In its new 645 SUV, Riviera has refined the outdoor mezzanine concept that the company invented. It is part aft deck, part salon, part game room. This venue is the most popular place on the boat for most because it is outside in the salt air. The house and side curtains become a windbreak when running or in the evening at anchor, creating a large cozy snuggery for evening cocktails and conversation. In the belly of our test boat were twin 1,550-hp MAN V12 diesels, but we’d be happy with the standard MAN V8s that can crank out 1,300 hp. There is a lot to say about this floating work of art. More...
What is “prop slip?” It is the difference between the theoretical advance of a prop vs its actual advance, based on the prop’s pitch. For example, a 15” (38.1 cm) pitch prop theoretically should move forward 15” with every revolution.
The data above was recorded by BoatTEST of the performance of a 32’ (9.75 m) World Cat powered by twin 300-hp engines. Both prop pairs had a 15” (38.1 cm) pitch.
The results speak for themselves.
In this new video, Capt. Steve explains what happened and puts it in historical perspective.More...
If you’re thinking that a yacht like this Absolute 73 is out of your league, then the folks at Seanet have a thing or two to say about that. You just might be surprised at what you discover.
Take a tour of the waterways of any city and you’ll see plenty of yachts just sitting at the docks. That’s time those yachts are not being used that could be sold to someone at a fraction of the yacht’s value. That’s where Seanet comes in. It takes unused portions of a yacht’s time and matches it with a buyer looking to spend that time on that type of yacht. It’s a match made in yachting heaven and it puts an owner onto a luxury yacht for, literally, a fraction of the cost. It also allows a buyer of a much smaller yacht to now consider moving up to a larger one and focus on the time that he/she would actually be using it. Seanet will be at the Miami boat show in the Absolute Yachts booth and they should be on your “must-see” list. Be sure to tell them Capt. Steve at BoatTEST sent you. You’ll thank us later. More...
Lebrada is a 2020 Astandoa 66 flying bridge motoryacht that will be on display at the Miami International Boat Show. She’s designed for an owner-operator and has 390 hours on her Volvo Penta D13 IPS 1350 pod propulsion systems. Noteworthy equipment includes a Seakeeper 9, a Side-Power electric bow thruster, a hydraulic swim platform, 92,000-BTU chilled water tropical air conditioning and a 21.5 kW Onan generator. The helm has Garmin electronics with Volvo Penta DPS station keeping. Below, she has four staterooms including a full-beam master, three heads and crew quarters for two. More...
For individuals of all body types, Stidd Systems’ ergonomic marine seating provides anatomically correct, comfortable positioning and passive restraint for the marine environment. It integrates strong, lightweight, corrosion-proof materials with easy-to-operate adjustment features and a dynamic appearance. Stidd Systems has evolved as the industry benchmark for quality, comfort, strength and value with innovative features made possible by advanced design, proprietary engineering and state-of-the-art manufacturing methods. See what Capt. Steve has to say...
The Sovereign Boat Club’s Edgewater 370 CC going out on a test run with two prospective members.
Here’s what one SBC club boat owner has to say –
“The SBC team and its captains treat the boat like it's their own. They pay attention to the little things, like a missing screw, a loose wire. They are very mindful of when maintenance is needed. It's a very personal approach and I can text or call any of them 24/7 and they are either available or respond within minutes. They are a group of people who really love boats and enjoy sharing their experience, knowledge and passion with everyone.” – Anthony P.
To find out how SBC can start paying your annual operating expenses, visit us at the Miami Boat Show at the Herald Plaza venue in the BoatTEST booth. Email us here or call 727-200-3474.
Test Video
Everglades 340 DC
The Comforts of Home
One benefit of building a boat like the Everglades 340 DC on a 33’6” (10.21 m) hull with an 11’1” (3.37 m) beam is the creativity designers can implement inside the consoles. The port side has 5’4” (1.63 m) of headroom with a berth, air conditioning and a 19” (48.3 cm) TV on a swing-out bracket. To starboard, there’s a private head with a vessel sink, identical headroom and a pull-up shower. For utility, two hatches open to access the helm rigging. More...
For the 2022 model year, Yamaha raised the bar for comfort, technology, amenities, handling and fit and finish on the 252SD. She’s a bowrider designed for an active family. The Connext Touchscreen provides the usual info like fuel and battery levels and water depth and at the top are seven icons for selecting alternative screens including navigation, trip data, music and more. Fly-by-wire technology adds more convenience and she remains among the safest bowriders on the water with jet propulsion. Click here for all the details. More...
Azimut Yachts launched its 97’6” (29.63 m) Magellano 30 Metri recently in Viareggio, Italy. The builder says the boat is designed for the experienced owner who craves long-distance adventure in a vessel that looks like she belongs in the 21st century, not a throwback to the 1960s. The concept was a design that offers a view of the sky and sea from every point on board while sustainability-related choices aim to reduce the yacht’s environmental impact. More...
One of the first things that startled us more than 21 years ago when BoatTEST was started was the fact that a high percentage of first-time boat buyers didn’t have a clue as to what type of boat to purchase. When it comes to choosing the right boat, the best way to start is with some introspective questions. Today we present a video made by the Discover Boating group at the industry’s association. While it may seem basic, stick with it because it gives good advice. More...
Some or all of the content contained in this newsletter may be sponsored. BoatTEST makes all possible efforts to ensure all material that is published in this newsletter is true and accurate.