Groupe Beneteau and Vision Marine Technologiesannounced plans to integrate Vision Marine’s electric outboard motors with several models across the boat builder’s portfolio of brands. The initial offering will be launched under the Four Winns brand with deliveries expected to be available in spring 2023.
In addition to the VMT’s outboards on Four Winns boats, the technology will also be rolled out by other brands within Groupe Beneteau in North America and Europe, according to a joint press release.
“After the construction and thorough testing of a first, jointly developed prototype in early 2022, the objective is to bring to market a 100% electric boat and propulsion package,” said Erik Stromberg, Power and Motor Yacht Product Director for Groupe Beneteau. “The key to electrification is to have a full analysis of the customer use case. Many of the boats in our portfolio fit perfectly with a 100% electric solution. This solution is complementary and fully compatible with our other propulsion packages,” Stromberg said.
There is more to an electric outboard motor than just the propulsion unit. Lithium-ion batteries, chargers, management systems and an abundance of software are also required.
Four Winns Will Be First
The Vision Marine E-Motion™180 hp powertrain system, with a battery capacity of 70kWh of continuous power, will be launched under the Four Winns brand. Deliveries are expected to be available in spring 2023.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to power the Four Winns boat with our E-Motion™ 180E technology and look forward to a long-standing partnership with them,” said Alexandre Mongeon, co-founder and CEO of VMT. “We continue to showcase our technology and rig the E-Motion™ powertrain on numerous third-party boats in order to formally move towards scaled production of our E-Motion™ technology for commercial usage.”
Scaled-Up Production
VMT has long been focused on scaling up production to meet the needs of major boat builders. This is one aspect of the company that sets it apart from many of the other pioneering electric outboard makers.
“Our high-end technology adapted from the state-of-the-art automotive market is the driver of our partnership with Groupe Beneteau,” said Mongeon.
“We have worked hard with McLaren Engineering and its parent company Linamar Corp. to design a very secure and easy to use system. This will change the way consumers go boating,” stated Xavier Montagne, COO of Vision Marine.
Vacations are meant for grandeur, indulging in luxuries, and experiencing new and unique adventures. As you plan your getaways for the latter half of 2022 and into 2023 and want to find something that stands out and offers a true, one-of-a-kind experience, you’ll find it in spades with a charter journey aboard Tail Lights, the dazzling 116-foot Azimut Grande Motor Yacht.
Accommodations offered by Tail Lights will ensure that you and your company have an unforgettable travel experience, but there is another special treat that is unparalleled—access to the British Virgin Islands (BVIs). There are few U.S.-flagged yachts in the BVIs; however, her owner, along with long-time captain Sean Kampfer, went above and beyond, as they always do, and worked with BVI tourism to create an exceptional cruise in this tropical paradise. In fact, Tail Lights is currently featured in their publication on chartering in the BVIs. This has made this already highly sought-after superyacht even more popular in the global charter community. And it is easy to see why.
She’s a Special Yacht
Tail Lights has room to comfortably accommodate 12 guests in five staterooms (along with two additional Pullman berths), plus crew quarters for six. The owner’s master suite features a private staircase leading to a king-size bed, a self-service bar, and a spacious ensuite with a bathtub and a separate jet rain shower.
This magnificent superyacht also features two VIP suites with queen-size beds and two guest suites, all ensuite with a shower. No matter how many people you bring along, everyone will be comfortable and cared for on board.
Relaxation and entertainment are found in abundance on board this vessel. She comes equipped with top-of-the-line entertainment amenities to help you and your guests stay amazed throughout your trip, including the massive flybridge that features a jacuzzi, a wet bar, beautiful teak seating, table space, lounge chairs, and a covered aft deck that is the perfect spot to sip on a cocktail, read a book, and unwind.
She is also loaded with many different fun toys to explore the water and surrounding islands. Jet skis, sea scooters, wakeboards, snorkel gear, paddleboards, and fishing equipment are all found on board. Capt. Sean and the Tail Lights’ crew will ensure that all guests feel spoiled by endless opportunities.
Why it’s a Unique and Unforgettable Experience
The amenities on board this unrivaled 116-foot Azimut certainly contribute to its lavishness. However, what ultimately sets this chartered experience apart is the dedication of its captain and crew and the ability to go where other charter vessels cannot. Capt. Sean knew that he had to try to make this incomparable experience available to his guests. He went out of his way to create an unforgettable BVIs itinerary with the goal to present guests an enjoyable, blissful journey.
His ties with the local community provide opportunities that are only available to those with immense knowledge of the area and culture. This is why Tail Lights is so highly praised and frequently booked.
If you want to experience this marvel on the sea, you’ll want to book this charter sooner rather than later or risk missing your opportunity. Tail Lights is available for limited dates from October through December 2022. She’s also available towards the end of January 2023, just in time for the Anegada Lobster Festival in February. If you’re eager to charter a yacht for your next unforgettable adventure, contact HMY Charter Vacations Director Susan Harris today at sharris@hmy.com, or call 561-870-4142 to plan the trip of a lifetime.
Lake Champlain offers some of the best boating from New York to Vermont.
Magic and mystery are daily elements of cruising Lake Champlain. Maybe it’s looking east spotting the Green Mountains of Vermont rimming the horizon and looking west to the Adirondack Mountains of New York standing at attention. Or could it be anchoring in Button Bay that creates a mood? The site of a critical naval battle during the Revolutionary War, this bay is the final resting place for defeated American warships deliberately sunk as they fled the British. A special feeling also arises knowing that the lake provides one stretch of two tantalizing North American loop cruises, both of which traverse the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Triangle Loop meanders west to Lake Erie and north into Canada. The Down East Loop flows through Canadian cities, three provinces, and pours into the North Atlantic in Nova Scotia.
Holding its own as a destination, Lake Champlain provides serene anchorages, beautiful vistas, numerous state parks, fjord-like fingers, comfortable temperatures, and a host of small towns to explore. Museums abound to chronicle the numerous locally fought naval battles critical to the founding of the United States. Even the non-history buff will soak up appreciation of the fight for liberty occurring here. With control of Lake Champlain, the British intended to gain advantage by cutting off the northeastern states from the rest of the U.S. The patriots fought back. Lake Champlain also hosted battles during the French and Indian War and the War of 1812 as its strategic location was key to controlling inland access.
Measuring 125 miles long and 12 miles wide, Lake Champlain is named for explorer Samuel de Champlain, who founded Quebec in 1608 and sailed into what would become his namesake lake in 1609. Serving as the border for New York and Vermont, Lake Champlain connects Canada through the Chambly Canal winding north toward the St. Lawrence Seaway and New York via the Champlain Canal flowing south to the Hudson River. Either access point provides an exhilarating tour of largely rural areas beaded together by a series of historic canals and natural rivers. The entire lake runs north to south, reaches depths of 400 feet, and contains more than 70 islands. Some isles, like historically significant Valcour Island, are part of the New York State Park System. Others are privately owned, providing scenic anchorages, but no shore access.
Inland Sea
Not to be missed is the Inland Sea, the eastern part of Lake Champlain north of Burlington. Threading its way 25 miles north to south, this body of water is accessed through two navigable cuts: The Gut on the southern end and Alburgh Passage to the north. The latter is narrow, but free of shallow depths and heavy weeds that can clog The Gut in the summer. Numerous remote anchorages dot the Inland Sea, which seems Tolkienesque in name and mood. Big draws include Burton Island State Park, the No. 1-rated park in Vermont in 2019-2020 and home to a small marina, and St. Albans, featuring a quaint town square and lush farmers market. St. Albans requires a bike or a ride three miles uphill from the friendly folks at Bay Harbor Marina. Meandering between the Inland Sea’s many islands, one can travel 20 miles passing only a single channel marker due to sufficient depths.
Museums
For history immersion and boatbuilding inspiration, visit the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vergennes. Mooring balls are available at North Harbor, adjacent to
the property. Philadelphia II, a replica of the Revolutionary War gunboat lost at the battle of Valcour Island, is on-site, along with countless other locally built vessels. There are programs for kayak-building and longboat-building created by collaborations with local schools.
Other museums to consider include the Shelburne Museum and the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum near Burlington, and Fort Ticonderoga on the southern end. Dominating a strategic point on the narrow end of the lake, Fort Ticonderoga hums with history. Tales of the bold nighttime-forced surrender by the British whistle in the wind behind the massive fortress walls.
Cruise Around
A stunning anchorage lies just south of the point and is guaranteed to conjure up echoes of cannon fire. Nearby, a ferry dock provides dinghy tie-up for the walk uphill to the fort.
