July/August 2018 – Boating World Magazine

Good times don’t build themselves.

They’re built on 3,286 quality assurance tests.

THE ALL-NEW

V-8 Verado® Because the most unexpected thing happens when you don’t have to worry about reliability, noise, or fuel economy—it’s called a lifelong memory.

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Living the life of a FAMI LY M A N and a FI S HE R M A N BUILT FOR THAT

210 FSH ® SERIES Go where no other boat has gone before. With powerful twin TR-1® Yamaha Marine Engines, ample storage and comfortable bow seating, the all-new 210 FSH provides the shallow-water capability to get to those hard-to-reach fishing spots and the versatility to enjoy watersports with your family.

210 FSH®

210 FSH® Deluxe

210 FSH® Sport

YA M A H A B OAT S . C O M

©2018 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. Follow instructional materials and obey all laws. Drive responsibly, wearing protective apparel. Always drive within your capabilities, allowing time and distance for maneuvers, and respect others around you.

Don’t drink and drive. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT YAMAHABOATS.COM OR CALL 1.800.88.YAMAHA.

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Contents

J u ly/Aug u st 201 8 • Vol u m e 39 N o. 7

MAGAZINE

pg.

48

Here are 20 pontoon developments that might surprise you.

VOLUME XXXIX NUMBER 7

4

Editor’s Letter

6

Currents

Get others involved with fishing Bits from the boating world

12 Trailering Watch 5 potential trailer weak spots 16 Watersports Learn how to #PassTheHandle 20 Fishing Don’t spook the fish 24 Engines Mercury 4.6L V-8 26 DIY Upgrade your trailer to disc brakes 28 Ask the Experts Our panel of experts answers your questions 32 Gear The latest accessories, gadgets and electronics

features

48

54

Here are 20 pontoon developments that might surprise you.

Keep honest people honest with these tips for securing and safeguarding your boat and trailer.

At the Cool Kids’ Table

BY HEATHER STEINBERGER

34 Bonehead Blunders Mistakes no boater should make

Stop, Thief!

BY ZUZANA PROCHAZKA

64 Contest: Name the Boat Win a 4-person inflatable lounge from Connelly

boats tested

Avalon 2385 Catalina Rear Lounger

Avalon spreads some of its ultra-high-end luxury to its midlevel Catalina line.

Grand Mariner SEL 230

Sterndrives and pontoons are still a great match. The Grand Mariner SEL 230 is proof.

Stingray 236CC

Stingray’s take on the center console comes with lots of options.

Ranger Z521L

To celebrate its 50th birthday, Ranger gave itself and bass anglers everywhere a great gift.

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Editor’s Letter

by Ala n Jones

THE BOATING WORLD TEAM RESPONDS:

“

What’s the URL of the website you create to dispense advice about backyard fireworks shows?

PUBLISHER

Duncan McIntosh Jr.

RocketsRedDare.com ASSOC . EDITOR/PUBLISHER Jeff Fleming

KaBoomKoach.com

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alan Jones

HighFour.com

MANAGING EDITOR Mike Werling

StanchTheFlow.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR Stephanie Shibata

FireworksWillGetYouMurked.com

PA S S T H E J OY A COUPLE OF weeks ago, at a Navionics/Raymarine press event that brought 30 anglers from

all over North America to Stuart, Fla., to undertake three days of fishing, I got to experience one of my favorite fishing joys: watching other people catch a species they’ve never caught before. Not grunts or triggerfish, either, but two of the most glamorous species that swim: sailfish and dolphin (aka mahi mahi). Most were experienced anglers who mainly fish for freshwater species, but I could tell it was a thrill for them. And it brought to mind some of my fondest boating memories.

Of course, I remember when I caught my first mahi and sailfish back in the 1980s in Vero Beach, Fla., not far from where we fished in this event, but those memories pale in comparison to the times I took family and friends offshore for the first time. My grandmother, Zada Belle Jones, loved to fish in her native Kentucky for species such as crappie, bluegill and catfish, but nothing prepared her for fishing in the Florida Keys when she was in her late 80s. She was a little freaked out by the prospect of going so far offshore and insisted on wearing her orange life jacket at all times. When she hooked her first barracuda, a large one that jumped six feet in the air and took off on a lightning-fast run, she tried to pass the rod to someone else. But I told her, “This is your fish, Granny,” so she hung on for dear life and reeled it in. The photo we took still makes me smile.

On another trip to Key Largo, I had my dad, my brother, my sisters and my excitable German brother-in-law on board. We were trolling ballyhoo when the first dolphin hit.

While that got their attention, it was nothing compared to when I left it in the water, started throwing cut bait in the water and 50 more bright blue and green fish started swarming around the boat. I handed everyone a light spinning rod with a piece of cut bait, and four of them immediately hooked up. Bedlam ensued as everyone yelled and got their lines crossed. But we got the fish to the boat and managed to repeat that routine, two more times. By dinner that night, the adrenaline surge still hadn’t abated.

Watching other people catch fish for the first time is still a thrill. This month, boat owners have a chance to experience something similar. An event called Pass the Handle is taking place all across North America (see Watersports on page 16). Its organizers are encouraging everyone to take someone — or many someones — skiing, boarding and surfing for the first time. Trust me, it’s the same thrill. BW

ART DIRECTOR Julie Hogan

PetMeds.com

PRODUCTION Mary Monge

GetNeighborsRedGlare.com

CIRCUL ATION MGR. Rick Avila

KeepYourFingers.com

CIRCUL ATION ASSISTANTS

Emily Wells Horneff LightUpTheNight.com

Dustin Nguyen ThatsYourProblem.com ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING

Call (949) 660-6150

REGIONAL SALES MANAGERS

Annabelle Zabala StickyFingersBeware.com

Felice Lineberry AlcoholandFireworksCanMix.com MARKETPL ACE SALES MGR. Jon Sorenson

MortarMart.com

AD COORDINATORS

Jennifer Chen ItsJustSkySprinkles.com Lacee Garcia TearsForEars.com

TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR Dave Kelsen

AndThenThereWere3Fingers.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS

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

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

VOLUME 39 • NO. 7 Boating World Editorial and Advertising Offices, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708; (949) 660-6150. Boating World (ISSN 1059-5155, USPS 16200) is printed in the U.S.A. and published nine times a year in Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, Jun., Jul./Aug., Sept./Oct. and Nov./Dec. at 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 by Duncan McIntosh Co. Inc. Periodicals Postage paid at Santa Ana, CA 92799 and at additional mailing offices. Editorial contributions are welcome. Please submit all contributions to the editor, accompanied by M AG A Z I N E 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 © 2018, all rights reserved. PERMISSIONS: MMaterial AG A Z I Nin E this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission.

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Currents

by Steph a n ie S h ibata

LEAD BOAT  LOWE SPORT FISH 212 WALK THRU

Anglers Alley

With a clear center path from transom to bow, Lowe’s SF212 WT is imminently fishable.

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FREEDOM

The center walkway is unobstructed from swim platform to bow, so a fish-fighter has room to roam.

of movement. Anglers need it when they have a fish on, and the Lowe SF212 Walk Thru provides it. Yes, it has seating for up to its maximum 10 people (though a couple of those passengers better be children) on two aft sofas, twin captain’s chairs and two pedestal fishing chairs in the bow, but the center walkway is unobstructed from swim platform to bow, so a fish-fighter has room to roam.

A stowable table sets up easily between the aft sofas, for those times when fishing isn’t the primary activity.

Other fishing-centric features include trolling motor options from MotorGuide and fishfinder options from Lowrance, a 13-gallon aerated livewell forward of the console and aft of the starboard fishing chair, Traxstech options (for configurable rod holders), and a console to starboard that can hold upright rods and other equipment and serve as a prep station with the lid closed.

When it’s time for watersports or swimming, the full swim platform — made possible by an all-aluminum motor pod at the transom — serves as a place to boot up or relax. An integrated boarding ladder ensures everyone can get back aboard easily.

The 21-foot, 4-inch double-tube pontoon has abundant storage, under both aft sofas and in a console next to the portside fishing chair, and a 9-foot Bimini can throw plenty of shade. An optional ski tow and engine options from 25 to 115 hp (150 hp with the TL Package that includes a middle tube) mean towed fun is definitely in the picture, as top speed with a Mercury 115 FourStroke was 29 mph in company testing.

Lowe Boats, loweboats.com BOATINGWORLD.COM

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CURRENTS

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

MAY CONTEST WINNER: Tax Sea-vasion

Scott Duink from Sarasota, Fla., was the first to submit the winning name, Tax Sea-vasion. For ratting out our grumpy boat owner, Scott receives an Orbit 2 Soft Top Towable from Connelly (connellyskis. com), valued at $239.99.

MORE OF MAY’S BEST ENTRIES:

Schedule Sea

Tax Ride-off

Don’t Dock Me

Mark Mongeau, Orlando

Tim Paige, San Marcos, CA

Albert Tesoro, Seminole, FL

To Hull With the IRS

SeaPA

Auditable Cry

Larry Bagans, Grosse Ile, MI

Jeff Jacobs, via BoatingWorld.com

Michael Pohl, Portland, MI

Eric Alleshouse, Saugus, CA

Offshore Tax Heaven

Chad Uelmen, Beaver Dam, WI

Deependent

Bernie Matsumoto, Half Moon Bay, CA

Rick Martin illustration

Liquid Asset

Anibal Scuadroni, via BoatingWorld.com

Wax On, Tax Off

Waxed-n-Taxed

Audit Ahoy UnderWater Bruce Barbour, via BoatingWorld.com

Roger Tidball, Jamestown, CA

Aimee Tesoro, Seminole, FL

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The Color of Boating CITRUS GREEN

Quantum Paint (quantumpaint.com) unveiled its first-ever list of the most popular topside paint colors for 2017, based on orders from builders, dealers, yards and boat owners. Who knew Citrus green would be in the top three?

1. Pure white 2. Snow white 3. Citrus green 4. PCDC orange 5. CTI blue 6. Brilliant blue

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Fireworks shows over the water are spectacular. If your plans involve taking your boat to a show, or being a passenger on someone else’s boat, keep a few things in mind, courtesy of Sea Tow Foundation.

1. Designate a sober skipper.

2. Make sure everyone on board the boat is wearing a life jacket that fits.

3. Don’t overload

the boat with passengers.

4. Remember that at night visual navigation marks you rely on during the day may be

invisible.

5. Don’t bring store-bought fireworks along on the boat to fire off yourself.

6. Never fire

7. Aquamarine metallic 8. Gunmetal Gray metallic 9. Whaler blue

10. Off Shore white

8

Safe Viewing

emergency flares in place of fireworks. They are not intended for this use and often burn hotter and faster than fireworks.

In addition, it is against the law to make a false call for help.

7. Keep a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water handy to put out any sparks that might accidentally drift over to your boat from the fireworks display.

8. Don’t be in a rush to get home.

9. Obey U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary designated zones and follow their orders.

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FA S T FAC T

123.2

Uva Perez holds the “Unofficial World Record” for fastest PWC, at 123.2 mph, set in 2017, according to PWCWorldRecords.com.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

6/1/18 8:09 AM

START CHARTING SOME

d e t r a h c n U Waters

THE ALL-NEW, ALL-ADVENTURE 2018 SEA-DOO PERFORMANCE MODELS Completely redesigned to take you on the adventure of a lifetime. With the industry’s most stable platform in rough water, a new cargo system to attach a jerry can or cooler, a waterproof Bluetooth‡ Audio System and a huge swim platform for gearing up or hanging out, now there are no limits to adventure. VISIT SEA-DOO.COM AND ESCAPE THE EVERYDAY. ©2018 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. In the U.S.A., products are distributed by BRP US Inc. Always ride safely and responsibly. ‡Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by BRP is under license.

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CURRENTS

S A LT Y D O G OF THE MONTH

Dog: Hooch Owners: Mia Schrader & Brad Miller

Enter Your Dog Now

WIN THIS Dog Vest

Lake Superior

MN

Lake Huron Lake Ontario

WI Lake Michigan

NY

MI

Lake Erie

IA

PA IL

IN

OH

BIG NUMBERS

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

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

WOR LD ’ S SMALLE ST G IANT At 527 hp, Seven Marine’s newest uber-outboard is also its smallest but perhaps most sophisticated model. Like its bigger siblings — the 557 (which is being phased out), the new 577 and, king of the outboard power wars, the 627 — it’s based on the reliable 6.2L Cadillac CTS-V V-8 engine, which comes with a three-year warranty that can be extended to five years.

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2 6 4

5

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3 4 5 6

New for this year but not shown is a twin-prop contra-rotating (CR) option with a 2.55:1 gear ratio for more thrust for use on bigger boats.

A new, strengthened twin-pinion single-prop gearcase has a 1.91:1 gear ratio that can swing props up to 19 and a half inches, for more torque on larger, heavier boats.

A new louvered intake system feeds more cold air to the intercooled supercharger for better performance.

An integrated power steering system makes handling this extreme amount of power easy.

A ZF-built transmission uses wet disc clutches, normally found on large inboard boats, for greater reliability.

A new feature called Harmonic Acoustics decreases noise without reducing power.

