makes the case that if you use your boat a lot, the fuel savings over nine years can put you in the black. As of now, however, most buyers are boat owners who use their vessel commercially and some deep-pocketed “green” boaters. But automakers are aggressively investing in electric/hybrid technology, so the price of electric should drop enough to make it more of a mainstream option. BW BOATINGWORLD.COM

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diy

WA LN UT-S H E LL N O N -S KID

Install Yacht-like Non-Skid Making a boat safer while improving its looks is a double win.

BY JARED JOHNSON

I

Before painting the surface, clean it well.

Remove all traces of wax or dirt, to make sure the Awlgrip will adhere properly to the gelcoat. Awlgrip recommends its WipeDown Solvent, but if you wash a relatively clean surface with water and a brush and let it air dry, that should be sufficient. Sanding, by itself, is not effective; it tends to smear contaminants around or embed them in the gelcoat. Lightly sand the cleaned area with 120- to 220-grit sandpaper (1), to give the paint more “bite,” and blow the residue off before cleaning it again.

A critical element of this project is good masking tape. I chose three-quarter-inch Scotch 218 Fine Line tape. Very carefully tape around the area where the non-skid surface is being added. Keep the lines straight or it will look sloppy.

I recently painted my gunwales (and hull), so primer wasn’t needed there, but I did use Awlgrip 646 Epoxy Primer for the hatches and deck and opted to spray it on (2), since it’s faster and uses less than when using a roller or a brush.

Awlgrip is a two-part polyester-based polyurethane paint that needs to be mixed in a 2-to-1 ratio with Awlgrip Awlcat #3, for use with a brush or roller. After stirring the mixture with a stick, further reduce it with Awlgrip Topcoat Brushing Reducer, by 25 to 33 percent, which helps reduce brush stroke and roller marks. It is •

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PRICE BREAKDOWN

1 gallon Awlgrip Topcoat:

$230

2 quarts Awlcat #3 Topcoat Converter: $120 1 gallon Awlgrip 545 Epoxy Primer:

recommended for use in temperatures from 39 to 86 degrees, but between 60 and 86 degrees will yield the best results. For this project, I chose Whisper Grey Awlgrip for the gunwales and white for the deck and hatches. I used a 4-inch foam roller and worked it in the paint pan until it didn’t drip. Use multiple thin coats for the best results. I worked in 5-foot sections to keep the paint from drying out. I rolled on the first coat and let it dry for a couple of days (one day is really all you need).

Immediately after the second coat of paint is applied (3) is the time to apply the walnut shell grit. Walnut shells are used for tumble-polishing metal and in sandblasting, so it’s a readily available material that can be found online at a variety of websites, including KramerDepot.com. I used the 30/40 grit size, which is classified as “fine.” I estimated that a 25-pound bag ($55) would be enough, and it proved to be plenty. Use a cup or your hand to spread a thick layer of the walnut grit on top of the wet paint (4). Don’t worry about using too much; really pile it on, but don’t mash it in. After you finish the first 5-foot section, move on to the next section.

After completing one lap of your boat, take a step back and let the paint/walnut shell combination dry overnight. The paint goes through a chemical process, and interrupting it will cause the surface

$88

1 quart Awlgrip Topcoat

Brushing Reducer:

’M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS to make my boat safer and to customize it and make it my own. My 28 Whitewater center console has wide gunwales, and I spend a lot of time walking on them, but I felt I could use better traction. I really like the non-skid coating I see on some sportfishing yachts, and I was surprised to learn it contained crushed walnut shells combined with Awlgrip. This a well-known technique, mainly used by northern yacht builders, but it’s not something typically done on smaller boats. But that didn’t stop me.

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ITEMS NEEDED

$26

1 roll Scotch 218 Fine Line masking tape: $29 4-inch roller:

$5

25-pound bag of walnut shells

30/40 grit:

$27

DeVilbiss GFG670 gravity-fed spray gun Total:

$525

to break down prematurely. The next day, blow off the excess shells, pull the tape off, and re-tape the area, but add a quarter of an inch of space beyond the shells (5). Re-taping between coats keeps the paint from going under the tape. In addition, it seals in the walnut shells and creates some awesome straight lines that really pop.

It takes about three layers of paint to hide the color of the walnut shells. We again used Whisper Grey Awlgrip on the gunwales and white on the deck and hatches. After applying the non-skid layer, wait at least six hours — overnight, preferably — and then go over it again. The walnut shells’ color at this point should barely be visible and with one more layer should be completely hidden. Again, let it dry overnight.

The next day, pull off the tape and re-tape the same lines. Then roll the last coat of paint on with a foam roller (6). Let this dry until the next day before pulling the tape off. If any paint made its way under the tape, use a razor blade to scrape it off. You’re done at this point and should have awesome results (7). This non-skid surface is especially effective when it’s wet but is not too abrasive for bare feet. If it’s too rough on your feet, add one more coat of Awlgrip.

Not only is it functional, but it will also turn heads at the dock with its custom look and increase the boat’s resale value. BW

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ask the experts

Q

+A

ELECTRONICS

Care & Maintenance Ed. note: As electronics continue to proliferate on smaller boats, more people are in a position to clean touchscreens. Handling the job incorrectly can have consequences. We found this advice from Shurhold to be informative.

Whether it’s a portable fishfinder, a color TFT stereo display or a large multifunction display, touchscreens with rubberized buttons are commonplace on boats. Over time, salt spray, grime and fingerprints reduce the devices’ appearance, and may lead to premature deterioration. Shurhold, the leader in marine cleaning tools and products, offers a process for detailing these valuable electronics.

The first step is to power-down the device(s). This will avoid unintentionally changing a setting. It’s also a good time to check the manufacturer’s manual to see if it recommends

any specific cleaning or maintenance routines.

If the device is all-weather rated, a light misting of water will remove dirt and salt residue; never use a hose with full pressure.

Use a synthetic PVA chamois to wipe the surface clean and remove the contaminants. For large dashes, work from the top down and in sections. The key is to dry the device quickly before water spots form.

 OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS:

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

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

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

BOATINGWORLD.COM

1/5/17 9:00 AM

YOU DESERVE A

RETREAT

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ask the experts Next, lightly spray the area with a high-quality, one-step detailing product (e.g., Shurhold’s Serious Shine). The right quick-spray product will clean, polish and protect almost any surface, without leaving an oily, artificial residue. Shurhold’s contains UV inhibitors and anti-fingerprint/anti-static properties. It can be used on touchscreens, glass, frames, buttons, chrome, gauges, fiberglass and even Isinglass.

Lightly buff the surface with Serious Shine or your preferred detailing product and a clean microfiber towel. Then, flip the towel to its dry side and polish everything to a high sheen. Screens will be clean and the surrounding accents gleaming like new.

For areas of built-up grime, Shurhold’s Serious Marine Cleaner (SMC) is ideal.

(Check out Star Brite, 303 Products and West Marine for others.) It’s a safe, yet strong, multisurface cleaner that will tackle vinyl seating, canvas, exhaust stains and even the bilge.

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ENGINES

Twin Engine Weirdness

Q I have a 2006 Yamaha SX230HO. What could be the problem when one engine starts normal and the second doesn’t even fire up? I thought it was the key but then the last time out the problem switched engines. So weird. The battery is good, throttle is in neutral, and everything else is working perfectly.

Marty Price, via BoatingWorld.com

Since the problem switched engines, and the problem involves starting, I’d look to the neutral safety switches. Next time one engine won’t start or spin over, hold the key hard to the right and very carefully rock the throttle to get a positive neutral connection. — GM OUTBOARDS

Pondering Modernization Q I have a 1995 150 Yamaha Saltwater

series two-stroke powering my 20-foot center console Grady White. The engine

runs fantastic — absolutely no problems whatsoever — but I’m wondering if I should consider repowering at some point with a modern four stroke? I know a four stroke would run quieter and would increase my fuel efficiency, but is it worth the investment to spend $14,000 when my 21-year-old engine runs perfectly fine? I am the third owner and have no idea how many hours are on the engine, since it has no hourmeter, but I can tell you this engine runs flawlessly. Any advice would be appreciated Chris Curry, via BoatingWorld.com

Lord, please don’t let me jinx this engine by answering his question, amen. Your worst problem will be trying to find some way of getting rid of that engine. I love that model. It is basic, simple, reliable, plenty of power for your Grady, and easy to service and repair. If you use a quality TC-W3 oil, like Yamaha’s (or any outboard manufacturer’s TC-W3), Ring-Free and a good fuel stabilizer/cleaner such as

BOATINGWORLD.COM

1/5/17 9:00 AM

The perfect blend of luxury and performance.

Spacious and well appointed, the all-new 212 Series elevates the standard of 21-foot boating. Featuring Yamaha’s exclusive Connext® helm control system and industry-leading twin 1.8 liter High Output Yamaha Marine engines, nothing else on the water comes close. Innovative, luxurious and reliable, it’s every thing you’ve come to expect from the leader in marine performance.

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yamahaboats.com ©2016 Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA. Follow instructional materials and obey all laws. Drive responsibly, wearing protective apparel. Always drive within your capabilities, allowing time and distance for maneuvers, and respect others around you. Don’t drink and ride. For more information, visit yamahaboats.com or call 1.800.88.YAMAHA.

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ask the experts Seafoam, you’ll be able to leave a great engine to your next of kin. Most of the time, given 30 seconds, I could rationalize anything to the Motor Nurse, but 14 grand to replace a wonderful engine? I wouldn’t see a good return on that investment in my lifetime! And I’d probably have to sleep in the boat for just thinking about going four-stroke. — GM B AT T E R I E S

Unwanted Dimming

Q I have a 2000 Rinker Fiesta Vee 310. My trouble is the cabin lights. The lights will shut off momentarily when we are using one or more of them, and whenever we use the freshwater pump the lights will shut off the same way. Whenever we anchor out, the lights will die in a short while. I am looking for possible solutions.

