Sept./Oct. 2019 Boating World Magazine

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Contents

Septem ber/October 2019 • Vol u m e 40 N o. 8

MAGAZINE

VOLUME XL NUMBER 8

4

Editor’s Letter

6

Currents

Northern boaters are dedicated Bits from the boating world

10 Fishing 11 commandments for fishing guests 12 Watersports Drive the boat better 14 Trailering Know the most common hand signals 16 Engines Evinrude E-TEC G2 150 HP 18 Electronics Reasons to own a PLB 20 Ask the Experts Our panel of experts answers your questions 24 Gear The latest accessories, gadgets and electronics 49 Bonehead Blunders Mistakes no boater should make

Classically Modern & Elegant

Builders that specialize in wooden boats are still creating woodies with a classic look and feel, with modern amenities. p. 42 BY CHRIS CASWELL

64 Contest: Name the Boat Win a pair of Voyage combo skis from Connelly

boats tested

26 Stingray 216CC Stingray gets a new midsized fishing model almost indistinguishable from the flagship.

30 SunChaser Geneva 20 LR

Swing Back

No matter how it’s equipped, this SunChaser provides fun at a reasonable price.

34 Aqua Patio 255 SD A two-story waterslide will make owners the most popular boater on the lake.

38 Ranger Tugs R-27 Ardent cruisers will like the R-27, but it can do much more than that.

• JUNE 2018 BOATINGWORLD.COM 2 • 2 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 BOATINGWORLD.COM

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Extreme An entirely new species of

predator is moving quietly offshore.

The all-new, Yamaha V8 XTO Offshore. It’s more than an outboard; it’s a fully integrated power system. And it’s created an entirely new class of extreme offshore power.

The Yamaha XTO Offshore was designed from the ground up to be smarter than anything you’ve seen offshore. Its IN TE G R A TE D P O W E R S Y S T E M 5.6 liters of extreme thrust and power has inspired a new class of 50-foot-plus boat. And it moves those rigs more reliably and efficiently with a naturally aspirated big block and the industry’s first direct-injection four ur stroke. This revolutionary new take on power is evolving the entire offshore boating experience. ®

Learn more about the Yamaha 425 hp 5.6L V8 XTO Offshore at YamahaOutboards.com/XTO. Available in new, Pearlescent White and Classic Yamaha Gray

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UP TO 90 AMPS OF ELECTRICAL POWER

RELIABLE OVERSIZED GEARCASE WITH HARDENED GEARS

Editor’s Letter

by Ala n Jones

THE BOATING WORLD TEAM RESPONDS:

“

What is the URL of the website you create to reconcile divorced couples?

PUBLISHER

Duncan McIntosh Jr.

SoHappy??Together.com ASSOC . EDITOR/PUBLISHER Jeff Fleming

PeaceTogether.com

N O R T H E R N B O AT I N G F E V E R VOLVO PENTA IS a company that keeps proving sterndrives aren’t dead, coming up with revo-

lutionary products such as Forward Drive, which can turn regular runabouts into wakesurf machines, and its latest innovation, DPI sterndrive, which features a hydraulic clutch with the smoothest gear engagement I’ve ever experienced (more on that in an upcoming Engines column). I recently attended a Volvo Penta press event in Sweden, a country I’d never visited before, and since I am always interested in learning about the local boating scene whenever I go to a new place, I talked to the locals.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alan Jones

MatrimonyMulligan.com

MANAGING EDITOR Mike Werling

IfAtFirst….com

ASSISTANT EDITOR Stephanie Shibata

RethinkReconciliationRemarriage.com ART DIRECTOR Julie Hogan

HellAintABadPlaceToBe.com PRODUCTION Mary Monge

WeHaventLostThatLovingFeeling.com CIRCUL ATION

Emily Wells-Horneff

LetsTryAgain.com Dustin Nguyen

Here’s what I learned: Scandinavians are plumb crazy about pleasureboating.

The population of Sweden owns one recreational boat per 13 people, which is roughly double the rate of boat ownership, per capita, in the U.S. As impressive a number as that is, Swedes have the third-highest ownership rate in Scandinavia. Finland is tops — 5.5 million Finns own an astounding 1.2 million recreational boats, with bowriders being the most popular — and Norway, which has more coastline than the U.S., isn’t far behind, with 800,000 boats for its 5 million residents. What’s surprising is all these countries are far to the north and have a short boating season (by American standards at least).

Gothenburg, where I visited, averages a mere 60 days of sunshine, and the temperature barely reaches 70 degrees in July and August, so it doesn’t seem to be an ideal place to boat. But during my visit, I found boaters there to be a heartier breed.

On test day the wind was blowing nearly

40 mph and, to quote George Costanza on “Seinfeld,” “The seas were angry that day…” Carl-Henrik Hård, the Volvo Penta employee who drove our 33 Sargo test boat, shrugged off the conditions with a nonchalant, “It’s not so bad.” And he would know; he lives on one of the 60,000 islands that surround the country and commutes to work, year round, on his 22-foot boat.

Considering winter days in Sweden last just six hours, some of those commutes are in the dark and in all kinds of weather … and he’s never missed a day of work. One has to really embrace the island/boating lifestyle to go through that.

This northern dedication to recreational boating holds true in the U.S., too.

Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin are in the top five in boat registrations in the U.S. Having grown up in America’s Dairy Land, I know all about the fever that’s fueled by the fact boating season is a scarce resource.

Of course, like Scandinavia, those states are surrounded by lots of water, but there’s definitely a special passion there. BW

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

VOLUME 40 • NO. 8 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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M AG A Z I N E

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Experience the thrill of surfing the waves behind Starcraft Marine’s full line of surfable deckboats. All Surf Series boats come complete with wave boosting ballast, Zero Off speed control and wave control tab system so you can switch sides in seconds. Rounding off every Starcraft Surf Series boat is the revolutionary Volvo Penta FWD Drive that allows you to use your trim to boost and shape your wave – something the inboards simply can’t do. You will love the space that the side console layout provides and when you add in options like RGB color changing lights and Murphy Touch Screen System you’ll have a boat that will impress your crew both inside and when they’re shredding the waves. Surf over to starcraftmarine.com to see what everyone is talking about.

Easier on the Wallet

Easy to Surf,

Currents

by Steph a n ie S h ibata

LEAD BOAT // AVIARA AV32

Beyond the Wake A new boat brand focuses on day-cruising luxury with a dash of speed.

A FULL DAY on the water is always better on a boat that boasts features

such as three coolers, a wet bar with a sink, a Klipsch stereo system, a color-matched fiberglass hardtop, seating for a gaggle of guests, an electric-flush head and more. Such accoutrements are all included on the new Aviara AV32, a luxury dayboat from … MasterCraft? That’s right, the builder known for its wake- and ski boats has a new brand, and its mission is decidedly less action-oriented than MasterCraft models, though the AV32 does top 50 mph.

The power for that speed is made possible by four engine options. On the outboard side, twin Mercury Verado 300 or 350 hp outboards are available, while folks who prefer sterndrives can choose twin 380 hp Ilmor MV8 6.0L MPI engines or twin 430 hp Ilmor MV8 6.2L GDI engines.

Joysticks come standard no matter the engines chosen.

And the captain is going to enjoy operating the vessel from a helm that includes three screens — 12-inch Garmin MFD, 10.1-inch boat control and stereo display, 7-inch engine display — an Italian steering wheel, a joystick and a doublewide bolstered seat. It’s technology- and style-forward.

With a yacht certification, the AV32 has no official passenger cap, but good sense should dictate there be one. A dozen people can easily find a seat, either on the transom bench, the cockpit L-settee, the helm seat or the wraparound bow settee, but as many as 14 or 15 folks could be seated with a bit of coziness. The hardtop throws shade on a few folks, and an optional sun-shade system extends the shade all the way to the swim platform.

LOA varies from 32 feet, 6 inches (sterndrive) to 34 feet, 4 inches (outboard), but the beam stays at 10 feet, 4 inches no matter the propulsion.

Aviara, aviaraboats.com

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A triple-screen helm creates a technology centerpiece on a passenger-pleasing dayboat — seating is everywhere — that can giddy up when necessary, with power from Mercury or Ilmor.

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CURRENTS

name the boat JUNE CONTEST WINNER: Float a Loan

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

Johnny Valek from Cottonwood, Ariz., was the first (of a handful) to submit the winning name, Float a Loan. For banking on a proven turn of phrase and impressing our online voters, Johnny receives an Atlantis 4 non-towable four-person float from Connelly (connellyskis. com), valued at $219.99.

Rick Martin illustration

MORE OF JUNE’S BEST ENTRIES:

Reel Profits

Makes Scents

Scales of Wealth

Al Tesoro, Seminole, FL

Alan Doyon, Meredith, NH

Dave Patterson, Whitmore Lake, MI

New Account Re-bait

Fin-ancial Assets

Crappie Lode

River Banking

Bert Browning, Midlothian, VA`

Dan Criner, North Chesterfield, VA

Jessica Bleiweis, Hutto, TX

Sweet Smell of Success

Bank of Stank

The Outer Banks

Loan Shark

John Mark Lohr, Mt. Pleasant, SC

Sherwin Marino, Buena Park, CA

Stacy Krumaker, Egg Harbor Twshp, NJ

Mary Heran, Fremont, CA

Nick Franki, Rochester, NY

Fishcal Savings Bernie Matsumoto, Half Moon Bay, CA

Lake Pontchartrain

or

New Orleans

F U N FAC T S

Stem to Stern to Stem to…

QUIZ

Tricky Fish

Two of the most popular boating activities are fishing and wakeboarding — not at the same time, though we’ve seen things... Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between the name of a wakeboard trick and a saltwater fish. How high is your trick vs. fish IQ?

4.

Crow Mobe Batwing Lumpsucker Rock goby

8

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

1.

2.

3.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Tai pan Crail Kahawai Tripletail

The Mississippi River is (depending on the information source consulted) roughly 2,350 miles long — Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico — which translates to 12,408,000 feet. That’s equal to the length of about 477,230 26-foot boats lined up end to end. It’s also about 20,995 Azzams, which is the longest private yacht in the world, at 591 feet. A PWC that didn’t have to stop for gas could cover the distance in 35 hours at 67 mph.

PWC

35 hours at 67 mph

477,230

26-foot boats

20,995 Azzam 591 feet

Answer key: 1, 2, 5, 6 are tricks; 3 (pictured), 4, 7, 8 are fish.

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Enter Your Dog Now

WIN THIS Dog Vest

S A LT Y D O G OF THE MONTH

Dog: Charlie Owners: Rick & Karen-Marie Moeller, Cincinnati, Ohio 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

NEVER BEEN CHRISTENED

Seasoned Singers

THE 1970S PRODUCED some of the best bands and most

flamboyant lead singers in rock-and-roll history. We’re not sure how many of them had a boat, but that’s not going to stop us from naming boats for a few of them.

We hope the names strike the right note.

• • • • • •

Steven Tyler (Aerosmith): Sweet SeaMotion Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones): Spoke Too Soon…

Joan Jett (The Runaways): Jett Boat John Fogerty (Credence Clearwater Revival): SeaSeaArrr!

Roger Daltrey (The Who): The Me Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin): Whole Yachta Love

Keeping Things Clean

BOATERS IN THE township

of Branford, Conn., gained a free pumpout option that’s a first of its kind. Built for the East Shore District Health Department by Pilot’s Point Marina in Westbrook, a 25-foot aluminum boat will keep Branford’s waters clean in more ways than one.

Yes, it will pump out boats’ holding tanks and keep that untreated waste out of the water, but it will also run clean, because it is powered by an integrated solar-electric propulsion system supplied by Torqeedo.

Two Torqeedo Cruise 4.0 outboards, four Power 48 lithium-ion batteries, four chargers and eight 100-watt solar panels keep the air clean while the boat keeps the water clean.

FA S T FAC T

68,616

Number of registered boats in Alaska

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Fishing

1

IN ADVANCE

B e a G ood G uest

11 Commandments for Fishing 3 Guests

Be on time. Determine in advance what your host’s “time” means. Is that when to meet at the boat, or is that when to depart the dock? Don’t show up saying you have to be back by lunchtime because of your daughter’s piano recital. You’ll be on time for the recital, because you’ll be left on the quay.

2

Things to bring. Bring food and drink? For one or several? Ask ahead of time.

As for personal belongings, bring only what you absolutely need, such as rain gear and sunscreen. Ask the owner if you should bring anything else. Then ask where the owner would like you to stow it once you’re aboard.

10

THINGS THAT COST MONEY

Be the kind of ride-along angler who gets invited back, not the kind lower on the food chain than the bait.

BY DEAN TRAVIS CLARKE •

Wanna see some real passion from a fishing-boat owner? Ask said owner about pet peeves when it comes to fishing guests. Might want to have a sphygmomanometer handy, as this question almost guarantees a spike in blood pressure.

Food and beer. I’ve gone on trips where I enjoyed a full gourmet meal, but I have also been served a tin of sardines and a stack of Saltines. Some owners will suggest each angler bring his own food and drink, while others will arrange for a box of sandwiches from the deli.

Don’t forget that beer, soda, water and ice all cost money too. And not just the ice to keep drinks cold. The fishboxes need to be packed as well to maintain all those prime fish you will no doubt bring home.

4

Fuel. Unless you happen to be fishing on a mack-daddy 65-footer that gulps 120 gph, be prepared to chip in for gas. Fuel represents the greatest expense for a fishing trip. Even a small center console with an outboard will burn $100 or more in a day. The owner of the 65-footer doesn’t need your money.

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FISHING

Wanna see some real passion from a fishing-boat owner? Ask said owner about pet peeves when it comes to fishing guests.