While most cruisers will bring their own boats, there is one Burlington company that offers bareboat charters. Cruisers can visit a section of the lake in a weekend crisscrossing from the Vermont to the New York side. In a week, the lake can be traversed visiting four or five different locations, but two weeks allow time for immersion. Prioritize Valcour Island, Deep Bay, and Burton Island for hiking. All three offer secure anchorages and access to maintained hiking trails. Willsboro Bay on the New York side provides anchorage and marina options including a sunset-oriented restaurant, The Upper Deck.
A seven-mile winding trip up Otter Creek in Vermont leads to Vergennes. A free dock greets cruisers along with the famous waterfall illuminated at night. For boats with draft under four feet, the light show along with a popular restaurant makes the trip enticing.
Essex, New York, an entire hamlet listed on the National Register of Historic Places, oozes charm. Also on the New York side is Plattsburgh, with a large marina and ships store, on-site restaurant, and provisioning options.
As the region’s largest city, Burlington is a fun visit. Highlights include marinas, extraordinary restaurants, a “flight” of breweries each appealing to specific tastes like all ales or all sours, and abundant shopping and provisioning. Ice cream fanatics happily line up at Ben and Jerry’s, whose first location was in Burlington in 1978. Featured scoops include tantalizing flavors that will not make it to local grocery stores. For cyclists, there is a 13.4-mile, well-groomed bike trail stretching from the vibrant, scenic waterfront to the shallow southern entrance to the Inland Sea. Burlington spills down a steep hill to the lake. As the sun sets offering a breathtaking view from just about anywhere in the city, sounds of music drift out of many open doors. After all, it is the home of the band Phish.
Pay Attention to the Conditions
For the adventurous, cruising uncrowded Lake Champlain also serves up a wonderful variety of water sports. Kayaking in quiet coves, SCUBA diving wrecks, kite surfing when the wind is up, paddleboarding, fishing (walleye, pike, and bass), and swimming are all available. Averaging 73 degrees Fahrenheit in August, the water is refreshing. Spotting boaters sudsing up on their swim platform followed by a rinse in the clean lake water illustrates its appeal. Rarely in the summer, algae blooms may occur, which cause beaches to close for a few days.
Regarding navigation, pay attention to water depth as some places are too deep to anchor. No flooding occurs, although Otter Creek can rise during rare heavy rain. Vigilance is required to track ferries that traverse from Vermont to New York and back in the three areas. Two large car ferries can often be seen simultaneously heading in different directions. Fog or misty conditions call for situational awareness and use of radar. Anchoring in depths more than 15 feet is recommended to avoid tangling one’s rode in dense vegetation that grows in shallow areas.
Boaters from outside of Vermont, New York, and Canada run the gamut of canals and locks to get into Lake Champlain. Reading about safe lock practices and height and depth restrictions is wise. Proper length lines, sturdy boat hooks, fat fenders, and waterproof gloves will make this smoother. Additional Lake Champlain preparation would include disabling any overboard sanitation system. Closing a seacock is insufficient. Both New York and Vermont require hose removal and plugging any thru-hull.
The best weather occurs late June to early September, with a 79-degree average high in July and 61-degree average low. August and September have the fewest rainy days. Like many maritime environments, the weather can change several times during the day so layers and rain gear are suggested (flannel shirts are high fashion). While generally calm with less than two-foot waves, a cold front can whip up a frothy mess with short stacked waves of four feet or more.
If lack of tides and currents, delightful temperatures, a combination of remote open land, granite cliffs plunging to depths more than 300 feet, and a small village vibe excite you, consider this unspoiled, uncrowded inland lake. “Champ,” the legendary local sea monster, will welcome you.
Swedish category leader continues to make sustainable electric boating a reality for a broader market
Stockholm – Sept. 1, 2022 – X Shore (www.xshore.com), the Swedish technology company behind a game-changing generation of fully-electric, silent, connected boats, announced today the launch of its latest model, the X Shore 1.
Built with X Shore’s latest smart technology, sustainable methods, and clean Scandinavian design, the X Shore 1 enters the market at an attractive and accessible price point, which will generate new and reinvigorated interest in electric boating. The new vessel starts at $139,000, which is around a third of the price of other high-performance electric boat models, whilst not compromising on performance or operational capabilities. The X Shore 1 will be built at X Shore Industries 1 in Nyköping, Sweden, and will be available in two configurations: Top and Open. First orders will be delivered to customers in the second quarter of 2023 and can be ordered via selected partners and on X Shore’s website.
The continued electrification of boating is crucial to support climate change mitigation and a decarbonized global economy. A swift transition to sustainable boating is necessary for global emission reduction targets to be achievable. To enable this transition, X Shore is massively ramping up production capacity and launching the X Shore 1 at a remarkable price point.
Emissions from high-performance fossil-fuelled boats are substantial and from just 50 hours on the water, common 6-10 meter boats can produce emissions comparable to more than 7 roundtrips between New York and central Europe by airplane. Beyond emissions, noise pollution from traditional boating is having a negative effect on the planet. The International Maritime Organisation has found that noise pollution from boats negatively impacts marine life, both short and long-term.
Commenting on the launch of the X Shore 1, X Shore CEO Jenny Keisu, said: “In order to bring electric boating to the largest possible audience, it is essential we bring to market a range of models and options to satisfy the different needs and desires of the global boating community. Crucially, the X Shore 1 enters the market at a remarkably low price point, as we must make electric boating competitive with fossil-fuel boats to speed up the transition. Just as importantly, by launching the X Shore 1, X Shore is hoping to encourage a new generation of boat owners, and show them that electric boating is not just the future, but the present. X Shore craft are already in the hands of customers and we will be delivering the first X Shore 1 boats to customers early next year, building them in our new factory at a rate of two boats per day as capacity expands. We are proud of our Swedish heritage, and the X Shore 1 pays homage to this through an innovative product that is designed with functionality and durability in every step, from production to use and lifetime.”
X Shore was founded on three pillars: design, sustainability, and technology. X Shore has set a course for long-term sustainability that paves the way for a net-zero future through its new technology, innovative research, smart design, and sustainable materials that allow passengers to explore the world’s oceans and lakes without the harmful noise and fumes a fossil-fuel engine emits.
The X Shore 1 has a multitude of core features that make it the ideal vessel for a day (or night) on the water: open transom with in-built swim platform; mesh rail furniture option with central passage; generous deck for sunbathing and leisure; integrated navigation lights in bow rail; cantilevered roof; retractable sun awnings; and water sport capabilities. The X Shore 1 will come in three specifications: Utility, Performance and Premium. The models are bought as seen.
The design of the X Shore 1 results in similar performance to the X Shore Eelex 8000 (www.xshore.com/eelex-8000), all the more impressive as it only has a single battery – reducing the cost for customers, and further reducing its carbon footprint. The size also enables easier transportation to customers, as it comfortably fits inside containers used in global shipping.
X Shore’s in-house production methods, on parts of the boat such as the hull, are industry-leading and deliver high-performance components which use significantly less material. X Shore use a combination of glass fiber and carbon fiber to balance weight, performance and environmental impact. X Shore in-house hull production will be done out of X Shore Industries 1, where the hulls will be produced via prepreg. As a result, the boats are lighter and only require a single 63 kWh battery. Using cork for the hull instead of teak provides further environmental benefits.
Specifications for the X Shore 1
Models – Open, Top
Length – 21 ft
Beam – 7.3 ft
Depth – 2.13 ft
Height – 5.4 ft (Open), 7.18 ft (Top)
Weight – 3400 lbs (Open), 3540 lbs (Top)
Electrical Motor – 125 kWh
Top Speed – 30 knots
Cruising speed – 20 knots
Battery – Kreisel battery pack KBP63, with 63kWh capacity
Range – 50 nautical miles (at lower speeds)
Charging – 20-80% 1.5 hours (22kW) / 4.6 hours (7.3kW) / fast charging 50 min (45kW)
Display – Large touch screen
About X Shore
The Swedish climate technology and electric boat company X Shore was founded in 2016 in Stockholm. Made in Sweden, X Shore has become the world’s leading supplier of electric boats with customers in markets such as North America and Europe. X Shore’s boats use no fossil fuels and have minimal impact on marine wildlife. X Shore has been awarded a number of prizes for the design of the model Eelex 8000, and in 2022 the company was nominated for the European Powerboat of the Year and received the jury’s special mention.
X Shore creates 100% electric boats for a fossil free tomorrow. By combining Swedish maritime craftsmanship with technology, innovation and sustainability, we are changing and charging the future of the boat industry. Sustainability is at the heart of everything X Shore does and the company was found by an independent auditor, Cicero Shades of Green AG, to be one of the most sustainable manufacturers in the world this year. For more information visit: www.xshore.com
Rock bassist Dale Stewart of Seether balances touring with a fishing life.