FAST FACT

Up to 95 percent of the energy put out by a Halogen light bulb is released as heat instead of light. LEDs release practically no heat and are therefore far more efficient than halogens and have up to 90 percent lower amperage draw.

Frank Ball, via BoatingWorld.com

Lots of possibilities! My initial thought would be that it sounds like a bad/intermittent ground or loose connection, but more info

0.125” bleed

would be helpful. Such as, what type of lights (incandescent, LED, etc.), and when the lights die out at anchor, does that mean the battery is dead or that the lights just go out (I’d assume the latter, but who knows)? A weak or borderline battery would also exhibit many of the same symptoms. The lights may look OK at first, but when the pump kicks in the larger draw would make them dim (something that would be easy to note visibly) or even go out.

Keying the VHF would likely cause the same symptoms, although they’d probably use the water pump more at anchor than the VHF, making it more noticeable. For “hot” lights that draw a lot of power, the more you have on, the quicker a weak battery would dip under proper operating voltage, causing them to dim or go out. This, of course, would not be as noticeable (or even occur) as long as the engine is running and the battery is being charged by the alternator.

I’d probably start by testing the battery(s) while under load to see if they are up to snuff. — FL BW

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1/5/17 9:00 AM

Wave of Versatility

bonehead blunders

BY G R I D M I CH A L

The Difference Matters BONEHEAD BLUNDER: Not differentiating THE BONEHEAD: A DIYer BONEHEAD RATING: 5+ WHAT HAPPENED: We’re on vacation in

beautiful Martha’s Vineyard, courtesy of a wonderful customer. Today has been the most perfect weather day this fall will ever know. It’s pouring where the house’s owner is. To make my guilt somewhat dissipate, I elected to do a little work up here, including answering the phone. Dumb. Very dumb.

Next time, guilt stays home.

George has a 2 hp Suzuki from the early 1990s that’s a perfect dinghy engine when he cruises. He’s been physically challenged the last few years, and the engine has sat in the corner of his garage, in front of his BMW 7 series. George doesn’t want me

HAS YOUR DOG GOT THE SALT?

working on the engine, because I charge.

Not too much, just charge. He can do it for free, so I let him. (You know where this has gone in the past, so you should see it coming now.) I was surprised to hear him on the other end of the line saying he’d taken his Suzuki’s carb apart, cleaned it and reassembled it. Now it runs only wide open.

“What did the factory miss?” He asked.

“George, the last time it ran right, was it at all speeds?”

“Yes.” “Then give Mr. Suzuki a break. Let’s figure out what you did wrong. When you were assembling the carb, did you notice the throttle valve, which is the round part you slide into the carburetor, has a small 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 bobby@boatingworld.com, or snail mail to Boating World Salty Dog Contest, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. Your pet could win a cool PFD from CWB.

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

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

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

notch on one side and a long slot on the other?”

“Sure, but what difference…”

“If you want it to work, George, what I’m telling you is the difference. The Mikuni carb on the little engines is constant fuel flow, variable air flow. As you raise the throttle lever, more air is admitted and the engine runs faster. If you’ll unscrew the cap where the plunger goes down,

Know when to pay for experience. you’ll find the spring smushed because the plunger won’t drop all the way. Remove it.

Look at the bottom of the barrel and you’ll see the pointy end of a screw coming from the side. That screw sets the idle speed. On the other side of the barrel is a tiny pin that corresponds with the slot in the plunger.

Align the pin and the plunger slot and the plunger will drop all the way down, giving you carburetor control.”

“Thank you, Grid.”

“Goodbye, George.”

LESSON LEARNED: Know when to pay for experience. (Got it, George?)

PS: After that I got a succession of four robo-calls, all telling me I was qualified for a $50,000 loan. All I had to do was tell them what it was for. Haha! You think? BW

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gear

STU FF YO U WA NT

Bust the Rust $19.99, meguiars.com

Space-Saving Sound

TBD, fusionentertainment.com

The Fusion RV-FS402 Sound-Panel is a complete, shallow-mount 200-watt dual speaker system. Encapsulated in a single enclosure and designed for simple installation, Sound-Panel incorporates twin four-inch speakers, tweeters and a passive radiator. Available in a black or white grill, Sound-Panel is tuned for premium sound delivery, is an option for any size vessel and is engineered with IP65 environmental protection for durability in the harshest marine environments.

A Folding Holder

Meguiar’s new Trailer Corrosion Protectant will help your boat’s chariot last longer, and protect it from salt spray, rust and corrosion. It creates a barrier against corrosion on both coated and uncoated metal surfaces for months. To use, simply shake the canister and apply it evenly to the cleaned surface. The self-leveling product will spread and coat uniformly on the trailer. It’s able to cover hard-to-reach components such as bolts, screws and tight trailer corners. Additionally, this easy-to-use formula will not harm trailer wiring, paint or wrapped surfaces.

$68.20, acconmarine.com The new Push Pole Holder model firmly holds your fishing pole when you need it most but also folds flat out when not in use.

The 708 Flush-Mounted Push Pole Holder is just high enough off the deck that a riser shim isn’t needed. The matching 708-R Ring Pole Holder provides additional security.

When folded down, both are barely noticeable. The 710 Folding Push Pole Holder is surface mounted, so no cut-outs are required, and mounting is straightforward.

Body Guard $369.93+, keelguard.com Aluminum pontoons are susceptible to dings and chafing from docks, trailers and other boats. PontoonGuard from KeelGuard is a three-and-a-half-inch wide polymer composite strip that protects pontoons from day-to-day hazards. The product includes reflective 3M tape, seals tight against the aluminum body and contours to the tube’s shape. The 32-foot (two 16-foot strips) and 40-foot (two 20-foot strips) kits are available in gray, black, blue and red.

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BOATINGWORLD.COM

SUBMIT YOUR GEAR TO STEPHANIE@BOATINGWORLD.COM

1/5/17 11:20 AM

Changing perceptions one test drive at a time

facebook.com/manitoupontoons | www.manitoupontoonboats.com

gear

STU FF YO U WA NT

Tip Tow

In the Buff

$47.31, acconmarine.com

$11.98, shurhold.com

Form meets function with Accon Marine’s 198 Ski Tow. Built of polished stainless steel, the tow sits flush to the surface, to prevent snagging of lines and feet, and adds a finishing touch to any boat. The 198 Ski Tow is solidly constructed, with an innovative design that fits all standard tow rope diameters. It consists of a patented, four-piece assembly: the main body, sealing cup, backing plate and gasket. Installation is easy: drill a two-and-a-half-inch hole in the transom and four pilot holes, and attach the Ski Tow with quarter-inch screws.

The Brite Bonnet PRO Final Polish Pad from Shurhold is a durable, shaggy microfiber pad that quickly buffs off excess wax and brings out a showroom-like shine. The numerous cords quickly get into the tightest crevices, and the pad works with the machine to apply consistent pressure for a deep and even shine — easier than by hand. A sturdy hook-and-loop backing helps keep the pad in place on even the most powerful polishing machine. It’s designed to work with the Dual Action Polisher Pro and Rotary Pro.

Water-tight Lights Oh, Snap

$54.99, pmlights.com $3.69, bereng.com

Standard laundry pins are not up to the task on a windy day on a boat. Bernard Engraving’s Sea Snap is strong and oversized to handle the heaviest of items, and now it comes in five vibrant colors. Made from thick, durable plastic, Sea Snap won’t rust and discolor fabrics. Large teeth provide ample gripping power, and at 6 inches long, Sea Snap is robust enough to hold tight, even in a stiff sea breeze. A wide hook at the end allows it to be hung on almost anything. It can also be used inside a boat for organizing equipment, cables and wires.

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BOATINGWORLD.COM

The V944 Submersible LED rear lighting kit offers an exciting advance that combines superior function and durability with exclusive LumenX LED lens optics technology and low-profile good looks — all in a convenient kit that boat owners will love.

Peterson’s high-performance LEDs paired with LumenX precision lens optics produce a uniform, evenly lit appearance for better visibility. A hermetically sealed inner lens and insert-molded electrical terminals protect circuitry in corrosion-safe, water-tight security.

SUBMIT YOUR GEAR TO STEPHANIE@BOATINGWORLD.COM

1/6/17 6:52 AM

WE BUILD FUN INTO EVERY NAUTICSTAR! Whether you are looking for your first boat or need a full-featured pleasure boat in a smaller package, the all new 193 SC is the perfect choice. Even though it is NauticStar’s smallest sport deck, it does not lack in performance. It combines comfort, features, and versatility with economical horsepower for an exceptional pleasure boating package. So, whether cruising, pulling skis, or fishing, the sporty and stylish 193 SC hits all the marks.

[ 193 SC SPORT DECK ]

For your local dealer, visit our website or call:

(662) 256-5636

NauticStarBoats.com Some photos shown with optional equipment

Factory installed with

tested

LOW E R E TR E AT 2 30 R FL

Advanced Retreat Lowe’s new Retreat Series will have your friends thinking you won the lottery.

BY ALAN JONES

I

N THE LAST FEW YEARS, Lowe has been adding new luxurious lines, such as the

Infinity Series that was introduced two years ago, to its portfolio of affordable pontoons. For 2017, the new kid on the block is the Retreat Series, which nails the affordable/upscale sweet spot. There are two sizes, the 25-foot, 7-inch 250 and the 2-feetshorter 230 RFL we tested.