5

Bait. If you happen to use bait for fishing and the owner hasn’t netted it himself, the bait barge can be another expensive stop. Chip in.

6

Damage and loss. Break a rod or, worse, drop the whole rod/reel combo over the side? Be responsible and replace it. Most times, a reel can be repaired if its guts go haywire. Again, offer to pay for any repairs.

THINGS THAT DON’T COST

There’s an old saw about a fisherman’s wife telling him to choose between her and his boat. He lamented about how much he would miss his wife. Boat owners are very fussy about their “baby.”

7

No-no. Don’t touch the controls or helm unless asked (no matter your skill or experience level.) Don’t adjust the radio or chartplotter, nor shall you mess with any of the other electronics without being asked. And by no means tell an owner how to fish unless your advice is solicited.

It goes without saying that you never tell a professional captain or crew how to fish!

8

Secrecy. Most successful anglers have a book full of favorite fishing spots, though nowadays such spots are more likely saved as waypoints in a chartplotter. Don’t get caught stealing the coordinates of a spot you like. That’s a great way to kill a friendship.

9

Washdown. Any owner or crew worth its salt washes the boat down after every outing. That means soap, water and a chamois to dry it. Every inch gets cleaned. Even on a small boat this takes time and energy. A personal pet peeve of mine is getting back to the dock and having everyone say thanks and leave. I then get to spend another couple of hours cleaning.

Many hands make light (and fast) work.

10

Fish cleaning. Every experienced angler who charters a boat will establish the rules regarding who keeps the fish before leaving the dock.

The boat or the angler? Likewise, during an outing on a friend’s boat, it’s best to avoid an awkward situation among friends at the end of the day by making sure everyone knows how the fish will be apportioned back in the slip. Which brings us to anther messy, time-consuming job (assuming you have a good day): cleaning the day’s catch. If you’re good at it, offer to do that rather than wash the boat, since it’s skilled vs. unskilled labor.

Not everyone possesses filleting skills. You had better know what you’re doing, though, because savaging valuable fillets is a capital offense.

11

Mal de mer. Do you suffer from sea sickness? Then do your friends a favor and stay at home. Don’t spoil everyone else’s day by going out, getting violently ill and forcing the boat to cancel the fishing day. Personally, I will let you suffer and perhaps even chuckle as your breakfast loudly goes overboard. BW

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Watersports

D riving M at ters

BY ZENON BILAS

WAKESPORTS PROS APPRECIATE the importance of good driving, but this key component to success and safety is often overlooked on the recreational level. Learning the skill of driving for wakesports does not have to be intimidating.

Every driver’s goal is to provide a driving experience that allows behind-the-boat participants to perform to their potential while keeping everyone in the boat and behind it safe.

To become a good driver for wakesports, one must develop and refine the traits of awareness and sensitivity, traits that overlap somewhat.

AWARENESS

When it comes to developing awareness, the driver needs to be visually attuned to what is going on all around the boat: in front, behind, and to port and starboard. In competition, drivers have the luxury of driving in a controlled setting where there are no other boats. However,

12

Bring More Joy One person can affect everyone’s enjoyment behind the boat: the driver. Be a better one.

when towing wakesports on open bodies of water, boats and personal watercraft can be coming from all angles. So the driver needs to develop a 360-degree awareness of what is going on: other traffic, water depth, docks, floating obstacles and the like.

A mirror is a must for towing wakesports.

Mounted on the dash or the top of the windshield, a mirror is a standard feature on all specialized wakesport boats. Most boats, however, do not come with a mirror.

Fortunately, many affordable after-market mirrors attach to the dash or windshield and fit every type of boat, even pontoons and personal watercraft.

Without a mirror to use, most drivers turn

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W AT E R S P O R T S

around and look aft while driving the boat, which is unsafe. The mirror allows the driver to keep an eye on the action and boating traffic behind the boat while still facing forward.

Different mirrors offer varied widths of view.

For tow sports such as wakeboarding, slalom skiing or tubing, in which the rider or skier can swing from side to side, a wider angle mirror gives the driver better visibility and minimizes any blind spots. In addition to the mirror on the center of the dash or windshield, some mirrors mount to the side of the windshield. Mounted on the driver’s side, the additional mirror gives the driver another tool for viewing the action behind the boat.

The driver should always keep her eyes moving, scanning the waterway in front and to the sides and in the rear via the mirror. To add to the driver’s awareness, a designated aft-facing spotter should always be seated next to the driver, to act as a second pair of eyes.

In addition to this awareness of the waterway, the driver needs to ascertain that everyone is seated in the boat, hands and feet safely away from the tow line, and that equipment is stowed in storage sections so the walkthrough areas are clear.

The driver should aim for the calmest water possible. Bumpy conditions caused by wind or other boats should cause the driver to slow the boat’s speed. It is better to keep everyone on top of the water rather than risk a bad fall.

SENSITIVITY

Driving a boat, especially for wakesports, is not just getting behind the wheel and pushing the throttle forward. Rather, drivers need to develop sensitivity to the person in tow. The goal is to provide a tow that allows for the individual’s optimal performance, enjoyment and safety.

This begins when the skier/rider is still in the boat. The driver should ask what type of acceleration — slow, medium or fast — the skier/ rider wants during the start. The acceleration should be smooth instead of abrupt. The driver should also ask whether the skier/rider wants a specific towing speed. If the skier/rider does not have a preferred boat speed, the driver should know the boat speeds for the various wakesports.

WAKESPORTS TOW SPEEDS

Smooth acceleration is a key to being a good wakesports driver.

Modern boat systems definitely help, but the driver should talk to each participant to get a gauge for each one’s preferences.

TUBING 15 to 20 mph

WA K ESURFING 10 mph

WA K EBOA RDING 15 to 20 mph

K NEEBOA RDING (K IDS) 10 to 15 mph

KNEEBOARDING (O L D E R T E E N S A N D A D U LT S ) 15 to 20 mph

WAT ERSK IING ON T W O S K I S ( A D U LT S ) 25 mph

WAT ERSK IING ON T WO SKIS (K IDS A ND T EENS) 15 to 23 mph

S L A L O M S K I I N G ( A D U LT S ) 25 to 32 mph

SL A L OM SK IING (K IDS) 20 to 25 mph

B A REFOO T WAT ERSK IING 30 to 40 mph (depending on body weight)

The driver should always keep the engine off until the person is in the water, safely away from the swim platform.

The driver should idle slowly, going in and out of gear until the line is taut.

Speed control is found on all specialized wakesport boats.

The driver still needs to accelerate the throttle smoothly, but once the boat nears the desired speed the computer takes over to keep the speed exact. The driver can make adjustments as small as 0.1 mph. Speed control is the best way to maintain exact speed. The pros can tell when the boat speed is off the mark by as little as 0.3 mph. Keeping the boat speed exact and consistent helps the skier/rider perform optimally.

Steering is also critical. The driver should have the boat aligned with the skier/rider who is in the water, to ensure the individual will be pulled on top of the water in a straight path and between the wakes. He should drive as straight as possible, which keeps the boat’s wake consistent in shape and size.

To turn the boat, turn the wheel smoothly and not abruptly, while backing off the throttle slightly, and return back to the boat’s wake. When the skier/rider falls, the driver should slow down to idle, keeping the person in the water on the driver’s side of the boat. Always turn off the engine before anyone climbs back onto the boat. BW

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Trailering Ra m p Sig n a ls GOING DOWN 

4

When the backing job just won’t cut it, the assistant should stretch both of his arms toward the vehicle with his palms showing forward in an unmistakable sign to stop. To let you know you need to pull up to straighten the boat, he should wave his arms forward with fingers pointing forward, by bending at the elbows and then extending slowly but repeatedly. You should know that when your helper’s arms stop waving forward, you’ve moved forward sufficiently to straighten out the trailer, but he can communicate this directly by leaving his arms up with a pair of closed fists, indicating it’s time to hold position.

Then, he can turn his palms back and wave his arms away from the vehicle, to indicate it’s time to start backing down the ramp again.

4

Right and left signals can be used to keep the trailer on track, and when the boat’s sufficiently wet to float off the trailer, another palms-forward stop sign lets you know to hit the brakes. He should follow this up with a display of closed fists to tell you to shift into park and hold position again.

4

When the boat’s off the trailer and secure at the dock, a simple and easy-to-understand thumbs-up or “OK” sign will let you know it’s time to safely pull away and park the rig.

Handy at the Ramp Hand signals and visual cues are an important part of launching and retrieving a boat.

BY LENNY RUDOW

3

• LET’S FACE IT, even experienced trailerboaters can feel stress while launching and retrieving a boat. There’s often a crowd watching, and one false move can lead to a boat-ramp mishap. Most of the time, however, having a friend who knows how to guide the driver onto and off of the ramp is a big help. If, that is, both parties know the best hand signals and visual cues to use.

VERBAL EFFICACY

Wait a sec. Why are we focusing on hand signals? Because truth be told, it’s rare parties can communicate verbally in an effective fashion from the dock to the tow vehicle, even with a raised voice and the vehicle’s window open. Outboards are idling, people are chatting and trucks are driving nearby. And trying to hear someone standing 20 or 30 feet away often can lead to miscommunication.

One exception: a loud “Stop!” shouted by an assistant is pretty easy to interpret most of the time, and it is one of the most commonly used verbal signals. But even when yelled at full volume, a “Stop!” should be accompanied by a palm-out, hand-up visual signal, to make sure there’s zero confusion.

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Backing the boat down the ramp is often the toughest part of the job.

But your assistant shouldn’t just point a finger in the direction you need to go. A fully outstretched arm is much easier to see in the side- or rearview mirror. Obviously, he should point his arm and fingers left if the boat needs to move to the left, and right if the boat needs to move to the right.

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GOING UP

4

The same process can be repeated with the same hand signals when backing the trailer down for a retrieval. But pulling a boat out of the water often requires more exact trailer placement than dropping it in, because the bunks have to be submerged at the ideal depth. In this case, the assistant can indicate small adjustments need to be made by holding his left arm at a 90-degree angle out from the body, bent another 90 degrees at the elbow and pointing straight up, with the pointer finger and thumb extended but slightly separated. Then he can extend his right arm to either side or wave it forward or aft, as appropriate, to communicate whether the trailer needs to go slightly left, right, forward or back.

4

Once the trailer’s position looks good, a simple palm-out stop signal can let you know to stop. If a closer look verifies that the trailer is exactly where it needs to be, he should hold up closed fists to indicate it’s time to shift into park.

Then the assistant can step in, winch the boat into position and attach the chain to the bow-eye.

Once the boat’s ready to be hauled up, he can then step clear and give you another thumbs-up/OK sign to indicate it’s safe to pull the boat out of the water.

4

Use these visual cues to get the boat into and out of the water without any hassles. There’s one other hand signal — guess what it is — nobody should ever have to use at the boat ramp. BW

H A S YO UR D OG

Enter Your Dog Now

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

Email your pet’s photo and name, your name, address and phone number to editor@boatingworld.com, or snail mail to: Boating World Salty Dog Contest 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley CA 92708 Your pet could win a cool PFD from CWB. *Shown is our current prize, a CWB Dog Vest valued at $24.95.

Prizes are subject to change.

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Engines

E v i n r u d e E -T E C G 2 1 5 0 H P

WHEN EVINRUDE’S E-TEC G2 150 HP

G-Whiz When Evinrude set out to revamp its V-6 E-TEC G2 150, its designers did way more than just tweak it.

BY ALAN JONES

16

direct-injected two-stroke debuted in 2016, it was an outlier in the marine industry. All other 150s were based on inline four-cylinder platforms; Evinrude’s was a V-6 with a large 2.7L block it shared with the 175 and 200 hp models. On the plus side, it had plenty of snap; six pistons, however, made it one of the heaviest at 496 pounds. But instead of going along with the I-4 crowd, Evinrude transformed its 150 into a three-cylinder motor with a 1.9L block.

Whacking three cylinders dropped the weight of the new E-TEC G2 150 by 99 pounds, to 397 pounds, making it the first 150 to weigh less than 400 pounds.

It’s lighter than the next lightest 150 — a Mercury — by 60 pounds. This same engine platform is available as a 115 H.O. and a 140 hp version.

An inherent problem in a motor with an odd number of cylinders is vibration, so I was a little surprised when I started the new E-TEC G2 150 on a Stingray 212SC deckboat and didn’t notice it shaking more than any other four-cylinder 150 I’ve tested. Evinrude engineers tackled the problem using a two-pronged attack. First is a Focused Motor Mount, which uses four large rubber bushings to absorb vibration and keep it from reaching the boat. Next, counterweights are used on the crankshaft to dynamically balance it.

HOW DOES IT RUN?

Shoving off the dock in a ripping current on the Cooper River in downtown Charleston, S.C., was an adventure thanks to the 25- to 30-mph wind coming off the nearby Atlantic. Once under the huge Ravenel Bridge, things smoothed out and we started our acceleration runs. Jamming the throttle, I felt the slightest hesitation — I’ve noted it on other E-TEC engines — before the 150 burst into action and put the near-22-footer on plane in 3 seconds.

Midrange performance was very good, and the 212SC reached 30 mph in 6.2 seconds.

Its top speed was an impressive 53 mph.

Does it have the same rip-snorting acceleration out of the hole and midrange guts as its V-6 predecessor? No, but it’s

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not far off. With so much wind, I was unable to get a reliable sound level reading, but the new 150 seemed comparable to four-strokes in noise output without exhibiting any unpleasant notes. The quintessential Evinrude sound during windup is still present, but for many fans that’s a plus. We never touched the trim button thanks to the automatic Trim Assist system.

HOW MANY MPG?

