Boating january 2016

Ideally, this is run from a separate battery or battery bank from the one that is used to start the engine.. In other words, when the engine starts, it causes the battery voltage to drop

CERTIFIED BOAT TESTS

INTREPID 410 EVOLUTION // EVERGLADES 360 LXC SEA RAY 290 SUNDECK // PURSUIT C 238

The A40 comes from a full line of hand-crafted Cobalt models, one of which is precisely matched to your wishes Design Your Dream at www.CobaltBoats.com.

Because nowhere in your life

do you accept mediocrity.

Twenty-Five Years of Ex

In celebration of our 25th anniversary,

we proudly introduce the new Crownline

270 SS! This new bowrider is built on Crownline’s proven F.A.S.T Tab® hull for the best ride on the water Its cutting edge, sexy style lines and innovative new design features must be seen to be appreciated Check one out at your nearest Crownline dealer today.

CERTIFIED BOAT TESTS

SEE THIS YEAR’S TOP PICK!

2015 BOAT OF THE YEAR

Departments

X Meet the guy who will water ski

on practically anything

X We compare technical undies

X Take our engine quiz

X Boating ads from the past

X Want to go to mermaid school?

X When you’re all alone who ya gonna call? Mick Hannock

X Install low-voltage protection

X Rebuild your macerator pump

X Yamaha’s new TR-1 high-output PWC engine

X Ocean Signal RescueME EPIRB1

X PLBs for you and yours

X Ken’s take on smartphones

50   Boat of the Year

Find out who won the most prestigious award in all of boating

B Y T H E B O AT I N G T E C H T E A M

52 Confessions of a Photo-Boat Driver

Five seamanship skills learned while driving on the edge to get the shot

B Y R I C K H O N I S H

58   Not Your Father’s Personal Watercraft

Our man pits Sea-Doo’s latest and greatest versus its original PWC from 1968

B Y J E F F H E M M E L

64   Naked and Afraid

What happens when you boat without modern technology?

B Y P E T E M C D O N A L D

Everglades

360 LXC

A monster walkaround that

fi shes, cruises and

enter-tains with equal aplomb,

E D I TO R - I N - C H I E F Kevin Falvey

D E P U T Y E D I TO R Pete McDonald

E L ECT RO N I C S A N D W E ST COA ST E D I TO R Jim Hendricks

M A N AG I N G E D I TO R Sue Whitney

A RT D I R ECTO R Ryan Swanson

STA F F P H OTO G R A P H E R Bill Doster

Forest Johnson, Tom King, John Linn, Charles Plueddeman, Capt John N Raguso, Ed Sherman, Tom Schlichter, Heather Steinberger, John Tiger Jr., Capt John Page Williams

I L LU ST R ATO RS Tim Barker, Tim Bower, Colin Hayes

G RO U P P RO D U CT I O N D I R ECTO R Michelle Doster

P RO D U CT I O N M A N AG E R Marc Yost

D E S I G N S E RV I C E S D I R ECTO R Suzanne Oberholtzer

G R A P H I C D E S I G N E RS Julia Arana, Jennifer Remias

H U M A N R E S O U RC E S D I R ECTO R Sheri Bass

Mike Staley 407-571-4803; mike.staley@bonniercorp.com

V I C E P R E S I D E N T , D I R ECTO R O F B R A N D ST R AT EG I E S Matt Hickman

E D I TO R I A L D I R ECTO R Shawn Bean

E D I TO R I A L D I R ECTO R , B OAT I N G A N D WAT E R S P O RTS G RO U P Kevin Falvey

C R E AT I V E D I R ECTO R Jerry Pomales

CO N S U M E R M A R K E T I N G D I R ECTO R Leigh Bingham

G RO U P M A R K E T I N G D I R ECTO R Haley Bischof

M A R K E T I N G D I R ECTO R Elaine Grime

Printed in the USA

For Reprints: Send an email to reprints@bonniercorp.com.

Occasionally, we make portions of our subscriber list available

to carefully screened companies that ofer products and services we think might be of interest to you If you do not want

to receive these ofers, please advise us at 515-237-3697 All contents copyright ©2015 Bonnier Corporation No use may be made of materials contained herein without express written consent For inquiries, please contact us at Bonnier Corporation, 460 N Orlando Ave., Suite 200,

Winter Park, FL 32789

This product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources.

®

( 9 5 4 ) 97 8 - 9 9 8 8

w w w Fo r t r e s s A n c h o r s c o m

Give the Gift of Grab!

This year put a lightweight aluminum alloy

Fortress anchor under your Christmas tree

for that special crewmate! It’s easy to handle,

and with legendary holding power, Fortress

will keep everyone aboard safe and content!

MADE IN THE USA

www.fortressanchors.com/advantage/benefits/stronger

In test after test, no anchor

set faster or matched the

holding power of Fortress.

FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SUBSCRIPTION QUESTIONS,

such as renewals, address changes, email preferences, billing and account status, go to boating mag.com/cs You can also email BGMcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com In the U.S call toll free

800-289-0399 (outside the U.S call 515-237-3697) or write to Boating Magazine, PO Box 6364,

Harlan, IA 51593 Retail Single Copy Sales: ProCirc Retail Solutions Group, Tony DiBisceglie.

A NEW LINE OF OUTBOARD SPORTDECKS FROM CHAPARRAL

New product introductions like the amazing SunCoast Series only come around once in a lifetime.Designed for superior performance on lakes, rivers and offshore adventures, SunCoast is special.Adrenaline rush performance Chaparral quality State-of-the-art features Family boaters will marvel at the enormous seating capacity with storage to match Aft, a clever walkaround transom

is both functional and eye-catching And just think, the best built, most innovative and minded outboard sportdecks on the water are available at Real Deal prices that can’t be beat.Want to get onboard? See your local Chaparral dealer or find us at Chaparralboats.com

quality-210 - $39,895 210 SF - $42,795 230 - $49,995 250 - $64,995

NO COMPROMISE ON QUALITY OR PRICE REAL DEAL PRICES STARTING AT

SUNCOAST REAL DEAL PRICING DOES NOT INCLUDE OPTIONS, DEALER PREP AND FREIGHT CHARGES FEES FOR DEALER INSTALLATION OF OPTIONS, TAXES, TITLE, REGISTRATION, DOCUMENTATION AND LICENSING MAY VARY

BY LOCATION AND ARE IN ADDITION TO PRICES SHOWN SEE YOUR CHAPARRAL DEALER FOR DETAILS.