UNIQUE FACTOR

The Retreat 230 RFL features a contemporary design with a choice of black or silver D-rails that swoop down toward the stern. For customizing the look, buyers have a staggering 20 choices of color/accent combinations that all come at no extra charge. Black rails are hot right now, and that’s how our boat was equipped. The 230 RFL we tested is representative of Lowe’s new look — seems the wild graphics of recent memory (skulls, anyone?) are gone — and featured a black/gray/sand accented fencing scheme that gave it a classy, understated look that retained plenty of pizzazz.

Inside, the upholstery was clad in tan vinyl with tasty chocolate brown accents on side panels and trim cushions that top the bow section like frosting on a cake. The in-floor locker hatch is most unusual. It has the Lowe name sculpted into it, but its dark color might make it a little too toasty for bare feet on a hot day.

outboard. It was the lighter of the two 200 hp outboards, the four-cylinder version that weighs 510 pounds, compared to the six-cylinder model that tips the scales at 635 pounds, so it delivers a better powerto-weight ratio. It’s still supercharged, so out-of-the-hole performance is good, as evidenced by the 230 RFL’s time to plane of 2.3 seconds. Its linear power band kept pulling strong and propelled the Lowe to 30 mph in 7.4 seconds and to a top speed of 40.3 mph. The minimum power I would suggest is the 150 hp FourStroke model; it should deliver a top speed in the 36 mph range, but the four-cylinder Verado 200 hp seems to be a really good match and comes at a reasonable $3,860 upcharge over the 150. Adding the extra 50 hp to reach 250 is $4,835 more than the 200, and the added weight (125 pounds) negates some of the power gain. It also requires premium fuel (95 RON) to achieve its peak performance.

HANDLING

PERFORMANCE

Our test Retreat sported triple tubes and the XL Tube Package, which includes lifting strakes and Wake Tamer deflector fins at the bow. Since Lowe is a Brunswick company, there will be a Mercury on the all-aluminum engine pod, and buyers have an astounding 30 powerplants to choose from, ranging from 25 hp (don’t do it!) all the way to a 250 hp Verado Pro. Powering our test boat was a Mercury Verado 200 hp 36

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The XL Package includes triple 25-inch-diameter tubes that include lifting strakes on both sides of the center tube and on the inside of the outer tubes, an arrangement that gets the Retreat 230 out of the hole quickly and allows it to ride

higher in the water when it’s on plane. This strake configuration helps it lean a bit in hard turns, although due to prop torque it’s more pronounced during right turns than when turning to port. If you do most of your pontooning on large lakes that are prone to simulating open-ocean conditions or if you spend a lot of time near wide-open throttle or if you beach the boat a lot, order the Roughwater Package for $1,400. It

(Clockwise from far right) Extra-wide rear recliners have armrests for comfort. The upholstery features a tasty chocolate-and-tan color scheme. A standard 160-watt Marine Audio stereo system gets the house rockin’. The helm features a rich burlwood wheel. The unusual in-floor ski locker hatch is a Lowe exclusive. The copilot gets the same high-back chair as the captain

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When powered by 150 hp or more, the 230 RFL has plenty of performance for watersports. Our test boat was equipped with the well-braced stainless steel premium ski tow ($646) and a standard centerline locker that has plenty of room for all the skiing gear. At about 30 mph, the Retreat throws a pretty flat wake that’s well suited for slaloming, and it kicks up enough of a wake at slower speeds for junior wakeboarders to learn to launch. The rear deck has plenty of room for moving about, and the four-step ladder features an extra-wide grabrail spread for better leverage during reboarding.

PREFERRED SETUP

comes with heavier-gauge aluminum, extra baffles in the tubes, heavier keels, longer brackets and a 50-gallon fuel tank. Our test boat had the High Performance Package ($3,808), which beefs up the chassis with 16-inch crossmembers, resulting in an earth-like feel when banging over the chop.

The helm station is positioned farther forward than on most other pontoons and is elevated, which gives the driver excellent forward vision. With engines of 150 hp or more, tilt hydraulic steering is required, and that’s a wise decision. The Verado 200 hp comes with Digital Shift and Throttle (DTS), which makes speed control very smooth. Our test boat had the optional Active Trim system ($562 with Verado outboards), to keep the boat in perfect trim no matter what speed it is running. Active Trim is especially useful for turning while towing waterskiers, as it helps keep speed steady and prevents the prop from breaking loose. It has five settings for a variety of applications, so drivers can adjust when the load changes or they are going for max performance. The helm features one item every boat should have: a master power toggle switch. With one flick, the driver can shut down all potential power drains with confidence. The only downside to this compact helm console is it lacks room for installing flush-mounted electronics.

BEST USES

The Retreat 230 is a mid-sized pontoon with a passenger rating of 11, but its design is optimized for smaller groups. The best 38

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seats are rear-facing chaise lounges that are incredibly comfortable but have sculpted-in armrests that remain in a fixed position, which limits the number of people who can sit with their feet on the deck. The bow recliners don’t have this restriction, so guests can sit cheek to cheek to maximize capacity.

At first glance, the forward recliners look pretty short, but that’s because they are taller than most; there’s plenty of room for a 6-footer to stretch out in comfort. They wrap around toward the centerline, so reclining while looking aft is also doable.

Add a filler sectional to cover the bow gate for additional capacity. Across from the helm is a companion captain’s chair.

For entertaining, a custom Plexiglass oval table features four wire cupholders.

For even more entertainment bang, an optional moveable Ottoman ($761) has a built-in cooler.

Lowe starts the Retreat 230 RFL on the right foot with well thought out standard features such as the upscale 160-watt Marine Audio Bluetooth stereo system. But $1,532 seriously ratchets up the entertainment game, paying for a Polk Audio upgrade that includes a subwoofer.

A wide choice of vinyl flooring is available, six of which — like the two carpet choices — actually subtract dollars from the MSRP of $39,365 (when powered by a Mercury Verado 200 hp with DTS). Our model was decked out in full gray teak vinyl flooring, which upped the ante by $1,371 but looked great. For nighttime excursions, underwater lighting is always a show-stopper, and Lowe delivers the ambiance for only $286.

Lowe even offers a trailer on the option sheet, which is usually left up to the dealers to source, and the galvanized model starts at $3,706. BW

SPECS Length 23 ft., 7 in. Beam 8 ft., 6 in. Tube Diameter 25 in. Capacity 11 people Dry Weight (hull) 3,042 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 50 gals. w/XL HP Max HP 250 PERFORMANCE Peak 40.3 mph/6300 rpm/93 dBA Cruise 24.3 mph/4500 rpm/84 dBA Time to Plane 2.3 sec. Time to 30 mph 7.4 sec.

POWER Test Mercury Verado 200 hp Cylinders In-line 4 Displacement 1.7L Weight w/outdrive 510 lbs. WOT Range 5800-6400 rpm Base Price w/test power $39,365 Value-Added Standard Features: Choice of vinyl or carpeting, 160-watt Bluetooth Marine Audio stereo, cockpit table, 9-foot Bimini top Must-Have Options: Adjustable-height captain’s seat pedestals, double Bimini top, full camper enclosure, ski tow, dualaxle trailer, underwater lighting Builder: Lowe Boats, loweboats.com Financing: $282/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

BOATINGWORLD.COM

1/5/17 11:33 AM

GEICO and TowBoatU.S. have teamed up to help you on the water.

As a GEICO policyholder, you’ll receive outstanding coverage for your boat at an outstanding price. Plus, when you add towing to your policy, you’ll have the benefits of services provided by TowBoatU.S. — the nation’s largest fleet.

geico.com/boat 800-865-4846

for your boat

Service provided by Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company.

GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2015 GEICO

tested

SU N CH A S ER CL A SS I C 852 2 CRU IS E SG

Chasing the Sun for Less SunChaser found a way to offer a sporty, well-appointed pontoon at a great price.

BY ALAN JONES

P

EOPLE SHOPPING FOR A PONTOON boat usually have a list of things they want. The

boat has to be sporty, luxurious and good looking, and it should have the performance for watersports and the ability to host an on-water party. In other words, pontoon buyers want it all. And just when they think they’ve found their ultimate pontoon, they check the price and lapse into an emotional state where they produce only random, questioning sounds: Whaaaa? Nuh-uh? Fo’real? This is a condition known as sticker shock, and it often serves as the ultimate buzz kill to the boat-shopping glow. Fortunately, the designers at SunChaser understand that consumers aren’t made of money, and they offer the Classic 8522 Cruise SG as an antidote to the debilitating effects of SS.

UNIQUE FACTOR

Getting on and off a boat can be a little tricky, especially for folks who have physical challenges, but SunChaser makes it about as easy as possible by installing three gates that are 30 inches wide, which is enough clearance for a wheelchair. A fourth gate at the stern has 24 inches of width.

While this setup is great for passengers, it’s also a huge plus for drivers, because the Classic 8522’s starboard gate (the SG in the boat’s name) allows them to approach a dock on the side where they have unfettered visibility just by hanging their head over the rail, unlike the port side, which is obscured by the bow couch. The only penalty for this setup are shortened couches up front on the port and starboard sides that don’t have forward-facing lounge backrests.

PERFORMANCE

One of the fast-track ways to help a pontoon achieve great performance is to equip it with three tubes, which also increases its cost. SunChaser, however, is part of the Smoker Craft Boats family, which includes Sylvan, a builder on the cutting edge of pontoon technology. Its engineers found ways to make pontoon logs perform better and cost less. A clever

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pontoon “hack” they’ve come up with is the triple-tube PTS Package, where the center tube is shorter; it costs less to make and the savings are passed on to the buyer.