Lake Superior

3 quadrillion Gallons of water — that’s 15 zeros — in Lake Superior

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Depth, in feet, to which the water in Lake Superior could submerge both North and South America — forcing everyone to get a boat

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Percentage of the world’s fresh surface water held in Lake Superior

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Average degrees, Celsius, of the lake’s water

60,000

Weight, in tons, of some of the cargo ships that ply the lake (so boaters should pay heed)

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JUST GO. N E W L A R G E 12- I N C H D I S P L AY

GO SERIES CHARTPLOT TER / FISHFINDER

Bigger, easier, and safer — the new Simrad Go Series allows you to maximize your time on the water. A super-bright touchscreen makes navigation easy, and with the widest choice of maps, radar compatibility, and optional transducer bundles, upgrading to Simrad has never been easier or more affordable.

AVAILABLE IN 5, 7, 9, AND 12-INCH DISPLAYS. Radar available on GO7, 9 and 12

SIMRAD-YACHTING.COM/GO

Trailering

Potent ia l Wea k S pot s

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Weak Links Don’t let one of a trailer’s 5 potential weak points become a problem.

BY GREGG MANSFIELD

• HERE’S A HARD TRUTH ABOUT when a boat trailer breaks down: It’s probably the owner’s fault. It’s not what anyone wants to hear stranded on the side of the highway after the day on the water that just got really expensive. Marine trailers are underappreciated workhorses that too many boaters don’t pay attention to until something goes wrong, so at the very least spend time with these five weak spots.

the Vault Hybrid Lubrication system, which guarantees no maintenance or service for up to 10 years.

To check the condition of traditional bearings, Knudtzon recommends jacking up one side of the trailer, when it’s not hitched to the tow vehicle. The wheel should spin freely and quietly. Look behind the wheel. Any spots where grease or grime has built up could indicate a possible leak.

“If the bearings produce a noise or feel rough, then you know there is already damage occurring within the bearing,” Knudtzon said.

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WHEEL BEARINGS

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The most common culprits in trailer breakdowns are improperly maintained wheel bearings, said David Knudtzon, owner of Auburn Sports & Marine in Auburn, Wash. Hidden away in the wheel assembly, the bearings are subjected to extreme road heat and cold water during dunkings into the lake or ocean.

The wheel bearings, which are lubricated with either grease or oil, should be repacked yearly. There are worry-free bearing systems on the market, including

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BRAKES

Today’s marine trailer brakes are better and less expensive than systems sold a decade ago, and disc brakes have generally replaced drum brakes on newer trailers, but that doesn’t mean they’re maintenance-free.

Trailers that sit outside for a long period of time will build up rust on the rotors and calipers, causing the calipers to freeze.

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TRAILERING

Boat owners often blame the problem on a faulty master cylinder, but rust is the real enemy.

“I live down near the beach and my cars, if I haven’t driven them in a week, the rotors start to get surface rust, and the second I apply the brakes, the surface rust breaks off,” said Jeff Ash, who owns Pacific Boat Trailers in Chino Hills, Calif. “You should inspect the brakes every six months and maybe more frequently if you’re dipping the trailer in water a lot.”

Check the brake fluid level on the actuator before a trip. If it’s using lots of DOT 3 fluid, there could be a leak.

3

LIGHTS & WIRING

Electricity and water don’t mix, but for the latest generation of LED marine trailer lights, that’s not a problem. While today’s LED lights are watertight and come with lifetime warranties, the issues Ash sees on trailers his business services have to do with the wiring. Wire connections aren’t

A little preventative maintenance will greatly extend the life of your trailer."

TurboSwing is the Ultimate Solution for Watersports Towing with an Outboard Powered Boat

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fully sealed, which leads to corrosion. More frequently, rocks or brush will damage wires on the outside of the trailer.

“Another thing we see is a lot of damage from rats,” Ash said. “If you park your trailer, whether it’s inside or outside, rats like to eat wires, just like on cars.”

Ash said boat owners should do a quick inspection to look for exposed wire and repair and seal any damaged spots.

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TIRES

A blown trailer tire is not only expensive but can damage the trailer. Most tire blowouts are the result of neglect and not a defect, so owners should conduct regular inspections that look for unusual wear or cracking. If the tires need to be replaced, use only tires manufactured for trailers.

Before any road trip, it’s important to check the tire pressure, making sure they’re all inflated to the maximum PSI, as recommended by the manufacturer.

“If the tire is anything lower than the

max, it’s losing its weight capability, and technically it’s underinflated, which is not holding the weight it should be,” said Tony Ramirez, who handles sales and customer service for Extreme Custom Trailers in Rialto, Calif. “Going down a road like that, you start breaking down the sidewalls and eventually the tire is going to fail.”

Most trailers now use torsion-axle suspension, which makes it difficult to spot underinflated tires, Ramirez said. “(With) leaf-spring trailers when you have a flat tire, the rim goes down to the ground, so you can tell it’s flat,” he said. “With torsion, the other axle basically takes up a lot of the weight, so the rim doesn’t go down to the ground and look like it’s flat.”

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RUST & GENERAL NEGLECT

Rust and general neglect are mortal enemies of trailers. Doing nothing to stave off rust or maintain a trailer will dramatically shorten its service life. A well-maintained marine trailer can last 10 years.

“I’ve seen trailers come in here that are 2 years old and we can just tell they’ve been neglected,” Ramirez said. “They’re going to be ready for a new trailer in two or three years.”

If the trailer touches salt water even once, it should be manufactured from galvanized steel or aluminum. The trailer must be thoroughly flushed with fresh water, but some rust is inevitable because of the corrosive salt.

On painted trailers, Auburn Sports & Marine’s Knudtzon said his technicians look for bubbling paint, which is a sure sign of rust. Paint chips and bubbling paint should always be repaired.

Knudtzon recommended getting the boat and trailer serviced yearly at the same time and seeking out mechanics who specialize in marine trailers.

“We see a lot of problems with boat trailers that are done at automotive facilities,” Knudtzon said. “What the automotive people don’t understand is you don’t drive your car into the water.” BW

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Watersports

Pa ss t he H a n d le

Texas Ski Ranch hosted a Pass the Handle day for the blind at its facility, in New Braunfels.

PASS THE HANDLE is a movement. Yes, there’s a day associated with it — July 22 this year — but thanks to this era of social media and hashtags, Pass the Handle is a year-round event, or at least it’s growing into one. The brainchild of wake pros Zane Schwenk and Shaun Murray, PTH has gone from idea to event to the largest participation movement in the towed watersports industry, in just five years, according to the Water Sports Industry Association.

Propping up Participation The Pass the Handle movement aims to get people interested in behind-the-boat activities.

The key to PTH’s growth has been its adoption by the WSIA, which has given it an established platform, but beyond that it has grown because there’s no structure limiting it to a day, region or motif. Anyone who teaches another person to ski, board or surf for the first time can claim to have passed the handle. In fact, Schwenk, Murray and WSIA executive director Kevin Michael encourage anyone who gets someone else started to share it on social media using #PassTheHandle.

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“It’s a social media movement, and really a movement to get more people to take friends and others who may not have the chance to stand up on the water and get that feeling we all know and love,” Schwenk said. “So #PassTheHandle is our hashtag, and we’ve had posts from 25 different countries and through social media channels millions of exposures. Engagement has been really high.”

Michael manages and promotes the movement from WSIA’s Orlando offices, but that’s a bit like saying George R.R. Martin manages “Game of Thrones” watch parties. He created the books that created the series that took on a life of its own and spawned events, and Michael hopes PTH is headed in that direction. While he (and others) work tirelessly to get the word out, it’s up to individuals and clubs and ski schools and others around the world — the Southern Hemisphere has its PTH Day in December — to host events and lure people to the water, and it’s working.

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

Learn more at starcraftmarine.com.

W AT E R S P O R T S

“Everyone who has a stake in the industry is participating, from pro athletes to schools to wake parks to manufacturers,” Michael said. “Now in its fifth year, it’s gotten to the point where Pass The Handle has grown its own legs and it’s now the cool thing to do.”

That was always the goal, to have the event grow into its own self-propelling and self-sustaining happening, with Schwenk, Murray, WSIA and interested stakeholders — essentially the watersports industry at large — as cheerleaders and boosters. Waketivists, if you’ll pardon the inelegant hybridization.

GET INVOLVED

So what can the average boat owner do? Simple.

Take someone skiing, wakeboarding, wakesurfing or kneeboarding, even if it’s not July 22.

“Anybody can do it,” Schwenk said. “We have enthusiasts who have a boat taking friends and people who haven’t been on the water in years. We have cable parks and boat dealers and manufacturers getting behind it. Even schools and top athletes

LEARN AND PASS IT ON WSIA members have access to the Events Management Resource Guide, which helps with planning and executing successful watersports gatherings.

For someone who’d like to host something on a smaller scale, maybe for the rest of the kids on the lake, check out two videos from WSIA: vimeo.com/168217243 vimeo.com/175883695

in the world. It’s become a worldwide movement to share that experience and to get that smile. Teach someone new.”

Boys and Girls Clubs have gotten involved. Wake schools, of course, do this sort of thing all year, but they use Pass the Handle to create some buzz. If your children have friends who have never tried a tow sport, have your kids invite them along.

We asked Michael about anyone who’s done anything unique or memorable. He told us that Schwenk once taught 56 first-timers in three and a half hours. The number would’ve been higher if a storm hadn’t materialized.

“Robby Maschhaupt is definitely known as a torch carrier these days,” Michael said. “He has plans to host 75 Pass The Handle events this year alone through Southtown Watersports in North Carolina.”

So what’s next for #PassTheHandle? According to Michael, “In the future, we are going to see more of a year-round effort, more merchandising and more ways for first-timers to get on the water for free!” BW

Join in the Fun!

United States Power Squadrons is America’s Boating Club Learn boating skills.

Engage with boating friends.

Connect with the boating community.

Learn more at www.americasboatingclub.org America’s Boating Club® is a registered trademark of the United States Power Squadrons®

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THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS

FUNDECK 236 OB

SUNDECK

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FUNDECK

The FunDeck creates a wake made for fun. The clean, wide hull design generates a unique wave that’s great for all water sports, from tubing to wakeboarding. The FunDeck offers a better sporting experience than triple-tube pontoons that force water through two chambers, creating an unusable wake.

Have it all with a Hurricane FunDeck.

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Fishing

Stea lt hy Ang ling

1.

TALK IT UP

Before you leave the dock, have a short conversation with your crew about watching the volume level. While you, the captain of the boat, may be aware of how slamming a hatch will scare the snook, the people you invited aboard may be a lot less familiar with the finer points of fishing. So before you even cast off the lines, make sure everyone knows to minimize the noise.

2. STOP SHIFTING While a modern four-stroke outboard makes virtually no noise at idle, shifting it (or any engine) into gear creates a metalon-metal “thunk” that can be heard above and below the water. And that abrupt noise is more than enough to spook fish.

Savvy captains will plan their drift carefully and avoid shifting, even if the boat is out of the ideal position, until they’re well away from the fish.

Don’t Spook the Fish Stealthy fishing is successful fishing.

Here are 10 tips for better results.

BY LE N NY RU DOW

• SOUND KILLS — the bite, that is. Most anglers know that loud noises and vibrations can scare the fish and turn off the action as quickly as flipping a light switch. Whether they’re casting for crappie in a lake or trolling for tuna in the ocean, anglers need to minimize how much noise they make if they plan to fill the fishbox. These 10 tips for stealthy fishing are guaranteed to help.

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3.

SLOW DOWN All forms of propeller-driven propulsion create prop noise underwater, including electric motors. The level of that noise is directly related to the speed of the propeller. So a potent electric trolling motor running at full throttle may actually be creating more noise than some gas-powered outboards running at idle. To boost the catch rate, simply slow down.

4.

GET ELECTRIC Many boats leak stray electrical current into the water, and some species are sensitive to electrical charges. Whether a charge

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FISHING

emitted by a boat attracts or repels fish is anyone’s guess, so making sure the boat doesn’t leak electricity is a good idea. Attach a voltmeter to the negative terminal of the battery, with the other lead attached to a bare wire that’s five or six feet down into the water, to give it a test. Set the meter on DC zero to one on the 10ths of a volt scale, and turn the boat’s accessories on and off while watching the meter for jumps of more than a 10th of a volt. If it happens, there’s probably a cruddy connection or a bad ground somewhere in the system, leaking a charge into the water.

5.

FAB FOAM, TAKE II Another sort of foam that can deliver a boost of stealth is a foam pool noodle. This fix is specific to boats with hard chines, which may create a lot of chine slap as they drift.

You can eliminate it by taking a foam pool noodle up to the bow and sliding it under the chine. Its natural buoyancy will usually hold it in place between the hull and chine, but just to be safe, the noodle should be leashed to a line that’s either clipped or cleated to the boat.

8.

SOOTHE THE SAVAGE BEAST 22

9. REMAIN CALM Everyone knows that fish will often attack a lure or bait multiple times before it finds the hook. One of the ways anglers discourage a fish from striking repeatedly is by losing their cool and laughing, cursing or hollering at the initial strike. The human voice carries through water amazingly well.

Remain calm and bite your lip when a fish takes a swing and a miss, and you’re much more likely to get a follow-up bite.

6.

FAB ABOUT FOAM

One way to lower the volume level of a boat is by adding a layer of cushioning foam to the deck. SeaDek, Marine Mat, Ocean Grip and other companies make closed-cell EVA foam sheets and strips that can be used to cover that fiberglass or aluminum, shushing all kinds of noise-making accidents, such as dropped weights, stomped feet and dragged coolers.

7.

ALLURING, OR ALERTING? Some lures that are otherwise attractive can actually spook fish, particularly in very still, calm water. Lures with loud rattles, for example, can do more harm than good when the water’s surface is mirror-still. Same goes for poppers and chuggers. Casting a large or heavy lure that makes a big splashdown can have the same effect.

