Sommaire pour May 2020 de Boating

The Crevalle 33 CSF was designed to continue the bloodline of high quality that current Crevalle models evince. Crevalle offers the 33 CSF loaded as standard. A highlight of this equipment list is the standard dual 16-inch multifunction displays (Garmin or Simrad—owner’s choice). For the serious fisherman, the 33 CSF offers three livewells, a leaning-post tackle-prep station, lockable rod storage for six rods, and in-floor storage for a 5-gallon bucket with a cast net. Crevalle, of course, offers options as well, including bow fillers to create a lounge up front, an aft sunshade, carbonfiber outriggers, downriggers, radar, trolling motor, joystick engine control and more. In all, this new boat can fish or play in measure to suit its buyer. Outboard power options range up to 900 hp in the owner’s…

It was a beautiful August afternoon in Maryland, and my fiancée, her granddaughter and I decided to take my 28-foot cabin cruiser down the South River and out into the Chesapeake Bay to the picturesque Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, which was 5 miles from the marina. Once there, we decided to go visit Annapolis, about 7 miles farther across open water dotted with crab traps. We went down Ego Alley and meandered through nearby Back Creek before heading home. I noticed the voltmeter was reading low and slowly dropping, but I pushed on. I noticed the voltmeter was reading low and slowly dropping, but I pushed on. The seas picked up to about 2 feet on our bow, making for a rough ride. Suddenly, the boat jerked and veered hard…

Can I apply any bottom paint to my transducer? It gets fouled with weed every year. Emmet Caprese Noyack, New York A:You can apply most types of anti-fouling paint to metal transducers with little ill physical effect. For plastic transducers, you want to avoid vinyl anti-fouling paints because the solvent in some of these may attack the plastic. The best solution is to use one of the metal-free anti-fouling paints, which will not harm plastic and, since there is no metal, will not degrade the signal in any measurable way. One of the newest is the Propspeed FoulFree transducer coating system ($39.99 per 15-milliliter kit, westmarine.com), which was developed in partnership with Airmar Technologies, the leading supplier of transducers for marine applications. Still, transducers are common wear spots, and paint…

We’ve been using a Pelican Vault case to protect camera equipment we take aboard boats. A pair of sturdy stainless-steel padlock hasps have delivered great security. The push-button latches release easily yet dog down and seal dust- and weather-tight. Five layers of foam has kept our shutters clicking and video rolling despite rough seas (and one accidental drop into a boat at low tide). Those five layers of foam also made it convenient for cutting the supplied foam to the shape and depth of equipment. The handles have a nice heft and good grip with wet hands. In all, we can heartily recommend Pelican’s Vault case for protecting gear aboard boats. The V550 we chose measures 19 inches by 14 inches by 8.5 inches on the inside, but a variety…

It’s probably the last thing you’re thinking about when you leave the dock for your next boating adventure. And even if something might go wrong on the water, you could be thinking that help is just a phone call or VHF hail away—unless it isn’t. What if your phone has no reception and your VHF isn’t working? No EPIRB either? You need another way to let other boaters in the area know you need help or to show potential rescuers where to find you. Here are a few techniques to signal for help when you really need it. FLARES If you’re US Coast Guard-compliant, you already have a set of flares inside your Coast Guard kit. But do you know what kind they are, as well as how to use…

That is exactly what recently happened to a group of people on a fishing trip, sending many to the hospital. One person even became overcome and lost consciousness. The culprit? Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Every vessel equipped with a fossil-fuel-powered engine produces CO, which is usually safely dispersed out the exhaust and away from people on board. Exhaust ports typically exit the vessel at the waterline and with plenty of fresh air, which keeps CO away from passengers and easy to forget when people become ill. CO is an odorless and colorless gas produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels like gasoline and diesel—and it is a killer. CO becomes a threat to boaters when boat owners make modifications to the vessel that can affect the flow of exhaust fumes,…

Intrepid boats often serve as luxurious tenders to mega-yachts. But just as Bentley, Porsche and Jaguar now produce SUVs, so has Intrepid with its 407. This new boat has all the luxury, comfort, fit and finish that demanding owners could want, but also boasts some truly creative features. Intrepid offers the 407 Nomad in two configurations: the SE or the FE version that I ran. Both acronyms refer to how you enter the head. Front entry (FE) slides the entire front of the center console sideways to port at the push of a button. Side entry (SE) constitutes just that. Just forward of the console sits a double sun pad with ram-driven seatbacks. This large island provides copious insulated storage within. Plus, the gunwales sport hatches with storage large enough…

There are many examples of Crest showing off on the Caribbean Platinum 250 SLS. Powder-coated perimeter fencing features a dramatic flare aft, with a bold, arrow-shaped accent piece that ties neatly into an optional clad tower overhead. Look closer at that molded accent and you’ll note the logo lights up, as do interior speakers in a variety of shades. The helm features a dash that is a showcase of billet aluminum, with two rows of aircraft-style lighted toggles across the bottom. The captain’s cup holder is actually refrigerated. The vinyl flooring on our test boat had the look of aged teak. Forward, 7-foot parallel lounges invite passengers to stretch out and relax, or buddy up when entertaining a party-size crew. Rather than vinyl-covered rotomolded plastic, seat bases are sleek, molded…

The Internet of Things (IoT) goes to sea. It wasn’t that long ago when IoT bordered on science fiction, prognosticators telling us that this interconnectivity between machines would provide all kinds of solutions dubiously looking for a problem—like trackers that tell us the toilet paper dispenser is empty or our fridge is out of eggs. Yet, like solar power, wristwatch communicators and apps that track our physical fitness, it turns out IoT can prove valuable on boats when used in the correct application. And the ZF Marine connected experience through Siren Marine is a great application. At its most basic, the ZF connected experience allows boat owners to confidently monitor the status of their marine transmission. Siren Marine’s cloud-based Connected Boat platform connects boaters with their ZF transmissions 24/7, keeping…