Powering our test boat was an Evinrude E-TEC G2 150, the latest addition to this new generation of direct-injected two-strokes. One of its greatest innovations is the ability to swap colors on the side and top panels, which opens the door to color customization. In a clever marketing strategy, Evinrude works with select boat builders to develop what’s informally known as a “Hero Package,” where Evinrude creates a special matching color unique to that brand. Our boat’s fencing was Wave Blue, a color that perfectly matched the G2’s panels. The test boat featured Evinrude’s drive-by-wire control, a system developed

by SeaStar that allows the driver to shift with one finger. Usually, such technology is reserved for higher horsepower motors, but it’s an integral feature of all G2 models and is especially useful if watersports are involved.

The Evinrude isn’t just another pretty face. It provides outstanding performance

by producing a power stroke every other cycle of the pistons, instead of every fourth time, which is what four-strokes do. When I threw down on the power lever, the G2 150 responded with a blast of power that propelled the Classic 8522 to plane in 2.4 seconds. Time to 30 mph was 8.8 seconds, and the Classic 8522 reached a top speed of 36.6 mph. We were unsure about the rpm count, due to a tachometer malfunction, but its peak rpm was probably near its max of 6000 rpm based on the sound level of 96 rpm, which is higher than four-strokes.

Max power for this boat is 250 hp, which should take it to another performance plateau.

(Clockwise from far right) The compact driver’s console places the accessory switches high on the dash. Pillow-top upholstery comes with the Touring Package. The Touring Package upgrade includes a raised Executive Helm. Evinrude G2 outboards come with standard drive-by-wire controls.

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owner feedback  HANDLING

Purchased by Allen and Mary Singstock, Oshkosh, Wis. Purchased at Hergert Sport Center, Oshkosh, Wis. >

W H AT W E L I K E D :

Triple-tube performance/Huge number of cupholders/Plentiful, comfortable seating/ Quiet and powerful Mercury 150/Bimini top/ Changing room >

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

We wish the cover were easier to put on; it’s a two-person job. >

WHY WE BOUGHT IT:

We’ve had the same pontoon since 1987 and have kept it in really good shape, but we were selling it with our cottage and wanted to upgrade. It was a twin-tube model and was pretty slow and didn’t handle rough water very well. In our area of Wisconsin are several large lakes that are shallow and tend to get rough when the wind blows, so we wanted a triple-tube model. After looking at several different brands, we thought the SunChaser 8522 was the best pontoon for the money.

There are lots of places to go cruising in our area, such as the scenic Fox and Wolf rivers, and we like to load up the boat with friends and frequently stop and go swimming.

The boarding ladder makes it very easy to reboard. We also stop at restaurants — the Ground Round, Dockside and Fox River Brewing Co. The service at Hergert Sport Center is outstanding. The owner, Ralph, has really taken care of us after the sale. When we took delivery, there were a few issues that were promptly taken care of for us. Ralph’s a boater and we frequently see him out on the water, and he always asks how the boat’s doing.

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The PTS package — triple 25-inch tubes with lifting strakes on both sides of the center tube and on the inside of the outer tubes — maximizes the pontoon’s performance potential. This near-24-footer is rated for 12 passengers, and even with a heavy load, there’s plenty of flotation.

The E-TEC G2 150 is the only member of this new-gen family not to use Evinrude’s exclusive steering system; rather, it is able to employ traditional hydraulic systems, which saves money and makes it a good candidate for repowering.

When I threw it into a turn for the first time, I was sure it would hook up really well, based on other SunChasers I’ve tested, but what happened next was totally unexpected. As I kept turning the wheel — and it reached a fairly tight radius — I was pretty sure we were done, that either the wheel wouldn’t turn any more or the prop would gently start to blow out. But neither happened. The circle kept shrinking, and I kept turning until it resembled a dog chasing its tail. I am sure some of it had to do with the tube/strake configuration, but the outboard was equipped with Evinrude’s RX4 Traction & Rough Water four-blade prop, which is designed for offshore boats and triple-tube pontoons, and it seemed to make a significant difference.

BEST USES

The Classic 8522 Cruise SG is a multitask pontoon that’s ready for anything. Our test boat was equipped with a polished stainless steel ski tow ($512), so it was

ready for watersports. It also had a galley behind the captain’s seat. The galley’s working surface came with a cutting board for snack and beverage assembly and had plenty of storage beneath it, including enough room for a portable cooler. For seating, in addition to the two forward couches, there’s an L-lounge in the stern with a chaise seatback. Adding the 30-inch gate filler sectional ($624) will provide more seating, for those days when the full 12-passenger complement is aboard. The layout is fish-worthy, but SunChaser has other floorplans in the Classic Fish series that are more fishin’ specific.

PREFERRED SETUP

Our test boat was upgraded with the Touring Package ($2,995), which includes a raised helm station for better visibility.

It’s part of a bundle of options that includes the Executive Helm, which puts the driver in a high-back swiveling captain’s chair, a cool Torcello tilt wheel, upgraded gauges, platform lighting and an upscale Infinity PRV250 Bluetooth stereo system to kick out the jams. Make the stereo more party-worthy by adding an extra pair of speakers ($130) and a subwoofer ($344).

The Touring Package also includes pillowtop furniture that swallows passengers in comfort and significantly ups its luxury factor. And for a little extra bling, the bundle includes a polished stainless steel four-step boarding ladder that’s a perfect match for the ski tow. Our pontoon had the full Sea Weave vinyl flooring option. It adds a tropical feel for $1,515. BW

SPECS Length 23 ft., 10 in. Beam 8 ft., 6 in. Tube Diameter 25 in. Capacity 12 people Dry Weight (hull) 2,100 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 30 gal. Max HP 150 PERFORMANCE Peak 36.6 mph/96 dBA Cruise 25.0 mph/85 dBA Time to Plane 2.4 sec. Time to 30 mph 8.8 sec.

POWER Test Evinrude E-TEC G2 150 Cylinders V-6 Displacement 2.7L Weight w/outdrive 507 lbs. WOT Range 50006000 rpm Base Price w/test power $36,194 Value-Added Standard Features: Choice of 8 fence colors, Millennia Bluetooth stereo, cockpit table, 22-oz. carpeting/vinyl rear deck, changing room, Bimini top, docking lights Must-Have Options: Trailer, 60-gal. fuel tank, centerline storage, choice of 7 flooring options, portable toilet, raw-water washdown, grill, depth gauge, cooler table Builder: Smoker Craft Boats, sunchaserboats.com Financing: $260/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

BOATINGWORLD.COM

1/6/17 6:54 AM

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tested

CO BA LT R5 WSS SU R F

New Wave The R5 WSS Surf uses Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive to create an endless wave.

BY ALAN JONES

O

NCE UPON A TIME, IF people wanted to go wakesurfing, they had to buy an inboard

or V-drive boat that safely tucked the prop under the hull and out of harm’s way. But most such boats weren’t capable of cracking the 40 mph barrier, so other activities were out of the question. Surfing behind a sterndrive-powered boat was a fairy tale that was not just dangerous, it was illegal in most places. One innovation changed all that.

UNIQUE FACTOR

With a simple twist — turning the props on this dual-screw sterndrive propulsion system 180 degrees to position them safely away from the surfer — Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive blew up all the rules about wakesurfing. Taking advantage of the new technology, the Cobalt R5 WSS Surf allows sterndrive fans to experience the most popular watersport going, and the fact it’s a Cobalt makes it extra special for a number of reasons.

One of its standout features that isn’t on any other brand is a huge swim platform with the Flip-Down Swim Step.

For 2017, this innovation is no longer an option but a standard feature on every sterndrive-powered boat in Cobalt’s lineup. Like the name implies, just flip down the wide step that’s recessed into the platform, and reentry from the water becomes incredibly easy, for humans and dogs. It makes a great place to sit, while it’s immersed, on toasty summer days.

Another great while-the-key-is-off feature is the Sundeck Convertible Lounger. Its flip-up backrest is set into the sunpad and creates a rumble seat for two people to sit facing aft with their feet on the SeaDek-padded swim platform. The backrest for the cockpit’s stern bench can be flipped forward to create a backrest for sunpad loungers when they want to go horizontal. And because there’s a starboard-side walkthough, guests can enter the cockpit without climbing on the beautiful white, pleated upholstery that’s supported by Varadense foam padding. The R5 is rated for 14 passengers, and there’s 44

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plenty of seating in the L-seating arrangement in the cockpit, thanks to Cobalt’s Free Space Reclamation, which maximizes interior space by reducing the width of the gunwales. Up front, the bowrider section features high gunwales for safety and chaise lounges with the perfect amount of recline.

PERFORMANCE

The standard engine for the R5 WSS is a Volvo Penta 5.3L V-8 300, which seems a little small for surfing. Our test boat had the V-8 380 hp version of the 6.0L engine, which came at an $11,124 upcharge but seemed to score a bull’s-eye on the performance sweet spot. The largest available engine, the 430 hp version of the 6.0L block, adds another $10,398, which seems a little steep since it’s essentially an up-tuned version of the 380.

The twin Forward Drive props bit well during our performance test, and its out-of-the-hole performance was further enhanced by turning on Performance Mode, part of the standard, automated, computer-controlled Easy-Surf system.

Jam the throttle in Performance Mode, and the surf tabs automatically deploy, whether ballast is full or empty, to help the boat get on plane quickly. During our test, this only took three seconds with little bowrise.

After the boat got up to running speed, the tabs automatically retracted, and the R5 reached 30 mph in just five seconds. Top speed was a very un-surf-boat-like 50 mph.