While there’s no doubt that booming bass or terrifying treble can scare the fish, many anglers believe that music played at a reasonable volume can improve the bite. It has nothing to do with fish “liking” the music and everything to do with masking abrupt sounds with those that are non-threatening. Just as humming a tune or whistling when walking through bear country can avert a nasty surprise, the steady sound from a low-volume stereo can prevent a sudden startle.

10.

BET ON BUMPERS Slamming hatches and other harsh fiberglass-on-fiberglass noises are guaranteed fish­ spookers. But you can put a damper on the damage by adding small rubber bumpers, or in some cases peel-and-stick rubber gaskets, to the surfaces where a hatch or lid mates with the gutter or rim. It may take a bit of experimentation to find the size and shape that cushions the blows without ruining the hatch’s seal, but the time and effort are worthwhile. BW

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YOU DIDN’T WORK THIS HARD FOR AN AVERAGE PONTOON BOAT. At Manitou, we recognize that hard work should mean great rewards — so with over 30 years of craftsmanship under our belt, we offer unmatched acceleration and handling, plus patented V-Toon® and twin tube hulls that are constructed to be the strongest in the industry. Not to mention our impeccable custom styling that ensures heads will turn when you pass others by.

All of which is why we believe that when you choose a Manitou pontoon boat, you’ve landed the highest-performing, best-quality boat in the industry. Period. For more information, visit www.manitoupontoonboats.com.

PA S S I O N . P R E C I S I O N . P E R F O R M A N C E .

Engines

M ercu r y 4 .6 L V- 8

Lightweight V-8 A true game-changer, Mercury’s new V-8 is light, strong and advanced.

BY ALAN JONES

• WHEN MERCURY PRESIDENT John Pfeifer unveiled the manufactur-

er’s new 3.4L V-6 FourStrokes at the Miami Boat Show in February, he ended the press conference by saying, “This is only step one.”

And was he ever right. That new groundbreaking platform, which I tested at Lake X earlier in the year, wowed me with its performance at 175, 200 and 225 hp (see May Boating World, p. 26). So when Mercury invited me back to the historical central Florida test site a couple of months later, I realized the first visit was only the teaser. They had built a V-8.

Now, Yamaha did the same with its F350 in 2012, but that outboard weighed 804 pounds and was designed primarily for large offshore boats. So the first Merc spec that grabbed my attention was the weight: 505 pounds for the lightest version of the new platform, the Pro XS. To put that in perspective, the lightest version of the new 3.4L V-6 Mercury weighs 475 pounds. Coincidently (or not), 505 pounds is the same weight as Mercury’s direct-injected two-stroke model, the OptiMax 250. That engine is a staple of competitive bass pros and other high-performance boaters, whose world is being turned upside down, because for model year 2019, the OptiMax will not be part of Mercury’s lineup. They probably won’t miss paying $30 for a gallon jug of Quicksilver Premium Plus two-stroke oil, but will they miss the performance? In a word, no, because these new 4.6L FourStrokes outperform the OptiMax in every metric: acceleration, top speed, fuel economy and quietude.

In a total departure from Mercury’s high-performance fourstroke strategy that used supercharged, 2.6L displacement V-6 Verado outboards to make up to 400 hp, these new V-8s are normally aspirated. They come in either 250 or 300 hp ratings and are being delivered in four distinct platforms: FourStroke, Verado, Pro XS and Racing. I’ll focus on the first two here and circle back to cover the other two in a later issue.

The name Verado, since 2004, has been associated with outboards equipped with a supercharger, so it was a bit of a surprise to find that tag applied to a motor without one. Mercury’s rationale? Verado has been synonymous with high-end features and outstanding performance, which applies to its new Verado.

Certainly no one looking at them side-by-side will mistake the two, given the new V-8’s radical angular look. There won’t be any

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The new 4.6L V-8s come in 250 and 300 hp, in a FourStroke version with the Conventional Mid-Section (bottom right) and a Verado with the Advanced MidSection (top right and left).

confusion in the marketplace, either, since Mercury is discontinuing supercharged Verado outboards of 300 hp or less. It will still offer the 350 and 400R supercharged V-6 versions, though. Who knows how many horsepower it will eventually make out of this new block? (One tantalizing prospect is to look at the 400 hp Mercury is getting out of its 2.6L block. Apply a supercharger to the new 4.6L powerhead and keep the same ratio — 154 hp per liter — and the number is 708.

Whoa! This is all wild speculation.)

There are a few differences between the 32-valve dual overhead cam V-8 FourStroke and the V-8 Verado models. To keep the FourStroke more affordable, it has the Conventional Mid-Section (CMS) and non-powered hydraulic steering as a standard, with power being an option. Repowering owners who want to keep their current controls can use mechanical or digital controls with the FourStroke. Verados are digital control only and feature the more upscale electro-hydraulic power steering or JPO steering system.

The biggest difference is the Verado’s Advanced Mid-Section (AMS), which uses innovations such as four perimeter motor mounts to reduce vibration and additional sound barriers to make it the quietest in its class. The AMS does push the weight of the Verado to 600 pounds compared to the FourStroke’s 527 pounds.

And the Verado 250 and 300 come in shaft lengths of 20, 25 and 30 inches, the same as the 250 FourStroke.

Curiously, the 30-inch shaft isn’t offered on the 300 FourStroke. Just for fun, Mercury gives Verado owners Advanced Sound Control, which temporarily alters the sound to a deeper, more aggressive Sport Mode tone by flipping a switch.

Another difference between the two platforms is the

alternator. The FourStroke has an 85-amp alternator, which is massive … until it’s compared to the Verado, which puts out a more-massive 115 changing amps.

So how does it perform? I tested the new V-8 on a number of boats, including a Ranger 621 Fisherman, a Scout 251 and an ES Custom Boats Revolution. But perhaps the most impressive acceleration I felt all day was aboard a Berkshire 25 SB Ultra pontoon equipped with a 250 Verado. Out of the hole it was a monster, with a time to plane of two seconds and a very impressive time to 30 mph of 4.1 seconds. Top speed was 47.2 mph on this 25-footer whose estimated as-tested weight was 3,500 pounds. The mid-range snap was as impressive as its holeshot. Mercury’s fuel test showed it got 4.3 mpg at 24.1 mph (3500 rpm), thanks to its Advanced Range Optimization, which reduces fuel burn at cruise speed.

Maybe the coolest feature on the new Mercury V-6 and V-8 models is the Top Cowl Service Door. Anyone who has ever tried to check an outboard’s oil in 5-foot seas can attest to what a pain it is, having to take the heavy cowling all the way off and set it somewhere before getting to business. On the Verados and FourStrokes, just push down on the panel on the top of the cowling and it pops open to reveal the dipstick and oil fill. To pull the entire cowling, within the access hatch is a latch that is simple to pull up on, and that latch becomes a convenient handle.

For customization, the FourStroke and Verado come in black or three shades of white, to match most any hull. In addition, buyers have an optional choice of four colored middle panels, or they can get it with just primer and paint it a custom color. BW

M E R CU RY V- 8 S P E C I F I CATI O N S Type Normally aspirated V-8 four-stroke

Displacement 4.6L Full-throttle range 5200-6000 rpm

Weight 527/600 lbs.

FourStroke/Verado (20 in. shaft)

Gear ratio 1.75:1/1.85:1 Price 250 FourStroke/300 Verado (20-in. shaft) $21,790/25,450

PERFORMANCE Tested with Berkshire 25 SB Ultra

Time to plane 2.0 sec.

0-30 mph 4.1 sec.

Top speed 47.2 mph Decibels @ idle 56 dBA

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Cruise 28.4 mph/ 4000 rpm/82 dBA Peak 47.2 mph/ 6000 rpm/92 dBA Mercury Marine, mercurymarine.com

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D.I.Y. I n sta ll D isc B ra kes Installing disc brakes on a trailer can be a oneperson job, and they provide better stopping power and are easier to maintain, especially the pads.

because the rest of the actuator was in great shape.

I also needed to get an electric reversing solenoid, since my drum brakes were free-backing, meaning I could back up without a solenoid. This solenoid allows me to back the trailer by preventing the fluid from pressurizing the brake lines.

Upgrade Your Trailer To Disc Brakes Instead of spending money fixing drum brakes, upgrade them to discs.

BY KEVIN HARRIS

• LIKE MANY BOAT TRAILERS, MINE had hydraulic drum brakes, but after a couple of trips to

the coast, I noticed they didn’t engage like they should. When I attempted to adjust them, I discovered the drum’s brake adjuster was rusted solid. Instead of repairing them, I decided to upgrade to disc brakes that don’t need adjusting. In addition to superior braking, disc brake pads are also much easier to replace.

Before you shop for new brakes, check to see if you have a four- or five-hole trailer axle brake mounting flange. I decided to purchase the Kodiak 12-inch Dacromet and Stainless Steel Vented Integral Rotor/Hub kit, which also included new bearings and seals. Because I had drum brakes, I needed to change my surge brake actuator to one that would accommodate the higher pressure required for disc brakes. I have a Titan Model 10 actuator and after some searching I found I was able to purchase a new master cylinder instead of having to replace the entire actuator, which saved me more than $300 and was a viable option

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First, chock the wheels or connect the trailer to its tow vehicle to ensure it doesn’t move, then jack up the boat trailer and remove the wheels, hubs, hydraulic brake lines and existing brake system (1).

Inspect the axle spindle to ensure it is in good shape (2). If it has surface rust, use 220-grit sandpaper to make it smooth again and give it a good cleaning with brake parts cleaner, to get it ready for new bearings. If it shows anything more than minor surface rust, you should consider replacing the axle. Now is a good time to check that the grease fittings are working properly and not clogged or rusted; inject some grease with a grease gun and see if it comes out of the grease hole.

Next, install the caliper mounting bracket (3). Mount the left-side caliper in the 3 o’clock position and install the right-side caliper in the 9 o’clock position.

Torque the bolts according to your axle manufacturer’s recommendations.

Time now to mount the one-piece hub and rotor assembly. After packing the seals and bearings with grease, I fitted them into the hub/rotor and then installed the hub/rotor on the axle (4). Make sure to wipe down the rotor with a rag that’s been sprayed with brake cleaner, to remove any grease that may have gotten on the rotor’s surface.

The next step is to install the caliper onto the mounting bracket and rotor (5), with the bleeder screw pointing up. I torqued the caliper guide bolts to 45 foot-pounds and then attached the brake lines to the caliper (6).

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1

2

3

5

4

The most difficult part of the installation is to bleed the brakes, which is critical to make the brakes work properly. It can be done manually or with a pressure bleeder, which can be purchased at a local auto parts store. Manually bleeding the brakes is a two-person job, because someone has to “pump” the breakaway lever on the actuator while another person opens the bleeder screw to allow the air bubbles to bleed out of the lines and calipers. It’s a good idea to re-bleed the system after your first tow, just in case there was an air bubble that dislodged during the trip.

Now you can reinstall the wheels, according to torque specs for your axle/ wheel. It’s a good idea to recheck the lug nuts after your first trip.

The final step is wiring the reversing solenoid (7). On my trailer, I had to swap the four-way plug for a seven-way plug.

Then I ran the left/right turn, stop and taillight wires to the appropriate locations

7

6

THE MATERIALS

TOOLS/MATERIALS NEEDED

PRICE BREAKDOWN

Wrenches/sockets (mine were 9/16”)

Kodiak Disc Brake Kit

Torque wrench

Hammer (just in case)

Lucas Marine Wheel Bearing Grease (2)

Rust-penetrating spray

Dot 3 Brake Fluid

Brake parts cleaner

Reversing Solenoid

$20.99

Lots of rags

Dot 3 brake fluid

Titan Disc Brake Master Cylinder

$56.50

7-way plug

Wheel bearing grease

on the new plug. For the reversing solenoid, I ran the hot wire to the reverse wire on the plug, then installed the other wire to the trailer’s ground. To check that the solenoid is working properly, have someone press the brake pedal on your tow vehicle. You should hear a faint click, which is the solenoid closing, which will allow you to back the trailer when you’re

$299.99 $6.99 each $4.95

$6.00

in reverse.

During every tow, at every stop, check to ensure the hubs are within normal operating range (130 to 175 degrees Fahrenheit), which can be accomplished with a cheap thermal scanner from any parts store. If the hubs are hotter than that, you may have a bad bearing or may need to re-grease the hubs. BW

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Ask the Experts

Q

+A

MAINTENANCE

Be Better After the Catch

Q I think I do a decent

job taking care of my rods and reels after a day of fishing, but I can probably do it better.

What advice do you have for a guy who’s happy to fish all day but not necessarily to clean up afterward?

Kirk V., via BoatingWorld.com

Ed. note: This answer comes from the July 2017 Fishing column. Remove all the terminal tackle (yes, wash it too). Never leave a bottomfishing weight attached to a stored rod. It can cause a nick or a scratch in the finish, which can create a weak point

MEET OUR EXPERTS

Frank Lanier

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

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Grid Michal

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

Zuzana Prochazka

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

JULY/AUGUST 2018 BOATINGWORLD.COM

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

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

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

ASK THE EXPERTS

in carbon-fiber and other composite rods.

Tighten the drags on the reels all the way, so no water, soap or dirt gets into the plate.

Use a soft lambskin glove or a rag soaked in a bucket of soapy water to carefully wash from rod tip to butt, making sure to get into the guides and the nooks and crannies that may hold dirt. Rinse the rod thoroughly and then dry it with a chamois or a soft towel. Finally, loosen the drag on the reel so it doesn’t develop a pressure spot during storage. Now put it away. Repeat the process with the rest of the rods, reels, gaffs, nets, downriggers, pliers, etc.

