April 2019 - Boating World Digital Edition

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Introducing the first 27-foot boat from Yamaha.

The shape of what’s next.

The new 275 Series, Yamaha’s signature stamp on luxury. This new 27-foot lineup TM features DRiVE , the industry’s first dual paddle control system for effortless low-speed handling and docking, as well as supercharged twin SVHO engines that deliver a class-leading 500 horsepower. Yamaha275boats.com

©2019 Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA. All rights reserved. Follow instructional materials and obey all laws. Ride responsibly, wearing protective apparel and USCG-approved personal flotation device. Always drive within your capabilities, allowing time and distance for maneuvering, and respect others around you. Never drink and ride.

Contents

April 2019 • Vol u m e 40 N o. 4

pg.

54

MAGAZINE

VOLUME XL NUMBER 4

DEPARTMENTS 4 Editor’s Letter Highlights from the Miami show 6 Currents Bits from the boating world 12 Trailering 5 tips for a better road trip 16 Watersports Break wakesurfing’s beginner barrier 18 Fishing Lessons learned the hard way 22 Engines Alternative propulsion choices 26 Electronics Sonar for smaller boats 28 Ask the Experts Our panel of experts answers your questions 34 Gear The latest accessories, gadgets and electronics

features

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54

Tricks for onboard comfort and convenience keep coming in this sequel to a story from four years ago. BY SCOTT DAVIS

Wakeboat manufacturers are going to great lengths to create a wake that’s long, tall and strong. BY ZENON BILAS

Good Ideas 201

Catchin’ Big Waves

64 Contest: Name the Boat Win an Atlantis 4 non-towable four-person float from Connelly

boats tested

36 Formula 310 BR Outboard It’s a prime example of Formula’s push to develop outboard-powered models.

40 Glastron GTDW 225 Surf & Fish Two wildly popular activities are combined in a single machine.

44 Qwest Avanti 825

Lanai Executive DS Bar

What’s better than one bar on a pontoon boat? Two bars.

• JUNE 2 • 2 APRIL 2019 2018 BOATINGWORLD.COM BOATINGWORLD.COM

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Formula’s 330 Crossover Bowrider is sure to please, perfectly integrating day boating and overnighting for those who want the best of both worlds. The 330 CBR is now available in triple outboard power as well as sterndrive, expanding possibilities and preference.

equipped head compartment. All together this makes the 330 perfect for overnight trips or taking a break from the sun. This smart combination of bow and cabin space in the amenitypacked Formula 330 CBR can take you wherever you want to go. You choose your destination and power!

The cockpit maximizes space, comfort and style. The roomy portside lounge and U-shaped lounge aft take full advantage of the clever helm seat convertibility to expand seating and entertaining activities. The rear-facing aft sun lounge with convertible backrests adds to the sunbathing space. Storage is abundant, and 22 drink holders offer ease and convenience at every turn. The molded cockpit wetbar features an integrated sink and picnicware bin while stunning blue LED lighting adds a dramatic flair as you entertain.

Break Free From the ordinary — Choose Formula!

Forward, the deep bow section is a seamless, flush transition from the cockpit. Seating is plentiful, yet convertible to a spacious sunlounge with starboard double-wide seating and two dual height tables. Two integrated, under-seat coolers in the bow and cockpit keep drinks and snacks chilled and ready.

Entering the cabin, the L-shaped Ultraleather® lounge features a dual position backrest, perfect for sitting or converting to a queen-sized sleeping area. The cabin features six-foot headroom, Bluetooth stereo, roomy storage forward, a portside cabinet, HDTV and microwave options, plus a spacious, fully 2200 West Monroe St. • PO Box 1003 • Decatur, IN 46733 • 260-724-9111

FormulaBoats.Com

Editor’s Letter

by Ala n Jones

THE BOATING WORLD TEAM RESPONDS:

“

What’s the URL of the April Fool’s prank site you create to help people trick their friends?

PUBLISHER

Duncan McIntosh Jr.

LaughingAtYouNotWithYou.com ASSOC . EDITOR/PUBLISHER Jeff Fleming

RentAPizza.com

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alan Jones

FAVO R I T E T I M E O F Y E A R

FreeBeerCoupons.com

MANAGING EDITOR Mike Werling

CupOfWarmWater.com

IT ISN’T OFTEN I am asked to try to crash a $400,000 boat into a dock on purpose, but that’s

a challenge I can’t refuse. So I tried. DockSense from Raymarine wouldn’t let me. The system uses FLIR machine vision camera technology in all quadrants and analyzes the live video imagery while interfacing with the computer that controls joystick docking systems, such as Mercury’s Axius, to create a Virtual Bumper around the perimeter of the boat.

Despite trying as hard as I could to bash a Boston Whaler 330 Outrage’s beautiful gelcoat, DockSense wouldn’t let me get closer than three feet to anything, including pilings. How useful would that be in a crowded marina with wind and tide conspiring against you?

Without a doubt, my favorite event of the year is the Miami International Boat Show, and this year, in addition to DockSense, I saw some fantastic new products.

Another innovation was Yamaha’s new paddle shifting system called DRIVE, which allows drivers to dock their new 27-foot 275SD jetboat without taking their hands off the wheel. The right paddle is for forward and the left for reverse on this drive-by-wire system. Since the system only stays engaged in gear while the driver holds a paddle down, he can make tiny adjustments. A series of blips in forward or reverse lets the operator absolutely grease it into a tight slip with ease.

One surprisingly common sight was the number of center console boats with six — count ’em, six — outboards. Cigarette’s

59-foot Tirranna and Scout’s 53-foot 530 LXF both had a half dozen Mercury Racing 400R outboards on the transom.

But how does one control them? Six throttles would be a bit unwieldy to handle, so Mercury created Replicator, which uses Shadow Mode to control all six with only two levers. There’s a lot of giddy-up for docking — too much, actually — so a feature called Dock Mode reduces the throttle response by 50 percent, to reduce the chance of an untimely power surge.

Maybe the most interesting product I saw was a compact video camera from SiOnyx. Called the Aurora, it shoots unbelievable color footage, even at night.

It doesn’t use thermal imaging but relies on a patented CMOS imaging technology.

It has a low-light sensor the equivalent of 812,000 ISO — definitely not one of the settings on a standard SLR — that gives boaters the ability to shoot great video of night fishing or post-sunset gatherings, and it’s useful for nighttime navigation. Its maximum resolution for video is 720p, but that’s to keep the price at $799. BW

ASSISTANT EDITOR Stephanie Shibata

BreakHullTools.com

ART DIRECTOR Julie Hogan

CaughtWithYourPantsDown.com PRODUCTION Mary Monge

TrollPatrol.com

CIRCUL ATION

Emily Wells-Horneff PrankDial.com Dustin Nguyen IsYourFridgeRunning.com ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING

Call (949) 660-6150

REGIONAL SALES MANAGERS

Annabelle Zabala JokesOnYouFool.com Felice Lineberry WellPlayed.com

MARKETPL ACE SALES MGR. Jon Sorenson

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AD COORDINATORS

Jennifer Chen PranksmenUnited.org Lacee Garcia RubberChickenz.com

TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR Dave Kelsen

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SUBSCRIPTIONS

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Boatingworld.com 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 (949) 660-6150 • Fax (949) 660-6172

Duncan Mcintosh Co. is founded by Editor and Publisher Duncan McIntosh Jr. and Co-Publisher Teresa Ybarra McIntosh (1942-2011)

VOLUME 40 • NO.4 Boating World Editorial and Advertising Offices, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708; (949) 660-6150. Boating World (ISSN 1059-5155, USPS 16200) is printed in the U.S.A. and published nine times a year in Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, Jun., Jul./Aug., Sept./Oct. and Nov./Dec. at 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 by Duncan McIntosh Co. Inc. Periodicals Postage paid at Santa Ana, CA 92799 and at additional mailing offices. Editorial contributions are welcome. Please submit all contributions to the editor, accompanied by return postage. We assume no responsibility for loss or damage of unsolicited materials. Boating World retains reprint rights, via print and electronic media. Contributor retains all other rights for resale, publication, etc. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Boating World, P. O. Box 25859, Santa Ana, CA 92799-5859. CANADA POST: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608 Canada Returns to be sent to Bleuchip International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE: Please send all subscription correspondence to Boating World, P.O. Box 25859, Santa Ana, CA 92799-5859. Please allow at least six weeks for the change of address to become effective. Include both your old and your new address enclosing, if possible, an address label from a recent issue. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: U.S. and its possessions, $11.00 per year. Additional postage for Canada is $15.00 per year and other foreign countries $30.00 per year. Single copy price $5.00; back issues, $8.50 (in the U.S. only) includes postage and handling. Boating World is a registered trademark of Duncan McIntosh Co. Inc. Copyright © 2019, all rights reserved. PERMISSIONS: MMaterial AG A Z I Nin E this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission.

M AG A Z I N E

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Learn more at STARCRAFTMARINE.com.

When it’s time to move up to a better pontoon, there’s no better choice than a luxury-minded Starcraft. With an unmatched heritage of quality and craftsmanship, Starcraft pontoons continually set the standard for better experiences on the water.

It takes a heritage of pride and excellence to build Best-In-Class pontoons year after year. So from our family to yours, welcome aboard.

Bringing smiles to the water since 1903.

Currents

by Steph a n ie S h ibata

L E A D

B O A T

B E N E T E A U

F L Y E R

2 3

S U N D E C K

FLY ME TO THE NOON (AND BEYOND)

A

A new dayboat from Beneteau promises all-day activity for many and all-night comfort for two.

Anyone who still sees Beneteau as a European sailboat builder is falling behind the times. Power has been part of the French boatbuilder’s DNA since the beginning, and some of its boats are now built in the U.S. The latest line to cross the Atlantic Ocean is called Flyer, and the Flyer 23 SUNdeck is the latest iteration, introduced at the Miami International Boat Show in February; the 23 SPACEdeck will follow.

At 26 feet, 7 inches LOA and with an 8-foot, 2-inch beam, the Flyer 23 SUNdeck is definitely trailerable. A single 300 or 350 hp outboard points to speed — it tops out at about 50 mph with a Mercury 300 — but its amenities point to dayboating for a group or weekending for a couple.

A ski tow brings watersports into the picture.

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Two or three people can share the bow sunpad, two more can occupy the helm seat — a Garmin electronics pack makes navigation easy — and three more can sit on the transom bench seat, which converts into a second sun lounge. While the outboard bisects the swim platform, both sides extend around the engine, and a covered telescoping ladder extends from the port platform for reboarding purposes after a dip or a ski run.

A belowdecks cabin includes a V-shaped dinette in the bow that converts to a double berth. A head with a shower (freshwater capacity is 21 gallons) and a galley station round out the space.

Lacking a cabin but promising to be a versatile multipurpose boat with more fishing amenities, SPACEdeck features a center console, a T-top and the option to replace the transom bench with a fishing station that includes a counter, a baitwell, rod holders and more. Beneteau Group, beneteau.com/us

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Definitely designed as a dayboat — with or without the Bimini top — the Flyer 23’s convertible bow dinette and head compartment make it a capable weekender for a couple with their sights set on Catalina or the San Juan Islands.

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CURRENTS

name the boat FEBRUARY CONTEST WINNER: Transparenski

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

Rita Watson from New Buffalo, Mich., was the first to submit the winning name, Transparenski. For seeing through our scenario, coming up with the clear winner and impressing the online voters, Rita receives a Theory kneeboard and a Proline EVA wake/ski/kneeboard rope combo from Connelly (connellyskis.com), valued at $330.

Rick Martin illustration

MORE OF FEBRUARY’S BEST ENTRIES:

No See’ums

A Little Out of Shorts

Clearly the Best

Debbie Haesche, Lodi, CA

Bill Bires, Bellflower, CA

Paranautical Activity

Vaniskiing Trick

Mark Harris, via BoatingWorld.com

David Connors, Dighton, MA

Bernie Matsumoto, Half Moon Bay, CA

Air Notique

Bare Boarding

Spirit Lake

Gary Lockwitz, Mesa, AZ

Kevin Brock, Seattle

Sea Me Naut

Disappearing Act

Norman Melin, Salt Springs, FL

Terese Laurance, Pasadena, CA

Wak’n Vapor Jim Johnson, Bethel Park, PA

Project Blueboat Frank Stanley, Houston, TX

Ghost Rider Wayne Berg, Winnetka, CA

Tracy Brotherton, New Orleans

Trickin’ Apparition Albert Tesoro, Seminole, FL

Wreck Preservation Ale While gold and other treasure might be what most people look for in an old shipwreck, the folks at Australian brewery James Squire were most amazed by 220-year-old yeast.

