Boating

Boating is the world's foremost magazine for boating enthusiasts. Written by experts for those who love the sport, the editorial covers the waterfront -- from runabouts to sportfish convertibles to luxury showpieces, and everything in between.

Boating

SUMMERTIME BLUES • Thank your lucky stars that there ain’t no cure.

Mark Gomez • PWC Freestyle Champion and Movie Stuntman

INSIDE THE ISSUE

THREE SHOES TO FLOAT YOUR BOAT • Grundéns has been making clothing for professional boaters and anglers for more than 100 years. In recent years, the company has applied its “sea creds” to rugged, handsome sportswear including shirts, pants and footwear. The full range of products spans from waterfront eateries to yacht parties to working boats to fish-fighting cockpits. Here’s how our fave three we worked out in our tests.

FUEL PROBLEMS • Fuel problems are always front and center in marine engines. In fact, about 70 percent of the problems we see at our shop are fuel-caused or fuel-related. Here’s a captain’s test on fuel problems.

Newtons to Pounds

NORTHCOAST 415HT

LIFE PROOF 50

GH GEAR HEAD

FOR WANT OF A CLAMP • When 100 miles from shore, home and help, this boater’s preparedness prevented potential catastrophe.

STICKING POINTS • Anchoring alternatives, and why you will always need a traditional anchor.

Q&A • BOAT DOCTOR///Q&A • WEEKEND WORKBOOK • QUICK STUDY • WHAT TO LOOK FOR • BOAT DOC SPECIAL • BOATINGLAB

WE TEST STUFF

INSTALLING THE EASYGUIDE TRAILER GLIDE-ON SYSTEM • The EasyGuide system by Taylor Made makes it simple to line up a hull and a trailer.

MONUMENTAL TIPS FOR BACKING A TRAILER • Three Boating greats offer advice for a perennial reader query.

TOW-VEHICLE TECH • If it’s been a while since you bought new tow vehicle, you might be surprised by the many built-in advancements in trailering technology. New tow tech ranges from integrated weight scales and adaptive suspensions to systems that automatically back up your truck to hitch up your trailer. Here are a few examples to look for.

FLIPPING THE SWITCH • Much reporting focuses on reasons why one might choose electric marine power. The issues of range, speed, noise levels, winterizing and ethanol challenges, lake restrictions, environmental concerns and more all must be resolved on an individual basis. Little gets said about how a boater choosing to repower with electric actually gets that accomplished. Is it DIY? And if not, how does it get done?

SPOTLIGHTS

DONZI 39 VRZ • This boat can deliver top speeds from the 70s to the 90s, depending on the power chosen.

SEA RAY SLX 280 OUTBOARD

REGULATOR 30XO • This overbuilt hybrid is great for inshore, offshore and everywhere in between.

BENNINGTON 25 Q FASTBACK • This pontoon is designed, built, rigged and powered to deliver an elevated experience out on the water.

PHENOM YACHTS 37

BOSTON WHALER 280 Dauntless

PATHFINDER 2400 Open

MERCURY RACING 500R • Supercharged power for a variety of boats.

PROPS FOR INNOVATION • Sharrow MX3 propellers live up to most of the company’s performance-improvement claims.

NAVICO GROUP FATHOM 2.0 • Engine charging at 48 volts could be a game-changer.

in the beginning

AFFORDABLE SATCOM • Communications devices using satellite technology are more abundant today than any time in the past. What’s more, many are portable, ultra-compact, relatively affordable and designed for boating, dispelling any perceptions that you need a big, expensive dome antenna aloft to access satellite communications.

BE LIKE REGGIE FOUNTAIN • How old boaters can remain young at heart.