Guardian, part of ACR’s Overboard Location Alert System (OLAS) product portfolio, is designed to stop the boat engines within two seconds of a person going overboard. When boating alone, this increases the chances that a victim can swim to back to the boat and reboard. But Guardian is not just for solo boaters. In an MOB situation, the system will trigger a loud 85 dB alarm, alerting crewmembers to the emergency. After five seconds, the engine can be restarted. Guardian can wirelessly connect up to 15 crewmembers via wearable, compact OLAS transmitters known as the Tag and Float-On. (The latter includes a light.) This allows the skipper to move freely around the boat without the constraint of a safety-stop lanyard. The Tag and Float-On pair with the Guardian onboard module…

I’m not usually a belt-and-suspenders kind of guy. I figure, why double up? One or the other will usually do the trick, and I’ve been known to occasionally go without them altogether—which helps explain why I’m a father of five. But a recent file added to the “Learn from Chuck’s Mistakes” folder has convinced me to always double up on security when towing a boat. There was a hint of conspiracy in his voice when my good friend Chuck Larson called on that fateful fall day. “I’m gonna buy that Sea Nymph from Tim, but I need your help when I pick it up,” Chuck said, speaking in a half-whisper from what I guessed was his garage. You would think that two grown men infused with adrenaline could just pick…

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 that your winter cover is better-sealed and the perimeter is tight, leaving no potential openings for rodents. B. Ensure that 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 to…

A fuel-system problem might leave you stranded on the water, or cause a fire or explosion. Problems caused by poor fuel quality and ethanol-extended (E10 and now E15) fuels increase maintenance and service costs, and even cause engine failure for boaters. Utilize these six tenets to help prevent inconvenience and tragedy. FUEL LINE Replace fuel lines older than three years with EPA-compliant hose. Install new clamps. The innards of older fuel hoses are susceptible to alcohol deterioration. They can collapse or fall apart, clogging the fuel system and starving the engine of fuel. Newer fuel lines use a tough inner liner, visible by looking into the end of the hose. It makes the hose stiffer and harder to work with, and it’s more expensive. When routing the hose, make bends…

Your boat might not be suitable or have enough mounting space for a permanently installed marine satellite TV dome. What’s more, with marine satellite TV systems from companies such as Intellian starting at around $2,200, you might not want to spend the money either. But there’s another option. Thanks to a new portable satellite system, you can enjoy sports, movies and other programming in high definition as you relax or overnight aboard your boat, whether in a marina or pulled up on a beach, while paying far less for the satellite equipment. Dish Network has designed an affordable system utilizing a 7½-pound satellite dome antenna it calls Playmaker. Measuring roughly 16 inches in diameter and 13 inches tall, the Playmaker is based on the Carry- Out antenna from Winegard, which…

SPECS: LOA: 21'6" BEAM: 8'5" DRAFT (MAX): 6" DRY WEIGHT: 1,747 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 10/1,969 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 29 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Mercury 115 Pro XS DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/14 x 17 4-blade aluminum GEAR RATIO: 2.08:1 FUEL LOAD: 20 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 360 lb. The 21-foot version of Princecraft’s venerable Vectra line of pontoons has some notable new features for 2020; first and foremost is the rear lounge. Responsible for the “RL” designation in the model name, the rear lounge sports an easily adjustable backrest, so you can face forward and join the conversation or face aft and watch the wake. The optional stainless-steel safety railing allows passengers to utilize the lounge while underway, and it features not one but two flip-down sections for easy access. It’s a great…

SPECS: LOA: 23'10" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT: 1'8" DRY WEIGHT: 2,100 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 12/1,650 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 60 gal. HOW WE TESTED: Evinrude E-Tec G2 two-stroke 250 hp DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/15.25" x 17" BRP Evinrude Rebel 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.85:1 FUEL LOAD: 25 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 400 lb. Sylvan rigged the L-3 DLZ to go, and boy, did it! With the 250 hp Evinrude G2 for power, it leaped from a standing start to 30 mph in just 6 seconds. Top speed was nearly 45 mph at just under 6,000 rpm. It delivers an oldschool feel, with that good, throaty twostroke growl. Sound levels, however, didn’t get elevated until after about 4,000 rpm; at its most economical cruise speed (21 mph, 3,500 rpm, 3.2 mpg), we recorded just 72…

SPECS: LOA: 25’3” BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT (MAX): 1'3" DRY WEIGHT: 3,238 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 14/1,974 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 50 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Yamaha 250 DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/Yamaha Saltwater Series II 153/4” x 15” 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1 FUEL LOAD: 50 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 390 lb. A limited-edition model in 2019, Bennington’s feature-packed 23 RX Sport Swingback enjoys full-time status for 2020. In addition to the Swingback bench aft, the RX Sport comes with an impressive list of standard features. Aluminum-clad rails ring the perimeter, with sweeping lines and stainless- steel and mesh accents aft. Deck trim, deck skirt and Bimini frame are stylishly blacked-out. Within, Bennington’s Sport interior adds a linen-like texture to vinyl seat coverings, with contrasting accents. Add the Bennington wing logo to the entry…

