Boating

As anyone who’s read this mag for a while knows, I am a DIY boater. I need to see firsthand how marine products work so I can share that experience with you, or at least vet the DIY content created by others. On these pages, I’ve chronicled boat projects ranging from repairing hull blisters and painting the topsides to replacing coaming pads and installing marine electronics, pumps, lights and, well, you name it. I should say here that the same can be said of my fellow Boating editors. As you might imagine, I own a substantial collection of tools. This too is as varied as the jobs a boat requires during the course of its life. I’ve got the common stuff, like wrenches and drivers and brushes and crimpers and scrapers and…

What exactly is the Slab Lab? It’s a private lake that my dad and I have worked on for nearly 28 years. It was originally a trophy largemouth bass lake. But after a fish kill in 2018, we decided to start over. Much to our surprise, we realized we had some very special coppernose bluegill in our lake. So we thought, let’s grow those. Is Slab Lab a fishing destination? We do a very limited amount. Right now we have universities studying our bluegill, as well as the USDA and the American Sport Fish Hatchery. They’re trying to figure out what’s happening, how our fish grow so large—even for being pellet-fed. Did you grow up fishing? My entire family fishes [and have] for as long as I can remember. When my dad found the land…

Helicopters, photographers, cruisers, ‘toons and chase boats: every issue of Boating is a major production, and Icom helps the team communicate during the controlled chaos of a big shoot. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the magazine, and tips on how to optimize your Icom marine radio like the Boating team does. MADE POSSIBLE BY SCAN ME Scan the QR code below to gain access to each new episode that includes advice/tips from our editors on maximizing use of your marine communication.…

1. Your boat’s hydraulic steering system seems to be getting sloppier and less precise as the seasons go by. How should you tighten things up? A. Check for fluid leaks from the helm unit back to the engine cylinder, and the hoses from the dash to the transom. B. Add hydraulic fluid and bleed the system according to instructions. C. Replace the entire system. D. A and B 2. Your bass boat’s jack plate is operating erratically; when you raise it, the operation is slow and jittery. When you press the down button, the unit moves easier but still not like new. Where should you look first? A. Check the plate and lift cylinder for binding; often there are fittings that should be greased, or plastic slide bearings that may be worn out. B. The lift piston…

CASE BONE-HANDLED TRAPPER THE SHARPEST EDGE: The “gentleman’s knife” is back, and no other brand is more associated with the knife style than Case. The finely crafted knife has two blades: the clip, a pointed blade for piercing and providing excellent cutting control, and the spey, historically used by stock men for, well, castrating livestock. In the hands of a sportsman, the spey blade offers a highly polished stainless-steel cutting tool without the piercing point that may be a detriment to inflatable boaters. We like the knife for its reassuring heft, crisp, positive opening, and locking spring. The blades are forged, ground and polished, then honed to perfection. ANOTHER POINT: Dual blades increase utility without the added bulk of less frequently used tools, making the knife more convenient to carry. If a bone…

Melding the luxury and performance of a high-end runabout with the watersports thrills of a wakesurf boat, Sea Ray intends to let buyers own the best of both worlds with an SLX 260 Surf. Its deep-V hull will turn gracefully and handle chop well. But that hull also aids in the watersports aspect of its mission because the deeper V displaces more water and builds larger surf waves. Coupled with a ballast system and proprietary wave-shaping software, the SLX 260 Surf should create waves to please even experienced riders. For surfing safety, the 350 hp 6.2L ECT MerCruiser engine (a 430 hp 8.1L is also available) mates to a forward-facing Bravo 4S sterndrive. An electric watersports tower with a Bimini is standard. A pump-out head is available. Inside, the boat accommodates a…