By Kevin Falvey

Editorial

hit the stands in the fall of

1956, the first Boston Whaler had yet to cleave the waves, the sterndrive had not yet been invented, and the term “marine electronics” was

more likely to be found in Popular Science

than in our pages As unfathomable as it might seem today, boaters then wishing to know the water’s depth used a lead line or simply navigated with caution, using a compass, watch and charts that they updated themselves

“Boatmen” wore khakis and captain’s hats, and almost every man-Jack of them smoked more than the motors they cursed at for being easy to flood and hard to start

Water skiing was big

Times were different The average household income in the U.S was $3,532, and one could buy a 15-foot Glastron Fireflite with a 25 hp Johnson on a trailer for $1,495 … about the price of a midgrade fish finder today The $27,330 that one would have paid for a 38-foot Chris-Craft Constellation in 1956 might buy a pair of V-6 outboard motors today A Michigan fishing license cost $2.50, and Sperry Top-Siders were $8.50 per pair A 1956 Rolex Submariner ran $240 Gas averaged

30 cents per gallon in the United States

But money isn’t the only measure

of things

For instance, our first cover featured a boat racing through the water with a lovely young lady in a swimsuit — excuse me, “bathing suit” — beaming on deck We also presented a story pitting sail versus power, and nowadays whenever we pit one propulsion type against another and publish the results, you tell us you like it Another article explained why

“there’s no limit to the joys of outboarding,” while today, as most of you know, outboards are about the hottest propulsion type going

In the back of issue No 1, you could order plans to build your own boat from the U-Mak-It Corporation, and today the DIY-gene is still prevalent, manifesting itself in your constant call for a steady stream of maintenance and repair articles

Most of all, what hasn’t changed is our commitment to delivering you the timeliest, most-relevant information about the boats, motors and gear that you use to pursue the

great sport of powerboating That’s why

we aren’t going to produce a full-blown

“anniversary issue.” Instead, we’ll pepper each month’s content with history, tradition or nostalgia, using two formats “In Our Wake”

is a half-page reminiscence or reprint of a classic ad or article Please enjoy the first one

on page 16 We’ll also produce highlights called “Looking Astern” to accompany certain departments each month Check out “Quick Study” on page 32 and “Motorhead” on page

48 to see the first two

Kevin Falvey, Editor-in-Chiefeditor@boatingmag.com

Happy Birthday To Us

THE WORLD’S LARGEST POWERBOAT MAGAZINE TURNS 60!

captain’s hats, and almost every

man-Jack of them smoked more than the motors they cursed at for being easy to flood and hard to start.

To commemorate Boating’s

60th anniversary, this

emblem will emblazon

the cover of each issue

published in 2016.

The GTS 207 is the ultimate driver’s boat Classic styling, modern muscle and hairpin handling For a driving experience only Glastron® can deliver

Join the legion of drivers at Glastron.com

I BELIEVE THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING

ON THE WATER AND BEING BEHIND THE WHEEL.

I AM NOT A BOATER.

Making Waves

ON BOARD WITH

When did you think to celebrate

your birthday by going 50 for 50?

When I was about to turn 40, I started

brainstorming with my buddies Should

I do 40 miles to mark the milestone or

ski on 40 different objects? I started

looking at everything What’s flat?

What can I ski on? And my grandma’s

going, “Sure, take my picnic table!”

How did “40 for 40” go?

I did it on my actual birthday in

November; it was cold, it was raining,

and I was wearing a full wetsuit It

wasn’t pretty, but I did it

How was “50 for 50” different?

I wanted it to be a show in 50 acts, so I chose things that would be dynamic

To ride the suitcase, for example, I went to the thrift store and bought a loud Hawaiian shirt, grandpa glasses, and sandals with the white socks pulled

up My uncle Mike rode an 11-foot-3-inch Sky Ski (the tallest hydrofoil on record);

he set a Guinness World Record, and I skied

on the Guinness Book of World Records.

Does one item stand out?

There were all kinds of people on the water, doing all sorts of stuff There was

this giant rainbow flip-flop sandal It took eight tries, but I did it

What motivated you to excel in water sports?

You know, competition was never huge

on my family’s radar Our style was more freestyle I loved creating new tricks and new ways to ski

What has been your most ing accomplishment?

satisfy-When I won top honors in the Masters division of the World Wakeboard Association U.S Nationals and Worlds in

1996 I worked hard for two years leading

up to that, proving that I could be a water skier and a wakeboarder

What’s next for you?

We’re working on a documentary about

my family, which should be out early next year, and I’ve been selected to com-pete with the U.S Water Ski Show Team

in the 2016 World Championships I’m also experimenting with how many dif-ferent things I can ride behind Anything that generates power could work … a drone, a swimmer, a bicyclist, a dogsled team and maybe the Goodyear blimp PHO

skier Tony Klarich has been

skiing since 1969 Today,

he’s a world champion in

freestyle water skiing,

wakeboarding,

knee-boarding and hydrofoil,

and he’s amassed a

whop-ping 10 national and world

titles He’s been called

“the guy who can ski on

anything,” and this past

summer, he upped the

ante with his “50 for 50”

— skiing on 50 different

objects for his 50th

birth-day — Heather Steinberger

To read the full

boston whaler’s vantage series has changed

the game for dual-console capability Stylish and comfortable, the 230, 270 and new 320 Vantage are ideal for leisurely family cruising, with amenities that make them equally suited to serious fishing and thrilling watersports Confident to the Core, Vantage embodies Whaler’s commitment to delivering the softest, safest, driest ride on the water—empowering you to turn the possible into the memorable

b o s t o n w h a l e r c o m

The Award-Winning Boston Whaler Vantage

he new 320 Vantage (inset) and 230 Vantage are both recipients of an Innovation Award from the National Marine Manufacturers Association he 320 is also

a European Powerboat of the Year nominee

W

I N N E R

2 0 1 5

Capilene 1 Silkweight Boxer Briefs

THE DRY: The Capilene’s silkweight polyester jersey fabric (94-percent poly-ester, 6-percent spandex) indeed felt silky smooth against the skin A tagless, brushed elastic waistband and flatlock stitching didn’t chafe, even after long hours

in and out of the water, and Patagonia’s Polygiene odor-control treatment seemed

to resist the funk

THE CHAFE: The fit was the loosest of the three, a feeling exaggerated by the inclusion of a working fly

We’d gladly pull down the waistband in exchange for a little more support

PRICE: $35; patagonia.com

Under Armour Iso-Chill Mesh Boxerjock

THE DRY: The nylon, 10-percent-elastane mesh kept things cool, eliminating that clammy feeling on a hot day by wick-ing moisture to the surface

90-percent-to evaporate and dry rapidly following a session in the water An anti-odor treat-ment also warded off those odor-causing microbes that nobody wants sharing space

in his drawers These quickly became our favorite for the form-fitting cut and snug fit

We appreciated the support while riding

THE CHAFE: Snug fit leaves little to the imagination

PRICE: $25; undera rmour.com

Give-N-Go Sport Mesh Boxer Briefs

THE DRY: A backpacker and world-traveler favorite, the Give-N-Go’s 92-percent-nylon, 8-percent-Lycra, ultralight mesh construction and supportive diamond-weave flyless front panel proved comfortable, breathable, quick-drying and cool in the summer heat Contrasted flatlock seams prevented chafing while an antimicrobial treat-ment kept things smelling fresh In fact, they were so comfrotable that we pretty much forgot we had them on

THE CHAFE: The fit could have been just a tad snugger for serious exercise

PRICE: $28; exofficio.com

Soggy Shorts

Going commando underneath your board shorts or wetsuit may evoke a certain

surfer vibe, but as Kramer once told Jerry on Seinfeld, sometimes your “boys need

a house.” Soggy tighty whities, however, just don’t cut it over the course of a day

on the water We searched for better alternatives that support, dry more quickly

than cotton, and cradle our junk in comfort — Jeff Hemmel

SQUARE FEET OF EXHIBITOR SPACE

AT THE 2016 MIAMI BOAT SHOW

SCAN HERE TO VIEW ALL OUR

COVER GIRL PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

www.boatingmag.com/cover-girl

PR E S E N TS

PHOTO GALLERIES • VIDEOS

2014 + 2015 NMEA AWARD WINNER

BEST MARINE VHF RADIO / M506

2 Speaking of cubic-inch

displace-ment, how is that number arrived at?

A Multiply the bore times the stroke.

B Add the bore and the stroke for all the cylinders.

C Combine the volume swept by all the pistons in a single rotation.