SPECS: LOA: 26'4" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT (MAX): 1'2" DRY WEIGHT: 3,885 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 14/1,935 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 43 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Evinrude G2 300 DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/Evinrude Rebel 151/2" x 16" 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.85:1 FUEL LOAD: 43 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 360 lb. Like nearly all Manitous we’ve tested over the years, the 25 Legacy SL featured an ultrasmooth ride and a sporty, inside lean through the corners that’s more akin to a traditional V-hull. Chalk it up to the builder’s patented V-Toon technology. Twin 25-inch pontoons flank a central 27-inch pontoon, dropped lower than the outer tubes. Taking into account the central tube’s added girth, the effect is to lower the bottom of the center pontoon a full 5¼ inches and mimic a V-hull’s shape.…

SPECS: LOA: 26'6" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT: 1'3" DRY WEIGHT: 4,600 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 14/1,950 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 58 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Mercury 300 Verado DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 14" x 19" 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1 FUEL LOAD: 29 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 350 lb. The Grand Tahoe series is Tahoe’s flagship offering, emphasizing luxury above deck and performance below. The former becomes apparent the minute you see it. Rather than exposed fencing, the exterior is cuttingedge sleek, with smooth, painted aluminum panels teeming with sculpted fiberglass, merging the looks of traditional pontoons and fiberglass cruisers. A stainless-capped, wraparound, TaylorMade walk-through windshield sits atop the consoles. Aft, twin stowage trunks reside in the stylish fiberglass modules that define the stern. Aboard our test boat, a sweeping overhead powered arch…

SPECS: LOA: 27'5" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT (MAX): 1'0" DRY WEIGHT: 2,950 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 15/3,000 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 30 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Mercury Racing 450 hp supercharged DRIVE/PROPS: Bravo 20 FS 4-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.6:1 FUEL LOAD: 25 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 250 lb. With a top speed of nearly 65 mph, you couldn’t ask for much more performance from a single-engine pontoon. PlayCraft’s PowerToon X-Treme 2700 makes this speed with triple powdercoated tubes with a Mercury Racing 450 hp outboard bolted to the center one. The motor’s styling perfectly complements PlayCraft’s well-practiced designers’ and upholsterers’ work to make the X-Treme look extremely fast just sitting at the dock. The center tube is longer than the outboard tubes, giving the boat a rakish bow. The buoyancy of…

SPECS: LOA: 27'11" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT: 1'10" DRY WEIGHT: 3,770 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 15/2,969 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 63 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Mercury 350 hp Verado FourStroke DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/Mercury Enertia Eco 16" x 17" 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1 FUEL LOAD: 42 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 400 lb. Harris rarely fails to please, and 2020 reveals more innovation. This Solstice 250 SLEC gives an aggressive performance with a Mercury 350 Verado FourStroke outboard, topping 51 mph at 6,000 rpm. Acceleration is brisk, hitting 30 mph from a dead stop in 7.3 seconds. For best mileage, optimal rpm is 2,500, where we recorded 14.7 mph and 3.7 miles per gallon. (Though we might term 20 mph “cruising speed” because mileage is still stellar.) That’s thrifty performance from a large high-performance…

SPECS: LOA: 19'2" BEAM: 8'0" DRAFT (MAX): 3'0" DRY WEIGHT: 1,500 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 8/1,900 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 17.5 gal. QWEST PONTOONS St. Louis, Michigan; 989-681-4000; qwestpontoons.com With its LS 818 XRE Cruise, Qwest packs a lot of punch into a smaller- size pontoon. Start with the boat’s layout. It’s great to see a pontoon under 20 feet provide three boarding gates—one at the bow, one in the forward seating area through the portside rail, and one along the aft platform. There’s seating for four people in the bow, with a corner bench seat and a couch in front of the helm. There’s an L-shaped bench to port of the helm and twin swiveling anglers bucket seats aft. It’s a great layout for cruising, fishing and watersports. Qwest is known…

Medical-payments coverage provides for out-of-pocket expenses not covered by the injured person’s health insurance—things such as copayments and deductibles. It provides a per-person limit of coverage for any injury that occurs aboard the insured boat, regardless of liability. Many insurers cap the payout of this coverage at $1,000, but some offer higher limits for a higher premium. Medical-payments coverage might best warrant the attention of boaters active in watersports, such as water-skiing and wakeboarding, as well as offshore fishing and other boating activities wherein injuries might more likely occur. KEEPING YOUR HEALTH AFLOAT Watersports and offshorefifishing coverage is common, though scuba diving is an activity excluded by most boat-insurance companies. (Get it through the Professional Association of Diving Instructors.)…

Axopar Boats of Finland introduces the 37 Cross Cabin (XC), which offers a slew of features both unique and beneficial. Take the gull-wing cabin doors. Heavily gasketed, these swing open from the forward cabin top, providing light, cross ventilation and a second means of entry. The cabin sleeps two, while an optional aft cabin sleeps two more. Then there’s the shape. Leaner and lower-sided than most recreational boat offerings, the 37 XC is intended to be lighter, and thus more efficient, than boats of similar length, especially with its double-step hull design. Notably, Axopar’s modular build system allows three separate layouts to be installed on one hull. In addition to the 37 XC shown here, Axopar’s 37 Sun Top (center-console cabin) and 37 Spyder (open-cockpit dayboat with maximum seating) models…

A lifesaving option is a wireless engine cutoff device. Wearable fobs or “tags” communicate with a hub or host unit that sounds an alarm and shuts down the engine should the skipper fall overboard. A crewmember overboard fob is programmed to trigger just the alarm. Until then, anyone wearing a fob can move freely about the boat, without the short-leash hassle of a lanyard. There’s a range of systems available, from the electromechanical Autotether Marine cutoff device, to the wireless electrical Fell MOB+, to those that also log location through Bluetooth to guide you back to the MOB and even alert others, such as the ACR Overboard Location Alert System (OLAS) Guardian. And more are on the way. Here’s what to look for in available wireless engine cutoff switches. QUICK…