The E-TEC G2 150 HP owes a lot of its outstanding performance to its two-stroke design, which has a power stroke on every revolution, unlike four-strokes, which have a power stroke on every other revolution.

In addition, Evinrude’s direct-injection system sprays gas directly under high pressure into the combustion chamber rather than into the intake manifold, providing more precise control and doing something that will save owners money. Called Stratified Combustion, this process sprays tiny droplets of gas at the top of the cylinder, which allows the new 150 to burn less than half a gallon per hour at idle, according to Evinrude.

Evinrude designed a few differences between these new models and the V-6 G2 engines, the most noticeable one being side panels that are held in place by a dozen screws instead of being easily removable. But access to the items owners need to get to is easy thanks to a snap-off center panel that conceals the 1.9-gallon tank’s oil fill, jumpstart poles, the diagnostic connection for the internal computer and the freshwater flush connection.

The main difference between the new 150 HP and the 140 HP and 115 H.O. models is engine mapping, and Evinrude pushes the acceptable 10 percent limit for horsepower rating. The 115 H.O. and 140 HP can be fitted with an all-new drive-by-wire tiller handle that has the shift lever right on the arm, a trim button on the end and Troll Control, which allows operators to tweak the speed in 50 rpm increments. The 150 simply has too much prop torque to handle a tiller.

Evinrude’s Stratified Combustion process sprays highly pressurized droplets of gas at the top of the cylinder instead of into an intake manifold (right), which improves fuel efficiency.

E V I N R U D E E -T E C G2 150 HP Type In-line 3 DI two-stroke Displacement 1.9L Full-throttle range 5,000-6000 rpm Weight 397 lbs. (20 in. shaft) Gear Ratio 2.08:1 Price See a dealer

PERFORMANCE Tested with Stingray 212SC

HOW CONVENIENT

Like with two-stokes of old, owners still need to add oil, but unlike two-strokes of old, the oil isn’t premixed with gasoline and is instead routed through tubes to strategic locations to make sure all critical components, such as cylinder walls, are bathed in the proper amount of oil. The 1.9-gallon internal oil tank is good for about 60 hours of running, which might be an entire season for some owners. And because fresh oil is always cycling through the system and being burned during combustion, there’s no need to ever do an oil change. Here’s maybe the coolest feature: winterization takes just 90 seconds. Simply select the winterize function from the standard digital ICON display at the dash.

Time to plane 3.2 sec.

0-30 mph 6.2 sec.

Top speed 53.0 mph Cruise 42.5 mph/4500 rpm Peak 53.0 mph/5900 rpm Bombardier Recreational Products, evinrude.com

Even the gear oil on these motors is handled differently. The addition of an expansion tank helps keep the lower unit topped off and gives the gear lube room to expand rather than exit through a compromised seal in hot conditions. Another user-friendly feature is a locking pin that keeps the motor from wiggling when it’s on a trailer. And it tilts all the way up, so the lower unit can be completely clear of the water’s surface.

Instead of lots of wires, cables and hoses dangling off the engine, one rigging tube is attached to the mounting bracket, not the powerhead itself, so when the motor turns, the rigging tube doesn’t move, which reduces parts fatigue. Wheel resistance can be easily adjusted by the driver on the ICON display.

These new engines come with a five-year engine/five-year corrosion warranty and can be customized with up to 400 color/graphic combinations. BW

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Electronics

PLB s

2 Call is detected and located by search-and-rescue satellites

1

3

Distress call is made utilizing emergency beacon

Call is relayed to local user terminal

4

Call is relayed to mission control center

5

Call is received by rescue coordination center

Rescue Me Personal Locator Beacons aren’t just for larger boats that go far offshore.

BY ZUZANA PROCHAZKA

• A PERSONAL LOCATOR Beacon (PLB) is a small radio beacon that initiates a search-andrescue effort if it is activated. PLBs work on either a 406MHz frequency, 121.5MHz, VHF DSC and/or AIS, and a number of manufacturers produce them, including ACR, Kannad, McMurdo and Ocean Signal. These units are waterproof and purpose-designed to save lives, so don’t confuse them with a smartphone that won’t be much good in the water.

HOW PLBS WORK

Once activated, the PLB sends a signal to COSPAS-SARSAT, the low-orbit international satellite system for search and rescue (SAR), which in the U.S. is monitored by NOAA. The signal is then transmitted to the nearest Earth station, which contacts a local Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) or SAR agency. A PLB can generally guide rescuers to within a few hundred feet of it (and the person it’s attached to), and some units have a strobe light that will help onsite searchers pinpoint its location at night or in times of limited visibility, such as fog.

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A PLB comes with a long-lasting lithium battery that remains dormant until the unit is activated. Once in use, PLB batteries are generally good for 24 hours of operation in colder temperatures but may last five to six hours longer in milder climates.

Expect to pay $250 to $500 for a PLB that can be used in both marine and backcountry applications. PLBs work like EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons), but EPIRBs are registered to a ship and are not technically portable, although they can be carried from one boat to another. PLBs are smaller and are registered to the person, so owners can take them anywhere.

PLBs are designed to attach to one’s clothing or a PFD, so they’re always at hand and ready to work, which is good, since accidents don’t happen on a schedule.

Anyone in the water with an activated PLB should try to keep it above the surface and pointed at the sky. Don’t turn off a PLB to save its battery life, because doing so can interfere with SAR efforts.

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ELECTRONICS

A Personal Locator Beacon, whether it’s the ACR ResQLink (left), the Ocean Signal rescueME (above), or the Kannad SafeLink (right), is an invaluable boating tool, even if you never leave sight of land.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Users need to register their PLB, which is free. Doing so provides SAR organizations with personal information such as a name, address, emergency contact, phone and any medical conditions. Having this information may speed up response time and allow authorities to reach one’s family or at least an emergency contact.

Owners need to update their data every two years.

Register beacons at beaconregistration.noaa.gov.

If the PLB has a test mode, use it, which will ensure the unit is ready. Owners should give it some practice, so they’ll know how to manually activate it if the time comes. PLB manufacturers have information about how to test their units in the packaging or on their website.

Anyone who sets off a PLB accidentally needs to call the U.S. Coast Guard to cancel the alert. Frivolously calling for emergency assistance is considered a felony, so letting the authorities know an alert isn’t real is vital.

PLB VS. SATELLITE MESSENGER

PLBs do one thing: They broadcast their location via satellite in case of emergency. They work worldwide and in conjunction with governments and rescue agencies around the globe. They work once activated and don’t

TO THE WEB ACRArtex.com KannadMarine.com McMurdoGroup.com

need a subscription service.

Satellite messengers such as the inReach or SPOT can send SOS messages and engage in some limited one- and two-say messaging, depending on the model.

Owners can communicate with people back home to say they’re OK and relay a GPS position. However, personal trackers or satellite messengers work on subscription plans, usually paid monthly. Also, these devices work on a different satellite network with theoretical worldwide coverage, but signal strength can vary.

OceanSignal.com

NECESSARY?

Needing SAR services is less a matter of distance — even boaters who never get out of cellphone range should have them — and more about the type of use. On a boat, the best place for a phone is in a dry compartment and not in one’s pocket, where it can go for an accidental swim. In case of an emergency where someone ends up in the water, he won’t be making any calls for help on his phone. Also, once one is in the drink, how will he communicate his exact location unless he looked at a GPS immediately before going overboard?

A working cellphone can help relay additional information and can allow people to contact home, so it’s good to have. A PLB sets the rescue operation in motion with dedicated rescue resources ready to search the right area. The simple answer is this: You wouldn’t rely on a PLB to call home, so why rely on your phone to activate SAR? BW

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Ask the Experts

Q

+ inches lower and the transom bracket is now almost completely submerged, with the top surface of the bracket right at the waterline. Mainly due to the following two reasons: • The 300 G2 is 140 pounds heavier than the Johnson.

• The effect of extra weight is being enhanced due to Evinrude’s new “clean rigging” design, which repositions the entire motor behind the stern bracket, causing the motor’s center of gravity to be positioned farther back from the transom.

2. The increased distance coupled with the extra weight makes the motor submerge dangerously low in in the backwash during the following two conditions:

ENGINES

New Power, New Problems

Q

I had my 2001 Hydra Sports 230 Seahorse CC repowered with a new Evinrude 300 G2 by a certified Evinrude service center. It is mounted onto the original single-position stainless marine transom bracket. The original motor was 2001 Johnson 200 Ocean Pro. I am having two issues I’m looking for solutions to and/or advice on how to correct or improve condition of:

1. The boat sits considerably lower in the stern after repowering:

• Before the new motor, the boat did seem to sit a smidge low in the stern with approximately 75 percent of the transom bracket submerged. My understanding is that this model boat was known to sit low.

• The boat’s spec dry weight with a 225 hp Johnson is 3,650 pwounds. I had it weighed, and the actual dry weight was 3,640 pounds, so the hull and transom bracket does not have any water intrusion.

• After repowering, the stern is 3 to 4

• When cruising around 2000 to 2200 rpm, the motor’s powerhead will ride submerged in the backwash anywhere from slightly to roughly halfway up the powerhead. I have to trim the motor up and drop my trim tabs all the way down to help keep the motor higher in the water in this condition. I don’t own position-sensing tabs, so it’s a real pain to have to do this all the time, as it takes a some effort to get the boat’s ride back to normal after. I feel like I’m constantly adjusting them the entire day, which I find very aggravating.

I’m afraid of possibly swamping the motor when throttling back off plane.

If I’m running at WOT and throttle back at what I feel is a slow pace — about eight to

MEET OUR EXPERTS Zuzana Prochazka 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.

Capt. Prochazka is a freelance journalist and photographer. She’s the founder of Zescapes, a charter operator with voyages organized around the world. She coordinates new gear and boat award programs and often tests products before their introduction to the public.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

8/2/19 2:24 PM

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APRIL 2019

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12 one-thousand counts or so — the motor can sometimes submerge up to 75 percent in the backwash, leaving only the top 7 to 8 inches of the outboard above the water.

• In order to get best result — powerhead roughly one-quarter submerged — I have to throttle down painfully slowly (18 to 24 one-thousand counts or so) while constantly observing the backwash as it closes the distance to the outboard. Then, just it reaches the outboard I feather the throttle up and down to keep the motor just ahead as the backwash settles and at the last second turn sharply. It’s stressful and unsafe, because I can’t focus on where I’m going and then the unavoidable “What happens when I have to jam on the brakes?” situation.

Mark Conrad, via BoatingWorld.com

Without denigrating the rigging dealer, I think you need to look at some base numbers and some operational parameters. At some point you need to establish a source for engine and boat specs. I use NADA, but some dealers use Galves. I know you weighed your boat, but the weight you came up with was 3,650 pounds vs. NADA’s 3,759 pounds. Checking the advertised specs on the 2001 BRP in NADA, I see the 200 to 250 weighs in at 516 pounds vs. the G2’s 537 pounds. Which is absolutely correct, I couldn’t say, but a boat that could be 109 pounds heavier with an engine that could be 21 pounds heavier is essentially two #27 batteries added in the stern. The combination could certainly lower the engine bracket in the water.

That lowering can actually work to your benefit. A very general rule of thumb — and there are caveats attached — is for every 12 inches the engine is set back from the transom, you can raise the engine 1 inch.

Therefore, if the bracket is 36 inches extended, you can go up 3-plus inches.

Double-checking myself, I also saw “rules” using 1:6, 1:8.5, and others. The actual drive unit length will also have some bearing on how high you can raise the engine.

When I was a mobile tech attending fishing tournaments all over the east, northeast and southeast, the general setup was 1:12. That left plenty of gearcase in

the water to prevent drawing air instead of cooling water. The caveat I spoke of was these guys all have water-pressure gauges, especially the ones with infinitely adjustable jackplates. When the water-pressure reading got wobbly, they were at the point of destruction.

I don’t know how high your engine is already mounted on the bracket, but if

KEEP IT GENUINE PRECISION

PROTECTION

RUN LONG. RUN CLEAN. RUN STRONG. ECSTAR features special additives that protect the engine in harsh salt and fresh water environments, advanced detergents that keep engine parts clean, and viscosity index improvements that help the engine start in cold conditions.

Go confidently with ECSTAR. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-Approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. Suzuki, the Suzuki “S” ECSTAR and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. © 2018 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

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you can raise it substantially, you should resolve a majority of the problems you related, and a prop change to bring you back to rated horsepower at rpm should have a very positive effect on your boating pleasure. Remember: it’s essential to have a water-pressure gauge if you raise the engine on the bracket. — GM

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Gear 1.

St u f f You Wa nt

Touchscreen Stereo

$649.99, fusionentertainment.com Fusion Entertainment’s first touchscreen marine stereo with Apple AirPlay and built-in Wi-Fi is the Apollo RA770. With digital signal processing, PartyBus, overthe-air software updates, a one-piece glass display and more source options than before, including advanced SiriusXM features, the RA770’s one-piece glass touchscreen display promotes ease of use and puts the appropriate controls at boaters’ fingertips. Boaters have the power to control the sound across the entire vessel thanks to the PartyBus function.

2.

1

2

Universal Fit T-Top

$2,099, strykerttops.com

3

The SG900 is the latest flagship model from Stryker T-tops. Strong tubing and welded grab handles deliver durability and give the SG900 quality similar to a custom OEM-installed top, but with pre-fabricated, pre-welded construction. The materials utilize Interpon powder-coated finishes for longevity and UV protection.

Available in white, black or silver, the SG900 includes Sunbrella marine-grade, fade-resistant, stain-resistant canvas in a choice of standard colors. All that is needed to install are common household tools and a helper.

3.

