Overview

Measuring 18 feet, 4 ­inches, Viaggio’s Lago V 16U is one tiny ’toon. Why embrace shrinkage when supersizing seems the norm? Smaller boats cost less, and they stow and tow easier.

Though small, the Lago V 16U definitely lives large on the water. Its deck extends the entire length of the pontoons, and it measures 8 feet, 6 inches in width. That means more usable space than many similarly sized models. Viaggio also maximizes the floor plan. Your crew will enjoy seating that wraps nearly the entire perimeter, including a 12-foot-long  portside lounge.  

Interior and Accessories

True to Viaggio’s roots, the Lago V 16U retains a decidedly upscale vibe. The exterior follows the brand’s ­familiar palette of trendy, matte-­metallic finishes and sleek bilevel fence panels. Oversize rails, trim and ­skirting are all anodized in black and seem more like aesthetic ­accents than stodgy structure. Within, a sculpted ­fiberglass helm features a tinted windscreen, a vinyl-wrapped ­eyebrow, chrome-bezel gauges, backlit push-button controls and an illuminated ­Viaggio logo. ­Roto-molded seat ­bases, ­covered in vinyl, ­offer a contrasting color to the ­buttery-­soft pillow-top ­seating above. Standard ­amenities include a Clarion sound system, a 10-foot-long Bimini top with anodized frame, LED ­interior lighting, a polished stainless-­steel boarding ­ladder, and a mooring cover.

Viaggio’s construction details stand out as well. Twin tubes are 25 ­inches in ­diameter. C-channel crossmembers are spaced 16 inches on ­center and topped with ¾-inch marine-­grade plywood and durable, ­woven-vinyl ­flooring. All welds are backed by a ­limited lifetime warranty. The aluminum for the tubes is 0.10-inch thick. I’d contend that the only real trade-off in this pint-size pontoon is the choice of available power. While certainly fuel-efficient and fine for casual cruising, the 60 hp Suzuki outboard, even with the motor’s High Energy Rotation lower unit, had its work cut out for it when it came to performance on our test boat. Top speed failed to surpass 18 mph with our two-passenger load. The overall feeling, however, is of a boat-and-motor combo that definitely punches above its weight class.

Read Next: Viaggio Diamante 26U 

How We Tested

• Engine: Suzuki DF60AV
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Suzuki 11 5/8″ x 12″ 3-blade aluminum
• Gear Ratio: 2.42:1 Fuel Load: 14 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

High Points

• Pillow-top furniture swathed in buttery-soft vinyl. 
• Standards include 10-foot Bimini with -anodized frame, mooring cover, woven vinyl flooring.
• Sculpted fiberglass helm.
• Wide beam compared with similar-length pontoon boats.
• Worthwhile options include digital depth finder/transducer, integrated docking lights with flip-up stainless-steel cleats, helm seat slider.
• Standard Clarion sound system

Low Point 

• Stylish and upscale—but many of today’s buyers might find its maximum 60 hp rating underwhelming. 

Toughest Competitors

• SunTracker’s Party Barge 18 DLX ($27,760 with a Mercury 60 FourStroke) is competitively priced but lacks the Viaggio’s upscale feel. 
• Another intriguing option is Sea-Doo’s Switch 19 ($36,199 with a 170 hp jet drive). It features a configurable floor plan and seating for up to 10 people.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Viaggio Lago V 16U appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

Make no mistake: The Sea Pro 292DLX Offshore is an ­angler’s center-console. It’s got all the amenities beloved by hardcore fishermen, but a quick walk-through reveals enough creature comforts to keep the entire family happy.

Let’s start with the fishing features, most notably the twin 25-gallon livewells on opposite sides of the transom. Both feature clear lids, and they are pressurized to help prevent sloshing. An additional livewell resides aft of the helm seating, and there are four built-in ­rod-­holder/cup-holder combos above it. The cockpit has an ­inward-swinging side door to port for help in boating big fish; it also makes for a great spot to board the boat from a floating dock. Four rocket-­launcher rod holders reside in the hardtop piping, and there are six rod holders mounted into the topside gunwales. There’s a 277-quart in-sole fish box in the bow, joined by a 127-quart box in the aft cockpit sole. Additionally, the lockers under the bow seating each serve as 120-quart fish boxes or coolers if needed.

Engines

The 292DLX is built to handle a rugged ride outside the inlet, with a single-piece fiberglass stringer system bonded to the hull with methacrylate. The hull itself has a vinylester barrier coat and is foam-filled for more buoyancy, as well as to make for a quieter, sturdier boat. The deep-V hull tapers to 22.5 degrees at the transom, so it can carve through heavy seas without pounding. Powered by twin 300 hp Suzuki outboards, we reached a top speed of 59 mph and cruised comfortably in the 30s. Steering felt predictable and ­responsive at the helm.

Interior and Accessories

For those who prefer cruising and socializing, the bow benches feature plush ­cushions with slide-in backrests for lounging. Forward of the console, a love seat with flip-down armrests rounds out the conversation pit. In the main cockpit, the twin captain’s seats are adjustable and have flip-up armrests and bolsters. There’s also a flip-up transom bench. 

Read Next: Sea Pro 259

The standards list on this boat is extensive, including Zipwake Interceptor trim tabs, a Lewmar electric windlass, a 16-inch Simrad multifunction display flush-mounted at the helm, and an Audison stereo system.

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin Suzuki 300 hp outboards
• Drive/Props: Outboard/16″ x 21″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.08:1 Fuel Load: 175 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 480 lb.