D None of the above

3 What does “bore” refer to?

A The diameter of one engine cylinder

B The volume of air pressed into the cylinder

C The combined diameter of all the engine cylinders

D The size of the spark-plug holes

4 How about “stroke”?

A The length of the connecting rod

B The full travel of the piston in the cylinder in one direction

C The full travel of the piston in the cylinder in both directions

D The height of the piston

5 If a sterndrive has a 1.5:1 ratio, what does that mean?

A The engine turns 1.5 times for a single revolution of the propeller.

B The engine turns one time for every 1.5 turns of the propeller.

C The boat’s speed is 1.5 multiplied

by that of the horsepower.

D The engine’s horsepower is 1.5 multiplied by that of the engine weight.

As part of our 60th anniversary of being the best boating publication in the known universe, we have been digging through the archives in

search of advertisements from some of our back issues This one for the Evinrude Starflite outboard dates back to January 1959 “See the

most remarkable outboard motor ever built … Evinrude’s mighty 50 hp Starflite … now …” reads the ad copy “Thrilling V-4 performance

is also yours in the new Four-Fifty at low, low cost.” Notably, it did not list any websites For more information, you had to write in for a

catalog Now that’s old school — Pete McDonald

In Our Wake: Star Light, Starl ite

5 THINGS  FIVE FAILED ALTERNATIVE MARINE FUELS

Nuclear Fission

Baked Beans

Ethanol

Hamster

Wheel

Acme Rocket

more similar in size.

Among Europeans it’s the new, hot water sport

for kids 9 to 14 years old, and now it’s spread to

the U.S Mermaiding, though, is not just a sport;

it’s also popular for cosplay (That’s dressing up

in a costume to attend events such as Comic-Con

and the like.) Do you have the chops to make it as

a mermaid, or as a merman, “mer” or “pod,” as it’s known in the community? Professional schools are popping up, such as the LA Mermaid School in Venice Beach, California (sheroesentertainment

.com/tickets/la-mermaid-school) taught by Coast Guard-certified “finstructors,” who are also the same mermaids (and mermen) that appear

in film and television shows The class costs $50 and lasts an hour

For a more complete personal transition, there’s World of Swimming All Certified Mermaid School in Detroit, Michigan Each instructor is a certified U.S coach and a mermaid instructor, and, according to WSACMS’s website (worldofswimming org), “this unique class combines swimming, gymnastics, fitness and transformation to magic water creatures.” In other words, swimmers of all ages learn to master the dolphin kick (submerged

on both stomach and back), summersaults and mer-surfacing, all to music The school teaches classes in mermaid swimming technique and mermaid underwater theater — a bargain at just

$225 each — Phil Scott

October 23, 2015

March 6, 2016

V

UHD RADARS

$200

NAVNET MFDs

$500

REBATE

NAVNET SENSORS

REBATE EACH

REBATE

Double your $500 MFD Rebate, turning it into $1,000, when you purchase a DFF1-UHD TruEcho CHIRP Fish Finder at the same time.

www.FurunoUSA.com

Now through March 6th, 2016 See your local Furuno

dealer or visit the Furuno USA web site for

complete details and rebate form.

Online This Month

By Jim Hendricks

SCAN ME!

FOR DECADES, SPORT-FISHING CAPTAINS HAVE BEEN BACKING

down to catch big speedy fi sh, like marlin and sailfi sh Typically,

the skipper faces aft from the fl ybridge, a throttle lever in each

hand, black smoke belching from the diesels as he reverses hard, and green

water bulging over the transom, drenching the crew

Backing Down

HOW TO SAFELY BACK DOWN ON BIG

FISH … AND WHEN TO AVOID IT.

Designing in Reverse

Freeport, Florida-based G&S Boats features a stern design with a 45-degree angle from the bottom to the transom and rounded transom corners so water can flow smoothly around the stern in reverse G&S also has a system that pumps fuel

to bow tanks to elevate the stern Once the fight is done, you can pump the fuel back into the stern tanks To see how well it backs down, check out the video by scanning this tag or visiting

boatingmag.com/designing-in-reverse — J.H.

you can chase fi sh going forward

Backing down is only for larger cabin boats

TIP In a center-console, place the angler next to the helm while motoring forward on a big fi sh, keeping the line at about 10 or

2 o’clock, depending on what side the angler is on This allows the skipper to easily see the line

DRAIN THE COCKPIT Even the largest sport-fi shing boats are likely to take on water when back-ing down This means the boat should have large, one-way scup-pers to drain the cockpit as rapidly

as possible Also keep the transom door, salon door and deck hatches battened Secure stray gear, like buckets, dock lines and towels, that might trip or entangle crew or stop up a scupper

TIPHave at least two bilge pumps and make sure the automatic fl oat switches are operable Also add a high-bilgewater alarm to alert you

to danger

TAKE IT EASY Avoid getting heavy-handed with the throttle while backing down, particularly when the seas are up If you are reversing down-sea, you can pick

up the speed When backing into a head sea, you might need to time the waves, applying heavy throttle between waves, and then slowing

as waves approach

TIPSince cooling-water pickups face forward, reversing for long periods can overheat the engines

So be sure to keep your eye on the water pressure and engine-temperature gauges

SPIN AROUNDSometimes, no matter what size the boat, you need to chase the fi sh going forward One such situation is when you hook a big fi sh that threatens to empty the reel of line and you can’t keep up with it going backward Be aware, however, that you need to make this deci-sion early because turning the boat around can drain the spool

of 200 yards of line Keep the angler in the cockpit with the line pointing at 10 or 2 o’clock Once suffi cient line is back on the reel, spin the boat around and resume the chase in reverse

TIP If you plan to back down hard, avoid adding a transom swim platform These can dig into waves, rip loose or pull the stern underwater when reversing hard

The technique is effective

in assisting the angler to gather

line and get to the leader quickly

so the crew can execute a legal

release of the fi sh In tournaments,

this allows the team to catch and

release fi sh rapidly and amass

a great number of points in the

shortest time possible

But this technique can also be

dangerous, especially in an open

boat Reverse too hard and you’ll swamp the boat Here is some salient advice for backing down and how to chase fi sh safely

THE RIGHT BOAT Avoid backing down in an open boat, such as a center-console There’s no way to keep water from fl ooding forward

if you take a big wave over the som Besides, in center-consoles

tran-It’s the Honda of

Outboards Literally.

Quality, reliability, technology and fuel-efficiency have made Honda an

automotive legend You’ll find those same strengths in every Honda Marine

outboard From 2.3 to 250 hp, all Honda outboards are backed by the only

5-year manufacturer’s warranty in the industry Power your boat with the

brand that offers millions of miles of proven performance — Honda Marine.

The Honda Power Of Boating Celebration!

purchase of any new 40hp – 250hp Honda Marine outboard, January 1 through May 30, 2016!

*At participating dealers only Receipt of propeller and cover upon retail delivery of boat package from a dealer © 2015 American Honda Motor Co., Inc

Visit your Authorized Honda Marine Dealer or learn more online at marine.honda.com.

UP TO

$ 700 OFF!

OR CHOOSE A STAINLESS PROP AND ENGINE COVER

SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS*

Honda Marine Instant Rebate!

