March 2016 – Boating World Magazine

BOATING WORLD • MARCH 2016 VOLUME 37 NUMBER 3

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contents

M A RCH 2016

MAGAZINE

VOLUME XXXVII NUMBER 3

departments Editor’s Letter Word of the day p. 4

Currents Bits from the boating world p. 6

Trailering Head off trouble

pg.

50

p. 12

Fishing New 7-inch fishfinders p. 14

Outboard-powered boats can be ordered new or retrofitted with joystick control.

Watersports Discover SUP wakesurfing p. 16

Engines Propane as outboard

pg.

14

features

Jump for Joy(sticks) Outboardpowered boats can be ordered new or retrofitted with joystick control. p. 50

Stay off the Claims List

boats tested SunCatcher by G3 Elite 324 RS Redefines luxury while keeping the price

pg.

46

for a day on the lake … or the ocean p. 38

Nitro Z20 A state-of-the-art tournament boat at a nice price p. 46 2

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MARCH 2016

BOATINGWORLD.COM

of experts answers your questions p. 24

Mistakes no boater should make p. 32

Contest: Name the Boat Win a $50 gift card p. 64

pg.

18

Formula 290 Bowrider Ready

that’s a bold reflection of you p. 42

Ask the Experts Our panel

Bonehead Blunders

affordable p. 34

Sylvan S3 Extreme A pontoon

DIY Install surf tabs p. 22

Gear The latest accessories, gadgets and electronics p. 28

BY DOUG THOMPSON

Engage in these 9 activities between now and launch day. p. 56 BY HEATHER STEINBERGER

fuel p. 18

pg.

34

Propane as outboard fuel.

Happy Hours

C H E R I S H E D T I M E W I T H FA M I LY A N D F R I E N D S .

Apex Marine, Inc. 300 Woodside Drive • Saint Louis, Michigan 48880 Phone: 989-681-4300 • Fax: 989-681-4333

QWEST • GILLGETTER • ANGLER QWEST • PADDLE QWEST Proudly Made in the USA American Workers - American Components

boating world apex.indd 1

www.QwestPontoons.com 11/18/15 8:16 AM

editor’s letter

BY A L A N J O N E S

Word of the Day I

THE BOATING WORLD TEAM RESPONDS: You uncover a time capsule dated 1999. What do you hope to find in it?

N “THE GRADUATE,” ACTOR WALTER Brooke put his arm

around Dustin Hoffman and, with exaggerated gravitas, whispered one word to him: “Plastics.” That was in 1967, and thanks to that not so subliminal endorsement, plastics companies became enormously successful within a year. In 2016, we have a word for one of the biggest ecological problems facing our oceans. Yep, you guessed it: plastics.

At last year’s ICAST fishing gear convention in Orlando, sunglasses maker Costa unveiled a nine-foot-tall statue of a jumping marlin, made out of plastic picked up off a beach. It was meant to illustrate the grave danger our oceans are facing thanks to the estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic that end up in them every year. And unlike love, plastics are forever.

Many of you have heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, but there are actually five major accumulations of floating plastic.

And the word “patch” is understated, considering the GPGP is estimated to be at least as large as Texas and could be twice as large as the United States in area. It’s concentrated at the vortex within an ocean gyre — an enormous, circular current that tends to trap debris, such as oceanic plastic, at its center. There are five major gyres, two in the Atlantic, two in the Pacific and one in the Indian Ocean, all of which have a giant mass of plastic at their heart.

While the areas where plastic is concentrated at the surface in floating mats are the subject of photos you most often see, much of it isn’t visible, largely because the pieces are so small and 95 percent of it is submerged. Plastic isn’t biodegradable, but the sun’s UV rays tend to break it down into smaller pieces, making it easier for smaller and smaller sea creatures to ingest it, corrupting the food chain from the bottom up.

The biggest culprits are water and soda bottles and plastic bags. By 2025, there could be as much as one ton of garbage for every three tons of fish, according to Ocean Conservancy, a non-profit group that recently revealed the five biggest global garbage dumpers: China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. All are emerging countries in which people have gained an appetite for Western-style consumables — often packaged in small, more affordable bottles. Unfortunately, their rate of consumption has outstripped their ability to dispose of the waste properly.

So what can we do about it? The adage “think globally and act locally” is a good start. Let’s break our addiction to the ubiquitous water bottle, using filtered tap water instead. Carry our own cloth bags for groceries and demand garbage recycling in areas that don’t have it. Foreign aid is not a popular topic in an election year, but helping emerging nations with their explosion of trash will provide a direct benefit to us and the oceans. In addition, funding for studies and research grants to develop technological solutions is needed. There’s no silver-bullet solution, but we could sure spray some buckshot at this problem. This is one of those pass/fail deals, where the future of our boating playgrounds is at stake, and to paraphrase Gene Kranz of Apollo 13 fame, “Failure is an unthinkable option.” BW

PUBLISHER Duncan McIntosh Jr. Mantle and Berra baseball cards I misplaced ASSOC. EDITOR/PUBLISHER Jeff Fleming A 32-inch waist EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alan Jones My overdue library book, “Chocolat” MANAGING EDITOR Mike Werling My notes that prove I thought of Facebook first ASSISTANT EDITOR Stephanie Shibata The Y2K Bug ART DIRECTOR Julie Hogan A non-rewound Blockbuster “Howard the Duck” VHS tape PRODUCTION Mary Monge My Y2K emergency kit CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Amelia Salazar All the cash I spent on Beanie Babies FULFILLMENT OPERATIONS MGR. Rick Avila A Nokia cellphone ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING

Call (949) 660-6150 Janette Hood My TiVo player

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING

REGIONAL SALES MANAGERS

Annabelle Zabala A Nintendo Game Boy Felice Lineberry A copy of the Matrix on VHS MARKETPLACE SALES MGR. Jon Sorenson An unreleased/unknown Michael Jackson album AD COORDINATOR Jennifer Chen Pikachu TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR Dave Kelsen My Beatles original EMI Parlophone records DIGITAL DIRECTOR Bryan Sheehy My Sopranos season one DVD 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 17782 Cowan, Ste. C, Irvine, CA 92614 (949) 660-6150 • Fax (949) 660-6172 Duncan Mcintosh Co. is founded by Editor and Publisher Duncan McIntosh Jr. and Co-Publisher Teresa Ybarra McIntosh (1942-2011)

Boating World Editorial and Advertising Offices, 17782 Cowan, Ste. C, Irvine, CA 92614; (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 17782 Cowan, Ste. C, Irvine, CA 92614 by Duncan McIntosh Co. Inc. Periodicals Postage paid at Irvine, CA 92614 and at additional mailing offices. Editorial contributions are welcome. Please submit all contributions to the editor, accompanied by return postage. We assume no responsibility for M AG A Z I N E 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 $4.99; 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 © 2016, all rights reserved. PERMISSIONS: Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission.

M AG A ZINE

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER MARCH 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM 2015 BOATINGWORLD.COM M AG A Z I N E

LOG ON. LEARN MORE.

STARCRAFTMARINE.COM

HERITAGE. RECREATION.

The brand new SCX 231 Surf Edition deckboat from Starcraft lets you have it all. This surfable crossover deckboat equipped with a quick fill and empty ballast system, speed control and wave tuning gives you the surf capabilities that will have you shredding the waves in no time. Roomy swim decks and deep, spacious seating for up to 13 of your friends ensure you can take everyone out for the day comfortably, all with the capabilities of an inboard and the versatility of an I/O. So go ahead, surf over to www.starcraftmarine.com and see what all the talk is about.

SINCE

currents

BY STEPH A N I E S H I BATA

LEAD BOAT PURSUIT C 238 CC

Fits to a C

Pursuit’s entry-level center console might inspire sibling jealousy in its larger line mates.

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T

X XX

HE NEW PURSUIT C 238 Center Console isn’t the

smallest boat in the Pursuit fleet, but it is the second smallest. It’s also the entry-level boat to the Center Console line, which includes two larger siblings, the C 260 and C 280. Still, the C 238 has an LOA of 24 feet, 4 inches and lots of seating — plus, the best attributes of the larger models are incorporated — so it has plenty of room for buddies to go fishing or for friends to go dayboating.

There is seating for eight to 10 people, depending on their capacity to share the bow seats, each of which can be a forward-facing recliner for one or a feet-on-the-floor bench seat for two. A doublewide bench seat built into the center console, a transom bench for two and twin helm seats round out the rear-end resting places.

No matter the activity, everyone will appreciate the head that’s built into the console. The bench seat is attached to a door that swings out to reveal the hidden space. Other hidden features include rod storage under the gunwales, a lighted 23-gallon recirculating livewell and storage below the forward bench seats. A filler cushion can turn the bow into a sunpad.

According to a Yamaha Performance Bulletin, top speed with an F300 (max power) was 48.4 mph — an F250 is the other option. The most fuel-efficient cruise speed was 26.1 mph, at which point range was 284 miles on the 105-gallon tank (with a 10 percent reserve), basically three mpg.

A fiberglass hardtop provides shade for the captain and includes downriggers, four rod holders and an overhead glove box. The tempered-glass windscreen provides protection and looks stylish, with a powder-coated frame.

Pursuit, pursuitboats.com

SALT YXDOG

This month’s winners: WELKA & KALIE OWNER:

Jim Eve HOMETOWN:

Louisville, Ky.

Enter Your Dog Now

WIN THIS 

Send your picture to Bobby for your chance to win a CWB Dog Vest. Contact Bobby at bobby@boatingworld.com or Boating World, Salty Dog, 17782 Cowan, Suite C, Irvine, CA 92614. Please include a photo, along with your name, your dog's name, address and phone number.

Hydrofoiled HYDROFOILS ARE ONE of the most efficient types of boats when

it comes to speed. Lifting the hull out of the water at high speeds eliminates the drag on the hull. The Interceptor by Hydrofoils Inc. (hydrofoil.com) — still a concept with a one-eighth scale prototype — is being billed as the fastest hydrofoil in the world. Based on the prototype test, the full-size Interceptor should break 100 knots for a top speed. The 50-foot-long high-performance vessel will be powered by twin 1,840 hp marine gas turbine engines. The main cabin will ride above the water, virtually eliminating wave impact.

BOATINGWORLD.COM

MARCH 2016

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7

currents

name the boat

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

contest winner



Robin Randolph from Dover, Ohio, was the first to submit the winning name, AS TIME GOES BYE, for our changing-of-the-guard boat. For ushering in 2016 with a pun, Robin receives a $50 West Marine gift card from Boating World.

MORE OF JANUARY’S BEST ENTRIES:

New Year Kickoff

Impetuous Minnow

Dinghy Delinquent

That’s So Last Year

Vic Armbrust, Oakland, CA

Jim Gunter, Lake Ozark, MO

Nikki Tweet, Long Beach, CA

Charles Rettiger, Madison, GA

Tide’s Cha-cha-changing

Auld Lang Whine

Wonkers Away

Appetent Imp

Steve Gordenier, Portland, OR

Ronald Yingling, Pittsburgh

Arte Levy, Schenectady, NY

In With the New

Nauti One

Baby On Board

Judy Anderson, Puyallup, WA

Ryan Clitty, Port Richey, FL

Melissa Bare, Springfield, OR

Kicking Butt

Whatever!

I’ll be Back 4 U!

James Wallace II, Port St. Lucie, FL

Roger Anderson, Puyallup, WA

Gary Bardizbanian, Cliffside Park, NJ

Rick Martin illustration

Rich Vinyard, Anacortes, WA

Bon Voyage, Geezer Mike Buettell, Balboa Island, CA

Playing Foot Sea Patrick Riggio, East Moriches, NY >

J A N UA R Y’S W I N N E R: AS T I M E G O E S BY E

Use the Norse

BIG NUMBERS

Tip of the Iceberg

15+

Size, in feet, that an ice chunk must be to be considered an iceberg; anything less is a bergy bit (an iceberg less than 6.6 feet across that floats with less than 3.3 feet showing above water is called a growler)

90

Volume, in percentage, of an iceberg that is underwater

100

Volume of an iceberg, by percentage, that is fresh water (they contain no salt water) THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS have announced the addition of a “Legacy Ship” to Medtronic Plaza at U.S. Bank Stadium, their yet-to-be-completed new stadium. The ship will transform the marquee video board into a sculptural landmark and serve as the anchor to Medtronic Plaza. Inspired by legendary Viking ships and designed to honor local ancestry, the ship will incorporate a multimedia sculpture featuring a 2,000-square-foot curved LED video board standing 55 feet tall as the ship’s sail. It will also include seating and railings with linear displays, including a timeline exhibit of historical Minnesota moments. Thousands of “Legacy Bricks” purchased by fans will occupy approximately 3,500 square feet of the ship’s deck.

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4,500

Size, in square miles, of the largest iceberg ever discovered, Iceberg B-15, which was about the size of Connecticut

ADDITIONAL FUN FACT: During World War II, the British tried to create an unsinkable aircraft carrier out of pykrete, which is a synthetic iceberg reinforced with wood pulp. It was called Project Habakkuk and was scrapped after it was deemed impractical.

currents X X

QUIZ

Amphibious Vehicles WE’VE SEEN A fair number of cool amphibious vehicles

recently. Most of the vehicles below are real. Can you figure out which one we made up?

A Amphicar. This was the first mass-produced amphibious civilian auto.

B Aquada. Richard Branson set a new record for crossing the English Channel in this vehicle.

C Humdinga. Used to access remote and hostile

terrain, this truck boat, or Amphitruck, can haul on and off the water.

D Subaduba. Mostly used to shoot underwater foot-

age of mermaids and kraken, the Subaduba is a favorite of cryptozoologists.

E WaterCar. This brand specializes in luxury amphibious vehicles and holds the world record for fastest amphibious vehicle at 80 mph on land and 45 mph on water.