High Points

• Long list of standards includes Zipwake interceptor tabs that automatically adjust the ride.
• A total of 13 cup holders on the boat means nobody’s drink is out of reach.
• Hardtop has a built-in “rainfall” freshwater shower system.

Low Points

• Only four rocket launchers in the hardtop piping. 
• The side door in the cockpit takes away undergunwale rod storage; everything is a compromise.

Toughest Competitor

The Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless is another family-friendly center-console that starts at $234,500 with a single 400 hp Mercury Verado. (Twin 300 Verados bring the starting price to $270,481.)

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Sea Pro 292DLX Offshore appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

We’ve known Parker Boats for decades as no-nonsense, able, modified-V fishing and utility boats with sweet Carolina lines. The company began with Linwood Parker’s 25-foot Sou’wester open workboat in the early 1970s.

Fast-forward to 2019. Linwood and Trudy Parker sold the company to Correct Craft, which recognized the value of that dedicated local workforce and expanded the capabilities of the Beaufort plant while blending in its strong manufacturing traditions. The parent company also changed the name to Parker Offshore and continued to offer the classic 18- to 25-foot Special Edition (SE) line for inshore ­customers, while also heading into some new territory.

Newer deep-V models offer more family features while retaining the fundamental Parker DNA. Structural integrity is assured thanks to full inner hull liners bonded onto foam-filled composite stringer grids. The flagship is the 2900 CC, which we had an opportunity to shake out on the blustery open waters of the lower Chesapeake Bay. We came away feeling that Parker Offshore’s future is true to its heritage and bright.

Interior and Accessories

The base 2900 CC comes with U-shaped bow seating and a ­double-wide lounge with armrests and cavernous dry storage in front of the console, including a large dry hold in the sole. Upholstery is now diamond-stitched, with upgraded foam material inside. The forward-facing seatbacks ($1,121) and a removable bow casting platform/sun pad with cushion ($1,814) are optional, as is a double-wide folding transom seat built on a sturdy, easy-folding frame ($2,095). Also optional is a fiberglass T-top with electronics box, courtesy lights, LED spreader lights, Wet Sounds speaker pods ($1,899 upgrade available), windshield, and four-rod powder-coated rocket ­launchers ($9,995). There’s a standard stainless-steel anchor chute, with a windlass and 300 feet of ­anchor rode optional ($2,270).

The helm seat offers folding bolsters. There’s also aft mezzanine seating with three tackle drawers inside (one converts to a trash can), plus a seatback that folds down to become a rigging table and tackle center with gear ­storage ($2,130). Underneath the seat lies an insulated cooler for drinks and food (or rigging for a backup livewell). The Marine Mat cockpit sole covering ($2,284) is easy on the feet.

Inside the 2900 CC’s console, you’ll find a 5-foot-1-inch-high space for a portable flushing head with a macerator and dockside pump-out ($764). It also offers excellent access to the electronics inside the broad helm dashboard. (We’d like to see lighting and positive ventilation for the head, and maybe a full marine toilet with holding tank.) Outside, that dash provides space for electronics up to a single 16-inch Garmin GPSMap 8616 XSV ­multifunction display and B60 transducer, with VHF 115 and antenna ($11,910) or a pair of 12-inch Garmin GPSMap 8612 XSV and B60 with VHF 115 and antenna ($15,842), in addition to Yamaha’s Helm Master autopilot and joystick ($13,250). Options such as Garmin radar ($2,094 to $2,931) and SiriusXM weather ($1,351) are also available.

In addition to the optional folding seat, the full transom offers a 270-quart fish box, a transom door to starboard, and a 40-gallon livewell to port. The transom door leads to the outboard bracket’s full-width boarding/swim platform with a folding telescopic ladder. To port, immediately forward of the livewell, is a dive door with another telescoping ladder. Additional storage for fish or gear in the cockpit includes port and starboard 200-quart in-sole fish boxes with macerators. Parker offers a ­variety of fishing upgrades such as Gemlux outriggers and a rod-holder-mounted Docktail utility table. A bow-mounted electric positioning motor would be a dealer-installed option, integrated into the boat’s Yamaha/Garmin wiring harness. With all of the fishing features listed above, we’d like to see more factory rod holders and rod-storage options, though any Parker dealer with a good rigging shop should be able to customize the 2900 CC’s open layout for any individual owner’s angling needs. Adaptability has always been a Parker strength.

The 2900 CC comes standard with trim tabs. We strongly recommend that ­owners learn to adjust running angles in varying ­conditions to cushion this boat’s ride. Think of the tabs and the engines’ trim especially to tailor fore-and-aft trim to existing conditions and side-to-side trim in windy conditions with quartering or beam seas and wind.

Engines

Performance with the twin 300 hp ­Yamahas proved impressive, especially the fuel efficiency. Top speed in breezy conditions maxed at 57 mph, but efficiency peaked at 27.25 mph, netting us better than 2 mpg. For comparison, we remember running a Boating sea trial back in the late 1990s of a 24-foot walkaround boat with a single, conventional 225 hp two-stroke V-6 outboard, both from major manufacturers. It cruised in the mid-20s and topped out around 40 mph. Its fuel-economy profile looked like the 2900 CC’s, with a much smaller, lighter hull and lower cruising and top speeds. Boats have come a long way! 

In the end, the Parker 2900 CC is a big, brawny, classic-looking Carolina center-­console with abundant family features, but plenty of strength to take on bluewater ­challenges as well.