Having the Boating Icom cover girl aboard during our sea trial might have been distracting, but I was so captured by the Tiara Sport 38 LX that I barely noticed. Full disclosure: I’m a Tiara fan. Been one for years. I like the styling and the way they’re put together, and have enjoyed the heck out of Tiaras owned by friends. But this wasn’t the Tiara of olden days. It’s not even a Tiara—it’s a Tiara Sport. First, three big kickers—Mercury Verado 400s—hung on the stern. On many outboard boats, you lose the swim platform, but the 38 LX has an ample platform to step aboard from a dock or climb aboard from a swim. I liked the one-level cockpit sole from transom to bow with no steps to trip…

Parker Boats has built shallow-draft boats for inshore guides for years. Now the Parker team has poured that experience into a sophisticated, versatile new off ering—the 26SH (Sport Hybrid). At 26 feet, 6 inches length overall with a 9-foot-6-inch beam and 17-degree transom deadrise, the new boat matches very well with a jack-plate-mounted Yamaha F300 to produce a classy-looking shallowwater fishing machine that can also take a family to the sandbar. No, the 26SH is probably not the best choice to run off shore, but it’s plenty able to jig on nearshore wrecks and reefs. Add Taco Grand Slam outriggers to the T-top, and single or dual power poles for the flats. We liked the way this roomy hull rose onto plane and ran with its sharp forward sections just…

When it comes to water, the state of florida is many things: swampy marsh with suspicious-looking gators, crystal-clear springs occupied by curious manatees, wide-open lakes with boundless potential, the busy intracoastal waterway and much more. The idea behind the North Florida Loop was to see as much of that diversity as possible, all while aboard two wake-boarding boats-a Malibu 23LSV belonging to pro rider Brian Grubb, and a MasterCraft X_star Belonging to the legendary parks Bonifay.Our five-day itinerary called for us to run north up Floridas St. Johns River, wrap through downtown Jacksonville, and hook south down through the saltwater ICW to Cape Canaveral. Basically, a 400-mile Journey with no real need to set foot on dry land. In other words, a boaters dream. The early-summer air was perfectly still…

Si-Tex Marine Electronics has joined the wireless age with its new Wi-Firadar networking system, designed to pair with its NavPro series multifunction displays. The Si-Tex MDS-12 digital marine radar connects wirelessly with the Si-Tex 9-inch NavPro 900 and 12-inch NavPro 1200 MFDs. This eliminates the hassle of snaking a thick cable between the radar placed high and an MFD at the helm. The 24-inch dome radar offers 4 kW of power and a 36-nautical-mile range. The NavPro series features Si-Tex’s hybrid touch control, a 10 Hz GPS receiver, the latest C-Map 4D cartography, and a choice of black-box or integrated chirp sonar, with a wide range of frequency options. $1,599 for the MDS-12 radar (MFD sold separately); si-tex.com…

Pontoons offer plenty of space and lots of comfort. In triple-tube configurations especially, they can handle plenty of power too, for swift voyages, hauling a crowd, and popular watersports such as tubing, skiing and wakeboarding. But don’t neglect the possibility that a pontoon can serve as your best fishing boat ever. Here’s how to make the magic happen. BASS ACKWARD More anglers can be stationed along the rails of a pontoon than aboard a conventional fishing boat of similar length. In back-trolling, the boat moves in reverse for maximum boat control at slow speeds, tracking fish-holding structure while anglers fish with bottom-bouncer rigs. It’s like party-boat fishing, in motion. BOW FIRST Conventional forward trolling is often more successful with in-line side-planer boards. Try off shore boards with “tattletale” flags to…

You can still buy a pontoon with quality construction, basic amenities and moderate power. Such boats are perfect for quiet, all-purpose cruising. Of course, many pontoons now come with multiple high-horsepower engines, s eating and amenities that imitate those aboard luxurious cruisers, and sport more bling than a pop star at the Grammy Awards. You can enjoy slow, quiet cruises with those big, fast pontoons. You don’t have to put the throttle down hard; it’s just fun to be able to do so from time to time. See what the latest pontoon boats have to offer.…

SPECS: LOA: 21'11” BEAM: 8'6” DRAFT: N/A DRY WEIGHT: 1,700 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 10/1,370 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 32 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Mercury 90 ELPT FourStroke Command Thrust DRIVE/PROPS: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 16" x 11" 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 2.07:1 FUEL LOAD: 32 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 370 lb. This is Ranger’s fourth year in the pontoon marketplace, and we think it’s the company’s best, thanks, in part, to this new, fully featured but value-priced RP 200F. Part of the Classic Series, the affordable RP 200F builds on Ranger’s premium-quality lineup. The nearly 22-foot fishing pontoon has plenty of crew-carrying capacity thanks to its 24-inch-diameter pontoons, and ample performance courtesy of its PowerPod motor mount that sets the propulsion aft of the logs for cleaner water out of the pontoon…

SPECS: LOA: 24'8" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT: 1'8" DRY WEIGHT: 2,471 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 14/2,590 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 60 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Yamaha F250 four-stroke 250 hp DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/Yamaha Saltwater Series 15.75" x 13" 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1 FUEL LOAD: 45 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 400 lb. With the do-everything CX 25 DL Bar, Starcraft takes a novel approach to pontoon boats, developing a convertible bar-turned-lounge arrangement on the aft deck of this new single-engine 25-footer—and boy does it turn heads. Raft up to the fleet at the cove or island, lower the bar, then recline and tan yourself awhile. When the sun drops below the yardarm (a phrase denoting cocktail hour aboard boats the world over), convert the arrangement into the entertainment bar and watch as crowds…