Rock stars have a reputation for being a little weird, passionate, and a touch rebellious. Bassist Dale Stewart of the rock band Seether likes to fish. Okay, that’s not weird, millions like to fish. But the 42-year-old can’t just chill before entertaining thousands with songs like “Fine Again,” “Remedy,” and “Broken,” so he’ll rig up his travel rod to go fishing on ponds, streams, rivers, or oceans—whatever is near the gig.
Where it gets weird is learning about what Stewart ponders while on the water. He starts thinking like a fish, of how the world of a fish changes when it gets hooked by a lure, how it is pulled from the water into the air—a form of alien abduction—and is examined, measured, perhaps tagged, and released.
“Yeah, then the fish comes back down and explains to his fish friends what happened,” says Stewart, who grew up in South Africa and is now based in the seaside town of Savannah, Georgia. “The fish says to his buddies, ‘I got pulled up onto the futuristic vessel, tagged, and then I got away. It was an alien abduction.’ His buddies think he is crazy. It parallels to our abduction stories; maybe another species abducts us for sport.”
The struggle between the fish and the angler is one of life and death—especially for the fish, Stewart continues, and here’s where the passion comes in. “We have completely over-run the planet,” he says. “Humans are the most dangerous animal on earth. We used to fish for survival and now, for many of us, it’s just for sport. There’s a deep need to provide for your family successfully and catching a fish fulfills that need. Now, I’m mostly a catch-and-release angler. But I will keep a fish for fish and chips, especially a delicious one like a cobia.”
Before concerts, Stewart can’t sleep the day away like some rockers. And while drinking whiskey can take up a lot of time and make just about anything fun, he believes partying has a time and a place.
“While we are on the boat with family and friends, we get the music going and find a sandbar to let the dogs and kids run around, and we’ll do a bit of drinking,” Stewart says. “Time off was a silver lining of the pandemic. I fished with Matt Franklin, a friend who I met five years ago when we both came to Savannah. He has a twenty-foot Sportsman, and we fished around Tybee Island and Hilton Head. We figured out how to catch redfish. We patterned the fish and paid our dues.”
Stewart guesses the first fish he caught was a rainbow trout with his father, Charles, who owned a tackle shop in South Africa and is still involved in the fishing tackle business. “I have great memories with my dad fishing, and actually, the first known picture of me is holding a ladyfish from the ocean,” he says. “But I bet the first one was a trout.”
Stewart grew up in Irene, Gauteng, South Africa, and joined Seether in 2000 with lead singer Shaun Morgan. The band moved to California in 2002, the same year they recorded and released their first album Disclaimer with the hit song “Fine Again.”
“We lived in the San Fernando Valley. We started making music, got bigger record deals and tours, and it’s been rinse-and-repeat for the last twenty years,” says Stewart. Today, the band consists of Morgan, Stewart, guitarist Corey Lowery, and drummer John Humphrey.
The band has toured with acts like Evanescence, Nickelback, and Staind, and has produced eight albums. The latest album, Vicennial – 2 Decades of Seether, was released in 2021 and features a collection of hits from the past 20 years.
“We had such big dreams, and we were so eager to do anything we could to make it happen,” Stewart said in an October 2021 interview in the online magazine The Rockpit. “And it worked out for us, but it could have gone either way. But it went well, and it continued to go well which is even more rare. We’ve played with so many bands over the years who have come and gone, so the odds that we’re still out there doing it are so astronomical.”
Stewart married Michelle Thomas in 2019, and their daughter, Olivia, was born this past January. Starting a family during the pandemic turned out to be great timing, for both the band and his personal life.
“Our daughter came out of COVID, which is just remarkable,” Stewart says. “Now I’m in the market for a twenty- to twenty-four-foot boat, something I can take the family on. I have such great memories of fishing with my dad that I want to carry on to my daughter.
“When I look at boats now, what I think most is, ‘Can I fish from it?’” he continues. “It’s got to be able to get me into ten inches of water and be able to handle the ocean when it’s not too windy. I’ve been looking at bay boats from Mako and Sea Hunt.”
Stewart and Franklin enjoy the high-tech equipment that helps anglers nowadays, such as the Spot-Lock feature with the Minn Kota trolling motor on Franklin’s Sportsman.
“Instead of having to drop an anchor in forty feet of water when we go seven miles offshore, Spot-Lock uses GPS to lock the boat onto the fishing spot,” says Stewart. “That makes life so much easier, and you spend a lot more time fishing and a lot less getting set up. We can target cobia, jack crevalle, and king mackerel.”
Stewart primarily uses a spinning reel with artificial lures when he’s fishing inshore, though for years, he used a baitcasting reel. He found that casting for distance is more valuable than accuracy for the fish he is targeting.
“The baitcasters give you the precision, but for the red drum, you want to cast for distance,” Stewart says. “I would rather use an artificial, but I’ll use bait when that’s the thing to use.”
No matter what the rod-and-reel setup, Stewart simply wants to catch fish. He can be found flyfishing for largemouth bass in his neighborhood pond. Nestled squarely in the center of his Savannah neighborhood, the pond is full of bass, bluegill, and huge grass carp. Stewart will use a 6-weight fly rod and wooly bugger fly to catch just about any species, but it was on an ultra-light fishing rig that he caught his biggest bass.
The “other” bass in Stewart’s life: He enjoys flyfishing for largemouth bass in his neighborhood pond in Savannah, Georgia.
Here’s where the rebellious part of him comes into play: the badass rocker takes on a monster bass with, well, a little kid’s fishing rod and reel.
“I had bought a micro-rod because I thought it would be fun to catch bluegill on this little thing,” Stewart says. “Our little neighborhood lake is open to the public and gets a lot of fishing pressure, so I was just casting near the bank and hooked a fish. Then it’s like, ‘Wow! It’s a huge largemouth bass.’ I could have put both fists in its mouth, and I’m on this little rod, and it’s bending in half. I am like, ‘I can’t lose this fish; no one is going to believe me.’ It had to be twelve pounds. I know there is at least one monster bass in this little lake.”
Plug and play usually means an electronic device works immediately with very little programming. The user clicks “OK” a few times on a touchscreen, and the product comes to life.
While the new VETUS E-DRIVE systems—which includes two different products: the straight-shaft E-LINE and the aptly named E-POD—don’t integrate quite that easily, these electric propulsion solutions are designed with fast, convenient installation in mind for both new builds and retrofits. When combined with a VETUS BOW PRO proportional bow and/or stern thruster, it’s a complete electric-maneuvering system.
“We developed the VETUS E-LINE and E-POD solutions to make installation and use as easy as possible,” explains Pim Bonne, international sales and product manager for electric propulsion for VETUS. “There is very little effort and time needed to make them fully operational. Boatbuilders say an important aspect is that it is a very compact system in which all main components are integrated into one package. It is literally plug and play.”
E-POD or E-LINE
Choosing an E-POD or E-LINE depends on the boat and current type of propulsion. A sailboat with a sail drive is a great candidate for the E-POD, while a sailboat or powerboat with straight shafts and rudders are good candidates for E-LINE. Both systems are designed for displacement or semi-displacement hulls and speeds less than 10 knots.
Once installed, the only thing left is to wire in the battery bank and the control wiring
for the VETUS V-CAN. For retrofits, the V-CAN wiring offers the much-appreciated flexibility to install anywhere on the helm or wing station. VETUS offers output power of
5 kW to 10 kW, with a peak input power up to 13.3 kW. When purchased, VETUS provides the customer a complete package unique to the boat, ranging from shore power components to propeller, for smooth installation and usage.
The E-POD system is designed for installation in the vessel’s stern without the need for a shaft drive. For example, the 48V VETUS E-POD100 (10 kW) is a compact electric propulsion system, including propeller, pod, and drive, for smooth and silent sailing on power and sailboats up to about 36 feet. The enclosed propeller reduces cavitation, and because there are no vibrating parts on board, the E-POD system operates without noise.
A notable feature of both the E-LINE and E-POD systems is Active Electronic Braking, which provides full control without the need of a gearbox and clutch. The high torque of the electric motor is used to change the direction of rotation quickly and actively. For example, the boat can be stopped within one boat length if necessary.
Powerful Combination
“An E-DRIVE system with a VETUS BOW PRO thruster is a powerful combination,” says Kevin Theuns, sales manager of thruster systems for VETUS. “For the BOW PRO, our research and development team came up with the idea of using very efficient brushless AC motors, which are controlled by a VETUS proprietary-patented motor controller. This controller is able to receive twelve, twenty-four, or forty-eight VDC to control the brushless AC motor. The main advantage of this setup is that the motor and motor controller are very efficient and won’t heat up fast.”