Sealed in bottles when the wreck of Sydney Cove was salvaged in the 1990s was beer, and thanks to a collaboration between James Squire, the Australian Wine Research Institute and the Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery, the yeast was cultured and the beer re-created. Called Wreck Preservation Ale in honor of the island off which the ship sank, the beer is a dark, malty, spicy porter that was brewed in limited quantities. In fact, all the bottles are gone, except for a few we spotted on eBay selling for $717.

FA S T FAC T

Here are the top five states for economic activity related to recreational boating in 2018, according to NMMA estimates.

25 bn $23.3 billion 20 bn

15 bn $13 billion 10 bn $7.4 billion

$7.7 billion

$8.4 billion

5 bn

Michigan

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Texas

New York

California

Florida

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THE PINNACLE OF PONTOON PERFORMANCE AND QUALITY.

You see at Manitou, our quest is to provide you absolutely breathtaking boating experiences. So while it’s not easy scaling the mountain of pontoon perfection, the climb sure is worth it when you see the view from the top.

With all the horsepower — and the power to impress — Manitou provides an incredible combination of high performance and high style. With over 30 years of craftsmanship, our pontoon boats let you part the water, turn on a dime and carve a wake like no other. Beyond acceleration and handling, our patented V-Toon® and twin tube hulls are constructed to be the strongest in the industry. And our impeccable custom styling ensures that heads will turn when you pass others by.

All of which is why at Manitou, we believe that when you choose one of our pontoon boats, you’ve landed the highest-performing, best-quality boat in the industry. Period.

For more information, visit www.manitoupontoonboats.com

PASSION. PRECISION. PERFORMANCE.

Rock Aqua Jays

CURRENTS

Piled High

3

4

Using two Legacy towboats powered by triple Mercury Racing 300XS outboards — 1,800 hp total — the Rock Aqua Jays Water Ski Show Team achieved a Guinness World Record for the largest human pyramid on waterskis. In August, 80 participants from three Wisconsin clubs — The Rock Aqua Jays of Janesville, The Webfooters of Freemont, and The Aqua Nuts of Twin Lakes — formed six four-tier pyramids in a line and stayed joined for a distance of 1,148 feet. The towboats were connected by a line that was released once the skiers were up, and the lead boat peeled away. Guinness confirmed the record in October.

6 1

2 5

A N AT O M Y L E S S O N

Floating Above it All FOILING HAS BECOME the next big thing on the water. Power- and sailboats are equipped with foils that lift the hull out of the water for nearly friction-free movement and faster speed. Various watersports boards are equipped with foils too, allowing riders to fly above the water.

Surfer Kai Lenny crossed the 50-mile channel between Maui and the Big Island on a shortboard equipped with a foil, unaided. As an example of the concept, here’s a look at a foil-equipped board from Liquid Force (liquidforce.com).

1. Narrow outline aids beginners 2. Upward flair makes starts easier 3. Foot pads indicate placement for maximum balance 4. Aircraft aluminum mast is light, stiff and durable and provides clearance 5. Wings deliver lift and are able to plane underwater 6. A flex-free “fuselage” anchors the wings, provides stability and reduces drag

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Enter Your Dog Now

WIN THIS Dog Vest

S A LT Y D O G OF THE MONTH

Dog: Daisy Owners: Michael & Marta Macias, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 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

What the What? Dados and rabbets are important in the world of boating, but who knows what they are? Did we misspell an extinct bird and a long-eared lagomorph? Nope.

Dado and rabbet are common types of joints that are cut to build wooden boats. A rabbet (pictured) is an open-ended recess along the edge of a board, and a dado is a square-sided flat-bottomed recess that runs across the grain of a board.

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SANPAN

AQUAPATIO

PREMIUM

SWEETWATER

JOIN THE

FAMILY

GodfreyPontoonBoats.com

When you own a Godfrey, you join a winning legacy of originality, excellence and over 60 years of unparalleled craftsmanship and innovation.

Trailering

Road Trip Prep

Get There (and Back) Keep your next road trip rolling by heeding 5 important tips.

BY LENNY RUDOW

• BOATERS MAY LAMENT depending on land vehicles, but they need ’em to get Mom’s Mink

from Lake A to Bay B. And while rolling over the asphalt, their boat — and day of boating — is in more danger than it is when it’s afloat. Want your next road trip to go smoothly? Of course you do! Here are five important tips that will help you keep the drive pleasant and problem free.

1

Visually inspect the trailer from stem to stern prior to each and every haul. Yeah, we know you’ve already been told to do this, but we also know it’s really easy to skip this step now and again. The problem is that missing just one little issue prior to a road trip can turn it into a full-blown disaster. Take a sagging brake line, for example.

You won’t know there’s a problem waiting to happen if you don’t stoop down and look under the trailer before getting underway. But that sagging line could get snagged on a piece of debris in the roadway and cause a loose connection that could spill brake fluid all over the roadway. When you hit the brakes … yikes!

Nail down everything — and we mean everything. Sure, you already know if you don’t stow the life jackets somewhere secure they’re guaranteed to blow out of the boat, but it’s not just light, wind-blown gear that’s at risk. Heavier items left on the deck can bounce just the wrong way when you hit a bump. Try landing a fish with no net.

Or even tougher, try fishing with no rod.

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Take rest stops reasonably often while towing, certainly every few hours on long road trips, and give the trailer an inspection. Naturally, give it the same visual inspection you did prior to departing. But also look for a telltale sign of future bearing problems: heat.

Touch all the wheel hubs. They should be only slightly warm to the touch. If one is hot to the touch, have it serviced as soon as possible. If it’s hot enough to make you yank your hand away to avoid a burn, it needs immediate attention, or you may end up on the side of the road in short order.

While you’re stopped is also a good time to recheck all the lights and make sure they’re still working properly, check tie-down straps for proper tension, and check the chains and coupler to make sure everything looks shipshape.

3

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Jump into Summer Fun Whether it’s a lady’s day out, family water sport fun, or casting a line towards the catch of the day, Sylvan has floorplans that are perfect for you. Led by class-leading technology, comfort and styling, we will leave you wondering why you don’t hop aboard sooner.

SYLVANMARINE.com

© 2019 Sylvan Marine. All rights reserved

TRAILERING

You’ve made it to the ramp without any mishaps? Excellent. But prior to splashing, let the trailer sit for a few minutes even if you don’t have any gear to prep. Also be sure to unplug the lights. Both measures once again relate to heat. Back the trailer into the water while the bearings are warm and the sudden cooling of the air and lubricants in them will cause them to contract and create something of a vacuum. As a result, water can get sucked into the bearings.

The trailer lights? If you leave them plugged in as you back down the ramp and then hit the brakes, those rapidly heating bulbs can fracture as they come into contact with the cool water.

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After a long trek to the ramp, be sure to sit for a few minutes before launch.

During that time, unplug the trailer lights.

Double all of the usual safety parameters, and take it slow and easy. Most trailering mishaps occur when there’s a sudden event: slamming on the brakes, stomping on the accelerator, hitting a big bump or seam in the road at high speed.

Doubling the usual following distance should minimize the need to stop abruptly. Doubling the amount of time you take to get up to speed can eliminate sudden starts. Slowing significantly when you approach bumps or potholes can greatly reduce the chances of damage occurring as you pass over them. This sounds like common sense — it is — but abiding by these simple measures will help you avoid the vast majority of trailering accidents you might otherwise encounter. BW

Bonus Tip Replace your trailering straps at the first signs of wear. Most of the time when a boat comes loose from its trailer, it’s the result of two or more factors coming together at the same time, and one of those two factors is an old or worn strap. Combine a subpar strap with a sudden acceleration, a sudden stop or a large bump in the road hit at breakneck speed, and a boat is unceremoniously spilled across the highway.

POWER CATAMARANS Patent No. US 8,109,221 B2

Fun - Fast - Efficient | All new Outboard Proa Cats 34’ C107 | Only 11.3gph at 23mph | Top Speed 30mph

28’ | L90 14

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32’ | C100

40’ | C120

Proudly built in America | www.AspenCats.com | 360-668-4347

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/1/19 1:30 PM

Fish & Cruise While the 236CC was designed for use as a coastal fishing boat, it's really a multi-purpose boat that can be used for lots of activities — pulling kids on a tube, cruising to dinner, or just a leisurely ride along the waterways.

With seating for up to twelve passengers, rod holders and storage throughout, and a changing compartment that can be upgraded with an optional porta potti, the 236CC is ready for a full day of fun on the water with family and friends!

236CC Deck Boat 23’ 8” | 101” beam | 3648 lbs (w/ popular engine) | 68 gal fuel capacity | 12 ppl, 3250 lbs VISIT STINGRAYBOATS.COM /236CC FOR MORE INFORMATION

Watersports

Wa kesu rfing Prog ression

1

Wakesurfing Progression Break the beginner barrier and “do something” with this roadmap to the next level.

BY JOSH PALMA

• YOU’RE CONSISTENTLY GETTING up and have gained a firm grasp of wakesurfing fundamentals.

You understand that your front foot is the accelerator and your back foot is the brake. Also, you now realize that drifting too wide/far from the “sweet spot” causes you to lose push and consequently wave goodbye to spectators in the boat. Bottom line: You are dropping the rope with relative ease and can now enjoy the benefits of the endless wave.

But your friends in the boat are urging you to “do something!” And you aren’t sure where to begin. I teach wakesurfing globally and often find that people hit a roadblock because they don’t know exactly what wakesurfing progression looks like. To remedy that, I’d like to provide a roadmap surfers can use to become what I’d describe as a well-rounded intermediate wakesurfer.

Yes, I had a solid foundation from my 15 years of being a professional wakeboarder, but I can tell you these goals are realistic and attainable within the upcoming season. Plus, they’ll add some novelty and fun to your wakesurfing experience, and your friends will find you a lot more exciting to watch.

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Speed Control: Find Neutral

Once you’re ready to drop the rope, you need to find neutral, which is essentially the position where you feel relaxed and can stay in the same spot on the wave. Zone 1 on most boats is typically 6 to 8 feet behind the swim platform.

The goal when searching for neutral should be to maintain a constant distance relative to the swim platform, which is often easiest in Zone 1. In terms of weight distribution — weight on front foot vs. back foot — the neutral position will vary depending on your weight and the board’s speed.

However, what’s important is that you begin to understand how to control the previously mentioned variables. The operative word here is “control.” Until you can stay in the same spot, or at least limit your movement to 1 to 2 feet forward or back on the wave, you’re not ready

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W AT E R S P O R T S 2

3

To be able to drop the rope, you need to find neutral, the position in which you are relaxed and comfortable and can stay in the same spot on the wave (1). Once comfortable in neutral, practice using the surfable real estate by falling back, moving forward, climbing the wake and coming down the face (2). Be ready to fall several times before mastering the nuances of the backside slide (3).

to start carving up and down the face of the wave. Also, keep in mind you can find neutral with the rope in hand. It’s a lifeline. Don’t drop it until you have enough control to stay in the sweet spot (aka, home base). Too often, beginners get anxious and drop the rope too soon. Take your time, find neutral, and gain control and confidence while you still have the rope.

Use All the Real Estate

Surf waves continue to evolve. A surfer’s max distance from the platform used to be 6 to 8 feet, but I’ve collaborated with engineers at MasterCraft to design a wave that can be surfed as far back as 25 feet from the platform. The point being today’s surf boats create a lot of room behind them on

which to play, and you need to learn how to capitalize on it.

Now that you know how to maintain position on the wave, use that skill to drift forward or back on the wave and then make minor adjustments to your weight distribution in order to return to home base.

Make that your first goal: Move back on the wave and see how much distance you can create between the nose of your board and the platform while still being able to recover and return to home base.

Once you’re comfortable doing that, start carving up and down the face of the wave, from top to bottom. Movement up and down the face is created by placing pressure on your toes (up the wave) or your heels (down the wave).

This assumes you are surfing frontside, or facing the wave,

which is much easier than surfing with your back to the wave. Not comfortable shifting your weight from your toes to your heels? Work on it with the aid of the rope. Though it’s a bit counterintuitive, holding onto the rope longer to drill these basics will actually accelerate your progression once you drop it.

Remember, think of the wave real estate in two dimensions: front to back (distance from platform), and top of the wave to base of the wave. Once you can cruise around all of this “surfable” area, you are ready for the next step.

Front- and Backside Slides

Here’s when wakesurfing starts to get a bit more challenging and a lot more fun.

Backside and frontside slides

will teach you how to break the fins loose and create the foundation for more refined edge control, which is necessary to progress toward advanced wakesurfing that includes the coveted surface 360 and airs.

