Table of contents for October 2025 in Boating

THREE BLADES MERCURY ENERTIA Three-blade propellers are known for their efficiency and high-speed capabilities. They typically have less blade area, leading to less drag and allowing for a higher top speed. The reduced blade area results in more vibrations compared to options with more blades. They are the most common type of propellers used, largely due to their affordability and availability in various sizes. Mercury Marine’s Entertia is a notable example, providing excellent performance for smaller recreational boats with high-horsepower outboards. THE BITE: Higher top speed due to less drag. More affordable and widely available. Efficient for most general boating applications. THE SLIP: Increased vibrations. Less blade area reduces grip in the water. PRICE: Visit mercurymarine.com FOUR BLADES MERCURY REVOLUTION 4 By adding an additional blade, four-blade propellers provide improved hole-shot…

Today, many boat buyers seek boats in the 50-foot class. With the introduction of the 495 Flybridge, the builder’s flagship, Nimbus Boats proves itself happy to oblige, and in so doing, was awarded European Power Boat of the Year. I sea-trialed the 495 Flybridge in beautiful early summer weather. The new boat was originally supposed to be a coupé boat and one is coming, but the model with a flybridge came first. Nimbus’s project name for this series—“Voyager”—explains the large tankage, and other solutions, that allow for longer-range cruising. This 495 Flybridge represents an aesthetic evolution for Nimbus. The lines are sleeker, the color scheme is brighter, and “technical wood” replaces teak on the deck and walkways, while poplar replaces it in the joinery. Technical wood consists of a mixture…

Scarab’s 210 LX shares the “second-generation” look and feel of the boatbuilder’s retooled 285 and 235. It also offers more interior room than many competitors and—with a single supercharged Rotax 300—delivers jetboat-worthy power without a twin-engine model’s heftier price or fuel consumption. That’s an attractive mix for a target audience that can be up to 50-percent first-time buyers and overwhelmingly below 45 years of age. They may have matured, or now have families to consider, but that doesn’t mean they don’t still want a boat that bounds out of the hole, rails through a turn, and yes, looks pretty bad-ass in the process. The single 300 hp supercharged Rotax engine strikes a good balance between power and efficiency. Firewall the throttle and the 210 leaps forward like a race horse,…

REGAL 38 SURF Regal bills its 38 Surf as the world’s largest wakesurf boat. It’s much more than that. Nearly 40-feet-long, it can do just about everything on the water, from overnighting to cruising to fishing and more. It’s a true sport-utility boat. Everything centers around twin 380 hp Volvo Penta engines paired with Forward Drives, which tuck the props safely out of harm’s way. Because the 38 Surf is such a big boat with a large displacement, Regal had no need to add ballast tanks or surf tabs to shape the wake, simplifying the wakesurfing experience to a push-button operation. At the helm, go to surf mode on the 22-inch Garmin MFD. The Forward Drives offset each other and create a wave on either side. By adjusting the trim…

BOATINGMAG.COM OCTOBER 2025 SCAN To read the full interview online, go to boatingmag.com/georgelaycock. What inspired you to make this run? I thought it would be a unique trip; it was a personal challenge, especially for someone my age. I used to boat race, so I’ve got a bit of a competitive gene. I wanted to see if I could better the distance record on one battery. How were the logistics? You have to really plan for having extra batteries on the chase boat, and especially for the weather, because it can be ferocious. Which Fliteboard did you use? The Fliteboard Pro model and Flitecell Explore batteries. We used four total batteries and switched them out on the fly, I got so much distance out of the third battery that I…

There is a new King of the Sea: All hail the Marex 390! That tongue-in-cheek introduction is a reference to Marex Boats’ tagline (the roots of the word Marex literally mean “sea” and “king”). It’s no boast. The 390 is designed and built by experienced boaters incorporating features and enhancing systems as the need for such is discovered out on the water. Examples abound. The swim platform benches provide seats next to the water and offer expansive stowage for fenders, lines, and toys. The see-through door separating the salon and cockpit allows more natural light while enhancing visibility during docking. A pilot door allows quick egress to the side deck from the helm. Cockpit canvas rides on track to deploy or stow easily. Two large staterooms belowdecks, including the full-beam…

SHADES OF WHITE For years, outboard brands had stuck with standard colors, to wit: Honda’s Aquamarine Silver, Mercury’s Phantom Black, Suzuki’s Black Nebular Pearl and Yamaha’s Dark Bluish Gray. Today, however, all offer white outboards, which have grown popular in warmer climates because the lighter color allows the engine to run as much as 10 degrees F cooler versus a black one. Plus, a white outboard is less likely to show water spots. On the downside, white is more likely to show stains on the lower unit and midsection from brackish or high-tannin-content waters. When looking to match your white boat with a white motor, be careful. Not all whites are the same, and when put together, they can clash. That’s why Mercury Marine offers three colors of white, including…

Most boat buyers know Scout Boats—well-built, solid-performing center-consoles, served with a heaping of luxury. So, I dearly wish that I could have been a mouse in the conference room when a Scout executive said: “Hey, let’s build a big boat! About 67 feet! Three luxurious staterooms! Five (count ’em!) Mercury V-12 outboards of 600 hp! Sixty mph!” The new Scout 670 LXS, appropriately named “Project Everest” after that fateful meeting, raises the bar in so many ways. It’s the largest outboard-powered sport-fishing yacht in the world. The 60 cylinders of the Mercury Verado V-12s blast this 15-ton yacht, with its three staterooms, two heads, and acres of entertaining space, to a freckle shy of a mile-a-minute, or 60 mph. The 670 LXS is a delight for anglers, with a pair…