(ANSWER: We made up option D.) Option F is pictured.

X X

F Rinspeed sQuba. It’s a zero-emissions Lotus Elise chassis that has been transformed into a car/submarine, ala James Bond.

DID YOU KNOW?

Kedging is the action of pulling a boat into position by winching a line attached to a light anchor.

Veterans Conquer the Mississippi AFTER 124 DAYS, Bart

Lindberg and Mark Fox completed their Mississippi River excursion. They had two goals: to ease the symptoms of their PTSD and to raise awareness of it, since it is an often overlooked issue that is a daily struggle for veterans.

The journey was an extension of the Warrior Hike program (warriorhike.org), which helps veterans transition into civilian life through “walk off the war” hiking in the Appalachian Mountains. Accompanied by a companion, Abby Kaeser, who documented the entire journey on her blog, they completed their mission with the help of the kindness of strangers who opened their hearts and homes along the way.

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MARCH 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

ANNIVERSARY

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12/1/15 9:29 AM

trailering

H E A D O FF TRO U B LE

Avoid 4 Trailer Uh-Ohs Don’t let the winter layoff spoil your first outing of the year.

BY CHRIS CASWELL

I

T DOESN’T TAKE MUCH TO ruin a trailerboating weekend, especially after the trailer and boat have sat idle all winter. Even when they’re not being used, things are happening — things that can lead to an uh-oh moment. Avoid the uh-ohs with our handy guide.

BLACK TIRE MARKS THE SCENE: The long, cold winter has finally ended and you’ve hitched up early on a perfect morning. As you start down the driveway, you hear a screeching noise, and the trailer doesn’t want to move. Two black tire marks mar your driveway.

WHAT HAPPENED? Your trailer tires didn’t turn.

WHY DID IT HAPPEN? Your trailer bearings are frozen.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? If you’re really lucky, like a friend of mine was, you can whang the outside of the bearing with a hammer and the bearings will free up. If you’re really, really lucky, you can drive slowly, very slowly, to a repair shop and get the bearings replaced. If not, you need someone to replace the bearings on the spot. Not cheap.

HOW CAN YOU PREVENT IT? When you’re putting your boat away for the winter is the time to have the bearings checked and repacked by your dealer.

Trailer bearings come in a variety of styles, including waterproof, but if you believe they’re permanently waterproof, well, I’ve got a nice bridge to sell you. Grease and synthetic seals are what protect your bearings, and both should be renewed regularly.

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LIGHTS OUT THE SCENE: Lunch is packed and excited kids are walking around the boat when one says, “Hey, dad, the trailer lights aren’t on.”

WHAT HAPPENED? Lots of possibilities: a broken wire, a blown fuse in the car or burned out trailer lights.

WHY DID IT HAPPEN? The wiring system on trailers is, more than anything else, likely to go bad. Water, especially salt water, and electricity are not a happy combination.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? Start with the easy stuff: the car’s fuse box. If it’s OK, then take a look at the trailer wiring harness to see if it’s broken or abraded so it shorts on the trailer. If so, you may have enough slack to be able to join the broken wire with a

FENDER BENDER THE SCENE: As you step up on the trailer fender to toss gear in the boat, the fender bends and then breaks off the frame.

WHAT HAPPENED? The metal supports from the fender to the frame bent, collapsed and broke.

WHY DID IT HAPPEN? The metal was rusted!

WHAT CAN YOU DO? This probably won’t ruin your day on the water if you can get the fender completely off the frame. If necessary, use a hacksaw to cut away any remaining supports. You’ll need to go to a welding shop (preferably with the boat off the trailer) and have the fender reattached with fresh metal supports.

HOW CAN YOU

POW! THE SCENE: You’re doing your walk-around before you hit the road. You

give the trailer winch a crank to make sure the boat is secure and, Bam!, the wire snaps.

WHAT HAPPENED? The wire cable that you use to pull the boat onto the trailer and then secure the bow just broke.

WHY DID IT HAPPEN? Wire is susceptible to many things that can cause it to break. If wire is bent, it can break the strands and reduce its strength to almost nothing. Corrosion or rust can cause the same problem.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? Take a length of sturdy line, such as a dock line, and lash the bow to the trailer post. Run the line from the bow eye (where the winch line attached), wrap it around the post and secure it with half hitches. This will make it safe to drive the trailer to a shop that can replace the wire, since you need it to pull the boat back onto the trailer.

HOW CAN YOU PREVENT IT? You should regularly unwind the entire wire cable and stretch it out. Look for kinks or rusty areas. Wearing gloves, pull the wire through paper towels: any tufts of paper on the wire mean “meathooks” or broken strands. Replace the cable.

twist connector until you can do a complete repair. Trailer lights rarely burn out all at once unless you had a lightning strike, but check the bulbs anyway by removing the plastic cover. If nothing solves the problem, get the trailer to a repair shop by driving slowly on back roads.

HOW CAN YOU PREVENT IT? Once a year, and preferably while the boat is off the trailer, you need to check the wiring. Look for brittle wires, corroded connectors and terminals, and bare wires worn by scuffing on driveways. Replace any of these problems with new marine-grade wiring of the proper size. If you find a number of problem areas, it’s a lot easier to just replace the entire wiring harness with a new one from a marine or RV store.

Once you’ve inspected the wiring, take some anti-corrosive spray (I like Corrosion Block) and work your way around, giving a shot to all connection terminals. Remove the light covers, pop out the light bulbs and give the sockets a dose of protection as well. When you remove the plastic light covers, check the rubber gasket. If it’s brittle or broken, replace it with a new one, either from a trailer store or cut to match from a piece of rubber gasket bought at an auto parts store. Don’t forget the clearance lights, either.

PREVENT IT? When you put your boat away for the winter, wash the trailer to get rid of any salt and road grime. If you can, use a pressure washer or go to a do-it-yourself car wash. During the season, every time you launch your boat, wash the trailer and the boat.

You should regularly inspect the trailer frame carefully for signs of rust on steel trailers and corrosion on aluminum trailers. One sure indicator is an area of bubbling paint, like where that broken fender support joined the frame.

Welding can leave tiny pinholes into which water can seep, leading to rust, so do your inspection. If you find corrosion, wire brush it down to bare metal. Clean it with paint thinner, apply two coats of corrosion-inhibiting primer and finish with a gloss coat of matching paint. BW

If you find corrosion, wire brush it down to bare metal.

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fishing

FIS H I N G ELEC TRO N I C S

The Electronics Sweet Spot Finding the perfect blend of price and performance can be a daunting task, but three GPS fishfinders hit the bull’s-eye.

BY ALAN JONES

W

E’RE ALL LOOKING FOR THAT magic mix called bang for the buck, and when it comes to GPS/fishfinder combos, it looks like the sevens are this year’s winners. Seveninch displays are large enough to make split screens feasible and visible, they fit on almost every boat and they are priced right. Win, win, win.

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The Humminbird Helix 7 SI GPS got the attention of the “Best of Show” voters at the most recent ICAST convention, the world’s largest non-consumer fishing show, as it won the Best Electronics category, competing against some high-dollar competition. It boasts a 480-by-800-pixel display whose special Glass Bonded screen makes it highly viewable at any angle and in any lighting conditions. Plus, its 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio is perfect for viewing split screens. SwitchFire technology allows a quick change to Clear Mode, which is useful in shallow water that’s roiled, to eliminate all sonar returns except fish and structures. Max Mode shows

everything — and we mean everything — from thermoclines to plankton accumulations to your lure or bait presentation. Its onboard computer is 25 percent faster than previous comparable models, has double the RAM (though the amount isn’t specified) for quick screen refreshes and has wireless capability. The top-ofthe-line SI version of the Helix 7 features Side Imaging and Down Imaging, delivering a near-photographic depiction of what’s down under. It supports Navionics Gold/HotMaps or LakeMaster cartography in the micro SD format.

BIGGEST DRAWBACK: It’s a standalone unit, which means it can’t network with other Humminbird products.

SWEET SPOT FACTOR: The Helix 7 SI costs $699, only $200 more than the Helix 5, but moving to a Helix 9 SI jumps the price to $999, and the Helix 10 SI elevates to $1,499.

The Lowrance Hook 7 also features a 480-by-800pixel screen with a 16:9 widescreen format for better splitscreen viewing for up to three panels. One of its signature features is CHIRP sonar technology, which sends a continuous sweep of both high and low frequencies, unlike other sonar units that send one or the other. CHIRP helps eliminate clutter, greatly enhances the quality of the return and is especially useful for seeing bottom-hugging target fish and bait that used to remain hidden. Lowrance is part of the Navionics family, which also includes Simrad, and the Hook 7 takes advantage of the group’s most recent proprietary features. Insight Genesis allows users to create a custom contour map of their favorite fishing hole, and it’s updated every time they make a pass over the area. It also features TrackBack, which allows users to review recorded sonar information, and if they notice a feature that looks promising, they can set a waypoint to guide them back to it. DownScan Imaging provides an incredibly realistic view of structures and potential targets and can be overlaid with a CHIRP display. Cartography options include Lake Insight, Nautic Insight PRO, HotMap, Fishing Hotspots, Navionics + and Jeppesen C-MAP MAX-N. BIGGEST DRAWBACK: No wireless capability.

SWEET SPOT FACTOR: The Hook 7 costs $449, which is only $100 more than the Hook 5. The Hook 9 is $500 more, with a price of $949.

The Raymarine Dragonfly 7 Pro also uses enhanced CHIRP

sonar technology to send a signal in a wide range of frequencies, simultaneously. It can operate on a Dual Channel mode with a DownScan overlay that can mark fish and structures with photographic clarity, even when the boat is on plane. It has a fast-response temperature sensor, so picking up on temperature gradients is easier and more accurate. Like the other products mentioned here, the seven-inch display is a 480-by-800 LED screen and is perhaps the easiest of the bunch to operate right out of the box, as it only has three buttons (On/Off, Back and a joystick for scrolling). It can be upgraded via micro SD chip to use Navionics C-MAP by Jeppesen or Raymarine’s LightHouse cartography.

A streamlined CPT-60 transducer comes standard. The new Pro edition adds the built-in Wi-Fish feature, which allows users to remotely view the screen on a tablet or smartphone.

BIGGEST DRAWBACK: It’s designed to be a standalone unit, so it’s not capable of interfacing with other NMEA electronics.

The GPS function supports waypoints and tracks but doesn’t have a route function.

SWEET SPOT FACTOR: The Dragonfly 7 Pro costs $650, which is $180 more than the 5 Pro model. There is no Dragonfly 9 or 10, so to upgrade to Raymarine’s least expensive nine-inch screen GPS/Fishfinder, the A-Series, will cost $1,529.

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watersports

WA KE SU R F O N A SU P

A New Challenge Looking for a different activity behind the boat? Try SUP wakesurfing.

S

TANDUP PADDLEBOARDS ARE MANY THINGS to many people: harbor cruiser, ocean trekker, wave surfer. Lately, the more-versatile-than-you-thought SUP has added another activity to its résumé: wakesurfing behind the boat.

“It’s a fun activity,” said Jeff McKee, a professional wakeboard rider for Nautique and Slingshot Sports. “I’ve had guys who thought it looked dumb and didn’t want to try it. But then they did, and at the end they would say, ‘Damn, that’s pretty cool.’”

McKee got his introduction to SUP wakesurfing almost by accident. He was on a photo shoot for another purpose, and someone got the idea to put a SUP behind 16

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the boat. McKee tried it and was hooked.

It’s not going to replace wakeboarding as an adrenaline rush, but he really likes it.

EASY START

One advantage SUP wakesurfing enjoys over traditional wakesurfing, and wakeboarding, is that participants can start standing up, or even sitting down — something McKee does when he has

one of his toddlers on the board with him.

The deepwater start required by the other activities is deep-sixed in favor of a drier, less strenuous start.

McKee recommends employing a standard wakesurf rope and using its full 20-foot length.

“You want to start behind the pocket,” he said. “Put the powerful part of the wave in front of you. Stand far back on the board in a typical SUP stance and have the boat move forward. Then, when there is tension on the rope, you can walk toward the back of the board and put your rear foot over the fins,” taking on more of a surfing stance.

How far back do you want to start on the board? Far enough that the board takes on a bit of a bow-up attitude. Standing too far forward will put the nose down and the board develops a mind of its own, which can lead to wipeouts.

A quick note on the board setup: McKee recommends using a board 10 feet long or less — more of a surf-style — and he says to mind the fins. He takes the front two fins off and moves the rear fins as far back as they’ll go. The forward fins want to make

the board track straight, and that can be an issue when one is trying to maneuver around the wake.

RIDING IT

Once comfortably in the wake, riders can let go of the rope just like in traditional wakesurfing. In fact, McKee said it’s far easier to let go of the rope while SUP wakesurfing. And more of the wake is usable to a rider on a SUP. McKee was surprised by how far back he could go.

“If you can do 15 feet on a regular board, you can do 25 feet on a SUP,” he said, especially using the entire SUP setup. “When you have the paddle, you can get into parts of the wake you’ve never used before.”

Riding the wave is where most riders will notice a big difference between traditional boards and a SUP. There isn’t nearly the maneuverability with a SUP — McKee compares it to the difference between a traditional surfboard and a longboard — but even so, with a little practice, most riders will be able to pull off a wake-towake move and maybe a 360. And as simple as it is to get started, it’s just as simple to end it. Aim the board out of the wake and assume a SUP stance, and you’re good. Don’t even have to get wet.

Boat drivers are going to want to note the slight speed difference with a SUP. Average speed for wakesurfing is 10 or 11 mph, but the speed should bump up slightly for SUP, to between 11 and 13 mph.

“Doing so creates a longer wave, giving you more space to work with between the back of the boat and the back of the wave,” McKee said.