First, work on breaking the fins loose frontside, and use the rope to do so. If your left foot is forward and you’re surfing frontside, gently pull the handle from your left hip toward the center of your waist. Use both hands at first and the handle should stay at waist height with your arms fairly straight and relaxed. Basically, you’re turning your chest toward the boat with a frontside slide and then returning back to your normal surf position.

The mechanics of the backside slide are similar but with a couple of nuances. Using only your left hand on the handle, push the handle behind you (to your left) and let your body rotate so your back is facing the boat. If you have trouble releasing the fins — often the case on the backside slide — a skimstyle board with smaller fins and less traction will certainly help. You will fall several times while trying to determine how much to lean over your toes when your back is to the boat.

That’s fine — and precisely why we wakesurf at 10 to 11 mph.

Once you’re comfortable doing these slides with the rope, try them without it, and you’ll be well on your way to that first 360. BW

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Fishing

Lesson s Lea rned

1 KAYAK MARLIN

Get Schooled Let our writer’s mistakes serve as your lessons learned.

BY DEAN TRAVIS CLARKE

• SIGH… IT ALWAYS looks perfect on TV, doesn’t it? The glib fisherman traveling the world, always catching the biggest and best fish, with never a hint of a problem? What we never see are all the stupid missteps that occur over five days of fishing that an editor boils down to 23 minutes of fishing perfection. Spoiler alert: That’s not the real world!

I’ve had plenty of fishing days go sideways on me through the years. I’m sharing five such stories here as cautionary tales about what not to do.

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Targeting large fish from a kayak offers a significant change in fishing dynamics.

An angler on a boat slowly pulls the fish toward him.

An angler in a kayak pulls himself toward the fish.

Climbing out of our mothership’s tuna door some 10 miles out of Cabo San Lucas, I settled into a kayak. I had never sat in a kayak before and now, in a baptism by fire, I was attempting to catch a large marlin from one for the benefit of a television audience — any and all gaffes recorded for posterity.

Everything went perfectly after I hooked into a 250-pound black marlin and got dragged six miles farther out to sea. Feeling pretty cocky I brought the fish alongside the kayak and grabbed its bill. The fish went ballistic!

“I am about to be stabbed through the abdomen by a marlin bill!”

The idea of removing the hook in true Corinthian fashion no longer even in the back of my mind, I let go with one hand, grabbed the leader and pushed the bill away as forcefully as I could, almost rolling the kayak in the process. The leader broke and the fish swam away, ticked off but no worse for the wear, and I high-fived myself for not being skewered LESSON LEARNED: Don’t get cocky, and never assume the fight has left the fish.

2

LOOSE SPOOL

A tuna charter out of Puerto Vallarta requested that a particular heavy-duty braided line be used, because the yellowfin they caught were always large. Winding all that line onto a half dozen Penn 80-wides promised more work than I relished, so I asked the tackle shop where I bought the braid to spool the reels up on its machine.

The first fish we hooked looked to be

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about 300 pounds. It ran out a healthy length of line and then we started to gain it back, tight foot by foot. When the fish got within sight of the transom, it took off on another run and within seconds: Bang! The 200-pound-test braid snapped and almost ripped the rod out of the angler’s hands.

The person who spooled the reels didn’t wind the line on tightly enough. As we retrieved line after the first long run, the line tension dug down into the spooled line. The second run basically tried to remove line from beneath all the line on the reel. Nope … not gonna work.

LESSON LEARNED: Check everyone’s work — yours and others.

Within a split second, the reel was hopelessly entangled in a birds nest.

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BIRDS NEST CAST

Growing up around salt water, I rarely used baitcasting reels. Years later at a press event, a manufacturer’s rep had a number of shiny new baitcasters for us to try. I picked one up and confidently whipped the weighted lure into the lagoon.

Within a split second, the reel was hopelessly entangled in a birds nest — the kind where you have to cut half the line off to fix it. A second try provided the same result.

I set the second rod down and surreptitiously looked around to see if anyone had noticed. Of course they had!

Everyone, including the rep.

He came over and proceeded to give me a lesson in how to use the reels: how to set the magnet brake for the spool according to the weight of the lure, how to set the drag, how to cast so the reel ends on its side rather than upright — all the finer points. He finished the expert primer by throwing a cast … culminating in a massive birds nest. Embarrassed, he picked up another rod and cast it, to show me how to do it correctly. Whoosh.

What’s that chirping noise? That ended our lesson for the day. But yes, I felt vindicated.

LESSON LEARNED: Not all equipment is the same, and treating it as such can lead to snarls, even when all the protocols are followed. Some days…

MAHI MADNESS

Every angler knows that the prehistoric circle hook design is the best conservation-oriented terminal tackle. It rarely gut hooks a fish. However, it does have one drawback: For it to work, the fish has to take the hook and then turn away to pull the hook out and embed it in the corner of its mouth. During one fishing tournament, we had carefully rigged all our dead-bait ballyhoos on circle hooks. A mammoth bull dolphin came along and inhaled the left long rigger. Rather than turn away, the mahi proceeded to move over to the right long, then inhaled the right short and right flat, then crossed the spread and ate the left short and flat as well — all without ever turning away so we could come tight on the line. Ultimately, we were able to reel all the lines in; unfortunately, not one of them had a mahi attached.

But they were all attached to one another. The biggest cluster I’ve ever seen! We had to cut off every leader and start from scratch re-rigging.

LESSON LEARNED: Know that even the best preparation can be torn asunder when a fish doesn’t do what it is “supposed” to do. Oh, and mahi are greedy! BW

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WADE BOGGS FLY CAST

I’ve had the privilege of fishing with numerous famous people in my career. Fly fishing for bonefish in the Bahamas with baseball hall-of-famer Wade Boggs proved noteworthy on several counts.

One, there is virtually no animal sound or call he doesn’t know and can’t accurately mimic. Two, he had more than 70 little rituals — superstitious “things” — he performed before each game to bring good luck. Three, he was a tyro when it came to fly fishing.

As he waded in a beautiful flat, I, as his spotter, pointed to a school of fish. He slowly advanced until he was within casting range. I purposely stayed behind and on the opposite side of his casting arm (SOP for a fly fishing guide). Boggs started false casting to get line off the spool. On his last false cast before sending his fly toward its target, the line curved behind him and the fly caught me in the ear. Of course, his powerful final forward cast almost tore my earlobe off.

LESSON LEARNED: Remain vigilant, even after you’ve observed all the rules and put yourself in the best spot for the situation.

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Engines

Altern at ive Power

The Mercury 5 hp Propane FourStroke is an option for smaller boats, while Torqeedo and BMW have partnered to develop the Deep Blue battery concept (below) further to power larger engines.

RECENTLY, I HAD a conversation with Mercury Marine

executive Adrian Rushforth, who had been hired from the automotive industry. We chatted about the migration of technology from cars to boats.

“When I started working for Mercury,” Rushforth said, “they told me boats were about 20 years behind cars with regard to technology. But recent innovations have considerably closed the gap.”

The biggest difference between the two industries is research and development money. Even though a company like Mercury has spent about $1 billion on R&D over the last decade, it pales in comparison to the Volkswagen Group, which spent $15.2 billion in 2017 alone.

ELECTRIC

Ease Off the Gas For decades, gas was the only game in town for propelling a boat. Not anymore.

BY ALAN JONES

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One sector of the auto industry that’s been booming is electric-powered vehicles, and companies such as Torqeedo, which makes electric motors for boats, have been beneficiaries of the auto industry’s research.

Torqeedo partnered with fellow Bavarian company BMW to develop batteries for use on its larger motors.

Since 1859, the lead/acid battery, invented by French physicist Gaston Planté, has been the go-to technology, but recent developments with lithium-based batteries have made them a viable energy storage medium.

Among their biggest attributes are the fact they can maintain a high current, they don’t lose charging

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ENGINES

Correct Craft’s Super Air Nautique GS20 (left) is capable of being equipped with an electric engine (the model pictured here is not electric). Equipped with twin Torqeedo Deep Blue inboards and BMW i3 lithium-ion batteries, the Hinckley Dasher (below) is fully electric.

capacity and they provide far more charging cycles than lead/acid batteries.

This year, Torqeedo unveiled its largest inboard engine ever, the Deep Blue i 2400 rpm. It produces 100 kw (134 hp) and uses the Deep Blue BMW i3 battery, a 360v battery that has a 42.2 kwh capacity. The battery’s only downside is it weighs 613 pounds, which for its power output is actually pretty svelte. But in applications like ski boats, weight can actually be a plus.

The concept of an all-electric ski boat has been proven viable by Correct Craft.

In 2011 it unveiled the Ski Nautique E, which was used at the 52nd Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament. Its most recent model, called the GS20 Electric, was introduced in 2017. It packs 220 kw (295 hp) of thrust and uses a 100 kwh battery bank, which gives it about two and a half hours of running time. The time to recharge is one to two hours. The downside? It costs $250,839, but it can go where gas-powered boats aren’t allowed.

PROPANE

This year, Mercury unveiled its first propane-powered outboard, a 5 hp model.

I tested it on a 12-foot Jon boat on Lake X in central Florida, famed for hosting super-secret tests and used often to dial in racing boats. Given its top speed of 17 mph, it was probably the slowest non–human powered vessel ever run there. The Mercury 5 hp Propane FourStroke shares the same platform as the Tohatsu/Nissan 5 hp motor, and it started quickly, ran well and had snappy throttle response. Right now, Lehr has the most powerful propane-powered 24

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The concept of an all-electric ski boat has been proven viable by Correct Craft. outboard, a 25 hp model.

The beauty of propane, aka liquid petroleum gas (LPG), is it doesn’t degrade and doesn’t have ethanol, which boat motors hate. In other words, if you left a tank of propane at the lake house all winter and came back in the spring, you could hook it up to a motor and pick up right where you left off in the fall, without any deleterious results. As an added bonus, it can pull double duty at the barbecue grill.

It really makes sense on a sailboat with a kicker, because the owner doesn’t have to keep six gallons of sloshing flammable liquid on board. Another benefit of burning propane is its lack of harmful fumes, which is why a lot of forklifts that operate indoors use propane.

ETHANOL BUSTER

Many boaters have learned — the hard way — about the detrimental effects of ethanol. And the strong corn lobby has

been working hard to get the ethanol level raised at the pump, from 10 percent to 15 percent, which most marine propulsion systems are not designed to handle. There is a viable alternative that’s also renewable but doesn’t feature many of ethanol’s harmful attributes: biobutanol, the renewable form of isobutanol.

First, biobutanol is not a solvent like ethanol, so it doesn’t destroy rubber hoses and plastic or fiberglass fuel tanks, nor does it clean crud off the surface of internal parts and suspend them in a solution where particles can clog carburetors and fuel injectors. It also doesn’t combine with water, which, over time, will cause an ethanol/water mix to sink to the bottom of the tank where it can be picked up and burned. Because this nasty mixture is hyper-low octane, it can cause an engine to blow up.

Biobutanol can be made from non-food materials such as corn stalks, wood chips and switchgrass, and it can even be made from corn. It has a 30 percent higher energy content than ethanol, so its use actually improves performance and fuel economy, unlike ethanol, which lowers gasoline’s performance when added. B16 is currently being produced, but it’s for off-road use only, so it’s made in small amounts. The EPA allows just 12.5 percent of it to be added to fuel at the pump, so none of it shows up at the local gas station. B12.5 has been sold as boat racing fuel by Gulf Oil under the trade name Gulf Marine 100 at select marinas.

Since it doesn’t absorb water, it has a shelflife of two years.

Both B12.5 and B16 are more expensive to buy, because they are produced in low volumes, not because they are inherently more expensive to produce than ethanol.

The EPA has been considering allowing B16 at the pumps but no action has been taken thus far. BW

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Electronics

Son a r

LOWRANCE HOOK

ADVANCED CAPABILITIES

Small Boat, Big Fish Advanced sonar is easy to attain for trailerable boats — and even kayaks.

BY ZUZANA PROCHAZKA

• SONAR TECHNOLOGY HAS come such a long way that the fish don’t stand a chance anymore.

With compact designs and low prices, sonar can easily be taken advantage of by owners of smaller boats. These units show structure and fish so clearly that anglers can almost see what species is down there. Let’s look at some of the latest units that aren’t just for the 50-foot sportfishers.

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The thought of old fishfinders conjures up images of monochromatic screens with some random shapes that may have been fish or underwater tree branches, or whatever. It took an advanced degree to make out what the old units were showing.