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

Those will part a tight line instantly.

ENGINES

Power Increase

Q I’ve looked at more than a few new

MAKING SUMMER FUN SINCE 1965

A LEADER IN LEGACY #connellycollective

Visit us at connellyskis.com 30 JULY/AUGUST 2018 BOATINGWORLD.COM /connellyskis Insta

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four-stroke outboards and noticed they seem to come in families of same-CID. If I found, say, a good used 200 hp, how much would it cost to bring it up to a net 225 hp?

Joey R., via BoatingWorld.com

Since all manufacturers approach power increases in different fashions, I’m afraid it would entail far more than just a simple carb swap of days of yore. The ECM would be the biggest expense, and because it functions on the input from sensors, some — or all — would have to be changed. From 200 to 225 hp may involve variable valve timing or supercharging, or larger injectors in the case of the ETEC. When you note your pocket calculator is beginning to smoke and you’re only halfway to 225 prop-rated horsepower, do yourself a favor and start with what you want for horsepower. With due diligence you can find some good used engines out there. – GM

Fast Facts 54

85

Percentage of assistance calls made to TowBoatUS over Memorial Day weekend for mechanical breakdowns, including engines and other equipment.

Percentage of new traditional powerboat sales attributed to outboard-powered boats, in 2017, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

ENGINES

Lower Unit Swap

Q I have counter-rotating V-6 outboards. The port prop turns to port in forward, the starboard turns clockwise in forward. I have three questions.

1. What would happen if I swapped lower units?

2. If I leave the torque tabs where they are, how will it affect my steering, which is hydraulic?

3. What precautions should I take?

Daniel P., via BoatingWorld.com

In answer to question number one, I assume port-to-starboard, right? The boat would jump up on plane a bit quicker but be a lot more unstable.

Assuming you mean leaving them — torque tabs — where they are after swapping the gearcases, there shouldn’t be any difference, because they’re offsetting the torque of the same props.

As far as precautions, don’t leave the lower units where they are originally and just change props left-to-right. – GM

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Gear 1.

St u f f You Wa nt

SUBMIT YOUR GEAR TO STEPHANIE@BOATINGWORLD.COM

Steering Wheel

$633.93, schmittongaromarine.com

1

Primus is a new cast stainless steel steering wheel designed to deliver maximum ergonomic comfort with long-lasting engineering. The 316L stainless steel provides corrosion resistance and has minimal maintenance needs. UV-resistant black Santoprene rubber provides all-weather control and comfort, and an optional stainless steel Control Knob features glass ball bearings that eliminate corrosion and provide a lifetime of free spinning.

2.

Stereo Receiver

$299.95, prospecelectronics.com Prospec Electronics introduced the JBLPRV275 stereo receiver for boat owners. The all-weather device has a rotary encoder, 2 3/4 -inch color screen and video input, in a housing that fits a standard, compact 3 1/2 -inch round cutout. Prospec calls the JBLPRV275 one of the more adaptable stereo receivers available. Wired remote ready, it plays via Bluetooth audio streaming with ID tagging or through three inputs: USB, aux or video. The receiver also has AM/FM/weather band channels for a dynamic acoustic experience.

3.

2

3

Portable Charger

$99.99, mycharge.com

Adventure Jump Start is a portable charger that’s easy to take on the boat for a day on the water. Not only will Jump Start charge smartphones and other devices, it can actually jumpstart the boat’s battery, should that be necessary. With 400 amps of peak current and 200 amps of jump start current, the battery provides the power necessary to jump a boat battery. The Adventure Jump Start includes detachable jumper cables that provide LED feedback for safe use.

4.

Kayak Tackle Box

$119.99, planomolding.com Kayak fishing is a great way to get closer to the water, but having all of one’s fishing gear at hand in such close quarters can be an issue. The Plano Kayak V-Crate tackle center allows kayaking anglers to have their gear readily available and also stowed safe and dry. The waterproof milk crate–size base fits in the rear cargo compartment of most fishing kayak models and holds valuables. The main unit’s center module is for bulk storage, and the side bays each hold two utility boxes. The main unit detaches from the base.

4

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Luxury Pontoon Boats

The art of the pontoon

Available in a variety of High Quality Choices Choose from 8 Tiers of products in over 100 different layouts ranging from our Trendsetting Master Collection of Excalibur & Ambassador models to our affordable expanded Boutique Collection of 7.5’- and 8’-wide models.

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Avalon Art of the Pontoon.indd 1

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Bonehead Blunders BONEHEAD SCALE:

By G rid M ich a l

1 Acceptably assinine

2 Slightly slow

Go With the Flow BONEHEAD BLUNDER: Know-it-all-ness THE BONEHEAD: Me BONEHEAD RATING: Five + Five WHAT HAPPENED: Last fall a longtime customer who has a Parker cuddy with a 225 Yamaha called and told me the main oil reservoir would not automatically transfer oil to the engine’s reservoir. He could manually transfer it with the emergency switch, so he could make it through striper season if he had to. Because I was swamped with work until the flu season struck — regardless of my having received my shot — he had to tough it all the way through

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3 Distinguished dunce

4 Massively moronic

5 Seek mental help

the season until he hauled the boat in January.

In late January, looking like something the CDC would use as an “If you see someone like this, quarantine him!” ad, I made the three-hour round trip (only 20 minutes directly across the river from us) to find the boat had been left where I had to navigate a construction site to get to it. And I saw no water hose with which to run the engine. I returned home to crawl under the covers with The Nurse and emerge in late March, stinky but well.

Each of us had too many things going on to attack the situation, until last week. Being absolutely positive it was the engine’s sender, the owner had bought one and installed it, but with no improvement. Then to the main tank, which took him hours to extract from the bilge and install its sender. No improvement.

When he called, his voice was calm and measured. Not good. Up the road I went with my flow-chart (literally!) and everything I’d been able to learn since 1984. Following the chart, I separated the wiring harness from the engine to the tank and OHM’d all four wires. First, all OHM’d, but then black stayed open. I moved to get a better position, got continuity. Turned to tell the owner, lost it.

Well, let’s go to the next step.

Cardinal Rule #1: People who know better than you write these charts. Don’t be foolhardy and skip steps!

While I was reviewing the chart again, Richard muttered something about needing to reseal the hydraulic steering ram. I kept reading. Cramped up on the transom bracket, bumping against a rocking engine, I watched the continuity come and go each time the engine — swaying because the steering was out of fluid — went left or right.

Cardinal Rule #2: People who write these procedures know the black is required to ground out senders and initiate oil transfer.

At this point, all the tech needs to know is to follow the damned instruction, fix the bad ground and watch the system work.

Mechanic’s Rule: Mechanics know more than cardinals, wrens, crows or finches.

When I finally assembled in my aging brain that there was a broken wire that was making contact, then breaking it, and that the wire was paramount to making the oil transfer system work, I spliced in another ground wire and watched the system work properly as I raised and lowered the engine’s sender. Clues abounded: air in the steering system made the negative wire “make and break,” making me disbelieve my meter. I was blaming my clumsiness where I was positioned for the erratic readings.

Cardinal Rule #3: Believe flow charts. Some poor tech has learned the hard way before you came along.

Cardinal Rule #4: The more expensive your tool or equipment is, the less you should doubt it.

LESSON LEARNED: I promise I will never again think I am more brilliant than those who write service manuals. Never. The Nurse will tell you I’m not as smart as anyone, but you don’t have to believe her, please! BW

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60 years in the making

For 60 years, Godfrey has led the way. We’ve listened to our customers and integrated their feedback into award-winning, industry-defining designs. The result? Pontoons that stand the test of time.

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

Find your Godfrey: www.GodfreyPontoonBoats.com

Tested

First D rive

A V A L O N 2 3 8 5 C ATA L I N A R E A R L O U N G E R // B Y A L A N J O N E S

Luxury Overachiever Avalon spreads some of its ultra-high-end luxury to its midlevel Catalina line.

• WHEN BOAT COMPANIES put

their brochures together, many of them, including Avalon, put their top-of-the-line models up front. Usually, by the time buyers reach the more affordable models in the middle, there’s a significant drop in luxury. The Catalina line sits smack dab in the middle of Avalon’s food chain and is less costly than its Excalibur, Ambassador and Catalina Platinum models by a fair bit, but people are going to think owners laid out big dollars for the 2385 Catalina RL, even though it starts as low as $37,339 with a Suzuki DF50.

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UNIQUE FACTOR

One constant through the Avalon line is its Art Deco styling, which I would describe as mod retro. On the 2385 Catalina RL, Avalon uses its Deco 3 fencing scheme to great effect. This style gives owners the option of 10 upper wall colors and 10 lower wall colors, but our test boat was solid white, which would have been one of the last combinations I would have chosen from Avalon’s build-a-boat website simulator. While this sounds boring, in person it looks great and really highlights the chrome horizontal accents and badging. Not white enough for you? There’s another brighter shade of white.

What it doesn’t have is the usual latticework of rails, going instead for a cleaner look with one rail that swoops down toward the rear. A styling cue perhaps

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taken from vintage American cars is the raised shearline toward the stern, like a 1959 car fin. Inside, the interior walls are sans rail, which picks up on the clean look of the outer wall.

Rear-lounge models remain among the most popular, because who doesn’t want to spend their day off with their feet propped up? What’s amazing about these lounges is their extreme width, which invites close

Our test 2385 cornered very flat and didn’t experience a significant loss of speed. friends to share the seat. They also have smaller forward-facing backrests, so lounging while watching where the boat is going is an option. Oversized armrests might limit each lounge’s upright seating capacity, but they add another layer of comfort.

Unlike most pontoon builders, Avalon uses aluminum frames and the seats have suspension seat bottoms and a ventilation system for the storage compartments beneath.

PERFORMANCE

Pontoons these days are off-the-hook crazy with the available power — a Manitou we tested last year had twin Mercury Racing 400R outboards — so when I saw that the 2385 Catalina RL only had an Evinrude 135 H.O., my performance expectations were tempered. But the 135 H.O. is one of Evinrude’s hot rods, with an actual horsepower rating of closer to 150. It’s also a V-6, so its low-end torque is

(Clockwise from top) Compact helm with gauges preserves cockpit space. Stainless steel grabrails make it easy to reboard. Rear lounges are extra wide. Rectangular cockpit table has built-in cupholders. A killer stereo system ups its entertainment factor. Stainless steel cupholders are within easy reach.

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OWN E R FE E D BACK

PURCHA SED BY SCOT T AND DIANE MANTER, P L U S D A N I E L , 1 4, T Y L E R , 1 7, A N D T R E Y, 1 9 , LINCOLN, DEL. P U R C H A S E D A T W M F WA T E R C R A F T, MILLSBORO, DEL. W H AT W E L IK ED

Performance and handling/Mercury 150 FourStroke/Rear lounges/Styling/Avalon quality/Easy-to-clean Blackout Package W H AT W E WOUL D CH A NGE

For our next Avalon, we’ll probably get one with a bigger engine and one with a large, single rear lounger.

WHY WE BOUGHT IT

We haven’t been boating very long, and our first boat was a small Mako fishing boat we used more for cruising than fishing. When we got on my buddy’s pontoon, I knew that was what we needed. We started with a two-log Avalon and used it for two summers but wanted better performance and seakeeping for the big bays here. I looked at all brands but really liked the Avalon Catalina 2385 RL equipped with a Waveglider Package that included a third tube for great handling, even when it gets choppy. The boys love to tube, and we like to cruise around and pull up on the many beaches to socialize with other boaters and like to hit waterfront restaurants. Our first buying experience at WMF Watercraft was outstanding. Bill put no pressure on us and encouraged us to think it over before buying. I can call him any time and ask any question, and the service has been phenomenal.

We will definitely buy our next boat from WMF Watercraft and have our eye on the Avalon Catalina VRB with a 250.

AVA L O N 2 3 8 5 C ATA L I N A R E A R

Evinrude power pushes the pontoon to 35.6 mph.

LOUNGER Length 23 ft., 5 in.

Beam 8 ft., 6 in.

Tube Diameter 25 in.

Capacity 11 people Dry Weight (hull) 2,450 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 29 gal.

Max HP 150

PERFORMANCE Peak 35.6 mph/ 6000 rpm/91 dBA Cruise 29.7 mph/ 4500 rpm/85 dBA Time to Plane 2.4 sec.

Time to 25 mph 5.9 sec.

POWER Test Evinrude E-TEC 135 H.O. two-stroke

Cylinders V-6 Displacement 2.6L Weight w/outdrive 418 lbs.

WOT Range 5400-6000 rpm

Base Price w/test power $47,733

better than it would be if it was in the V-4 family, like the Evinrude 115 H.O. Out of the hole, it was snappy, delivering a time to plane of 2.9 seconds — quick, considering the 2385 RL weighs about 2,700 pounds with this motor. Of course, it was also helped by Avalon’s optional three-tube Express Pontoon setup ($3,982), which has lifting strakes on all the tubes to help get it on plane. Its time to 25 mph was surprisingly fast at 5.9 seconds, and it reached a top speed of 35.6 mph. The horsepower rating with the Express Pontoon setup is 150, so the Evinrude 135 H.O. puts it pretty close to the envelope. And buyers have plenty of engines to choose from, since Avalon rigs all major outboard brands. For more giddy-up, the Performance Pontoon package allows up to 200 hp, and the top dog Waveglider package brings 250 hp into the picture.