That’s a big advantage because most bow thrusters usually can only run a few minutes before overheating and shutting down.
“This new design leads to an ‘unlimited runtime’ with the BOW PRO,” Theuns explains. “The motor controllers are ‘smart’ and completely monitor the operations including motor temperature, controller temperature, voltage, amperage, and rpm to make sure these parameters are within their thresholds to provide maximum efficiency.”
BOW PRO thrusters
The VETUS BOW PRO thrusters are made for new builds as well as the aftermarket and come with an easy-to-follow installation manual—qualified mechanics can always get back up with the manual. Also, advanced do-it-yourself enthusiasts should be able to install a BOW PRO thruster themselves.
All VETUS BOW PRO thrusters are designed to be installed as the original thruster or as a refit for an existing thruster, and the VETUS BOW PRO thruster series can also be installed as a stern thruster.
“The BOW PRO thrusters fit in the most common thruster tunnels that are used in the thruster market,” says Theuns. The BOW PRO thrusters are available in tunnels with an internal diameter of 110, 125, 140, 150, 185, 250, and 300 millimeters. “Those are the common thruster tunnels that are used by several brands,” he adds.
VETUS’ electric products, E-DRIVE and BOW PRO, give short-range cruisers the ability to go fully electric. As battery technology and charging improves, fully electric boating will be easier and more available than ever. vetus.com
Sea Ray introduces the SLX 260 with itsnext-generation design.
Its profile is fast and sporty. Its interior is designed for comfort with a helm setup for effortless control and amenities that fit nicely into the family cruising and water sport lifestyle. The SLX 260 is the first boat designed exclusively by an all-female team and represents the future of Sea Ray’s SLX line.
Let’s Take a Walk Through
An optional pop-up boarding step helps with getting aboard or disembarking on the starboard aft rail if the step into the cockpit is too much of a stretch.
Once on board, you’ll notice the roomy seating area with the large sunpad at the transom. A huge swim platform not only provides enough room for swimming but also access to an insulated storage compartment or cooler under the sunpad and a large, long storage space to port for inflatables, skis or boards, paddles, and the like.
The SLX 260 comes as an outboard or sterndrive model, and with the sterndrive, the swim platform has a flip-out swim step in place of the outboard. Both platforms have a concealable four-step swim ladder and a grab handle for support. Water sport enthusiasts will enjoy the optional ski-tow pylon on the outboard or the tow hook in the transom on the sterndrive, and parents will appreciate the optional air compressor with dedicated storage to fill up the inflatables.
While we’re still on the swim platform, the SLX 260 sterndrive model is powered by a Mercury MerCruiser 6.2L MPI ECT Bravo Three engine with SmartCraft Digital Throttle & Shift (DTS). The outboard model is propelled by a Mercury 300 Verado engine also with SmartCraft DTS. The outboard provides a cruise speed around 30 mph which gets a range around 192 miles.
The design team made big improvements in the seating to promote efficiency when moving around the boat and provide added comfort. There’s two-and-a-half feet between the port and starboard seating—wraparound seating to port with storage beneath and a bench seat to starboard with cooler storage for up to two soft-sided coolers.
The team also made the seats deeper to feel more secure when underway for a smoother, luxurious ride. On the outboard model, the aft-most seat in the wraparound as well as the starboard-side sunpad open to reveal a removable storage caddy large enough for covers and more. Lift out the caddy and you’ll find the bilge compartment with easy access to the batteries and chargers, the fuel and water tanks, and the steering and bilge pumps.
This is where the engine is housed on the sterndrive model.
The Helm
Seating at the helm is a high-rise bucket seat, and like the port-side companion seat, has a flip-up bolster and controls along the side that allow the seat to swivel and slide.
The head compartment is hidden in the console in front of the companion seat. The door swings open to starboard and is held by a magnetic catch. A vacuum-flush toilet and sink is a feature not found on many 26-foot bowriders, but comfort is a big part of the design team’s focus.
The dual-console setup utilizes a center windshield that flips open and a single piece block-off door to access the bow. Comfortable, lounge-style seating with foldable armrests are tucked within a 15-inch bulwark and continue around the bow. Sea Ray has numerous option bundles for owners to choose from, and as part of the Comfort bundle, a teak table and filler cushion are available.
The SLX 260 dash is well-equipped with a Dual Digital Dash that features twin 9-inch Simrad touchscreen displays, Mercury Marine VesselView onboard management system with mobile access, Active Trim control and monitoring, and CZone digital switching.
With Sea Ray’s Entertainment bundle, the helm is enhanced with an inductive charging station along the dash so phones are easily accessible while charging with no cords in the way. Physical switches, digital throttle, Fusion stereo, and light controls are all right there.
Tower Power
One of the cool design features on the SLX 260 is the optional next-generation Power Tower with an extended sunshade that provides protection from the elements. What’s neat is that it is collapsible, meaning you can lower it for bridges, or storage, or when it rains as it rests right along the windshield, and the boat is still operable when it’s down. Raise it up with the touch of a button when the rain stops, extend the manual integrated sunshade to cover the aft deck, set up the pop-up sunshade for the bow, and you’re fully covered. Remove the bow sunshade and the boat can still motor along at full speed with the aft shade extended. Add the upgraded Fusion Signature Series speakers (part of the Entertainment bundle’s Premier Audio package) and LED RGB-W color-changing lighting (with the Lighting bundle) and you have an entertainment platform for all ages.
The design team has done an incredible job on the SLX 260 and SLX 260 Outboard to maximize space and present owners with a comfortable, sporty model with advanced features and amenities for a wonderful day on the water.
Nearly 100 guests, 15 sets of owners, and 10 Horizon yachts gathered in the Abacos, Bahamas, for a weekend celebration.
Getting back on “island time” was the theme of the 9th Horizon Yacht’s Owner Rendezvous, which kicked off with a bang this year in the Bahamas’ Abaco Islands from May 20-22.
A favorite cruising area for many Horizon yacht owners, the Abaco Islands were the obvious destination for the three-day event, which drew 10 Horizon yachts, 15 sets of Horizon yacht owners, and nearly 100 guests to the island. In 2019, the Abacos were devastated by the Category 5 Hurricane Dorian, after which the COVID-19 pandemic hindered the recovery and rebuilding process, so the timing was right for the Horizon family to show its support of the resilient locals and these beautiful cruising grounds.
Horizon yachts, from multiple build series and ranging in size from an E70 to an FD110, arrived at the Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina where they greeted friends old and new. Among the many gestures of support from the Horizon Yacht USA team and owners, the yachts carried truckloads of pet food and supplies that were generously donated to the Abaco Shelter, the only pet shelter on the island. Many of the owners’ furry family members barked out their approval across the docks.
Opening Day
Mimosas and brunch at the resort’s Below Deck Terrace started off the first day with a huge welcome from Horizon Yacht USA Director Roger Sowerbutts. Guests were presented with gift bags filled to the brim with local goodies and items to use throughout the weekend’s festivities before heading to the docks for the christening ceremony of the brand-new E90, Lazy Daze. This was the first Horizon build for the experienced owners who were attracted to the model’s exterior styling and plentiful amenities.
Guests were then treated to an afternoon Beach Party with a Bahamian classic Goombay Smash and fresh conch salad, swimming, lounging, and beach games, including golf, while catching up and sharing their cruising stories.
The six-piece band “Suppa Time” set the festive tone for the cocktail hour and dinner at the Below Deck Terrace, where guests dined on baked lobster tail, fresh fish piccata, and New York Strip steak before hitting the dance floor. In what became an evening tradition, the first FD87, Skyline hosted an after-party with line dancing under the disco lights on the aft deck.
Day Two Adventures
Coffee on the ferry dock was a welcome brew before guests headed to the remote outpost of Elbow Cay to hop on golf carts and peruse the picturesque streets and pastel-colored homes of Hope Town. After exploring the restaurants, art galleries, and boutiques, everyone met at Tahiti Beach to partake in a refreshing afternoon cocktail and take in the view. This tropical paradise was the perfect setting to wade in the crystal-clear water and order a whimsical drink, like the Almond Joy Colada or the Green Banana, from the famous Thirsty Cuda floating cocktail bar.
Back at the resort, it was time for a relaxing evening at the Garden Pool with conch bites and a pasta station as well as a little friendly competition while racing remote-control Jet Skis in the pool. Horizon Yacht USA even invited all crew members to mingle on the dock at the Horizon tent with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and plenty of comradery.