SPECS: LOA: 25'5" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT (MAX): 1'6" (without drive) DRY WEIGHT: 4,000 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 18/3,050 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 80 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: 300 hp Yamaha F300 DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/153/4" x 15" Yamaha Saltwater 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.76:1 FUEL LOAD: 15 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 400 lb. Shooting to 30 mph in 6 seconds flat, Premier’s 250 Grand Majestic RL also delivered quicker-than-most-pontoons responsiveness and banked comfortably into the high-speed, locked-over turns that represent a part of Boating’s boat-test regimen. While some credit for this new pontoon’s handling and speed certainly goes to the power provided by the Yamaha F300 outboard bolted to its transom, Premier’s PTX performance package takes center stage. PTX is a system developed by Premier to enhance performance. The “big thing” with PTX…

SPECS: LOA: 26'6" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT: 1'1" DRY WEIGHT: 3,560 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 13/1,837 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 34 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Mercury 250 FourStroke DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 14.7" x 16" 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1 FUEL LOAD: 16 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 400 lb This is Barletta’s sophomore year, but it is playing at varsity level. The builder’s offerings this year are fully equipped, and Barletta provides features, construction, performance and styling on par with the best in the industry. This E24QC with a Mercury 250 FourStroke provided strong performance, attention-grabbing good looks and many well-engineered features. Performancewise, the 26-inch diameter tubes with full-length lifting strakes and outside spray rails on the outer tubes worked with the Mercury to provide acceleration from zero to 30 mph in 6.5…

SPECS: LOA: 26'6.5" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT: N/A DRY WEIGHT: N/A SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: N/A FUEL CAPACITY: 58 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Yamaha F300 V-6 four-stroke DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/Yamaha Saltwater Series II 15.75" x 15" stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1 FUEL LOAD: 44 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 400 lb. Once in a while, a boat changes the playing field. Take Bennington’s 24 R Bowrider Swingback. With a floor plan boasting a recessed bowrider design called the Step-Down U-Lounge, it makes the mark. It doesn’t feel like a typical pontoon; it feels more luxurious and safer. The pilot and copilot can easily see over the heads of crew seated forward. Better command, confidence and control result. The forward perimeter fences feature lowered profile rails with see-through upper sections. Seems simple, again, but it allows…

SPECS: LOA: 27'6" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT (MAX): 1'2" DRY WEIGHT: 3,793 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 14/1,940 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 48 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Mercury 400 Verado DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 14.7" x 16" 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1 FUEL LOAD: 18 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 385 lb. The L25UC is often referred to as the “boat that started Barletta.” As such, it’s a showcase for the builder’s best features. These include not only amenities topside but also VIP construction below, vibration- isolating polyurethane rubber pads placed anywhere aluminum meets aluminum to deaden vibration and quiet the ride. It works. The L25UC felt solid and free of creaks and groans no matter what conditions we encountered or how hard we ran it. Barletta retains a pontoon’s traditional exterior fencing but minimizes…

SPECS: LOA: 28'6" BEAM: 12'6" DRAFT: 1'6" DRY WEIGHT: 3,400 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 16/2,230 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 58 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Mercury 300 FourStroke DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 14" x 19" 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1 FUEL LOAD: 43 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 400 lb. We reached 45-plus mph top speeds while testing the 2585 Catalina Platinum EL-W and zipped from a dead stop to planing in just under 5 seconds—it took a shade over 8 seconds for us to hit 30 mph. It’s a cruiser too; even with the big powerplant, we recorded best economy at a sedate 13 mph, where the Mercury outboard sips 3.7 gph, for a net economy of 3.6 miles per gallon. But even at faster speeds, it’s a fuel miser, netting better than…

LOA: 25'5" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT (MAX): 3'0" DRY WEIGHT: 3,320 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 14/2,800 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 38 gal. With a 14-person capacity and plenty of seating to fit that many people, the G3 SunCatcher Elite 326 SL is a pontoon boat that delivers on style, performance and entertainment. Its plush furniture is designed to hold plenty of gear in the dry-as-a-bone roto-molded seat bases underneath. In the bow area, the opposing couches create a fantastic conversation pit, especially when you add in the pedestal table. If two crewmembers would rather stretch out and catch some rays and/or z’s, both couches feature forward-facing backrests. The portside couch features a pullout privacy curtain. The creature comforts extend to the middle of the boat, where the captain and the copilot can enjoy…

As an experienced boater, you probably know a thing or two about boat-insurance policies. For instance, when buying boat insurance, you’d likely ask whether the policy pays the agreed value or the actual cash value of the boat. Also, you might know about a trend similar to auto insurance in which boat insurers now offer 24/7 on-water and on-road towing services—but these might not be right for every boater. You probably know these things and more. But how can you know what you don’t know? We asked BoatU.S., one of the largest recreational marine insurers, for a list of uncommon boat-insurance-policy waivers and riders not typically included in basic policies. These items might add cost to your insurance, but they also might save the day if you ever need them.…

Maybe you are a California boater who likes to cruise into Mexican waters. Or perhaps you are from Florida and like to visit the Bahamas. Your boat insurance probably does not cover you in these areas unless you procure cruising-extension coverage. Typically, you purchase this coverage by calling your insurer prior to each trip. However, some companies offer upfront approval for certain cruising destinations, which can eliminate the need to call and order the coverage every time you cruise. Also note that coverage might not be available for cruising to some countries, such as Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela. GO AHEAD, CROSS THAT LINE We encourage you to cruise your boat over as many far horizons as possible. Just be aware that your insurance might not go along for the ride.…

