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.
For the past 12 or 15 years, open boats of all sorts have proved to be the darlings of the boat-buying public. Whether it’s a center-console or a bowrider or a pontoon, boats with little or no sleeping capability currently rule the waves by a large margin. Sales stats, state boating-registration data, and the number of cabinless new-model boats hitting the market all bear this out. It used to be different. When I started in the boat business in the 1980s, there were at least a dozen or more popular boatbuilders offering cabin boats. While some of these were certainly large convertible fishing boats and large cabin cruisers, plenty of makers offered smaller boats with cabins. I’ll cite Grady-White’s success with the walk-around cuddy cabin and Sea Ray’s success with…
BOATINGMAG.COM MARCH 2025 ON BOARD WITH CAPTAIN’S TEST FOR COMPARISON’S SAKE ONLINE THIS MONTH FIRST IMPRESSION ON BOARD WITH SCAN ME To read the full interview online, go to boatingmag.com/randywayne-white. Randy Wayne White Author New York Times bestselling author Randy Wayne White has written more than 40 novels, but he’s best known for his “Doc Ford” series, set on Sanibel Island, Florida. Doc Ford is a biologist with a “certain set of skills.” White’s latest novel, One Deadly Eye, is set during Hurricane Ian in 2022, and because White hunkered down for the blow, he gives a terrifying bird’s-eye view of the destructive winds, storm surge and worse—the seedy looters and assassins who wormed their way into the devastated zone. I met up with White at a book signing at Sandman…
1. What is the best type of steering system for a typical single-outboard-powered hull capable of speeds in the 60-plus mph range? A. Single push-pull mechanical cable system B. Dual-cable mechanical system C. Dual-cable “no feedback” mechanical system D. High-performance hydraulic system E. Any of the above will work fine. 2. What should you do to a hydraulic steering system every time you take a ride in your boat? A. Nothing; it will work fine without maintenance or checking. B. Drain all hydraulic fluid and refill with fresh. C. Steer the system lock-to-lock to check for loose steering or binding, and to ensure that the engine/drive moves properly when you move the steering wheel. D. Check the system and its parts for corrosion and fluid leaks. E. C and D…
No matter how many lights you have hard-wired into your boat, every boater would be well-served to carry aboard some type of handheld illumination device. You never know when you’re going to need to navigate through a bunch of moored sailboats at the marina after dark, or find that loose wire connector in the bilge. Here are three types of handheld lights to consider. SPOTLIGHT WEST MARINE HEAVY WATERPROOF RECHARGEABLE LED SPOTLIGHT THE BRIGHT SIDE: A spotlight’s concentrated beam is great for picking out buoys at a distance. A handheld, such as this one from West Marine, does the trick. Its rugged aluminum case has an IP67 waterproof rating and floats. Its three settings harness 10,000 lumens. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries provide three hours of use at full power, six hours at…
SAXDOR 340 GTWA Saxdor Yachts (again) proves itself influential, this time with the 340 GTWA, which debuted at the Cannes Yachting Festival this past September. The 340 GTWA combines a cabin boat with an open boat to serve both day-boating and cruising owners. Topside, you’ll find a walk-around pilothouse that not only provides easy access bow to stern for shipboard chores such as anchoring and docking, but it also gives those aboard more room to mix, mingle and, if they choose, find a spot away from the crowd and still be outside. The twin terraces that fold out port and starboard exponentially increase the deck space, and thus the sociability that the 340 GTWA provides. The pilothouse opens wide to the outdoors, further advancing this boat’s dayboat mission. For cruising,…
ROBALO R300 Robalo’s R300 promises fishability, cruising comforts, and great performance. Drawn by noted designer Michael Peters, the R300’s deep-V hull features two running strakes per side, an aggressively raked stem, and other characteristics known for delivering confidence on open water. Inside, we find a triple helm stand, with each of the three seats boasting a flip bolster, armrests and multicolor upholstery. Abaft, this is a triple-wide bench, affording aft-facing seating while also concealing a huge cooler underneath. An oversize hardtop is above and inside the center console; you’ll find a spacious head compartment with plenty of headroom. There’s a transom bench that folds away to clear the cockpit, with even more seating in the bow, where a stowable table and stowable backrests provide versatility and comfort. The side cockpit…
