Full Speed Ahead
Check out the new power products were aplenty at this year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
Fall is the time to start thinking of all the game-changing technology that you should spec on a new vessel or add to your existing boat, and there’s no better place to learn about new power products than at the 2017 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Introductions include powerful but fuel-sipping engines, battery chargers, watermakers,
climate control products, and other products that make cruising comfortable, safe and
fun. So, when you tear yourself away from the docks and the hundreds of shiny boats, check out the cutting-edge equipment that makes them so amazing.
PROPULSION
addition, Volvo Penta matches the new engine with an upgraded IPS pod drive, the D13-1350 that gives the equivalent power of a 1,350-hp engine. volvopenta.com
which makes it the lightest power-to-weight ratio outboard on the market today. The electronic multi-point fuel injection does not require a battery so there’s less weight in the boat, but an electric starter can be added aftermarket. Eight models are available including a short and long shaft, with tiller or remote drive. The Sub-idle Variable Trolling
Speed (VTS) feature holds below idle speed for proper trolling and a 16-amp alternator can run more electronics than ever. Foldaway carry handles, resting pads and a three-sided oil retention system are built-in for easy transport and storage. yamahaoutboards.com
durable jet-propelled motors combines Honda powerheads with jet drives that can venture into ultra-shallow waters. These models are as quiet and fuel-efficient as Honda’s BF Series of propeller-driven models and have excellent maneuverability, but they can go where prop-driven outboards can’t operate such as river rapids and skinny waters with lots of sandbars. The new motors are covered by the transferrable Honda True five-year non-declining warranty. marine.honda.com
POSITION CONTROL
while reversing to both port and starboard, making an inboard a snap to drive. Despite the added control, surfing, wakeboarding, and skiing aren’t affected by these rudders, which will be available on most 2018 MasterCraft models. mastercraft.com
when needed, making station-keeping smoother. With reduced fuel consumption and noise when slow maneuvering in calm conditions, this system increases only when higher prop and thruster speeds are demanded by the joystick in greater wind and sea states. Quiet operation and less fuel use is a vast improvement and a major step forward in inboard engine dynamic positioning systems. twindisc.com
Evinrude E-TEC G2 150-hp or 300-hp engines. Advanced aircraft gyroscope sensor
technology makes iDock more intuitive by automatically compensating for wind and current. It also connects with the existing internal hydraulic steering feature of E-TEC
G2 engines, reducing the cost of parts, removing clutter on the transom and freeing
up storage space, and it requires less than an hour of setup time. When docking is easy, confidence grows and although outboard joystick maneuverability is not new, the MSRP of $5,999 is, and that makes it accessible to a new group of boaters. evinrude.com
ELECTRICAL
charging process. ChargePro’s low profile, flangeless extruded aluminum housing is sealed by gaskets with heavy duty end caps for waterproof performance to IP67 standard. With fully automatic five-stage performance charging, individual battery sensing and auto maintain energy saver mode, these chargers are available for lead acid and sealed AGM batteries. marinco.com
inverters and inverter/chargers. Called the Freedom X, the new series has features like
an extended surge for motor loads, a faster transfer time for a quick transition from shore to battery power, a huge wiring bay with quick connect AC terminals for fast and easy wiring, and an LED display. The models are lightweight and durable and have improved climate protection so they will survive the elements and provide full output in temperatures ranging from -4 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. All models include an internal
30-amp transfer switch and can be hardwired or installed with the optional GFCI outlet. xantrex.com
MASTERVOLT announces the ChargeMaster Plus Series, an all-in-one solution for faster and safer charging that also reduces complexity and cost. This system integrates multiple functions into a single device, replacing auxiliary chargers, battery isolators and VSR. It charges virtually any combination of three batteries at high speed, works anywhere in the world and automatically revives even fully depleted batteries. The ChargeMaster Plus lets you combine lithium ion, gel or AGM batteries in large or small 12/24V banks on a single charger and without additional components. It also redirects available power to the lowest battery for faster charging. mastervolt.com
CLIMATE CONTROL
BOAT PERFORMANCE
WATERMAKERS
or computer. The new One-Touch Fill feature runs the watermaker until the tanks are full, shuts the watermaker off, does a freshwater flush, and transitions into Auto- Store mode, keeping the watermaker ready for the next cycle. Suggested maintenance intervals remind the user when to change filters, replace a pump or perform routine preventive
maintenance, and a data-logging capability allows technicians to troubleshoot from anywhere, giving access to historical operating data, trends and alarm faults. spectrawatermakers.com
fciwatermakers.com
AIR HANDLERS
unique condensation management system and is highly customizable with three form factors: Compact, Slimline and Low Profile. Components are plug and play, and there are lateral water diverter plates on the heat exchangers that prevent the condensate
from dripping down the sides. Heeling even at inclinations of up to 30 degrees is no longer a problem. webasto.co
By Zuzana Prochazka, Southern Boating November 2017