A key is having an HDMI input port on your MFD—the same port found on the back of today’s televisions and monitors. You’ll find such ports on advanced displays from Garmin, Lowrance and Simrad. Furuno offers an HDMI input port on the black-box module for its TZTouch displays. I was able to plug a 4-foot male-to-male HDMI cable into a Lowrance HDS-12 Live. But in order to connect the other end of the cable to my iPhone, I needed a special interface—a Lightning digital AV adapter ($12.89, walmart.com). This plugs into the little Lightning charging port at the bottom of the iPhone. The female HDMI port connects to the end of the HDMI cable. The adapter also has a spare Lightning port so you can charge your iPhone while watching…

She began a slow and steady dog paddle, her best stroke, back toward the dock with 1,500 pounds of boat in tow. Hope springs eternal in the canine brain. Each morning, I stand at the kitchen counter and open two cans of cat food, and without fail, Mr. Darcy, our white standard poodle, trots over and gazes up with lip-smacking expectation. He has never been served the cat food, and he will never get the cat food. But he’s there every morning, because this might be the day. My good friend Chuck Larson has a jet-black 130-pound Newfoundland named Tula. A Newfie loves the water, and hope springs eternal in Tula’s canine brain every time Chuck drops the boat trailer on the hitch ball. He’ll walk into the house and…

1. Who is generally accepted as the inventor of the outboard engine, and when was it invented? A. Ole Evinrude, founder of Evinrude Outboards, in 1907 B. Gustave Trouve, in 1880 C. Emerson Harthan of Massachusetts, in 1887 D. Cameron Waterman, in 1903 E. All of the above F. None of the above 2. Which company started building outboards in a Wisconsin dairy barn in 1939? A. Johnson Outboards B. Honda C. Mercury Marine D. Evinrude Outboards E. Kiekhaefer Marine 3. Way back in 1972, and even before that, all outboard manufacturers took dramatic steps to clean up emissions from their outboards. What were some of those measures? A. Eliminated all overboard fuel drains B. Made them run on electricity C. Reduced oil mixture ratio to 50-to-1 on all engines…

It seems like the in crowd is realizing more and more that the most fun to be had is on the water. Evidence of this can be found in the AquaLounge, a new floating club that’s expected to be launched this fall off the coast of San Diego. It’s being billed as the first luxury floating day club in North America. The 3,900-square-foot vessel will feature two bars and a number of seating locations, as well as private cabanas and lounges. It will offer several membership options, as well as host public and private events. One thing we recommend they add: How about some docking services so boaters can idle up to the fun?…

CHAFE Routing hoses, wires and control cables through a bulkhead often proves a necessity when rigging many boats. However, if these run through a cutout without some sort of padding or protection, like those shown in the photo, it is likely that the hose, wire or cable will wear through and fail over time due to vibration. In fact, if fuel lines or wires chafe through, the chances for a fire aboard increase exponentially. So, proper chafe protection not only helps ensure reliability, but also is an important safety practice. There are many ways to provide chafe protection. Some builders cushion the cutout with a gasket or boot, or even a big glop of sealant. In other cases, hoses, wires and cables rerun through pipe or conduit. When shopping for…

The bundle of cables, wires and hoses that extend from the boat to the outboard motor(s) delivers essential fuel, electrical power, and throttle and shift commands, as well as providing feedback to the helm on engine performance and health. Outboard rigging tubes protect these critical connections from wear, damage and UV deterioration. The ribbed plastic conduit is flexible enough to move as an outboard turns or tilts, yet is sturdy and kink-resistant. It also makes for a tidier motor installation. The first step is to procure the parts, which include a rigging flange (such as the Sierra Part No. 18-9761 or T-H Marine Part No. RF-1CP-DP) for the point where the rigging bundle emerges from the boat, an adapter for the engine rigging port, and the tube. This will be…

Drinking alcohol was once considered as much a part of boating as it was a part of a Super Bowl party. But statistics show that boating under the influence is the primary contributing factor in 20 percent of boating fatalities. Law enforcement agencies are cracking down on it, and boaters are wising up, yet perhaps not fast enough. Why not? First, in most states, having an open container of alcohol in a boat is legal. It’s even legal in most states for a skipper to drink—as long as he maintains a blood alcohol level under 0.08—a level that can be exceeded by just one or two beers. On the water, its impact on your judgment, balance and coordination can be exacerbated, sometimes dramatically, by the heat, sun and motion of…

From my first glimpse, I knew I was lost. This is a boat that seizes your attention and holds it ransom from reality. My test boat had a mostly black cockpit and, yes, I could hear the sizzle of my bare skin turning to pork rinds when I leaned against the rail in the midday Florida sun. Who cares? Yes, the berth down below is fine for the kids or a cat nap, but not overnighting. Who cares? The sheer animal power of this yacht holds you captivated. The latest offering from Marquis Yachts, the Marquis M42, is one of the new breed of express dayboats and has a lot of contradictions, which I realize is just a few letters away from addictions. Appearing to be long and seemingly lean,…

SCAN ME To see our photo gallery of the EdgeWater 340CC, scan this tag or visit boatingmag.com/3191. Remember the 50/50 bars you got from the ice cream truck? Vanilla ice cream on the inside and orange popsicle on the outside, they were the perfect treat on a hot day. EdgeWater’s new 340CC hearkens back to the 50/50 with an artful blend of fishing features and cruising. It doesn’t seem to sacrifice either, striking a balance that makes the 340CC an easy sell to families looking for satisfying tastes of both. For example, some family-centric center-consoles offer only a modicum of bait capacity, but the 340CC features a pressurized 32-gallon transom well in the starboard quarter, plus an optional builtin pressurized 38-gallon livewell ($3,873) abaft the helm seating that includes a…

