Table of contents for May 2026 in Boating

GRADY-WHITE 321 COASTAL EXPLORER The 321 Coastal Explorer mixes inshore and offshore fishing capabilities with luxury and top engineering and construction. It is the largest Grady-White Coastal Explorer model. Riding Grady’s exclusive SeaV² hull, the 321 CE is built for anglers and families who expect more from their time on the water. Integrated aft boarding platforms ensure easy water access in case you add aftermarket dual shallow-water anchors. At the bow, meticulous tolerance checks allow the largest available trolling motors to stow and deploy without interfering with the anchor locker or forward seating. The black helm offers push-buttons, an upholstered brow, and space for dual 19-inch displays. Ride in comfort in triple Command Elite helm chairs that include flip-up bolsters, fold-down armrests, and footrests. Powered by dual Yamaha F350s with Helm…

For the last decade, Poland has been riding a wave of growth in boatbuilding. The world’s two biggest boatbuilders, Groupe Beneteau and Brunswick, build some boats in Poland (beating tariffs and taxes in the process). Other boats built in the land of Lechia include Axopar, Galeon, and Saxdor. STRENGTH IN NUMBERS Where boatbuilding diverges between Poland and the US is co-op production. Model Art Shipyards is an example. It was founded by Phillip Scott, who was looking for a less expensive way to build his Parker Boats—not to be confused with the North Carolina builder with that name. Here in the United States, Parker Poland boats are sold as Skamander Boats. Model Art maintains three shifts, producing 500 boats per year for seven different original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). During our…

The Regulator 28 is now available with twin 350 hp, V-6 Yamaha outboards, a higher rating than similar boats, most of which are rated for 600 hp. I was anxious to see how much of a difference that additional power would make. The boat jumped on plane in about 4 seconds. You could definitely feel the additional torque from the 350s in the hole shot, but where it really shined was in the mid-range power. When giving the boat some juice at 4,000 rpm, it jumped ahead and felt plenty sporty. Regulator has updated its 28 a couple of times over the years, but this latest iteration may be the best one yet with a long list of upgrades. You won’t have to worry about zipping around a slower boat.…

Tahoe’s 1950 is sleek, sporty, versatile, seats a crowd, and zooms to nearly 50 mph. Even better, it’s pretty easy on the budget, retailing for $45,000 with a Mercury 150 and a trailer. With that Mercury 150 F]our - Stroke outboard, our tester could easily tow watersports fans or ferry the full family around the lake. Hitting 30 mph from an in-gear idle in just 6.5 seconds, we topped out at 48.6 mph spinning a 17-pitch Mercury Enertia propeller. Engine options include a 175 and even a 150 or 175 Pro XS engine if 50-plus-mph speed is your jam. But did we say thrifty? At 28 mph the 150 FourStroke was sipping just 4.9 gph. So, $150 in gas equals a weekend of fun Tahoe calls its hull design “Powerglide”…

IN THE FALL OF 2019, WHILE ATTENDING THE FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW, I got a product pitch from an Australian entrepreneur inviting me to try out his new water toy. He had a foil board, basically like a surfboard with an underwater wing for lift, powered by an electric motor with a built-in battery system, controlled by a handf\eld remote. After giving me a brief tutorial, we set off into a canal that led into the lntracoastal. I took off, and soon it felt like I was surfing and then, once I learned how to control my speed and weight distribution, I was flying. It was exhilarating, and I thought to myself, this is going to be big. Really big. Fast forward to the present, a few years after…

ISLAND OPTICS NOORD Island Optics is not a new brand, but I’ve recently discovered the company making inroads into the boating and fishing marketplace with some outstanding offerings. I’ve tested several pair and, after doing so, feel like its sunglasses compare favorably to higher-priced (not necessarily higher-end) brands. In fact, at a low-entry price point, the glasses have all the hallmarks of premium models. Island Optics’ frames are fashionable, practical with good eye coverage and its polarized lenses held up well to constant outdoor use. The lenses meet ANSI Z80.3-2018 standards for impact resistance and, per that standard, must also filter 99 percent of UVA and 95 percent of UVB light for eye protection from these damaging rays. The lenses had consistent curvature and accurate light transmission that does not…