Read Next: Parker 2200 CC

How We Tested 

• Engines: Twin 300 hp Yamaha V-6 outboards
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/15″ x 20″ Saltwater Series II-SDS 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 180 gal. Water Load: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 600 lb. 

High Points

• There’s 5 feet, 1 inch of headroom, a marine toilet, and great access to electronics inside the console.
• MarineMat atop the console cushions phones and glasses and helps hold them in place.
• Versatile tackle center with work surface resides abaft the mezzanine seatback.
• Excellent fuel efficiency for a boat of this size and power.

Low Points

• Needs more rod-holder capacity.
• How do you mount the windshield wiper?

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Parker Offshore 2900 CC appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

The 100 mph Jaguar STS and its 500R Mercury Racing motor isn’t for everyone. In fact, Bass Cat president Rick Pierce personally qualifies each potential Jaguar STS buyer. How? Among other things, he’s looking for a buyer likely to have supercars such as Ferraris, McLarens or Porsches. STS stands for Soft-Touch Special hull. It has a wide footprint and a strategically designed and applied center pad and lifting strakes. The STS hull is not new, but with the arrival of Mercury’s 500R, Pierce had to dial it in for high power. We tested on a blustery day, with windblown lake chop topping 2 feet. This  limited our results to 98.5 mph, but Pierce showed me saved GPS recordings of 103-plus mph.  

Interior and Accessories

As a fishing platform, the Jaguar STS has a new console sculpted to carry a flush-mounted 12-inch ­multifunction display networked to show full engine data, as well as GPS position and charts. Tilt hydraulic steering keeps the Mercury 500R in line. A two-tier center console between the seats provides a step to the aft deck while housing a glove box and a cooler. Sturdy, stylish ­billet grab bars are within easy reach for pilot and navigator.

The large bow panel flush-mounts two stacked MFDs without external brackets, or easily accepts three with a Ballzout bracket. A main power switch, quick trolling-­motor disconnect, and ­digital voltmeter are housed in a ­separate panel in the nose. All lids are supported with new soft-closure seals and “Slam” latches. The trolling-motor pedal position can be customized by fore or aft placement of a removable block. Built-in rod ramps in port and ­starboard gunwales secure rods on deck, and a large center locker for tackle boxes is flanked by a rod-storage box to port and a general storage locker to starboard. A center step up to the foredeck offers a second cooler.

Unique triangular ­livewells on the aft deck are engineered to prevent sloshing and to maintain balance at the centerline. Small triangular day-storage boxes are located behind the livewells, with larger dry-storage compartments on each side. Trays lift out to add access to pumps, screens and rigging already accessible beneath large removable hatches at the transom. 

Read Next: Bass Cat Caracal STS

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 500R FourStroke 500 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Bravo I FS 15.25″ x 32″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.60:1 Fuel Load: 35 gal. Crew Weight: 450 lb.

High Points

• Sleek console redesign for 2024 adds a more aggressive performance look to the deck while focusing the pilot’s full attention forward, where it should be.
• Siren Marine remote monitoring and tracking system helps owners keep an eye on this valuable fiberglass.
• Patented Lift Latches (slang: “Slam Latches”) make closing hatch lids easy and secure; no fiddling and fumbling anymore—just load and slam to close, and push the button to open. Slick!

Low Point

• While Rick Pierce prefers a hand throttle for steadier control for neophytes, we’d rather see a foot pedal for optimal ­performance driving.

Toughest Competitor

• Bass Cat makes it tough to find a close competitor. We are unaware of any 22-footers that can carry 500 hp, but Bullet’s 21XRS (around $150,000) is as close as they come. It measures 21 feet, 10 inches with a 7-foot-7-inch beam, and while Bullet hasn’t rigged one with a 500R, there are many on the water hitting the 90 mph range with a 300 hp outboard. How? The Bullet tips the scales at just over 2,200 pounds.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Bass Cat Jaguar STS appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

There was a moment early in my test that perfectly illustrates why the new Pursuit DC 306 is so great. Just as I boarded, Mark Taiclet, Director of Brand Management for Pursuit, was ­wiping off the dew and put his hand in a recent bird deposit. He flipped up the lid of the cockpit wet bar, turned on the faucet, and rinsed off his hands. No problem. “We made this sink much ­bigger because our customers asked for it, so it’s perfect for just this moment,” Taiclet said.

Pursuit takes customer reviews and dealer comments seriously, and the DC 306 is the result of all that input: a delightful boat for both families and anglers.  

Interior and Accessories

The DC 306 replaces the popular DC 295, adding just 1 inch to the length and beam. But this allowed Pursuit to juggle everything, starting with a row of rod holders across the stern (anglers) and adding a centerline towing post (­families) that is anchored to the very core of the boat for strength. When popped up, ski tow lines easily clear the twin Yamaha outboards.

But that was the case everywhere I looked. A cardinal law of boating is there is never enough storage, but this 31-footer had every, and I mean every, nook and cranny turned into a drawer, a locker, a bin. No fewer than four spacious lockers dot the one-piece cockpit floor, including two insulated fish boxes with independent overboard pumps. Seat bottoms and seatbacks open to reveal more stash—or tackle—space, and I’ll get to the two console compartments in a moment. 

This is a classic walk-through dual-console design covered by a ­fiberglass hardtop with twin hatches for fresh air, as well as reinforced points for radar, antennas and outriggers. Nice touch: The lower wind door under the windshield opens flush—no snagged clothing.