Boasting a pedigree that includes multiple speed records, the Velocity 260 Bay hull features a deep, chop-busting V at the bow, a stepped transom to limit bow rise, and a pad bottom to generate lift and reduce fuel consumption. Clearing the no-wake zone, we slammed the throttle forward, and the 260 smoothly leapt onto plane, a Mercury 350 Verado outboard with lab-finished prop continuing to pour on the coal till the boat peaked at 65.9 mph. Dropping the trim a few notches and cranking the wheel at speed, we came about in knifelike fashion. Later, the term knife came to mind again as the hull sliced efficiently through the waves, reverse chines knocking down the spray while the 260 Bay produced a solid, quiet ride. When it comes time to…

It was a quiet night aboard the 75-foot scuba-diving boat Conception, anchored on Labor Day weekend in 2019 off Platts Cove, Santa Cruz Island, some 21 nautical miles from Santa Barbara, California. The wind and swells were light, and after dinner, the 33 passengers tucked into their bunkroom after a long day of scuba diving in the clear waters that are like an aquarium filled with colorful fish, sea lions, seals, forests of kelp, and lobster. Four of the five crew also went to their bunks to prepare for the final day of diving on the three-day outing. A last crewmember finished tidying up in the galley, heading to his berth around 2:30 a.m. THE HATCH WAS JUST 24 INCHES SQUARE, WHICH MADE IT A SQUEEZE, AND THERE REMAINS A…

What are some of your early boating experiences? I grew up on Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, doing lots of water-skiing and boating. Every summer I’d have a bathing suit on under my clothes because at some point in the day, you knew you were going to end up in the water. What does it mean to you to be on Boating's October cover that was dedicated to breast cancer awareness? It’s a really cool honor. [Being a survivor] has been a huge part of my journey and how I became who I am today. I was diagnosed when I was 34 years old, and it was six weeks after my kids’ dad passed away, so it was a really, really difficult year. But I think that the experience of losing Cody…

Tubing is a catch-all term. Whether you tow your crew atop a six-seater sea serpent, a torpedo for two, or a bona fide single-person tube, tubing provides a ton of fun for all age groups. The skill level required for riders and boat skippers might be less than that required for wakesurfing, wakeboarding or water skiing, but attention to safety must be maintained. No article can cover all scenarios; but these tips should serve as a primer to those boaters new to tubing and a refresher course for old hands at the helm. KEEP CLEAR Stay at least three towrope lengths away from shore, docks, navigation aids, moored boats, and any other obstructions and shallow water. If your crew wipes out, they can be hurt. THROTTLE BACK Keep your speed…

I keep a plastic jug—one with a handle—aboard my boat and use it several times a year. It takes the place of items I might buy anyway, so it saves money. And it performs multiple functions, so it saves space. With plastic filling our oceans at an increasing rate, anything we can do to keep it out of the waste stream helps. If a lot of people do a little bit, it really does add up. SCOOP Whether it’s the cubes from the marina’s ice machine or the sand your grandchild is molding into a castle at your favorite cove, beach or sandbar, a scoop comes in handy aboard the boat. Keep the cap on in this application. HEAD The jug can prove convenient when nature calls. Use the jug…

SPECS: LOA: 21'6" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT: 2'7" DRY WEIGHT: 2,491 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 13/1,163 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 32 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Yamaha F150 four-stroke DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/Yamaha Reliance 14.5" x 15" stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 2.00:1 FUEL LOAD: 35 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 400 lb. The quintessential Bennington, the SX 22 Swingback comes wellequipped, performs nicely, proves comfortable and smooth, and sells for a competitive price. It also sports touches including new custom Kicker speakers with shallow design and plush Simtex pillow-top lounges with metallic carbon accents. Performance? With the Yamaha F150 outboard, its top speed approached 40 mph at 6,000 rpm. We saw 30 mph from a dead stop in 8.4 seconds—plenty quick and powerful enough for family watersports. This combo really sips at the fuel trough; best economy…

SPECS: LOA: 22'10" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT: 1'3" DRY WEIGHT: 2,061 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 11/1,500 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 38 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Yamaha F115 four-stroke 115 hp DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/13.5" x 12" Yamaha 3-blade aluminum GEAR RATIO: 2.15:1 FUEL LOAD: 28 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 400 lb. SunChaser’s Geneva 22 LR PSB offers big-hull security and comfort, and when packaged with a midrange Yamaha F115 for power, brings the price within reach of many first-time pontooners who might want to dip their toes before going all-out on a V-6 package. For $50,000, it’s a sound investment. That price brings an acceleration of zero to 30 mph in 6 seconds—on par with many larger rigs; the Geneva’s most economical cruising speed is 16 mph, using 3.6 miles per gallon. The only area…

SPECS: LOA: 25'2" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT (MAX): 1'1" DRY WEIGHT: 3,194 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 13/1,700 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 34 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Mercury 200 PROP: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 15.3" x 14" 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.85:1 FUEL LOAD: 10 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 350 lb. Barletta’s C-Class marks the builder’s first foray into an entrylevel category. This boat shares many of the construction details, fitand- finish and overall attention to detail we’ve noted aboard Barletta’s high-end offerings. I-beam crossmembers are bolted to welded risers, with VIP technology: polyurethane rubber isolation pads placed anywhere aluminum meets aluminum. Power Biminis come standard rather than being a pricey add-on. Furniture proves plush and comfortable. And yes, there’s still a pullout doggie dish. The C24UC combines two bow couches (one is 6 feet,…