HANDLING

One of the problems with pontoons that don’t have an extreme amount of power is their propensity to plow through the water, diminishing performance, hurting fuel economy and sacrificing nimble handling. But because the Express Pontoon-equipped 2385 Catalina has six large lifting strakes, it easily gets on top of the water with only a 135, resulting in many benefits. It also comes with BayStar hydraulic steering and has an aluminum underskin that makes it more hydrodynamic. The strakes vastly improve its ability to perform well during watersports and reduce the amount of time it takes for a skier to get up. During turns, pontoons with strakeless tubes tend to lean outward, causing the outer tube to

Value-Added Standard Features: BayStar hydraulic steering, Bimini top, Ensign II helm, oversized rectangular cockpit table, privacy changing curtain, aluminum deck corners, 2-in. black rubrail

Must-Have Options: Roughwater package, underwater lighting, Premium stereo, in-floor storage locker, ski tow, watersports arch, refrigerator, bow Bimini, Garmin electronics, bow filler cushion, diving board

Builder: Avalon Pontoons, avalonpontoons.com Financing: $342/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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The rear lounges (top) are in the entertainment and relaxation sweet spot.

Bow lounges (bottom) can accommodate one person or several.

with a Decosport Arch that also has a sunshade, for $11,250.

For entertaining, a large greywood rectangular table with four cupholders and enough room to host a card game makes the bow a social place. The dual bow recliners are shorter than those on the larger 2585 RL, but stainless steel cupholders are everywhere on this boat, with deck-level holders in the bow and four more on the rear lounges’ armrests.

The only fishing option is an under-seat livewell ($328), but avid anglers will opt for the 2385 Rear Fish model, which has fishing chairs on an extended rear deck and a bait prep station with rod holders.

On the rear deck are two rod holders on a raised platform that also has storage and a large working surface that can hold snacks for the stern guests. The raised stern stand serves as a visual barrier to hide pumps, batteries and hoses, and it reduces the sound level. Direct-injected two-strokes such as the Evinrude on our test boat are typically louder than four-strokes, but at a cruise speed of 27.3 mph and 3500 rpm, it only registered 81 dBA. PREFERRED SETUP

plow and quickly drain speed. But our test 2385 cornered very flat and didn’t experience a significant loss of speed.

Without strakes, a driver can hit the trim button all he wants, but the only thing that will accomplish is to blow out the prop when it gets too far out of the water. But we were able to get the front third of the pontoons out of the water, which helped top speed and should give the passengers up front a smoother ride. This is also a safety bonus when the pontoon is loaded with the

11 passengers it is rated to carry.

BEST USES

The 2385 Catalina RL excels at delivering affordable luxury in a package that can handle many different roles. For watersports, the tow options start with a curved stainless steel ski tow bar ($745) that matches the four-step boarding ladder with tall swimming pool–style grabrails.

After that, the options move to a fold-down 2-inch-thick tower ($6,328) and culminate

The Express Pontoon package is the way to go for buyers powering it with 150 hp, which would be a good choice. It saves $5,468 over the more advanced Waveglider pontoon system but still comes with the benefits of three tubes. Although the standard stereo is a pretty upscale four-speaker Infinity Bluetooth system, optioning up a premium JL Audio system with a subwoofer ($3,828) unleashes its party potential. For shade, a standard Bimini top can be upgraded to an electronically actuated model ($1,367). To create a total eclipse, a forward Bimini is a $1,719 option.

For flooring, Avalon offers a vinyl rear deck and Deco carpeting up front, but buyers have 10 vinyl choices, including the ATD Classic vinyl surface ($1,172) our test boat featured. BW BOATINGWORLD.COM JULY/AUGUST 2018

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G R A N D M A R I N E R S E L 2 3 0 // B Y A L A N J O N E S

Grand Prize Sterndrives and pontoons are still a great match.

The Grand Mariner SEL 230 is proof.

• SALES OF OUTBOARD-POWERED pontoons are steadily rising, but a new generation of sterndrive motors and the ability to artfully integrate them keep this category alive and well. The Harris Grand Mariner SEL 230 melds style, performance and function in a 26-foot, 1-inch pontoon.

UNIQUE FACTOR

The first readily noticeable advantage of sterndrive power is space for a swim platform, and the wide-open curved one on the Grand Mariner SEL 230 is an invitation to hang out.

The off-the-rack boat comes loaded with features such as a removable, stout 2-inch-thick stainless steel ski pylon that matches the rear boarding ladder, which comes with wide easy-to-grip swimming pool–style grabrails. For power lounging with the key off, there’s an extra-wide aft-facing recliner that has a flip-flop backrest and, something I’ve not seen before, a jumpseat in the aft starboard corner that will be a great place to boot up before a ski run. The rear deck is covered in Desert Seagrass, which continues throughout the boat and is one of the many standard features on this new luxury model from Harris.

The entire Grand Mariner series has been redone this year and features a new parallel rail design that has more curves than last year. Four black anodized rails start at the bow like a car grill, and the bottom three swoop down to the deck about two-thirds of the way back, while the top rail joins the three rails that start on the aft section, to create an eye-pleasing flow. Buyers get a choice of eight fence panel colors and can add a choice of six contrasting colors in the center panel, for $450. For added bling, buyers can include polished aluminum tubes, which are always a conversation starter.

PERFORMANCE

For many years, MerCruiser used GM and Ford blocks and marinized them, which 40

worked well … for a while. Increasingly, however, EPA rules placed automakers under the gun to achieve better fuel economy, which caused the mission of boats and autos to diverge. As a result, many newer car motors became less attractive to boat builders because of decreased torque, which boats depend on. So for model year 2016, MerCruiser wiped the computer screen clean and started over to design an engine with a single purpose: marine use.

One of the most fundamental differences is that car engines are in front of the passengers while boat motors are behind them. So the first thing MerCruiser had to change was to place the throttle body in the rear, which minimizes that annoying sucking sound from air and gas hurtling into the combustion chamber. MerCruiser’s new-gen engines, including the 6.2L 350 hp model our test Harris featured, produce plenty of usable power and include some cool features never seen before. Harris is so sure this is the perfect engine for the job, the 6.2L 350 hp is the only one offered.

Boats tend to bog down during cornering and the driver usually has to add power to compensate, so MerCruiser came up with an innovation called Adaptive Speed Control to keep rpm constant. When launching out of the hole, the captain has to know when to start trimming up, but on our test boat it was easy thanks to the Active Trim system, which is a $790 option that’s well worth it. With it engaged, the SEL 230 got on plane in 3.2 seconds, and once the speed built up, the motor trimmed itself to optimize the boat’s time to 30 mph, reaching it in eight seconds. The driver can override the trim system at any time by hitting the trim button, which I did to “over trim” it and reach a top speed of 49.3 mph, which was only about 1 mph faster than with Active Trim engaged.

HANDLING

Many pontoon boat builders offer a puttputt version of their models: two tubes and just enough power to nearly muss passengers’ hair. Harris doesn’t go that route with the SEL 230. It only comes with the PIII package, which features triple 25-inch

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tubes, an aluminum underskin and a rough-water package. Harris drops the center tube an inch, which doesn’t sound like much but it helps create a pivot point during turns.

The PIII configuration also comes with lifting strakes on both sides of the center tube and on the inside of the outer tubes. The lifting strakes helped it plane quickly and ride on top of the water, and once the Auto Trim feature started doing its thing, the front of the pontoons cleared the water and had the SEL 230 riding bow up. The absence of lifting strakes on the outside of the outer tubes and the lower center tube allow it to lean over like a deep-V monohull during hard turns and carve a really tight turn.

Buyers can include polished aluminum tubes, which are always a conversation starter.

BEST USES

The standard Grand Mariner SEL 230 makes a solid watersports boat, but a family that is really into watersports can bump up its ski quotient with options such as the Delta Tower ($4,740), which includes a mount for a rear-facing camera ($430), and an in-floor storage compartment ($1,420) that comes with a bilge pump. Drivers will really appreciate the Adaptive Speed Control feature when they are towing for the first time and turn the boat at the end of the lake. Instead of the driver having to add and subtract power to give a skier an even tow, it’s taken care of automatically.

At the helm, the gauges are GPS-based, so dialing in the correct speed for wakeboarders and slalom skiers is easy and accurate.

Sterndrive power yields a significant swim platform (opposite, top).

The elegant helm can be upgraded with the custom wheel shown here.

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OWN E R FE E D BACK

PURCHA SED BY JOE AND SANDY HALL, BR ANSON, MO. PURCH A SED AT T HE H A RBOR, BR A NSON, MO. W H AT W E L IK ED

Passenger-friendly layout/Comfortable rear recliners/Quality of build/Tri-toon ride and performance/Turning ability W H AT W E WOUL D CH A NGE

Just a couple of small things: The driver­ side cupholder’s placement makes it difficult to use, and the steering wheel covers up the depth gauge.

WHY WE BOUGHT IT

I get a new boat every year and have had many different types of boats, but this is our third Harris pontoon in a row, for a reason: The great layout and performance make it more versatile than anything else on the water. Sometimes we load up the boat with friends, kids and grandkids and go tubing or wakeboarding, and the Grand Mariner has the roominess and performance to handle it in style. We also like to cruise on beautiful Table Rock Lake and will sometimes go to Pirate’s Cove for lunch. Harris pontoons are put together really well with quality components and excellent welding and have great resale value, which is important since I only keep them for a year. An often overlooked part of owning a boat is customer service. I’ve bought my boats and kept my houseboat at The Harbor for many years, because of the way they take care of me. One time when the lake was really high and the parking lot was flooded, they ran a shuttle out to the boats until midnight to make sure we weren’t inconvenienced.

With the optional filler sectional, the bow transforms into a conversation pit (above). Fender storage resides next to the changing station (top right). Flip-down armrests reveal built-in cupholders (bottom right).

GRAND MARINER SEL 230 Length 26 ft., 1 in.

Beam 8 ft., 6 in.

Tube Diameter 25 in.

Capacity 11 people Dry Weight (hull) 5,490 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 81 gal.

Max HP 350

Harris gets the entertainment quotient off to a roaring start with a standard Polk Bluetooth stereo. Its six Jensen speakers include two on the transom, and there are twin remotes, one on the swim platform and one on the rear lounge. Our test boat one-upped that system with a JL Audio Platinum stereo ($4,535) that included six speakers, two subwoofers and amps, for the ultimate thump. Our boat included a bow filler cushion that will integrate with the bow chaise lounges to form a U-shaped conversation pit. The standard package comes with a woodgrain cockpit table; a second costs $260. An L-lounge in the back delivers plenty of seating that contributes to its rating of 11 passengers.

PERFORMANCE

PREFERRED SETUP

Peak 49.3 mph/

The Harris SEL 230 is positioned as a premium boat and commands a near-$90K starting point, and buyers will likely reach six figures before they’re done checking boxes. Not many people are going to buy this boat for fishing as a first choice of recreation, but it does come standard with a Lowrance Hook 3X fishfinder. Another floorplan for this model features twin portside bow UltraLux captain’s chairs, which make great fishing or cruising chairs. At the helm, buyers can go positively yacht-like with glass-dash 12- and 7-inch displays. A cool wheel like our boat had is a $350 option or comes as part of a convenience package ($650) that also includes a woodgrain portable cupholder and kick plates.

One of the features I didn’t care for was the really short front deck. I felt like I was perched on a high-rise ledge, so I was happy to see a 2-foot extension offered for $840. The changing room option ($530) and the portable toilet ($220) will make the pontoon more self-sufficient. BW

5400 rpm/93 dBA

Cruise 27.3 mph/ 3500 rpm/81 dBA Time to Plane 3.2 sec.

Time to 30 mph 8.0 sec.

POWER Test MerCruiser 6.2L 350 Cylinders V-8 Displacement 6.2L Weight w/outdrive 885 lbs.

WOT Range 5000-5400 rpm

Base Price w/test power $89,931

Value-Added Standard Features: Polk Bluetooth Stereo w/6 Jensen speakers, Lowrance 3X Hook display, ski tow, vinyl deck, GPS speedometer, courtesy lighting, battery switch, tilt steering

Must-Have Options: Starboard gate, electric Bimini top, changing room, portable toilet, raised helm, blue or white underwater lighting, bow filler cushion, wakesports arch, trailer, gas grill

Builder: Harris, harrisboats.com Financing: $645/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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Tested

First D rive

S T I N G R AY 2 3 6 C C // B Y A L A N J O N E S

Do-It-All Center Console Stingray’s take on the center console comes with lots of options.

•

236CC comes standard with a 160-watt Marine Audio Bluetooth system, and a Polk Audio system is a $725 upgrade. A 236CC buyer gets off to a big head start with what’s called the Convenience Package, which is a bundle of standard features that are normally options, valued at $2,696.

In addition to the upgraded stainless steel hardware on the cleats, ladders and LED docking lights, the package includes hydraulic trim tabs with indicator lights, a 48-quart cooler, an aft livewell and tilt steering. That’s in addition to the upscale 74-quart Engel cooler.

PERFORMANCE

At the heart of all Stingray models is the Z-Plane hull, which accounts for sporty performance that doesn’t require extreme power to push it to the next level. Our test boat featured Yamaha’s F200 outboard, a lightweight, inline four-cylinder model that weighs 489 pounds, which is 111 pounds

The bow section is a multipurpose playground.