The Fun Continues
Day Three was a day for excursions, and guests set out early for the activity of their choosing. Some ventured to see the famous swimming pigs at No Name Cay and indulged in more fresh dockside conch salad while feeding the pigs. A few adorable piglets made for snuggly photo ops, and the lunch and band at Big O’s were a hit, especially with Aqua Life’s group who played musical chairs with the band. Many of the guests enjoyed an impromptu cruise aboard Skyline for lunch at the famous Nipper’s Beach Bar & Grill on Great Guana Cay, and a few others decided to join longtime Abaco resident and artist Anthony “Big Mo” Morely for an intimate sip and paint experience at the resort.
After a fun-filled day, guests returned to freshen up and gather for the Farewell Bahamian Bash on the beach; the group reminisced about the weekend and reveled in one last evening together. By the light of the fire pit, guests and crew danced to the “Suppa Time” band, and the evening commenced with an exciting Junkanoo performance.
It was a fitting end to a festive weekend celebration that saw so many Horizon yacht owners gather to support the Abaco Islands, share their build experiences and cruising stories, and make plans for future rendezvous together.
Horizon Yacht USA extends its sincere gratitude to all the owners and guests who made this year’s rendezvous such a memorable experience.
There’s more to chartering a boat for a week than just choosing from a pretty picture.
Sailing charters have been around for decades, and they’re a great way to explore well beyond your home waters. But powerboaters have been shy to sign up, primarily because of the whole sailing obstacle. If you’re in this group, here are two secrets: Sailors motor on charter, a lot, and the number of powerboats available to charter has been growing rapidly over the past 10 years, so you now have a choice of exotic destinations to visit nearly year-round without ever raising a sail.
Let’s first outline the kinds of charter available: fishing, superyacht, small boat crewed, and bareboat. The first three have always been powerboat-based and are crewed, which means you get a captain and a variably sized crew to take care of all the things you don’t want to or don’t know how to do. The last one is bareboat chartering where you’re the skipper with all the decision-making power and freedom…and the headaches that go with it.
Let’s dive into what each means and what to look for in a boat.
Benny’s Fishing Charters in Pompano Beach, FL
Fishing Charters
Fishing charters have been run on powerboats since there’s been power. They vary greatly—everything from day trips on center consoles with just a captain to overnight deep-sea outings on 80-foot-plus battlewagons with a full crew. When choosing one that’s right for you, determine what kind of fishing you want to do and for which species. Assess your skill level and decide on the duration of the trip you can afford. Short trips in protected waters will be calmer while offshore excursions will put you onto bigger fish.
Things to look for in the boat will differ by the factors just mentioned. Useful features include good deck space, a fighting chair, plenty of room for gear and tackle, and a day head close to the action.
For bigger boats, a gyrostabilizer will make the deck steadier and reduce fatigue as well as seasickness. Check for the latest electronics and powerful engines to get you to the fish and back quickly because that’s downtime you’re still paying for.
If you’re bringing non-fishing family members, room to relax out of the way is key as is a galley for refreshments. More than the boat, the captain will make the difference so do your research on proper licensing, extensive experience, and great reviews.
Superyacht Charters
Luxury charters come in many flavors, and they’re always crewed because no owner will let you out on his superyacht with just a VISA card. You can opt for a day trip on a midsize Prestige, Azimut, or Sunseeker yacht, or go big with a Sunreef cat or a 200-foot monohull that will set you back $250,000 a week or more.
Things to look for in the boat include enough accommodations to sleep your entire party, multiple relaxation zones to separate guests and enhance privacy, and maybe even a hot tub, cinema, or beach club for exercise and waterside respite. Review the list of toys the yacht carries including SCUBA tanks, PWCs, slides, and more. Inquire about the yacht’s cruising speed and grounds so you get to see as much as possible. Again, it’s all about the captain and crew, so find out the crew-to-guest ratio and the captain’s reputation for accommodating guests.
Small Boat Charter
“Small boat” is a misnomer here because we’re talking charters on vessels up to 55 feet. They come in crewed and bareboat versions and, these days, are typically catamarans. On a crewed charter, check out their preference sheets for provisioning. Ask about crew experience, if they allow kids, and a sample itinerary.
If you go it alone, rest assured you now have lots of choices in both the kind of boat as well as the destinations you’re likely to find with outfits like The Moorings, Dream Yacht Charter, Horizon Yacht Charters, and MarineMax Vacations.
There are plenty of powercat brands out there, including Aspen, World Cat, Fountaine Pajot, Arrowcat, Leopard, and more. But only a few appear in charter and, therefore, are available to you without writing a big check to buy one. The sweet spot for charters is in the mid-40-foot range but some reach beyond that. Let’s look at how to evaluate the options.
Engines/Fuel
“The appeal of power is that you can get everywhere faster in a shorter amount of time, and you can do multiple stops in a day,” says Ian Pedersen, senior marketing manager of The Moorings. Yes, big engines get the job done, but you’re responsible for the fuel you consume, so large engines aren’t always better and powercats differ in fuel efficiency. A 46-footer may offer all the same creature features for a great vacation, but it will burn less than a 54-footer.
Space
In general, powercats offer 1.2 times the accommodations and deck space of a same-length monohull, and that makes them ideal for groups who like to spread out. Most powercats will have a flybridge which includes a full helm station, summer galley, and wraparound seating. This adds more living space and creates a lounge from where to enjoy panoramic views. The foredeck, cockpit, and salon are commodious, too, as are the cabins below, so they’re perfect for new boaters who don’t like to feel claustrophobic.
Privacy
A powercat creates natural divisions for semi-private zones. If your kids are playing in the cockpit, you can enjoy happy hour on the foredeck sunbed or up on the flybridge. Check to see if your cat is set up well for privacy zones.
Swim Platforms
Many of the larger cats have hydraulic swim platforms where they carry the dinghy rather than on davits, and that’s a bonus. First, once the dinghy is in the water, you can lower the platform to the waterline and create a teak beach club that’s perfect for lounging or entertaining kids. Second, it’s a great way to exit the water. The elderly, mobility impaired, or kids often have a tough time climbing the ladders, so just lower the platform, let them swim onto it, and then raise it. Easy peasy.
Accommodations
Most cats offer three to four cabins with or without ensuite heads. The cabins are larger than on monohulls or converted sailing cats, and they generally offer better light via ports because they’re not buried in the hulls. A private head per couple goes a long way to making guests comfortable. A rule of thumb on cabin count is the last number of the model. If a model is a 484, it’s a 48-footer with four cabins. A 433 is 43 feet and is the owner’s version (three cabins) for maximum privacy in one of the hulls.
Details
Raul Bermudez, vice president of MarineMax Vacations, adds some other things to look for: Are the air-conditioning systems individually controlled for each cabin? Are the heads electric or manual? Is there a watermaker? How is the galley equipped, and how large is it? The key is comfort.
Destinations
Powercat charter popularity is on the rise but that doesn’t mean you can get one anywhere. The Moorings offers Leopard powercats in the Abaco Sea/Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Croatia, and Thailand. MarineMax has a fleet of Aquila cats in the BVI and the Abacos. Horizon Yacht Charters has a Nautitech 47 and a crewed Lagoon 64 in the BVI, while Dream Yacht Charters offers Leopard, Fountaine Pajot, Aquila, and Bali in numerous destinations including Key West, the Sea of Cortez in Mexico, Exumas/Bahamas, Martinique, St. Martin, Croatia, Whitsunday Islands in Australia, and Nouméa in New Caledonia.
“Vacation time is precious, and powercats aren’t reliant on the local weather so they’re much faster, up to 10 knots faster in fact,” says Dan Lockyer, vice president of global tourism of Dream Yacht Charter. “Plus, they’re easier to maneuver than sailcats.”
Distances where you want to cover a lot of ground in a week, like the Exumas and the Sea of Cortez, are ideal for power charters. That said, destinations with shorter legs, like the BVI and the Abacos, are great, too, because you can check out four anchorages in a day and not burn a lot of fuel. “With the powerboats, you have the option to go as slow or as fast as you want, and you get to the mooring balls a little faster than the sailboats,” says Bermudez.
Leopard 46 and 53
The Moorings partners with South African builder Robertson and Caine who delivers Leopard cats. Leopard offers the 53 and the new 46 which is expected in charter soon. The 53 has twin sunbeds on the foredeck, a flybridge with a full staircase for easy access, a door from the salon directly to the bows, and that fabulous hydraulic swim platform. It also has a split galley so multiple chefs can work simultaneously.
Lagoon 65, 67, and 78
A charter on a Lagoon powercat will likely be crewed because Lagoon doesn’t currently build models less than 60 feet. However, you’ll find ultimate luxury on any of the models that are most likely in charter right now. Depending on the size, expect to find five or six cabins, a hot tub, superyacht-like amenities, and on some models, a separate galley where the crew prepares meals out of sight, leaving the salon strictly to the guests.