SPECS: LOA: 26'0" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT (MAX): 1'3" DRY WEIGHT: 3,100 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 14/4,400 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 46 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Mercury Verado 350 hp DRIVE/PROPS: Mercury Mirage 15.25" x 19" 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1 FUEL LOAD: 25 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 250 lb. There is a “same old sameness” to many pontoons, and only a few builders have managed to crack that mold. Aloha’s new Paradise Series shows it’s one of the trendsetters. Instead of 1-inch, square side-rail tubing, Aloha employs the same heavy-duty 2-inch pipework used for tuna towers in sportfishers. The company bends and welds the rail in the factory, shaping it to swooping lines that give this performance pontoon an even faster look. Then, instead of stretching aluminum skins over the tubes,…

SPECS: LOA: 26'6" DRAFT (MAX): 1'3" DRY WEIGHT: 3,742 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 12/1,740 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 85 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Mercury 300 DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 15" x 15" 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1 FUEL LOAD: 40 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 355 lb. Crest’s Caribbean line of pontoon boats promises exceptional comfort, a fact that rings true the moment you step through the bow gate into the luxury of this boat’s cockpit. Parallel lounges stretch a full 7 feet on both the port and starboard sides. The accent in the lumbar region features a unique texture and raised pattern. Stowage is found below in gelcoated fiberglass—not roto-molded plastic—seat bases, and handy coolers rest below the center portion of each bench. Articulating hinges allow seat bases to pivot fully up…

SPECS: LOA: 27'3" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT (MAX): 2'9" DRY WEIGHT: 4,154 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 15/2,142 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 50 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Yamaha 350 DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/Yamaha Saltwater Series XL 161/4" x 15" 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.73:1 FUEL LOAD: 45 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 360 lb. In Bennington’s extensive array of floorplans, the letter Q designates luxury. While the 25 QX Fastback clearly fits the bill, the lasting impression is more like waterborne power. The molded fiberglass bow rakes sharply toward the water. Fiberglass-clad rails are sharply faceted and devoid of traditional fencing. Spanning the twin consoles, a low-profile, steeply raked walk-through windshield is deeply tinted, adding an air of mystery. At the stern, side panels finish in a mix of bright stainless steel and wire mesh. Add…

SPECS: LOA: 27'11" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT (MAX): 2'8" DRY WEIGHT: 5,111 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 13/3,337 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 63 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINE: Twin Mercury 400 Verado DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/Mercury Revolution 4 145/8" x 21" 4-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1 FUEL LOAD: 58 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 350 lb. Harris won a National Marine Manufacturers Association Innovation Award for its revolutionary Crowne design in 2013. The fact that the same basic styling still looks as cutting-edge today as it did seven years ago is a testament to this pontoon builder’s forward-thinking approach, key to which is the replacement of the traditional pontoon fence enclosures with sleek, curvy fiberglass. Four fiberglass modules occupy the four corners of the deck outline, the forward pair curving aggressively toward the water. Those fiberglass modules…

SPECS: LOA: 31'6" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT (MAX): 1'2" DRY WEIGHT: 3,500 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 15/3,000 lb. FUEL CAPACITY: 100 gal. HOW WE TESTED: ENGINES: Twin Mercury Racing 450 hp V-8 supercharged DRIVE/PROPS: Bravo FS 24" 4-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.6:1 FUEL LOAD: 25 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 400 lb. Thirty years ago, PlayCraft Boats founder Jim Dorris looked at the popularity of go-fast boats on Lake of the Ozarks and asked: Why can’t we retain the leisure and social atmosphere of a pontoon boat while building it to power comfortably and easily accelerate to 70 mph? That idea is perfectly accomplished in the PowerToon X-Treme 3000. Our recent test of the X-Treme 3000 on Lake of the Ozarks shatters old notions of pontoon boating before even firing the outboards. Designing…

There I was, failing, at work, about work. The quiz at the end of Module 2 of the US Power Squadrons boating course was not going well. I had incorrectly identified the location of the hull identifi- cation number (on the starboard-side of the transom), what it means when the top of a junction buoy is green (the preferred channel is to starboard), and the required navigation lights for a sailboat under power (stern light and side lights). Missing three out of the 10 quiz questions prompted a pop-up window on my computer screen: I had to start the module over again. Hanging above my desk, taunting me, was a recent cover of Boating, which I had reviewed and approved. As editorial director of Bonnier’s marine, fishing, aviation and travel…

Tragedies such as a sinking often happen due to some small part failing. We all know the stories—some may have experienced it firsthand—of torn sterndrive bellows or broken throughhull fittings causing boats to sink. Some policies, while they cover the sinking, will exclude coverage if it happens as a result of consequential damage such as a failed bellows or seacock. Coverage for consequential damage that results in a sinking or other big tragedy is something you want to ask about. Note that some insurance companies’ consequential-damage coverage applies only to total losses, so ask about that. Other examples of consequential-damage situations include dismasting, collision, stranding, fire and explosion. DON’T BE COMPLETELY SUNK Boating creates boating maintenance and DIY content in large part to help prevent the events that require consequential-damage…

Joysticks are ubiquitous, but wirelessly controlled joysticks are unicorns. Dockmate is one of two—and the most recently available—in the USA. The system connects in relatively simple fashion to your vessel, piggybacking (via the can bus) onto the electronic throttle, shift and steering, and bow and stern thrusters—putting them all in the palm of your hand. In our recent test, we activated the controller and effortlessly powered forward (at up to 3,000 rpm) from the slip, pivoted to exit the tight quarters, returned to the slip, pivoted and backed in again, crab-walking sideways to bring it up hard against the pier. And you can stand anywhere to use Dockmate, so your view is mostly unobstructed. For precise control, the installer can adjust the throttle and rate of steering settings to any…