X The Boat Doctor

[ Q ] I have an 18-foot runabout and a 20-foot

pontoon boat on a lake that, unfortunately,

is infested with zebra mussels Since I don’t

have a boatlift, these ugly critters eventually

attach themselves to all sorts of places on

the boats, and in the fall, I spend quite a

lot of time cleaning them off Are there any

topical applications I can use in the spring

that will ward off these things from attaching

themselves? Thanks for your help

MICHAEL MCKEAN

Perth, Ontario, Canada

[ A ] You can apply an anti-fouling paint to

the bottom of your boat(s) Pettit makes a

complete paint line, and I’ve been happy using

its products the last few years (though there

are other good makes) Anti-fouling paint is

not a one-size-fits-all solution The type of

boat and the location play a large role Some

freshwater lakes may also restrict the use of

certain coatings, so I recommend that you

contact Pettit (pettitpaint.com) or another

manufacturer to narrow down your selection

That said, in general, if your boat is used frequently (at least twice per week), an ablative

paint is probably best These paints work by

wearing away slightly as the boat goes through

the water, thus always exposing fresh paint

to the environment

Second, if your boat(s) are used infrequently, you may get better performance with an epoxy

paint that releases biocide at a controlled rate

whether the boat is moving or not

Third, the aluminum pontoons, as well as aluminum sterndrives, must first be coated

with a barrier of epoxy before anti-fouling

paint can be applied This is because the copper

(biocide) in the paint will cause a corrosive

reaction with the aluminum

Fourth, there are now “foul release coatings”

that can be applied Propspeed is one such

product This is a super-slick coating that

Ensure continued good service from batteries in storage by giving them a midwinter checkup Test them with a voltmeter, and then use the chart below to determine the state of charge

Batteries are best not left in a state

of total discharge.

— Kevin Falvey

works — provided the boat is used regularly.Here are some articles that will provide you with more information: 1) boatingmag.com/how-to/high-performance-bottom-coatings, 2) boatingmag.com/comparisons-sake-coming-clean, and 3) boatingmag.com/prepping-bottom-paint

Think Zinc

[ Q ] I need to change the zincs on my Suzuki outboard Should I do it now or wait for spring?

ANDREW MELLON

Washington, D.C.

to do in the spring? If time and weather permit, I’d knock that job out now That said, there is no harm in being without good anodes while the engine is out of service for the winter

Stuck On You

[ Q ] With all the advances in glues, why should I drill holes to install an antenna mount on my hardtop? I would think one

of today’s adhesives would be up to the task of holding the mount for an antenna

L i f e i s b e t t e r s u r r o u n d e d b y f a m i l y,

w h o a re s u r r o u n d e d b y f i n e u p h o l 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

© 2015, Rec Boat Holdings, LLC All rights reserved

®/TM signifi es trademarks of Four Winns, LLC or suppliers.

L i f e s h o u l d b e a b e a u t i f u l r i d e

The Boat Doctor

( W E T E S T S T U F F )

sharp putty knife will get the job done,

and the goop isn’t strong enough that

you risk taking off some fiberglass

with it Horses for courses

Reboot

[ Q ] I’m having trouble solving a

problem with the electronics on my

Trophy 2359 fishing boat My engine is

a 4.3 V-6 MerCruiser and is original

Anytime I start the engine with

the electronics running, it seems like

an electric spike, or surge, occurs that

causes some or all of the devices to

shut down or reboot, losing whatever

info was displayed Sometimes the

devices emit a beep but not always

Usually, the GPS and chart plotter

have to be manually restarted

This can be a pain when making

frequent moves while searching

for fish I seem to remember

isolators being used to solve this

problem, but I cannot find anything

Any suggestions?

DENNY WILLGUES

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

[ A ] The electronics on your boat

are best wired on a dedicated circuit

Ideally, this is run from a separate

battery (or battery bank) from the

one that is used to start the engine

However, in all cases, you don’t want

a scenario in which the ignition key

is providing power to the electronics

circuit The draw from the engine will

knock out electronics almost every

time So run a wire from the battery

directly to a breaker/switch that

serves a terminal block and tap there

to power your electronics

Buss blocks come in many sizes and

styles Check with your marine retailer

or visit bluesea.com

I also shared your question with the

pros at Furuno Marine Electronics

Here is what they said:

The “electrical isolator” to which

Mr Willgues is referring is basically

an LC noise filter An example of a popular Newmar alternator filter is shown below

Unfortunately, this type of noise filter or noise-isolating device has almost nothing to do with his problem, which is being caused by a voltage drop as the engine starter demands more current from the battery than it can supply while maintaining 12-volt

DC to the rest of the systems In other words, when the engine starts, it

causes the battery voltage to drop below a certain threshold, which is probably around 11 volts, depending

on the tolerance of his specific marine electronics Once this happens, the electronics shut down and reset It is not a spike; instead a voltage drop is causing the problem

Anyway, assuming his starting battery is in good shape, as well as the wiring, wire gauge sizes and connections, adding a second battery is the right choice However, leaving that battery on its own and charging it periodically when he is at the dock is neither convenient nor safe

engine-For example, if he forgets to charge the

battery and leaves the dock, then the electronics will stop working because the battery was almost dead before he started the engine

There are a couple of solutions for his problem He can add a battery isolator diode in between the auxiliary battery that he installed and the main battery This way, the boat’s charging system will charge the auxiliary battery whenever the engine

is running This works OK, but the isolator diode has an inherent voltage drop, and the auxiliary battery never really gets charged properly

There is now a better system available for about $70 This type of system is an isolator that automatically disconnects the auxiliary battery from the engine-starting battery when the engine is not running, and reconnects it to charge both the engine-starting battery and the auxiliary battery when the engine is running His 4.3 MerCruiser V-6 has a big enough alternator to charge both batteries without any problems This type

of system allows both batteries to

be properly charged at the correct voltage whenever the engine is running, yet it isolates the engine-starting battery from the auxiliary battery when the engine is not running, thus eliminating the voltage drop which is causing the electronics

to reset

To see an example of the new type of battery isolator system on the web, visit powerstream.com/battery-isolator.htm

Drain-Uh-Oh

[ Q ] I have been storing my boat at our cabin in Wisconsin the same way for many years I tilt the outboard up high so that I can block the boat bow-high to ensure drainage I do not get a chance to check on the boat much during wintertime as I am kept busy in Chicago, and the bow-high storage allows water to run out should the cover become holed from snow load, falling branches or blowing debris All has been well with this system for many years.This year, I have a new neighbor who commented that the outboard should be tilted down during storage

to prevent freeze damage I related

my decades of experience, yet he is

Slip-sliding Away

A bucket on a dock is solid like a rock A bucket on a deck

is a pain in the neck Rocking, rolling or pounding creates a

potential for slipping, sliding, scratching or toppling over Not

so anymore with Shurhold’s Bucket Base This soft, white

thermoplastic-rubber base fits like a boot on most 3½- to

5-gallon buckets (10¼-inch to 10½-inch diameter) for a solid,

stay-in-place experience No more scratching or collisions, no

more spillage $13; shurhold.com — Joe Friedman

The Boat Doctor

Belzona Marine’s 277 Walk Around provides the perfect getaway for you and your family in

a smaller and easy to trailer boat With the highest innovations and most ameities in its class,

greet the waters with open arms Boats built for the way you live

Made in the USA

Model shown: 277 Walk Around

tel 305.512.3200www.BelzonaMarine.com

unrelenting in his position So, I put it

to you, Mick Should an outboard be

tilted down during storage?

