Inhaltsverzeichnis für April 2019 in Boating

GILL CLASSICS WHY CRUISE? Gill specializes in gear and apparel for those who venture far outside the inlet. The Classics frames come in three colors and — most importantly — they float, so if they get knocked off in rough water, you can retrieve them. The scratch-resistant polarized lenses block 100 percent of UVA, UVB and UVC radiation. WHY NOT? Polarization is not as good as the Costas for reducing glare and seeing below the surface. PRICE: $89; gillmarine.com COSTA RINCONCITOS WHY FISH? Costa’s 580 polarized lenses are, in my opinion, the best out there for fishing, with different styles that reduce glare and improve your vision into the water — great attributes for any serious angler. The Rinconcito frames are great for medium faces, which means most people, and…

BUILD IT IN Portable generators may be a convenient power solution but can pose safety hazards when used aboard boats. Q: LEGAL? Dear Doc, I’d like to carry a portable generator aboard my boat to use for power while anchored out for long weekends. My buddy says this is illegal. Is he right? I would, of course, mount the generator outside in the cockpit. Stephen Merrill Cleveland A: I won’t comment on the legality — please consult the U.S. Coast Guard about that. I will say that just because you place the generator outside, there is no guarantee that deadly carbon monoxide gas won’t find its way into your cabin, where it can kill you or your crew in a short time. Secondly, I know I personally would not like…

Eight tips for taking care of your filters. FLAME ARRESTER Also known as the spark arrester, these should be checked three times a season. Remove, clean any heavy grease accumulation with soap and water or solvent, and reinstall. Never replace a boat’s flame arrester with an automotive air filter. If you like, K&N makes marine air filters that are also flame arresters. Look for the U.S. Coast Guard approval number. DATE IT Adhere to the filter change schedule in your engine’s manual. Mark the date of the filter change right on the filter. Nail polish is unaffected by grease and heat, though a grease pencil can be used. Also note it in your service logbook, if you keep one (you should). GRIP IT Filters can often be hard to remove. A…

See how night vision compares to infrared vision, and check out our tests of three different jump-starter devices complete with flashlights. We never expected to find a flashlight that could start a six-cylinder engine, nor a portable batt ery that could start a 500 hp diesel or a John Deere tractor. And we never thought we could see this well in the dark. But we did, and here’s how these nift y gadgets worked for us. SIONYX NIGHT VISION COST: $799 WATERPROOF: IP67 water resistant WEIGHT: 8 oz. DIMENSIONS: 4.75 by 2.25 in. BATTERY TIME: 2 hours, continuous CONNECTIVITY: Wi-Fi It is capable of shooting 720p video and beautiful snapshots in the dark or daylight. Mountable on a 0.25-by-20-thread tripod mount, it will Wi-Fi to your smartphone or tablet so…

Going bigger has been the recent trend among fishing-boat builders, but with a 40-footer as the flagship of its popular Sport series already, Pursuit opted instead to introduce a 30-foot model, the S 288 Sport, as the latest member of its luxury center-console family. The layout takes full advantage of the boat’s length and beam, and incorporates several seating arrangements fore and aft, generous stowage, and a sizable console with step-down head without creating tight funnel areas that hinder the crew’s movements. Boat owners who place a premium on refinement will appreciate the elegant accents and upholstery, and the entire family will love the conveniences, which start up front with the dedicated anchor locker equipped with raw-water washdown and windlass — with control at the helm and by remote —…

The 23 H2O Sport looks suave pulling up to the dock, and as the skipper, I looked talented beyond my skill — it responds well to the helm, even at slow speeds. When I pressed the throttle, the sterndrive pushed the boat forward onto plane in under 3 seconds, and it hit 30 mph in around 7 seconds. Then the top speed broke 50 mph. Even at that speed, the boat handled nicely over chop and in turns. Part of that good handling comes from the confidence you gain from a well-designed helm station. A performance bucket seat is secure and comfortable (the first mate gets one too), and once it is adjusted for your legroom and arm-length preference, the wheel and throttle are comfortably positioned. You can brace your…

When Ilmor first announced the One Drive system in 2016, it caught more than a little attention, and for good reason. The objective of this all-new sterndrive unit is to deliver the performance and looks that made the propulsion brand popular decades ago, but without the hassle that has since come to mar its reputation. Combined with the successful MV8 engine line (6.0L, 6.2L and 7.4L — see “MV8 Engine Series”), the One Drive can be equipped to suit a variety of boats and boating styles. Much thought and ingenuity went into the design and engineering of the Ilmor One Drive. The major feature of the One Drive might just be the electro-magnetically actuated hydraulic clutch transmission, which is similar to those found in inboard transmissions. Like an inboard, the…