The cockpit is flexible, from the foldaway transom seat (Dri-fast foam) to the fold-down portside seat with a ­removable table for dining. To ­starboard, the massive dive door makes boarding easy from the dock or water. Standard tackle storage lives in the aft-facing-seat backrest. Under Taiclet’s sink are a removable trash can and shelves. Huge tackle storage lives under the companion seat, unless you order the optional refrigerator.

The double-wide companion seat with ­bolster, like the helm, enjoys the panoramic windshield that reaches the hardtop. The ­skipper has a larger dash with twin 12-inch Garmin monitors and two rows of backlit rocker switches. Standard are a Garmin GPS and chart plotter, a sounder with 20-degree-beam angle transducer, and a VHF. Also ­fitted were Lenco trim tabs and an optional bow thruster. Another nice touch: Both skipper and companion have glove boxes overhead in the hardtop for loose gear, such as glasses and sun lotion, that are hard to corral.

In the bow, the expected ­forward-facing lounges create U-shaped seating with a ­removable table. A Lewmar windlass under a hatch has both wired and helm controls, with an anchor, 200 feet of rode, and both freshwater and raw-water washdowns. The standard beach boarding ladder is sure to be a hit. 

The console under the helm holds a ­surprisingly civilized head with a clever dual-action door and over 5 feet of headroom, so you can get out of a wet swimsuit without bruises. The electric toilet is standard, as is the molded sink with mirror and stowage.

The lockable port console has a pair of smallish bunks (kids’ naps), plus storage for the bow and cockpit tables, eight long rod racks, and ample stowage for safety or other gear.  

A word about construction: outstanding! Hand-laminated using vinylester resins (no blisters), the hull is braced by a massive foam-filled grid (no wood means no rot), plus a patented and resin-infused composite transom to carry the engines. Pursuit creates easy access to all systems, such as lift-out floor locker liners for access to the three batteries (two engine, one house) or to the bilge and washdown pumps, through-hulls, and engine plumbing.  

Pursuit earns points for using tinned, color-coded copper wiring with ­custom ­heat-sealed, mechanically crimped ­connections. A bonding system protects through-hull fittings, and both fuel tanks (116 and 108 gallons). Roto-molded, these are corrosion-free and have digital level indicators. A 36-gallon water tank serves the head, cockpit sink, and cockpit washdowns. Pursuit provides five-year hull and deck ­structural and blister warranties.

Engines

Underway, the twin Yamaha F300 V-6 ­Offshore outboards are controlled by the satin-smooth Helm Master EX featuring a digital throttle-and-shift system. Spin the brodie knob on the Edson wheel and the 306 banks as tight as you want, but the Yammies never suck air or cavitate. Flat out, I saw a bit over 51 mph, but I know that I could have upped that with some tinkering with trim and tabs.

Read Next: Pursuit DC 365

More important, however, is that the DC 306 gobbled up the miles at a 28 mph (3,500 rpm) real-life cruise speed, while sipping fuel at just 17.4 gph, giving us a nearly 350-mile range with a 10 percent safety margin.  

Pursuit has been legendary for hulls that are comfortable and dry offshore, and the DC 306 is no exception. The deep 21-degree deadrise meant that we could run flat out in mild chop and, at the cruise speed above, the lumpy Gulf Stream was no match. This is not only appealing to anglers, who go far offshore, but also to families who want that feeling of safety which comes from a well-designed hull. 

Both anglers and family boaters in the ­market for a new ride should consider ­Pursuit’s DC 306.

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin Yamaha F300 300 hp Offshore
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/15 ¼” x 18″ SWS II HP 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 180 gal. Water on Board: 20 gal. Crew Weight: 650 lb.

High Points

• Innovative companionway offers easy access to the enclosed head in the starboard console.
• Full windshield with a walk-through door protects the captain and crew from the elements.
• Yamaha instrumentation, twin Garmin MFDs and a VHF are standard. The only option is radar.
• Captain’s chair rotates 90 degrees to face port for socializing.
• Twin Yamaha F300 outboards provide plenty of fuel-efficient power.

Low Points

• The absence of a grill (or microwave) was bothersome. Pursuit believes owners will add a barbecue somewhere, but I’d like to see a grill in the wet bar behind the helm.
• With these berths, this isn’t going to be an overnighter, even in a pinch. Make hotel reservations.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Pursuit DC 306 appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

Scout has been building quality fishing boats since 1989. Replacing the popular 355 LXF, the new 357 LXF center-console is part of the nine-boat lineup of luxury-cruisers aimed squarely at the higher-end slice of the outboard offshore-fishing market, appealing to buyers who want a performance-flavored, ultra-finished, luxury approach in their new center-console fishing conveyance.

Engines

The 357 fires a magnum bullet with triple 400 Mercury Verado outboard power. With these, we spun multiple 72.2 mph top-end speed runs in rough, windblown channel chop. The ­V-10s pulled 6,400 rpm swinging 27-pitch stainless-steel four-blade Mercury Revolution X SS ­propellers through 2.08-to-1 gear ratios. While acceleration won’t scare any quick PWC or little single-engine hot-rod hulls, it was plenty zippy considering the 35-by-11-foot size and 14,000-pound heft. With 180 gallons in the 319-gallon tank, we hit 30 mph in 7.4 seconds from dead ­in-gear idle. Fuel-sippers who dislike dawdling will like the efficient cruise speed we noted. At 4,000 rpm, the ­22-degree-deadrise stepped Scout V-bottom was reaching 1.15 miles per gallon—and so ­netting more than 390 miles of range while leaving 10 percent in reserve. A long weekend of cruising, fishing and ­island-hopping ­without ­refueling is easily in the cards.