HANDLING

Another benefit of the Forward Drive

system is that the boat’s pivot point is moved slightly forward, which helps it turn faster and harder — to the point where drivers should take it easy the first few times they go for a max-performance turn, until they get the hang of it. It’s particularly responsive during docking maneuvers, which came in handy when I docked the boat in a tight slip against a stiff crosswind. A lot of ski boats will beat

(Clockwise from far right) The R5 is rated for 14 passengers, and there’s a place for everyone to sit. The roomy bow section has starboard-side feet-on-the deck seating. The stern is optimized for hanging out in comfort. Cobalt is known for luxurious helms, and the R5 is no exception.

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owner feedback  passengers up in a chop thanks to their relatively flat-bottomed hulls, but that’s not an issue with the R5. Its extended running surface features a sharp entry and 21 degrees of deadrise at the stern.

A useful Volvo Penta feature is the Power Trim Assist (PTA), which keeps the boat trimmed properly at all speeds.

BEST USES

Purchased by Steve and Denice Redmond, plus Connor, 16, and Madie, 19, Kansas City, Mo. Purchased at The Harbor, Branson, Mo. >

W H AT W E L I K E D :

Great handling and performance/Stern walkthrough/Flip-Down Swim Step/Superior fit and finish/Surf Control system/Stern rumble seat >

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

Although our Cobalt plowed up a decent wave, we wanted more, so we added aftermarket Fat Sacs and devices called Wave Shapers to enlarge and clean up the wave shape. >

WHY WE BOUGHT IT:

We owned a Cobalt 220 and loved its quality but wanted to go surfing and wakeboarding.

We checked out traditional wakesports boats but didn’t like how it felt like you’re sitting in a bathtub. Also, the ride seemed rougher, which is an issue on Table Rock Lake, which is really large. When we saw the R5 WSS Surf, it seemed like a perfect fit for us. After a couple of test drives, we were sold. Its roominess was a major upgrade for us, and we love how you sit high up — almost like being in a motorhome. Connor, my wife and I all love to surf and wakeboard while Madie prefers tubing.

It’s really easy to add and dump ballast, and it’s a simple boat to drive. Although we got it in late June, we’ve already put about 80 hours on it, mostly surfing. The service from The Harbor has been fantastic. They spent more than two hours after the sale showing us how everything works. Josh, our salesman, has the keys to our boat, and when we are out of town, he picks it up from our dock, takes it in for service and then returns it.

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When Surf is in the name of a boat, its primary mission becomes pretty obvious, but that’s not this boat’s only trick. With 2,100 pounds of ballast spread over three hard tanks, added to the boat’s dry weight of 4,880 pounds, the R5 has the heft to plow up a decent surfing wake on either side. And you can switch sides quickly without heeling far over, thanks to the surf tabs. As one would expect, the wake isn’t as huge and doesn’t have quite as much push as the wake put out by V-drive surf boats that can have more than double the ballast, but it’s certainly large enough to easily get the job done. Thanks to the Forward Drive system’s twin, counter-rotating props, the R5’s wakeboard wake is very symmetrical and well-formed, something that can be an issue with single-prop propulsion systems, due to prop torque.

The list of standard features is impressive. It begins with a Zero Off cruise control system that’s GPS-based for accuracy.

The driver can set the speed, advance the throttle all the way and then concentrate on steering. I drove while a surfer was doing his thing, and I found it really easy to hold the intended line with no hint of wallowing,

which can happen on some boats when going 10 to 12 mph. We found the wake to be crisper when we carved a slight arc to the side of the boat the surfer was on.

The R5 WSS Surf comes standard with a wakesports tower with Samson board racks for surfboards and wakeboards and a decent-sized integrated Bimini shade. For tubing and slaloming, a screw-in ski pylon delivers a lower tow point.

PREFERRED SETUP

Cobalt is a premium brand, and the price of the R5 WSS Surf reflects such status. It costs $147,887 with the Volvo Penta V-8 380, but that’s for a boat loaded with standard features such as an automotive helm that features a glass cockpit complete with a touchscreen Garmin 7607 GPS/chartplotter and a JL Audio Bluetooth stereo system that has six speakers and a helm remote.

Our test boat had the premium stereo upgrade, which includes a subwoofer and a transom remote ($2,250).

Aside from an engine upgrade, only a few other options need to be added to make it perfect. There’s a yacht-like head compartment to port that comes standard with a portable toilet, but a better option is the porcelain VacuFlush pumpout head upgrade with a sink and a vanity ($1,766).

If manual labor isn’t your thing, there’s a windlass option ($4,211). Standard flooring is neoprene-backed 40-ounce snap-in carpeting, but Sea Grass is a $1,599 upgrade. For your après ski snacking pleasure, order the stern dinette table and filler cushion option ($513). BW

SPECS Length 25 ft., 8 in. Beam 8 ft., 6 in. Deadrise 21 degrees Capacity 14 people Dry Weight (hull) 4,880 lbs. Fuel Capacity 50 gal. Max HP 430 PERFORMANCE Peak 50 mph/6000 rpm/93 dBA Cruise 31.5 mph/4000 rpm/84 dBA Time to Plane 3.0 sec. Time to 30 mph 5.0 sec.

POWER Test Volvo Penta V-8 380 hp w/Forward Drive Cylinders V-8 Displacement 6.0L Weight w/outdrive 1,115 lbs.

Max WOT 6000 rpm Base Price w/test power $147,887 Value-Added Standard Features: Choice of 10 standard colors, watersports tower w/board racks, Zero Off cruise control, Flip-Down Swim Step Must-Have Options: Transom shower, dinette table, electric watersports tower, underwater lighting, bow filler cushion Builder: Cobalt Boats, cobaltboats.com Financing: $1,061/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

BOATINGWORLD.COM

1/5/17 10:20 AM

Hurricane pioneered the deck boat, and has continued to take it to new places through innovation for over 40 years. More than any other deck boat, a Hurricane works hard so you can play hard. Whatever your lifestyle, Hurricane boats give you and your family room to roam, room to play and room to grow.

That’s why Hurricane is the number one selling deck boat in the world - and plans to stay there.

NOW THROUGH MARCH 31, 2017

H U R R IC A N E B OATS .CO M Godfrey Boating World Ads REVISED.indd 2

12/1/2016 3:31:56 PM

tested

SA I LFIS H 2 36CC

Middleweight Wave Fighter It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, it’s about the size of the fight in the dog.

BY ALAN JONES

T

HE NEW GENERATION OF SAILFISH center console boats is here, and the 236CC is the

first recipient of the makeover. Although it’s the same length as the 240CC, which has been one of Sailfish’s biggest perennial sellers, the new-gen 236CC is, to quote the singer Beck, “Where it’s at.” With an 8-foot, 6-inch beam, it can be trailered easily without having to abide by wide-load regulations, such as with the 9-foot-wide 240CC.

UNIQUE FACTOR

Sailfish boats are built by people who like to fish, and their hands-on approach to the piscatorial ergonomic side of things is evident in their designs. But it’s clear the designers have families, because more than a token effort is made to accommodate folks who don’t have to wipe their hands on their pant leg before shaking yours. The new trend for center consoles is to incorporate bowrider seat backrests into the forward bench seats; we’ve seen a number of such designs, but Sailfish has one of the best. The 236CC features wide, angled backrests that pivot to lie against the side of the hull and form a coaming pad that makes a great feature to lean against while fighting a fish. The backrests are an option ($853), but they are a must-have.

Also up front is a woodgrain cockpit table with a gooseneck pedestal that mounts to the forward bulkhead, which does two things: It eliminates the need to plant a receiver on the deck where it can be stepped on, and it makes an in-floor storage locker possible. The table can be purchased separately for $553 or as part of the Entertainment Package ($2,564), which also includes a jammin’ Bluetooth Fusion four-speaker stereo, underwater lighting and a clever ski-tow pylon that telescopes up out of the transom.

PERFORMANCE

Our test boat was powered by Yamaha’s

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F250 — in the middle of the horsepower options that also include 200 hp and 300 hp — which is smack-dab in the performance/cost sweet spot. A look at a performance bulletin with the smaller F200 made that engine a deal-breaker for me, given its pokey time to 30 mph of nearly 12 seconds and top speed of just 41.1 mph. Yes, our fuel and passenger load was lighter and we had a cooler test day than when they tested the F200, but the 236CC got on plane quickly with minimal bowrise, in just three seconds, when I hammered the throttle on the F250, and that was without even deploying the Lenco trim tabs ($1,157). Time to 30 mph was a brisk 6.1 seconds and top speed pegged out at 47.4 mph. Equipping it with the Yamaha F300 (the lighter six-cylinder version) pushes the MSRP from $79,893 to $83,016 and would probably provide a top speed of about 50 mph. Sailfish also offers Mercury Verado power in the same three engine sizes. According to in-house performance reports, with a 110-gallon fuel tank and a Yamaha F250, the 236CC has around 250 miles of range when motoring along at close to 30 mph at 4000 rpm (keeping 10 percent fuel in reserve).

HANDLING

If the number 236 wasn’t on the hull, most people would never guess this 23-foot, 6-inch boat is an inch less than 25 feet, thanks in part to its tremendous

The Sailfish 236CC is built by people who like to fish. cockpit depth. At the bow, there’s 32 inches and at the transom, there’s 27 inches, so containment is excellent for when the little ones are aboard. That depth means most anglers will be able to lock in with their thighs pressed against the coaming pads.

We tested it in choppy two-foot seas on large Lake Lanier, and the Variable Degree Stepped (VDS) hull sliced though the chop with ease thanks to its multi-deadrise (Clockwise from far right) Tall gunwales make the boat feel much larger. The faux wood table’s goose-neck mount keeps the deck clear. A tool holder at the transom is right where anglers need it.

The leaning post features flip-down footrests. The T-top’s supports are integrated into the console.

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sure Sailfish can accommodate personal preferences.