During a flight-attendant safety talk, I noticed that the plane’s inflatable life jackets are manual only. That is, a passenger needs pull a cord to inflate one. Yet most passengers have no training with inflatable life jackets, so wouldn’t automatically inflating models be better? Not always. Take, for example, the pilothouse boat that capsized in big swells while negotiating the inlet to California’s Mission Bay. The captain’s automatic inflatable life jacket deployed as water flooded the pilothouse, pinning him inside. He lived to tell the story thanks to quick thinking and a belt knife, which he used to puncture the jacket and escape. The same scenario can occur on an airplane that needs to ditch, hence manual jackets. So which type of inflatable is best for boaters? To help you…

Every day, it seems, there’s a new report or social media post about a runaway boat. Usually, the captain has fallen overboard, and the boat often goes into the so-called “death circle,” speeding around the victim. Being a good swimmer doesn’t help; even Katie Ledecky can’t outswim a speeding boat. So rampant is this issue that the US Coast Guard now requires the use of an engine cut-off switch (ECOS), which is most commonly activated by the use of an engine cut-off switch lanyard (ECOSL). Boaters operating from exterior helm stations of boats less than 26 feet in length overall, and operating at 5 mph or more, are required to have one of these devices installed and operable, and wear the device while underway. Learn more at boatingmag.com/ecos. Now, the…

A center-console boat born in the high desert of California that can thrive in the Gulf Stream seems improbable. But it’s true. In the Mojave desert, Mag Bay Yachts, headed up by the father and son team of Mike Howarth, and his son Barrett, produces some of today’s most capable offshore fishing machines. No model represents this more than the Mag Bay 38 Center Console, which earned the Best of Show Award for boats under 60 feet at its world debut during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in 2024. The Mag Bay 38 CC is hard to ignore with its classic aft tumblehome and secondary rubrail that accents the stern quarters and protects the integrated stern platform. A sweeping sheerline culminates in a wide flaring bow with an ever-so-subtle…

Alera is new to the pontoon market. The Elkhart, Indiana, builder recently brought Boating its first model—the M25L—and it made an excellent impression, presenting extremely well by all measurements, objective and subjective. If the way Alera prepared its first models is an indicator of how serious the boatbuilder is, the company stacks up favorably against its competitors. Alera’s stated mission is to “build boats for the water, not the showroom.” That said, only water time will tell if Alera accomplishes that mission. Our first impression is that the company is well on its way. Since we tested the M25L, Alera’s been busy signing dealers, building boats, and selling them. Clearly, boat dealers and pontoon-boat enthusiasts are agreeing, as Alera is reporting brisk sales in 2026. The M25L that came to…

Lift off your outboard motor cowl and you’ll probably find a cast aluminum powerhead shielded from salt corrosion by a thick coat of durable paint. Protecting the internal cooling passages exposed to salt water has long been a bigger challenge for outboard manufacturers. Suzuki Marine is touting a new anti-corrosion solution it calls Suzuki Edge eCoat, an aluminum anodizing process that it claims delivers superior corrosion protection and reduces environmental impact during manufacturing by reducing CO2 emissions by 50 percent. Edge eCoat was developed by Suzuki Motor Corporation to protect complex internal cooling and exhaust passages from corrosion by uniformly anodizing surfaces that come in contact with salt water. Suzuki is implementing the Edge eCoat process for its best-selling four-cylinder DF140 and DF115 models, with plans to progressively adopt the…

The US Coast Guard goes out in all weather conditions in all kinds of boats. Its fleet includes about 250 coastal and ocean-going cutters and between 1,600 and 2,000 smaller boats in service. Cutters are longer than 65 feet and include icebreakers, buoy tenders and patrol ships. Boats include 47 - and 52-foot motor lifeboats specialized for heavy weather and surf rescue. Vessels that place and maintain Aids to Navigation range between 16 and 64 feet in length overall. “Cutter boats” are carried aboard cutters and deployed with cranes. Response boats typically operate from Coast Guard stations. And there’s more. Here’s a closer look at some of the most unique boats in the US Coast Guard fleet. 47' MOTOR LIFEBOAT LOA: 48'11" BEAM: 15'0" DISPLACEMENT: 40,000 lb. POWER: 2 x…

The US Coast Guard requires that you carry a Type IV throwable personal flotation device (PFD) on board any vessel with a length overall of 16 feet or longer. Not only is one required, it must be “immediately available,” meaning it has to be stowed within arm’s reach of the captain and crew, and not buried in the bottom of a compartment. Here are three different styles to choose from to stay compliant and safer. WEST MARINE THROWABLE CUSHION THE THROW: The least-expensive option and the easiest to carry, a Type IV-approved cushion (above left) works because often people are already using it on deck as an actual cushion, so it’s easy to grab and throw. Cushions work well in situations where there’s little to no wind and the overboard…