You’ll see a new luxury boat brand model at this season’s shows. It’s called the Aviara Boats AV32, and it features either outboard or sterndrive power. According to the builder, the AV32 fuses progressive style and effortless comfort in a modern luxury boat designed to set itself apart from the rest. “From what the captain encounters — the control from the command chair and the prestige of being the host — to that special crew invited aboard to share in the freedom and great times, we are committed to creating the ultimate flawless experience,” stated Aviara in an exclusive, early statement we procured. As the image shows, the Aviara AV32 boasts the attitude and stance of a waterborne roadster with its aggressive lines and racy, angular windshield. Yet the arch…

When I was a sophomore in high school back in 1965, I built a hydroplane out of plywood and lumber, and covered it in fiberglass. We lived in Evansville, Indiana, on the Ohio River, and while my parents did not appear concerned about 16-year-old boys taking a small boat out on the Ohio River, my father did bring home some expandable foam and helped me fill the bow and side cavities with it. This enhancement would later save my bacon. I added an old outboard and trailer gifted from my uncle and was all set. In the blink of an eye, the current carried the boat downstream until the anchor stopped it. The current then pulled the stern underwater, swamping us. One day a friend and I decided to go…

WIRE CRIMPERS Quality wire crimpers are a necessity for stripping wire insulation and for crimping the exposed wire during any electrical repair on board. While a toolkit like the Shipyard set comes with standard crimpers, consider upgrading to a higherquality crimper such as the Ancor Stainless-Steel Cut/Strip/Crimp tool ($31, amazon.com) for a better crimp. HEADLAMP When you need to make repairs in a dank, unlit engine compartment, it helps to be able to shine a little light on the situation. How are you going to hold a flashlight and use your tools at the same time? Invest in a hands-free headlamp. You can get an inexpensive one at almost any outdoor retailer, but we suggest upgrading to a more powerful one to shine in those dark corners of your bilge.…

Speed is a relative thing. Sixty miles per hour on a freeway makes you a rock in a stream getting passed on all sides. Sixty on a glassy lake is fun, but 60 mph on the Gulf Stream in square-edged 3-footers is a whole ’nother world, especially when you’re moving 10 tons of luxury. The Intrepid 407 Panacea attracts all sorts. Prowling the docks at the Intrepid office in Dania, Florida, just south of Fort Lauderdale, was a cross section of Intrepidistas: some good ol’ boys from somewhere on the edge of the Everglades with Buck knives on their belts, a South American couple with a lot of vowels in their names, and a father-son duo who had that haughty arrived-on-the-Mayflower look that comes with a “III” after your name.…

I’ve been impressed by Riviera’s Sports Motor Yacht (SMY) line since two years back in Sydney, when I tested the 68 SMY (a 72 in U.S. markets) and found a rugged, smooth-riding hull matched with a wellthought-out interior, and outdoor spaces designed for relaxation and adventure. So when I stepped aboard the 39 Sports Motor Yacht last summer, again in Sydney, it had some big shoes to fill. How’d it do? The 39 falls right in line with the Sports Motor Yacht line’s ethos of blending typical Australian seaworthiness with the style of European builders. On test day, the Pacific lofted 6- to 7-foot rollers at us, and the 39’s hand-laid hull sliced cleanly through the head sea at 17 mph, and picked it up to 25 mph on the…

The kids gotta surf. But you’d rather fish. You could do both from one boat if you check the right option boxes when ordering the new Glastron GTDW 205 Surf and Fish, a 22-foot deck boat that’s surfable because it’s powered by the Volvo Penta Forward Drive and fishable with a package that adds a baitwell, rod holders and a bow casting platform. The key feature of the GTDW 205 is the Forward Drive, a sterndrive with forward-facing contra-rotating props that pull the boat through the water. Because those props are located below the boat — 26.5 inches forward of the prop location on a Duoprop outdrive — it’s safe to wakesurf behind a Forward Drive-powered boat. The GTDW is also equipped with a set of Wake Worx Super Surf’R…

A marine transmission — or marine gear — is a wondrous thing. It couples all the torque a big diesel or gas engine can deliver to the shaft that spins the propeller, so it must be built like a tank. It also endures tens of thousands of shifts from neutral to in gear during its life, and reverses rotation as well, so it must be built with clockworklike precision. In order to interface with the latest electro-hydraulic computer-drive technology, a quality marine gear ranks as one the most sophisticated bits of gear a boater owns. Naturally, a marine transmission must thrive in the corrosive vapor bath of heat and salt that is an engine room. How does such a thing so important to every inboard-powered boat, from diminutive launches to…