PREFERRED SETUP

(22/23/24 degrees) configuration. Would I take it to the Bahamas? Sure, after checking the weather forecast, but despite its sub-24-foot status, it’s a boat that will instill confidence when owners come in from a trip offshore and find the inlet in an angry mood. I liked its natural running angle that kept the bow high and didn’t dive alarmingly when I chopped the throttle — a real plus during an encounter an XXL wave that’s lurking in a pack of mediums.

BEST USES

Although the 236CC is better at entertaining and skiing than most center console boats, make no mistake, this boat’s first priority is fishing. It has the requisite features to be serious about its craft, such as a 25-gallon livewell with LED lighting situated at the transom. For the optimist, it has a pair of 120-quart fishboxes up front that drain overboard.

For cleanups and rinse-downs, there is both a raw-water washdown and a freshwater shower with a 14-gallon tank.

Some mid-sized center consoles seem cramped for space when someone is fighting a fish that takes him for a few laps around the boat, but Sailfish’s new T-top features integrated supports that are flush with the console, unlike previous designs that had aluminum tubes on the outside and bolted to the deck, which are chronic toe-stubbers. And at the transom,

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the bench seat folds up quickly, so one can go from lounging to fish fighting in about a second.

There are several leaning post choices available. Our test boat featured the LP9 variant ($2,141), which has a baitwell under the starboard half of the seat bottom. And built-in tackle storage keeps things neat.

There is tool storage for on-the-fly use, and at the top of the center console is a hatch for items such as cell phones and wallets. The only swing and miss for me was the positioning of the accessory rocker switches, Yamaha Command Link display and optional Fusion stereo; they were at the top of the dash where I would prefer to place a 12-inch electronic display instead.

If you are ordering one to be built, I am

The optional new-gen hardtop can be purchased as part of the Offshore Tournament Pack 1, for $9,714, which includes popup cleats and rod holders at the transom, in addition to the six rocket launcher holders on the hardtop. The option to add Grand Slam outriggers with 15-foot poles will cost $2,714. A thoughtful addition on the hardtop is the action camera mount, for chronicling all the adventures for social media. An optional bow shade ($1,451) casts a wide swath of darkness but uses twin anchor poles that could get in the way if a fish decides to take a lap. Get the windlass option ($4,400), which includes chain, rode and a polished stainless steel roller, bow plate and plow anchor that doubles as a classy hood ornament.

Many of the popular features can be bundled to save a few bucks, such as the Comfort Package ($2,736), which includes a portside stern jumpseat, bow cushions and coaming pads. The console features standup room, and several commode options are available. Go cheap with the $176 portable toilet, if you like carrying a bedpan, but our boat had the preferred electric marine head with a holding tank and pumpout ($1,593). Sailfish offers a choice of nine hull colors, including our boat’s Storm Gray, which added $1,708 to the bottom line. BW

SPECS Length 23 ft., 6 in. Beam 8 ft., 6 in. Deadrise 22 to 24 degrees Capacity 10 people Dry Weight (hull) 5,000 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 110 gal. Max HP 300 PERFORMANCE Peak 47.1 mph/6000 rpm/93 dBA Cruise 35.3 mph/4500 rpm/85 dBA Time to Plane 3.0 sec. Time to 30 mph 6.1 sec.

POWER Test Yamaha F250 four-stroke Cylinders V-6 Displacement 4.2L Weight w/outdrive 562 lbs.

WOT Range 5000-6000 rpm Base Price w/test power $79,893 Value-Added Standard Features: Freshwater shower and raw-water washdown, 10 rod holders, compass, cockpit bolsters, LED lighting in cockpit and bilge, power-assist steering (250 hp and up) Must-Have Options: Fusion 4-speaker Bluetooth stereo, electric marine head w/pumpout, bow table, foldable bowrider backrests, hardtop, marine electronics up to 12 inches, Lenco trim tabs Builder: Seminole Marine Group, sailfishboats.com Financing: $573/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

1/18/17 11:29 AM

Just a Swipe Away

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

Download and Subscribe Now Visit boatingworld.com/iPad

Apple, the Apple logo, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

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1/18/17 9:46 AM

POWER PROGRESSION Outboard manufacturers have made vast improvements to their power plants, and boat owners have benefitted from these eight.

BY GRID MICHAL

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Manufacturers have made some wonderful strides with outboards in the last quarter-century. Some innovations were brought on by customer request, some by “build it and they will come,” some by healthy international competition and some were encouraged by three-letter government agencies.

Throughout that time, and no matter the innovation, outboard builders had to keep in mind there is a fine line that has to be trod when dealing with discretionary income. In my case, it’s the line between a ginger ale and a shake with a cherry at Chick-fil-A. It’s only a few cents, but they’re discretionary cents.

If the two-strokes were being encouraged to disappear because their HC emissions were too great, it would certainly be easy enough for the manufacturers to emulate Homelite’s Crosley power of the early 1960s and stand a four-stroke block atop an intermediate section. But there had to be more to draw the customer, to show him the performance of four-strokes nearly equaled comparable two-strokes, for not much more expense, and definitely more reliability. To earn the discretionary dollars, engineers and manufacturers had to be innovative and smart.

I often imagine this scenario in a think-tank boardroom: “Our outboards are behind the times. We’re still using a 6v system.”

“Interface it and add $72.65 to the dealer cost.”

“What does interfacing have to do with it?”

“You’re dealing with guys! If you said boneless pork chops for $300 a pound interfaced with Garmin products, pigs would shake in fear, and our wealth managers would be up all night trying to invest the money.”

As a group, “Ahhhhh!”

As fun as that might be to imagine, it still wasn’t the solution.

In 1999 the EPA laid down the law. “The atmosphere must be protected,” it mandated. “Exhaust emissions need to be reduced — now!” The most expedient fashion was to drop “dirty” engines from the sales line in order to reduce the average emissions, but manufacturers got busy with real solutions.

1 JUMP TO FOUR

H

onda had been producing four-stroke engines — albeit small transportation (scooter) engines — since the turn of the 20th century. While the fledgling marine industry followed the path of least resistance (the simple two-stroke), Honda evolved the four-stroke from lawnmower to automobile, eventually using base engines from its automobile line as outboard engine power. There are production cost benefits to doing things that way, but the learning curve regarding what auto engines to use has been vertical. Other manufacturers have benefitted from Honda’s lessons. Yamaha and Suzuki expanded on Honda’s success by blending the performance from their motorcycle engines with the reliability of their small-car blocks.

But if you thought the manufacturers were going to be allowed to rest on their laurels while their dealers made the transition, you failed to consider The Great Equalizer: testosterone. In a matter of hours, gearheads on injectable caffeine made a mockery of the base carbureted four-stroke engines.

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POWER PROGRESSION

2 EFI

NO ENGINE, HOWEVER, can

achieve its full potential utilizing carburetion. There is just too much sloppiness equated with the fuel distribution. The last time they appeared on U.S. production cars was 1990. Enter electronic fuel injection. Wow! An engine that starts and runs like your BMW. Whether the injector is mounted to the side of the block, the front of the intake or atop the spark plug, fuel injection increases horsepower output by delivering precise amounts of fuel to the combustion chamber.

3

HIGH ON HORSIES

M

ore, and larger, valves helped introduce more fuel and extract more exhaust to boost compression; exhaust tuning made possible with computers was a cheap way of adding power. Supercharging the Mercury Verado jammed more air into the combustion chambers of a tiny 2.6L block, generating up to 400 hp, and sotto-voce conversation has it 200 more reliable horsepower are standing by. Yamaha aims big-blocks at big boats with a 5.3L V-8 pumping out 350 hp. Suzuki has blended a lightweight 300 hp V-6 of 4.0L displacement with an under-powerhead secondary gearing system that allows — and encourages — massive props that parallel performance with higherdisplacement engines.

Kudos, though, go to Seven Marine, which took a 6.2L GM block, mounted it horizontally on an intermediate housing, and yanked an amazing 627 hp out of it. Kudos also for remembering that “big toys go to the big boys’ (wallets).”

Ninety grand for one is equal to three of the Yamaha or Suzuki models.

NEURAL PATHWAYS

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one of these advancements in incremental power could be possible without sensors to tell the ECU/ECM/EMM where all engine functions are at any given millisecond. This circuitry — Integrated Circuitry, or IC — became part of the Suzuki lineup in the mid-1980s and vastly improved performance and reduced powerhead repairs. A gimmick that came with the top-of-the-line V-6 was a tiny AM/FM radio tied into the system, which, when the ignition was turned to ON, reported in a lovely, sultry voice, that the fuel was at X level, the oil level was Y, the engine temperature was Z; all systems go.

Have a nice day.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

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5

6

TERRIFIC TWOS

FANCY FUEL

OK, SATISFIED with the four-stroke

offerings? No? Good. How about OXE’s 200 hp diesel outboard, designed for both military and commercial use? Because its race-car engine creator used his high-speed knowledge to design the engine, it’s light as well as powerful, and touts three times the longevity of comparable gasoline engines.

W

ait. We forgot two-stroke engines. BRP was at the forefront of ensuring compliance with the EPA and built a wonderfully “clean” two-stroke direct-injection with fewer damaging emissions than any four-stroke anything on the market. The two-stage combustion system makes the engine exhaust almost clean air at the EPA’s testing level, while dumping the throttle makes it light up like my 302 Ford with the 750 Holley double-pumper. Unlike the E-TEC, the Ford has bad manners at idle. While we’re on direct injection, Mercury has, for Department of Defense use only, a direct-injection diesel outboard of 175 hp based on the two-stroke Optimax.

All these engines point to propelling larger and larger boats efficiently, quietly and reliably.

No engine, however, can achieve its full potential utilizing carburetion.