But that’s all changed with new sonar such as Raymarine’s Element with HyperVision 1.2 mhz CHIRP technology. This superhigh-frequency sonar shows unbelievable levels of detail in imaging the water column and bottom. Side-scan produces a wide search area, and 3-D imaging and conical CHIRP detect fish and deliver bottom-density information. It can detect fish and bottom structure from two feet to 900 feet and is geared for both saltwater and freshwater use, so anglers can exploit it on lakes and rivers, and for inshore and coastal fishing. Element runs the

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GARMIN STRIKER 7SV WITH CHIRP

HUMMINBIRD HELIX 9 CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G3N

coverage and screens that start at 4.3 inches, Hook is compact enough to use on a fishing kayak or a pontoon boat. Heck, Hook units can even go ice fishing. But don’t underestimate this little power pack. It comes preloaded with C-MAP and inland mapping, or buyers can create their own maps to share with angler buddies.

ALL-IN-ONE

RAYMARINE ELEMENT 7 WITH HYPERVISION

Fishfinders today highlight simplicity with all-in-one packages that are easy to install and usually consist of just a display, a cable and a transducer. Element’s HV-100 transducer is compact, so it fits easily on trailerable boats, but is fully featured.

Everything is built in, so no black boxes or external modules are needed.

Humminbird’s Helix comes with an MFD, a transducer (and mounting hardware), a power cord and a gimbaled mounting bracket. Variously sized displays are available from all manufacturers, so shoppers can find one to fit their dash. Element comes in 7-, 9- and 12-inch displays, while Humminbird offers MFDs from 5 to 15 inches.

WALLET FRIENDLY

LightHouse Sport operating system, which is a derivative of the LightHouse 3 system used on Raymarine’s larger Axiom line.

Humminbird just launched its MEGA Imaging+ and dual-spectrum CHIRP sonar with three times the frequency of its prior product. The Helix CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G3N features side and down imaging, integrated Bluetooth and Ethernet networking capability, for boat owners who want to get really fancy. It delivers sharp images up to 200 feet to either side and 200 feet

down with 20 percent more detail than the previous MEGA Imaging series.

Garmin’s Striker line comes with CHIRP technology packed into screens from four to nine inches and is offered with either a trolling or transom-mount transducer.

Users can return to hot spots, marinas and ramps and store up to 2 million acres of their own content with 1-foot contours.

The Hook series by Lowrance is built for casual freshwater and inshore coastal anglers. With broadband and CHIRP

TO THE WEB • FurunoUSA.com • Garmin.com • Humminbird.com

Perhaps the best reason to investigate new sonar is the price. These uber-powerful, super-simple, high-definition units are easy on the wallet as well as the eyes.

Raymarine’s Element is its midrange product, slotted between Dragonfly (starting at $299 with a choice of trolling, throughhull or transom-mount transducers) and its advanced Axiom line. Element starts at $880 for the 7-inch unit. That price is all-in, plus installation, of course. Humminbird’s Helix 9 with built-in GPS costs $1,500.

Pocket sonar units are less. Garmin’s Striker 4 costs $140, and Lowrance’s Hook2 starts at just $100 and ranges, depending on screen size, up to $1,500.

Anglers get a lot for their money, because these units are available with integrated GPS and at least a base chart. Element even supports making custom bathymetric maps for both Navionics’ SonarChart Live and Raymarine’s own RealBathy mapping system. BW

• Lowrance.com • Raymarine.com

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Ask the Experts

Q

+ B AT T E R I E S

Damage Assessment Q If a wet-cell battery turns over, will it be damaged?

George Alexander, via BoatingWorld.com

The short answer is no; however, the long answer is “it all depends.” The act of simply turning a wet-cell battery over on its side will not physically damage the unit, unless of course it’s slammed down with such force that it jars internal components such as plates loose. We’ll assume that’s not the case here. What could damage the battery, however, would be a significant loss of electrolyte due to leaking if the battery is placed on its side for a longer period of time. If the battery was not being used and this lost electrolyte was replaced prior to placing it into service — once the battery is righted, of course — there should be no damage.

If the battery was placed into service without first replacing this lost electrolyte, then it would be subject to the same damage facing any wet-cell battery with low or no electrolyte (e.g., partial charging, reduced ability to hold a full charge over time). — FL

MEET OUR 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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Grid Michal

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

Zuzana Prochazka

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

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/1/19 2:43 PM

ASK THE EXPERTS

MAINTENANCE

Through-Hull Replacement Q I’m replacing the through-hull for my 130 hp 6-cylinder Ford Leman diesel.

I’m hoping a 1 1/4-inch Perko valve will be good enough. The ID is only 1 inch.

The engine manual calls for a 1-inch minimum. What do you think?

Paul Bailey, via BoatingWorld.com

If the inside diameter of the new Perko seacock and through-hull is 1 inch and the engine manual calls for a through-hull and seacock with a 1-inch minimum, then you have met the minimum and there should be no problem. This is especially true if the old seacock and through-hull being replaced has a 1-inch minimum inside diameter and you have had no engine cooling system problems in the past, overheating, for example.

That being said, if the old through-hull and seacock have an inside diameter that is greater than the 1-inch minimum and you

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have had no engine overheating problems, I would recommend replacing them with a new through-hull and seacock of the same size. — FL GAS

Hardy Hoses

Q I’m in Argentina on a trip fishing for golden dorado, and the guys who guided us have trouble with their gas hoses breaking down due to the alcohol content in the gas. Is there a hose made for outboards now that lasts more than a year? Sam

(Readers: Sam was my William & Mary roommate. He studied hard. I didn’t. I still have to work. He doesn’t. Connect the dots) OK, the fuel line. The most troublesome kind here where we have 10 percent ethanol is a synthetic, gray with a clear inner liner. Because ethanol is added at the distributor, and sometimes the person adding it may not be paying attention, the

ethanol percentage is substantially higher or lower. When it’s higher, it takes less time for the liner to peel off and inhibit fuel flow. I don’t know what percentage of the fuel in Argentina is alcohol, so my answers won’t be complete, but sometimes people use DRI-GAS in the mistaken thought it will absorb water, when actually it increases the alcohol content and speeds the deterioration.

I don’t know if Seafoam is available there, but here’s a desperation thought: change all the fuel lines to U.S. Coast Guard-approved — or whatever is approved by those who fight fires at sea there — rubber. That means from the tank to the carb to the on-engine fuel filter and whatever operating system is beyond that. If there is fuel line exposed to UV constantly, sleeve the exposed area in cheap bilge pump discharge hose. Mix Seafoam proportionately with the fuel. If the problem goes away, start charging Americans for the Seafoam. — GM

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3/1/19 2:43 PM

ASK THE EXPERTS

FISHING

Looking to Compete

Q I’m fishing in a bass tournament this spring, and it’s going to be my first time.

Do any of your experts have advice for a first-timer who doesn’t expect to win but who wants to put on a good showing?

Xander R., via BoatingWorld.com

Lenny Rudow wrote a feature last year called “10 Tournament Tactics That Work,” and we present a few of those tactics here.

Chill Out

Though it might sound counterintuitive, worry less about winning and more about having a fun day of fishing. Stress makes people, including anglers, do things they wouldn’t normally do. Capt. Rob Skillman of Moore Bills, who won the 2017 Mako Mania and placed in several other tournaments last season, considers this one of the most important things to keep in mind when tournament fishing.

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I agree. I lost the biggest fish of the day on the very first cast during the CCA Rod & Reef tournament but managed to shrug it off and maintain a positive attitude. Being stressed out and discouraged after that certainly wouldn’t have helped. And after a full and fun day of fishing, I still earned second place.

Stick to the Plan

When things aren’t going perfectly — or maybe they are going better than expected — some anglers may be tempted to abandon their game plan. While some level of flexibility is a good thing, anglers shouldn’t be too quick to abandon their original strategy. After all, it was carefully thought out, and out on the water it’s all too easy to make snap decisions that go off the rails.

During one tournament, an angler I spoke to (who asked not to be named in this particular case) quickly left an area he had pre-fished with success, and had planned to hit hard, because the bite was

slow. He returned to the dock that afternoon to learn that the bite had been slow everywhere — and the tournament-winning fish was caught in the very place he had been fishing, a few hours after he abandoned it.

Do Homework

A number of tournament anglers, ranging from ice-fishing tourney champ Tony Boshold to MLF pro Scott Suggs, consider a careful look at local cartography a key element of preparation. Today’s fishing maps offer incredibly detailed views of the underwater topography, often providing contour detail down to one-foot increments. Such detail allows an angler to check out every cove, point and channel in a lake, river or bay before she even arrives on the scene — if, that is, she takes the time to do her homework.

To read the entire story, visit boatingworld.com/feature-stories/ 10-tournament-tactics-work/. BW

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Gear 1.

St u f f You Wa nt

Steering Wheel

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2.

1

Tide and Pilot Book

$15.95, eldridgetide.com

The Eldridge “Tide and Pilot Book 2019” has tides and currents for ports from Nova Scotia to Key West.

Eldridge has published for 145 years, giving boaters valuable information on GPS and electronic navigation, marine weather, federal regulations, navigation rules, coastal piloting tips and emergency first aid. The “Tide and Pilot Book” is a backup reference for electronics that further helps readers with useful articles on fishing, nautical astronomy and maritime traditions.

3.

Blast Signal Horn

$9.99/1.4 oz., westmarine.com The MAXPRO Super Blast Signal Horn delivers a 119-decibel sound, meeting all U.S. Coast Guard requirements for use on boats up to 65 feet. The 1.4-ounce horn is pocket sized and convenient to have on hand. Refill 5.5-ounce canisters are sold separately.

4.

Live Well Cleaner

2

$5.95, iosso.com

Most boat owners have experienced that funky smell when they open a cooler, refrigerator or livewell — the not-so-fresh aroma of algae, mold, mildew and other microorganisms that thrive in moist environments. Iosso Products’ Live Well Cleaner gets rid of it. The biodegradable and environmentally friendly solution cleans and freshens surfaces. The concentrated powder is poured directly into a filled tank or bucket of water, which is then sponged onto surfaces or circulated through livewell tubing using the pump. Boat owners then drain and rinse the livewell with fresh water.

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5.

Boat Care Kit

$79.99, westmarine.com The West Marine Boat Care Kit is a starter kit that allows boat owners to maintain their vessel. Included is a threeand-a-half-gallon bucket, a blue swirl sponge and the most popular West Marine cleaners: Boat Soap, Deck Cleaner, Rust & Stain Remover, Mildew Stain Remover, Vinyl Cleaner, and Hull Cleaner. All the cleaners are safe and effective on all boat surfaces and are safe for the environment.

6.

Fiberglass Repair Kit

$11.95, drsails.com

DrSails Trio Fiberglass kit is an all-in-one solution to turn adhesive into a fast-curing, flexible, bi-component, epoxy-based adhesive putty that works quickly for small composite repairs that are crash resistant, even underwater. The product contains 2.5 milliliters of DrSails resin, 2.5 milliliters of DrSails Hardener, one DrSails Filler (fiberglass), one DrSails Cleaner, gloves and one spreader. The adhesive has a cure time of just 20 minutes, which meets the demands of any emergency repair where a high bond strength or flexible bond is required.

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7.

Flush-Mounted Ski Tow

$48.26, acconmarine.com

Add a ski tow to a boat’s stern without cluttering what is often a busy space. The compact Flush-Mounted Ski Tow from Accon Marine keeps any transom free of protruding hardware while providing a discreet and secure point for attaching a line. Made from 316 stainless steel for strength and corrosion resistance, the patented four-piece assembly consists of the main body, a sealing cup, a backing plate and a gasket. Installation requires drilling a two-and-a-half-inch hole and using quarterinch screws to attach the hardware.

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Quick Reference Cards

$9.99/card, davisinstruments.com Reference cards provide accurate information at a glance, for beginners or seasoned veterans. Boating Guide #128 is full of procedures and equipment, covering small-craft piloting and vital points such as the pre-departure checklist, fueling and engines, radio use, and more. Navigational Rules #125 contains information to find one’s way when on the water; Weather Forecasting #131 details how to use wind direction, barometric pressure and cloud type to predict weather. Each reference card is sold separately.

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F O R M U L A 3 1 0 B R O U T B O A R D // B Y A L A N J O N E S

Going Out(board) in Style The 310 BR Outboard is a prime example of Formula’s push to develop outboard-powered models.

• THE FORMULA 310 BR is the flagship of the builder’s Bowrider line, a dayboat capable

of excursions to simply drop the hook in a private cove or head to the condo in Bimini.

For decades, Formula sportboats have been closely associated with sterndrive power, taking advantage of concealed engines to create a huge back porch for keys-off lounging pleasure. The new outboard version hasn’t lost that feature. It still includes an uncluttered extra-large swim platform, because the twin 350 hp Mercury Verados are mounted on an Armstrong bracket behind the platform.