ANDERS JOHNSON

Chicago, Illinois

[ A ] Yes An outboard should be

tilted fully down for storage When

so positioned, an outboard engine is

self-draining Because no damage

occurred to your engine over its

years of Wisconsin winters does not

change the fact that water will run

downhill The hill needn’t be that

steep (check the gutters on your house,

for example) So you should be able to

store your boat at an angle and keep

your engine tilted down — though, in

some cases, you may need to raise the

blocking a few inches to achieve the

height that allows the downward trim

a figure-of-eight knot about 20 feet from the bitter end of my rode as a tactile alarm that the end is near

The rails are in good shape, but some

of the connections are loose and the set screws are stripped What can I do?

ADDAM HARREL

Portland, Maine

[ A ] There are two ways to go about this Both start with drilling out the stripped set screws and removing the loose fittings If you like, use a tap-and-die set to tap new threads into the fittings and resecure them with new set screws Because these rails and screws are stainless steel, they are tough on cutting tools — go slow and use lots of oil for lubrication

Or, after removing the old fittings, purchase new ones from a supplier like suncorstainless.com

Clean

[ Q ] Dear Boat Doctor, I have a 2009 Cobia 21 CC and the deck floor is white fiberglass with the anti-skid material

It marks with anything It’s almost impossible to get black marks or fish blood out of it It’s terrible to keep clean Is there a paint that can go over

it to make it better or any product that

I can use to make it easier to clean?

[ A ] No, there is no coating that can make it easier to clean (Grinding it

The Boat Doctor

smooth and then recoating with

less-aggressive nonskid is an option, but

extreme, perhaps.) Have you tried

Soft Scrub with bleach and a stiff

brush? I once owned a 1980s Mako

and only abrasive cleanser like Comet

would work to clean its nonskid Don’t

use any abrasive cleanser on smooth

gelcoat areas, only on the nonskid

Covered

[ Q ] My boat is 16 feet long, of late

1960s vintage, and well maintained

and cared for, but now it needs some

help This year the material started

falling off the inside panels of the

boat Do you know of a fix that doesn’t

require removing the side panels

that I could do myself to replace the

aging side-cover material? Above are

pictures of the problem Any help you

can offer will be appreciated Thanks

ROGER PETERSON

Salt Lake City, Utah

[ A ] That plywood is covered with

what looks like vinyl The plywood

looks to be in good shape If you try

to re-cover it without removing the

panels, you are making things hard

on yourself I’d recommend removing

the panels and re-covering them

using vinyl and staples made from

stainless steel or Monel, and shot from

a hand-powered stapler (like an Arrow

T50 stapler) If the plywood is soft

or rotten, replace it (use the existing

panels as templates to cut new ones)

If for some reason you just don’t

want to remove the panels, I suppose

you could cut and strip off the old material and then paint the plywood

— you’d need to seal it first But, even then, painting will be easier to do off the boat with the panels removed

The panels along the sides can be removed by drilling out those rivets that are holding them in place You can reinstall using new rivets (a rivet kit is about $30 from a marine supply store)

or just use screws That aluminum trim around the edge can be removed/

reinstalled in a similar fashion

The panel across the transom appears to be set in a sliding-door track There should be screws in the bottom of both the bottom and upper tracks Remove them and take the

entire assembly out, re-cover the panel(s) and reinstall

You’re in Salt Lake City — this is a perfect time for a great winter project

It’s simple — just know that it will take some time

Intermittent

[ Q ] Hi, Mick I have a 2006 Chaparral 190 SSI powered by a carbureted 4.3 Volvo Penta sterndrive

I noticed the oil-pressure gauge goes to max while the voltmeter stays at zero when turning the key on The warning beeper sounds When advancing the key to start the engine, there is no cranking at all After several attempts,

I get the same thing, whether the engine is cold or hot Advancing the key again, both gauges go to about center while the beeper sounds, and the engine starts fine Thus,

my intermittent problem Is it an internal oil-pressure gauge problem?

I have checked the connections more than once on the Faria 4-in-1 gauge

I hope to be able to re-create both instances and test the oil-pressure gauge Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated Thank you

MIKE DENEKE

North Tonawanda, New York

[ A ]Start at the ignition switch With

a test light or meter, check the S and B terminals and see if you have power If

so, then test for power through the neutral safety switch (I assume you are jiggling the handle to make sure you are in neutral before a start.)Next, your engine has a starter relay

on the engine Connect the light or meter to a good ground and touch the other probe to terminal A If it lights, touch it to terminal B, and then have

a helper hit the starter switch again

If you hear a click and the light does not come on, then the problem is a bad starting relay

Tow Uh-Oh

[ Q ] After a session of pulling kids

on our tube, we decided to take the boat to a restaurant for lunch Instead

of bringing the tube aboard, I simply tied it close to the transom All was well for a few minutes until the tube dived under the water and acted like a big brake on the boat Following that, throttling up the engine resulted in very little thrust We were able to get home at idle speed What could be the matter?

DANA HARDING

Palo Alto, California

[ A ] Sounds like you “spun” the hub

of your outboard’s propeller Outboard props have a plastic or rubber hub between the actual prop hub (the one that contains the splines and the blades) This is designed to protect the engine and gears by breaking away

if the prop strikes something hard or becomes overloaded But typically, after breaking away, enough friction remains to operate at slow speed Pull your prop and send it to a prop shop

Wracked

[ Q ] What can be done about the Bimini top aboard my 20-foot center-console? It wobbles at speed, and, over

The Boat Doctor

Torn Crimp Insulation

Corrosion eventually happens when the crimping tool cuts

into the insulating sleeve of a marine crimp connection

(pic-tured) The culprit: a rigger who used the wrong crimper, one

designed for metal sleeves for wire leaders for fishing rather

than one designed for electrical connections

The heat-shrink insulator and collars do little good once the insulation is torn, which allows moisture in and corrosion to build In this wire connection for an anchor windlass, corrosion blossomed inside, bulging the insulation and open-ing the tears even more

The corrosion led to excessive amp draw, which in turn blew a 5-amp inline fuse and rendered the windlass inoperable, which was good because it pre-vented the wires from overheating and igniting a fire below deck

Learn this valuable lesson: Pony up for a top-grade electrical crimping tool, such as the Pressmaster KSA 0760 ($134.67, electricaldepot.com), with dies that

pamper insulation while creating secure crimps — Jim Hendricks

time, this has caused the bolt holes

that penetrate my boat’s cockpit sole

to become oval As such, the top can

wiggle and move even more, though

it’s apparently bolted down because

I cannot move it at all when I pull

straight up on it Is there a filler I

can use to make the holes fit tightly

around the bolts again?

RANDALL BEKINS

Galveston, Texas

[ A ] Filler won’t work You need to

demount the top and grind out the

area around each existing hole in a

dish-shape fashion about 10 diameters

in circumference Then lay in new

glass, and sand, paint and redrill for

the bolts At that point, call a welder

or top-maker to add struts, gussets or

supports where needed to prevent the

“wiggling.” If you don’t prevent the

cause, you will have the same problem

again in short order

Mick Gets a Lesson

[ Q ] Dear Mick, as a retired

toolmaker, machinist and boater,

I’d like to provide some better

information than you did in your

“Screwed” article (November/

December 2015, page 29)

When using machine screws or

bolts, measure the thickness of the

substrate and add the diameter

of the bolt or screw to the length

required Many nuts for a given

diameter fastener are the same height

as that diameter For instance, the nut for a ¼-20 screw is one-quarter-inch tall (If it’s a little short, just add

a washer.)When using a locknut or acorn nut, the bolt needs to be one diameter longer than the required length in order to snug up properly

If the bolt is too long, then use two washers and a “scrap” nut Torque down the fastener, and then use a hacksaw against the scrap nut to

cut the bolt flush Then remove the scrap nut and replace it with a new

“finish” nut so that the saw marks will not show Respectfully submitted,

ELLIOT B HAMMERMAN

New Bern, North Carolina

ASK THE DOCTOR Send questions with your name and address to: boatdr@boatingmag.com or The Boat

Doctor, Boating, 460 N Orlando Ave., Suite

200, Winter Park, FL 32789.