We received one of the earlier engines. It had a teething problem unrelated to the vocals. We couldn’t figure it out, so the only thing to do was to get the factory guy (from South Carolina) to come help. He came to our tiny burg and spent an entire day trying to locate the problem, but to no avail.

Each time he performed a test, he had to turn the ignition on, and the voice would intone the liquids check, and tell the operator to have a nice day. By day’s end, with nothing cured, we asked the tech what he thought it was, and we’d go back at it. In that wonderful Carolina marshland drawl, he said, “Well … I ain’t sure exactly what it is that’s wrong, but she sure has a nice attitude, don’t she?” Every time I get bogged down by a repair, I remember that and laugh.

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POWER PROGRESSION

MAKING MECHANICS CONTENT The last quarter of a century have resulted in several innovations mechanics love. Here are a few of my favorites: • Center consoles that unlatch and tilt for ease of access to gauges, wiring,

etc. A Bronx cheer to the owners who have a T-top installed so the console can’t tilt.

• Stainless steering tubes with grease fittings that actually lubricate the

steering ram, precluding engine removal from the boat to drive out a seized steering cable.

• Diagnostic programs such as BRP’s that let the tech test components

in situ in addition to assimilating current information.

• Fuel injection down to the small engines. Who likes to hand-crank a 15

hp engine 20 times on a cold winter morning, urging fuel to get from Point A to Point B? Two pulls should do it.

• Color-coded wires in Deutsch connectors. Pop apart and click together

— important when working one-handed.

8 ON THE GEARCASE

TIE THIS TOGETHER with gearcase

7 SMOOTH STEERING

R

emember the interfacing? Not with the pork chops, fool! It was only a matter of time before the pride of airplane operation, “fly by wire,” slid gracefully into the tube connecting the helm with the outboard. From a guy who’s done his share of trying to jam “10 pounds of cables into a five-pound tube,” this is nothing short of astounding. No more multitudes of harnesses for multiple engines. No more hoping the shift and throttle cables don’t break transducer wires as they’re routed through from console to transom. No more dealing with ever-stiffening shifting and throttle cables as corrosion builds. “Click,” ahead. “Click,” reverse. Tiny movements of the joystick steering ease the boat into the space afforded between the two mega-yachts. Pick your GPS location, your autopilot utilizes the joystick and electronic throttle and shift to keep you right on top of Moby Dick. I don’t care if the only captain’s chair you sit in is as the CEO of a huge company. This is so easy you’ll exercise your stock options, retire and take your buddies fishing.

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development. BRP (Evinrude) calls for changing the gear oil every three years. The improvement here is based on the fact yearly oil changes expose the gear oil, gaskets and threads to possible mistakes by the changer.

Fewer changes, fewer errors. Even more eye-opening is being able to change the gearcase rotation of the big Suzukis electronically. Because of that feature, Suzuki dealers no longer have to carry right and left engines and boat owners only need to carry one spare prop, since the rotation can be changed while on the water in about 60 seconds. If you didn’t see that one coming, you’re ready to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist.

There you have it: innovations that make the most of your discretionary dollars and time. I just had a flashback from seven decades ago, curled up with my grandfather while he read the Sunday comics to me.

Dick Tracy had a walkie-talkie wristwatch.

Impossible, we agreed — that’s just foolishness. Today, I suppose, the Garmin will interface nicely with it. BW

BOATINGWORLD.COM

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Lock Wall One Marina

GAME ON!

HEINZ FIEL D, PI T T SBURGH

Check out 21 sporting events boaters can get to, see or attend on their vessel.

GRE AT SCHOONER R ACE, M A INE

E V ERB A NK S TA DIUM, JACKSON V IL L E, FL A .

T

BY HEATHER STEINBERGER

he idea of attending a sporting event definitely can conjure images of massive traffic jams and overloaded parking lots. What if it didn’t have to be that way?

What if boaters could combine their favorite sport with their favorite recreational activity?

A careful look reveals this country is dotted with opportunities to take a personal boat to a game, race or riveting spectacle. Dock right at the stadium, paddle in search of a stray ball, catch a glimpse of a celebrity or simply join a truly memorable form of tailgating festivities. Whatever the goal, attending or getting to a sporting event by water is going to add a whole new definition of fun to the boating — and fan — lifestyle.

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HEINZ FIEL D, PI T T SBURGH

BOATINGWORLD.COM

1/5/17 10:26 AM

GAME ON !

REGION

EAST

Fred LeBlanc

Washington Nationals game WHERE: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C. The Major League Baseball park is on the Anacostia River in Washington’s Navy Yard neighborhood.

PARKING: Dock at the Washington Marina Co. or the Gangplank Marina on the Potomac River and take a five-minute taxi ride to the Nats’ ballpark. Or tie up at the James Creek Marina, at the confluence of the Anacostia River, the Washington Channel and the Potomac River, and walk. The ballpark is half a mile away.

TIP: The Potomac marinas are within easy reach of downtown D.C. and its many attractions, including the National Monument, the Tidal Basin memorials (Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr., FDR and George Mason), and the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival.

• • • •

Gangplank.com JamesCreek.com Washington.Nationals.mlb.com WashingtonMarina.com

Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Panthers and Pittsburgh Pirates games WHERE: Heinz Field (Steelers, Panthers) and PNC Park

Lock Wall One Marina

(Pirates), Pittsburgh. Both are located on the Allegheny River in the North Shore neighborhood. The former is home to the city’s NFL and NCAA football teams, while Major League Baseball fans flock to the latter.

PARKING: Dock at Lock Wall One Marina and catch a water limo, or hop on the Clipper Ferry at Station Square. Other nearby options include Washington’s Landing Marina to the east and Newport Marina to the west.

TIP: If you want to beat the crowds and secure a prime docking location, plan to arrive early at the North Shore Riverfront Park. You might snag a first-come, first-served spot along the park’s river wall, which runs past both sports venues.

• • • • •

LockWallOneMarina.com Pittsburgh.Pirates.mlb.com PittsburghPanthers.com Steelers.com WashingtonsLandingMarina.com

New York Mets game WHERE: Citi Field, New York City. It’s located in

Queens’ Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, a stone’s throw from Flushing Bay. PARKING: With a boat basin built for the 1939 World’s Fair and expanded facilities constructed for the 1964 fair, the appropriately named World’s Fair Marina is right on the Flushing Bay Promenade. The ballpark is a short walk.

TIP: Planning to meet friends and worried about the crowds? Don’t be. Shea Stadium’s Home Run Apple is prominently displayed in a flower bed outside the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. You can’t miss it.

• NewYork.Mets.mlb.com • NYCGovParks.org (World’s Fair Marina)

Round the Island Race WHERE: Edgartown Yacht Club, Martha’s Vineyard PARKING: Contact the Edgartown Harbormaster for

dockage or moorings, and Mad Max Marina for dockage. First-come, first-served dockage is available between Edgartown YC and Mad Max for powerboats 30 feet and less.

TIP: The start of this daylong July race is more exciting than the finish. Plan to be there early, so you can see all the competitors, from 28 to 60 feet, blast off on their 63-mile, clockwise circumnavigation of the island. Most will be back by mid- to late afternoon.

• EdgartownYC.com • MadMaxMarina.com • RTIrace.com

Great Schooner Race WHERE: Gilkey Harbor to Rockland, West Penobscot Bay, Maine PARKING: Journey’s End Marina in Rockland is a good choice. You can cruise to Gilkey Harbor to watch the start, and when you return, you’ll be close to the finish-line action. It’s also the largest and most protected marina in Rockland Harbor, with 85 deep-water slips.

TIP: Since the Maine Windjammer Association founded the event in 1977, it has been hailed as the largest annual gathering of traditional schooners in America.

Spectators should plan to spend time in Gilkey Harbor a day prior to the race for the big afternoon raft-up.

• GreatSchoonerRace.com • JourneysEndMarina.com • SailMaineCoast.com (Maine Windjammer Association)

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GAME ON !

REGION

GREAT LAKES Chicago Bears game (Da Bears!)

WHERE: Soldier Field, Chicago. The NFL football stadium lies in the heart

of Chicago’s celebrated 57-acre museum campus on Lake Michigan.

PARKING: Burnham Harbor, just east of the stadium, is the largest in the

Chicago Harbors system. It features more than 1,100 slips in a protected cove and can accommodate boats from 28 to more than 100 feet.

TIP: Docking at Burnham Harbor means the entire museum campus is within reach — think Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium (America’s first) and Field Museum of Natural History — as well as the 18-mile Lakefront Trail, a must-do if you’re a walker, runner, biker or inline skater.

• ChicagoBears.com • ChicagoHarbors.info (Burnham Harbor)

“Malibu of the Midwest” surfing

R ACE TO M ACK IN AC, M ACK IN AC ISL A ND, MICH.

WHERE: North Side Municipal Beach, Sheboygan, Wis. PARKING: Before the boating season ends, you can dock at Harbor Centre

Marina — the Sheboygan Reef lies just offshore, and you’ll have easy access to North Side beach.

TIP: Surf season begins in late August and runs through mid-April.

Although the annual Dairyland Surf Classic is no longer a thing, it’s still worth it to visit North Side beach during surf season. Believe it or not, this five-mile stretch of beach is considered one of the world’s top surf spots, with 22 breaks all within city limits. And we don’t blame you if you’d rather come in late fall to watch these intrepid — or off-their-rocker — surfers battle freezing water and massive, gales-of-November waves.

• HarborCentreMarina.com

Chicago Yacht Club’s Race to Mackinac WHERE: Mackinac Island, Mich. The racers cross the finish line between the

Possum Kingdom Lake has been home to the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series competition more than once.

Round Island lighthouse and the race committee trailer on the island.