The slower speed of wakesurfing appeals to a good chunk of the watersports crowd — the falls are less painful and the wipeouts less spectacular — and the relative ease of SUP start is another point in its favor. If a family member or a friend just can’t master the deepwater start, SUP wakesurfing is a good option.

“It’s a fun, extra, new activity,” McKee said. “It’s a new challenge.” BW

TO THE WEB Nautique.com Slingshotsports.com

When you have the paddle, you can get into parts of the wake you’ve never used before. +

OPPORTUNITY

As wakesurfing has become more popular, boat builders have developed ways to meet the demand for ever-bigger wakes, and the results have been innovative and cool. But what about people who already have a boat and don’t want to invest in a new one?

“The cool thing is that ski boat owners who thought they’d never be able to surf behind their boat can with a SUP,” McKee said.

Since SUP wakesurfers don’t have to be exactly in the pocket to catch a nice ride, the pocket doesn’t have to be as intense as those created by surf-specific boats, and that means many more boat owners can add SUP surfing to their repertoire.

BOATINGWORLD.COM MARCH 2016

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engines

PRO PA N E O UTBOA R D

Propane.

Boat Fuel of the Future?

Lehr thinks so and offers the 25HP as its proof of concept.

BY ALAN JONES

LEHR 25HP

T

HE FIRST TIME I SAW a propane-powered outboard was at the Miami International

Boat Show (MIBS) in 2012 as a judge in the National Marine Manufacturers Association Innovation Awards. There, indoors, on the convention floor was a running 5HP outboard built by Lehr. It could do so because it put out far fewer harmful fumes than gas engines. The judges were duly impressed and gave it an award. Fast forward to this year’s MIBS, where Lehr’s new 25HP was on display — also running inside.

The first question that springs to mind: Does propane make a good marine engine fuel?

If you ask Lehr CEO Bernardo Herzer, the answer is an enthusiastic, but not surprising, “Yes!” After all, he is the chairman of the World Liquid Propane Gas Association, an organization whose mission is educate the public about the many benefits of propane. We all know it’s great for gas grills, but what about as a marine fuel?

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engines

Lehr’s outboard lineup ranges from 2.5 hp to 25 hp, and uses propane, a cleaner-burning fuel than gas.

The biggest knock I could find on propane is that its gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) is 74 percent, which means that a gallon of propane produces 74 percent of the energy of a gallon of gas. I asked Herzer about that, and he quickly shot down the notion that it’s an inferior fuel. “I hear this a lot, but you have to realize a gallon of propane is lighter than premium unleaded gasoline (4.2 pounds vs. 6.5 pounds),” Herzer said. “So if you compare energy densities, you’ll find propane packs more punch per pound than gas.”

One of propane’s biggest assets as a marine fuel is its higher 110 octane level, which allows the 25HP to use advanced timing without knocking. Lehr optimizes performance by using special valves, valve guides and heads.

Some gas-to-propane conversions, on equipment such as forklifts, only have one-stage metering systems, giving them a very narrow power band. What makes the Lehr 25HP special is its three-stage, highly accurate fuel metering system that ensures a smooth power delivery in all throttle ranges. Lehr actually provides 35 companies — including John Deere and Briggs & Stratton — with proprietary fueling systems that include components such as its patented Liquid Draw. Future Lehr outboards of the larger persuasion 20

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MARCH 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

will probably use fuel injection, but the 25HP uses a carburetor and lacks an onboard computer, which keeps the price down and makes maintenance simple and cheap (and third-world friendly). Propane is a refrigerant, so standard lines would not be at adequate, which is why Lehr uses aircraft-grade brazing and stainless steel lines, which are more durable in marine applications and help keep the liquid

Fahrenheit or be pressurized to 3,600 psi.

This is why natural gas is run into homes via a pipe rather than delivered to a home tank like propane.

The cost? When I get my grill’s 20-pound propane tank filled, it costs about $20, which works out to around $4 a gallon. It would be great to get a 150-gallon tank installed at home and buy in bulk to refill the lightweight seven-and-a-half-gallon Lehr-designed composite tank, but there’s a catch: A pump assembly capable of handling liquid propane costs around $10,000. So unless you have a fishing fleet or a co-op, this isn’t practical. With gasoline prices around $2 nationwide, right now propane is more expensive.

One huge advantage to owning a Lehr 25HP is that propane doesn’t go bad like ethanol-laced fuel, so it doesn’t need winterization. Harmful emissions are lower, too, with up to 60 percent fewer hydrocarbons, which prevents sooting within the combustion chamber. Since it’s not a solvent and enters the combustion chamber as a gas, it doesn’t strip the cylinder walls of lubrication, which extends engine durability. Propane doesn’t have the evaporative issues of gasoline and is not a greenhouse gas. According to recent Lehr performance tests, the 25HP burns 1.1 gph at 3000 rpm and 2.5 gph at 5000,

“If you compare energy densities, propane packs more punch per pound than gas.” propane flowing until the heat exchangers expand it into a gas.

In order to fit any gas into a reasonablysized container, it must first be liquefied.

Some observers have wondered about the difference between liquid propane gas (LPG) and liquid natural gas (LNG), which has also been used to power vehicles. It’s simple. For propane to convert to liquid form, it needs to be pressurized to between 100 and 150 psi or have its temperature lowered to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

For LNG to liquefy, its temperature must be dropped to minus 260 degrees

which is slightly more than most stateof-the-art gasoline four-strokes. At 172 pounds, it weighs slightly more than most four-strokes, such as the Honda BF25 (155 pounds), but it is cheaper than the Honda ($4,295 vs. $5,799), and it can be equipped with an internal lithium-ion battery for push-button, no-choke starting.

Is propane the marine fuel of the future?

Too early to tell, but it is a viable and interesting option, especially for boat owners who don’t use their motors very often or don’t want to deal with the hassles and hazards of gasoline. BW

diy

I NSTA LL SU R F TA BS

Install Surf Assist Surf Tabs If you are wakesurfing with your boat heeled over, you should know there’s a better way.

BY JASON JONES

by running your drill in reverse. When drilling the actual hole, run the drill in reverse with a 3/8-inch drill bit until it is through the gelcoat and into the fiberglass, to keep from cracking the gelcoat, and then finish the hole with a 3/16-inch bit with the drill in forward. Fill the holes with marinegrade silicone (3) and screw on the hinge with the supplied screws, using the spacer if the area is not totally flat. Before tightening the screws, apply more silicone where the

I was looking for a better wakesurfing experience.

I

WAS LOOKING FOR A BETTER wakesurfing experience without having to replace my Axis A22 with a different boat. It worked to fill one side with ballast and heel the boat over, but I figured there had to be a better way. That’s when I found Surf Assist, a trim tab-like device that creates a better wake.

There are written instructions, but go to gosurfassist.com and watch the installation video before installing the tabs. The video showed the install on a different model, but it was very helpful.

Tape the back of the transom where you will be drilling, to avoid chipping the gelcoat. Measure in about four inches from the outside of the boat (1), which will be the farthest outside edge of the tab. Once you make the mark, hold the tab up to be sure 22

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MARCH 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

nothing is in its way, such as a platform, lights or brackets. Also, make sure there is enough room for the upper mounting brackets for the actuators.

Now you’re ready to mark and drill the holes for the hinges (2). Place the hinge to where the outer edge of the hinge is at the four-inch mark you made previously, and tape it into place. Be sure the hinge is not hanging below the bottom of the boat.

Using a 3/16-inch drill bit, mark the holes

hinge will sit on the boat. Tighten all the screws starting from the center and going outward, but do not over tighten them.

Next, bolt the tab to the hinge with the nuts facing up.

Attach the mounting bracket to the back of the actuator, and on the other end attach the actuator to the bottom center hole on the tab and let it hang for now. Fully extend the actuator using a 12v battery. For this next part, I used a free Angle Finder app I downloaded to my smartphone. Put the phone on the bottom of the boat in the direction the tab will be deployed and calibrate it to read zero (4). Then, hold the tab up until you get a 10- to 12-degree reading on the Angle Finder (5). With the upper mounting bracket up against

TOOLS USED

1

2

3

• Drill • Impact driver • #3 Phillips bit • 7/16-inch socket • Allen wrenches

4

5

• 1/2-inch wrench and socket • 3/8-, 3/16- and 21/64-inch drill bits • 1-inch hole saw • Marine-grade silicone • The SR-71 kit costs $4,000.

the transom, mark the spot. Make sure the upper mounting bracket is squared up with the hinge. Before drilling, retract the actuator and make sure it clears all obstructions. If everything clears, disconnect the upper mounting bracket from the actuator and then mount the bracket to the transom, using the supplied spacer to get it the correct distance from the hinge. After the bracket is mounted, drill out the last hole with a 21/64-inch drill bit so you can feed the actuator cable through. Be sure to apply silicone around the cable. Reconnect the actuator to the upper mounting bracket and the tab is done. Repeat on the other side.

Install the connectors to the cables from the actuator. Plug the supplied wiring — port and starboard — to the actuator (6).

Run all the wires down the starboard side, making sure to tie them up to the existing wire harness all the way up to the helm (7).

Make sure nothing rubs, gets tangled or interferes with anything (8).

Mount the switches. I put mine by the throttle so they are easy to access. Take the template provided (9) and find where you want them. Again, make sure nothing is behind where you are drilling. Drill the four outer bolt holes that are marked, using a 1/4-inch drill bit. Next, use a 1-inch hole saw to drill the other marked holes (10) and then mount the switch.

6

7

9

8

10

care to position the control box where all the wires will reach. All plug-ins are different, so you cannot mix them up. Mount your GPS puck and then hook up the power and ground (preferably to a Perko switch).

The system will be installed and ready to go (11), but you will need a GPS signal so

11

the system will automatically retract the tabs if your speed exceeds 15 mph. On my boat, the bunks of the trailer were in the way, so I moved the boat farther back on the bunks to gain clearance. You can also call technical support and talk to Ryan, who will help you with any issues. BW

DID IT WORK?

After testing the system on the trailer, I launched the boat.

Instead of having to only fill one side with ballast and have the boat heel way over to surf, I filled all my ballast tanks evenly and the wave was even bigger. Surf Assist worked better than I expected; it’s really nice to be able to push a button to switch sides and do transfers.

Mount the controls and wire it up, taking BOATINGWORLD.COM MARCH 2016

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23

ask the experts

Q

+A

TROLLING MOTOR

Feeling Hands-on

Q How difficult is it to install and wire in a 36v trolling motor?

Corey Hopkins, Bloomington, Minn.

The wiring is the easy part. The hard part is 1) finding a place three deep-cycle batteries won’t affect your ride when placed together and 2) getting the battery cables from Point A (the troller) to Point B (the batteries). Before you even buy a trolling motor, take something such as an old remote-control cable and try to run it from A to B. If you can’t make that route, bulkheads or supports are blocking you, so don’t buy the troller. If you can make the route, and you have assembled and installed the troller where you want it (having a friend

with an extra pair of hands will be a big help in this process), read your directions regarding the cable size. Electronics have advanced greatly in these areas, so #4 cable may now replace having to use heavier #2.

Whichever it is, use your old remote cable (above) to strap to a POS and a NEG cable to run from A to B. OK, here’s how you get 36 volts: You wire in series. Wear safety goggles, remove rings, watches, etc!

In sequence: • Attach the NEG cable from the troller to NEG 1.

• Attach a short cable from POS1 to NEG 2.

• Attach a short cable from POS2 to NEG 3.

 OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS:

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

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

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

• Attach the POS cable from the troller to POS3.

See if it works. If everything works, start humming the tune to James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s World.” You earned it. Stop humming it if your spouse is nearby. — GM PERFORMANCE

A Story about Props

Q My grandkids are already planning to invade our home this summer for weeks of skiing, tubing and “stuff.” The older one asked if my boat had a “speed prop.” I’ve already thought of two other “S” words that I’d want to hear before “Speed,” but I said I’d check into it. I believe you covered it before, but I can’t find the article. The boat is an 18-foot Carolina Skiff with a Yamaha 115 four-stroke.

Samuel Battle, Columbia, S.C.

If you’re a grampy, you remember the halcyon days of Elvis, Darin, the Everlys

and so forth. Life was wide open — or not.

In those days, the predominant engine was the Mercury, to which most owners affixed a two-blade brass/bronze/aluminum prop, also known as a speed prop. Slicked-back ducktail-coiffed boat operators would race each other up and down the lake all

three-blade was in order. Problem resolved.

Race, change prop, ski, change prop, race, change…

However, there was no thought given to engine longevity through comprehending power ratings and curves, nor arriving at the conclusion that changing props took

I believe some manufacturer finally had enough of engines self-destructing and labeled each with a power rating at a certain rpm. day long. At 15 cents a gallon for gas, the sun never set. Skiing was fun, too, but the two-blade prop just couldn’t pull the skier out of the water, so a prop change to a

up precious hours of beach-blanket bingo.

I missed the day somebody said “Eureka!” and understood the world was changing on the water. I believe some manufacturer

WHAT’S IN YOUR TOOLBOX? MAINTENANCE • TROUBLESHOOTING • REPAIR

WWW.CLYMER.COM 800-242-4637

BOATINGWORLD.COM MARCH 2016

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ask the experts finally had enough of engines self-destructing and labeled each with a power rating at a certain rpm. If you look at it as a Bell Curve, the engine would increase its power to Point X, and any rpm increase beyond that resulted in less power. That set parameters for engine longevity, a compromise between “grunt” and “go,”

If you had an 18-inch three-blade prop that let the engine turn 6000 rpm, then increasing pitch to 20” would roughly achieve that goal. It would also theoretically advance the hull 2-inches per prop revolution, increasing boat speed and power translation.

Take your boat with your normal load aboard for a run at full throttle. You should be showing roughly 5500 rpm. If you are, you have a great prop for normal use. Ask your dealer if the prop is ventilated. If it is, the kids will do just fine skiing with heavy acceleration. If it hasn’t been ventilated, ask him to perform that simple operation. It’s an easy way to achieve increased performance under all circumstances.