Nautitech 47
The Nautitech 47 with 300-hp Volvo Penta engines has a max speed of 22 knots and an interior helm so you can drive in comfort even if the weather is frightful. A dozen people can relax on twin lounges on the foredeck or take the party to the flybridge. A nice feature is the high bridge clearance that should minimize pounding from underneath when running into head seas.
Bali Catspace MY and 4.3 MY
Bali Catamarans are built by Catana of France, and they have two models in their motoryacht range. Bali has dabbled in some layout innovations. First, they’ve done away with the idea of a separate salon and cockpit. Instead, the entire aft bulkhead lifts like a tilt-up garage door so the inside becomes the outside and it works well. Bali powercats also have an interior helm and full-size refrigerators that guests love.
Aquila 36, 44, 48, and 54
MarineMax Vacations is exclusive to Aquila powercats. They offer various models between 36 and 54 feet. For two couples, the 36 is a fantastic express-style boat with the helm and dinette outside under the hardtop and a summer galley with a grill aft. It’s powered by twin 350-hp outboards so it can really get up and go. The behemoth 54, on the other hand, has five cabins and five heads for bigger groups and may be offered with crew.
Don’t Be Shy
“The demand for powercats has grown consistently each year for the past decade,” says Pedersen. “That trend looks to continue in the years to come.”
Bermudez agrees. “Power catamarans are the future of the charter industry,” he says. Indeed, powercats have made progress, from being too weird for most boaters to contemplate to becoming the ideal way to experience some of the world’s greatest charter destinations. Check out available models with a large charter company and then dive in. The water’s great.
From pizza to chowder to lobster rolls, rich, flavorful fare calls foodies to this region.
The northeastern United States is a perfect illustration of the American melting pot. Every wave of immigration passing through New York’s famed Ellis Island brought with it eager laborers from different cultures and traditions. In the late 19th and 20th centuries, they toiled away building America: raising skyscrapers and cities, assembling infrastructures, and manufacturing goods.
Thrilled by this new country, they still hungered for the familiar flavors of home. A dedicated few worked to recreate the comforting food of their native land with the ingredients accessible in their adopted motherland. From coastal cities to mill towns along the rivers of New England to cities inland connected by rail, communities of migrants from Ireland, Germany, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Russia, Poland, and Asia (among many others) brought their regional dishes. As these foods gained in popularity, they too migrated and changed based on location and available ingredients.
Pizza
Pizza is a perfect example. New York City and New Haven, Connecticut, about 80 miles apart, were desperate for laborers. Political strife and economic struggles in Naples, Italy, sent many young workers over to America in search of a better life. An enterprising few endeavored to bring this beloved peasant food from their native land. The dishes evolved into subtly different versions. New York City pizza is mostly recognized as a by-the-slice offering. It’s a complete meal by itself: The giant, sturdy, twice-baked slices can hold any number of hearty toppings.
When visiting the Northeast, disavow yourself of pizza as a delivery food cooked on a fast-food conveyor belt. Instead, embrace the pizzaioli standards of brick or deck ovens, where temperatures achieved by different fuel sources impact the final product.
The New Haven version, called apizza (pronounced ah-petz), has reached cult status. Baked at higher temperatures achieved by wood fires, it has a moist, thin crust, which means the toppings are also spread sparsely. Because of its refined and delicate nature, apizza is always sold by the whole pie. People are willing to wait in line for hours in any of New Haven’s three apizza darlings, all within blocks of one another in the famed Wooster Square neighborhood: Pepe’s, Sally’s, and Modern.
Moving west, pizza gets hectic (some say heretic) with Chicago’s deep-dish pizza: a thick, doughy crust lining a three-inch-deep pan, covered with a substantial layer of cheese, a hearty amount of rich tomato sauce, meats, and vegetables, topped with more dough and maybe another sprinkle of cheese. While it’s eastern, flat pizza cousin bakes in mere minutes, the dense Chicago version can take up to an hour.
Detroit pizza is a rectangular, doughy, focaccia-style pizza cut into squares as opposed to wedges.
Clams
The shores of New England are rich with seafood—specifically bi-valves like mussels, clams, and oysters. If you’re an oyster fan, sampling fare from any of thousands of bays from Long Island up to Maine offers a vast array of flavors and textures. But don’t overlook the humble clam. The only northeastern rivalry more intense than Yankees versus Red Sox is chowder distinctions.
All clam chowder is a soup made of large quahog clams, onion, and potato, but the agreement ends there. Rhode Island Chowder has a clear, briny, seafood broth. Manhattan chowder is made with tomatoes and green peppers because of Italian immigrants. The New England version is a thick, creamy, almost stew-like dish, sometimes with celery or sherry. It bears the closest resemblance to its trans-Atlantic counterpart, a French seafood stew. Hartford chowder is the ultimate abdication of decision-making: one bowl with a ladleful each of Manhattan and New England chowders.
Also hotly debated in the chowder department is the presence of pork and/or thyme. Is either a welcome addition? Does bacon overpower the delicate sweetness of fresh clams? If you add thyme, can you taste anything else?
Every restaurant and diner along the coast will boast their version is “award-winning.” The only way to find out is to taste them all. Something to note: Oyster crackers accompanying all chowders do not contain oyster.
Clams are more versatile than just soup—like Pepe’s white clam pizza. The clam strip roll, a chewy, white bun stuffed with crispy, fried, fresh clams, is a modest delicacy rarely found more than 30 miles inland. Soft-shell clams, also known as steamers, are best served steamed so you can dip the sweet briny meat into melted butter. Eat them as “stuffies” or stuffed clams— especially in Rhode Island and around Fall River, Massachusetts, where Portuguese chouriço sausage adds a spicy element to the sweet clams.
Lobster
Clams are often overlooked for their far more glamorous cousin the lobster. At one time, these cold-water crustaceans were considered pests and purported to have washed ashore in piles. Native Americans used them as fertilizer and bait. Early settlers fed this cheap source of protein to children, laborers, and slaves. Fast-forward through developments in canning processes which allowed the meat to be preserved, advancements in train transportation which afforded greater travel between landlocked folk and coastal lobsters, and more Americans were exposed to the succulent flesh. This one-time peasant food underwent a glow-up to the luxury food we know it as today.
The Atlantic or Maine lobster is meatier, with larger tails than its Caribbean cousin. When fresh, they’re best showcased very simply. Forget fancy preparations, find a lobster pound on the water who’ll pluck a critter from a holding net in the sea and plop it straight into a steam bath, then serve it up with some drawn butter and a side of slaw.
A lobster bake (also called a clam bake) is a version of the Native American ritual of lining a well in the sand with fire-hot rocks and wet seaweed before adding lobsters, shellfish, and vegetables then covering with more seaweed. The heat from the rocks forces steam from the wet seaweed which slowly cooks everything together.
The finest lobster meal, however, is the simple lobster roll. There are two distinct camps of lobster rolls; you will be asked to swear allegiance to a tribe.
Both rolls involve chunks of cooked lobster heaped in a bread roll—not just any roll, one purpose-designed for filling with fresh New England seafood. This split-top version of a hot dog bun has flat sides for buttering and toasting, but also stands up quite nicely so the filling overflows the top and doesn’t spill out the sides.
Connecticut lobster rolls are served warm with the lobster drenched in butter. The Maine version is a cold mayonnaise-based salad with chunks of celery. The uninitiated may claim
they are equal, but it is a well-known fact that a warm, buttery lobster roll is far superior.
Sandwiches
Please don’t call the lobster roll a sandwich.
The stuffed sandwich on a long, soft roll nationally recognized as a submarine or sub goes by different regional names.
In Pennsylvania, it’s called a hoagie, while cosmopolitan New Yorkers refer to it as a hero. In the rest of New England, you can call it a sub if it’s stuffed with cold food, but the hot version (meatballs, chicken parm, eggplant parm) is a grinder.
While technically a hoagie, the cheesesteak, or Philly cheesesteak, doesn’t really need a last name. It’s the ultimate in street food: The hearty roll can be eaten standing or walking, and the thin-shaved beef strips and sliced onion are cooked quickly on the grill of a food truck or cart.
Chicago, home of cattle stockyards, offers up an Italian beef sandwich, gravy-laden sliced sirloin steak with onion and celery stuffed in an Italian grinder roll.
Also in Chicago, the Jibarito (pronounced he-ba-reto), is a bread-free Puerto Rican/American hybrid with fried plantain, slices of sandwich beef, chicken, or pulled pork, along with garlicky mayo, tomato, American cheese, and lettuce.