LAST YEAR, STINGRAY got more serious about its fishing game by introducing a pair of

outboard-powered center console boats, the 186CC and 206CC. This year, designers expanded that lineup with an extended model called the 236CC, a near-24-footer with even more capability. There are a lot of center consoles on the market, but this one has a few things the others don’t, starting with its Stingray DNA. UNIQUE FACTOR

Some center console boats are geared toward owners with a one-mission mindset: fishing. They are good at this singular aspect of boating. With this boat, Stingray takes care of the avid angler, but it’s also family friendly and can handle whatever task an owner throws at it. Two of its more unusual features are a pair of small entertainment centers just behind the bowrider backrests. They keep the look symmetrical, and one can be used for preparing human 44

food while the other is used for bait prep.

The 13-gallon freshwater option ($600) should facilitate quick cleanups.

The bow section is a multipurpose playground. Its twin recliners have removable cushions for fishing mode, its deckboat bow profile provides plenty of room for fishing or lounging, and its large forward deck gives passengers a place to board or a platform from which to toss a cast net.

Most builders of center console boats offer a stereo … as an option. But the

lighter than the V-6 F200. It puts out 50 amps of charging power, compared to the V-6 version’s 44. Stingray offers the 236CC with outboard choices by Mercury, Suzuki and Yamaha in 150, 175, 200 and 250 hp, but none of the brands listed includes all horsepower levels. For example, Mercury is the only 150 offered, as Stingray’s entry-level package. It’s the only engine buyers can get without hydraulic steering, but forgoing it will be the worst $1,346 anyone ever “saved.”

The power/cost sweet spot seems to be at 200 hp. With the F200, the 236CC

A T-top and optional leaning post (right) deliver nine rocket launchers. Rare twin convenience centers (far right) offer room to work on bait or sandwiches.

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(Clockwise from above) Bolsters make it easy to stand or sit. Twin livewells deliver 31 gallons of bait-holding capacity. The portable commode slides away. The helm can hold large-screen electronics. A hidden sink makes cleanups easy.

S T I N G R AY 2 3 6 C C Length 23 ft., 8 in.

Beam 8 ft., 5 in.

Deadrise 21 degrees Capacity 12 people

has an MSRP of $59,332, and opting for an F250 increases the bottom line by $6,095. Owners won’t be disappointed by its performance with the F200, though.

It reached plane in 3.6 seconds with little bowrise. The power curve on the Yamaha is very flat and propelled the 236CC to 30 mph in 7.9 seconds and to a top speed of 46 mph (Yamaha got 47.2).

HANDLING

Not only does the Z-Plane hull design improve performance out of the hole and increase top speed by vastly reducing turbulence, it uses that cleaner water to enhance the boat’s cornering ability. I cranked the stainless steel wheel, complete with a spinner knob, all the way to its stop and the 236CC carved a tight turn. With normal trim, it rides in a slight bow-up attitude, which gives it plenty of freeboard in head seas — something a lot of deckboats lack. At the stern are 21 degrees of deadrise, so the 236CC is prepared for action.

Whether the driver prefers standing or sitting, the driving position is good. Our primary test boat had the upgraded leaning post with flip-up bolsters, making it easy 46

Dry Weight (hull) 2,959 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 68 gal.

Max HP 250

PERFORMANCE Peak 46.0 mph/ 5900 rpm/93 dBA Cruise 34.1 mph/ 4500 rpm/83 dBA Time to Plane 3.6 sec.

Time to 30 mph 7.9 sec.

POWER Test Yamaha F200 four-stroke

Cylinders Inline 4 Displacement 2.8L Weight w/outdrive 487 lbs.

WOT Range 5000-6000 rpm

Base Price w/test power $59,332

Value-Added Standard Features: Hydraulic trim tabs, 160-watt Bluetooth Marine Audio stereo, 74-qt. Engel cooler, LED docking lights, interior mood lighting, twin livewells, removable bow cushions

Must-Have Options: Wakesports tower, choice of T-tops, portable toilet w/level indicator, raw-water washdown, freshwater system, pullout tackle storage and garbage can, hull choice colors

Builder: Stingray Boats, stingrayboats.com Financing: $426/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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OWN E R FE E D BACK

The bow is adaptable for lounging or fishing (left), and stern jumpseats (right) fold down and extend the casting platform.

PURCHA SED BY ROD AND CHRISSY T YSON, SA R A SO TA, FL A. PURCH A SED AT INGM A N M A RINE, SA R A SO TA, FL A.

to sit or stand. On test day, Stingray also presented a 236CC with the standard helm seat with a flip-flop backrest that can transform the seat into a rear-facing platform. Set into the large console is an angled footrest, and forward is a real glass windshield that’s high enough to do some good.

BEST USES

The 236CC strikes a good balance between serious fishing boat and pleasure cruiser. To give anglers the ultimate in fishing flexibility, there are 12 flushmounted rod holders: six on top of the gunwales and six at the stern. Attached to the leaning post and optional T-top are nine rocket launcher rod holders, for a total of 21. Under-gunwale storage is abundant, and the cupholder count is adequate, with 10 strategically placed throughout the boat.

Live-bait anglers get a livewell at the stern, under one of the flip-up hatches near the centerline, and another beneath the forward jumpseat, for a total of 31 gallons of capacity. The extra-large console has plenty of acreage for large-screen electronics and houses a head compartment with room for an optional portable commode ($314) that slides away when not in use, to maximize storage space.

Another issue center console boats can have is a lack of seating for their passenger capacity, relegating many people to standing room only. But the 236CC has ample seating for its max of 12 passengers: four up front on bowrider benches, two at the helm, one in the jumpseat and five at the stern.

The stern’s outermost seats have backrests that can flip down to allow easy access to

the stern while creating a roomy casting platform in the bargain.

The two-tone upholstery features dark panels with Cool Touch vinyl, so the seats don’t sear skin on sunny days. For watersports, there’s an optional stainless steel ski pylon ($517), but owners really into skiing should get the folding wake tower ($4,614), which includes a small sunshade.

Dual livewells/Twin convenience centers/ Large head compartment/Comfortable seating/Great choppy water handling/ Quiet Yamaha outboard

PREFERRED SETUP

It has a 68-gallon fuel tank, but more capacity would give us the range to take longer trips.

Although a standard 236CC is a wellrigged boat, Stingray offers plenty of options. The first big decision involves the top. The least expensive option is a Bimini top ($1,171) made of Sunbrella fabric and a stainless steel frame. But avid anglers know this can get in the way of casting and catching, which is why most center consoles have T-tops. Stingray offers a choice between a T-top with a canvas top, for $5,152, or a hardtop, for $7,614, which is what our test boat had. Sea Grass flooring isn’t usually found on center consoles, but it’s available ($871). Stingray makes it an easy call to go with a colored hull, such as the Sea Foam green our test boat featured, because of the low $722 upcharge.

This is a substantial boat, weighing 3,648 pounds when equipped with a Yamaha F250, but owners can equip it with a trolling motor if they get the pre-rig package ($363). And to further raise its fishing chops, a bow-mounted fishing seat costs $371. Even buyers who don’t fish will want the raw-water washdown feature ($443), because there’s always a passenger who tracks mud aboard. BW

W H AT W E L IK ED

W H AT W E WOUL D CH A NGE

WHY WE BOUGHT IT

I grew up on the Jersey Shore and have always been around water, so when we moved to Sarasota, we knew we had to have a boat to really experience the lifestyle on the west coast of Florida. We were looking for a boat we could use to fish for snapper, seatrout and redfish, but we also wanted a boat that was good for coastal cruising. My buddy called and said he had the perfect boat for me, so we went to Ingram Marine and checked it out. We really liked the fact it was loaded with features but was still reasonably priced. There was no pressure during the sale and they answered all my questions.

It had been quite a while since we had driven a boat, and they took me out as often as I wanted until I was absolutely comfortable. We really like the 236CC’s smooth ride and comfort and like to cruise to restaurants such as Marina Jacks or to Beer Can Island where we can pull up on the beach and relax with other boaters.

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Tested

First D rive

R A N G E R Z 5 2 1 L // B Y A L A N J O N E S

Sweet New Ride To celebrate its 50th birthday, Ranger gave itself and bass anglers everywhere a great gift.

• IN THE BACK of a gas station in Flippin, Ark., in 1968, Forrest Wood built the world’s first

modern bass boat. A guide on Bull Shoals Lake, Wood used a heavy wooden boat and thought he could do better. That year he built six boats. The next year he built 600. Then, in 1970, Ranger built 1,200 boats, and the bass fishing world has never been the same.

Fifty years later, the evolution of the bass boat brings us to the Z521L — the “L” no doubt derived from the Roman numeral for 50. It bears the number of the model it replaces, the Z521C, but from the waterline up it’s a new boat that blends performance, fishing functionality and great ride into one golden anniversary–worthy package.

UNIQUE FACTOR

Own more rods than you want your spouse to know about? Just keep a token number of old rods in the garage and store the rest in the Z521L. How many rods can fit? All of them. This year, Ranger designed the starboard compartment on the forward deck to

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hold up to 7-foot rods, but that’s only the start. The massive center locker can hold 9-footers while the one to port can hold rods up to 8 feet long. Rod lockers tend to be home to biology experiments thanks to the warm, humid environment created by putting wet rods and reels away in a sealed compartment. To prevent this, Ranger did two things. First, it eliminated carpeting in all its compartments, which tends to get funky. Second, its designers created the Power Ventilation Rod Storage (PVRS) system: fans that cycle dampness out through the compartment vents. The fans are controlled via a button at the dash.

PERFORMANCE

Bass-boat anglers who are huge Mercury fans are going to freak out a little when they read the next sentence, if they haven’t stayed current with the latest news. This will be the last year anyone can buy a new OptiMax model (save for ones dealers might have left over). Mercury is phasing it out in favor of its new 4.6L platform that’s a

6/7/18 7:20 AM

V-8 (see Engines on page 24). Bass boaters will likely opt for the Pro XS (250 or 300 hp version) or the 300R from Mercury Racing, which can use a Torque Master lower unit that is more hydrodynamic and

Ranger made fishing improvements everywhere. has water pickups in the nosecone. But despite two extra cylinders and 1.6L more displacement, the 250 Pro XS V-8 weighs the same 505 pounds as the 250 OptiMax. The new Pro XS even has a built-in growl that will get everyone’s attention.

Our test boat was equipped with its max power, the OptiMax Pro XS 250, which worked really well. Like most bass boats, the 521L showed a fair amount of bowrise when I jammed the throttle, before

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it settled onto plane four seconds later.

Although its time to 30 mph of 9.2 seconds was a bit stately, when the OptiMax reached 4000 rpm, the acceleration was frantic and we quickly reached a top speed of 69.1 mph.

HANDLING

Over the years, the ongoing debate has been which model is the best tournament boat, the Z520 or the Z521. Most pros who fish full-time for a living lean toward the Z520 because it’s a little shorter, lighter and faster by a few mph, which comes in handy when 10 guys are running to the same spot.

In fact, at this year’s Bassmaster Classic, the top five anglers all used a Ranger Z520.

But the angler who fishes in weekend club tournaments or just for fun will probably

be better served by the Z521L. Often compared to a Cadillac, the ride is stable and smooth, even over the moderate chop we experienced on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Mo. The Z521 tends to ride more level and have more hull in the water than the Z520, which makes it an easier boat to drive and more forgiving at high speeds. In truly horrific conditions, which pros on the big circuits are sometimes forced to run in, the shorter Z520 handles better, since its bow tends to ride higher.

But when it’s blowing 25 mph or more, those of us who fish for fun tow the boat to a smaller lake or river — or stay home.

BEST USES

Some boat buyers might consider pure bass boats, including the Z521L, a “fishing

(Clockwise from upper right) Owners can choose up to a 12-inch bow display. An ergonomic, recessed trolling motor pedal reduces fatigue. A console between seats serves as a glove compartment. The divided livewell has twin pumps to keep fish lively. Billet aluminum grabrails add some bling. At the helm, the driver scan up to a 16-inch flush-mounted display.

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RANGER Z521L

Everything on the boat is designed to make an angler as efficient, productive and comfortable as possible.

Length 21 ft., 7 in.

Beam 8 ft., 1 in.

Deadrise 18.5 degrees Capacity 3 people Dry Weight (hull) 1,925 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 58 gal.

Max HP 250

PERFORMANCE Peak 69.1 mph/ 6000 rpm/95 dBA Cruise 52.2 mph/ 4500 rpm/92 dBA Time to Plane 4.0 sec.

Time to 30 mph 9.2 sec.

POWER Test Mercury OptiMax Pro XS 250

Cylinders V-6

Minn Kota is one option for a trolling motor.

office,” but it’s a damn comfortable one that has features usually not found on a bass boat, including an optional Infinity Bluetooth stereo ($530) and a ski tow ($537), to keep everyone happy.

But make no mistake, everything on the boat is designed to make an angler as efficient, productive and comfortable as possible. Two Ultra-Comfort bucket seats are aptly named. Used to be that only the captain’s chair had a slider, but this year the co-angler gets an adjustable seat as well, which will allow the rider to lock in with the footrest in front of him, for a more secure feeling. Right next to the rider is a running rack that can hold 10 rods at the ready. Even the standard pedestal seat

Displacement 3.0L Weight w/outdrive 505 lbs.