All-Purpose Cleaner

$24.99, seadek.com

All-purpose Dek Magic from SeaDek will clean more than decks. Formulated for EVA foam, PE foam, vinyl, and PVC, Dek Magic removes blood, grease, oil, wine and more foreign matter from boat surfaces. This solution is Prop 65 compliant and is safe for the environment. To use, simply spray the product on the affected area, scrub with a brush and then rinse the area with water.

4.

Trolling Motor Cable Sleeve

$29.99, thmarinesupplies.com

4

Protect and manage trolling-motor cables with the G-Force Troll Jacket Trolling Motor Cable Organizer Sleeve. The 2mm thick neoprene trolling-motor wire and cable organizer from T-H Marine has a 1 1/2-inch diameter when wrapped — it has a Velcro enclosure — and its sides can be cut and trimmed where cables need to exit, which eliminates the need for zip ties along the factory cable cover. The G-Force Troll Jacket Trolling Motor Cable Organizer Sleeve helps boat owners bundle and organize adjacent wires, like those for a depthfinder and other accessories.

• SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 24 24 2019 2019BOATINGWORLD.COM BOATINGWORLD.

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SUBMIT YOUR GEAR TO STEPHANIE@BOATINGWORLD.COM

5

5.

Pressure Gauge

$34.95, triboutdoor.com Boaters who have an inflatable RIB or standup paddleboard might want to check out the airCap pressure gauge cap from TRiB Outdoors Tech. Compatible with C7 and D7 valves, airCap is designed to make it easy for boaters to know the precise pressure in their inflatable.

Equipped with proprietary technology, airCap delivers a reading to a fraction of a PSI on an LCD display.

6.

Tower Speakers

$1,899, roswellmarine.com The patent-pending R1 Pro Tower Speaker is the first integrated RGB LED-illuminated speaker whose housing is translucent. Light glows through the housing to create a visual atmosphere that matches the music. The speaker is Klippel tested (listening tests done to ensure loudspeaker performance) and certified to guarantee acoustic performance. The speakers are sold in pairs, with machined billet Roswell 360-degree 3-inch Universal Clamps including 1.9-, 2.375-, and 3-inch adapters.

7 6

7.

Boat Monitoring System

$460 (with two free years of subscription), $70 per year thereafter, yacht-sentinel.com The Sentinel Point 2 (SP2) by Yacht Sentinel Ltd is an intelligent boat monitoring system specifically designed to monitor ribs, PWCs, runabouts, fishing boats, outboards, trailers, and more. SP2 operates on 3G/4G in over 179 countries to enable boaters to monitor a wide range of critical information concerning their craft. This includes a built-in tracker showing position, speed and course as well as battery voltage, tilt, shock and temperature data. SP2 will automatically send alerts if the craft leaves its location, the battery level drops below a certain level, there is a collision or there is any unusual movement.

8

8.

Audio System

$79.99, bossaudio.com The MCK400WB.6 package from Boss Audio includes a MR400UAB single-DIN marine-rated head unit, a pair of 6 1/2 -inch MR6W weatherproof speakers and a MRANT10 dipole hideaway marine antenna. The speakers are made with UV coatings for plastic surfaces, the circuit boards are coated, and other materials are waterproofed to resist corrosion from salt and fresh water. The system includes a 50 watt times 4 Max Power head with hands-free Bluetooth operation, and is compatible with smartphones, MP3 players and audio streaming apps.

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Tested

First D rive

S T I N G R AY 2 1 6 C C // B Y A L A N J O N E S

The Reel Deal Stingray’s fishing boat fleet gets a new midsized model almost indistinguishable from the flagship.

•

boat family friendly. The cockpit is also the same and has the same four-abreast stern seats that include two extra-tall flip-up backrests for the outer jumpseats, which will be the best seats in the house during a run in the chop.

It took me a while to figure out the bow is the area that’s different. There is still an in-floor storage compartment whose bucket is perfect for storing a cast net, and twin bowriding seats that hide fishboxes that are nearly the same size as on the 236CC. What’s different is the lack of a step up to the bow casting platform and the repositioning of the anchor locker. I didn’t see it as a standard or an option, but there’s a lip between the two bowrider seats that would be perfect for securely holding a fabricated piece of Starboard that would

It hooked up well in corners and was easy to drive.

I CAN USUALLY step on a fishing boat and immediately tell whether the designer was actu-

ally an angler or just tried to decide what he thought fishermen want and need based on what he saw on a computer screen aided by CAD software. In the case of the new Stingray 216CC, there’s no doubt lead engineer Drew Gantt walks the walk, since he has been a mate on an inshore/offshore charter boat for five years, fishing the waters around Myrtle Beach.

UNIQUE FACTOR

Eight rod holders set into the gunwales are the first clue this boat was designed by an angler. Add to those four more at the stern and four behind the leaning post.

Oh, and six more in the optional fiberglass T-top ($7,614) our test boat had. And that’s not even counting the four under-gunwale horizontal racks. Even more telling are 11 Yeti-compatible cupholders, including four set into the gunwale and two at the stern where anglers can fish and hydrate without 26

having to relocate.

Last year Stingray unveiled the 236CC, its fishing flagship that’s exactly two feet longer than the 216CC but has the same 8-foot, 5-inch beam. I’m going to call it “Stingray math,” because it took me a while to figure out where that two feet of length went. I assumed the head compartment inside the console would be the first casualty, but the console is exactly the same, including a slide-out Porta-Potti ($314) that conserves space and helps make the

turn the area into a large, one-level casting platform nearly as expansive as the one found on its big brother.

Perhaps the most unusual feature on Stingray’s three center console models longer than 20 feet is the pair of triangular amidships working surfaces perfect for cutting bait or making lunch — not at the same time, unless sandwiches that taste like cut mullet appeal to the crew. Under the starboard-side removable cover is a freshwater spigot for quick cleanups, and underneath is a tilt-out trashcan that’s easily accessed courtesy of a hole in the counter. To port are a pair of wire cupholders and underneath is a tilt-out tackle caddy that holds two Plano tackle boxes.

PERFORMANCE

The Stingray 216CC uses the Z-Plane hull, which is a performance overachiever that allows Stingrays to typically be four to five mph faster than similarly sized boats. Despite a deep-V hull that features

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21 degrees of deadrise, the Z-Plane design gives the 216CC plenty of lift, so its 21-foot, 8-inch length doesn’t need a lot of power to make it perform well. It’s rated for up to 200 hp but the Yamaha F150 our test boat had pushed it well. On plane in 2.5 seconds, the 216CC reached 30 mph in 7.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 45.3 mph.

On test day on Lake Robinson, just outside of Hartsville, S.C., where Stingrays are built, I was able to run another 216CC with a Suzuki 175 — top speed 47 mph — that is actually $1,043 less than the Yamaha F150. But even with the Yamaha, it still costs less than $50,000. To take it all the way to its full potential with 200 hp, buyers have a choice between Mercury, Yamaha and Suzuki power, which should allow the 216CC to at least scare 50 mph.

HANDLING

For added value, Stingray always includes a bundle of items that are often options with other brands. It’s called the Convenience Package and amounts to $3,662 of free goodies on this boat.

Headlining this group are the standard trim tabs that normally cost $1,034. Trim tabs are especially useful on fishing boats because owners often end up with an asymmetrical load if they only fill one

Under the leaning post, a 74-quart Engel cooler can house a full day of food and beverages. The large center console is a blank slate for bigscreen electronics.

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OWN E R FE E D BACK

P U R C H A S E D B Y T O M M Y A N D A M A N D A N I S T, M U R R E L L S I N L E T, S . C .

PURCH A SED AT M A RINE SERV ICE CEN T ER, M U R R E L L S I N L E T, S . C .

fishbox with ice and fish. On rough, windy days, passengers tend to huddle cowardly on one side (guilty) to stay dry, which can cause a boat to list if tabs aren’t present.

They are also useful for getting a heavily loaded boat on plane quickly and keeping it on plane at slower speeds. With a light load and only two people, our Stingray 216CC had little bowrise out of the hole. It hooked up well in corners and, thanks to the mandatory hydraulic steering, it was easy to drive.

BEST USES

Unlike the 212SC, which is one of Stingray’s deckboat models that can be

optioned with a fishing package, the 216CC is designed primarily with fishing in mind, but that’s not to say it doesn’t have a strong dash of family friendliness. The bowrider chaise lounges up front come with standard cushions, and the foam on all of the seats is thicker and softer. It has a passenger capacity of 10 people, and there’s plenty of seating for everyone.

Storing beverages and food isn’t an issue either. A standard 74-quart Engel cooler resides under the leaning post, and another cooler hides under the doublewide jumpseat bottom in the front console. Friction hinges keep its lid open when necessary, and it can be converted to a 17-gallon

W H AT W E L IK ED

Efficient use of space/Fresh- and raw-water systems/Number of cup- and rod holders/Console changing room/ Yamaha F150/Forward livewell option

S T I N G R AY 2 1 6 C C Length 21 ft., 8 in.

Beam 8 ft., 5 in.

Deadrise 21 degrees

W H AT W E WOUL D CH A NGE

We got the 9-inch Simrad display but should have upgraded to the 12-incher, since there’s plenty of room for it.

Capacity 10 people Dry Weight (w/popular engine) 3,150 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 57 gal.

Max HP 200

WHY WE BOUGHT IT

My wife and I, along with our three boys, Brandon, 12, Brody, 10, and Braxton, 6, love boating and have owned several different types of boats, but the Stingray 2166CC is one of the most versatile boats I’ve ever seen. We love to fish for flounder, trout and redfish, and if it’s nice we can go out of the inlet to fish the Three-Mile Buoy Reef for black sea bass. Despite not being a huge boat, the 216CC takes waves really well thanks to its 20-degree deadrise and high freeboard. The boys like to go tubing and wakeboarding, and the Yamaha F150 has the power to handle it. We like to go to The Point, which is a local gathering for boaters, drop the anchor, wade around and socialize. When we want to get off on our own, we can beach it on one of the numerous sandy beaches on the Intracoastal Waterway, and when we get hungry, we head to the Dead Dog Saloon.

The folks at Marine Service Center are great. If I need anything, I can call Zack and he immediately gets on it to help us.

PERFORMANCE Peak 45.3 mph/ 6000 rpm/93 dBA Cruise 31.2 mph/ 4500 rpm/83 dBA Time to Plane 2.5 sec.

Time to 30 mph 7.5 sec.

POWER Test Yamaha F150 Cylinders I-4 Displacement 2.7L Weight 487 lbs.

WOT Range 5000-6000 rpm

Base Price w/test power $49,975

Value-Added Standard Features: Trim tabs, 74-qt. Engel cooler, livewell, tilt steering, Fusion RA-55 Bluetooth stereo, bow cushions, SS rod holders w/drains, leaning post, glass windshield

Must-Have Options: Trailer, freshwater system, ski tow, dual batteries, battery charger, T-top, colored hull, trolling motor pre-rig, bow fishing seat, hydraulic steering

Builder: Stingray Boats, stingrayboats.com Financing: $358/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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livewell ($443) to complement the standard 14-gallon stern livewell under the rear bench seat bottom.

To boost its entertainment quotient, the standard Fusion stereo can be bumped to a massive 1,400-watt Fusion system that employs it new Signature speakers ($2,383) and includes a blue LED lighting package. If the fishing’s off, skiing and tubing are available activities thanks to the optional, removable ski pylon ($517).

PREFERRED SETUP

For many years, Stingray was synonymous with white hulls, and buyers can still get the 216CC thusly clad, but for only $722 they can choose one of six vivid hull colors, including the Ice Blue on our test boat. The large center console is a blank

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Extra-tall flip-up backrests (above) create a couple of comfortable jumpseats on the transom. Concealed beneath the bench seat between the jumpseats are a livewell and a fishbox (opposite bottom). The captain and a companion have a comfortable perch at the helm.

slate for big-screen electronics, and Stingray doesn’t choose a brand for buyers. Our boat had a Yamaha Command Link gauge ($922) whose wealth of information includes fuel flow info, so operators can make the most out of every gallon in the generous 57-gallon tank.

The standard leaning post doesn’t have flip-up bolsters, but that can be remedied for $460. The optional fiberglass T-top has an electronics box and the tubular mounts are off the deck, so passengers walking around the console won’t stub a toe. Buyers can opt for a $1,171 Bimini top instead or go with a canvas T-top for $4,616. To add more fishing capability to the 216CC, especially for inshore angers, buyers can add a bow fishing seat ($371) and a pre-rig for a trolling motor of choice ($366). BW

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Tested

First Drive

UNIQUE FACTOR S U N C H A S E R G E N E VA 2 0 L R S W I N G B AC K // B Y A L A N J O N E S

Lake Geneva Diva No matter how it’s equipped, the SunChaser Geneva 20 LR Swing Back provides fun at a reasonable price.

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all the rage these days, they’re not everyone’s cup of Earl Grey, so SunChaser created the Geneva 20 LR Swing Back (SB). The boat we tested was equipped in its most basic two-tube form, in which configuration it serves as a watery oasis for lounging, entertaining and taking time to enjoy the scenery along the way. But SunChaser offers plenty of options that can expand its range, both in the linear sense and in its ability to perform other tasks well.

WHILE GO-FAST PONTOONS ARE

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The Geneva Cruise line of pontoons ranges from 20 feet, 9 inches to 24 feet, 9 inches long and is designed to get folks out on the water less expensively. But only the shortest model is available with innovative, twin amidships Swing Back seats that help give it the versatility to accommodate up to 10 passengers in total comfort. These twin, overstuffed doublewide seatbacks can be flipped to face backward or forward. Flipped back, they provide room for a copilot to sit next to the driver, who sits to starboard. To port, another couple can face forward and enjoy their own quiet chat with their feet on the deck while cruising. Or, if they prefer, the seatback can be flipped forward so one of them can put his feet up on the portside settee for extra comfort. When the key’s off, the couple to starboard can follow suit.