UNIQUE FACTOR

One thing that sets Formula apart from nearly all other boat builders is its use of paint rather than gelcoat to achieve its signature finish. From a manufacturing standpoint, gelcoat is easier to use. It’s an epoxy resin that can be pigmented, and it is the first thing that is sprayed into a hull mold before the fiberglass is layered on.

Paint is applied after the boat is removed from the mold; it is a lot more technical and requires a separate department to handle. Only a few other high-end companies paint their hulls, including Hatteras and Hinckley, because it’s more expensive.

The payoff, though, comes down the road.

Gelcoat tends to oxidize and take on a hazy, chalky appearance after a few seasons — especially dark colors — and it needs to be buffed and waxed to stay shiny. Paint really just needs to be cleaned.

Formula carries its process even further by applying an Axalta ChromaPremier base coat and Imron Elite clearcoat to keep its Imron paint looking great for many years.

Our Formula 310 BR had the Full Hullside 36

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Graphic C in Midnight Blue Metallic with Steel Metallic accents paint job, which added $5,595 to the price. But what really made it pop was the fact the color scheme was carried over to the Mercury Verado 350 outboards. What’s the point of a

Cruising, entertaining and watersports are the Formula 310 BR’s triple areas of expertise. builder having a paint shop if it doesn’t use it to customize the outboard’s cowling? The process added another $5,745 per engine to the price, but that’s inexpensive compared to what most aftermarket companies charge. For further customization, Formula offers FormulaFlex MyWay, which allows buyers to choose any of the 1,867 solid

colors in the Pantone Matching System or any of the thousands of colors from major automotive manufacturers, to create a one-of-a-kind boat.

PERFORMANCE

Powering our Formula 310 BR test boat was a pair of Mercury Verado 350 outboards, which is one of two outboard choices for this model, the other being Mercury 400R Racing engines. Most often, when companies make the transition to outboards, which is the new customer power preference, they slap an outboard on an existing model and call it a day. But that’s not the Formula way. It invested money to change the hull and better optimize its performance.

During our test, not too far from where Formula builds in northern Indiana, I timed the near-five-ton 310 BR to plane without using the hydraulic Bennett trim tabs: five seconds with moderate bowrise.

Next, I engaged the tabs, and the 310 BR reached plane in just 2.8 seconds with virtually no bowrise. Thanks to the low-end boot-in-the-seat-of-the-pants kick provided by the Verados’ superchargers, the 310 BR hit the 30 mph mark in just 7.6 seconds. Top speed was a brisk 52.4 mph.

With twin 400Rs, this boat should scare 60 mph, but given the $21,600 upcharge, I’d stick with the twin 350s.

HANDLING

Most boaters start their aquatic career with small boats and gradually work up the LOA food chain, gaining boat-handling skills along the way. But thanks to Mercury’s intuitive Joystick Piloting For Outboards, aka Axius, which is part of the standard package, buyers can confidently make the leap from a small boat to this 32-foot, 8-incher with a 9-foot, 8-inch beam. Recent enhancements to the Skyhook virtual-anchor feature include BowHook, which maintains the boat’s position but allows it to point in any direction, so the engines shift far fewer times; DriftHook, which maintains the boat’s heading but allows it to drift with the wind or current; and Heading Adjust,

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One thing that sets Formula apart from nearly all other boat builders is its use of paint rather than gelcoat

(Clockwise from top right) Formula helms are classy and functional. The extra-wide helm seat’s backrest can be flipped forward. The windshield is artfully curved. Compact entertainment center preserves cockpit space. A full swim platform is unusual for outboard-powered boats.

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OWN E R FE E D BACK

P U R C H A S E D B Y D AV E A N D S A N D Y R E I F, NAPLES, FL A. PURCH A SED AT FORMUL A BOAT S SOU T H, NAPLES, FL A. W H AT W E L IK ED

Ability to customize/Deep gunwales/ Comfortable bow seating/Performance and handling/Quiet and powerful Mercury Verado 350s

FORMULA 310 B R O UTBOA R D LOA 32 ft., 8 in.

Beam 9 ft., 6 in.

Deadrise 22 degrees

W H AT W E WOUL D CH A NGE

Capacity Yacht certified

We would like a larger hardtop option.

Dry Weight (hull) 9,875 lbs.

WHY WE BOUGHT IT

For 30 years we did our boating in Ocean City, N.J., and always had sterndrives.

When we bought a house in Naples on the southwest coast of Florida, we noticed most of the boats down here have outboards, because the water can get pretty shallow in places. My wife and I really like to get out and cruise, and our trips are usually three or four hours. We like to invite a couple or two and do a sunset cruise and just idle around Naples, enjoying the scenery. We have grandkids from 2 to 7 years old, and their security was really important to us; the Formula 310 BR has high gunwales, which helps us relax, knowing they’re safe. We love the power and performance from the Mercury 350 Verado outboards and appreciate the high-tech features like Active Trim; it lets me hit the throttle and go. The joystick docking is great. The buying experience at Formula Boats South was smooth; they were fair, honest and transparent. Denny, Steve and Scott worked as a team to give us a first-rate experience.

Fuel Capacity 130 gal.

Max HP 800 PERFORMANCE

The huge bowriding area is perfect for social gatherings. A head ensures a day on the water isn’t interrupted by trips to shore.

which allows the driver to change its heading in 1- to 10-degree increments while Skyhook is engaged.

The Formula 310 BR’s hull has a sharp 22-degree deadrise that handles choppy water so well owners will be disappointed when conditions are flat calm. One trait of every Formula I’ve ever driven is a non-existent learning curve, and the 310 BR continues that tradition. It’s simpler to drive thanks to Mercury’s Active Trim, which automatically keeps the boat running with the correct engine trim. I did have to override it during my quest for the last 1 or 2 mph of top speed during the test, but it otherwise did an admirable job. Making control even easier is Bennett’s AutoTrim Pro system.

Peak 52.4 mph/ 6300 rpm/94 dBA Cruise 31.4 mph/ 4500 rpm/85 dBA Time to Plane (w/trim tabs) 2.8 sec.

Time to 30 mph 7.6 sec.

POWER Test Twin Mercury Verado 350 four-strokes

Cylinders Inline 6 Displacement 2.6L Weight 668 lbs.

WOT Range 5800-6400 rpm

Base Price w/test power $285,319

Value-Added Standard Features: 400-watt Clarion 6-speaker Bluetooth stereo, twin cockpit tables, transom shower, entertainment center w/sinks and spigot, VacuFlush head

Must-Have Options: Choice of snap-in vinyl flooring, water heater, windlass, refrigerator, JL Audio speakers and subwoofer, underwater lighting, bow docking lights, bow sun shade

Builder: Thunderbird, formulaboats.com Financing: $2,046/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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BEST USES

Cruising, entertaining and watersports are the Formula 310 BR’s triple areas of expertise. With the keys off, the rear sunpad lounge will be the first place passengers try to claim on dibs. Its split backrest flips to brace aft-facing loungers and is easy to adjust to the perfect angle.

Underway, the backrests can be flipped to support people sitting on the stern bench.

A couple of years ago, the cockpit layout got a complete makeover based on input from owners, and the result is improved passenger flow and more flexible and comfortable seating.

Cockpit access is via a portside walkthrough. A compact entertainment center for beverages and snacks is the most prominent feature. Four cupholders start the assembly line, underneath drawer storage delivers quick access and more storage can be found to the left. Twin sinks with a spigot help with cleanups. Our boat had an optional pullout drawer refrigerator

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($2,225) to augment the underseat cooler.

In front of the entertainment center is an abbreviated chaise lounge that’s comfortable for passengers facing fore or aft. Behind the doublewide captain’s chair is a longer layback seat that’s part of a U-lounge. Split helm backrests flip, so the person sitting to the left of the driver can also face fore or aft; at rest, the captain can join the party behind him. With the giant twin-pedestal Corian-topped cockpit table installed, there’s a dining area for at least six people.

PREFERRED SETUP

Even though the Formula 310 BR has a pointy bow that helps announce it as a performance boat, its versatile bow has plenty of room for two people to sit facing aft. Remove the chaise lounge center sections, and more people can enjoy feeton-the-deck seating when facing fore and aft. Adding the optional SureShade ($1,475) controls the amount of sun passengers get,

and the optional windlass, which includes a polished stainless steel anchor, chain and rode, is a must ($6,610).

In the portside console is a head compartment that comes complete with a stainless sink and a VacuFlush head that has a 36-gallon holding tank. Owners can choose one of four colors for the Corian countertops.

Make no mistake: Formula is a premium brand that commands a commensurate price. With twin Mercury Verado 350s, the 310 BR lists for $356,330, but Formula always seems to be running a special. At press time, its website showed a $71,320 discount. But anyone buying this boat wants it exactly right and won’t be skimping to save a buck. With that in mind, buyers should get the forward-swept arch ($15,290) with a swivel watersports tow point and the Sunbrella sun shade. At the helm, there’s room for a flush-mounted Raymarine Axiom Pro 9 GPS/fishfinder. BW

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Tested

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G L A S T R O N G T D W 2 2 5 S U R F & F I S H // B Y A L A N J O N E S

Surf’s Up & Fish On The Glastron GTDW 225 Surf & Fish combines two wildly popular activities in a one-machine tour de force.

• TALK ABOUT FOREHEAD-SLAPPING MOMENTS. WHEN I first saw the Glastron GTDW 225

Surf & Fish at the Miami Boat Show, the concept of combining a surf-ready ski boat with a fishing boat suddenly seemed obvious, considering both are among boating’s most popular activities. Yet until Glastron introduced this model, anglers who had surf boats either had to buy a second boat or pound a square peg into a round hole by fishing on a boat ill-suited for the task.

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UNIQUE FACTOR

What makes the marriage of these two unlikely bedfellows possible is the Volvo Penta Forward Drive propulsion system, which tucks two forward-facing, counterrotating props beneath the hull. The setup keeps surfers who ride the everlasting wave right behind the boat out of the danger zone. Although the Glastron GTDW 225 Surf & Fish is designed for surfing, there’s no ballast option … yet. But the boat itself weighs a hefty 4,250 pounds, which is 300 pounds more than Cobalt’s slightly shorter CS23 surf boat (though the latter does carry additional ballast). The real ballast option is its ability to haul 13 people who can be strategically placed to further grow the wake. Another option to make the wake larger is to trim the Forward Drive, something that’s not possible on the more

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expensive Sea Ray SLX-W 230 surf machine, which uses a MerCruiser direct-drive Towsports Inboard for propulsion.

This Glastron comes standard with Wake WorX Surf tabs. They use offset hinged blades to help grow and shape the wake, and they are capable of switching from left to right quickly with the help of Lenco Heavy Duty actuators. Unlike some other surf tabs, these are small enough to function as standard trim tabs and they don’t have speed limitations. The wake — not huge by dedicated surfboat standards — is well-formed, has

The real ballast option is its ability to haul 13 people. a surprisingly large pocket and has the push needed to keep surfers riding as long as their legs and balance hold out.

The cockpit can be accessed a couple of ways. One entrance is via a stern walkthrough that’s revealed by flipping up the starboard side of the large sunpad, which can also be propped up to form a backrest for lounging. The other is a portside amidships gunwale sectional that can be flipped up to effectively lower the gunwale height to make it easier to step over. And there’s a stepdown to make the transition down to the cockpit sole easier. This bi-fold stepdown can be folded flat against the gunwale when not in use.

PERFORMANCE

A huge advantage the Volvo Penta Forward Drive system has over most surfboats’ direct-drive propulsion system is its outdrive’s ability to be trimmed, which reduces the hull’s wetted surface for less drag on plane and yields higher speeds. Glastron offers both the 240 hp and 280 hp iterations of Volvo’s new-gen, GM-based 4.3L V-6 aluminum-block motor that weighs a relatively light 908 pounds. Our boat had the 280 hp version, which, if the boat is used as intended, is a no-brainer option at a $3,334 premium.

Without the Wake WorX tabs engaged, the Glastron GTDW 225 Surf & Fish got on plane in four seconds flat with minimal bowrise. Its time to 30 mph was 6.8

(Clockwise from top) A bow filler cushion creates a triplewide sunning area. Rod holders on a surf boat are unusual.

Every GTDW 225 helm should have Zero Off speed control.

The port console has a cooler alcove. A sink and spigot are handy for cleanups. The centerline storage compartment can hold boards and rods.