The Boat Doctor

B O A T D O C S P E C I A L



SCAN ME!

martinis It’s the shallow one and, thankfully, made of sand

You reach for the VHF Who do you call? What do you say?

Welcome to the tow vs salvage nightmare — Joe Friedman

If you belong to one of the

organized towing services (Sea

Tow, TowBoatUS, etc.), you

should be covered for most

towing situations Otherwise, a

Channel 16 call will get the U.S

Coast Guard, which won’t come

to help unless it determines that

you’re in dire circumstances It

will, however, assist in locating

a commercial towing/salvage

service for you to contact Here

is where it gets tricky

A tow is typically “one

boat, one line” with no danger

to the vessel, the crew or the

environment, as when you’re

stuck on a sandbar, simply

out of gas or stranded with a

conked-out motor Be sure to

make it clear to the assisting

vessel (even if it’s your own

contracted service) that you are

in a towing situation Also, most

companies begin charging when

their vessel leaves the facility

and don’t stop until it gets back

Salvage, on the other hand,

is a more serious situation

You may be taking on water, stuck high and dry on a reef

or rocks, posing a danger to the environment or leaking fuel, or you may have been in

an accident that threatens the integrity of the boat The assisting service (the “salvor”) may employ multiple vessels

to assist, including ones with specialized equipment, like high-capacity pumps or spill-retaining booms As a result,

it can make a claim against the value of your boat based

on an “open-form salvage agreement” that you may

or may not have signed at

the time of the operation Its claim can be substantiated if

it shows that it successfully performed a “voluntary” service

to rescue or save your vessel and its crew, or to protect a threatened environment Most salvage agreements have a

“no cure, no pay” clause This option is based on a successful salvage operation and is the recommended choice for the vessel owner/captain

Settlement of claims, in the event of a dispute, can go to arbitration using applicable rules of the Society of Maritime Arbitrators For your protection,

be sure to include salvage coverage as a part of your vessel’s insurance policy

POLICY MATTERS

Not having boat insurance opens you up to all sorts of nasty (possibly bankrupting) claims

in the event of an episode

So get insurance, even if your

“yacht” is a 16-footer Don’t

just get an endorsement on your homeowner’s policy, but rather a marine boat or yacht policy because an “add-on” endorsement will be missing much of the needed coverage With regard to towing and salvaging, have a clear understanding of what your water-assistance membership and insurance policies cover, what they don’t, what the financial and liability limits are, and who is responsible The insurance policy should include

a salvage section that covers the total cost of the vessel with

no deductible There should also be a provision for “wreck removal” in the liability section, again with no deductible If the salvor’s claim ends up in arbitration, you don’t want to go

it alone, so be sure the insurance company acknowledges and defines its responsibility and limits in case the claim goes to binding arbitration or litigation

in the federal maritime courts

The biggest jet boat line-up just got way more versatile Available on our 21’ and 25’ models the WAKE EDITION comes stacked with features including custom graphics, tower and board racks plus digital speed control and wake ballast system For the first time, arm stretching jet power and thrill seeking wake sports come together into one ultimate jam scarabjetboats.com

WE KEEP ADDING MORE TO OUR PLAYLIST

INTRODUCING THE SCARAB WAKE EDITION

 W E E K E N D W O R K B O O K

ON OFF

m

Many runabouts have just a single battery

that’s called upon to power multiple 12-volt

components as well as start the engine The

trouble is, a stereo playing all day while you

relax at the sandbar or a baitwell pump left on

inadvertently can deplete the battery, leaving

you with insuffi cient juice to start the engine.

Blue Sea Systems’ m-LVD (Low Voltage

Disconnect) is a “smart switch” that prevents

dead starting batteries by disconnecting

non-essential circuits before the voltage reaches

a critically low level While the m-LVD is not

designed to replace the main battery’s

on/off switch, you can also use it to shut off

the accessory circuit The m-LVD also allows

you to override the auto shut-off Before you

get started, turn off the battery switch and

disconnect both the positive and negative

battery cables — Jim Hendricks

BLUE SEA SYSTEMS’ M-LVD

HELPS PRESERVE YOUR

wires between the locations for the battery switch, m-LVD, remote rocker switch, nega-tive bus bar and accessory distribution panel as shown in the installation diagram Use the Blue Sea Systems Circuit Wizard (circuitwizard.bluesea com) to determine the appropriate cable size (per American Boat and Yacht Council standards)

to connect wires and cables Also use the Circuit Wizard to determine the rating (based on cable length and amp draw) for a fuse between the battery switch and m-LVD

snap-on back cover of the m-LVD and csnap-onnect to lug A the cable leading to the battery switch and a fused wire leading to the remote rocker switch Connect to lug B the cable leading to the accessory distribution panel Tighten the lug nuts

to no more than 60 inch-pounds of torque nect the wires to spade connectors No 2 and No 4 leading to the remote rocker switch Connect spade connector No 1 to the wire leading to the negative bus bar with a 10-amp in-line fuse Snap the cover back on and mount the m-LVD

Con-1SELECT A LOCATION Blue Sea Systems’

m-LVD main module is designed for a

surface-mount installation To minimize the required

wire size, choose a location close to the battery’s

on/off switch where you can securely through-bolt

the m-LVD With a maximum rating of 65 amps,

the module occupies a 2¾-inch square footprint

Also select the location for the remote-control

rocker switch Make sure there is nothing

obstruct-ing your ability to route wires and cables between

the m-LVD, battery switch, rocker switch, negative

bus bar and accessory distribution panel

QUICK TIP

an optional audible warning system to the m-LVD — J.H.

and tighten the battery cables and turn the battery switch to “on.” No illuminated LED on the front of the rocker means the battery has suffi cient power to start the engine (see

“LED Warning”) Turn on each accessory to make sure each has power Also start the engine (make sure it has cooling water) to ensure the starting circuit is operating Once you are confi dent everything works properly, bundle and secure the wires and cables with plastic wire tires along their entire runs

have an open spot on your dash panel of

r ocker switches, this Carling-style switch

will snap into place Connect the wires from the

m-LVD to the appropriate spade connectors on

the back of the switch as outlined in the

installa-tion manual You will need to split the line from

lug A on the m-LVD to connect to two points on

the back of the switch (spade connectors No 3

and No 8), then connect a line from the common

negative bus bar to spade connector No 1 on the

back of the remote switch

GETTING STARTED

SKILL LEVEL

4 HOURS

TIME TO COMPLETE

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

X Blue Sea Systems’ 7635 m-LVD (Low Voltage Disconnect; $70.15, pbsboatstore.com)

X Marine-grade tinned wire and cable (lengths and gauges depend on the boat size and installation)

X Crimp-on cable terminals (match cable gauge)

X Crimp-on female spade connectors (match wire gauge)

X Shrink tubing (match wire and cable gauge)

X Box/open-end wrench set

X Electrician’s snake (for running wires and cables)

X Spool of cord (for pulling wires and cables)

X Wire ties

The Ancor Marine heavy-cable crimper ($79.99, westmarine.com) lets you crimp on your own termi- nals and make custom cables to length Use marine-grade tinned- copper cable and fi nish each termi- nal crimp with shrink tubing.

