Table of contents for February 2026 in Boating

CLEANTOOL ABSORBER SYNTHETIC CHAMOIS THE DRY: Chamois are known for their ability to soak up large amounts of water while also being safe on delicate surfaces. Cleantool claims the wringable Absorber, which is made of a synthetic PVA material rather than animal leather, can absorb water three times faster than a regular towel. It’s machine washable and can be stored wet onboard inside a container without mildewing. THE SOG: A single chamois costs over twice as much as a 12-pack of microfiber cloths. You might need more than one to dry down your boat. PRICE: $15.99; westmarine.com GRIP ON MICROFIBER TOWELS THE DRY: Microfiber cloths are a great choice for drying your boat because they’re nonabrasive and won’t scratch your fiberglass, stainless-steel or plexiglass surfaces, and especially your electronic screens. They’re…

STRIKE NARROW TOOTH FLIP FLOPS The ICAST fishing-tackle trade show last summer included the introduction of Strike Footwear, a full line of shoes, boots and sandals for anglers and boaters, and carrying a commitment to reduce environmental impact. Strike’s technical features include the Aqua Deck Sole for enhanced traction and the Aqua Sluice Gill System for drainage and comfort. The nonslip rubber outsoles feature Solum Bio Tread, that releases nutrients as it wears. Strike is the official footwear of the International Game Fish Association (IGFA). A portion of every purchase supports IGFA-led research and education. After wearing Strike’s Narrow Tooth Flip Flops most of the summer and fall, I found the thickly padded insoles softened impacts from rough seas, relieving fatigue on my ankles, knees and hips. The textured nonslip…

How to tell if and when it’s time for a new boat. LIFE CHANGES The changing seasons of life definitely play a part in deciding when to upgrade. “We often hear from boaters who started out with a small dual- or center-console when they were single, then marry, have kids, and their needs change,” says Shelley Tubaugh, vice president of marketing for Grady-White. When kids come along, it is good to consider an upgrade if the family intends to do a lot of boating and fishing. A larger boat offers room for a bigger family and their friends. These are the times when the decision to upgrade is easy. That evolution continues when the kids go off to college. “Now perhaps the couple wants an express or a walkaround cabin…

I had an idea of what the new Tiara Yachts 39 LS would be like even before I ever saw it. Having the opportunity to tour Tiara’s production facility told me a lot of what I needed to know about the company’s build quality, and having run pretty much every other model in Tiara’s outboard-powered lineup, I expected big things. The 39 LS, which is replacing the old 38 in the lineup, didn’t disappoint. It features more modern bells and whistles while staying true to Tiara’s heritage as a builder of high-quality, sea-worthy boats. The real genius of the 39 LS is its modular, have-it-your-way design, especially in the cockpit. This isn’t just about moving a few cushions around; it’s a fundamental choice about the boat’s personality. Owners can opt…

I have been aboard and witnessed over the past six years the robotic behaviors of a number of these concept boats. In two cases, prototypes suffered malfunctions during demos that led to crunched fiberglass—obviously not ready for prime time. Yet, from what I experienced at the IBEX boatbuilder trade show in October of last year in Tampa, Florida, autonomous boats are now swiftly approaching consumer availability. Let’s compare two of the latest examples. SIMRAD AUTOCAPTAIN The Simrad AutoCaptain autonomous-boating system features full auto-docking capabilities, including docking, undocking, and short-distance maneuvers. Developed in collaboration with Simrad’s sister-brands Mercury Marine and Boston Whaler in the Brunswick family, the system I tested was integrated into a Boston Whaler 405 Conquest with triple Mercury 600 hp outboards with joystick piloting. AutoCaptain is controlled with a…

Boating—originally known as Popular Boating—hit newsstands in 1956 to help boaters more confidently make boating purchases, and allow them to more enjoyably own boats and accessories. That credo still guides us 70 years later. An early fan of ours was none other than Carl Kiekhaefer. What Ted Williams was to baseball, Kiekhaefer was to marine propulsion. He founded Kiekhaefer Corporation, which would later merge with Brunswick Corporation, and then become Mercury Marine. Kiekhaefer sent us a congratulatory telegram, calling Boating one of two great developments for boaters. That other great development was the upcoming introduction of the 1957 model year Mercury Mark 75 outboard—a 60 hp, inline six-cylinder engine that was then the most powerful outboard extant. ONLINE THIS MONTH IT’S SHOWTIME! It’s boat-show season, so now is the…

UNCOVERED BATTERY TERMINALS In the photo (right), it shows a battery in a brand-new boat with its positive terminals exposed. This is in direct violation of American Boat and Yacht Council standard E-11. More importantly, it is dangerous. Marine batteries pack a lot of energy. Should a wrench or other tool get dropped across the terminals, a large short and possible explosion could occur. Should a person wearing jewelry or a watch make contact (both should be removed whenever reaching into a bilge area, but often aren’t), he/she injured. could be severely When a boat, make shopping for sure the positive terminals are covered, or the batteries are in a box.…

Using a water-purification system to wash and rinse your boat once it’s back at the dock or on a trailer can save you time and help keep finishes spot-free and gleaming. These systems are especially helpful if the water supply contains an abundance of dissolved solids that can leave ugly-looking hard-water deposits on gelcoat and metal surfaces, particularly if not promptly wiped dry with a chamois or microfiber towel. To learn more, we talked with Eric Johnson from Deckhand Supply (deckhandsuppy.com) in Huntington Beach, California, who offers these tips to boaters thinking about a waterpurification system. RO VS. DI There are two basic technologies for water purification—reverse osmosis (RO) and deionization (DI). The purchase price of a RO system is far greater than a comparable DI system (purchase prices outlined below),…