In many cases, a fast hull trades comfort for speed and punch. Not the 357 LXF. Its deep-V double-stepped hull offers a crisp, smooth and stable ride. Turns are predictable; it takes room to slow this beast, but the hull cuts and banks as it arcs around in tight hard-over turns. Planing shows pronounced bow rise as that elongated nose breaks over, then the hull flattens out and scoots. The ­resin-infused fiberglass hull features a pad ­bottom with multiple lifting strakes and a ­set-back transom, all of which translates into enhanced performance and ­efficiency.

Each 357 LXF is built alongside Scout’s other models ranging from 17 to 53 feet, with its newest flagship 67-footer set to debut sometime this season. Scout’s Summerville, South Carolina, plant is most impressive, employing over 400 workers and seemingly under constant expansion. Each Scout is designed, ­prototyped, tested and built right there in the plant. Even the electrical harnesses, ­plumbing and fixtures are built in-house. We spent some time there observing the processes in the prototype stage, the electrical assembly clean room, the gelcoat and layup stage, and the final assembly line. With the exception of the computer-aided prototyping and calculations, it’s done by hand. The epoxy-infused layup is as efficient as it gets, tossing aside the age-old adage that an offshore boat must be laid up heavy to last and offer a smooth ride.

Interior and Accessories

Posh forward seating includes a lounger for two on the forward console as well as wraparound seating/loungers in the bow, with an electrically actuated bow table that can retract flush with the seats to accommodate an upholstered filler cushion to create a spacious sun lounger.

The cockpit layout offers a center-mounted helm, triple heated helm seating with flip-up bolsters behind a fully integrated pilot’s console surrounded by a custom Scout-designed and -built T-top with full safety-glass enclosure. Helm controls feature a Fusion Bluetooth amplified eight-speaker sound system, Garmin 8612 display, lighted electronically controlled switching, compass, USB ports, and courtesy lighting. Rear-facing aft cooler bench passenger seating rounds out the console. An optional electric telescoping sunshade is a techie touch that makes sun-scorched days easier on the skin; add optional air conditioning for ultimate comfort. A hardtop solar-panel trickle charger, an additional charger and batteries keep all the accessories humming. A Seakeeper 3 option is a great choice for rougher seas.

Belowdecks, the overnight cabin features a double berth, marine head with electric pump, Corian counter surfaces, sink, refrigerator, port and starboard windows, a 19-inch built-in flat-screen TV, a removable teak cabin table, and ­multiple storage cubbies.

In the bow, an electrically actuated bow ­table/sun lounge rises from an Esthec deck for casual gatherings. An anchor camera is standard, making mooring easier from the cockpit, and an aft-facing bench seat converts into a raised prep table. Grigio bow-cushion upholstery is available, along with other color options.

For anglers, the 60-gallon transom fish/­storage box, port and starboard 43-gallon in-floor fish boxes, and a 47-gallon cockpit baitwell are all standard, as are 10 gunwale-mounted stainless-steel rod holders. Options include retractable hardtop rocket launchers, electric-reel plugs, underwater lights, and hardtop-mounted outriggers.

Read Next: Scout 281 XSS

Abaft, anglers and water enthusiasts alike will enjoy the full-width walkable swim/engine platform with a starboard-side walk-through door.

Fountain’s 34CC, powered with triple 400 Verados, comes in at a base price of $586,150 before options. It’s a 76 mph runner with a ­519-mile range at cruising speed.

Scout has honed its LXF lineup over many years. This latest 357 LXF takes its rightful place as a premier 35-foot fisher, with style and comfort and performance.

How We Tested

• Engines: Triple Mercury 400 hp Verado V-10 outboards
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Triple Mercury Revolution X-SS 16″ x 27″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.08:1 Fuel Load: 180 gal. Crew Weight: 450 lb.

High Points

• The Scout 357 LXF sports an epoxy-infused hull with gelcoat that provides for a Class-A automotive-like finish to the hull and deck. It shows deep shine and luster, and is free from irregularities and blemishes.
• Tech options such as a Seakeeper 3 ­gyrostabilizer, retractable electric T-top ­sunshade, solar battery chargers, and ­heated helm seating keep the Scout 357 LXF at the forefront of fishing-craft convenience, innovation and luxury.
• Featuring steps and a transom setback, this  performance hull delivers 70-plus mph speeds and provides excellent midrange ­efficiency.

Low Point

• The 357 LXF has less fuel capacity than similar-size triple-engine center-consoles.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Scout 357 LXF appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

Solara’s S-250 Dual Console epitomizes versatility. Anglers get a transom livewell, built-in fish box/cooler, and rod ­holders, including a rocket launcher on the standard hardtop that cleverly pivots downward for easy access. Adventurers can rack kayaks, boards or bikes atop the stainless-steel roof racks, or pop up the ski pylon and enjoy ­watersports. And, for cruisers and entertainers, the cockpit galley includes a 12-volt refrigerator, sink, and electric dockside grill. The Swiss Army Knife-like S-250 DC offers a tool for most tasks.