The Boat Doctor

Q U I C K S T U D Y



QUICK TIP

Wear gloves, a mask and eye

protection Pumps serving in a fi sh

box, livewell pumpout and, obviously,

head installations can contain

biological contaminants

Don’t Sink

Close any seacocks connected to the

plumbing of the pump (Remember

to reopen after the repair because

some pumps might burn out when

run dry.)

Demount

You’ll need to demount the pump

and remove it to a location where

it can be worked on Skip to the

“Shaft Lock” step if your pump is

not a macerator

Housing

Remove the macerator housing from

the pump body (also called the

impeller body) This is secured with

fi ne-thread machine screws or studs

There will also be a wear plate and

one or more gaskets or washers under

each nut or screw head, and possibly

Rebuilding

Macerator Pumps

Whether used for the head or for fish-box duty, macerator pumps abound

aboard boats When they fail, these pumps can be rebuilt for way less than the

cost of replacement And with a rebuild kit on hand, if a pump breaks during

a cruise, you won’t have to opt for the bucket brigade Here’s a quick look at

what’s involved in rebuilding a macerator using renderings of a Jabsco pump

to illustrate Read your specific service kit’s instructions before actually

under-taking this repair — Kevin Falvey

a gasket or O-ring between the pump body and the motor body

Shaft Lock

The cutter blade is secured to the drive shaft by a nut The end of the motor opposite the pump body should have

a screw or bolt covered by a cap or sleeve Secure that nut or screw to prevent the shaft from turning, and remove the cutter nut, cutter and any gaskets between the pump and motor

Old Impeller Body

The impeller body or pump body abuts the electric motor and contains

the impeller, another wear plate, a shaft seal and the fasteners that se-cure it all together Slide the impeller body off as a unit and place it aside

New Impeller Body

Install the shaft seal, any studs and the wear plate Holding the wear plate in place, slide the new impeller body onto the pump shaft Apply Tefl on grease (in a pinch, use dish soap) to the impeller Match the fl at

in the impeller center to the fl at on the macerator shaft and squish-bend some of the impeller vanes while pressing down to seat the impeller

New Macerator Body

Match the fl at on the hole in the wear plate to the fl at on the shaft and slide it on Do the same for the chopper blade Lock the shaft as indicated above and tighten the blade’s nut Match the cutout in any

of the gaskets to the cutout in the body Mount the housing, matching the opening in the housing interior

to the openings in the gaskets and pump body Hand-tighten the screws, and reinstall and open the seacock

Decontaminate

Use a solution of bleach and water

to decontaminate your work area Dispose of any parts contaminated by human waste carefully and properly Enjoy the benefi ts of your newly serviced pump

THESTRAIGHTPOOP!

A Jabsco macerator pump retails for about

$190; the rebuild kit retails for about $60;

both are available at westmarine.com.

Shaft Lock Nut

PURPORTEDLY INVENTED DURING THE 1940 S NEAR GREAT SOUTH

Bay on Long Island, New York, these oversize South Bay strainers featured perforations instead of slits to keep skinny blades of eel grass out of water intakes The screen was also removable to allow service of the

intake Such strainers are still sold today by Buck Algonquin and others — K.F.

Stiff hoses can

be made more pliable and easier to remove

by applying heat from a heat gun.

W H A T T O L O O K F O R



To help achieve its IPX6

waterproof rating — which

means it can withstand heavy

splashing and rain on deck —

Fusion uses a one-piece optically

bonded glass display to protect

it from the elements and prevent

condensation from building up

inside the display

are all the size of the average

male index fi nger or larger

to make them easy to locate and

press aboard a rocking, rolling

boat Key-function symbols are

laser-etched into the rubberized

cover so they don’t wear off from

salt and ultraviolet exposure

act of marinizing speakers

for boat duty makes them

inherently ineffi cient, a good marine stereo employs a large amplifi er to provide enough power

to each speaker The 750 uses a digital amplifi er that provides cleaner, more effi cient power to the speakers than a typical analog amp found in automotive stereos

You can hook it up to four ers without needing additional external amplifi cation

KNOB Like the function keys, the rubberized control knob is designed to be stable while scrolling through stereo functions

as the boat is underway

marine stereo should be able to be controlled via a hardwired remote at an alternative location, a NMEA 2000- compatible multifunction display (say, your chart plotter), or an app on your smartphone or tablet

Through FusionLink, you can nect to your boat’s NMEA devices

con-or via Ethernet, if so wired The app runs via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth

ADAPTABLE Bluetooth is hot, but streaming music doesn’t provide the best sound quality “Bluetooth clips out a range

of frequencies, so sound quality is diminished compared to plugging

in a device or drive,” Crocker says.While Fusion’s 750 has high-quality A2DP Bluetooth with AVRCP support, which means you can control streaming music through the head display, it also has an internal (meaning water-proof) docking port for smart-phones, iPods and USB drives It’s also Sirius-ready should you buy the satellite-radio subscription

So directly connect a device for optimum sound

Most car stereo systems are designed to fade either in the front-seat or back-seat area Fusion designed its 750 series to

be controlled independently in

up to four zones You can set the volume to different levels for, say, the fl ybridge, salon, cockpit and stateroom so that everyone can hear it and choose a comfortable volume to his or her preference

Many stereos are simply marinized car stereos,

which are designed to work best in the confined

space inside a car, truck or SUV How well does that

actually translate to an open boat where the display

and the speakers are exposed to the elements, and

competing against inherent wind and engine noise?

To get a good idea of what you should be looking for

in a true marine stereo, we consulted Todd Crocker

of Fusion Entertainment, which builds marine

stereos from the ground up Based on Fusion’s

MS-UD750, here’s what to look for in a marine

stereo — Pete McDonald

Signature Sound

Fusion also offers its Signature Series speakers that are designed

to achieve optimal performance in harsh marine conditions

They feature fully sealed crossover components, a woven composite Curv cone, a silk dome tweeter, a large-diameter voice coil, and the option for blue or bright white internal LEDs For

fiber-more information, go to fusionentertainment.com — P.M.

2

4

1

Since 1955, Wellcraft has stood for innovation, quality and dependability The philosophy of this American icon is found in

a vessel designed by fishermen who demand the best every time they leave the dock

New for 2016, Wellcraft has proven it’s dedication to you and your family by expanding the Fisherman series with four new models In the Bay Boat category, 22 and 24 foot models will get you in the skinny water to slay the snook, redfish and trout The all-new 242 Center Console and the soon-to-come 222 are head-turning exercises in style, with the stable, smooth performance you’ve always demanded from Wellcraft

For years to come, you’ll capture your entire day with a morning of fishing, a day of family fun, and a relaxing evening cruise,

in an American icon Enjoy the whole line up at wellcraft.com.