The seatbacks are well engineered and are

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assisted by gas struts, so they can be flipped using one finger.

PERFORMANCE

The best way to power a SunChaser Geneva 20 LR SB is dependent on its intended usage. Our two-tube test boat was equipped for leisure cruising and entertainment, but it was powered by a Yamaha F115, which is the max for this configuration, so pulling kids on a tube is doable. The F115 would also be a good choice for buyers who plan to regularly carry a full load of passengers. But for tooling around the lake with a moderate load on board, dropping down to an F90 would save $1,272, and it boasts the same 1.8L block as the F115.

With the F115, the Geneva 20 got on plane in 2.6 seconds and reached 20 mph in 5.9 seconds. Its top speed of 24 mph was slower than I expected, and it was bumping against the rev-limiter at 6300 rpm, both of which indicated it needed a prop with at least a couple more inches of pitch. I compared our results to a test Yamaha performed on another SunChaser 20 with an F90 on the transom; it reached a top speed of 28 mph, and that would seem to prove the point.

That F90’s prop had a 135/8-inch diameter, a 14-inch pitch and turned 6000 rpm, so that prop on an F115 should yield a similar number. Why not faster? Because at this threshold, a two-tube pontoon without lifting strakes reaches a point of diminishing returns on the power that’s pushing it.

SunChaser will rig the boat with Mercury or Evinrude power.

HANDLING

A glance at the helm told me SunChaser is going to require buyers to pay for only the items they want. I spied a tachometer, a gas gauge and five empty circles where other gauges can go. It looked kind of weird

(Clockwise from top) Underway, a small group can gather on the aft settees. Swinging seatbacks convert forwardfacing seats into aft-facing settees. With both seatbacks forward, the aft settees can welcome more people. A boarding ladder is standard. Snacks are on the menu thanks to an elliptical table. Bow seating includes a settee that can accommodate multiple people or just one, chaise style.

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S U N C H A S E R G E N E VA 2 0 L R S W I N G B AC K Length 20 ft., 9 in.

Beam 8 ft., 6 in.

Tube Diameter 25 in.

Capacity 10 people Dry Weight 1,850 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 30 gal.

Max HP 125

PERFORMANCE Peak 24.0 mph/ 6300 rpm/92 dBA Cruise 14.4 mph/ 4500 rpm/85 dBA Time to Plane 2.5 sec.

Time to 20 mph 5.9 sec.

POWER

With both Swing Back seatbacks in the aft position, four people can face forward while underway.

like that, so a good addition would be the full gauge package ($589). With two people aboard during our test run, the SunChaser Geneva 20 LR SB had plenty of buoyancy, and typical of two-tube pontoons, it tended to lean slightly to the outside during hard turns. Our test boat had rotary cable steering, which wasn’t as stiff as most, but a SeaStar hydraulic steering system is well worth the $1,548 upcharge, especially if taking kids tubing is on the agenda.

SunChaser, being part of the Smoker Craft family of pontoons, takes advantage of some of the technology used on the builder’s more upscale brands, including Sylvan and Starcraft. A smart and worthwhile addition would be the PTS Performance Package, which adds a shorter center tube to the fulllength 25-inch outer tubes, Performance lifting strakes and an aluminum underskin, for $3,462. While the package doesn’t boost

Test Yamaha F115 Cylinders I-4 Displacement 1.8L Weight 377 lbs.

WOT Range 5300-6300 rpm Base Price w/test power $32,086

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Value-Added Standard Features: Dual Swing Back seatbacks, five-step aluminum boarding ladder, 4-speaker Jensen Bluetooth stereo, tachometer, low-back helm seat, built-in cupholders

Must-Have Options: Gauge package, hydraulic steering, triple-tube options, trailer, ski tow, bow filler cushion, 10-foot Bimini top, grill, underwater lighting, extra cockpit table

Builder: Smoker Craft, sunchaserboats.com Financing: $230/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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OW N E R F E E D B AC K

PURCHA SED BY TIM AND SUE GERMAN, HARTFORD, W IS. PURCH A SED AT K EI T H’S M A RIN A, W EST BEND, W IS. W H AT W E L IK ED Seven gauge spots on the dash allow buyers to decide how much instrumentation they want. An available full gauge package makes the decision easier.

the passenger capacity or horsepower rating, it does provide extra lift, flatter cornering and higher speeds with an engine such as the Yamaha F115, making it better at towing tubes and handling larger passenger loads.

Package, a triple-tube setup that includes strakes, underskin, hydraulic steering, a 60-gallon in-tube gas tank and a ski tow pylon. Pair this with a Yamaha F200 and the price rises to $47,999, but now the 20 LR SB is a little hotrod capable of speeds in the 40s.

BEST USES

SunChaser is all about offering the most boat for a buyer’s money, and the Geneva 20 LR SB lists for just $32,086 with the Yamaha F115. And unlike on some other compact two-log pontoons, the fuel tank is concealed, not strapped onto the swim platform, which on this boat is free of obstructions such as an engine splashwell. The tank is a generous 30 gallons, which gives the Geneva decent range.

In this configuration, operating as a leisurely cruiser or an entertainment platform at the sandbar is high up on its list of activities.

Up front are two settees but only the one in front of the helm is a layback seat. The one to port is slightly shorter to accommodate a 30-inch boarding gate — same as the ones in the bow and stern. Passenger comfort is maximized by properly padded furniture that features longevity-inducing rotocast frames. A slight rise at the leading edge gives more support right where occupants need it. The two-tone upholstery is UV resistant, and the areas where the seat bases meet the deck are recessed to provide a little extra foot room. While this is a compact pontoon, it doesn’t feel cramped.

The Geneva 20 LR SB can easily be transformed to a watersports-ready machine by adding the X-Treme PR20 Performance

Compact size and maneuverability/90 hp Mercury FourStroke/Woven vinyl floor/ Concealed gas tank/Great seating and storage W H AT W E WOUL D CH A NGE

We didn’t get it with a ski tow, but we’re going to add one since our three boys, Luke, 14, Nicholas, 18, and John, 21, want to go tubing.

PREFERRED SETUP

Sometimes on less expensive models, the little details suffer. For example, seat bottoms often have to be fully removed to access storage, but the Geneva Cruise line features seat bottoms that lift toward the centerline on piano hinges, so they stay open and let people load gear with both hands.

The standard feature list — including a four-speaker Jensen Bluetooth stereo, cockpit table that can be positioned fore or aft, upgraded Gucci Verona tilt steering wheel, 22-ounce carpeting, vinyl-covered swim platform — creates a boat that’s ready to hit the water. I actually prefer the standard five-step aluminum boarding ladder to the optional telescoping stainless steel four-step version, because it reaches lower into the water and has wider steps.

The low starting price is meant to leave room for some great options, such as a Kicker stereo for $524. And these days, instead of carpeting, most people prefer woven vinyl Sea Weave flooring ($1,628), which our test boat had. For extra shade, the standard 8-foot, 6-inch Bimini top can be replaced by a 10-footer for $240. SunChaser gives owners the choice of nine fence colors, five accent colors and five Bimini top colors. BW

WHY WE BOUGHT IT

I bought my dad’s cabin up on the Eagle Chain of Lakes and it came with an older pontoon that only had a 40 hp outboard on it; we loved going out on it, but it was really slow and a little too big. Sue was the driving force to buy the SunChaser Geneva 20. Its compact size made it easy for her to drive, and it even fits in our garage. We bought it with the partial center tube upgrade, and that really helps its performance with our Mercury 90 FourStroke. We basically use our boat like a car. We love cruising to restaurants like Lumpy’s on Catfish Lake or the Sweetwater Resort. One of favorite hangouts is the beach on Eagle Lake Park, where some nights a live band performs.

We have an island we love to camp on when the weather’s nice. My dad bought his pontoon from Keith’s Marina 20 years ago and they’ve always given us great service, so when we wanted to upgrade there was no question where we were going to buy our new boat. Tim didn’t try to oversell us and matched us up with the perfect boat.

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Tested

First Drive

A Q U A P AT I O 2 5 5 S D // B Y A L A N J O N E S

Fun in the SunDeck Be the most popular boater on the lake with a boat that will draw friends and admirers with one irresistible feature.

scratches this itch in a big way with its Aqua Patio 255 SD, a double-decker pontoon whose two-story slide serves as a water park.

UNIQUE FACTOR

For 2019, the Aqua Patio 255 SD features a new, stout upper deck that is rated for four people. But most won’t stay up top for long before taking a downward plummet

• KIDS ON BOARD most any boat will congregate on the swim platform, jump off, climb back

on and and jump off again. Like it says on the shampoo bottle: rinse, repeat. This watery perpetual motion machine will continue unabated until the parental authorities insist they take a refueling break. Good luck trying to enforce the old “no swimming for 20 minutes after eating” rule. Kids of all ages love jumping into the water, and Godfrey Pontoons 34

A Simrad GO5 chartplotter and analog gauges deliver a modern and nostalgic feel at the helm. The boarding ladder and ski tow share the swim platform with the slide’s base. A sturdy table fronts the companion settee.

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Powered properly, the Aqua Patio 255 SD is a really sporty pontoon.

on the curved slide. A control knob sends lake water down the slide to regulate the friction quotient. For safety, a polypropylene non-skid surface gives wet feet good grip, and snaps allow owners to add carpet or woven vinyl when the slide isn’t in use, to make the surface more comfortable for sunbathing or lounging.

Our test boat featured the Midnight Package ($1,847), which gave it black rails on the exterior of the fencing, black anodized support tubes for the second deck and black corner castings. Also artfully woven in were spiderweb-like metal accents that ensnared the Godfrey “G” logo.

An added benefit to the upper deck is the wide swath of shade it casts below.

An optional forward shade ($1,808) puts the lower deck in full eclipse mode, for an air conditioning–like feeling on hot days.

Fair-skinned boaters or those who don’t like being slathered in sunscreen will

appreciate it for a different reason. But with the upper deck, passengers who want to collect some rays can always take the high road.

PERFORMANCE

Given a second story, a wind-catching slide and a forward sunshade, some concern about performance being affected is understandable, but when it’s powered properly the Aqua Patio 255 SD is a really sporty pontoon. Our test boat featured Mercury’s new V-8 250 FourStroke. Unlike the previous Merc 250, which uses a supercharger on a smallish 2.6L inline-6 to create power, the V-8 FourStroke relies on 4.6L of displacement to provide lots of low-end torque and power in a more organic fashion. Since Aqua Patio did a good job of designing the forward shade — it won’t balloon and act like a sea anchor — we left it deployed during our speed

run, during which the pontoon reached a respectable top speed of 45.3 mph. Out-ofthe-hole performance was excellent, with a time to plane of 2.5 seconds and a time to 30 mph of 6.3 seconds.

Aqua Patio will rig any of the major outboard brands, so people can put their favorite choice on the transom. And with the GTP 27-inch triple-tube option ($9,062), buyers can crank up the heat to 350 hp with Mercury, Yamaha and Suzuki (Evinrude and Honda don’t offer one). This option will take the 255 SD’s top speed to well over 50 mph, but I wouldn’t suggest deploying the forward sun shade at such a speed. Aqua Patio also offers boaters who live on smaller bodies of water — or who want to save some money — a two-tube option paired to an engine as small as 50 hp. A good choice, for anyone going with bare minimum power, is the Yamaha High Thrust T50LB, which can swing a big BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

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OWN E R FE E D BACK

14-inch Dual Thrust prop; with it, the price drops to $68,431.

HANDLING

P U R C H A S E D B Y J I M A N D M E G A N D O N O VA N , D E R R Y, N . H .

P U R C H A S E D A T R O C K I N G H A M B O A T,

Anyone who didn’t look up would swear he was driving a single-decker pontoon.

The upper deck doesn’t make it feel top heavy (never run with passengers on top), and when I cranked it into a hard turn at planing speeds, the Aqua Patio 255 SD responded well and carved a really tight turn. In a straight line it tracked well with little input from the driver. I docked it in a pretty stiff crosswind, and the upper

deck, ladder and forward canopy didn’t make things too difficult but did change the dynamic a little. Normally, a crosswind will move a pontoon’s bow more than the stern, because it’s lighter, but with this boat’s wind-catchers residing aft, it tended to drift more sideways, which can actually aid docking.

BEST USES

Obviously, kid and kid-wannabe entertainment is at the top of the list of this boat’s capabilities, but with a passenger rating of 16 with the big-tube option, it’s

HAMPSTE AD, N.H.

W H AT W E L IK ED

Upper deck with slide/Comfortable seating/Excellent captain’s chair/Power steering/Performance and handling/ Powerful Yamaha VMAX SHO W H AT W E WOUL D CH A NGE

The Polk stereo and lighting control module is really complicated; I wish it were simpler to use.

WHY WE BOUGHT IT

My family likes to fish and our Sweetwater fishing pontoon only had two logs and a small engine. We also love to entertain, but it only held 10 people.

We live on Big Island Pond, which is the biggest lake in southern New Hampshire, so we wanted a triple-tube model. When my wife and I saw the 255 SD, we knew it was the one. My son, Connor, 11, and my daughter, Samantha, 13, both love the slide and also enjoy tubing and skiing; of course, they like to invite their friends.

Our new boat holds 16 people, and we love to head to the sandbar and hang out with the other 60 boat families that hang out there. We got it equipped with a grill, and my wife loves that we don’t have to end our day on the water to go home and eat. Rockingham Boat offers the best service anywhere; you feel like you are family. If any boat they sell breaks down, they’ll come out and take care of you right on the lake.