Maintenance and storage advice for LiFePO4 battery and inverter systems. “Our Fathom M7000-X series e-power system, when paired to a V-10 or V-12 Mercury Verado outboard, is like having a pair of six kilowatt gensets,” says Daniel Clarkson, Navico’s director of integrated solutions. Inverters, along with enough lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery capacity, can power air conditioning, a water heater, and an electric grill simultaneously and continue to power air conditioning long after dinner. Compared to generators, battery and inverter systems don’t need much maintenance. But they do require more thought during daily use, along with a few systems checks and storage considerations to ensure they will operate at full capacity for years to come. Consider this guidance we gleaned from the pros for your benefit here. BATTERY USE “We typically…

Warn your crew before dropping the throttle. Zodiac’s Medline 9 is a Porsche Panamera for the water. This 29-footer absolutely rips from a dead idle to 30 mph in a cat-quick 4.1 seconds. Plus, we scored it highly in utility and comfort. It should be quick, fast and nimble, as it weighs just over 4,000 pounds and packs 600 Yamaha horses. We hit 62.4 mph with three passengers aboard, which will satisfy all but the most speed-hungry mariners. Our most economical cruising speed occurred at 31 mph where we recorded 2.3 mpg (13.6 gph). With its 150-gallon tank, that’s over 308 miles of range leaving 10 percent fuel in reserve. The Medline doesn’t give up ride quality for speed and acceleration. The steep 24-degree transom-deadrise V-hull, plus the added cushion…

Water Type Determining the type of water you intend to boat in most of the time drives a cascading series of decisions that can affect diverse characteristics—from which beach or cove you can explore to your economy of operation. Hulls with deeper-V shapes ride more smoothly but draw more water and may require more power to achieve a given speed. IN WHAT TYPE OF WATER ARE YOU GOING TO BE BOATING? WHAT HULL TYPE DO YOU NEED? Compromises? You can fish aboard a ski boat, ski from a fish boat and party aboard any boat. Be sure to consider the compromises before you buy. PURPOSE-BUILT BOATS ARE BEST FOR PURPOSE-BUILT BOATERS. Bed-and-Breakfast? Is sleeping aboard a reality for you? An alternative is to cruise to waterside hotels. Of course nothing…

1. Your boat’s bilge pump only works intermittently. Sometimes you can walk by it when it’s on the trailer and hear the pump whirring, but there’s no water in the boat. Where should you look to see if there’s a problem, and correct it? A. The bilge pump is one of the newer models and has a self-activating test circuit that checks the pump every few minutes. There’s nothing wrong. B. The bilge pump automatic float switch is old, or stuck in the “on” position, and is activating the pump. Check the float switch and replace if necessary. C. Someone left the bilge pump manual switch in the “on” position. D. The engine’s kill switch might be bad. E. A or B above—either can be correct. 2. Your navigation lights…

CRUISERS YACHTS 38 VTR EC Here’s a US-built “adventure” boat, rendered in wider, deeper and more luxurious form than many European entries in this category. It possesses the hallmarks of the type. Note the ease of access from bow to stern afforded by its single-level deck; the racks on the housetop to carry bikes, boards or kayaks; the angular lines with a noticeably low-rake to the stem; outboard power; and a stepped hull. On that hull, Cruisers Yachts gave the 38 VTR EC what we’d term vented chines, because the steps terminate at the outboard lifting strakes instead of running from chine to keel. Its deep freeboard and wider proportions also set it apart. An open version is also available. Belowdecks, find a V-berth that converts to a dinette, and…

These boats rank highest in the categories they occupy. From the 100 or so boats tested by each year’s end, we select those that stand out the most in their category. Ongoing debate and discussion keep the contenders list fluid. The boats presented here are the results of all that on-water testing and all that team deliberation. From this select group, Boat of the Year 2025 will be chosen. Congratulations, Boat of the Year category winners! FISHING—SMALL YAMAHA CROSSWAVE With the CrossWave, Yamaha just may have created a new category of boat. The CrossWave combines the shallow draft, capacity and speed of a fishing skiff while delivering the maneuverability, handling and sporty fun of a personal watercraft such as its WaveRunner cousins. Our team applauded this plunge into new territory,…

If Yamaha’s new CrossWave WaveRunner wore clothes, it would sport an AFTCO fishing shirt over Gill boardshorts and Grundéns flip-flops. The CrossWave challenges the very notion that PWCs must be confined to the traditional sit-down or stand-up experience. This isn’t about going faster or carving harder. While it is designed to fish like no other watercraft, it’s unique characteristics still fulfill Yamaha’s mission to bring safe, exciting, maneuverable and versatile vessels to the water. At 12 feet,11 inches long and 5 feet, 7 inches wide, the CrossWave looks like a mini-flattop aircraft carrier, but with the command station in the center. Deep footwells are kept dry by its generous freeboard. The walkaround layout features Marine Mat decking that flows uninterrupted from bow to stern, allowing true 360-degree mobility that makes…

Pontoon boats are everywhere these days, and for good reason. They’re spacious and comfortable, providing tons of stability on the water thanks to their wide-body design and buoyant aluminum tubes. So, what’s holding you back from looking at one? Maybe you’re an angler who just wants to wet a line, or a watersports enthusiast who’s not happy unless you’re towing something. Maybe you want to slowly cruise around, anchor at the sandbar or just go fast. Thankfully, there’s a wide variety of styles under the pontoon umbrella, so whatever type of boater you are, there’s potentially a pontoon for you. Double thanks, none of these boats are one-trick ponies, so they all offer a lot on the water. Here are eight different pontoons that can satisfy your boating needs. SEA-DOO…