Oh, and tell the grandkids the boat has the correct prop, uses gas and they can contribute to expenses as part of the growth/learning curve. — GM

Blade stiffness and thickness, blade ventilation, rake — they all contributed to performance. and more time messin’ around on the beach.

When the prop manufacturers became involved in this morph, the heavens opened up and the Lord himself smiled. Not only did operators become more aware of pitch and diameter relative to the power band of the engine, they became aware that fine-tuning props made a heck of a difference. Blade stiffness and thickness, blade ventilation, rake — they all contributed to performance. If your engine was turning 6000 rpm but was rated 115 hp at 5250 rpm, then you installed the prop that brought your rpm down by 800 to about 5200 rpm with your normal boat load.

MAINTENANCE

Going to the Well

Q I bought a very good condition 1985 Champion Bass Boat. The problem is the livewells don’t work properly. If I let the livewells fill up normally when the boat is off the lift and in the water, they fill somewhat: The front well doesn’t fill up to normal level but the rear does, and then when I put the boat back on the lift I pull the hull plug and water runs out for quite awhile, indicating a leak somewhere in the hull going to the front livewell. I have tried and cannot find any information on the hose routing or pump action anywhere for Champion. I’ve been an auto technician for 45-plus years and would like to find info, but so far have not been successful. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Bill Smith, via the web form

Baitwell systems are (typically) plumbed to drain overboard. If water is entering your bilge during use of the front baitwell, chances are the problem is located where you suspect — in the supply or drain systems (or both) for the front tank. Possible problems range from bad hoses and loose connections to damaged or broken fittings at the tank, baitwell pump, etc.

The bad news is that the likelihood of finding documentation showing the hose routing on a 30-year-old boat is not good, particularly when the company is no longer around (under that name anyway). Unless you’re extremely lucky, the only way to answer the question about routing will be to access and trace out the system yourself.

The good news is that accessing the bait-tank drain and fill systems for inspection provides you with a great opportunity to swap out the existing hoses. Assuming the hoses are original (which is likely the case), at 30 years they are way past their service life.

Even if the aft baitwell system is working properly, I’d thoroughly inspect it as well, with an eye toward hose replacement if you suspect they are original, regardless of how they appear. —FL 26

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MARCH 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

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gear

STU FF YO U WA NT

Bimini Top Swap $31.97, acconmarine.com Bimini tops relieve you from the sun and inclement weather; however, they are not always easy to install and remove. Accon Marine’s Quick Release Hinges provide boat owners with an easy way to connect and detach this accessory.

Surface-mount and stud-mount versions are available. Neither requires any cutouts, only two #10 screws. The stud-mount version has no visible holes for a sleek appearance. The low-profile hinge enables users to remove and install Bimini tops without having to keep track of screws and pins. The piece of hardware snaps into the base and stays attached to the Bimini when separated.

Hulking Yeti $1,299.99, yeticoolers.com Yeti, a leading premium marine cooler and drinkware brand, debuted the Tundra 350 Cooler, its largest yet, at 19,000 cubic inches of capacity. It is ideal for big deep-sea catches. It’s durable and can keep ice for days with a sturdy polyethylene rotomolded frame and PermaFrost Insulation.

Another feature is the ColdLock gasket, which minimizes air exchange, locking out heat while sealing in cold. The cooler has a NeverFail hinge system and a patented rubber T-Rex Lid latch to provide secure, reliable storage. Tundra 350 is also dry ice compatible, to provide more cooling with less space.

Stylish Safety $TBD, crewsaver.com

Watch the Portable Throne $212, thetford.com The Thetford Porta Potti Curve Portable Toilet offers boaters all the convenience of a marine toilet, with the comforts of home. If you prefer the lightweight convenience of a non-permanent sanitation system, this is for you. With the optional hold-down kit, the Porta Potti Curve can be easily affixed to the boat, ideal for any vessel that would go out in rough waters. Flushing is battery powered, and the unit has level indicators for both fresh- and waste-water tanks. It even has a built-in toilet tissue holder. Caring for the unit is easy. When the green waste tank turns red, simply lift off the top portion and empty the lower five-and-a-half-gallon splash-free waste tank.

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Life jackets are a necessary accessory for every boater. The Crewsaver Crewfit 35 Sport is the latest U.S. Coast Guard-approved inflatable life vest from the manufacturer to offer a comfortable, safe, stylish and affordable solution for all types of boating and fishing activity.

Using innovative Fusion 3D technology, Crewsaver vests will mold to the shape of your body and sit off your neck to give you total freedom of movement but include a chin support to keep one’s airway clear of the water.

SUBMIT YOUR GEAR TO STEPHANIE@BOATINGWORLD.COM

THE FUTURE OF BOATING.

www.manitoupontoonboats.com

gear

STU FF YO U WA NT

Grip with Flair $54.95, schmittongaromarine.com Function and safety can be stylish and easy to install. Schmitt & Ongaro Marine’s new nine-inch Top-Mounted Grab Rail can be installed without accessing the underside of the mounting surface. It utilizes a clever flap in the insert that allows access to the stainless steel cap screws. Once installed, the attachment hardware is completely hidden. There is a lifetime warranty on the stainless steel and a three-year warranty on the grip.

SOS Electric $99.95, siriussignal.com

See Into the Blue $399, aquavu.com Aqua-Vu unveiled a new HD camera that lets angers see every underwater detail.

Multi-Vu HD adds underwater camera and video functionality to any HDMI-enabled sonar or TV/LCD monitor. The system includes a camera control box with a waterproof 12v power supply cable and a 720p Sony one-third-inch CCD HD image-sensing underwater camera with 100 feet of heavy-duty cable. It features an adjustable LED lighting system and Aqua-Vu’s exclusive FishCam body.

Protect and Extend

The Sirius Signal SOS Distress Light is a non-pyrotechnic marine electronic visual distress signal that is battery powered, reusable and lasts for six-plus hours, giving rescuers a greater chance of finding you.

Additionally, the safety device has no expiration date. The patented SOS Distress Light has been through the certification process and complies with U.S. Coast Guard requirements for night visual distress signals. In addition, there are no disposal issues, and the light is safer than traditional flares.

$5.99, valvtect.com Care for your fuel system from the inside with Valvtect’s X-Tended Protection Plus Gasoline Treatment, an additive designed to protect fuel systems from problems caused by ethanol gasoline (up to E85) and non-ethanol gasoline. The treatment maximizes power, acceleration and fuel economy while also stabilizing your fuel for one year or longer. An extra corrosion inhibitor prevents rust and corrosion caused by wet fuels. X-Tended Protection Plus also prevents octane loss and gum, varnish and gunk buildup, and it extends fuel filter life. A four-ounce bottle treats up to 40 gallons of fuel.

• MARCH 30 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM SUBMIT YOUR GEAR TO STEPHANIE@BOATINGWORLD.COM

SUBMIT YOUR GEAR TO STEPHANIE@BOATINGWORLD.COM

Go With Confidence

.

O G T S JU

GO5 XSE

GO7 XSE

Wherever you go, relax and enjoy the day with an easy-to-use Simrad GO XSE chartplotter navigation system.

Take control with an intuitive, super-bright touchscreen display. Customise your GO XSE system with a range of accessories from music streaming, to engine monitoring, to fish-finding sonar – whatever it takes to make every day on the water a great one.

Download and upload maps, software, and apps direct to your fishfinder / chartplotter.

Multi-touch display

Built-in GoFree™ Wi-Fi

ForwardScan® sonar ready

NMEA 2000® Engine Interface

Built-in 10 Hz GPS

SonicHub®2 ready

SIMRAD-YACHTING.COM/GO

bonehead blunders

BY G R I D M I CH A L

Reading Is Fundamental

BONEHEAD RATING SYSTEM Acceptably assinine

BONEHEAD BLUNDER: Dissing the diagram

Slightly slow

THE BONEHEAD: A commercial client

Distinguished dunce

BONEHEAD RATING: 4 WHAT HAPPENED: I was beginning to despair that there were no more boneheads in our

Massively moronic

area, that they’d followed the Gulfstream and left all the bright folks here, when, Boom!, one dropped right in my lap.

Seek mental help

I have a client who builds piers and moves his barges around with a smaller steel barge. He’s gone through several engines because of the load, and this one, a 150 hp Honda, sounds as though it’s next.

There are times I’m sure he’d rather drink strychnine than ask me to get his engines moving, but this time he had no choice.

The basic problem was salt spray

HAS YOUR DOG GOT THE SALT?

blowing up and under the hood where the cowl didn’t join properly. The barge made it to the jobsite, then sat until needed again, when the Honda wouldn’t do anything because the cable between the engine and the controls had some rotten pins in the engine-end connector.

They figured that was the problem and purchased another harness that went

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

Email your pet’s photo and name, your name, address and phone number to bobby@boatingworld.com, or snail mail to Boating World Salty Dog Contest, 17782 Cowan, Suite C, Irvine, CA 92614. Your pet could win a cool PFD from CWB.

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

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

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from the engine to the connectors at the controls. Sometimes the tilt would work from the controls, sometimes not.

Sometimes the engine would spin over, sometimes not.

Starting by separating all the connections, and using my knowledge that W/B is 12v constant, while B/W is the source for everything to work from the 12v source, I traced voltage everywhere until I saw a meter waver. I found the three-way connection — wrapped deep in the console connection — had rotted from salt water and carried only a few volts, if you held the wire just right! That repair made a lot of functions work, but no fuel pump, etc. Prior to checking the fuses, I was told they were all clean and perfect. That made me look even more closely. What I saw on the fuse block was Blank-FuseFuse-Fuse-Blank-Blank-Fuse-Fuse. What I saw on the outside of the fuse cover was B-F-F-B-B-F-F-F. Apparently, somebody had reinstalled one in a wrong hole. I took a 15A, installed it in the third blank B. The fuel pump came on and shut off, the tach worked and the owner was delighted, as was I. With all that joy, I started the engine. Ain’t it great when a plan comes together?

LESSONS LEARNED: You can always make electricity go where you want it to (thank you, brother John). Electric passages are always better if supported by diagrams.

Don’t modify wiring diagrams. The cheapest tech might not have the experience. In some instances, an aging tech’s experience can slam-dunk a handsome tech’s newfound abilities. BW

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

geico.com/boat 800-865-4846

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

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

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1/27/16 9:44 AM

tested

SU N C ATCH ER BY G 3 ELITE 324 RS

Elite Status The Elite 324 RS redefines luxury while keeping the price affordable.

BY ALAN JONES

W

HEN A BOAT COMPANY USES the word Elite in the name of one of its models,

its credibility is on the line. Fortunately for G3, the SunCatcher Elite 324 RS demonstrates proper use of the moniker.

UNIQUE FACTOR

The Elite Series is the top of the line for this Yamaha-owned company, and the luxurious seating is the first clue to the series’ elevated status. The furniture has been newly designed for 2016. Loungers such as the twin recliner sofa up front are delightfully overstuffed and feature high seatbacks for comfort and support. At the bow, they partially curve inward and passengers can recline facing aft in comfort thanks to the small bit of recline that’s engineered into them. The true test of the quality of seating is if people would want it in their living room, and the new extrawide club chair adjacent to the high-backed captain’s seat would really look good in front of my big-screen TV. Most pontoon manufacturers know people like to have rear-facing seats in the stern for watching the sunset or observing the ski show. Usually, they provide a pair of recliners or one giant recliner couch, which the Elite 324 RS featured last year, but for 2016, G3 took an entirely different approach. At the stern are two club chairs scootched together — close enough for easy interaction with seatmates while still giving each person his own space. While the usual seating position for such chairs would be with one’s feet planted on the gray faux-teak deck, longer-legged passengers can still kick their feet up thanks to the stern storage bins that sit abaft.

The Elite 324 is all set for nighttime excursions with one of the most comprehensive standard lighting packages going.

In addition to all the cupholders and speakers that emit a purplish-blue hue, there’s LED and rope lighting down low and available underwater lighting. It not only 34

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looks cool but makes the boat more visible to other boaters in low-light situations.

PERFORMANCE

Powering our Elite 324 RS test boat was a Yamaha (no surprise there) V MAX SHO 225, which is a hot-rodded-up sibling of the F225. First, it features a whopping 4.2L of displacement, up from 3.3L over the older gen F225, then Yamaha gave it a Variable Camshaft Timing system that changes as needed to provide fantastic performance during holeshots and at mid-range and the top end. Combine the Yamaha’s snap out of the hole with the fact the 324 RS has lifting strakes on both sides of all three U-shaped 23-by-25-inch logs, and you end up with a veritable dragster out of the hole. It got on plane in only 2.1 seconds and scorched the 0-30 mph time trial in 5.3 seconds. Its speed peaked at 45.4 mph, which is pretty good for a boat with a dry weight of 3,100 pounds. The 225 represents the max power for this model, but an F200 wouldn’t be a bad choice, since it weighs the same as an F150. Dropping down to the minimum F150 does cost $5,400 less than the V

The 324 RS is capable of many pleasure missions.

MAX SHO 225, but only do it if top speeds in the mid-30s are sufficient for your needs.

HANDLING

Since all three tubes are identical in size and the center tube isn’t mounted lower, the ride tended to stay level, even during

(Clockwise from top left) The multifunction gauges are positioned just right. Twin rear-facing club chairs enhance ski-watching. The rear deck is ready for watersports. A Garmin 53 DV GPS/ fishfinder is standard on Elite Series SunCatchers.

A club chair adjacent to the captain is living room-worthy. The large table up front can hold a feast.