Interior and Accessories

Both the transom and ­portside cockpit benches pivot out for seating or tuck away to clear the decks. Opposite the galley, find convertible seating that you can use as a chaise, back-to-back seating, a two-person ­recliner or flat daybed. The stowage below includes a pull-out cooler. Open the port ­console to find a private head with marine toilet and skylight. The deep bow cockpit offers traditional bowrider seating. Add the pedestal table for snacks. Toss in the filler cushion to ­create a playpen.

Solara Boats keeps pricing ultracompetitive. Look ­closely, and you’ll see examples of ­cost-conscious choices, including beefy but exposed hinges and painted raw fiberglass inside compartments and on hatch undersides. They’re acceptable, given the price point. What’s shocking is the surprisingly long list of standards. At the bow, note the anchor  windlass. At the helm, a Garmin 8612 MFD, Fusion 770 sound system, ­autopilot, Icom VHF radio, and controls for both the Lewmar bow thruster and auto-leveling Lenco trim tabs. The underside of the hardtop reveals two clear hatches, LED spreader lights and mood lighting. Both bow and aft cockpits also get sunshades.

Engine

The Solara’s hull features twin steps, designed to quicken ­planing time and increase efficiency by reducing wetted surface and introducing air below the hull. Laminar-flow interrupters, which work like dimples on a golf ball, deliver predictable cornering and combat handling issues that can plague some stepped designs. The S-250 DC proved spry underway, holding its ground as we pushed it into ever-more-­aggressive maneuvers at speed. The Yamaha 300 EX, with electric steering (the only power choice, another way Solara contains cost), pushed the boat onto plane in 7.5 seconds, and passed 30 mph in 11.6 seconds before topping out at 46.2 mph.

Read Next: Solara S-310 CW

How We Tested

• Engine: Yamaha F300 EX
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha Saltwater Series II 15 ½” x 17″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 65 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 350 lb.

High Points

• Bow- and aft-facing cameras give the captain greater visibility when pulling anchor, coming into a slip, picking up a downed skier, or loading onto a trailer.
• Additional standards include electric steering, macerator discharge, underwater and trailering lights, storage covers, raw-water and freshwater washdowns.
• Clear-path transom allows for easy boarding, offering unencumbered -movement from port to starboard on the swim platform.

Low Points

• Choppy conditions revealed more movement of the hardtop underway than we would like to see.
• No undergunwale stowage for rods, gaff, mop, etc.

Toughest Competitor

We know of no other dual-consoles this size in this price range and powered by a single engine. Look at the 29-foot-4-inch Sailfish 276 DC ($213,977 with twin 150 hp Suzukis) to see what we mean. It’s beamier, offers a higher level of finish yet fewer standards, and is -available only with twin outboards.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Solara S-250 DC appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

By adding a bow lounge to its closed-deck Pulsare 2400, Checkmate offers great performance, plus more seating, in the Pulsare 2400 BRX. 

Engine

During testing, noted throttleman and ­Checkmate general manager Billy Moore  wheeled the BRX to a 67.1 mph top speed. The BRX went zero to 30 mph in a respectable 6.3 seconds. Need more speed? Checkmate rigged a few BRXs with a Mercury Racing 500R that reportedly hit 90-plus mph.

The 22-degree deadrise hull with a narrow, V-shaped running pad and multiple lifting strakes makes driving the BRX exciting without creating that nervous ­V-­bottom feel present in many performance boats. While there are faster hulls, the BRX pulls ­water toys and gives a ­good-size group a thrill ride.

Checkmate also builds it rugged. “We’d rather sacrifice a few miles per hour in exchange for taking a pounding year after year, with no stress cracking and no warranty claims,” Moore says.

Toward that end, each BRX utilizes hand-laid cloth with composite core, stringer grid, transom and liner. Beefy 1 ½-inch-thick ­Coosa transom knees take wave pounding, with the outboard hanging on a T-H Marine jack plate a foot off the transom. The dazzling white gelcoat features swooping red and black graphic accents applied in PPG paint, wet-sanded, and overlaid with clearcoat. There are no paint lines to feel.

Interior and Accessories

The bow’s twin extra-long lounges can fit four, though it’s intended for two, stretched out and lounging. In the aft cockpit, formfitting buckets envelop the pilot and co-­pilot. A wide and deep aft bench accommodates more people. SeaDek flooring, custom-cut with red contrasting Checkmate logos in the black ­matting, makes for a clean look that’s easy on the feet.

The dash features single custom Livorsi throttle and shift sticks, along with Lenco tabs. The stereo is a six-speaker system with subwoofer and amplifier, with two control heads. Rigging under the dash, under the splashwell, and at the transom was executed with a clean, race-boat touch.

Want to enjoy speed, performance and handling with a crowd? Check out Checkmate’s Pulsare 2400 BRX.

Read Next: Checkmate Pulsare 2400 CD

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury Racing 300R
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Racing Bravo 1 FS 15.25″ x 24″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 45 gal. Crew Weight: 550 lb.

High Points

• Long, plush bow lounges with diamond-stitched upholstery in a boat with racy performance and handling. 
• Its cavernous compartments will swallow all but the largest water toys and safety gear.
• The dark, smoked windscreens are made in the Checkmate plant. They look and work great.

Low Points 

• While the windshields are beautiful, they do cause glare on the dash when the sun’s at the right angle. Fine-tuning might help minimize that. 
• Unfinished compartment edges found aboard hull No. 1, which Checkmate assured us have been addressed. 