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The operator will feel firmly ensconced in a well-built captain’s chair. Stern passengers can enjoy a conversation in matching settees — this one (bottom) and its twin opposite it.

A Q U A P AT I O 255 SD Length 25 ft., 10 in.

Beam 8 ft., 6 in.

Tube Diameter (as tested) 27 in.

Capacity 16 people Dry Weight (hull) 3,236 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 45 gal.

Max HP 350​

PERFORMANCE Peak 45.3 mph/ 6000 rpm/94 dBA Cruise 31.2 mph/ 4500 rpm/85 dBA Time to Plane 2.5 sec.

Time to 30 mph 6.3 sec.

POWER Test Mercury FourStroke V-8 250

Cylinders V-8 Displacement 4.6L Weight 527 lbs.

WOT Range 5200-6000 rpm

Base Price w/test power $91,854

Value-Added Standard Features: Master power switch, Simrad GO5 chartplotter/fishfinder, interior mood lighting, 4-speaker Bluetooth stereo, upper deck w/slide, raised helm

Must-Have Options: Polk stereo system w/RGB lighting, changing station, rectangular table w/twin pedestals, Garmin display upgrade, washdown, portable toilet, bow filler cushion

Builder: Godfrey Marine, godfreypontoonboats.com Financing: $/mo. w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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also up for more traditional parties. Roomy quad lounges in all corners are a good start for seating capacity, and an additional settee to the port side of the driver provides even more posterior planting space. Singlepedestal cockpit tables can be wobbly, so Aqua Patio designers gave the extra-large greywood table an extra leg to stand on.

For more snacking real estate, owners can add a second table in the bow ($470).

A wide variety of watersports possibilities are on the agenda if the 255 SD is powered by at least 150 hp and has triple tubes and the cage-style ski tow ($916). A slightly less expensive alternative to the triple 27-inch tube package is the Sport Package ($4,354), which features 25-inch outer tubes and a 27-inch center Sport Tube that provides more lift than triple 25-inchers and gives the boat a pivot point for excellent, lean-in cornering.

PREFERRED SETUP

One of the biggest questions to answer

when ordering an Aqua Patio 255 SD is: bar or no bar? The 255 SDB version replaces the amidships portside settee with a bar surrounded by four stools. Backrests

Anyone who didn’t look up would swear he was driving a single-decker pontoon. for the seats are a $1,685 option. Adding the bar shortens the portside stern lounge by removing the layback and pumps up the price by $2,885. Godfrey also markets a nearly identical 255 SD in its Premium line of pontoons, which have different fence styling and fewer tube options than the Aqua Patio variant.

Although the standard boat comes well equipped, Godfrey offers options to match every lifestyle and budget. For one-stop shopping to pump up the “wow” factor, our test boat had the Extreme Sound package ($4,539), which includes a six-speaker Polk Audio Bluetooth stereo with a subwoofer all controlled by a Godfrey Touch Screen that also takes charge of the RGB lighting system ($1,062).

Buyers have many ways to present their 255 SD, with a choice of nine rail colors and three zones that can be contrasting colors.

Aqua Patio even offers six different interior color schemes, for customization. At the helm, the captain’s chair can be upgraded to an Evolution King throne ($1,070), and an adjustable height pedestal costs $270. A 9-inch Garmin 942xs touchscreen chartplotter/fishfinder can be mounted flush in the dash, and Godfrey offers a digital engine gauge package ($1,500) that includes an engine readout on the chartplotter. BW

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

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

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Tested

First D rive

R A N G E R T U G S R - 2 7 // B Y A L A N J O N E S

Pulling Quadruple Duty The Ranger Tugs R-27 Outboard meets the standard for ardent cruisers but can do much more.

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narrow beam would make for cramped quarters within the pilothouse’s salon (yacht-speak for the enclosed social area), the interior feels spacious. Of course something had to give, and in this case it’s the narrow perimeter walkaround. But Ranger Tugs found a workaround to this by bolting on a Starboard strip overhang that’s slightly canted inward to the walkway to provide sure footing. The combination of that strip, tall grabrails and a bowrail along the way provides a secure feeling during the transit forward. And on the bow is one of the boat’s coolest features, a tall doublewide lounge seat.

PERFORMANCE

MOST BOATERS HAVE felt the urge to leave all their cares behind, jump in their boat and go

cruising, and a tug/trawler-style vessel epitomizes this lifestyle. Then reality sinks in. Most boats of this ilk are heavy, slow and awkward to tow, which limits owners’ cruising options to locations adjacent to their backyard. Fantasy killer.

With the R-27, Ranger Tugs takes the classic tug-style boat and powers it with a Yamaha F300 outboard. Doing so transforms it into a go-anywhere, do-anything machine that fits the lifestyle of most recreational boaters.

UNIQUE FACTOR

The first things that jumped off the spec page at me were the Ranger Tug R-27’s 8-foot, 6-inch beam and its 7,000-pound weight, which isn’t unduly heavy for a 27-foot hull that stretches to an overall length of 32 feet, 9 inches, including its expansive swim platform. Owners can tow this pocket cruiser to any of the 49 continental states without acquiring wide load towing permits or jumping through any hoops, such as displaying flags or 38

signs. And it can be towed by conventional vehicles, such as a Ford F-150, which can handle up to 13,200 pounds with its smallish 3.5L V-6 EcoBoost engine.

This opens up all the famous cruising grounds, including the Inside Passage to Alaska or the Great Loop. Got cabin fever during a brutal Michigan winter? Hook up the Ranger Tugs R-27 and head to the Florida Keys or to Ft. Lauderdale for a quick hop to the Bahamas.

While one might think the relatively

Boats such as the classic Nordic Tug 26 are pure cruisers that feature diesel engines — a Volvo Penta D3 150, as one example — mated to a straight inboard, which vectors off some of its power due to the driveshaft angle. Combine this with a displacement hull and we have a boat that cruises at 9 mph and has a top speed of 11.5 mph, which is OK until the kids want to go tubing or a storm is approaching.

Ranger Tugs combines a planing hull with a Yamaha F300 — its only available engine — to create a boat with very un-tug–like performance. On plane in 6.4 seconds, the R-27 reached 30 mph in 10.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 40.3 mph during our sea trial (full tank of gas and three passengers). Yamaha technicians tested this boat with half a tank and two passengers and reached 42.2 mph.

In order to find the best cruise speed, I usually start running an engine at 3500 rpm, note the speed and noise level, and then increase engine speed in 500 rpm increments. On this sea trial, something unusual happened. At 4000 rpm, the R-27 noodled along at 18 mph and the F300 got 1.5 mpg, according to the Yamaha gauges, but when the F300 hit 4500 rpm, it came to life. The boat streaked to 30.1 mph, and the engine cracked the 2 mpg barrier — exactly the same fuel economy it got at 2500 rpm when the R-27 was impersonating a displacement-hull tug at 10 mph. In other words, it’s telling owners to go for it!

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With the R-27, Ranger Tugs takes the classic tug-style boat and powers it with a Yamaha F300 outboard.

A window on the aft transom (left) opens to connect the spacious cockpit and the main cabin, where the galley runs along the port side. On a boat where versatility is key, the helm bench seat converts to face aft and becomes part of the dinette.

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OWN E R FE E D BACK

PURCH A SED BY DOMENICK T RESHI T TA A ND VERONIC A MELLINA, VERO BE ACH, FL A. P U R C H A S E D A T P O C K E T YA C H T S , J E N S E N BE ACH, FL A. W H AT W E L IK ED

Amazing list of standard features/ Seaworthiness/Performance with Yamaha F300/Standup head compartment/ Bluetooth stereo with zone control/ Windlass/Generator and AC W H AT W E WOUL D CH A NGE

We would have liked a slightly wider walkaround and a grabrail by the head compartment.

(Clockwise from above) Passengers are sure to love the wind-in-their-hair bow bench. The starboard side of the cockpit doesn’t have seating, but its gunwale is padded in a nod to anglers.

When not in use, the grill lifts out to reveal an insulated cooler than can be converted to a livewell.

The bow houses a settee and table that convert to a berth. A portside bench seat can fold away to make room for fishing action.

RANGER TUGS R -27 O UTB OA R D

WHY WE BOUGHT IT

We’ve always owned smaller runabouts but wanted something larger that was suitable for cruising. We took several sea trials on other boats up to 33 feet long, but when it rained or the seas got choppy, we got wet. We love the fact we don’t have to scramble to put up any canvas. And when it gets hot, we can turn on the air conditioning. Despite being larger than our other boats, the R-27 is really easy to handle. Where we dock our boat is really tight, but the bow thruster allows us to spin it easily. When we’re cruising through a no-wake zone in the Intracoastal with other tug-style boats, it’s really fun at the end to put ours on plane and leave them in our wake; I think it surprises them. This boat attracts a lot of attention and Veronica is always giving tours to other people. We hope to cruise to the Bahamas or even tow it up north to Connecticut where we used to live. Rob at Pocket Yachts treats us like family. We can call him anytime and he always helps us out.

Length 32 ft., 9 in.

Beam 8 ft., 6 in.

Capacity Yacht certified

Dry Weight 7,000 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 150 gal.

Max HP 300​

PERFORMANCE Peak 40.3 mph/ 5900 rpm/91 dBA

Cruise 30.1 mph/ 4500 rpm/82 dBA Time to Plane 6.4 sec.

Time to 30 mph 10.3 sec.

POWER Test Yamaha F300 Cylinders V-6 Displacement 4.2L Weight 562 lbs.

WOT Range 5000-6000 rpm

Base Price w/test power $214,937

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the convertible dining seat flips forward to create a doublewide helm chair. The inward side of the teak dining table flips up to conserve space when it’s not in use and reveals a grabrail and cupholders. The table also drops down to create a berth. The forward V-berth is the master, and there’s even an amidships sleeping quarters that will be the kid’s cave.

Add the extra wow factor of a stern electric grill, and parties take on an extra dimension. The grill is easy to remove when not in use and reveals a large insulated cooler that can be converted to a livewell.

A standard popup ski tow will likely see heavy use, and the rear swim platform is large and well-suited for watersports staging. Topside is a rack that can hold kayaks or standup paddleboards.

With all of the seating folded away, the cockpit is ready for fishing action. It’s also a good spot for watersports participants to sit and dry after a run or two.

This fuel economy and a generous 150-gallon fuel tank give the boat a range of 270 miles, after subtracting a 10 percent reserve. To really stretch the boat’s reach, 1000 rpm yields 4.33 mpg at 5.2 mph, according to Yamaha tests, which translates to a theoretical range of 585 miles.

HANDLING

At the helm, the driver holds on to a real wood wheel, which is part of an overall interior theme that highlights teak and veneers. Visibility within the enclosed cabin is excellent thanks to 360 degrees of glass that surround its occupants. I jammed the throttle with trim down and without using the standard Lenco trim tabs, and the R-27 just seemed to come up on plane with little bowrise or a defining moment when the bow dropped down. While cruising in the mid-30s, I spun the vertical wheel hard over and the boat carved a tight turn, though I did momentarily lose visibility

because of the cockpit roof. To make docking easy, a bow thruster is standard.

BEST USES

The Ranger Tugs R-27 is fully equipped for cruising with a standard features list that includes a Garmin 8612 chartplotter with an xHD radar array, autopilot, a full galley, 140-amp solar panels and even AIS 300, which shows the position of both commercial and larger leisure boats, offering greater safety in limited visibility.

Many tugs and trawlers are designed for living aboard, but the R-27 really shines as a vacation boat. Tugs typically have an abbreviated rear deck that maximizes interior living space, but the R-27 has a large aft deck that makes it fishing-ready, especially the Northwest Edition, which has downrigger plugs and pads. But it also works for social gatherings thanks to twin fold-down bench seats and a convertible dining seat that faces aft. The front half of

Value-Added Standard Features: Windlass, generator and A/C, solar panels, electric grill, refrigerator/freezer, propane stove and oven, radar, AIS 300, Garmin 8612 chartplotter

Must-Have Options: Triple-axle trailer, aft cockpit sunshade, 9.9 hp Yamaha auxiliary motor, factory delivery experience

Builder: Ranger Tugs, rangertugs.com Financing: $1,542/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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PREFERRED SETUP

Ranger Tugs couldn’t have made the choice easier when it comes to equipping the R-27. Buyers have two choices that are largely based on their geographic whereabouts. The Northwest Edition ($199,937) is, as its name implies, for cooler climes, such as the area where they are built near Seattle. In addition to the aforementioned downriggers, which are useful for targeting salmon and halibut, this version includes a diesel forced-air furnace. The Luxury Edition ($214,937) includes a 2.5 kw gas generator, air conditioning and reverse-cycle heat.

A look at the standard equipment list should explain the prices, as both versions are absolutely loaded with features; owners can go cruising the day they take delivery without checking a single option box.

The list of big items that are usually options includes a windlass complete with an anchor, chain and line; a yacht-like standup head compartment with a vessel sink, a hot shower and an electric head; a 2,000-watt inverter and a six-speaker Fusion stereo with zone control. The galley includes a propane stove and oven with two tanks, a refrigerator/freezer, plenty of food prep space, a sink and storage. To make the dream of cruising any place, anytime a reality, one need only add a triple-axle Float-On aluminum trailer for $13,670. BW

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C l a s s ic a l l y

MODER N

&

ELEGANT

WE B ET YO U DO N ’ T K N OW B U I LD E R S T H AT S P E C I A L I Z E I N W O O D E N B OAT S A R E S T I L L C R E AT I N G W O O D I E S W I T H A C L A S S I C L O O K AND FEEL, WITH MODERN AMENITIES.