BOATINGWORLD.COM MARCH 2016

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owner feedback 

Purchased by Chuck and Julie Cole, Otoe, Neb. Purchased at Jones Brothers Marine, Kansas City, Mo. > >W H A T

WE LIKED:

Unsinkable Styrofoam-filled logs/Excellent handling/Reliable Yamaha F225 outboard/ Rear lounge seats/Comprehensive warranty

turns. (Pontoons with larger center tubes develop a pivot point that helps them lean in during turns.) Lifting strakes on the outside of outer tubes tend to “push back” during turns, which keeps pontoons flat during hard turns, and our test boat actually leaned outward ever so slightly.

While all this might sound like a negative, the 324 RS was able to turn very well and didn’t blow out even when I turned it all the way to its stops. The six large strakes provided lots of lift to help it ride extremely high in the water. It also tended to ride bow-high, even before trimming the motor out, which can reduce drag and will come in handy when six people are riding up front during a cruiser wake crossing. The natural bow-high attitude also prevented it from bow steering, which can make a boat suddenly veer in an unintended direction.

Having the bow up also helps to initiate a turn, since there’s less drag to overcome.

BEST USES

> >W H A T

WE WOULD CHANGE:

We wish it had a more substantial cover. > >W H Y

WE BOUGHT IT:

I’ve been in love with the water since I was 17 and joined the U.S. Navy. Julie and I have owned mostly aluminum fishing boats, like the Lund we still have, but wanted something that could carry more people.

Although we live in Nebraska, we do most of our boating on nearby Lake of the Ozarks, which is a really big, scenic Missouri lake that can get pretty rough. We wanted a three-tube pontoon with some power and looked at various models but really liked the SunCatcher for its quality of build and competitive price. We have two grown kids who love to go out with us, and we’ve had as many as 10 of our friends on our boat, and most of them are big farm boys, but there’s plenty of room for everyone to sit.

We love to tube, swim and waterski. I’m a big guy, and our Yamaha F225 pulls me up easily. Most of the time we just cruise around or throw out the anchor in one of the many coves or head to local waterfront restaurants.

Dennis at Jones Brothers Marine is awesome; he’s a straight-shooter who will even come in after hours to work on our boat to make sure we don’t miss any time on the water.

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The 324 RS is capable of many pleasure missions. Being the most luxurious in the G3 fleet, Elite models come standard with features such as an upscale Kicker stereo system, so your social game gets off to a great start. Add in features such as the optional starboard Entertainment Center, which has plenty of counter space for snack and beverage construction and a cooler beneath, and your refreshment quotient gets bumped upward. A richly dark burlwood cockpit table is a standard feature that stylishly displays snacks and beverages.

The 324 RS is ready for watersports with a standard tall ski pylon that can be removed when not needed. The rear swim platform is huge for an outboard-powered pontoon, and there’s a newly designed four-step polished stainless steel boarding ladder. When deployed, it angles outward to assist boarders as they battle gravity to hoist themselves upward. And for peeling off wet swimsuits, a standard pop-up changing station is located in the forward port-side couch.

PREFERRED SETUP

Merely choosing an Elite model — the 324 RS or its slightly bigger sibling, the 326 — guarantees standard features such as a flush-mounted Garmin 53 DV GPS/fishfinder at the helm that has LakeVu cartography built in. Even though the Elites don’t have the available fishing options that other G3 models have, it’s still nice to be able to see what’s below the boat in great detail.

The helm is raised for better visibility, and the gauge cluster includes an hourmeter in addition to the usual suspects.

The 324 RS is so well-equipped there are few options to choose from. Get a dualaxle trailer for road trips. If your family’s ancestors hail from Scandinavia, get the forward Bimini top, to add to the shade of the standard 8-foot, 6-inch amidships top.

A reflection of a hot trend is that buyers can order optional snap-in carpeting for the vinyl deck. For extra seating, in case the full allowable baker’s dozen are present, get the bow filler cushion that turns the bow into a U-lounge. BW

SPECS Length 23 ft., 10 in. Beam 8 ft., 6 in. Tube Diameter 23 x 25 in. Capacity 13 people Dry Weight (hull) 3,100 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 38 gal. Max HP 225 PERFORMANCE: Peak 45.4 mph/6300 rpm/94 dBA Cruise 27 mph/4000 rpm/83 dBA Time to Plane 2.1 sec.

Time to 30 mph 5.3 sec.

POWER: Test Yamaha VMAX SHO 225 four-stroke Cylinders V-6 Displacement 4.2L Weight w/outdrive 505 lbs.

WOT Range 5800-6400 rpm Base Price w/test power $59,395 Value-Added Standard Features: Garmin GPS echoMap 53DV, mooring cover, Kicker Bluetooth stereo, hourmeter, ski pylon, triple Performance tubes, aluminum underskin Must-Have Options: Snap-in carpeting, powder-coated or galvanized trailer, ottoman, Infinity Seagrass flooring, filler cushion, refreshment center, forward Bimini top Builder: SunCatcher Pontoons by G3, suncatcherpontoons.com Financing: $426/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

6

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DURING BOAT SHOW SEASON, GET SUZUKI’S EXCLUSIVE “GIMME SIX!” EXTENDED PRODUCT PROTECTION PLAN ON ALL NEW SUZUKI OUTBOARDS FROM 25 TO 300 HP, PLUS YOU’LL GET A CASH REBATE ON SELECT MODELS. WE’RE EVEN OFFERING FINANCING ON suzuki outboards AND REPOWERS. SEE YOUR PARTICIPATING SUZUKI MARINE DEALER FOR ALL THE DETAILS OR VISIT WWW.SUZUKIMARINE.COM.

Get Cash Back On Select Suzuki Outboards From Dealer Stock Actual Cash Back Amounts Vary Depending Upon Model And Available Inventory. See Your Participating Suzuki Marine Dealer At The Boat Show For The Latest Offer Or Visit www.suzukimarine.com

Get Six Years Of extended Protection At No Extra Charge

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Boat Show Bucks Rebates apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki outboards made between 01/01/16 and 03/31/16. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www. suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate rebate form at time of sale. Customer will have the choice to either apply the cash rebate against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account) or have a check sent directly to the customer. Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki outboard motors from 25 to 300 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 01/01/16 and 03/31/16 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” 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. © 2015 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

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12/4/15 9:53 AM

tested

FO R M U L A 2 90 BOW R I D ER

Formula For Success Formula’s newest big bowrider is ready for a day on the lake … or the ocean.

BY ALAN JONES

F

ORMULA DIDN’T JUST TWEAK

its venerable 280 BR design; it started with a blank computer screen at John Adams’ desk to create the all-new 290 BR.

UNIQUE FACTOR

Big bowriders are still hot, and Formula has been at the forefront of the movement with boats such as the 280 BR, which has been in Formula’s lineup since 1998 and is being replaced by the new 290 BR. One of the 290 BR’s major advances is the reapportionment of its design elements compared to the 280.

Though the bowriding section shrunk, anyone — NBA centers aside — can recline comfortably up front. And this year, there’s a gap in the seat bottoms, which gives passengers the ability to ride facing forward with their feet on the deck. There’s a filler cushion if more seating is needed or someone wants to stretch out. The center section can also be filled in for three-abreast bow reclining. The new floorplan created a huge head compartment that’s crying out for the optional VacuFlush pumpout toilet ($2,450), which our test boat had.

Formula is one of the few companies that indicates how long its boats are based on model number. Just drop the zero to discover the 290 is one foot longer than the 280 — until you add perhaps its most useful and model-defining option, the extended swim platform ($9,425), which stretches it to 30 feet, 9 inches. The massive rear deck on our test boat was padded with a faux teak, which made it extra-comfortable and even more skid resistant. Four cupholders set into the platform keep beverages within reach.

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Another improvement over the 280 BR is the recessed grabrail, which neither sticks up above the deck to form a toe-stubbing hazard nor kills valuable sitting-with-your-legs-in-the-water space.

A new grabrail encircles the platform near the waterline and gives tired swimmers a practical handhold. The extended platform also has an optional fold-out seat.

PERFORMANCE

Formula made its reputation on performance, and while the 290 BR doesn’t have the FAS3Tech stepped racing hull of its go-fast siblings, it is a near-five-ton sports car. Powering our test boat were twin 320 hp MerCruiser 377 MAG sterndrives, putting it firmly in the middle of twin power options that include sterndrives from MerCruiser and Volvo Penta that range from 300 to 350 hp. Single-engine options are available from 380 hp (don’t do it!) to 430 hp. The new 290 BR is longer than its predecessor but is two inches narrower at nine feet, which helps it go faster and makes it easier to trailer.

Although the 377s have 6.2L of displacement, they aren’t the new-generation 6.2L MerCruisers that are built in-house and include improvements such as the intake resonator and aft-facing throttle body that reduce noise. But there’s no problem with the performance of the 377s. Without the benefit of the standard Bennett hydraulic trim tabs, the 290 BR got on plane in 4.8 seconds with a bit of bowrise. With the tabs down, we never lost the horizon and the time was cut by nearly a second (3.9 seconds). Its time to 30 mph was 9.5 seconds, and it kept steadily accelerating, after bumping the trim up a little, to a top speed of 53.5 mph.

The 290 BR is a yachtcertified dayboat

(Clockwise from top left) A more-thandoublewide helm seat gives the co-pilot a frontrow seat. The entertainment center includes a refrigerator. Navigate better with a flushmounted Raymarine e7D chartplotter. The bow section is huge and comfortable. The cockpit L-lounge is a great space for entertaining.

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39

owner feedback  HANDLING

Purchased at Tahoe Vista Sports, Lake Tahoe, Nevada

A common trait I have noticed on every Formula I’ve ever driven is that in the chop I can find a speed that feels perfect and allows the boat to eat up the conditions.

We tested the 290 BR on a blustery day on Lake Wawasee in Indiana and discovered nothing has changed. The new-gen 290 features one more degree of deadrise, for a total of 22 degrees, and with its heft and solid construction, it’s one smooth ride.

We sought out the roughest part of the lake and settled into a cruise speed just shy of 40 mph at 4000 rpm, and we kept motoring. Our boat had twin MerCruisers with drive-by-wire DTS Digital Throttle and Shift, but Formula doesn’t offer it with the Axius Joystick docking option. Same goes for 290 BRs equipped with Volvo Penta twin power. If that’s a deal-breaker, jump up to the 310 BR flagship.

> >W H A T

BEST USES

Purchased by Bob and Nena Harrington, Lake Tahoe, Nevada

WE LIKED:

Size and comfortable seating for lots of people/Driver-friendly helm/Power and performance/Oversized Bimini top with the front extension/Handling and ease of docking > >W H A T

WE WOULD CHANGE:

We would like to add a radar arch. > >W H Y

WE BOUGHT IT:

I grew up boating on Lake Wawasee in northern Indiana where my family lived. Fifteen years ago we had a Sea Ray Pachanga, which was one of its sportier models, so that kind of set the bar for us. When we were looking for boats here in Lake Tahoe, we wanted something that had style, performance and plenty of room for friends. The Formula 290 BR checked off all the boxes. It’s the perfect boat for our lifestyle, and we’ve had up to 10 people with us when we go out. Typically, we’ll hang out in one of Lake Tahoe’s coves, crank up the great stereo and swim and float around the boat. Sometimes we like to raft up with four or five boats and have a floating get-together. The lake is large, and when we to cruise to places such as Emerald Bay and Tahoe City we can get there fast, thanks to its 640 hp. Tahoe Vista Sports has a great service department; they make doing things such as winterizing our boat very easy.

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The 290 BR is a yacht-certified dayboat, capable of hosting a dozen or so of your friends. It has the range and size to handle open water, so if your idea of fun is to head to the Bahamas from Florida, take a cruise on the Great Lakes or run to Catalina, no worries. Our boat came with the optional entertainment center that includes a refrigerator, a sink, cupholders and a flip-up leaf to temporarily extend the granite-like Corian working surface when you need it. Formula Flex is a scheme that allows owners to choose various components to perfectly match the interior. The only downside to the entertainment center

is it cuts off one-third of the bench seat behind the doublewide captain’s chair.

Our test boat was equipped with the forward-facing polished stainless steel watersports tower, so it was ready for action. It had a large built-in Bimini, and buyers can add a forward extension for more shade. The 290 BR’s heft and deep-V hull help give it a fat jumping ramp at around 20 mph. There’s plenty of ski storage in the in-deck compartment, and there’s an option for an onboard tube inflator ($280), so you don’t have to cruise around with a parade float eating up valuable real estate. A rear sunpad has an easily flippable backrest for reclining or tanning.

PREFERRED SETUP

OK, Formula makes no bones about it: This is a premium luxury boat loaded with standard features, and it doesn’t come cheap. Base price with twin MerCruiser 377s is $221,170, and the options list has plentiful and thoughtful additions, which could make it a scary place to go if you are an impulse shopper. Our boat had the Captain’s Call switchable exhaust system ($6,660), which goes from stealth mode to “Let’s get ready to rumble!” with the flick of a rocker switch. And for exploring, get the Raymarine e7D chartplotter ($4,115).

The standard Clarion Bluetooth stereo is pretty good, but add the JL Audio lighted speakers and subwoofer ($1,040). Formula offers several styling options and a choice of 12 Flagship Imron hull colors/stripe combinations ($4,290). BW

SPECS Length 29 ft. Beam 9 ft. Deadrise 22 degrees Capacity Yacht certified Dry Weight (hull) 8,950 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 122 gal. Max HP 700 PERFORMANCE: Peak 53.5 mph/5100 rpm/95 dBA Cruise 33.7 mph/3500 rpm/84 dBA Time to Plane 4.8 sec. Time to 30 mph 9.5 sec.