Full disclosure about Wellcraft’s boats: I like them. I’ve owned ’em, raced ’em, and regretted selling ’em. But I’ve never seen a Wellcraft like the new 38 T-Top. This is a new breed and, not giving anything away early, I like it. A lot. If you’re expecting this center-console to be in the hose-out-the-blood and beer-cans style, you’re way off. This is an elegant center-console made for entertaining on the water. Yes, it’s got all the fishing goodies (check the Adventure Fishing option, $2,610), including a livewell, bait drawer, rod holders, a tackle box under the helm, and a saltwater washdown system. But to keep you from getting stuck in angling mode, let’s start with the aft cockpit. The fold-up settee gives you room for fishing but, when down, it…

Selecting the appropriate marine power is crucial for achieving optimal boat performance. US Coast Guard regulations guide this process on some boats, but among larger vessels over 20 feet in length overall, the calculation is guided both by regulations and by builder experience. Adhering to the manufacturer’s capacity plate is vital to avoid overpowering, which can lead to balance, buoyancy, and safety and handling issues. For monohull boats under 20 feet, Coast Guard regulations specify a formula based on boat length, transom width and transom height and factors such as manner of steering equipment to determine maximum horsepower. What’s more, different types of boats require varying horsepower. For instance, easy-going pontoon boats run happily on 50 hp while performance-pontoon guys want 300 hp or more. Flats skiffs tend to go…

The 15x3 screen is 13⅝ inches wide by 711∕16 inches tall with 1,920 horizontal pixels and 720 vertical pixels. The ultrawide aspect ratio means boaters can enjoy the equivalent of dual screens without needing two separate units, making it easier to display and read the data and the applications that captains use most. With a screen that’s 74 percent wider than a standard 9-inch chart plotter, the 15x3 offers two different mounting options: a bail-mounted option with inset knobs and a bracket to support dash-top installations, and a rear-mounting option that provides secure flush- and flat-mounted helm solutions. Garmin has engineered the ultrawide display for viewing applications side by side. It utilizes sidebar controls that let boaters easily customize and view the functions that they need without switching screens. The…

Inspired by owner input, the new S 388 Sport CC is the latest evolution in Pursuit’s luxury line. (It also manufactures the OS Offshore series.) Notably, it incorporates more stowage and refrigeration than previous models. Pursuit’s practice of building a mock-up prior to committing to a mold ensures that every inch of space is used wisely and practically. For example, the space between the cockpit galley and helm seating allows for comfortably manning the grill while also housing a ton of stowage and offering great visibility fore-and-aft from there. Belowdecks, note the hanging locker—unique for a center-console—abutting the head with its standup shower. The helm is a stylish and ergonomic place of command. In the bow, I applauded the richly upholsteredshore lounges as much for their comfort as for the…

While many hydraulic-assist steering systems are available, engine-makers are pushing fly-by-wire steering. In fact, for many applications, we wouldn’t be surprised if digital steering replaced hydraulic steering altogether; it’s simpler to install than hydraulic assist systems, it can be more compact, and many boaters find that it offers more-precise control—especially while docking. WHO NEEDS POWER STEERING? Power steering is advisable on boats with outboards of 300 hp or more. Boats in the 225 to 250 hp range are manageable without it but will require more effort from the helmsman, especially with cable steering and less so with straight hydraulic steering. Pontoon boats 150 to 250 hp seem to produce more feedback than smaller boats of the same power and can be a handful in turns. Both electric digital and electrohydraulic assist…

Intrepid Powerboats has figured out how to blend luxury, performance and fishing on a balanced basis with the new 50 Evolution. It’s a cruiser with a well-appointed cabin, as well as a fishing boat that can be tricked-out to target any gamefish. And for both, it delivers the performance that most boaters can only envy. Powered by triple Mercury Verado 600 hp V-12 outboards, the single-step hull responds quickly to throttle and wheel inputs. Lifting strakes get the hull up and out, with a comfortable cruising speed of 35.7 mph at 4,000 rpm, burning 76 gph. Wide open, the 50 Evolution produces 54 mph (average from reciprocal runs), offering a comfortable and stable ride. My fortune on this trial day was a run from Palm Beach, Florida, to Dania, Florida,…

Chaparral began building boats in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in the ’60s. Back then, it produced inexpensive boats (its first, an $850 tri-hull) and developed a full line ranging from small, valuepriced runabouts to 30-foot luxury yachts. In that time, Chaparral learned much about luxury, and it shows in its new SSX 8—a 28-foot runabout built in Chaparral’s Nashville, Georgia, headquarters. Everywhere one might lay their head, hand or swimsuit-clad body is met by the touch of luxury. The evidence is in the glossy gelcoat; the supple, stain- and UV-proof silicone upholstery, the cradling contour of the seating at the helm, bow and stern; and the mirrorlike polish of the most durable cleats, hinges, grab handles and trim available to the marketplace. Even the optional anchor and windlass ($5,475) are highly…

As experienced boaters know and newbies will soon learn, boating isn’t always blue skies, sunshine, and calm seas. That might be the ideal, but the reality is that sometimes those skies turn dark and threatening, sunshine is replaced by wind and rain, and your day on the water turns downright nasty—and, if you’re not prepared, even dangerous. Though odds are those pictureperfect days will likely be far more in abundance, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a plan, or some battle-tested tactics, on how to deal with stormy weather. Here’s a primer, from how best to predict what days will be a washout to how to weather a storm you can’t outrun and make it safely back to the dock. PLAN AHEAD The obvious first piece of advice? Always check…