Monitoring your boat from afar is easier than ever, thanks to affordable, compact and simple-to-install app-based security systems from brands such as Skyhawk Oversea, Siren Marine, Vanemar and others. These can report on the condition and location of your unattended boat, no matter how many miles separate you and your vessel. A few clicks on your mobile phone will deliver an update on your boat’s vital signs and GPS position. Most systems will immediately alert you through the app should a sensor—such as a geofence or a high-bilge-water sensor—be triggered. Not only are prices decreasing, but the hardware is becoming increasingly compact. Many now use matchbox-size wireless sensors that eliminate much of the hardwiring from the past. Some are available as original equipment on new boats, but also as aftermarket…

According to the US Coast Guard, falls overboard are a contributing factor in a staggering one-third of boating fatalities. How can you reduce the risk—and what should you do if a crewmember falls overboard? SPOT, COMMUNICATE, AND STAY ABOARD In the event someone does go overboard, act quickly. If any type of loose throwable marker is available—be it a seat cushion or similar—throw it in the direction of the person in the water. It will provide floatation, but also serve as a visual marker. This initial throwable should not be tethered to the boat, as the victim may try to swim for it. At the same time, alert the crew by loudly shouting “man overboard!” If available, hit the Man Overboard (MOB) function on your GPS. Designate a crewmember to…

In the beginning, a wakeboard tower was just a tower—a fourlegged fabrication of aluminum pipe. In the 30-ish years since the first tower appeared, this basic function—offering an elevated point of attachment for the towline—has not changed. In terms of style and features, however, the original wake tower today appears as a Model T automobile to a Tesla, no longer an add-on or afterthought but an integrated design element of the boat. It may be raised and lowered on telescoping legs and feature integrated sunshades, LED ambient lighting and logo projection, swiveling ’board racks, monster audio speakers, and an aft-view camera. Current wakesports fanatics may take these features for granted, but it wasn’t always like this. This elevating backstory may begin with Tony Finn, the serial entrepreneur often credited with…

Four Winns H33 OB takes over the flagship role for the now-50-year-old boatbuilder, mixing luxury dayboat amenities with the coastal readiness of outboard power and wrapping it all in a deep, secure design highlighted by the H Series trademark lines and Euro-inspired vertical bow stem. Add a popular summer kitchen to expand entertaining possibilities, the convenience of both a head and mini cabin, and up to 400 horses of twin-engine power and you’ve got a versatile model ready to satisfy both active families and adults with entertainment on the menu. A twist on coving and sandbar potential, however, just may be the chef’s kiss on an already winning recipe. Once relegated to the yacht market, side terrace doors transform the H33 OB’s aft cockpit when not underway. Lowered, they create…

Bowriders are popular for good reason, but their often-similar style, layouts and amenities make them hard to stand out from the pack. Regal’s LX2 Ultimate finds a way. Its list of standards and tech-minded goodies such as multiple 9-inch touchscreens and touchless ignition to a standard overhead power tower and premium Fusion audio, prove impressive. Regal lets you further customize all of the above, and wrap the finished product in a dizzying choice of interior and exterior colors, vinyl and other amenities. All told, there’s just shy of a million ways to personalize your ride. Regal smartly thinned the LX2’s gunwales—a choice that pushes edge-to-edge interior room to the max. The builder then filled that space in the main cockpit with Regal’s familiar Social Seating, lengthy benches down port and…

In doing so, you’d be in good company. The Coast Guard has issued orders to remove pyrotechnics from its own cutters in favor of eVDSDs (USCG Bulletin ALCOAST 396/25 - SEP 2025). “This clearly points to the Coast Guard’s preference,” says Mikele D’Arcangelo, VP of Global Marketing, Product Management, and Customer Support, ACR Electronics, Inc. Why such a directive? According to the bulletin: “eVDSDs offer significantly longer operational life than pyrotechnic flares…and eliminate the hazards associated with handling and deploying pyrotechnic flares, reducing the risk of burns, misfires, and accidental ignition.” Pryrotechnic devices can potentially injure crew and can disable safety gear such as inflatable life jackets and rafts. E-flares pose no such threats. While pyrotechnics burn more brightly than e-flares (and aerial flares offer greater visibility), the visual signal…