POWER: Test Twin MerCruiser 377 MAG 320 hp Cylinders V-8 Displacement 6.2L Weight w/outdrive 885 lbs. WOT Range 4800-5200 rpm Base Price w/test power $221,170 Value-Added Standard Features: Transom shower, stern remote for the Clarion 6-speaker Bluetooth stereo, Livorsi shift and throttles, color-coordinated dual-height cockpit table, freshwater system Must-Have Options: Bimini top, VHF radio and chartplotter, shorepower, wetbar, bow backrest and filler, sport arch, woven vinyl decking, extended swim platform, faux teak stern padding, SS flagpole Builder: Thunderbird Products, formulaboats.com Financing: $1,586/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

tested

S Y LVA N S3 E X TR EM E

Extreme Fun Sylvan goes to extremes to make sure your pontoon is a reflection of your bold personality.

BY ALAN JONES

S

YLVAN EXPANDED ITS S-SERIES

with the mid-sized S3 model. While smaller in size than the S5, it still packs all the attitude that made its larger sibling such a hit.

UNIQUE FACTOR

Extreme is not a word most people associate with pontoons, unless it’s in the context of something peripheral: “Man, I am extremely tired; I think I’ll take a snooze on the rear lounger.” But on the Sylvan S3, the word Extreme appears in the name of the boat, and it earns it with a package that ratchets up the cool factor. Here, Extreme is a package of all things black on its sporty S3 model. First, the anodized fence rails, deck and skirt trim, and forward-swept tower are black. And blackest of all are the ebonypainted pontoons that would do a Sith Lord proud (obligatory “Star Wars” reference).

Superimposed on the black fencing of our test S3 was a slash of high-visibility blue on the downward-swooping panel that lets them know you are coming. The Arctic upholstery group includes matching piping and trim for a custom look. The blue matched well with the purplish-blue side lighting that delivers nighttime attitude and more visibility for added safety. The S3 comes with lime green, hot red and bright yellow accents, too, if you’re not feeling blue.

PERFORMANCE

Performance on a pontoon boat hinges on its ability to reduce wetted surface and its evil twin, drag, by getting its tubes on top of the water. Lifting strakes are near-horizontal attachments that give round tubes flat surfaces that get a pontoon on plane. But Sylvan engineers took a look at “regular” monohull boat bottoms and correctly deduced that if the pontoon bottom were shaped like that, it would be even more efficient; hence, the 42

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Revolutionary Planing Technology (RPT) tube was born. Our test S3 not only sported twin RPT tubes on the outsides but also had the optional PR25 center tube, a round 27-inch tube that has a couple of cool features. It has twin lifting strakes that provide more buoyancy underway, and it sits farther back to create a transom for longer-shaft, high-performance engines such as the Mercury 250 Verado, which has a 25-inch shaft and an intercooled supercharger for instant throttle response.

This potent combo put the S3 Extreme on plane in only 2.2 seconds and took it to 30 mph in 7.4 seconds.

The PR25 Performance package includes an aluminum underskin that reduces drag and noise and a 60-gallon fuel tank mounted in the center tube that gives

The S3 is maximized for watersports fun. the S3 plenty of range while keeping it in balance. Hydraulic steering comes standard with the Performance package, as does a removable ski pylon. Top speed with a high-revving 250 Verado was 45 mph at 6400 rpm. At the helm, the Digital Throttle and Shift (DTS) delivered driveby-wire control that was beyond smooth.

HANDLING

The benefits of the PR25 Performance package don’t end with enhanced speed; they carry over to the S3’s handling. The

(Clockwise from left) The S3’s helm puts everything a captain needs within reach. Rearfacing loungers aft provide front-row seating for the watersports show. Well-placed speakers take the entertainment factor to the next level. Twin jumpseats on the swim platform are great for booting up.

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43

owner feedback 

Purchased by Chris and Cathy Baugher, plus Logan, 10, Redkey, Ind. Purchased at Pro Wake Watersports, North Webster, Ind. > >W H A T

WE LIKED

Four really comfortable loungers/Jump seats on the swim platform/Sea Weave flooring/ Handling/Killer Polk stereo > >W H A T

WE WOULD CHANGE

We wish we would have gotten a larger engine than the Yamaha F150. > >W H Y

WE BOUGHT IT

My folks used to have a small runabout and loved boating, so when we bought a place on Lake Tippecanoe, my wife, Cathy, and I knew we wanted a boat. At first we weren’t sure what to get; it had to be versatile enough to handle watersports and fishing but big enough to take out our friends. The S3 is perfect for us. My son, Logan, really likes skiing and tubing, and this summer he wants to learn to wakeboard. The rear jump seats make a great place to fish. We’ve had as many as 12 of our friends on board, and there was plenty of room for everyone. Tippecanoe is a beautiful lake and often we just cruise around and look at the houses. Sometimes we go to Pie Eyed Petey’s and get one of their great pizzas. Pro Wake Watersports has been great. When we bought the boat, they spent a lot of time showing us how everything works and made sure we were comfortable. We had a warranty issue with the trim, and they sent a tech out to us and fixed it at our dock.

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RPT design mimics a V-hull with 14 degrees of deadrise. It squares off as it moves upward from the V and morphs into hard chines — similar to the lifting strakes on the center tube — that provide lift and direct spray down and outward, for a drier ride. Introduced six years ago and now on its third generation, RPT has undergone a few changes, foremost of which is a beefy nosecone design that starts with a 0.100-inch-thick sheet of aluminum reinforced by twin bulkheads that keep it rigid so it can survive high-speed wave bashing.

Since V-shaped tubes slice through the water, the ride is significantly smoother, especially when running through choppy conditions. Because the tubes are all 27 inches and the center tube isn’t set deeper, the S3 doesn’t lean significantly during hard turns, but it hooks up really well and is just a bit more nimble than its larger S5 stablemate. Full-length keels help the S3 track straight, and they provide protection for the tubes while pulling up to and leaving a beach.

BEST USES

One look at our S3 Extreme test boat showed me it was maximized for watersports fun. The black tower provides the high tow point wakeboarders prefer, and for slalom fans there’s a stout, removable ski pylon. For hanging out or booting up for a run, there’s a pair of jumpseats on the swim platform that also have wet storage for tow ropes and vests. On most of the seat bottoms on the S3, the large decorative piping is wisely recessed to minimize its

tactile impact, but it lies atop the seats, and you can feel the piping when you sit down. A centerline in-tube ski locker provides storage, and the swim platform is one of the largest on an outboard-powered pontoon. Our boat was clad with gray Sea Weave flooring, which is a good choice for owners with kids who stay perpetually wet.

The twin rear loungers make the perfect “lazy boy” ski observation seats, and the starboard chaise seat bottom houses the pop-up changing station that can accommodate a Porta Potti — just flip it up. One option we would like to see is a freshwater shower in addition to the available rawwater washdown.

PREFERRED SETUP

This pontoon’s all about getting horizontal, as evidenced by the two pairs of chaise lounge sofas fore and aft. Our boat had the optional set of three filler cushions with support bars; they fill in the space between the rear loungers to form a giant sunpad for group tanning. To the left of the captain’s bucket was another seat that looks similar but had a popup footrest á la Barcalounger.

And our S3 also had the premium stereo upgrade — a Bluetooth Polk system that included twin subwoofers that can be controlled at the helm. The optional Wakeboard tower had twin coffee-can speakers, to provide skiers with a personal soundtrack, and an integrated Bimini top for shade. In addition to the side panel lighting, underwater lighting and lighted cupholders are options, for post-sunset cruises. BW

SPECS Length 24 ft., 10 in. Beam 8 ft., 6 in. Tube Diameter 27 in. Capacity 13 people Dry Weight (hull) 2,425 lbs. Fuel Capacity 60 gal. Max HP 250 PERFORMANCE: Peak 45 mph/6400 rpm/95 dBA Cruise 27.6 mph/4500 rpm/84 dBA Time to Plane 2.2 sec. Time to 30 mph 7.4 sec.

POWER: Test Mercury 250 Verado Cylinders Inline 6 Displacement 2.6L Weight w/outdrive 668 lbs. WOT Range 5800-6400 rpm Base Price w/test power $61,799 Value-Added Standard Features: Cockpit table w/cupholders, raised helm, concealed interior mood lighting, Bimini top, 28-oz. carpeting, ski pylon, MP3 stereo, stainless steel 5-step boarding ladder Must-Have Options: Wakeboard tower w/speakers, Premium Polk Audio stereo w/twin subwoofers, PR25 center tube, power canopy, cooler table, flush-mounted GPS/fishfinder, extra cockpit table Builder: Smoker Craft Inc., sylvanmarine.com Financing: $443/month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

When your new boat moves effortlessly, your day does too.

ULTIMATE CONVENIENCE AUTO OUTBOARD TRIM & STEERING FRICTION CONTROL

+

INTUITIVE CONTROL EFFORTLESS JOYSTICK DOCKING & MANEUVERING

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COMPLETE CONFIDENCE ENHANCING YOUR BOATING FUN, SATISFACTION & MEMORIES

Helm Master is compatible with the V8 F350 and 4.2L V6 Offshore models in twin-, triple- and quad-engine configurations, and with the In-Line Four F200 in twins.

5-INCH LCD JOYSTICK DOCKING

ENHANCED BINNACLE CONTROL

KEYLESS ELECTRONIC IGNITION

From the swipe of your keyless ignition ‘til you activate the Theft Deterrent System, feel in complete command of your new boat with Helm Master. Its Steering Friction Control automatically tightens or loosens the steering wheel’s friction as you increase or decrease rpms for remarkable control underway. Trim Assist auto-trims the outboards up or down based on your rpm settings for a well-trimmed and fuel-efficient day. And yes, Helm Master also features a fully integrated digital joystick that, when activated, helps you maneuver and dock your boat with confidence like never before. Imagine sliding your boat laterally in or out of a tight space, or spinning your boat 360 degrees on axis with ease. Discover smart, intuitive and convenient functionality that not only makes boating more effortless; it also does the same for your day. // To learn more about the many other Helm Master features, visit YamahaOutboards.com/HelmMaster.

Follow Yamaha Outboards on Facebook®, Twitter ® and Instagram® Helm Master available on select new twin and triple and quad Yamaha outboards installed on new boat packages manufactured by participating boat builders and sold by authorized dealers only. REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws.

Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. © 2016 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

YMOB0621-B-HM_Sgl_9x10.875.indd 1

1/27/16 9:17 AM

tested

N ITRO Z 20

Z Bomb The new Z20 is Nitro’s state-of-the-art tournament boat at an affordable price.

BY ALAN JONES

A

LOT OF TIMES WHEN A boat builder replaces a really popular model, it doesn’t stray

too far from what made the model successful, but Nitro didn’t stick to that script when it decided to replace its Z8. The designers basically shook the Etch-a-Sketch and created a bassin’ wagon called the Z20, which is new from the keel up.

UNIQUE FACTOR

While the outward dimensions of the Z20 are similar to the Z8 — it’s one inch longer and still 8 feet wide — the most startling difference is best viewed head-on.

The hull looks unlike anything we’ve seen before. Nitro calls it the NVT Hull (Nitro Vortex Technology), and instead of traditional strakes, it has a series of parabolic curves, which look and act differently, but more on that later.

The overall theme of the Z20 is more: as in storage, comfort and refinement. Its overall dry weight is 100 pounds more, at an even one ton. Curiously, however, a couple of things shrank, including the maximum allowable four-passenger weight, which went from 850 pounds to 600 pounds, but bass anglers usually travel in twos or threes, so that’s really not a big deal. The other feature that got smaller is the gas tank, which went from 68 gallons to 55.

PERFORMANCE

I could tell something was different when I shifted the Mercury 250 OptiMax Pro XS in gear for the first time. Gone was the really loud clunk I was used to hearing, replaced by a much quieter snick, which was the new Flo-Torq SSR (Soft Shift Rubber) HD hub at work on the Torque Master lower unit. The hub itself is solid stainless steel but has a bonded rubber drive sleeve that cushions the gear’s engagement. The new hull still features Nitro’s Rapid Planing System (RPS), which has a notch at the transom and a stepped transom, giving the prop less disturbed water, for a better prop 46

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bite — and it really works. Normally, bass boats pop a stern-squatting bow wheelie and take a while to get on plane, but the new NVT and the RPS designs work really well together. After I stomped on the optional Hot Foot accelerator, there was very little bowrise and the boat reached plane in just 3 seconds. Time to 30 mph was a quick 7.4 seconds, and when we trimmed the Mercury 250 up and aired out the hull to reduce wetted surface, the Z20 was nearly flying at 74 mph.

HANDLING

Bass boats aren’t normally known for their turning ability, and I’ve been scared by a few that caught chines and turned hyper-violently, which is why I always wear a kill switch and a life jacket when driving one. But hard turns with the Z20’s NVT hull are different. Taking progressively harder turns, with the trim down, I discovered I could really crank it hard over, because the event was predictable and very smooth. At high speeds, it was very stable, even with very little hull in

The overall theme of the Z20 is more: as in storage, comfort and refinement. the water. One of the coolest attributes of the NVT hull is that when it comes off plane suddenly, water doesn’t go rushing into the splashwell or onto the rear deck, thanks to its anti-backwash stern design.

(Clockwise from top left) The new NVT hull is efficient, fast and cool. The helm station can accommodate up to a 12-inch display. New passenger seats are spring-loaded for comfort.

Twin 19-gallon livewells prevent bass from sloshing around. The primary angler’s office has room for another 12-inch fishfinder.

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owner feedback  It’s also designed to deliver a drier ride by knocking down spray.

On test day at Table Rock Lake, not far from where Nitros are built in Springfield, Mo., the water was unusually placid, so we couldn’t tell how the new hull would fare in rough water. Like its predecessor, the Z20 has 16 degrees of deadrise, which is more than most other bass boats and should provide a smooth ride.