By CHRIS CASWELL

The Portofino model from Comitti displays classic lines and features, from the bow planking to the automotiveinspired helm to the stern sun lounge, but modern electronics and power make it — and all of the modern classics — easy to care for and maintain.

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WOODEN BOATS, LIKE BOOKS, are something to hold, to savor, to cherish. Perhaps it has something to do with the heft of a wooden boat or a book, and that substantial quality adds to one’s pleasure, whether on the water or reading a mystery tale.

Wooden boats have been with us since the first caveman floated past on a tree trunk, eventually hollowing it to get his feet out of the water. Today, vintage wooden boats are celebrated nationwide at gatherings of “woodies” with legendary names from the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s such as Chris-Craft, Gar Wood and Hacker. Acres of varnish and polished chrome harken back to a gentler time of golden afternoons on a lake or river, with the warmth of varnished wood and the tingle of spray on the skin.

Then, of course, came fiberglass, the miracle material that

promised to be maintenance free (sound of laughter). Boats made of it were called plastic toys or worse: legendary yacht designer L. Francis Herreshoff compared fiberglass to “frozen snot.” With the advent of fiberglass, wooden speedboats were devalued and many once-gorgeous runabouts ended up being chain-sawed as firewood.

But those of us of a certain age tend to celebrate the objects of our childhood dreams, which accounts for so many middle-aged men driving (or at least collecting) ’58 Corvettes or wire-wheeled Jaguars.

There is a downside to owning anything vintage, however. It is old, as those with vintage ’Vettes or Jags soon discover. Classic “woodies” require maintenance. Lots. Of. Maintenance. They require varnishing regularly and re-caulking to keep those deck BOATINGWORLD.COM

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Even with modern epoxies and other building techniques, wooden boats such as those built by Van Dam (left) require lots and lots of the human touch. Even before it’s complete, the Grand-Craft 26 Super Sport being framed here takes on a beauty that aficionados of traditional boatbuilding techniques can appreciate.

stripes white. Old can also be a synonym for unreliable, because the world has moved so far forward in technology that you never wonder today, as you put the key in the ignition of a car or boat, whether your treasure will actually start.

The good news, at least for skippers lusting for an oldie speedboat, is they can now choose from several boat builders that are still using wood to build “contemporary classics” with all the lines of those childhood runabouts and none of the problems. The difference is that these boats benefit from modern engines, modern electrical systems, modern everything. And they not only offer the 44

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reliability of today’s systems, but owners can get parts and service everywhere.

WHAT TH E Y AR E

First and foremost, they are still wood. Mostly.

Mahogany remains the material of choice, often with oak for frames and/or teak for cockpit floors, but here’s where the similarity stops. Vintage boats were nailed or screwed together, while modern incarnations often rely on high-tech resins such as West System epoxies to hold the wood together better than even screws.

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The sole substructure on a SeaSonic boat takes shape (far left), while the transom (middle) and bow (left) start to look more finished, even though they are many man-hours from completion.

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The craftsmen at Grand-Craft, located just three miles from the original ChrisCraft factory in Holland, Mich., prefer Philippine mahogany for its flexible strength and sound/shock absorption, but especially for its lasting beauty. Each piece is selected for a particular use, with straight-grain for the sides and ribbon grain for the transom, while walnut and oak are used on dashboards and storage compartments. Comitti boats, built in the foothills near Italy’s Lake Como, start with African mahogany logs that are cut and seasoned for a year. Grand-Craft uses two layers of color-matched mahogany on the sides with three layers of one-quarter-inch mahogany on the bottoms (larger boats get added layers).

Using laminated keels and chines and modern cold-molded mahogany for the sides, each Sea Sonic deck is finished with mahogany strips separated by blond Canadian maple dividers for a classic look.

One advantage that old-time builders lacked was precision when it came to fitting pieces: every piece of wood was hand-cut and relied on the craftsman for a proper fit. Today, five-axis computer-controlled routers such as those used by Comitti shape the mahogany precisely, making complex shapes such as the transom, frames and stringers with extreme accuracy.

Builders of modern classics can also change the “look” of a woodie by careful wood selection: the StanCraft Darkside 35-footer uses black mahogany for a stealth-fighter look.

But there are still secrets. Boesch from Switzerland uses a proprietary “laminate construction” that the folks there claim eliminates the disadvantages of conventional planked wooden hulls and is as easy to maintain as fiberglass.

COATE D B E AUT Y

Modern epoxy resins have come to the rescue of buyers who fear cans of varnish, badger brushes or dreaded sandpaper.

Gleaming mahogany hulls are encased in epoxy coatings, so the pain of owning a woody is gone. At Comitti, the modern vacuum-bagging technique created for 46

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building cored fiberglass boats is used to fully saturate the mahogany planks with epoxy resins, encasing the hull with epoxy to create a low-maintenance hull that looks great.

Other builders use two- and even three-part epoxy finishes that offer up to eight years between refinishing. At HackerCraft, the entire hull is sheathed in fiberglass, which provides long-term protection in fresh or salt water and gives the builder the ability to add color to the hull.

WHO DE S IG N S TH E M?

Some boat builders have resurrected old designs, such as Gar Wood and Hacker, while others, such as StanCraft and Sea Sonic, are creating new designs with classic styling. Chris Casparis, the owner of Sea Sonic, has a passion for Riva Aquaramas, collecting and restoring them since learning his trade in Switzerland, so it’s no surprise that his boats, now built in British Columbia, draw on Riva styling.

Van Dam, a family-owned builder in Michigan, works with many notable designers and is currently building a Michael Peters design, among others.

Peters has drawn up Cigarette race boats but also loves classic styling.

Gar Wood, located on Brant Lake in New York, started by restoring Gar Wood’s classic boats, so its custom limited editions are naturally inspired by designs by Wood, a legendary boat builder and racer.

WHO B U YS TH E M AN D WHY?

Modern classics appeal to skippers who want to reinvent childhood memories, or simply because a wooden boat is undeniably a delight to behold. “‘It’s a work of art’ is perhaps the comment we most often hear,” said Eric Badcock of Hacker Craft. “The retro/timeless look of wood boats offers a classic with great lines. They are, simply put, beautiful to look at.”

Several of the builders offer custom construction, which has been embraced by the owners of megayachts who not only want a tender that is unique but one that can even match the styling of their yacht.

A completed Grand-Craft basks at the dock (above), where it is sure to draw stares of admiration.

When they’re streaking atop the water, modern wood classics such as the Comitti Portofino (right) and Grand-Craft 27 Custom Classic — a Mercury big-block engine and a bow thruster are up-to-date touches — harken back to the early days of powerboating.

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GLEAMING MAHOGANY HULLS ARE E N C A S E D I N E P O X Y C O AT I N G S , S O TH E PA I N O F OW N I N G A WOO DY I S G O N E .

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mahogany hull and a pair of Ford 550 hp engines. No final speed estimate has been projected, because the engines are being custom built, but we expect it to be fast.

Comitti, with its European background, offers both MerCruiser and Volvo diesel engines, and its SanRemo 21 and Portofino 25 models still top 55 mph.

COOL STU F F

WHAT MAKE S TH E M GO?

One of the problems owners of vintage vehicles face, whether it’s a 1940s Jaguar or a 1920s Chris-Craft, is they can’t just pop in to a neighborhood auto supply for parts. After World War I, Chris Smith bought huge quantities of engines from surplus Jenny biplanes, and these inexpensive but “powerful” — 90 hp! — engines allowed him to not only reduce the cost of his boats but also increase the performance at the same time. While it may seem laughable today, his 1923 guarantee that the Chris-Craft three-cockpit runabout could reach a speed of 28 mph was a powerful selling tool.

Even Chrysler Crown inline-six engines of the ’30s maxed out at … wait for it … 120 hp. And they usually had cloth-covered wiring to route the feeble 6v power to the sparkplugs. Fuel injection?

Unknown. Low emissions? Who cared? Fuel efficiency? Why bother at 20 cents a gallon for gas in 1930?

Today, however, you’re more likely to find a current Detroit V-8 (or two) in these woodies, punching out 400-plus hp without breathing hard. Grand Craft uses 430 hp Ilmor engines, derived from modern NASCAR racers, to push its 26-footer to 53 mph. A StanCraft Rivelle 380, with twin MerCruiser 8.2 Bravo engines, tops out at 62 mph.

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Folks who owned an original 1930s wooden boat wouldn’t recognize the 375 hp engine in Don Don, a ’30’s style deep-V model from Van Dam that can reach more than 60 mph.

TO THE WEB ComittiGroup.com GarWoodCustomBoats. com GrandCraft.com HackerBoat.com SeaSonicBoats.com StanCraftBoats.com VanDamBoats.com

Modern fiberglass boats have features that are so expected we don’t even think about them but, for example, there was no such thing as a swim platform in the 1930s. Modern builders don’t let that tradition interfere with stern-situated accoutrements. StanCraft includes transom platforms on all of its models, Hacker-Craft has a seamless boarding package on its Sportabout models, and the Riva-styled Sea Sonic and Comitti boats naturally have integrated platforms. And the custom builders will gladly add platforms to make swimming and waterskiing easy.

An offshoot of the transom platform is the freshwater shower for rinsing off after a swim, which didn’t occur to early builders because of the voluminous “swimming costumes” worn by both ladies and gents.

Another “modern” invention is the bow thruster, which can change docking a triple-cockpit woody that is 36 feet long but just 7 feet wide from a white-knuckle procedure to finger-tip easy.

Speaking of finger-tip easy, most of the original classics had wire-and-pulley steering systems to turn the rudder, which not only kinked but could fail or jam at the most inopportune moments. Modern classics rely instead on hydraulic and mechanical steering that adds power as well as reliability.

On boats with enclosed cabins, such as the Grand-Craft Commuters, options include air conditioning and heating, electric toilets, and even microwave ovens.

And, of course, today’s sound systems were unheard of (bad pun) in boats of the ’20s and ’30s, but every modern classic offers a full sound system with plug-andplay or Bluetooth capability for mobile music, as well as recharging ports for cellphones. BW

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Bonehead Blunders BONEHEAD SCALE:

By G rid M ich a l

1 Acceptably assinine

Nice Try BONEHEAD BLUNDER: Paying attention

to what I say THE BONEHEAD: A great source for

columns BONEHEAD RATING: A mild 3 (he does

try) WHAT HAPPENED: I guess it’s been a year since I heard from one of my better clients, Robert. He has a nickname, but enough people know it I don’t want to embarrass him. He and I have a delightful working relationship. He calls with a boat problem and we talk over what happened, what he’s done so far and what he thinks needs to be done.

He gets my input, does what he wants to do and calls me when it doesn’t work (or twice, when it does). I end up driving the 45 minutes to his place where we mull it over while Izzy, my golden shepherd, helps Robert’s wife transplant her flowers.

We get it sorted out, I get Izzy back in the truck, and he pulls out his checkbook and asks, “How much?” This is the part I love: “Pay me what you think it’s worth.”

To me, it’s a nice respite from the regular insanity. To him, with his buddy next to him — and you know he’ll have something to say about it after I leave! — it’s anguish. Invariably he strokes a check for more than I would have charged him.

I’m happy, his conscience is assuaged and Izzy has been swimming.

I was delighted to hear from Robert and found he’d been to Italy last fall, carrying the flu with him and dealing with two weeks in a gorgeous country sick as a dog. Then wrist surgery. Finally.

He’s back to doing things that involve me!

The big boat is running. He’s afraid to go anywhere because everything

2 Slightly slow

3 Distinguished dunce

4 Massively moronic

works. It’s the pontoon that’s the problem. And it’s my fault! I’d given Robert a collection of my books knowing he’s an avid reader and that Virginia winters — too warm to snow but just perfect to rain constantly — force indoor entertainment. Planning ahead, he’d decided by the clues I’d presented in various chapters that it was time to service the batteries in the ’toon. He replaced the wing nuts with “nylock” nuts for a more permanent positioning, ran the nuts down, started the trusty fourstroke Yamaha and closed up for the day. Saturday, the day he called me, he went to the boat and turned the key. Nada. When he called we went over his checklist: gauge operation, tight and clean battery connections, neutral, engine tilt vs. console. Whoa! None? Fuses. All OK? Huh. I’ll be there Sunday afternoon.

Sunday morning Robert called and said he’d fixed his boat. Seems when he’d installed the locknuts he’d run them down and been careful to not overtighten them. The nylon locking insert fooled him into believing he’d tightened them perfectly, when in reality the cables were flopping loosely. It was sheer luck the engine had started the first time and hadn’t left him stranded. I should have said something in the book about tightening locknuts.

LESSON LEARNED: Always check to ensure the cables are tight on the battery post. How you do it is your concern. And thanks for buying my books!

HAS YO U R D O G Enter Your Dog Now

WIN THIS Pet PFD*

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

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

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

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N 2019 YAMAHA SPECI AL ADVERT ISING SECT ION

No matter if you’re buying a 10-foot Starcraft Jon boat or a Grady-White Freedom 335, the goal is the same: Get out on the water, have fun and return home safely. When owners are asked what they consider to be the most important factor in deciding which engine to buy, reliability is tops. But owners want more out of an outboard; they also want great performance and outstanding fuel economy. Part of that equation is choosing the right horsepower for the boat and propping it to maximize your lifestyle. Sometimes it’s not easy to decide, but Yamaha has the resources to help owners get their boat dialed in.