Florida-family fishing boat, emerged in recent years Most retain angling vestiges such as center-consoles, rod holders, fish lockers and livewells Yet one

of the latest — Everglades’ 360 LXC — utilizes its proven 35-foot-4-inch running surface (found in the 350 LX

cruiser and other models) as the basis for a new layout that incorporates luxury and comfort into four sectors

The 360 LXC features a center-console helm configuration but, like many boats of this ilk, forgoes the walk-around capability on the starboard side Here you will find a wet bar with a sink and hot and cold fresh water An Isotherm icemaker nestles below The console itself features a newly designed 42-inch-wide dash panel that integrates a pair

of flat-mounted Garmin 7616 multifunction displays The Yamaha electronic throttle and shift levers are placed

ergonomically on a pod to the right, optimizing control of the triple Yamaha F350 outboards Our boat (hull No 1)

featured the optional Yamaha Helm Master system ($45,009) with joystick control to help make docking easier

Helm seating for three features flip-up bolsters and fold-down armrests While a full windshield is

a good idea — check out the one aboard the Jupiter Marine 34 LX ($544,785 similarly equipped but with triple Yamaha F300s) — the forward view on our boat was obstructed by bars and wiper arms A redesign is in process.You’ll find one of the most inviting spots forward

of the console This “day area” includes a U-shaped lounge with a pedestal dining table Convert the lounge to

a bed by lowering the motorized table and inserting a filler cushion Either way, enjoy the 32-inch flat-screen TV that rises from a pod opposite the lounge In case of inclement weather, you can completely envelope the day area and helm deck with the 360’s standard EZ2CY enclosure When it’s muggy, turn on the 16,000 btu air-conditioning system, one

Enjoy some screen time while relaxing in the master berth, manning the helm,

or lunching in the forward lounge Our test boat hit a top speed of 56.7 mph. PHO

SCAN ME!

of two systems (there’s also a 10,000 btu air conditioner for

the cabin) powered by a Kohler 7.5 kW gasoline generator

for when you’re away from shore power

Accessible via a pocket door and wide companionway, the

step-down cabin features a 75-inch-long angled master berth

and a 71-inch-long by 49-inch-wide midcabin berth With

a maximum of 68 inches of headroom, the cabin includes

an enclosed head compartment on the port side with a

porcelain pump-out marine toilet, a countertop with a sink,

and a shower

A galley to starboard includes a sink, microwave and a

refrigerator/freezer There’s also a 16-inch flat-screen TV

that you can enjoy from the comfort of the master berth An

overhead hatch lets you ventilate the cabin on sultry days

Cold storage abounds aboard the 360 LXC, including two

fridges topside — one on each side of the covered galley

abaft the helm seating — and an 83-quart cooler built into

the port gunwale (though we don’t like the icebox drain that

dumps onto the deck; Everglades says it will drain overboard

in subsequent models) You can opt to change one of the

topside fridge units to a wine cooler

Those who like to barbeque will love the outdoor galley

with its electric grill, food-prep counter, sink and faucet —

all of which serves as the focal point for the 100-square-foot

social area in the aft cockpit

Wrap-around seating spans 91 inches across the transom

and 35 inches along each side Movable armrests with drink

holders let you adapt to suit the occasion Snap-in

woven-grass deck coverings add a touch of class On sweltering days,

extend the SureShade from the hardtop over the aft cockpit

If it’s really hot, take a dip using the utility door on the

port side of the cockpit, which swings inward into a recess

in the gunwale (so you can step aboard at a floating dock)

A removable dive ladder lets you easily climb back aboard

The 360’s hardtop features aft-facing LED spreader

lights, dome lights, an electronics box and three nonopening

sunroofs LED docking lights help guide you into the slip

A beefy powder-coated aluminum frame supports the

fiberglass top, with the middle legs serving as ladders to go

aloft You can order one of two upper stations — the sport

($26,923) or the full ($34,357)

For safety, when going forward to man the anchor (which rests in an in-stem stainless-steel roller), there’s a beefy bow rail An electric windlass lets you easily deploy and retrieve the ground tackle All Everglades models reflect the company’s Rapid Molded Core Application Process (RAMCAP) construction This means the 360 LXC is built around pre-molded high-density foam, which is laid in and then vacuum-bonded to the liner for strength and durability

It also renders the 360 unsinkable

The boat sliced smoothly through the waves and cornered with the precision reserved for sports cars After riding in every seat, we could not find an uncomfortable one while underway at speeds in excess of 55 mph

We looked for some fishing features and spied four gunwale rod holders, but even they doubled as drink holders

To us, the Everglades 360 LXC represents the pinnacle in the evolution of the Florida-family fishing boat With a great emphasis on luxury, comfort and entertaining, this boat

takes the genre to a new plateau — Jim Hendricks

X LOA: 35'4" (without engines) X Beam: 10'8" X Draft: 3'5" (engines down)

X Displacement: 12,300 lb (dry, no engines) X Transom Deadrise: 25 degrees

X Bridge Clearance: 13'5" (top with tower and KVH antenna up), 11'5" (with KVH antenna

down) X Max Cabin Headroom: 5'8" X Fuel Capacity: 328 gal X Max Horsepower: 1,050

X Available Power: Triple Yamaha outboards to 1,050 hp total

$673,005 (as tested)

HOW WE TESTED

ENGINES: Triple 350 hp Yamaha F350 outboards PROPS: Yamaha Saltwater Series II

15¼" x 19" (outer engines), 15½" x 21" (center engine) 3-blade stainless steel GEAR

RATIO: 1.73:1 FUEL LOAD: 300 gal CREW WEIGHT: 525 lb.

High Points

X Three refrigerators and an 83-quart cooler offer plenty of cold storage.

X Flat-screen 32-inch TV in the forward lounge retracts when not in use.

X Patiolike aft cockpit offers 100 square feet of entertainment space.

Low Points

X Bars and wiper arms on the windshield impair forward visibility;

Everglades is working on a less cluttered design.

X The onboard cooler drained onto the deck; Everglades says an overboard drain is in the works.

Everglades Boats Edgewater, Florida; 877-902-6287; evergladesboats.com

SPEED EFFICIENCY OPERATION

naut stat n mi s mi sound rpm knots mph gph mpg mpg range range angle level

MOST ECONOMICAL CRUISING SPEED

Check out our video of the Everglades

360 LXC Scan this tag or visit boatingmag.com/2923.

AVA I L A B L E P O W E R :

O U T B O A R D



we mean top) boatbuilding executive about the fate of the once-mighty cruiser segment The luminary proffered off-the-record remarks to the effect that new designs were needed and, in particular, new cruisers that ran well with outboard power

Following our test of Intrepid’s 410 Evolution, we can say that this new express may require our CEO friend to seek

a remedy for heartburn This sport yacht delivers the honored cruiser promise of tons of amenities but does so with fewer sacrifices in speed, handling and overall ease of ownership compared to cruisers of the old guard

time-We were impressed the minute we stepped aboard A hull-side door, an innovation Intrepid popularized, allows boarding from a float (or from the water for that matter) in

a gentlemanly manner Under the hardtop complete with sunroof, Intrepid managed to create a space that’s eminently sociable while retaining all the seagoing functionality a seasoned skipper would expect In fact, we’re hard-pressed to deem this area either the salon or the helm deck It’s both This space is indoors and protected from the weather, yet

it provides outstanding views and the tang

of the sea thanks to the huge windshield, venting side windows, the sunroof and the open aft end (which can

be closed off, just ask) There’s a single-level sole that allows free passage forward to the companionway and aft

to the cockpit Real cows gave their all so that a select few real boaters could enjoy settees and lounges upholstered in genuine leather But the seating is remarkable for several more reasons.Not only does the helm seat adjust electrically — no fumbling with levers — but its double-wide backrests slide forward to create an aft-facing lounge To port, the companion lounge’s forward section rotates out and forward — yes, electronically — to create a co-pilot’s seat for use when lounging in wrap-around

views and can

carry the loads

typically assigned

to mullions.

Intrepid’s 410 Evolution took two years to develop and delivers high

performance The cabin, helm deck and island berth are luxurious. PHO