Whether or not you consider hot dogs as sandwiches (you shouldn’t), every Northeastern area has its own version, the base of which is always a local dog and never from a food service or giant conglomerate. You may be familiar with New York’s version, with spicy brown mustard and sauerkraut, but what about Chicago’s on a poppy seed bun with onions, yellow mustard, peppers, celery salt, tomatoes, and NO ketchup? In upstate New York, you’ll find a Michigan or just michigan, which is a red-hot dog topped with a minced-meat chili. In Michigan, they call a similar dog a Coney, while in Rhode Island, their twist on that is a New York System. It’s like a giant Möbius strip made of frankfurters.
The Northeast has so much more to offer and to taste, such as egg sandwiches on an amazing array of soft European-inspired bread rolls, the Chicago steakhouses, local small-batch maple syrups, cheeses from the sprawling pastures of Vermont, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin,Rhode Island’s coffee milk, and Del’s lemonade. Don’t be afraid to try it all.
Set your nautical adventure to Hope Town Inn & Marina.
Elbow Cay, Abaco, The Bahamas
Whether you visit the settlement of Hope Town, climb the one and only Elbow Reef Lighthouse or bike the island of Elbow Cay, the sun-drenched discoveries are full of local culture, great eats, and sugar sand beaches. The Abacos waters are known for world-class fishing, sailing, and snorkeling. Make the most of your next adventure to paradise, all from Hope Town Inn & Marina.
A Warm Welcome
“Welcome” is not a greeting in the Abacos, it’s a way of being, a way of seeing people—visitors or locals—and embracing their presence and time on the island. That’s why the Hope Town Inn & Marina has a whole new Welcome Center. The Hope Town Inn & Marina wants everyone to feel from the moment they arrive that welcome is a state of mind.
The new space offers high-speed internet, a coffee bar, a cocktail bar, a business center, a conference room and other amenities, the Welcome Center is designed to make people comfortable as they make their first contact with the property. Whether you’re arriving on a boat, booking a reservation for dinner, or making inquiries about buying a villa on the property, the Welcome Center is a physical extension of the warmth and heartfelt appreciation of islanders on the property and off to anybody who visits.
The Hope Town Inn & Marina offers dream Weddings
The fanning of palm fronds overhead for a witness, a soft crunch of surf to cadence the vows, sparkling water promising something blue—that’s before the arrival of any of your fond friends. The wedding season is all-year in the Bahamas.
The Hope Town Inn & Marina can host a wedding party on the grounds, indoors or outdoors, on the beach or by candlelight with white linen table service. You bring the love; we’ll surround it with romance.
Johnny’s Cay, a private island
Imagine getting married on your own private island. Johnny’s Cay, an exclusive private island set to host weddings, family gatherings and parties of all sorts. Not even a mile from Hopetown, yet a world away in terms of privacy and intimacy, Johnny’s Cay has been developed with the lightest touch to provide the amenities a truly memorable party requires while letting the natural surroundings steal the show. The island has a beach for sunrise and a beach for sunset, a beach for calm reflection and a beach for playing in the waves—with sand as white as cane sugar.
A proven design evolves with the Beneteau Swift Trawler 48.
Beneteau has built more than 1,300 Swift Trawlers, so it has the market dialed in. The builder knows that these fast trawlers appeal to both novice and salty cruisers, and it listens to owner and dealer feedback to make each successive design better and more user-friendly. That’s how the new Swift Trawler 48 was designed, with smart improvements and more upmarket features. We took Hull No. 2 out for a spin with Justin Joyner, Beneteau’s powerboat manager, to see how things have evolved.
As I walked down the dock, I noticed one of the Swift 48’s new additions—a slatted fashion plate that was borrowed from the Grand Trawler 62. It’s not only a statement piece, but it also provides the anchoring structure for an acrylic door that blocks the breeze from pummeling anyone on the transom seat. The plate is only on starboard, which is the wider side deck because this model, like her predecessor, is still asymmetrical in layout with an offset cabinhouse. Also to starboard is a small hull gate that allows the driver to quickly hop onto the dock when tying up. Normal boarding is via the transom where there’s a double gate to port. These doors separate the cockpit from the swim platform. Our test boat featured the optional hydraulic version that can carry a 770-pound tender and be used as a teak beach.
Steps to the flybridge are to port. With the help of a foot pedal, they slide forward and tuck up next to the glass entry door when not in use, thereby opening up the cockpit. When deployed, they’re more like a staircase than a ladder with good hand railings on both sides. On the flybridge, you’ll find facing L-shaped settees with a folding dining table in the middle. A wet bar module is aft, and the helm is on the centerline with a single bucket seat, twin MFDs, and a small steering wheel. The forward ends of the settees have hinging backrests to form companion seating on both sides of the driver.
Our test boat had the optional hardtop with an electrically actuated sunroof in the middle. Its design includes slender supports that make the structure appear to be floating—yet another feature that mirrors one on the Grande 62. It doesn’t matter if you choose the soft Bimini or the hardtop, the radar arch gives this boat a 19-foot air draft so be warned if you plan to cruise around low bridges. There’s no sedan version of the Swift Trawler 48, but it would be hard to give up this nice flybridge where everyone will want to enjoy happy hour sunsets and dinners under the stars.
Transformed Interior
Inside is where the serious changes become obvious. The galley has moved aft and to port so it’s easier to serve anyone in the cockpit or on the flybridge. A Kenyon two-burner induction cooktop was spec’d on our boat but according to Joyner, about 40 percent of Swift buyers opt for propane so there’s no need to run the genset to make breakfast.
Refrigerated space has been enlarged to nine cubic feet in the full-height refrigerator and freezer, and the countertops are now Corian as they are on the Grand 62. There’s an option for a dishwasher, and the ample stowage space that runs along the starboard side makes sure the chef lacks for no tools. An icemaker is optional, and there’s room for a 23-bottle wine fridge because the Swift Trawler 48 is a French boat after all.
Forward is a U-shaped settee/dinette with an optional electric hi-lo table that converts into a berth. There’s no designated companion seat but since the dinette is elevated, several people can congregate here and keep the driver company.
The lower helm moved from the centerline on the 47 to starboard on the 48, and it’s impressive. Twin 9-inch Raymarine MFDs are standard, but our boat had the upgraded 12-inch screens (the same as at the upper helm) with the engine information display on the outboard bulkhead. The throttles are on the dash to the right and the joystick is just inboard. A third station is available with joystick steering in the cockpit. It may be a worthwhile addition for docking in reverse since it’s not easy to see the platform from either the upper or lower helm. A backup camera is another solution.
Because the helm is offset, the driver can easily step out onto the wide side deck through the sliding door to help with lines, tie up with the midship cleat that’s at hand, sight along the entire starboard hull, or jump onto the dock through the hull gate mentioned before. The side door also has a full sliding screen so it’s a perfect way to welcome a breeze even in buggy cruising grounds.
Below, the three-stateroom/two-head layout remains as it was on the Swift Trawler 47, but the storage space has been increased in both guest cabins, and the twin stateroom added a direct door to the second head making it an ensuite. The guest cabin with the double berth also has space for an optional washer/dryer. The standard finish is Alpi teak, but our boat had the optional oak that Joyner said is gaining in popularity.
Performance
Standard propulsion is provided by a pair of 350-hp Cummins QSB6.7 diesels, but our boat had the upgraded 425-hp motors. There were four people aboard, the fuel tank was nearly full, and the water tank was nearly empty. The hull is the same as on the 47 and because all Swift designs have a semi-displacement hull, they’re trawlers that will plane. We popped up at 16 knots and went all the way to wide-open throttle where we reached 25.8 knots at 3,100 rpm and burned 40 gph. A more fuel-efficient cruise can be found at 2,500 rpm and 18 knots where the consumption drops to a more manageable 24 gph. With 510 gallons of fuel, there’s an approximate 1,000-mile range at six knots.
We had feisty conditions with lumpy seas outside of Miami, but the Swift Trawler 48 wasn’t rattled. She sliced through the chop easily and turned sharply, ever responsive to the wheel. “This is a ‘go anywhere’ boat,” says Joyner. “It’s a long-range cruiser that can also pop up to twenty knots in twenty seconds.”
Going Fast
The Swift 48 replaces the 47, and she benefits from three things: a proven hull design identical to the 47, a refreshed interior that works better for today’s cruisers, and luxury features that have trickled down from the Grande Swift 62 which will likely proliferate throughout the entire line over time.
She’s all about going fast, both on the water and in terms of sales. With the changes, the new model has already caught the eye of many. Our test boat sold in one hour and four others were placed on order at the recent Miami boat show. If you’re thinking of distance cruising on a trawler with long legs and an impressive turn of speed, place your order quickly because this model, which took the best of what came before and then improved upon it, won’t just be sitting on the shelf.
Catch and prepare your own meal. Each recipe serves 4.