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OWN E R FE E D BACK

PURCHA SED BY MIKE AND AM Y ROGERS, STURGIS, S.D. PURCH A SED AT RECRE AT ION STAT ION, SPE ARFISH, S.D. W H AT W E L IK ED

Deckboat layout that creates extra passenger space/Volvo Penta motor/ Forward Drive eliminates prop torque/ Zero Off cruise control/Bow shower W H AT W E WOUL D CH A NGE

We upgraded the stereo to an awesome Wet Sounds system and created a larger livewell under the stern bench.

WHY WE BOUGHT IT

My family always had MasterCraft boats when I was growing up, and I was a competitive slalom skier. Then my parents got into sailing and I got out of boating for a while. Recently, my wife and I got back into boating with a Bayliner Bowrider, but we like to fish and realized we needed something more versatile. When we saw the Glastron GTDW 225 Surf & Fish, we were impressed by its roominess and its ability to multitask..

We love to go fishing for walleye in the morning then head back to the dock, remove the fishing seats and load the boat up with adults and kids — Peyton is 10 and Piper is 11 — and go surfing, tubing and skiing. The extended swim platform makes it really easy to get in and out of the water. Glastron’s customer service has been fantastic; we had a couple of issues and they really went the extra mile to make sure we were happy. Recreation Station’s service has been awesome and they also helped us customize the boat.

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G L ASTRON GTDW

The boat’s 48 mph top speed is impressive, but so is its ability to accommodate wakesurfing and fishing during the same outing.

225 SURF & FISH Length 24 ft., 2 in.

Beam 8 ft., 6 in.

Deadrise 17 degrees Capacity 13 people Dry Weight (hull) 4,250 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 52 gal.

Max HP 300

PERFORMANCE Peak 48.0 mph/ 5500 rpm/93 dBA

Cruise 33.2 mph/ 4000 rpm/82 dBA Time to Plane 4.0 sec.

Time to 30 mph 6.8 sec.

POWER Test Volvo Penta 4.3L 280 hp

Cylinders V-6 Displacement 4.3L Weight w/outdrive 908 lbs.

WOT Range

seconds under smooth, linear acceleration, which is ideal for skiing, and it reached a top speed of 48 mph. Contrast that with the Sea Ray SLX-W 230 — V-drive setup and 90 more hp — whose top speed was 41 mph. Glastron offers a 300 hp 5.3L V-8. Surprisingly, it weighs only 88 pounds more than the V-6 and comes at a reasonable upcharge of $2,466 over the 280 hp V-6. It should push the boat to the 50 mph range and provide a little more surfing ballast.

HANDLING

The Volvo Penta Forward Drive does more than deliver the ability to surf behind the boat. It also enhances the handling characteristics of the Glastron GTDW 225 Surf & Fish. Not only do the dual counter-rotating props cancel prop torque at low speeds and eliminate slow-speed wandering — a thorn in the side of drivers new to sterndrives — but the twin props deliver superior bite for better holeshot. But where the Forward Drive system really shines is during turns. Because the props are placed farther forward, the boat’s pivot point is affected positively, allowing the driver to really whip the Glastron into hard turns that can be overcooked.

Be careful. Its SSV hull has a moderate 17 degrees of deadrise, and extra-wide chines extend far forward to promote side-to-side stability.

5000-5500 rpm

Base Price w/test power $62,133

BEST USES

In addition to surfing, the Glastron GTDW 225 Surf & Fish makes

Value-Added Standard Features: Wake WorX surf tabs, extended swim platform, dual-axle trailer, bow ladder, GPS speedometer, in-floor ski storage, built-in cooler, Kicker Bluetooth stereo

Must-Have Options: Wakesports tower, portable head, changing room, transom shower, bow filler cushions, trolling motor, fishing seats, livewell, Zero Off cruise control, table

Builder: Beneteau Group, glastron.com­Financing: $446/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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a great wakeboard boat. At about 22 mph with both tabs deployed, it carved a clean ramp for boarders and tubers who want to catch a little air. The 225 is also a capable cruiser/entertainer thanks to a maximized seating arrangement that includes a U-lounge that stretches from the portside console all the way to the captain’s wraparound bucket. Up front are two chaise lounges with enough room for 6-foot-plus riders to stretch out, and there’s a step-up to a forward deck that has a boarding ladder for beach expeditions.

The platform is based on Glastron’s GTD deckboat configuration, which carries much of its 8-foot, 6-inch beam far forward and includes plenty of room for fishing or lounging. The Fishing Package ($2,067) includes a pair of upscale pedestal fishing seats owners can install on a Starboard casting platform up front and on the primary swim platform at the stern, a livewell, a trolling motor pre-rig and a mounting plate for 24v motors. And at the stern is a standard extended swim platform that sits low to the water and will be useful for landing a huge bass, getting in and out of the water, or as a place to chill and watch the sunset.

PREFERRED SETUP

A well-equipped boat that comes with a standard twin-axle trailer with quad disc brakes, the Glastron GTDW 225 Surf & Fish only needs a few options to maximize its usefulness. Watersports will be enhanced by Zero Off GPS-based cruise control ($1,731) and a gas-assisted drop-down tower that Glastron makes more affordable than most other towers ($1,967).

Most options can be attained via package bundling, such as the XL Package ($1,653), which features Marine Mat in the cockpit, stainless steel grabrails and cupholders, pull-up cleats, a bow scuff plate, an hourmeter, a depthsounder and a water temperature gauge.

Boosting the entertainment factor is easy with the Premium Sound Package ($1,273). It includes a stereo upgrade, a subwoofer, an aft remote and a lighting package. And there’s a cool bamboo cockpit table option ($627) that’s only $127 more than the boring, white rectangular model. This is one of the few ski boats with a windlass option, and it includes rode, chain and an anchor for $2,160. BW

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TURBOSWING.COM/BOATINGWORLD • 855-22-TURBO (855-228-8726)

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Q W E S T A V A N T I 8 2 5 L A N A I E X E C U T I V E D S B A R // B Y A L A N J O N E S

Raising the Bars What’s better than one bar on a pontoon boat? Two bars.

• QWEST PIONEERED THE compact luxury pontoon category. Then its designers went another

direction, creating the Avanti 825 Lanai Executive DS Bar, the builder’s biggest model ever at 26 feet, 8 inches. The Avanti line is Qwest’s most luxurious and comes with so many standard features, the options list is downright skimpy.

can leave crewmembers dehydrated, so it’s always good to have a beverage nearby, and most people park them on the swim platform. But anyone with kids knows they are perpetual motion machines that dive into the water, climb up the ergo-friendly curved swim ladder and repeat, often spilling beverages. To avoid such collateral damage, Qwest designed a Starboard table with four cupholders that attaches to the outside of the pontoon. It even has a little room left over for snacks.

PERFORMANCE

Engine paint customization is a hot ticket right now, and matching the cowling’s color to the boat is the most frequent scheme. But it can cost more than $5,000

Six lifting strakes provide two extra planing surfaces.

UNIQUE FACTOR

Bar-equipped pontoons are hotter than a ghost pepper these days, but a huge bar can dominate a floorplan and make unfettered movement difficult. The Qwest Avanti 825 Lanai Executive DS Bar takes a different tack. Its floorplan offers two more-compact bars and leaves the cockpit wide open, so guests at an onboard party can mingle freely. Straddling the bars are two pairs of high-back captain’s chairs that feature twin flip-down armrests and can spin 360 degrees. On top of the bars’ working surfaces are twin cupholders and an indent that can secure items such as a cellphone.

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A raised edge around the perimeter of the bars acts as a fiddle rail to keep items from sliding off the edge. Each bar module includes a pullout cutting board and a lockable storage drawer. On the sides are a bottle opener, purse hooks and 12v outlets for accessories such as blenders. A Qwest logo cooler resides to port.

Many Qwest employees are pontooners, and a number of innovations have come from their experience using their boat. Case in point is the Swim-Up Bar. When the key is off, the first thing most people do is cannonball into the water to float and swim around “Pontoon Island.” Such exertion

to repaint it. Qwest takes a less expensive approach by matching its fence colors to popular factory engine colors. Our test boat, for example, featured white fencing that was identical to its white (a $400 upcharge) Honda BF250, a brand Qwest rigs frequently.

The Honda is a techno-showcase for all the innovations its engineers have developed over the decades for the millions of car engines they’ve built. The 3.6L V-6, which is similar to the engine found on the Accord and Odyssey, provided excellent out-of-the-hole performance thanks to BLAST (Boosted Low-Speed Torque), which kicks in when the driver aggressively advances the drive-by-wire throttle.

BLAST advances the timing to its limit and enriches the fuel/air mixture to give it extra power at just the right moment. It helped put the 2,825-pound boat on plane in just 2.4 seconds.

Another high-tech assist comes from VTEC (Variable Valve Timing & Lift Electronic Control), which varies the lift and duration of the intake valves to

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help flatten the power curve and deliver precise throttle response throughout the power band. It helped our test Qwest reach 30 mph in 6.8 seconds and arrive at a top speed of 45.8 mph. Hondas are known for their reliability and are backed by a five-year, non-declining warranty.

HANDLING

Our test boat featured the Gen II Triple-Tube setup ($5,850): three 24-inch tubes that are a must-have option for this boat.

While the tubes are an inch smaller than standard, the Qwest Avanti 825 Lanai Executive DS Bar actually rides high in the water, because its Dura-Lite composite seat bases keep it lighter than most of its competitors. Another factor that keeps it riding high are six lifting strakes that provide two extra planing surfaces when compared to typical triple-tube configurations that have four.

Our boat was equipped with U-Flex hydraulic steering and power steering ($2,707), which made cranking the wheel easy when I whipped it into a hard turn. It responded well and carved a tight turn. Lifting strakes on both sides of all the tubes kept the boat flat during turns.

The nosecones on the tubes are extra sharp for wave-piercing action that smooths out the ride when it gets choppy. I experienced such

(Clockwise from top) The boat has twin bars, but passengers can move freely about the cockpit. The bars feature purse hooks and USB charging stations. In front, the twin bars have a pullout cutting board and plenty of storage.

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conditions on a sister pontoon, a Pro Troll that had the same tube setup, on a gnarly day fishing for walleye on Saginaw Bay off Lake Michigan. The combination of shallow water and stiff winds kicked up steep three-footers that it handled beautifully. The nosecones have oversized spray caps that keep the ride dry and provide the kind of extra lift at the bow that can prevent stuffing when going over a large cruiser wake.

P U R C H A S E D B Y N O L A N A N D T I F FA N Y PASSICK, BERRIEN SPRINGS, MICH. PURCH A SED AT D& R SPORT S CEN T ER, K AL AMA ZOO, MICH.

BEST USES

Obviously, when a boat has two bars, entertainment is high on the agenda, and the Qwest Avanti 825 Lanai Executive DS

Bar makes an ideal venue for hosting a party. In addition to a standard woodgrain cockpit table at the bow, a flip-up table at the rear fence brings to four the number of food display surfaces. The standard stereo is an upscale 200-watt Infinity PRV 315 setup that has six oversized 8-inch speakers, including two rear-firing speakers. Adding the optional 10-inch subwoofer with a 400-watt amp ($993) almost ensures guests will bust a move.

At the helm, the driver can pull double duty as the DJ, using a RAM universal mount to hold his cellphone, which can control the Bluetooth stereo. Capt. DJ

W H AT W E L IK ED

Roominess and abundance of seating/ Fabric-like seating material/Quiet and powerful Mercury 250 Verado/Excellent sound system/Easy to tow W H AT W E WOUL D CH A NGE

We wish we could get it with a 400 hp outboard, because who doesn’t want to go faster?

WHY WE BOUGHT IT

My wife and I had never owned a boat before, but we have many friends who are boaters, so we were well acquainted with the sport. With my son, Ryder, getting older, it was finally time to get our own. At first, we experienced a bit of sticker shock and realized we would have to spend more than we thought to get something that met our needs. We were really impressed with the features and luxury of the Qwest Avanti 825 Executive and thought it represented a good value.

We almost always have a full house when we go out, and everyone has plenty of room. My son and his friends really like the optional Lillipad diving board and are also into tubing. From the day I met the folks from D&R Sport Center, I was really impressed. I went to a second boat show to check out the Qwest again, and they had tickets waiting for me. During the sale, delivery and service afterward, they have always gone above and beyond my expectations.

Q W E S T AVA N T I 825 LANAI EXECUTIVE DS BAR Length 26 ft., 8 in.

Beam 8 ft., 1 in.

Tube Diameter 24 in.

Passenger Capacity 13 people

Dry Weight (hull) 2,825 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 23 gal.

Max HP 300 PERFORMANCE Peak 45.8 mph/ 5600 rpm/93 dBA Cruise 34.2 mph/ 4500 rpm/82 dBA Time to Plane (w/trim tabs) 2.4 sec.