WOT Range 5500-6000 rpm

Base Price w/test power $70,195

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Value-Added Standard Features: Dual-axle custom trailer, twin Lowrance HDS Carbon displays, battery charger, trolling motor pre-rig, hydraulic steering, insulated cooler, recirculating livewell, courtesy lighting

Must-Have Options: Upgraded electronics, Infinity Bluetooth stereo, ski tow, Power Poles, Hot Foot accelerator pedal, trolling motor, upgraded gauges, boat cover

Builder: Ranger Boats, rangerboats.com Financing: $504/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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OWN E R FE E D BACK

P U R C H A S E D B Y S T O R M A N D LY N N E R U T C H O , SANFORD, N.C. P U R C H A S E D A T E D WA T K I N S M A R I N E , DENVER, N.C. W H AT I L IK ED

Comfortable seats/Great ride/Ease of rod access/Amazing amount of rod and gear storage/Powerful Evinrude G2 outboard/ICON styling package W H AT I WOUL D CH A NGE

I wish the windshield were taller and offered better protection from the elements.

Extra-wide helm seat fits anglers of all sizes.

has been improved and doesn’t have the annoying faux headrest that was positioned mid-back. Another height-adjustable seat is available ($463).

Ranger made fishing improvements everywhere. It added more tool storage on both sides of the step-up to the front deck and flared the gunwales to provide more usable interior room. Little touches such as a tray for sandwiches in the built-in ice chest show a high level of detail in its design. At the bow, the primary angler gets a recessed foot control for the trolling motor and can consult up to a 12-inch flush-mounted display. At the helm is room for a 16-inch flush-mounted screen, and the system switches are sealed soft buttons that are hose-proof. The co-angler’s rear deck is plenty roomy, and the divided livewell has two pumps to keep fish on both sides lively. The stern has been reworked and now includes artsy billet aluminum grab handles.

PREFERRED SETUP

Buyers who find choosing options to be a tedious task can click the box that includes the ICON bundle option, and bam, the options fairy rains down almost all the available goodies. Doing so results

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in a $98,995 price tag. For many buyers, it’s probably better to start with the base package, which includes a Mercury OptiMax Pro XS 250 and an MSRP of $70,195, and then ease their way up the options ladder.

The off-the-rack Z521L is pretty impressively stacked, including standard features such as a custom dual-axle Ranger Trail trailer, a new styling group that will probably cause owners to park their boat in the front yard, a Lowrance HDS-7 Carbon display up front and an HDS-9 Carbon at the helm. Those displays will look out of place in the giant spaces that have been created for larger displays, so the optional Lowrance HDS-12 Carbon and HDS-16 Carbon, which cost $2,457 and $3,815, respectively, will be the better choice.

Anglers will want (need) a trolling motor, and the best one Ranger offers is the Minn Kota Ultrex 112 with iPilot, which can serve as an autopilot or a virtual anchor. Ranger is offering it for $2,105, which is $245 less than Cabela’s is charging. For shallower anchoring, Power Poles are great options, and buyers can get one or two Blade Series 8-footers for $2,449 each. For keeping the batteries charged, Ranger includes a Dual Pro triple-battery charger. BW

WHY I BOUGHT IT

I’m an avid member of Carolina Bassers, a fishing club that holds events all around North Carolina, and I fish in 15 to 20 events a year. My last boat was a 2004 Champion, which I bought new and loved, but it was getting pretty old. Last year I went to an FLW Cup event and saw the ICON edition of the Z521L and really liked it. I spent about three hours a day for the next couple of days checking out everything on the boat and did a lot of research. The dealership owner, Ed Watkins, met me halfway to my house, nearly four hours away, and took my friends and I on the boat for about three hours, and that sealed the deal. I love the size of the boat and how roomy it is. The ride is phenomenal and it makes it really easy to fish. I use all three storage boxes on the front deck for my 20 rods, and it’s really easy to switch from one to another.

The service at Watkins Marine is over the top. One time I had a problem and they sent a technician to my house, which was probably an 11-hour day for him. Ed was a member of a NASCAR race team and I know he’s a busy guy, but he always has time for me.

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AT THE COOL KIDS’ TABLE 16

10

INTEREST IN PONTOON BOATS IS BOOMING, ESPECIALLY AMONG GEN X AND MILLENNIAL BUYERS.

HERE ARE 20 DEVELOPMENTS THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU. 48

BY HE ATHER STEINBERGER

You don’t have to be a pontoon boat owner to know that today’s pontoons aren’t like the ones that used to putter around local lakes with a few extra folding chairs and Styrofoam coolers. In the last 10 to 15 years, it’s become common knowledge that pontoons are faster and much more comfortable.

We also know that the pontoon market is a hot one.

After all, baby boomers are retiring en masse, and many seek to downsize and simplify their boating lifestyle while also accommodating more passengers, from grandkids to pets.

That’s true, but it’s not the real headline. For that, we need to look at the younger end of the market.

Gen Xers and the first wave of Millennials are converging on pontoons, and thanks to some of the newest innovations and design trends, these versatile, next-generation watercraft are finally welcome at the cool kids’ table.

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2. ROTOMOLDED FIBERGLASS INTERIORS

Some manufacturers, such as Manitou Pontoon Boats, are producing models with an all-fiberglass exoskeleton instead of the traditional aluminum fencing and insert panels. Not only do they offer durability, they have a sleek, bold shape that is a major departure from their predecessors. Other manufacturers use a combination of aluminum and fiberglass. The Larson Escape, for example, features solid aluminum side panels with fiberglass bow corners.

And thanks to padded interior upholstery, exposed side metal is becoming a thing of the past.

Manufacturers are using fiberglass modules aboard their pontoons, which means the boat’s helm and interior furniture are integrated into a fiberglass deck enclosure.

Once again, the fiberglass offers an extra measure of durability “You get the look

DESIGN & BUILD

BEYOND ALUMINUM FENCING

and feel of a fiberglass boat on a pontoon hull, plus a flexible, spacious layout,” said Greg VanWagenen, Manitou’s director of marketing and communications.

Other added benefits include Manitou’s raised helm station or Cypress Cay’s built-in helm cooler.

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AT THE COOL KIDS’ TABLE 3. SIDE PROTECTOR KEEL This is an Avalon Pontoon Boats exclusive. “It protects the side of the boat, which can be helpful at the dock,” said Greg Knight, Avalon’s marketing director. “It’s also a good water deflector.”

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4. UPPER

DECK . . . AND SLIDE

Due to the sheer amount of space aboard, pontoon boats have always had flexible layouts. This is now at a new level, literally. The Escalante from Premier Pontoons incorporates a curved stairway to an upper deck, a layout that allows this pontoon to feature a refrigerator, a wine cooler, a sink and a hard-sided standup head.

Oh, and a slide.

5. FLOORING “In the last four or five years, we’ve moved beyond carpeting on pontoons,” said JeanPhillippe Martin-Dubois, Princecraft’s marketing and customer experience director. “Today, boat owners can choose highend vinyl flooring that looks like wood.”

look and feel more like a sportboat,” said Matthew Vetzner, Larson’s vice president of marketing.

Avalon’s Knight agreed.

“The windshield models will feel very similar to a runabout,” he said.

7. NEEDS

6. WINDSHIELDS “With full wraparound windshields, a pontoon will

Boating should be accessible to all. To that end, Larson has added a boarding door to its Escape that can easily accommodate a wheelchair. Once aboard, of course, maneuvering the chair is manageable thanks to the pontoon’s flat, stable deck.

8

8

6

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5

PERFORMANCE & HANDLING

8. MORE

POWER

While performance foils and lifting strakes aren’t new, the ability to carry impressive power plants on the stern is. “The big leap forward was two or three years ago,” VanWagenen said. “That’s when we were able to add a second engine, which gives you more control. You can handle rough water better with an engine on each corner; the boat is more stable and more responsive. The pontoon can perform like its fiberglass counterpart, yet with all

the comfort, room and stability of a pontoon.”

9. SHAPED

PONTOONS

Today’s polished aluminum sponsons definitely offer more than a mirror-like finish. They also are expertly designed to feature a shaped running surface with built-in chines and lifting strakes.

Some, such as those from Bennington Pontoon Boats, feature oval-shaped sponsons rather than round ones.

“Today, a pontoon

planes rather than plows,” Larson’s Vetzner said.

“It runs more like a V or modified-V hull.”

10. HIGH-OCTANE PERFORMANCE As manufacturers have developed additional sizes and shapes of performance tubes, they’ve been able to meet greater horsepower needs. Premier’s PTX packages, for example, can support more than 900 hp on its largest models.

“Our pontoons offer horsepower ratings allowing up to three 350

T O T H E W E B Find out more about the builders mentioned in this story and many others: AvalonPontoons.com

CypressCayPontoons.com

LoweBoats.com

Princecraft.com

StarcraftMarine.com

SylvanMarine.com

BenningtonMarine.com

GodfreyPontoonBoats.com

ManitouPontoonBoats.com

QwestPontoons.com

SunCatcherPontoons.com

TahoePontoons.com

BerkshirePontoon.com

HarrisBoats.com

PlayCraftBoats.com

RegencyBoats.com

SunchaserBoats.com

TrifectaPontoon.com

CrestPontoonBoats.com

LarsonEscape.com

Pontoons.com (Premier)

SouthBayPontoons.com

Suntrackerboats.com

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13. ROUGHwant that extra measure of control and handling—even at the dock. And joystick technology is a big part of that.”

4

12. PANTHER POWER STEERING

hp engines when utilizing the 27-inch tubes and larger 42-inch PTX center tube,” said Lori Melbostad, Premier’s president.

As Princecraft’s Martin-Dubois noted, “Performance packages are bringing pontoon boats to another level. When you’ve got three logs and

that much horsepower on the back, it’s not a party barge.”

Indeed. Now that wakeboard tower with all the watersports accessories really makes sense.

11. JOYSTICKS “Performance is the key,” VanWagenen said. “Boaters

For its pontoons, Lowe Boats has embraced working with another company that developed an economical power steering system that uses a mechanical cable to the power steering pump. “It’s innovative and efficient,” said Carl Rader, Lowe’s pontoon category manager. “Instead of feeling prop torque, it’ll have the same feel as steering an automobile. And if the power shuts down, you won’t lose your steering.”

WATER CAPABILITIES

Pontoons have always been able to absorb the impact of rough water fairly well, but with the deeper middle tubes that come with performance packages, they can offer an even more comfortable ride.

“You’d be amazed at how much smoother it is,” Manitou’s VanWagenen said, “and you don’t have to be interested in watersports to appreciate that.”

Lowe Boats offers a rough-water package that includes strengthened triple tubes, lifting strakes and Wake Tamer spray shields. “There was a real need for it,” Rader said.

“You don’t want damaged logs, so we aggressively took that on. They can

withstand the rough water that comes with weather or heavy boat traffic on a busy weekend. You won’t get beat up.”

14. OFFSHORE CRUISING (YES, REALLY) Last summer, a 27-foot Avalon “tri-toon” with a crew of four made the trip from Tampa, Fla., to Cuba.

It featured twin Mercury Verado 400s and was capable of speeds up to 60 mph. “We don’t call the boats ‘oceangoing,’ but the reality is that pontoons are getting closer to being able to replace any type of craft,” Knight said. “And an offshore pontoon is going to cost considerably less than its twin-engine, fiberglass offshore counterpart.”

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AT THE COOL KIDS’ TABLE

COMFORT & AMENITIES

15. COOL

TECH

Today’s pontoon boats feature all the fun gadgets, including touchscreen electronics, GPS navigation and Bluetooth. They also boast the latest sound systems with subwoofer stereos.

“It’s high end,” MartinDubois said. “People want their boats to be a mixture of car and living room, with that blend of comfort, convenience and color.”

VanWagenen agreed, also observing that boat owners are willing to spend more money on their boats’ stereos, speakers — even blue LED accent lighting.

“They want to entertain, and that enhances the experience at night,” he said. Plus, let’s face it, the grownups still want to feel cool.

16. BARS Speaking of cool, more pontoon manufacturers, including Premier, have added inviting bar areas.

“We have more than one full-size bar with bar stools, lighted stanchions, bottle holders, a refrigerator, and even small details like purse hooks,” Melbostad said. “We even incorporated a large pub-style table on some models.”

17. GALLEYS

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entertainment centers for their owners, manufacturers have focused on creating spaces for built-in galley and head facilities. Smoker Craft’s new Lounge Arm Galley transforms a pontoon’s chaise lounge into a functional galley with a sink, cupholders and a wine bottle holder. It’s available on all Sylvan, Starcraft and Sunchaser pontoons. The aforementioned Escalante from Premier is able to provide a refrigerator, wine cooler, sink and standup head, thanks to its fiberglass staircase to the upper deck.

& HEADS

18. SEATING

Recognizing that pontoons are indeed on-water

Seats are seats, right?

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The Future

19

INNOVATIONS

Wrong, at least according to Avalon. The manufacturer offers signature aluminum seat frames with decorative teak panels that are ventilated to keep temperatures in a moderate range and reduce opportunities for mold and mildew to grow.

“Plus, they have more storage,” Knight said.

“We also have suspension seating that works kind of like trampoline material.

When the boat moves, the cushion moves with you.”

19. LOUNGE OPTIONS Seating is a big deal to pontoon owners. Countless seating types and configurations are now available, many of which incorporate

manually or electrically convertible lounges for greater layout flexibility.

“Our walkthrough, rear-facing lounges replace what we had forever,” Lowe’s Rader said. “They’re predominant now.”

20. CUDDY

CABIN

Cruising amenities such as galleys and standup head compartments have been game-changers for many pontoon owners, but not all of these innovations are abovedecks. Premier’s Encounter, for example, provides a cuddy cabin within its raised helm. The cabin features a sleeper, a convertible dining table, a head, internal speakers, a deck hatch and nearly 6 feet of headroom.