BEST USES

Purchased by David and Renee McCormick, plus Riley, 11, and Abby, 6, Lee’s Summit, Mo. Purchased at Pro’s Choice, Warsaw, Mo. > >W H A T

WE LIKED:

Great spring-loaded seats/Better insulation on cooler and livewell/Performance and handling/Quiet and powerful Mercury Verado 250/Handy net storage > >W H A T

WE WOULD CHANGE:

The way I have this boat set up, it’s perfect for me. > >W H Y

WE BOUGHT IT:

I’m an avid tournament fisherman on the local circuits, including the Walmart Bass Fishing League in the Ozarks. Every other year I get a new boat. This is my fourth Nitro, and it is by far the best one I’ve ever had. The new NVT hull works really well, and I love its performance and the way it handles rough water.

I have it rigged with twin Power Poles and three 12-inch Lowrance Gen 3 fishfinders, with two at the roomy helm. We live on Raintree Lake, which is private, and when I’m not fishing in a tournament I love taking the family out on our lake. Riley’s getting to be a pretty good fisherman, and Abby is just learning to fish. My wife loves going out in the boat, and sometimes if the fishing is slow, we’ll tow a tube around. Pro’s Choice is a fantastic dealership. Luke Payne is its young owner and he keeps prices low and does a lot of repeat business. Their mechanics are fantastic and really work hard to keep me on the water.

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While the alpha dogs on tour might be using the Z21, a lot of club anglers and avid bass fishermen will use the Z20. It’s designed for efficiency and long days of fishing with features such as the anti-fatigue pad on its casting decks. The gunwale is lower this year to help anglers more easily swing a fish aboard or pitch a lure. Twin rod boxes set into the front deck can hold up to 10 8-foot rods, and the centerline tackle locker in between is big enough to hold a steamer trunk. All three compartments include a fan, to help dry wet gear. Twin storage compartments on the rear deck have lift-out bins for ease of transporting and loading gear. The passenger seats are a vast improvement over the old overstuffed buckets; they are actually designed with a NASCAR flair, in collaboration with legendary driver Tony Stewart, who drives the Bass Pro Shops number 14 Chevy. Twin 19-gallon livewells are among the best in the business and have rounded rotomolded edges and baffles to keep bass from sloshing around. A handy pull-out ruler is nearby for convenience. A much larger cooler is

under the step-up to a front deck that has a sandwich bin and a trash can.

PREFERRED SETUP

The option plan for the Z20 is pretty easy. Serious bass anglers need only select one box on the options list: the Pro High Performance Package. While it does raise the price by $8,000, it saves $3,800 off the normal upgrade cost, and Tracker’s No-Haggle, No-Hassle national pricing for this boat starts at just $38,995 with a trailer and a 200 hp OptiMax. Our test boat did not have the Pro upgrade, and several deficiencies were immediately apparent, such as the outdated Lowrance Mark 5-X Pro fishfinder, a 5-inch grayscale display set into a space at the helm designed for a 12-inch screen (looking as out of place as an 8-track tape player on a new Cadillac CTS-V). The Pro upgrade includes two state-of-the-art Lowrance HDS 9 Gen 3 touchscreen GPS/ fishfinders, a Power-Pole shallow-water anchoring system, a four-bank battery charger with an extra battery, a Hot Foot accelerator, a Pro-Trim lever, a factory-applied Keel Guard, a remote oil fill, an automatic bilge pump and a HydroWave, which is something we’ve never seen before. It’s an electronic fish attractor, which draws fish to the boat like the Pied Piper by simulating a variety of sounds, such as a school of baitfish being savaged by predators. The only other upgrades needed are bumping the electronics displays up to 12-inchers and going with the Mercury OptiMax Pro XS 250 ($4,300). Lock and load. BW

SPECS Length 20 ft., 2 in. Beam 8 ft. Deadrise 16 degrees Capacity 4 people Dry Weight (hull) 2,000 lbs. Fuel Capacity 55 gals. Max HP 250 PERFORMANCE: Peak 74 mph/6200 rpm/97 dBA Cruise 45.4 mph/4500 rpm/86 dBA Time to Plane 3 sec. Time to 30 mph 7.4 sec.

POWER: Test Mercury OptiMax Pro XS 250 Cylinders V-6 Displacement 3.0L Weight w/outdrive 505 lbs. WOT Range 5500-6000 rpm Base Price w/test power $44,790 Value-Added Standard Features: Dual-axle trailer w/swing-away tongue, Minn Kota Maxxum 24v trolling motor, manually adjustable jack plate, bow bike seat, removable port console, boarding ladder Must-Have Options: Humminbird or Lowrance electronics, Hot Foot throttle control, Sony Bluetooth stereo, hydraulic jack plate, CoolGuard livewell cooling system, center bucket seat, Elite 4-color hull Builder: Tracker Marine, nitro.com Financing: $321 month w/15% down and 6% interest for 15 years

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®

14 REASONS

TO JUMP FOR JOY(STICKS) OUTBOARD-POWERED BOATS CAN BE ORDERED NEW OR RETROFITTED WITH JOYSTICK CONTROL.

BY DOUG THOMPSON

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Yamaha’s Helm Master now works with twin- ,

s

Yamaha Helm Master

afety is the top priority on the water, and that’s what makes joystick control for outboard-powered boats such an important innovation. While many boat operators have the skills to dock any multi-engine boat without joystick control, what happens if a less-skilled operator is required to take the helm and dock the boat? What if there’s wind or a current? What if there are obstructions?

Over the past few years, the ability to build a new outboard-powered boat with a low-speed joystick control system or retrofit to joystick control has become easier and the systems more refined and reliable, and that’s made boating safer and easier for more people.

Not all joystick controls for outboard-powered boats are created 52

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tripl

equally. While the result may be the same — you push, pull or twist the dashmounted joystick to port or starboard and the boat moves that way — how those hydrodynamic moves are achieved can be drastically different from system to system.

That’s because most joystick controls don’t involve the use of a stern or bow thruster, while one company completely depends on

thruster power (see sidebar). That’s a major difference and one worth looking into, especially if you are considering adding joystick control to your current boat.

Joystick control came to the recreational market with Volvo Penta’s introduction of the IPS pod-drive system in 2004. On inboard-powered boats, the pods and joystick control work amazingly well and have only improved.

Today, outboard engine manufacturers Mercury and Yamaha offer their own branded joystick control for new builds, while SeaStar Optimus and Yacht Controller offer systems that can be added as a retrofit or built in during construction.

Suzuki uses the Optimus system for its Suzuki Precision Maneuvering (SPM) Control System, and Yacht Controller’s Sport package is a joystick system that utilizes bow and stern thrusters.

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win- ,

TRIPLE ENGINE

HYDRO-ELECTRIC SBW SYSTEM ELECTRIC HYDRAULOC PUMP CYLINDER

DBW REMOTE CONTROL PREMIUM COLOR GAUGE (6Y9)

ELECTRIC KEY SWITCH PANEL

SCU

CENTER HCU PCU

Yamaha Helm Master Wiring

ECM

STBD ENGINE

ECM

CENTER ENGINE

ECM

PORT ENGINE

BATTERY ANALOG GAUGE INTERFACE PCU MULTI-HUB NMEA2000 GATEWAY

BATTERY

MULTI-HUB JOYSTICK CONTROL

SCU

EMERGENCY STOP SW

PCU BATTERY

WHEEL HUB

SeaStar Optimus

triple- and quad-engine setups

You should be aware of 14 critical features and benefits of joystick systems.

1/ TRANSOMS BUILT TOUGH

Make no mistake, tremendous forces are at work to make a 30-foot boat move sideways, and all that force is applied at the transom. The transoms on today’s center console boats are stronger than ever, due to the increasing weight and horsepower of outboard engines — a single Mercury Verado 400R outboard engine weighs 668 pounds dry. Transom strength, however, has been a constant engineering feature at Scout Boats, which builds 17- to 42-foot 0KAW_Wiring_Triple boats in Summerville, S.C. “Our transoms are not built up any more than we would have to for the triple- and quad-engine setups we see today,” said Alan Lang, national/international sales manager for Scout. “Any boat we build has the Strata-Mount system, where the engine bracket is tied into the stringer. It’s all one piece that runs through the entire boat, so it’s already as strong as it can be. These stringers are integrated into the engine mount, which allows the weight and force of the engines to be spread out over a larger area, reducing the stress on any single point.”

2/ GOING SMALLER

Because Yamaha’s Helm Master now works with twin-, triple- and quad-engine setups, the size and type of boats it may be utilized on have greatly increased, which makes new center console boats in the mid-20-foot range that are powered by twin F200s a good fit for Helm Master.

Yamaha actually offers more now for

In Thrust We Trust Yacht Controller’s Sport system uses stern and bow thrusters with joystick control to make the boat spin and move sideways with ease, unlike the other systems that utilize two or more outboard engines. In fact, the Sport can be used on single-engine boats.

Yacht Controller builds external and internal thrusters through its Yacht Th ruster division.

To set up the Sport system, external bow and stern thrusters are mounted to the boat and operated through the Yacht Controller joystick mounted on the dash. The electric thrusters can run for five minutes or more of continuous operation, and the electronic components are in a waterproof housing.

“Our system is old school,” said Gerald Burton, president of Yacht Controller, who

reports that he has more than 10,000 Yacht Controller systems in the use, and the Sport is a natural evolution of the product for outboards. “It’s real easy to move a boat around with thrusters on the front and back. You don’t have to deal with those tremendous forces generated by two or more outboards trying to spin a boat from the transom.”

While thruster failure is rare, if a bow or stern thruster does conk out, it’s not going to leave the boat inoperable.

“If the thruster fails when you are in the Bahamas, it’s not a major deal,” Burton said.

“But with the other joystick systems, if a hydraulic line or electronic system fails, you could be stranded. It may not be an easy fi x if one of the engines cannot be controlled.”

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both bigger and smaller boats. In 2015, Helm Master for quad applications became available, as did Helm Master control for Yamaha’s new 2.8L in-line four-cylinder F200. The capabilities, benefits and reach of the Helm Master system will only increase.

3/ D ON’T LOOK BACK

Staring at the engines on a joystick-control equipped boat backing into a slip may lead the driver to believe the engines are out of alignment. They’re not. Relax and just use the joystick, allowing the onboard computer do the work. That’s the advice new owners get when learning how to use a joystick. While some captains like the old-school behind-the-back throttling technique as they look aft toward the slip, it’s not necessary anymore.

4/ P UMP IT UP

The SeaStar Optimus 360 vessel control system can be installed new or retrofitted to boats with mechanically controlled outboards. The Optimus 360 includes the

electronic helm, a dedicated hydraulic pump for each engine, a control module and a display screen that helps drivers operate the smart steering cylinders mounted to each engine.

Tie bars are eliminated, so the engines move independently. The 360 package replaces the conventional outboard controls and cables with fly-by-wire electronics, and the control head provides full engine synchronization with a single hand. As one would expect, trim control is located in the throttle handle.

in gear to wide-open throttle.

6/ A NGLING ADVANTAGES

Joystick maneuverability has advantages for backing down on a fish or twisting the boat a bit to keep the rod tip pointed toward the fish. While skilled captains can easily operate the throttles behind their back as they look aft toward the action, it’s now possible for less-experienced captains to maintain an even course and speed in reverse. In addition, if lines are twisted or in danger of going under the boat, a quick maneuver may prevent a tangle.

5/ M ORE TO THE JOY

While the joystick control may be what everyone talks about, there is much more to these systems. For example, Helm Master’s automatic trim assist trims the engines based on throttle settings. To set up the system, users accelerate and determine where they want the engines to be trimmed by degree, and then they program in that setting. They can program how the engines are trimmed all along the power curve, from being barely

Yacht Controller can be added as a retrofit or built in during construction.

7/ S PIN TO WIN

The ability to spin a boat within its own length comes in handy in tight channels and marinas. The computer takes over to steer and throttle multiple outboards individually to maneuver the boat at low speeds through input from a joystick.

8/ STAYING PUT WITH SKYHOOK

The same ability to spin and crabwalk the boat to port or starboard also allows Mercury’s Skyhook system to keep a boat locked onto a latitude-longitude coordinate via the its onboard GPS. The integration with SmartCraft gauges and Mercury’s patented digital anchor technology keeps a boat’s position and heading with the push of a button.

That’s a real advantage in water where it’s too deep to anchor but a captain wants to stay on a spot, or if someone is operating the boat alone and wants to remain stationary for a few minutes to move around the boat.

9/ STAYING PUT PART II

Using the joystick control to position the boat over an anchoring spot is especially helpful in rough or windy weather. Given the control afforded by a joystick, even a less-experienced operator can use the joystick for a few minutes while the more-experienced captain deploys the anchor or attaches the line to a mooring buoy.

10/ T HRUSTER COMPATIBILITY

If a boat does have a bow thruster, 54

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however, it still can be used in conjunction with joystick control. For example, Helm Master’s capabilities can create sideways (lateral) and diagonal movement of the boat by just using the joystick function, replacing most applications where a bow thruster would normally be used.

If desired, however, an additional bow thruster can be utilized independent of the Helm Master system and controlled via a separate input mechanism on the console.

11/ T HE FORCE IS WITH YOU

Joystick systems essentially replace the conventional outboard controls and cables with fly-by-wire electronics. A joystick allows the operator to synchronize engines with one hand, and the owner can even adjust the detents and throttle resistance for their personal preferences.

For example, Suzuki Precision Control replaces conventional cable controls with electronic wiring connected to advanced shift and throttle actuators located under the hood. Commands are transmitted from the helm to the engine in real time via the system’s computer-based controls.

Suzuki Precision Maneuvering integrates Suzuki’s dedicated throttle-and-shift control system with electronic power steering and joystick control systems developed by SeaStar Solutions.

So, when the joystick is moved, what

Suzuki Precision Control replaces conventional cable controls with electronic wiring.

takes place is a combination of shifting, turning and throttle actuation to make the boat respond in the desired direction.

When you want to slide sideways to a parallel dock, the operator simply bumps the joystick sideways.That causes the two (or more) engines to thrust and vector to move the boat.