Time to 30 mph 6.8 sec.

POWER Test Honda BF250 four-stroke

Cylinders V-6 Displacement 3.6L Weight 617 lbs.

WOT Range 5300-6300 rpm

Base Price w/test power $63,073

Value-Added Standard Features: 200-watt Infinity 6-speaker Bluetooth stereo, high-power washdown, Logo cooler, Humminbird Helix 5, refrigerated cupholder, 9-foot Bimini top

Must-Have Options: Choice of vinyl flooring, power Bimini top, centerline locker, Blue Ice lighting package, tilt-out trashcan, livewell, power steering, seat covers

Builder: Apex Marine, qwestpontoons.com Financing: $452/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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This Qwest is an ideal venue for hosting a party. is well-compensated for his efforts with amenities such as a refrigerated cupholder that’s powerful enough to turn a warm beverage cold. A Humminbird Helix 5 GPS/fishfinder keeps him informed about where the boat is and what’s beneath it.

Guests won’t have to fight over a USB charging connection for their cellphone, because there are five of them strategically located throughout the boat. The standard configuration is a twin-battery setup, which could be run down by all the jamming, blending and device charging, but Qwest added a voltage sensing relay to make sure the boat’s cranking battery will

do its job when it’s time to head for home.

PREFERRED SETUP

The Gen II Triple-Tube package, which comes with an aluminum underskin and a ski tow, makes the Qwest Avanti 825 Lanai Executive DS Bar a watersports boat with the kind of flattish wake slalom skiers love. A centerline ski storage compartment ($1,464) is a needed option, if skiing is in the picture. Qwest builds dedicated fishing models — the 825 RLS Fishtail has twin fishing chairs on the rear deck and a rigging station — but because our test model has four captain’s chairs that are all

(Clockwise from top right) The optional white Honda BF250 matches the fencing. Comfort Touch upholstery has a linen-like look and feel. Under the rear bench seat is dock-box storage. The billet aluminum rearview mirror is sporty and useful.

close to the rails, it could easily handle this mission. Add the optional livewell for even more fishing capability.

One of the touches that makes Qwest’s top-of-the-line Avanti series stand out is the use of Comfort Touch linen-texture upholstery on the layback lounges. It has the look and feel of cloth but is actually durable, easy-to-clean vinyl. The furniture includes an Ultra-Flow storage ventilation system that prevents mildew. In addition to the four captain’s chairs, a pair of identical chaise lounges are up front and a rear lounge is on the back deck for use at rest.

Underneath the rear bench is storage that resembles a dock box and is perfect for storing wet items. It also houses the power-steering pump and the pump for the standard high-pressure washdown.

The boat comes standard with Diamond Seagrass vinyl flooring, but there are several upgrade options. An optional Power Tower Bimini top ($1,929) adds to the luxe factor. BW

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The tricks for onboard comfort and convenience keep coming in this sequel to a story from four years ago.

Simple, practical and affordable.

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’m like most boaters. I always find little annoyances aboard or things

that seem like they could be rigged or done better. Truthfully, with a little effort and ingenuity, and very little money, they often can be. Whether for keeping my boats cleaner or making them more convenient to use or having parts when I need them, I’ve employed many tips and tricks that may be useful to you.

Put Out The Welcome Mats

Most trailerboaters who climb into a boat when it’s on the trailer do so by stepping on the fender and swinging their leg over the gunwale and into the boat. As often as not, their feet have dirt on them, and that dirt gets deposited on the floor of the boat, often after they just vacuumed it, and always in the same place. Avoid the last event in that series by gluing carpet to the top of the fenders. With some indoor/outdoor carpet, some Gorilla glue and some weights to hold the carpet down while the glue dries, passengers have a place to wipe their feet. And the mats are self-cleaning during launch and retrieval.

Get a Grip

Passengers climbing into the boat as described in the previous section usually

have no grabrail to aid them, and as often as not, they’re carrying something in one hand, which complicates the procedure. And if their hands are wet or slippery, that complicates things even further. Improve the gunwale’s grip factor by installing a strip of nonskid tape on the inside of it, where a boarder’s hands go. The difference it makes is amazing. When it comes time to replace it, a hairdryer or heat gun makes short work of removing the existing piece. Heat, peel, replace and enjoy more easy access.

Seize Them!

If you have oars, perhaps for a skiff or as backup propulsion for the “big boat,” you know they get scuffed where they rub against the oarlocks. It’s unsightly, and over time the wood wears away.

Avoid the wearing-away part by seizing the oar with twine where it contacts the

A bit of carpet glued to the fender cleans feet and provides grip. Twine wrapped around oars where they meet the oarlocks (about halfway up the handle) minimizes scuffing.

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Wrench Roundup!

Here’s a bonus tip that’s not limited to boating. Whenever I’m looking for a combination wrench in my toolbox, it’s always buried among the other tools, and it’s a pain to dig it out (especially a small one)? I should have written “Whenever I used to look…” Stop playing hide-and-seek with wrenches by tying them together with a loop of twine. The wrenches are all together, in one place, and are easy to see and grab. Use the largest-diameter twine that will fit the smallest wrench, for ease of untying. If the wrench task is simple and there’s room, you don’t even have to untie them. It’s a little more hassle to untie and tie them, but the time saved pulling the correct wrench out of the box more than makes up for it.

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oarlock. Nylon heading twine — available where commercial fishing gear is sold — works well for such a job. It’s a little stretchy, so you can wind it on good and tight, and it shrinks a little with time and when it gets wet, which makes it even tighter. You can paint or poly over it, or paint/ poly the oar first and leave the twine untreated, depending on the desired look. When the twine gets thin, replace it.

Chock Talk

If you have to leave a trailer parked somewhere, disconnected from the tow vehicle, it’s good to use wheel chocks, which can be purchased or made out of wood for pennies. Stowing them so they’re not in the way can be challenging. If your trailer has a hollow, open-top winch stanchion, make chocks that will fit inside the stanchion.

Then connect them to each other with some twine and use finger holes and/or twine at the top to pull the chocks out of the stanchion. Size them small enough that they won’t get stuck in the stanchion if they get wet and swell, or tape the top of the stanchion so water can’t get in. Or do both.

If your stanchion is not hollow or has a solid top, make some chocks that tie to the frame rails. Cut slots in them and tie them onto the frame rail with twine. Tie them good and tight and forget about them. Wire ties work too, but I have found I can crank the twine tighter, and I trust twine more for an application like this.

When I need them, they’re right there.

A bonus tip involves attaching a rectangle of plastic or acrylic where the oarlock rubs against the inside of the hull. It keeps the lock and the hull looking new.

Roller Relief

When I went to haul my boat out one day last summer, my trailer was missing a roller. WTH? It was there when I launched, so it must have come off during the launch. I looked all around the ramp and couldn’t find it. Putting the boat on the trailer without the roller was going to damage the boat, so I wrapped a rag around the end of the roller axle and secured it with some twine. When I got home I ordered some replacement rollers and replaced the ones that were getting funky. Now I carry a spare and some clinch rings to secure it to the axle. (Everyone should carry a well-stocked tool kit aboard.) My hope is that the Umbrella Theory — if you bring it, you won’t need it — will keep the rollers where they belong, but if not, I’m ready.

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Walk The Plank, Matey

Sometimes, during a boat retrieval, you can drive the boat onto the trailer and right up to the bow chock. Other times, not so much, and you’ll need to get the cable/strap hook onto the boweye — and there’s water between you and the boat. If you’re trying to keep your pants dry, you creep down the frame rail, hoping to maintain balance. Take a lot of the worry out of that task by installing a walk plank along the rail.

I made mine from five-eighths-inch plywood.

I painted it — I put some nonskid grit in the paint — screwed it to the frame and added some blocking at the aft end to support it. It makes a solid, nonskid, worry-free surface I use to get down to the boweye and back.

The Hat Lanyard

There are two kinds of boaters who wear a hat while underway: those whose hat has blown off their head and those whose hat will. A hat lanyard — a strap with clips on both ends that clip a hat to a shirt — keeps the hat attached to the wearer if it does blow off. What if you’re shirtless but wearing a hat? For a few pennies I made my own hat lanyard out of a stainless alligator clip and a piece of shoelace. It clips to the back of my hat and lies around my neck like a necklace.

If my hat blows off, no U turn or man-overboard drill is necessary. I used a brightly colored shoelace, so the thing is easy to find in the drawer it lives in.

Clip plus shoelace equals a dry hat all day. Carry spares, because guests are going to want one when they see yours, and they make great gifts. BW

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OVER 460 BOAT TEST VIDEOS... ... AND COUNTING! We answer the questions that really matter to you - before you buy a boat.

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

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

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WA K E B O AT M A N U FA C T U R E R S A R E

G O I N G T O G R E AT L E N G T H S T O G I V E

B O A R D E R S A N D S U R F E R S A WA K E

T H AT ’ S L O N G , TA L L A N D S T R O N G .

BY ZENON BILAS

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HISTORICALLY, boat manufacturers geared to the waterski market worked to design boats that produced small wakes, since smaller wakes are easier for a slalom skier to cross. That changed in the 1990s when wakeboarding became popular, and even more in the last decade with the rise of wakesurfing. Wakeboarders want the wake to look like a ramp they can launch off for easier airborne tricks, and wakesurfers want the wake to resemble an ocean wave. The challenge for manufacturers became developing a bigger wake. So in the late ’90s they began placing ballast tanks in the stern of the boat. Filling these hard or bladder-style tanks with lake water caused the boat to ride deeper in the water.

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Before the ballast can fully have its effect, the first aspect builders have to consider is the hull. The wake reflects the hull design, principally the hull’s deadrise or V shape, so a boat with more deadrise will cast a bigger wake with sharper peaks, and a boat with less deadrise will cast a smaller wake with more rounded crests. Adding ballast puts the hull deeper in the water and amplifies the wake size and shape.

Boat manufacturers originally featured ballast only in the stern, with a capacity of 500 to 700 pounds. In the past two decades, however, ballast capacity in boats has increased dramatically, as pro wakeboarders and wakesurfers have raised the bar on performance.

Today, manufacturers of specialized wakeboats are designing longer boats, from 21 to 26 feet, with ballast capacity ranging from 2,500 to more than 5,500 pounds. These specialized boats are being designed with tanks strategically placed below the boat’s floor, so they don’t interfere with storage or passenger space. Also, today’s ballast systems allow users to vary the amount of water in each specific tank, to customize the wake size and shape.

Moomba’s center SmartPlate helps shape the wake.

The Power Wedge by Malibu articulates to affect wake size.

Ballast bags in storage lockers bring extra ballast to boats that might need more.

BASIC BALLAST Waterskiers, riders and wakesurfers should use ballast to create optimal wake size and shape for their ability level and personal style. A beginner may only need the boat’s passengers as ballast. The number of passengers and where they sit will affect the boat’s wake size and shape.

For waterskiers, keeping the passenger count down will create a smaller wake.

Competitive skiers never put more than two passengers beside the driver in a ski boat.

For recreational skiers, the number of people will not greatly affect performance, since recreational skiers are not crossing the wake aggressively. Take care to distribute passenger weight so the wake is level and the same shape on each side. Before towing anyone, put the boat on plane and examine the wake. Even moving passengers just a few inches in either direction in relation to the gunwale can affect the wake’s size and shape.

Wakeboarding and wakesurfing require lots of ballast, so the more passengers the better (within the boat’s capacity). Wakeboarders want a symmetrical wake, so move passengers around until the wake is even. Wakesurfing is done on one side of the wake, so having more passengers on the surfing side will put the hull deeper on that side and convert the wake into a surf wave.

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Malibu’s Surf Gate affects the flow of water to direct the wake.

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BASIC+

MasterCraft uses lips on its tabs to help shape and direct the wave.

Outer tabs and a center plate add to Supra boats’ ballast potential.

A vent at about the midway point on the hull is part of Centurion’s Ramfill system, which drains ballast quickly.

The lower right on this Centurion display shows the position of the tabs.

• Driving

Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive lets sterndrive boats such as this Monterey accommodate wakesurfing.

with ballast requires extra care.

• Don’t

overweight the bow. If ballast and other passengers are in the bow, another boat’s wake may come over the bow if the boat is slowing down.

• The

Ballast Safety Tips

driver, when slowing the boat down, should throttle down slowly, so the boat’s own wake doesn’t wash over the transom.

• Drain

the ballast before heading back to the dock. Never place a boat with ballast onto a trailer or boat lift.

• Avoid

draining the boat while sitting on the ramp. It is inconsiderate and makes the ramp slick.

Now it’s time to strategically add ballast.