The stigma around pontoon ownership is abating with the advent of stylized fiberglass design elements, cruising amenities and runabout-style performance. Looking forward, the biggest design trends are likely to involve performance, so the boats can go even faster, handle better and tackle offshore conditions.

“We’ve gone from being the afterthought boat to the boat everyone wants, and the key is performance,” VanWagenen said.

Pontoon owners want to be able to take multiple generations of family members and friends on the water, where all of them can do a little of what they like. That means the boat must be able to handle a variety of conditions; and as usage expands in coastal areas, that includes saltwater environments.

“We’re filling in the usability gaps, developing designs that replicate and supplant other types of boats,” Knight said. “As performance continues to improve, a pontoon can be your ski-and-tubing boat and your cruising boat, as well as your bass boat and your place to entertain.

You can carry more people.

The kids are secure, the grandparents are comfortable, and you can do all this affordably.” BW

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A REVOLUTION IN INNOVATION The Suzuki DF350A - Power For Bigger Boats We matched the power of nature and the sea with our passion and commitment to provide you with the Ultimate 4-Stroke Outboard. A perfect match for today’s larger boats that demand more power and performance.

A hydrodynamically designed gear case and contra-rotating dual propellers deliver extra “traction” underwater where you need it most. The 350 horsepower Suzuki DF350A V6 4-Stroke does indeed take “Ultimate” to the next level.

Our innovative Dual Louver Direct Intake System and Dual Fuel Injectors provide cooler air and precisely measured fuel to the combustion chamber.

We invite you to learn more about the DF350A by visiting www.suzukimarine.com.

DUAL LOUVER SYSTEM

DUAL FUEL INJECTORS

DUAL WATER INTAKES

CONTRA-ROTATING DUAL PROP SYSTEM

The Suzuki “S”, Ultimate tagline and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2018 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

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,

!

th st wi e n o h s afe ople d e n p a t s h o n e r s e c u r i n g t r a i l e r. p e e K o d tips f r boat an e s e th ou KA ing y d HAZ r a ROC P gu NA UZ

BY Z

A

Trailers and boats can be stolen in seconds, and it doesn’t even take a professional to do it. According to BoatUS statistics, more than 5,000 boats are stolen annually — almost 75 percent of these are less than 26 feet long — and only one in 10 stolen boats is recovered.

Florida is particularly fertile hunting territory for crooks, with nearly 50 percent of boat thefts occurring in just that one state, and 75 percent of those are boats on trailers. Typically, boats are stolen and stripped of electronics, engines, Biminis and equipment. Some are then set on fire to damage the hull and make them unidentifiable. Do I have your attention yet?

An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. So said the wise and venerable Benjamin Franklin, and was he ever right, especially when it comes to protecting boats from theft.

With today’s technology, there’s no reason to make it easy for thieves. A few simple steps and minor expenditures will protect the large investment — boat and trailer — sitting in the driveway and keep it where and how you left it.

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ACCESS Where you store or park your boat and trailer weighs heavily in the risk of trying to steal it. If you can park it out of sight, inside a garage, in a backyard, or in a secured storage warehouse, you’ll be one step ahead. If you must park in the driveway, park with the trailer tongue in or park something in front of the trailer that restricts access. Doing so makes it more difficult for you to get the boat out, too, but don’t let that curtail boating season.

Motion-activated lights around a parked boat will help, but remember they can be disarmed by removing the bulb, and surveillance cameras are fantastic until they themselves are stolen. Keep gear and electronics out of sight or off the boat, so the whole package looks less tempting. Remove valuables such as wakeboards, binoculars and personal items, and secure or hide electronics with a console cover. What they can’t see can’t tempt them.

If you can track a teenager, you can track a boat.

aren’t a complete solution.

Next, think about wheel locks. Oldschool solutions included putting cable or chain through the wheel and the axle and locking it with a padlock. But cables are easy to cut, and thieves can always take the wheel off to remove the chain.

Professionally constructed lockable wheel

and maybe a little thank you note (because I’d be an ass of a thief). A better solution is a lock that covers the lug nuts, so the wheel can’t be removed. One example is BestEquip’s two-piece wheel lock, but there are many.

Now, think about how to secure the outboard(s) at the transom. A McGard

Lock It Up

LOCK IT ALL If you can’t park it out of reach, then lock it — all of it. Specialty locks are available for couplers, McGard makes prop Trimax’s Wheel Chock wheels, outboard engines and even and outboard locks.

Lock will prevent the propellers. trailer from rolling.

Making the coupler hitch inaccessible is the best way to prevent a trailer from being towed away.

There are many on the market and they vary in design and construction BestEquip’s materials. Most are made of alumiWheel Lock stops num (cast or extruded) and many can the wheel from be disabled in minutes with a crow rotating. bar. One that’s fairly bulletproof is Proven Industries’ puck-style lock, which covers the entire coupler with a thick steel sleeve. It can withstand punishment from a sledgehammer or a saw, and differently sized models start chocks and clamps are readily available at $215. and come in various forms at wide-ranging prices.

Another option is California Immobilizer’s bulldog-style lock with a Clamps that prevent the wheel from slightly different design that starts around turning are great, but if I were a thief, I’d $75. Making the coupler inaccessible is a take off the entire wheel and replace it with great start, but remember that it’s possible the handy spare that’s bolted on the front for thieves to just chain the trailer to their of the trailer. Then, just for fun, I might tow vehicle and take off, so coupler locks leave the wheel with the clamp attached 56

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Spot Trace is an effective after-thefact recovery device.

A coupler lock from Proven Industries keeps thieves from hooking up.

Siren Marine’s MTC system includes sensors and an app that sends alerts.

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outboard lock replaces one of the regular engine mounting nuts ($35) with a locking nut with a free-spinning collar that makes it hard to remove. McGard also makes effective prop locks ($50), to secure these expensive pieces as well.

Finally, if your boat is on a lift rather than a trailer, lock the control box or disable the lift. Be sure to tell your neighbors when you leave town, in case thieves manage to get the boat in the water and then try to tow it away with another vessel.

SURVEILL ANCE & TR ACKING If you can track a teenager, you can track a boat. Recently, there’s been a proliferation of smartphone apps and specific monitoring equipment designed for marine use.

A Garhauer Outboard Motor Lock disables the two screw clamps.

Via 3G or 4G, Wi-Fi or satellite, a boat can now tell its owner if it’s on the move when it should be parked, if someone has forced entry or if it’s sinking. And it can even tell parents where their teenager is taking the boat if he’s been allowed to go for a joyride.

Not surprisingly, the more sophisticated the monitoring solution, the more expensive. Yachts today can turn on lights and AC before you arrive at the dock, communicate their battery levels and monitor bilge pump cycles. GOST (Global Ocean Security Technologies) even offers sound barriers and fogging repellents to rebuff crooks, but these solutions can costs thousands of dollars.

For a trailerboat all that’s really needed is a geo-fencing function. Siren Marine’s MTC system includes GPS/geo-fencing tracking with wired or wireless sensors.

The basic system starts at $599 but needs additional variously priced sensors that track location, high water, temperature (in case of fire), motion and entry detection.

If you’re reasonably handy, you can install the system yourself, and maintenance is minimal. You’ll need Siren’s free app for iOS or Android and a subscription for $18/ month.

Another solution is the Spot Trace, a small unit (2.6 by 2 inches) that can be kept aboard in a hidden location. It costs just $120 and operates with a subscription fee of $10/month. Trace sends texts or emails with your boat’s latitude and longitude if the vessel starts moving and crosses its geo-fencing parameters. This waterproof unit runs on AAA batteries that need to be replaced every three months, but it’s a reliable sentinel as it rides along, out of sight. A problem becomes readily apparent when a boat whose top speed is 20 knots is sending a message that it’s moving down I-95 at 70 mph.

Yacht Protector is a scalable system that

uses a central core and wireless sensors to monitor and secure a boat. Through an app, push notifications — text and email — alert an owner to intrusion and movement outside a geo-fence, and owners can add up to 16 monitors to make the system as comprehensive as they wish.

POUND OF CURE If the ounce of prevention doesn’t work, it’s time for the cure. The best strategy is to have property properly marked, to increase the chance of recovery.

A funky James Bond-esque technology is Anti-Theft Dots. Only 0.2 millimeter in diameter (think grain of sand), the dots can be applied to the boat, trailer, outboard motors, props, electronics, binoculars and more. Chemically etched with a unique identification code that lives in a registered database, the microdots can be “painted” on anything and subsequently help law enforcement identify gear that may have been separated from the vessel, if owners take the time to register their property.

More low-tech steps you can take include marking the trailer, electronics and gear with your vessel’s hull identification number (HIN), which is usually found on the upper starboard corner of the transom, or your driver’s license number, which may be easier for law enforcement to trace back to you. Also, don’t store your boat and trailer registration aboard. Take it home.

Keep an inventory of what you have aboard and take pictures of everything.

Report a theft immediately, to enhance the chance of recovery. And just in case all else fails, insure the whole package: trailer, engines, gear and all. Finally, remember that if you’re approached by someone offering a great deal on an outboard or a fancy fishing rod, chances are you’re looking at stolen merchandise, so don’t help thieves by creating demand for their ill-gotten goods. BW

To the Web • • • •

AntiTheftDots.com FindMeSpot.com GarhauerStore.com GOSTGlobal.com

• Immobilize.com •

(California Immobilizer) McGard.com

• • • •

ProvenLocks.com SirenMarine.com TrimaxLocks.com YachtProtector.com

BOATINGWORLD.COM

+ BW feature Security.indd 57

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C A LL 949/660 - 6150

marketplace

H A S YO U R DO 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.

58

JULY/AUGUST 2018 BOATINGWORLD.COM

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+ BW Marketplace2.indd 58

6/1/18 9:56 AM

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JULY/AUGUST 2018 BOATINGWORLD.COM

•

+ BW Marketplace2.indd 60

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

BOATS Apex Marine (989) 681-4300........CV4

Harbor Freight Tools (800) 423-2567................................ 61

Avalon Pontoons (800) 334-2913... 33

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

Godfrey Marine (574) 522-8381....... 35

Swim Platforms (602) 431-8225..... 63

Harris (260) 432-4555........................ 21

West System Inc. / Gougeon Brothers, Inc. (989) 684-7286........................ 15

Hurricane Boats (574) 522-8381....... 19

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

Manitou Pontoon Boats (517) 322-3822................................. 23

seamagazine.com

Sea Doo/BRP (800) 882-2900.......... 9 SERVICES

Splendor Boats (260) 352-2835......60

Boat Angel (800) 227-2643............. 63

Stingray (843) 383-4507................... 29

Boat U.S. (800) 283-2883.................. 13

Yamaha Watercraft (800) 888-2624.................................. 1

GEICO Insurance (800) 865-4846............................ CV3

ELECTRONICS

1-800-PROGRESSIVE (800)776-4737....................................3

ENGINES

THE VOICE OF PACIFIC COAST BOATING SINCE 1908

PERSONAL WATERCRAFT

SmokerCraft, Inc./Starcraft (866) 719-7873..............................5, 17

Simrad...................................................... 11

United States Power Squadrons (888) 367-8777................................. 18

Mercury Marine (920) 929-5916... CV2

WATERSPORTS EQUIPMENT

SternDrive Engineering (813) 925-7127.................................. 62

Connelly (425) 775-5416...............30-31

Suzuki Marine (800) 247-4704........ 53

Perfect Pass Control Systems (902) 468-2150................................60

GEAR & ACCESSORIES Aquatic AV (408) 559-1668.............. 59

Overton’s (800) 334-6541................. 43

Turbo Swing (855) 228-8726............14

BOATINGWORLD.COM JULY/AUGUST 2018

+ BW Marketplace2.indd 63

C A LL 949/660 - 6150

DONATE IT TODAY!

marketplace

Got An Old Boat?

63

•

6/1/18 9:56 AM

Reader Contest

Rick Martin illustration

Name the Boat

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

Charlie had assumed Section IV of the waiver he’d carelessly signed, titled “Them Gator Teeth’s Sharp,” was a quaint local scare tactic. Now he wished he’d read it. Send us your name for our boat. If it wins, we will give you a Dock King Lounge & Float, valued at $199.99, from Connelly, and your name will appear in the November/December 2018 issue of Boating World.

Win This!

YOURS FREE

64

The first person to turn in the best boat name will receive a Dock King Lounge & Float from Connelly (connellyskis. com), valued at $199.99.

How to enter: We’ll reprint the cartoon with the winning boat name in the November/December 2018 issue.

Submissions are due by August 10.

Email editor@boatingworld.com with “Name the Boat” in the subject line, or send snail mail to Boating World Magazine/Name

Dock King is a four-person lounge with a center

the Boat, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. Please

cutout for feet or a Dock King Bartender (not

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

included). Four molded cupholders ensure drinks

your entry. Duncan McIntosh Co. and Connelly employees and

stay upright and connection grommets allow the

their families are prohibited from entering. Prizewinners are

lounge to be tied to other lounges during raft-ups.

responsible for any applicable taxes. Decisions of the judges and

A one-person float is also included.

the editor are final.

JULY/AUGUST 2018 BOATINGWORLD.COM

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+ BW NTB2.indd 64

5/31/18 4:54 PM

You could get a discount when you combine your auto and boat policies.

geico.com | 1-800-865-4846 | Local Office Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. Multi-Policy Discount available to auto insureds that have purchased a boat policy through the GEICO Marine Insurance Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. Š 2018 GEICO