Toughest Competitor

Currently, there isn’t a high-performance bowrider that competes head-to-head with the Checkmate, speed- and performance-wise. However,  Stingray’s 3,360-pound 230SX ($106,614 with a 300 hp Yamaha) comes close, clocking speeds of over 60 mph with its optional 300 hp Yamaha outboard. 

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Checkmate Pulsare 2400 BRX appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

When I was 10 years old, I got a ride in a cool little 13-foot rigid-hull inflatable. RIBs were new at that time, and as spartan as it was, this one hit 45 mph with a 50 hp Mercury outboard. What a blast that little ripper was!

Fifty years later, inflatables are still quirky-cool but more sophisticated than ever. The Zodiac Medline 7.5 GT is a great showcase for the innovative features of ­today’s inflatables. A full 24 feet long with a 9-foot-6-inch beam, this boat touches all the bases when it comes to performance, utility, comfort and ride. Imagine an inflatable waterborne Subaru Forester with a WRX engine for extra scoot, and you have an idea of the fun you can enjoy behind the wheel.

Engine

It’s quick—and fast. It should be; it tips the scales at just over 2,500 pounds and sports 300 Yamaha ponies on the transom. With a 15 ¼-by-19-inch Yamaha Saltwater Series II stainless-steel three-blade wheel, you’d better hold on—the svelte 24-footer just gets with the program, from a dead idle to 30 mph in a cat-quick 4.3 seconds.

At the top end, we tickled 60 mph at 6,000 rpm. As a storm runner, you’ll make it back to port easily. Because most of the water time will likely be spent in the typical cruise range from just on plane to perhaps 4,000 rpm, our most economical cruise speed of 28 mph and 3,000 rpm yielded a frugal 4.5 mpg (at 6.3 gallons per hour). With its 72-gallon capacity, that’s nearly 290 miles of range, leaving 10 percent in reserve. A long weekend of cruising, fishing and watersports towing without ­refilling is not unrealistic.

RIBs, such as the Zodiac Medline 7.5 GT, offer higher speed and ­efficiency compared with similarly powered fiberglass boats due to the lower weight provided by using an inflatable tube or collar. The 213-pound Oceanus 24VST ($113,345 with a Yamaha 250) and Novurania’s 2,750-pound Como 24 ($150,000 with a Yamaha 200) should deliver similar performance.

In many cases, a fast boat that accelerates often gives up ride quality for the speed and punch. Zodiac owners won’t have to worry about that. The deep-V hull cushioned by the side tubes offers a remarkably smooth and stable ride—another RIB trademark—even in heavy boat wakes and 2-foot windblown chop. We ran the 7.5 GT all around Charleston Harbor on a busy day, and as the wind and traffic picked up, we found ourselves marveling at the way the hull sliced through the waves. Turning is just as uneventful. The Medline cuts and banks as it arcs around in tight hard-over turns, giving a clean line with no skipping or hopping. Planing is flat and fast, with very little bow rise. The rigid fiberglass hull features a 22-degree deadrise with multiple lifting strakes for a smooth ride coupled with quick acceleration and the good turn of speed that I experienced.

Interior and Accessories

A unique and innovative feature, the ­perimeter tubing is removable rather than glued on. It’s no quick and easy task, but owners can deflate, detach and store the tubes separately, reducing the needed storage space dramatically. In addition, the removable tubes make repairs, upgrades, color changes and replacements much easier than with competitor boats that have the tubes bonded to the hull. Tubes are available in white, dark military gray, light gray and black.

At the bow, there’s a raised platform for docking or handling the anchor, with an anchor roller built in. Just aft is a large anchor locker, hidden by a hinged lid and finished in crisp white gelcoat. Just aft of this locker is a molded self-draining forward storage locker, also covered with a large hinged lid supported by gas lifts. Snap-in cushions cover this area, forming a large sun pad. The fit between the end of the foredeck and the front of the console makes this lounge area even bigger.

Amidships, the large console tilts forward to access a huge storage compartment. It’s great for stowing the cushions and the snack table. Hydraulic steering is standard, as is a 9-inch Garmin MFD that integrates GPS and engine data. A standard Fusion audio system with subwoofer rocks your tunes. The leaning post/­captain’s seating allows standing or sitting with its fold-up butt cushions. It also houses stowage. Open its top to reveal a sink with small countertop for food and beverage preparation.

Abaft, the seating area is spacious and U-shaped, making for a handy conversation pit. Upgraded diamond-stitched white upholstery lends a luxurious appearance. EVA-foam decking is applied throughout the cockpit and on the fore and aft decks. Twin extended boarding platforms provide a secure way to climb aboard at the transom. A stainless-steel towing arch makes the Medline even more versatile.

Read Next: Zodiac Medline 5.8

An extended fiberglass arch features a Bimini top that stows by attaching to the arch for a clean look. When deployed, it provides shade for the entire cockpit. Other GT exclusives include underwater lights and special graphics.

As a family cruiser, watersports towboat, sandbar boat and fishing craft, the Medline 7.5 GT provides an interesting alternative to traditional multipurpose craft. The speed, quality construction, fuel economy, ride and utility make it a great choice.

How We Tested

• Engine: Yamaha F300 outboard
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha Saltwater Series II 15 1/4″ x 19″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 34 gal. Crew Weight: 450 lb.

High Points

• The multipurpose helm features multiple seating positions, stowage, and even a sink and countertop.
• Every fixture on the Medline, from the hidden sink under the console top to the numerous cubbies and storage pockets about the deck, opens up to show functionality. 
• Rigging belowdecks is clean and easy to access, a great feature when servicing or upgrading is on the agenda. 