12/ R EDUCING WEAR & TEAR

Improved shifting equipment helps reduce wear and tear as the engines go in and out of gear to properly deliver thrust when needed. For example, Mercury’s Flo-Torq SSR HD is a quiet and smooth shifting propeller hub system. When shifting with the joystick, the Flo-Torq SSR HD rotates both port and starboard to eliminate shift clunk and vibration. The hub will engage the propeller’s inner hub when under load and can be used on all high-horsepower applications.

13/ S HORT LEARNING CURVE

Joystick control is so intuitive that it takes very little practice to become an expert. In my experience, all the joystick controls (with the exception of the Yacht Controller Sport, which I have not used) work about the same.

Precise movements around the dock are performed with ease. You can nudge to port or starboard, or nudge and twist, or just twist. It always helps to have a few hands on board to fend off on your first outing, but soon you’ll be a real pro. BW

To the Web

Explore the products mentioned in this story: ÆÆ MercuryMarine.com ÆÆ SeaStarSolutions.com ÆÆ SuzukiMarine.com ÆÆ YachtController.com ÆÆ YamahaOutboards.com

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Stay Off the Claims List Engage in these 9 activities between now and launch day.

S

By Heather Steinberger pringtime is almost here, and after a long winter with our boat on the hard, we can practically taste that first day of the new boating season.

The roar of the engine, the sweet purling of water along the hull, the whirr of a fishing reel, the happy shouts of children who’ve been cooped up too long.

One thing that can quickly ruin your happy picture: offseason damage to your boat, which will take you away from the water and land you firmly on your insurance company’s claims list.

The good news is that it’s not too late to take preventative action. If there is even one aha moment here, our hope is that it can help keep you off that list and ensure you hit the ramp as planned on launch day.

1.

If you haven’t checked your boat lately, now is a good time.

It doesn’t matter if your boat is spending the winter layup in the water at a marina, at a warehouse, in your garage or in your backyard, you want to check it regularly throughout the offseason. If you can’t do it, hire someone, or ask a friend or family member to do it for you.

Boats on inadequate stands or blocks tip over. Bubblers quit working. Boats sink at the dock (far more often than one might imagine). Tarps and shrinkwrap become tattered and are vulnerable to UV damage.

That’s not all. Tom Conroy, marine director for Markel Insurance, recalled a couple of memorable offseason claims. In one, an owner took his boat to a storage facility for the winter, and while it was parked outside, vandals spent some quality time with it. In the other, the owner faced a scenario most boaters don’t anticipate.

“While the boat was stored under a tarp, rodents chewed the electrical wiring and made a nest in the engine,” Conroy said.

Vermin can be a huge headache. The damage they can do to a boat’s interior — from upholstery to carpeting to woodwork — will be expensive and time-consuming to repair. Remove any perishable items left aboard that might be attracting them, and find their favorite in/out routes, so you can block them off.

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2.

When bad weather strikes, check your boat again.

Immediately.

Weather is a major adversary. Heavy snow and ice can collapse the roof of storage sheds, garages and warehouses.

“A couple of years ago, there were ridiculously heavy snows in parts of the country,” said Rick Stern, boat product manager for Progressive. “People were shoveling off their roof. We saw a lot of claims where the owner thought he had a secure shed until that winter, when the roof collapsed and crushed the boat.”

Ice and snow also can submerge or capsize boats spending the winter at the marina. Tarps can collapse under the weight of snow or tear in wicked winter gales. Lines can fray. So, if you’ve experienced some wild winter weather, head for your boat right away and make sure it’s secure. And bring your shovel, just in case you need to get up on the roof.

3.

Kill the portable heater.

If you thought running a portable heater would be a good idea, think again. Fire is a huge risk when boats are unattended for weeks on end. You could face a situation in which you lose more than your boat — you also could lose your storage building or your garage and, if it’s attached, your house.

4.

Check all onboard systems — and anything that can freeze.

Boats are extremely vulnerable to low temperatures.

Hoses and seacocks freeze.

Blocked drains and forgotten plugs trap water. Todd Shasha, managing director of personal insurance for boats and yachts at Travelers Insurance, recommends routinely checking all plugs, seacocks, through-hulls and drains. Look for cracking and other signs of freeze damage, be sure that rain and melting snow are draining properly, and inspect the bilge.

Southerners and West Coasters, beware: Freeze losses often occur in states not typically associated with cold weather. Damon Hostetter, 58

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senior vice president for ACE Recreational Marine Insurance (which was in the process of acquiring Chubb at press time), noted a surprising number of freeze losses in California and the deep South. It does happen, so you need to be prepared.

While you’re giving your boat a once-over, also take the opportunity to check all your critical onboard systems, including shore-power connections, anodes, batteries and electronics. Better to discover a failure now than on launch day.

5.

Give your trailer the TLC it deserves.

Shasha noted that even the most diligent boaters can neglect their trailer. Check the tires, and if they’re worn, replace them.

Attend to the bearings, and repack or replace them if necessary.

Look over the springs, and replace them if they’re cracked or loose.

Check for rust around the coupler, examine the winch cable or strap for breaks, and be sure the lights and brakes are working properly.

“I’ve seen trailers absolutely implode if they’re not cared for, especially if they’re exposed to salt water,” Shasha advised. “They deteriorate quickly.”

And the last thing you want is to discover a problem while you’re towing your boat down the highway at 65 mph. Enough said.

6.

Curl up with your insurance policy.

It’s not as much fun as watching the latest season of “Game of Thrones,” but the fine print can bite policyholders hard, Conroy said, so reading and understanding a policy’s fine print is vital.

Pay close attention to the specific terms, particularly the exclusions. For example, will your carrier cover critter damage? Some do, but not all.

“We look for the facts of the loss first to determine what happened and why it happened,” Stern said. “If the boat has a fitted cover, we’ll cover rodent and vermin damage.”

Another good example: Will your policy exclude ice and freezing damage unless the boat is winterized by a professional?

“Make sure winterizing is done correctly,” Shasha cautioned.

“It’ll help with your claim if something goes wrong, because the insurer will know you fulfilled your end of the deal. It’s so important. Rectifying a winterization mistake can be very expensive.”

Stern added, “If it’s clear winterizing was done correctly, we’ll cover damage related to that. And if you live in part of the country where winterizing isn’t customary and you have experienced a hard freeze, don’t worry. We’ll cover those losses because you couldn’t have known that would happen.”

To the Web

• ACE Recreational Marine Insurance, acemarineinsurance.com • BoatU.S., boatus. com/insurance • Geico, geico.com • Markel, markelboatinsurance. com • National Marine Underwriters, nmu.com • Progressive, progressive.com/boat • Travelers, travelers. com/boat

7.

It’s not too late to add moisture absorbers.

Unlike space heaters, moisture absorbers are a welcome addition to a boat in layup, and it’s not too late to add them to a boat’s lockers and enclosed interior spaces.

They’re designed to get rid of mildew, mold damage and odors; as they collect liquid, they lock it in place, so owners don’t have to worry about spillage.

8.

Prep your checklist.

Reread your boat’s owner’s manual, as well. Not only will it refresh your memory, it will help you fine tune your spring commissioning checklist. It’s your road map for all critical prelaunch steps, such as making sure you have fresh fuel and clean oil, inspecting your batteries for signs of corrosion, flushing out any antifreeze, inspecting your anchor and rode, and so much more. Winter layup may seem like a quiet time, but attention to detail is vital in the weeks leading up to launch. “(People) think of boats like cars — one oil change per year, and you’re good,” Stern said. “No. If something goes wrong with a boat, it’s not a matter of just being stuck by the side of the road. You’ve got a much bigger problem.”

Being diligent with your winter layup maintenance and spring prep work, Shasha advised, will help prevent nasty surprises down the road.

9.

Always remember the hazards of spring.

Mother Nature isn’t always kind in the springtime.

Debris washes down swollen rivers and hides in stirred-up coastal waters. Storms shift the topography below the surface. Before your launch day, talk with someone who’s been out on the water already — marina staff, perhaps, or an avid angler or recreational boater in your community. Ask questions, because forewarned is forearmed.

Don’t let the delirium of that first heady cruise cloud your eyes or dull your judgment. Remain vigilant, post a lookout, and go slow. After all, the whole glorious season is still ahead of you. BW BOATINGWORLD.COM

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BOATS , EQ U I PM ENT, S ERV I CE S C A LL 949/660 - 6150

THE DURABAK COMPANY www.durabakcompany.com Tel: 303-690-7190

♦ SLIP & FALL PROTECTION ♦ PROTECTS AGAINST RUST & OTHER DAMAGE ♦ GIVE & COMFORT THAT NO OTHER NON-SLIP COATING OFFERS ♦ JUST “PAINT IT ON” WITH A ROLLER ♦ RESISTANT TO SALT WATER, FUELS & CHEMICALS ♦ BONDS TO METALS, WOOD, FIBERGLASS & CONCRETE ♦ AVAILABLE IN A VARIETY OF COLORS, TEXTURED & SMOOTH ♦ WON’T CRACK, CHIP OR PEEL ♦ ALSO GREAT FOR TRUCK BEDS & BOAT TRAILERS

US NAVY TESTED QUALIFIED PRODUCT

PRO RESULTS IN A DIY PACKAGE

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BOATINGWORLD.COM

Got An Old Boat?

DONATE IT TODAY!

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

BOATS , EQ U I PM ENT, S ERV I CE S C A LL 949/660 - 6150

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THE TOUGHEST

Quality since 1971.

BOAT LIFTS , DOCKS & ACCESSORIES

800.544.2067

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MARCH 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM

BOATS

BUY 1 YEAR, GET 2 YEARS (27 ISSUES) FREE. Go to boatingworld.com/ads

Apex Marine (989) 681-4300.....................................................................................................................................................3 Crownline Boats (618) 937-6426..............................................................................................................................CV2-1 Lowe Boats (417) 532-9101........................................................................................................................................................ 11 Manitou Pontoon Boats (517) 322-3822.............................................................................................................................. 29 Rec Boat Holdings/Four Winns, Glastron, Scarab (231) 775-1351...........................................................................CV4 SmokerCraft, Inc/Starcraft (866) 719-7873..............................................................................................................5, 9, 62 Splendor Boats (260) 352-2835............................................................................................................................................ 63 Stingray (843) 383-4507...........................................................................................................................................................19 Tige Boats Inc. (325) 676-7777............................................................................................................................................... 21

Get 27 issues of both the print and digital editions of Boating World for only $15.97. Or get one year (9 issues) for $10.00.

Digital editions offer exclusive extras like boat test videos and photo galleries.

Yamaha Sportboats (800) 888-2624.................................................................................................................................. 27

DOCKS & MOORINGS Connect-A-Dock Inc. (877) 742-3071................................................................................................................................... 26 Hewitt Lifts & Roll-a-Dock (800) 544-2067...................................................................................................................... 62 Merco Marine (800) 396-3726...............................................................................................................................................60

ENGINES SternDrive Engineering (813) 925-7127................................................................................................................................ 61 Suzuki Marine (800) 247-4704.............................................................................................................................................. 37 Yamaha Outboards (800) 888-2624...................................................................................................................................45

GEAR & ACCESSORIES BoatLIFE/Life Industries (800) 382-9706.......................................................................................................................... 25 Clymer Manuals (800) 242-4637.......................................................................................................................................... 25

advertiser index

BOATING WORLD SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION OFFER.

Cook Manufacturing Corp (800) 654-3697....................................................................................................................... 62 NuShield, Inc (215) 500-6426.................................................................................................................................................60 SIMRAD (800) 628-4487.......................................................................................................................................................... 31 The Durabak Company (303) 690-7190.............................................................................................................................60

SERVICES 1-800-Progressive (800) 776-4737...................................................................................................................................CV3 Boat Angel (800) 227-2643.............................................................................................................................................60 Compass Marine Services, Inc. (941) 360-6777................................................................................................................49 GEICO Insurance (800) 824-5404........................................................................................................................................ 33 Water Sports Foundation (407) 833-0383.......................................................................................................................41`

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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

McGard, Inc (800) 669-6887.................................................................................................................................................. 62

R E A D ER CO NTE ST

Rick Martin illustration

name the boat

Some days you’re the hook, other days you’re the worm. Do you have a name for our ailing angler’s boat? Send it to us. If it wins, we will give you a $50 West Marine gift card, and your name will appear in the May 2016 issue of Boating World. > SEE THE WINNING ENTRY AND THE BEST OF THE REST FROM JANUARY’S CONTEST ON PAGE 8.

YOURS FREE

WIN THIS 64

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MARCH 2016 BOATINGWORLD.COM



The first person to turn in the best boat name will receive a $50 West Marine gift card courtesy of Boating World.

HOW TO ENTER:

We’ll reprint the cartoon with the winning boat name in the May 2016 issue. Submissions are due by March 15.

Email editor@boatingworld.com with “Name the Boat” in the subject line, or send snail mail to Boating World Magazine/Name the Boat, 17782 Cowan, Suite C, Irvine, CA 92614.

Please include your full name, address and phone number, along with your entry. Duncan McIntosh Co. employees and their families are prohibited from entering. Prizewinners are responsible for any applicable taxes. Decisions of the judges and the editor are final.

EVERY BOAT NEEDS A PROTECTOR.

1.800.PROGRESSIVE / PROGRESSIVE.COM Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. & affiliates.

Life is be tte r su rrou n de d by fa m i ly,

w ho are su r r ou nded b y fi ne u ph ol s t e r y.

To experience the finer things in life, choose one of the finest things on the water. Four Winns® has a reputation for impeccable American craftsmanship, elegant design and one of the smoothest rides on the water with our Stable-Vee® hull. It all makes for a richer experience. And a more beautiful ride.

F O U R W I N N S . C O M

JANUARY 1 - MARCH JANUARY MARCH31, 31,2016 2016 for details: fourwinns.com

L i f e sh o ul d be a be aut i f ul r i de .

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