Designed to simplify and ease the experience of using chart plotters and fish finders for boating anglers, Raymarine’s new Element series of combo sonar/GPS displays feature RealVision 3D as well as Raymarine’s new HyperVision technology. HyperVision utilizes an ultra-high 1.2 MHz (1,200 KHz) chirp sonar frequency to enhance details and fish returns when viewing DownVision, SideVision and RealVision 3D, according to Raymarine. Element’s new LightHouse Sport operating system and intuitive keypad controls let anglers quickly mark their favorite fishing spots and create their own high-definition bathymetric maps using the new Raymarine RealBathy real-time sonar map generator. The quadcore processor built into the Element units helps deliver nearly instantaneous chart-refresh rates and smooths RealVision 3D imaging. The Element series includes models with 7-, 9-and 12-inch color displays. Prices range from $799.99…

1. If you check your gear case/drive unit and the fluid is milky or watery, you should: A. Refill it with fresh fluid. B. Don’t worry about it — it will be fine. C. Bring it to a dealer/technician to check for internal damage. D. None of the above 2. When removing the boat’s cover, you see evidence of rodent droppings and mildew. For next winter, you should: A. Ensure your winter cover is better sealed and the perimeter is tight, leaving no potential openings for rodents. B. Ensure your cover has well-placed vents to allow air circulation. C. Place rodent repellent in strategic places around and inside your boat. D. None of the above E. All of the above 3. Before trailering your boat to the ramp, it’s important…

The 38 SuperCross represents the latest offering from Rinker Boats. Sporting a generous cabin headroom of 6 feet, 8 inches and housing two queen-size berths, the 38 QBX’s other amenities include a large head with separate shower. Other design highlights include integral bow seating, a deep side deck, and an aft lounge reminiscent of that aboard a superyacht. Rinker Boats president Kim Slocum stated: “The new 38 SuperCross introduces the new Rinker brand vision. This midcabin, triple-outboard sport crossover is designed for enthusiastic explorers and adventurers. Boaters will gravitate to the open-concept design, elegant style and modern luxuries. It’s going to be damn good.” This new crossover cruiser will give boaters the choice of triple 300 or 350 hp outboards from either Mercury Marine or Yamaha Outboards. Boating plans to…

During the video shoot that accompanied my sea trial of the Four Winns Vista 355 Coupe Outboard, the videographer tasked me with the job of running directly toward the camera, and then cranking the wheel hard and running off to the side. Video being video, I did this 10 times: five times cutting to port and another five cutting to starboard. In the course of so doing, this new coupe cruiser leaned over and ripped away, showing off the Vista 355’s attractive profile and the twin Mercury outboards that powered it, and leaving a streak of white water and a whooshing sound, the boat long gone before its wake could disturb the photo boat. Maneuvering a boat that sleeps six and entertains a bunch more in climate-controlled style and luxury…

The rise of the dual console has paralleled the rise of luxury center-consoles and outboard-powered bow-riders, in part because they are a combination of both. They have the functionality to entertain the family, the credibility to satisfy hardcore anglers, and the ability to roam far outside the inlet. In many ways, in the battle between fishing and family entertainment, it’s the perfect compromise. Perhaps no boat is better suited to meet that mission than a power catamaran like the World Cat 280 DC-X. The dual hull provides superior sea-keeping and stability when compared to many mono-hulls of the same length and displacement, and the twin hulls allow World Cat to maximize deck space. Note how wide and deep the bow seating is, made possible by the twin hulls allowing the…

It is our long-held conviction that every able-bodied citizen should strive to own a boat. Life is just better when you can spend it on the water. That said, the path to boat ownership is not always straight and narrow, sometimes we take detours in our on-water experiences that require the use of someone else’s boat. Whether you’re between boats, desiring to go boating a long way from your home waters, or looking to captain multiple boats before deciding on the right fit for you, there are plenty of options. We explored three different choices — joining a boat club, using someone else’s boat through a peer-to-peer site, and renting a boat through a traditional local rental outfit. Here’s what we found. BOATSETTER: THE AIRBNB OF BOATING With the growth…

Available with 7-, 9-, 12-and 16-inch screens, the HDS units include LiveSight imaging sonar (with an optional transducer) that shows the underwater world in real time. You can actually watch fish swim through the sonar beam, akin to streaming video. HDS Live also includes Active Imaging three-in-one sonar, which combines chirp with SideScan and DownScan Imaging and enhances Fish-Reveal with higher-level clarity and target separation. Genesis Live charting in HDS Live uses digital depth data to create depth-contour overlays on charts in half-foot intervals with depth-and safety-shading color palettes. Charts can be saved to an SD card for continuous use. On the entertainment side, two of the largest new MFDs allow boaters to display information from their smart devices using the new LiveCast feature. The 12-and 16-inch models let you…