Low Points 

• For a 24-foot boat, room aboard is narrow, due to the tubes on each side. Though the boat is rated to carry up to 16 people, a day on the water with four, maybe six, would be a better fit. 
• The raised boarding step at the bow is tippy as a boarding or standing platform due to its location at the top of the tube.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Zodiac Medline 7.5 GT appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

The 21-foot-10-inch SV replaces Supra’s long-running, compact SR, and does it in a big way. A full foot longer, the SV feels, rides and performs more like its bigger sister, the SA (22 feet, 5 inches), renowned as the towboat of the Pro Wake Tour. And in terms of looks, the SV more resembles the biggest boat in the Supra line, the SE, thanks to its unique hullside patterns. Put together, the SV is beautiful both on and off the water, with an aggressive yet refined look. Plus, it’s loaded with standard features.

For instance, at its $190,000 starting price, the SV includes high-value items such as the Swell Surf System, AutoWake, power tower, Bimini top, clamping board racks, DSD audio, power captain’s chair, and more. Competitive boats, such as Malibu’s 22 LSV (starts at $163,000), offer systems such as Power Wedge and Surf Gate optionally. Of course, you can option-up the Supra SV as well, with a bigger engine, electronically assisted steering, flip-up transom seats, and more. I’ll get into that. But first, check out the ­Supra SV’s layout.

Interior and Accessories

High gunwales and a fully wrapped windshield look great and make for a more comfortable ride. Deep seating keeps crew feeling secure, while also allowing for ample storage throughout the boat. Fit the SV with Supra’s Chill Tech vinyl, and that interior won’t get too hot, even on a sunny summer day. It’s a cliche, but Supra really did make the SV feel like a bigger boat. Family and friends enjoy plenty of seating room, even for adults up in the bow. Additionally, the seating can be customized. Supra’s convertible rear bench converts to a tabletop. In the bow, the Switchback seat acts as a windscreen and a seatback, ­cleverly converting via a sliding track, so it doesn’t need to be pulled out from under a seat. The SV also features pop-up backrests above the engine compartment for additional lounge-worthy luxury.

Despite being the smallest boat in Supra’s lineup, the SV’s calling card are the wakes and waves. Fill up the ballast, add a few friends, and the SV creates pro-level riding surfaces on par with boats that are 2 or even 3 feet longer. While testing the SV, I witnessed Supra team wakeboarder Fynn Bullock land an unbelievable 1080 (three full rotations) and team wakesurfer Beaux Wildman land every trick in his extensive bag. The wakes and waves are quickly and easily tuned to any rider’s skillset or preferences, thanks to Supra’s integrated Swell Surf tabs and SmartPlate, so beginners need not be intimidated and captains need not be frustrated.

At the helm, you’re treated to two giant touchscreen displays—one mounted horizontally above the steering wheel and the second mounted vertically to the right. All the SV’s systems and functions are quickly accessed with a finger tap. The captain’s seat is a treat, with multiposition powered capabilities, memory functionality, and heating. What’s really cool is that it can be set up to automatically adjust the height based on the boat’s running angle. So, if you’re pulling a wakesurfer at slower speeds and the pitch is higher, the seat will automatically raise to give the captain a clearer view—no need to manually flip up a bolster. Bring the boat off plane, and the seat lowers automatically. Any driver who spends long days at the helm will appreciate the comfort and tech. I’d opt for the stern thruster.  Controlled via an integrated twist knob in the throttle, it makes the SV even easier to control at low speeds while docking.

For entertainment, the SV is outfitted with Supra’s latest audio system, DSD, which is an audio experience that has to be heard to be fully understood. DSD is unlike anything on the market—and not just because there are six speakers in the arms of the tower, but because the entire system is designed to work together. Equipped with 22 high-­performance speakers, five amps and 25 channels of ­amplification, the DSD system is fine-tuned to create a truly immersive experience. Each section of speakers (bow, helm, cockpit, tower and subwoofer) can be individually controlled to customize volume throughout the boat. A third touchscreen at the dash behind the OB seat and a remote dial at the transom allow passengers to control the tunes anytime.

What the SV might lack in size, it makes up for with other advantages. It’s easier to trailer and to fit in a garage or storage bay, and it consumes less fuel. Plus, it’s easier to maneuver around tighter marinas or docks. For buyers who don’t need room for 16 or more people—or are on a size-restricted body of water—but want the performance capabilities of a bigger boat, the SV provides an answer.

Kudos to the team at Supra for knocking it out of the park with the SV, taking many of the best attributes of other Supra models and making them work well in a smaller package. The SV is a must-see for buyers in the sub-22-foot market, and definitely a “don’t overlook this” for buyers who think they might need a 22- or 23-footer.

Read Next: Supra SA

How We Tested

• Engine: Raptor by Indmar 410 hp/452 lb.-ft.
• Drive/Prop: V-drive/Acme 16” x 12.5” 4-blade nibral
• Gear Ratio: 1.7:1 Fuel Load: 60 gal. Crew Weight: 365 lb.

High Points

• AutoWake system automatically levels the boat’s ride, and keeps wakes and waves clean and even.
• Optional Dropstep powered step for easier boarding and added in-water lounging.
• Supra Tower battery-access button means no crawling under the cover is required.

Low Point

• The engine start/stop button and horn button are positioned behind the steering wheel, making it hard to see and access.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Supra SV appeared first on Boating Mag.