Specialized wakesport boats come with ballast tanks, but any boat’s wake can be enhanced by adding after-market ballast bladders such as those manufactured by Fly High Fat Sac. These bladders come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be placed in specific locations on the boat’s floor or in storage sections, such as the stern, a midship ski locker or under-bow seating.

Beginner wakeboarders should start with minimal ballast and work up. No use filling the tanks and creating a wake that intimidates the rider. Wakesurfing newbies still need a wake big enough to give them the requisite level of push that will make it easier for them to let go of the handle and surf for the first time. Boat owners should develop a sensitivity to the wake shape and size and add or subtract ballast to create the ideal wake or wave for each individual as he progresses.

Fill the stern ballast first to see the wake it generates at the participant’s riding or surfing speed. When wakesurfing, place a greater percentage of ballast on the surfing side of the boat. With more weight in the aft, the stern will sit deeper in the water, which will create a bigger, steeper wake close to the boat.

However, today’s advanced riders are using a longer tow rope to generate more speed to the wake, and today’s advanced surfers want a wake that has a longer sweet spot. To create a wake that is longer but not as steep, add ballast and passengers to the midsection of the boat and then to the bow. Doing so will place more of the boat’s running surface deeper in the water and bring the bow down, which will create a longer wake or wave, though it will be less steep than with ballast only in the stern.

On most boats with built-in ballast tanks, adding or removing ballast is accomplished by electronic pumps, with each bladder or tank having its own pump.

Filling the tanks with lake water can take 10 to 12 minutes with traditional pumps; however, Supra and Moomba boats offer six electronic pumps to decrease time it takes to fill and drain tanks. MasterCraft

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side of the boat with the Surf Gate system activated, the wake becomes smaller and turbulent, but on the opposite side it turns into a steep, clean wave. Chaparral surf boats that feature the Volvo Penta forward-facing stern drive also feature Surf Gate.

Nautique boats have a rudder-like device mounted at the transom; when activated it extends past the gunwale to redirect the flow of water. Boats such as MasterCraft, Tigé, Supra and Moomba feature large trim tabs mounted to the transom’s port and starboard sides specifically designed to redirect the flow of water. So do surf boats from sterndrive builders such as Regal, Four Winns, Monterey and Cobalt that feature the Volvo Penta forward-facing stern drive. Like the Malibu and Nautique systems, when the surf tab is activated, a steep, clean wave is developed on the opposite side.

No single setting is right for everyone or for every boat. Each owner needs to test and see which settings and ballast configuration creates the most desirable wave.

Owners whose boat doesn’t include specialized features that create a surf wave can go the aftermarket route, with devices such as the Mission Wake Surfing Shaper or the Ronix Wakesurf Shaper.

They mount via suction to the side of the boat near the transom, and the wedge-like design redirects the water going past the hull to create a surf wave on the opposite side of the boat.

is offering bigger pumps on some models and promising to cut the time down to three or four minutes. Centurion features a system called Ramfill whose scoop-like inlets in the hull flood the ballast tank with lake water. Ramfill drains quickly while the boat is on plane, via large valves on the transom. The system can fill or drain 2,600 pounds in 90 seconds.

SOPHIS T IC ATED BA LL A S T Manufacturers continue to take ballast to the next level with innovative features and products. For example, Malibu offers The Wedge, a foil attached to the transom that swings down under the hull when in use and can be set at different angles to pull the hull deeper in the water to increase wake size.

Manufacturers have also developed various systems to redirect the water and create a surfing wave on one side of the boat. Malibu features Surf Gate, a rudderlike device located near the port and starboard sides of the transom. When not in use, the rudders stay tucked behind the transom. Adjusting one of the rudders to go wider than the transom causes the water going past the boat to be redirected. On the

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Nautique (and a couple of other builders) lets riders control the wave via remote control (top), doing things such as switching sides on the fly. The helm display on a Super Air Nautique G25 shows the ballast tanks and their current load; depending on the builder a simple touch of the screen or a button fills or empties the tanks. Wake tabs are nearly mandatory now on wake-specific boats; each builder has its own shape, angle and lip configuration.

On specialized wakeboats, ballast and other wake-shaping features are controlled from the dash of the boat via computer.

Drivers can let the computer figure out the ballast and settings to achieve the best wake characteristics for the participant’s level, or they can test and adjust each feature individually. Also, without stopping the boat, they can adjust the wake or wave characteristics and even quickly change the surfing wave from one side of the boat to the other, allowing the surfer to transfer to the other side on the fly. BW

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*78534882 * 78534882

ITEM 953/63110/69128/69136/69248/69210 shown

HONDA EU3000iS1A

20% OFF

ANY SINGLE ITEM*

BLUE HAWK $ 98

$

PRICE

PURCHASE

COMPARE TO

2,019 *78542700 * 78542700

$

SAVE $1,319

ANY

• Waterproof • Tear Resistant

SUPER COUPON

$

WITH

5 FT. 6" x 7 FT. 6" ALL PURPOSE/WEATHER RESISTANT TARP

3500 WATT SUPER QUIET INVERTER GENERATOR

As rated by a leading consumer product testing publication

SUPER COUPON

SAVE $65 16499 ITEM 63427/63432

TRAVELLER MODEL: 107055899

COMPARE TO

174

44 BRIGGS & $ STRATTON MODEL: 20600

shown

SAVE 63255 $ 94 ITEM 63254 shown

*78569760 * 78569760

*78570114 * 78570114

*78572186 * 78572186

*78583232 * 78583232

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 7/22/19*

LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 7/22/19*

LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 7/22/19*

LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 7/22/19*

SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON Customer Rating

7" VARIABLE SPEED POLISHER/SANDER NOW

9 $329

SAVE $3899 58% $

COMPARE TO

GENESIS

79

99

MODEL: GSP1711

ITEM 62861/92623/69474/60626 shown

CLICK-TYPE TORQUE WRENCHES

Customer Rating

Customer Rating

9 $699

COMPARE TO

HUSKY $ 97

89

MODEL: H2DTWA

SAVE 88%

$

Item 239 shown

$

19

99

$9

*78589597 * 78589597

LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 7/22/19*

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 7/22/19*

99

*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 7/22/19.

7999

SAVE $70

E YOUR CHOIC

*78583329 * 78583329

hft_boatingworld_0419_M-REG162505.indd 1

JUMP STARTER AND POWER PACK NOW

• Reversible DRIVE ITEM 1/4" 61277/63881/2696/94735 3/8" 61276/63880/807/94892 1/2" 62431/63882/239/94850

SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON

COMPARE TO

ITEM 64412/62749 shown

139

99 SCHUMACHER $ MODEL: SL1 ELECTRIC

Customer Rating

4-1/2" ANGLE GRINDER

SAVE 44% COMPARE TO

PERFORMAX $ 99

17

MODEL: 2411-1

$

14

99

ITEM 69645/95578/60625 shown

NOW

$999

*78591502 * 78591502

*78596805 * 78596805

LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 7/22/19*

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 7/22/19*

At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.

2/20/19 4:05 PM

N

S

M M Insurance for Powerboats & Sailboats

N C p

• Competitively priced products

C A LL 949/660 - 6150

• 24-hour claims reporting • Exceptional service • Dedicated expertise

Fi W

marketplace

Contact Us for a Free Quote

Splend

Got An Old Boat?

DONATE IT TODAY!

BW April 2019

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

BOATS Apex Marine (989) 681-4300 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CV4 Aspen Power Catamarans (360) 668-4347 . . . . 14 Formula Boats (800) 736-7685 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Godfrey Marine (574) 522-8381 . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 23 Manitou Pontoon Boats (517) 322-3822 . . . . . . . . 9 SmokerCraft, Inc./Starcraft (866) 719-7873 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5, 13, 60 Splendor Boats (260) 352-2835 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Stingray (843) 383-4507 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Yamaha WaterCraft (800) 962-7926 . . . . . . . . . . . 1

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APRIL 2019

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+ BW Marketplace2.indd 62

Call Us At 800-227-2643 www.boatangel.com McGard, Inc (800) 669-6887 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 NuShield, Inc (215) 500-6426 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Overton’s (800) 334-6541. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 West System Inc. / Gougeon Brothers, Inc. (989) 684-7286 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

ENGINES 800-88-YAMAHA (800) 889-2624 . . . . . . . . . CV3

SERVICES 1-800-Progressive (800) 776-4737. . . . . . . . . CV2 Boat Angel (800) 227-2643 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Five Star Houseboat Vacations (417) 988-1387 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 GEICO Insurance (800) 865-4846 . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 National Marine Underwriters (800) 262-8467 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Tecnografi c (954) 928-1714 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Water Sports Foundation (407) 833-0383 . . . . . 29 Waterways Township (914) 445-0299 . . . . . . . . 21

GEAR & ACCESSORIES Aquatic AV (408) 559-1668 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Cook Manufacturing Corp (800) 654-3697 . . . . 62 Harbor Freight Tools (800) 423-2567 . . . . . . . . . 61

WATERSPORTS EQUIPMENT Rave Sports (651) 255-4810 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Turbo Swing (855) 228-8726 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 WOW World of Watersports (402) 516-8034 . . 19

BOATINGWORLD.COM

ww

3/1/19 3:10 PM

NEW!

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Find out more online...

WWW.AQUATICAV.COM/MARINE

DSP EQ AM/FM RADIO

Splendor 1-2h4c.qxp_Layout 1 5/3/18 3:35 PM Page 1

288W

DSP EQ

POWER

AM/FM

Splendor: 239 SunStar RADIO

CHARGING

Splendor Boats 239 SunStar, the outboard configuration of their ever popular 240 SunStar is sleek and stylish and just as capable as its sterndrive counterpart. Offering a large deck space with a capacity for up to 12 adults, an oversized head compartment complete with a standard portable toilet and custom installed options of your choice, the 239 SunStar offers all of the essentials needed for a day of fun on the water, but that’s just the start. So, what makes this boat different from the rest? How about the full planning catamaran hull that offers a very stable, smooth ride and only drafts 12" of water. Pair those features with the 239 SunStar’s standard 225 horsepower Suzuki outboard and you have a combination of class and power that no one can compete with.

www.splendorboats.com│260.352.2835│Silver Lake, Indiana

+ BW Marketplace2.indd 63

BOATINGWORLD.COM

APRIL 2019

63

•

3/1/19 3:10 PM

Reader Contest

Rick Martin illustration

Name the Boat

SPONSORED BY

See the winning entry and the best of the rest from the February contest on page 8.

Win This!

Jerry’s dad always told him that sometimes in life it’s necessary to roll up one’s sleeves and get one’s hands dirty. Send us your name for our boat. If it wins, we will give you an Atlantis 4 non-towable four-person float, valued at $219.99, from Connelly, and your name will appear in the June 2019 issue of Boating World.

YOURS FREE

The first person to turn in the best boat name will receive an Atlantis 4 non-towable four-person float from Connelly (connellyskis.com), valued at $219.99.

How to enter: We’ll reprint the cartoon with the winning boat name in the June 2019 issue. Submissions are due by April 15.

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

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APRIL 2019

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With an open center, four rounded backrests and

include your full name, address and phone number, along with

six cupholders, the Atlantis 4 lounge from Connelly

your entry. Duncan McIntosh Co. and Connelly employees and

is a relaxation oasis. A Boston valve ensures quick

their families are prohibited from entering. Prizewinners are

inflation and deflation, so the 90-inch-diameter

responsible for any applicable taxes. Decisions of the judges and

float packs tight for easy onboard storage.

the editor are final.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

3/4/19 9:04 AM

DIGITAL & MECHANICAL RIGGING MEET

BIG-BLOCK POWER

Yamaha’s award-winning 4.2-liter V6 four strokes set the standard for offshore performance. Not only do they feature impressive 4.2-liter big-block displacement, but they’re also:

FLEXIBLE — The entire lineup of 4.2-liter V6 four strokes—from the F225 and F250 up to the mighty F300—is now available with either mechanical or digital controls, for ease of repower LIGHTER — At 562 pounds (digital) and 551 pounds (mechanical), they’re up to 73 pounds lighter than other four strokes in their class FASTER — Up to 19 percent faster than other 300-hp competitors, planing offshore boats with ease* SMARTER — Up to 17 percent better fuel economy, at cruise RPM, than comparable outboards* Learn more about the powerful performance of our 4.2-liter V6 Offshore F300, F250 and F225 at YamahaOutboards.com/V6offshore. *Testing conducted by Yamaha at Yamaha’s test facility on a Grady-White® 257 Advance/300 hp, with each boat rigged for maximum performance.

REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. © 2019 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. 1-800-889-2624

GREAT

STORIES BEGIN WITH A

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