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POWER IT UP

OK, YOU HAVE THE DIFFICULT PART FIGURED OUT. You’ve decided to buy a boat powered by a Yamaha, a decision that was helped along by having a local Five Star Yamaha dealer in your area. But which outboard do you choose? Often, a boat will have a wide range of power options, which can lead to confusion. Some offshore boats can operate with a single engine or two or more. Pontoon boats can have the same “problem,” but it can be further complicated by having a different number and styles of tubes to choose from. This is where having a great dealer can be a huge help. They won’t try to upsell you to a bigger, more expensive model with more power than you need; they will listen to your needs and wants and try to match those with the perfect boat for your family.

O

Yamaha has some resources to help you decide, including 1,238 Performance Bulletins posted on yamahaoutboards.com under the Owner Resources tab. What’s great about the Yamaha Performance Bulletins is you can compare test data, on a lot of models, for several different power packages on the same boat.

One of Yamaha’s newest engines is the XTO Offshore 425, which, like its name implies, was designed primarily to push large offshore boats. But now, a little more than a year into its production, it is appearing on a variety of boats, from pontoons to bay boats, proving it’s more than a one-mission outboard. Yamaha’s recent test of the Grady-White Canyon 336 with these engines quite revealed some interesting results.

Grady-White Canyon 336

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2 0 1 9 YA M A H A water. One significant difference between the two tested boats was the difference in weight, which would make you think fuel economy would suffer badly on the Dual, but because of the added speed, they are closer than you would guess.

Tubes Matter

Grady-White Canyon 336

More HP Can be More Efficient The Canyon 336 is one of Grady-White’s most popular offshore boats. It’s a brawny center console fishing machine that was first built in 2007. What’s really interesting about this boat is it performed most efficiently with the XTO Offshore 425. Thanks to innovations like being the first four-stroke outboard to employ high-pressure direct-injection, which sprays fuel directly into the combustion chamber for a more complete burn, it helped the Canyon 336 achieve the exact same fuel economy as the test boat with Twin F350s, and did so at a faster speed. The test with the twin F250s was with the older generation engines with the 4.2L block, but it shows the vast difference in top speed more horsepower can make, and in this case, the smallest engines got fewer mpg at cruise than even the XTO Offshore 425–equipped boat.

Single or Twin Engines?

For sheer head-turning wow factor, a pontoon with twin engines is pretty hard to beat. For years, pontoons suffered from an image problem where they were thought to be boats best suited for people who eschew excitement.

Sylvan S5 Today, however, tripletube pontoons with two big outboards are considered downright cool.

Sylvan is a luxury pontoon builder that makes the S5 with one or two outboards, but both choices have the power to generate some excitement. An S5 powered by a single Yamaha F300 is a sporty pontoon that reaches 46.4 mph, but the S5 Dual with twin F300s rips across the lake at 55.8 mph, which will blow most boats off the

54

Qwest pioneered the luxury compact pontoon segment, which is one of the most popular today, and boats such as the Luxury Series 820 RLS can handle a variety of tasks. If leisurely cruising and entertaining is your thing, the two-tube version powered by a Yamaha F70 is ideal and pushes it to a top speed of 21.7 mph. But if you want to add watersports and some thrill to your boating adventure, adding a third tube and an F150 takes the LS 820 XRE Cruise to a whole new place with a top speed of 43.3 mph.

One thing to note is that at each boat’s best cruise speed, the fuel economy is nearly identical thanks to the extra lift provided by the addition of a third tube that gets more of the tubes out of the water.

GRADY-WHITE CANYON 336

TEST POWER: Twin F250 TEST WEIGHT: 12,481 lbs.

TOP SPEED: 42.9 mph FUEL ECONOMY: 1.21 mpg @ 26.6 mph/4000 rpm

TEST POWER: Twin F350 TEST WEIGHT: 12,532 lbs.

TOP SPEED: 51.9 mph FUEL ECONOMY: 1.36 mpg @ 28.8 mph/3500 rpm

A Little Extra HP Wellcraft’s new 162 Fisherman is a compact, super-affordable center console fishing boat that has loads of storage for a 16-foot, 4-inch boat and comes complete with a host of standard features, including a trailer. Yamaha tested this boat with an F70 and an F90, tests that illustrated the effect a little extra horsepower can make. The Yamaha F70 is one of Yamaha’s best outboards ever with an excellent powerto-weight ratio, but in this test the F90 had the ability to push the 162 Fisherman to a different

`

TEST POWER: Twin XTO Offshore 425 TEST WEIGHT: 13,194 lbs.

TOP SPEED: 54.7 mph FUEL ECONOMY: 1.36 mpg @ 31.7 mph/3500 rpm

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 BOATINGWORLD.COM

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+ BW Yamaha new.indd 54

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Grady Days

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2 0 1 9 YA M A H A

SPECI AL ADVERT ISING SECT ION

SYLVAN S5

TEST POWER: Single F300 TEST WEIGHT: 3,750 lbs.

TOP SPEED: 46.4 mph FUEL ECONOMY: 2.8 mpg @ 23.5 mph/3500 rpm • TEST POWER: Twin F300 TEST WEIGHT: 6,314 lbs.

TOP SPEED 55.8 mph

level. The F70-powered 162 Fisherman reached a top speed of 33.9 mph and got 7.63 mpg at 4000 rpm. The Wellcraft 162 with the F90 hit 43.0 mph and got even better fuel economy, at 8.01 mpg. In fairness, part of the wide disparity in speed could be attributed to the 3-inch pitch difference in the Talon aluminum props, as you’ll discover in the Prop Me Up article in this special section. And if you are going for the ultimate performance, going with a stainless steel prop will also make a difference. At wellcraft.com, the price with the F90 is only $1,538 more and would be money well-spent.

Qwest LS 820

QWEST LS 820 XRE (TWO TUBES) TEST POWER: F70 TEST WEIGHT: 2,269 lbs.

Best choice? No choice Some manufacturers create boat designs that work best with a specific engine, and in the case of the Ranger Tugs R-27, that engine is the Yamaha F300. The

TOP SPEED: 21.7 mph FUEL ECONOMY: 5.04 mpg @ 12.1 mph/4000 rpm

FUEL ECONOMY: 1.91 mpg @ 31.1 mph/3500 rpm

Wellcraft 162 Fisherman

RANGER TUGS R-27 TEST POWER: F300

WELLCRAFT 162 FISHERMAN

TEST WEIGHT: 8,518 lbs.

TOP SPEED: 42.3 mph @ 5900 rpm FUEL ECONOMY: 2.01 mpg @ 30.7 mph/4500 rpm

56

TEST POWER: F70

TEST POWER: F90

TEST WEIGHT: 2,111 lbs.

TEST WEIGHT: 2,223 lbs.

TOP SPEED: 33.9 mph FUEL ECONOMY: 7.63 mpg @ 19.9 mph/4000 rpm

TOP SPEED: 43.0 mph FUEL ECONOMY: 8.01 mpg @ 27.7 mph/4000 rpm

QWEST LS 820 XRE CRUISE (THREE TUBES) TEST POWER: Yamaha F150 TEST WEIGHT: 2,924 lbs.

TOP SPEED: 43.3 mph FUEL ECONOMY: 5.0 mpg @ 17.5 mph/3000 rpm

R-27 Luxury Edition is a tug-style cruiser that’s loaded with standard features, including a generator, A/C, a full electronics suite with autopilot and a standup head. It’s designed as a turnkey cruiser that needs no options to take it straight from the showroom to the water. Most tugs feature small diesel engines that push them to top speeds of less than 10 mph, but with the Yamaha F300, the R-27 is transformed into a cruiser that’s also at home going fishing or staging watersports. During Yamaha tests, it achieved its best fuel economy at 4500 rpm, at which point the boat reached 30.7 mph and the F300 achieved about 2 mpg. Even at the boat’s top speed of 42.3 mph, the Yamaha still got 1.6 mpg, giving the R-27 plenty of range with its large 150-gallon fuel tank.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 BOATINGWORLD.COM

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+ BW Yamaha new.indd 56

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Keep the whole crew happy.

Oh they’ll be smiling all right. After all, what’s not to love about a SunChaser? It’s the perfect pontoon for fishing, cruising, or just dropping anchor and practicing cannonballs. We know you never want to get off the pontoon, and with a full fiberglass console, rounded bow, recessed cup holders, and a changing room on board you might not have to. So c’mon dad. See your dealer for a test spin.

Now look who’s smiling.

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SPECI AL ADVERT ISING SECT ION

2 0 1 9 YA M A H A

PROP ME UP

YOU MIGHT HAVE THE PERFECT BOAT and outboard, but without the right prop you won’t be able to get the most out of your rig.

Choices abound on the market, so pulling the trigger can be a daunting proposition — pardon the expression. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone; Yamaha has a wealth of experience and is willing to share it, so boaters can find the perfect prop.

Y

So what is the perfect propeller? That’s like asking, what’s the ideal boat? It all depends on what activities you want to do and what is important to your family. Often, that answer is complicated. Most boaters are multitaskers, meaning one family might want to go fishing in the morning, skiing in the afternoon and then entertain friends on a sunset cruise. And this is where it gets a bit complicated. If you have a Five Star Certified Yamaha dealer near you, that will be a huge help. Such dealers have the experience, know-how and wide range of props to help you get dialed in, thanks to Yamaha’s wide array of propeller solutions. Also, yamaha outboards.com has a Prop Selector section that can make recommendations based on boat type, usage and performance goals.

Also on Yamaha’s website, check out the Performance Bulletins, which are hundreds of boat tests by Yamaha engineers that give detailed info about the prop(s) they used to achieve their results, along with weather Yamaha Talon SS Three and Four Blade

conditions and load info. Even if your boat isn’t listed, there’s likely a similar boat.

Before getting started, it’s important to know some basic tenets of prop science. All Yamahas — from the F2.5 to the XTO Offshore 425 — have a max rpm range that sets a target for you. To get the most out each engine, first check the specs and find the max rpm range for your specific model. Say your Starcraft MDX 210 OB deckboat has a Yamaha F200 on the transom. Yamahaoutboards.com shows this engine has a max wide-open throttle range of 5000 to 6000 rpm.

Yamaha OEM application engineer Chris Holbrook says an engine should ideally be

able to turn at the top 300 rpm of its range because that’s where it makes its maximum power.

The F200 is listed as making 200 horsepower at 5500 rpm, so why not make that its max? Because you want some flexibility based on the passenger load you might expect to carry and the trim you typically run it at. The Starcraft MDX 210 is a multipurpose watersports/entertainment boat that can carry up to 12 people, so if the F200 can only hit 5500 rpm while fully trimmed out with one person on board, it won’t be able to achieve that with a full house.

A properly dialed-in prop should be able to reach top rpm when trimmed out at max throttle until just before it loses grip. Then when you trim the motor in a little, it should be right in the powerband’s max sweet spot.

So how do you achieve the ideal top rpm? Two things affect rpm the most: 1. Prop diameter 2. Prop pitch Diameter is mostly determined

58

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

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BOATINGWORLD.COM

8/2/19 2:20 PM

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

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by an engine’s lower unit clearance. A larger diameter prop is good for pushing lots of water, so if it’s a heavy boat or one that often carries a large load, the bigger the better. The new Yamaha XTO Offshore 425 has the torque needed to swing a giant 17-inch or bigger prop and is useful for pushing large offshore boats such as the aforementioned GradyWhite Freedom 335 to speeds greater than 50 mph, with twin engines. But a larger prop, having more inertia and more blade surface area, will have a more difficult time spinning faster, so an engine might not achieve ideal rpm with the largest possible diameter prop.

For most applications, a prop with a diameter somewhere in the middle of the acceptable range is usually a good place to start.

By far, the easiest way to dial in the proper rpm is by choosing the ideal pitch, which is expressed in inches and refers to the length the prop would move during each revolution if there were no slip (picture it as a screw going through wood). Each inch of change in

2 0 1 9 YA M A H A

the pitch changes the rpm 150 or so (+ or - 50 rpm) depending on the motor and boat. So let’s say you are running a Yamaha F115 on a Qwest LS XRE Cruise with a Gen II triple tube package but the holeshot is sluggish and it’s only reaching 5200 rpm. According to Yamaha’s Prop Selector, you would want to decrease the pitch by 3 or 4 inches to bring the rpm up to an estimated 5850 to 6000 rpm. After this change, the next time you go waterskiing you should notice a huge improvement in the boat’s ability to pull a heavy slalom skier out of the water.

So what kind of prop should you get? It can be confusing. Props are made of aluminum and stainless steel, and they come with three and four blades. Some people might balk at the price of a stainless steel prop, but aluminum props are thicker because they flex, and choosing one will usually sacrifice some performance. But carrying a low-cost, lightweight aluminum prop as a spare might be the way to go.

A three-blade prop is more efficient and typically costs less than a four-blade prop, but in certain applications a four-blade prop can be very helpful. The typical tradeoff is potentially losing a few mph off your boat’s top-end speed, but it will be quicker out of the hole and might be just what an angler needs for a bay boat while fishing in shallow water or with a heavy load. A four-blade prop would also tend to help an outboard perform better in rougher water, to keep more blade area in contact with the water, so offshore boats could benefit greatly from the switch. Again, this is where the experience of a great dealer will come into play, as he can help you arrive at the best propeller solution possible.

Among the many fine props on the market, only Yamaha props (on select models) have the Shift Dampener System (SDS), which uses a special splined rubber and brass hub to greatly reduce the vibration and sound when the engine is put in gear. 

BOATINGWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

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The first person to turn in the best boat name will receive a pair of Voyage combo skis from Connelly (connellyskis. com), valued at $169.99.

How to enter: We’ll reprint the cartoon with the winning boat name in the January 2020 issue. Submissions are due by October 10.

Email editor@boatingworld.com with “Name the Boat” in the subject

Featuring a traditional shape that’s augmented by

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