I love fishing and eating freshly caught fish. I remember fly fishing in the Florida Keys with a guide and catching a mess of sea trout. We had plenty to make delicious fish sandwiches, fish tacos, and fish dinners. Below are some of my favorite ways to enjoy seafood.
Fish Tacos
Crema:
½ cup sour cream
¼ cup mayonnaise
3-4 Tbsp. lime juice
1 tsp. lime peel, grated (optional)
Slaw:
4 cups cabbage, shredded
⅓ cup vinegar
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
Tacos:
2 lbs. fresh fish
3 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
1 cup onions, chopped
12 small corn or flour tortillas
1 bottle hot sauce, for serving
Mix sour cream, mayonnaise, and lime juice in a bowl. In another bowl, mix cabbage with vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle chili powder and salt all over the fish. Grill or sauté fish on medium-high for 3-4 minutes per side (more if fillets are thick), and heat tortillas for 1-2 minutes on the grill. To assemble, spread crema on each tortilla, top with hot fish pieces, slaw, and onions. Serve with remaining crema and hot sauce.
Grilled Caesar Fish
1 clove garlic, minced
1½ tsp. anchovies, mashed
1½ Tbsp. lemon juice
½ cup mayonnaise
½ tsp. each salt and pepper
4 fish fillets: swordfish, tuna, or other firm fish
(1-1½ inches thick)
4 cups lettuce
2 lemons, quartered
Mix first five ingredients to make Caesar mayonnaise; set aside. Heat a grill to medium-high. Smear both sides of the four fish fillets with Caesar mayonnaise. Place fish on the grill, turning once, until just cooked through, 3-4 minutes per side. Toss lettuce with remaining Caesar mayonnaise and divide among four plates. Top salad with fish and serve with lemon wedges.
Fine Fish Sandwich
½ cup mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. sweet pickle relish
1½ Tbsp. capers
2 tsp. mustard
4 fish fillets
4 Tbsp. mayonnaise
¼ tsp. each salt and pepper
1 cup breadcrumbs
3 Tbsp. oil
4 hamburger rolls, halved
4 lettuce leaves
4 slices tomato
4 slices onion (optional)
Heat a frying pan to medium-high. Mix first four ingredients to make tartar sauce; set aside. Slather fish with mayonnaise, salt, and pepper and press into breadcrumbs to cover both sides. Sauté* fish in oil for 3-4 minutes per side. Spread rolls with the tartar sauce, then place lettuce, fish, tomato, and onion on the bottom half of the roll and cover with the top half of the roll.
*May also be baked at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes.
Spectacular Seafood Cakes
2 cups chopped shrimp, scallops, crab, or cooked fish
¾ cup breadcrumbs
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
¼ cup onion, finely diced
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
½ Tbsp. Old Bay or other seafood seasoning
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
2-4 Tbsp. oil or butter for frying
Place all ingredients, except oil/butter, in a large mixing bowl. Gently fold ingredients together until evenly combined. Portion into patties (about 2 tablespoons each). Coat the bottom of a large skillet with oil or butter and heat to medium-high. Sauté fish cakes in batches until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Serve with cocktail sauce or tartar sauce.
Florida Fishing Guide’s Fish Salad
1 lb. cooked fish, flaked
¼ cup each onion and celery, chopped
2 Tbsp. lemon or lime juice (or chopped dill pickle)
¾ cup mayonnaise
½ tsp. Old Bay or Cajun seasoning (or equivalent salt and pepper)
In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, onion, celery, lemon juice, and Old Bay. Add fish to the mayonnaise mixture, folding gently to combine.
MarineMax, Inc. (NYSE: HZO), the world’s largest recreational boat and yacht retailer, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Island Global Yachting LLC (“IGY Marinas”), which owns and operates a collection of iconic marina assets and a yacht management platform in key global yachting destinations. MarineMax will acquire IGY Marinas for $480 million in cash, with an additional potential earnout of up to $100 million two years after closing, subject to the achievement of defined performance metrics. IGY Marinas, through recent acquisitions and organic growth, is projected to generate over $100 million of revenue in calendar 2022. Subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, MarineMax expects the acquisition to close in the first half of fiscal 2023 and to be accretive within the first twelve months of closing. IGY Marinas will maintain its luxury branding that is well recognized as best-in-class in the global marina and superyacht communities. Tom Mukamal, CEO of IGY Marinas, and the IGY Marinas existing management team will continue to lead the growth and operations of the business.
IGY Marinas distinguishes itself with a synergistic network of strategically positioned luxury marinas situated in the world’s most coveted yachting and sport fishing destinations. IGY Marinas has pioneered best-in-class standards for service and quality in nautical tourism around the world. It offers a global network of 23 curated marinas in the Americas, the Caribbean, and Europe, delivering year-round customer touchpoints. IGY Marinas caters to a wide variety of luxury yachts, while also being exclusive home ports for some of the world’s largest megayachts. The network of marinas is further bolstered by its exclusive Trident superyacht membership program, expansive service offerings, and comprehensive yacht management platform. In addition, IGY Marinas is a venue for exclusive events such as the Cannes Yachting Festival, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Superyacht Miami, and Art Basel. IGY Marinas is unique in that its scale and strategic geographic footprint enables it to provide vertically integrated services to superyacht customers as they travel to popular destinations.
“We are delighted to announce our acquisition of IGY Marinas, a transformative transaction for MarineMax, that significantly strengthens our ability to provide the best customer experience to yacht owners around the world,” said W. Brett McGill, Chief Executive Officer and President of MarineMax. “The addition of IGY Marinas positions MarineMax as the preeminent leader in the superyacht industry—the only company able to offer an integrated experience coupling high value superyacht berthing and marina services in premier locations with exclusive superyacht service offerings. Moreover, this investment continues to diversify our business mix with not only higher margins, but also a larger geographic footprint, especially in highly desired destinations in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.”
Mr. McGill continued, “We are very pleased to strategically expand with IGY Marinas and have tremendous respect for their outstanding management team for building a high-quality real estate portfolio of luxury marinas with extraordinary growth potential. IGY has experienced significant recent growth, as its brand has become sought-after by yacht owners, as well as public and private marina owners worldwide. This investment aligns with our ongoing strategic acquisition plan, including our superyacht business, to selectively expand our service offerings with acquisitions of high growth, high margin businesses. Furthermore, we strongly believe that IGY Marinas will offer our Fraser Yachts and Northrop & Johnson current and future superyacht customers the opportunity to enhance their yachting experiences by providing them access to the world’s only superyacht marina network.”
“We are excited to join the MarineMax Family and its experienced management team,” said Tom Mukamal, CEO of IGY Marinas. “MarineMax brings significant resources, synergies, and competitive advantages to our business amplifying our potential for both organic and inorganic growth. With IGY’s irreplaceable destination portfolio, demonstrated track record of successful acquisitions and a robust pipeline, we are confident in our collective ability to strengthen and build on our position as the global leader in superyacht and luxury marina destinations and related services.”
As stated above, MarineMax expects the transaction to close in the first half of fiscal 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The transaction will be financed through MarineMax’s recently completed expansion of its credit facilities and cash on hand.
The Krogen 58 Is Ready for Your Adventure of a Lifetime
The Krogen 58 EB is the embodiment of beauty and function. Comfortable, capable, safe and sure, her Pure Full Displacement hullform and superior-quality materials and systems result in an unrivaled passagemaker in this size range. While many builders today focus on building much larger yachts in the 70-foot-plus market, Kadey-Krogen Yachts has made the deliberate business decision to concentrate its decades of experience on significant passagemakers like the 58. As a result, their customers will find a bluewater cruiser easily piloted and handled by two people without the need for additional crew. Yet the yacht is set up to accommodate a large family ready to go off the beaten path. Are you ready to start your journey?
Krogen 58 Design & Engineering
Like all Kadey-Krogen models, the 58 seamlessly blends design, systems, and comforts. And we don’t see these as autonomous endeavors. For example, on a passagemaker it is preferred that the living quarters that will see significant use while on passage are concentrated in the most comfortable portion of the boat should heavy weather be encountered. Note the location of the 58’s pilothouse and galley area. This also benefits the design and weight distribution allowing an easy motion into a head sea. The deep forefoot and rounded entry of the 58 ensure there is no pounding at all. It’s a soft, easy entry into even large seas.
Furthermore, the weight distribution complemented by the underbody shape eliminates any tendency for the Krogen 58 to produce any type of pitching motion. A better and easier motion through the seas not only means a less tired crew, but it also results in a more efficient passage.
1,810 gal. fuel capacity (single engine)
1 x 325-bhp John Deere diesel
Twin John Deere diesels are optional
12mm tempered glass windows throughout
Fuel polishing system
Wing-stations with engine and thruster controls
All fiberglass surfaces are ground smooth and then painted