PARKING: Dock at Mackinac Island State Harbor, which offers more than

60 transient slips. A word of warning, however: You’ll want to reserve your spot even earlier than you might think. Dockage is a hot commodity during the annual July event.

TIP: Be sure to join the sailors for the post-race blowout at the Pink Pony, and use the Mac as the kickoff or conclusion to a longer vacation. While you’re here, travel 19th-century streets in a horse-drawn carriage (automobiles aren’t allowed), circumnavigate the island by bicycle, savor high tea at the 1887 Grand Hotel, explore Mackinac Island State Park, tour 1780 Fort Mackinac and sample some of that famous island fudge.

• CYCRaceToMackinac.com • Michigan.gov/dnr (Mackinac Island State Harbor) RED BUL L CL IFF DI V ING, POS SUM K INGDOM L A K E, T E X A S

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REGION

CENTRAL /SOUTH

NE Y L A ND S TA DIUM, K NOX V IL L E, T ENN.

MCL A NE S TA DIUM, WACO, T E X A S

University of Tennessee Volunteers game

Baylor University Bears game (the other Bears)

WHERE: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn. This

WHERE: McLane Stadium, Waco, Texas. Located

stadium, home to the University of Tennessee Volunteers football team, sits on the banks of the Tennessee River.

PARKING: Fortunately for boaters, Knoxville boasts Volunteer Landing, a three-mile downtown riverwalk that includes the full-service Volunteer Landing Marina (with slips accommodating boats 24 to 70 feet) as well as a variety of restaurants.

TIP: If you like tailgating, you’re going to love this. When the Vols are hosting a home game, Volunteer Landing teems with boats awash in grills, coolers and, of course, plenty of orange and white. And when the game’s over, you’re only minutes from Downtown Market Square, Gay Street and Old City Knoxville.

on the Brazos River, this stadium is home to the Baylor University Bears football team.

PARKING: An inlet on the Brazos River serves as a boat basin. The university’s 18 slips sell out each year, so head for the first-come, firstserved tie-up wall, which can accommodate 12 to 14 boats. Nearby boat launches include the MCC Launch on the Bosque River, and the Brazos Park East launch.

TIP: The boat basin is the best place to watch the “March of the Bears” tradition where coaches and players cross the bridge to the stadium. And, if you can’t find a spot along the tie-up wall, consider rafting up with other “sailgaters.” The Bearmada record is a 26-boat raft-up on game day.

• The Marinas.net/Volunteer-Landing • UTSports.com

• BaylorBears.com • Bearmada.org

Lake of the Ozarks Shootout

Possum Kingdom Lake cliff diving

\alazs Gardi/Red Bull Content Pool

Baylor University

WHERE: Captain Ron’s Bar & Brill, Sunrise

Beach, Mo. PARKING: Lake of the Ozarks. Seriously, the lake

itself is your parking lot during this massive August event, which raises funds for Lake Area Rescue Teams and other local nonprofit organizations. Hundreds of spectator boats raft up together in snaking lines that can be up to three miles long.

TIP: The best way to view the largest unsanctioned boat race in the Midwest most definitely is from a boat. The staging area is near Cedar Cove/Standing Rock Hollow; the racecourse starts near Cedar Cove at the 32.5-mile marker and ends just shy of the Hurricane Deck Bridge to the northwest. You can expect to see roughly 100 of the country’s top racers in offshore racing powerboats that can reach and even exceed 200 mph — and you’ll be one of more than 100,000 fans. It’s going to be unforgettable.

• CaptainRonsAtTheLake.com • LakeOfTheOzarksShootout.com

WHERE: Possum

Kingdom State Park, Palo Pinto County, Texas PARKING: Drop the hook or raft up at Hell’s Gate on this Brazos River reservoir, where you might be able to see divers take on Devil’s Island’s staggering 90-foot cliffs, reaching 55 mph before plunging beneath the waves.

TIP: It’s illegal to cliff dive here, unless you’re part of an organized event. So, for now, come enjoy this popular raft-up party spot … and the largest Fourth of July fireworks show in Texas, which is saying something. But keep an eye on the calendar. This has been home to the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series competition more than once, and it could show up on the schedule again.

• RedBullCliffDiving.com

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GAME ON !

REGION

FLORIDA Jacksonville Jaguars game WHERE: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Fla. This NFL

stadium is just north of the St. Johns River.

PARKING: Dock at Metropolitan Park & Marina,

which has nearly 80 slips for boats up to 80 feet in length, and walk to EverBank Field.

TIP: Prime times to visit this sports venue include January’s annual Gator Bowl (now called the TaxSlayer Bowl), which is the sixth-oldest college bowl, and the autumn Florida-Georgia game, which showcases one of college ball’s great longstanding rivalries.

• COJ.net/departments/parks-and-recreation • Jaguars.com

Bacardi Columbus Day Regatta WHERE: Biscayne Bay, Miami PARKING: The spectator fleet gathers in a protected

anchorage at the north end of Elliott Key. TIP: The internationally recognized regatta is the oldest event on Biscayne Bay, and for six decades it has drawn the nation’s top sailors for an October weekend of racing in several classes. But it’s not the race itself that’s the draw — the real headline is the massive raft-up of thousands of spectator boats, and the resulting party. Although the raft-up can get rowdy, attentive law enforcement has made the on-water fun more family friendly in recent years.

AT&T PA RK, S A N FR A NCISCO E V ERBA NK S TA DIUM, JACKSON V IL L E, F L A .

• ColumbusDayRegatta.net

Key West World Championships WHERE: Truman Waterfront Park, Key West, Fla.

This is ground zero for the thrilling culmination of Super Boat International’s offshore powerboat racing season.

PARKING: Spectators always get unmatched, up-close viewing at this November event. Take your own boat or book a private charter to catch the action along the 6.2-mile course; races start off the Truman Waterfront.

TIP: When there are no races scheduled, visitors are welcome to interact with the powerboat drivers and their crews in the Truman Waterfront race village.

• SuperBoat.com

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Husky Stadium is one of the loudest sports venues in the country.

REGION

WEST San Francisco Giants game WHERE: AT&T Park, San Francisco. The stadium

John Beatty

is located in the city’s South Beach neighborhood, right on San Francisco Bay. PARKING: Dock your boat at South Beach Harbor, just north of the stadium, if you’re planning to attend the game. Or, for a unique game-day experience, launch your kayak or dinghy and follow the action from McCovey Cove (you’ll be able to see scoreboards and replay screens). The closest boat launches are at Pier 52, Oyster Point in South San Francisco and Berkeley Marina.

TIP: Bring a net if you want to want to patrol the cove for a homerun ball. To increase your odds of getting a ball, any ball, join the traffic jam that starts hours before the game; players usually hit at least half a dozen balls into the cove during practice. A couple of final notes: No motors are permitted inside the cove’s marked area, and please keep clear of the China Basin Ferry dock.

HUSK Y S TA DIUM, SE AT T L E

• SanFrancisco.Giants.mlb.com • SFPort.com (South Beach Harbor, Pier 52) • SMHarbor.com/oysterpoint

Bridge to Bridge Race WHERE: St. Francis Yacht Club, San Francisco PARKING: You’ll want to be on the water for this

epic kiteboarding and windsurfing sprint in late August, which starts at the Golden Gate Bridge and finishes at the San Francisco Bay Bridge.

TIP: In addition to windsurfers and kiteboarders, you’ll also see Aussie 18 Skiffs and other exciting, high-speed sailing boats — including jaw-dropping sailing hydrofoils. Don’t miss the start, which is a spectacle in every sense of the word.

American Century Celebrity Golf Championship WHERE: Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course,

Stateline, Nevada PARKING: There’s a beach party at the 17th hole.

We’re not kidding. Boaters nose onto the beach, or drop the hook just offshore, and kick off one of the quirkiest spectator events in the world of golf.

TIP: Bring your swimsuit, music, beach chairs, coolers, grills, frisbees and Nerf balls to this mid-July celebrity golf tournament, and get ready to party while watching 80 pro athletes and Hollywood celebrities compete for their share of a $600,000 purse and the American Century Championship Cup. • AmericanCenturyChampionship.com/ • EdgewoodTahoe.com

University of Washington Huskies game WHERE: Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium,

Seattle. The stadium sits above Union Bay on Lake Washington.

PARKING: Moor in Lake Washington, and climb aboard the shuttle boat to the stadium. This is known as college football’s version of San Francisco’s McCovey Cove.

TIP: You’ll have an unparalleled tailgate experience on Lake Washington, with stunning views of the Cascade Mountains to the east and Olympic Mountains to the west — just be sure to get your mooring permit before game day.

And get ready for the roar, because Husky Stadium is one of the loudest sports venues in the country.

• GoHuskies.com BW

• StFYC.com

BOATINGWORLD.COM

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Insurance for Powerboats & Sailboats • Competitively priced products • 24-hour claims reporting C A LL 949/660 - 6150

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HAS YOUR DOG GOT THE SALT? Enter your pooch in our Salty Dog of the Month contest. Email your pet’s photo, name, your name, address and phone number to bobby@ 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.

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12/16/16 2:58 PM

marketplace C A LL 949/660 - 6150

EMERGENCY LIFE RAFT BUY or RENT Survival Products, Inc.

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

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

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

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R E A D ER CO NTE ST

Rick Martin illustration

name the boat

Nice try, kind wife, but your hubby is suffering from the all-too-common winter affliction known as Watersports Withdrawal Syndrome. Mother Nature knows the cure. 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 April 2017 issue of Boating World. > SEE THE WINNING ENTRY AND THE BEST OF THE REST FROM THE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER CONTEST ON PAGE 10.

YOURS FREE

WIN THIS 64

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

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.

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 April 2017 issue. Submissions are due by February 16.

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

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