Water Ski September 2018

I like to steer boats by the compass. That is to say, I read the course off the GPS and then swing the wheel until the compass card and lubber line match what the screen says. (I’ve worked up a deviation table for my boat’s compass and pretty much have it committed to memory.) That done, I look ahead for a handy water tower, lighthouse, cliff or cloud and head for it. If it’s a long leg, I’ll mentally adjust for wind and current. Periodically, I check the GPS and correct the course, if needed. I find this procedure lets me, personally, keep a straighter wake than when I steer by looking at the boat-shaped icon on the screen and trying to keep it as close as possible to the…

If you’re supposed to keep your friends close and your enemies closer, where are you supposed to keep family? For brothers-in-law David Jenkins and Blake Eder, the answer was as close as possible. For most of 10,000 nautical miles from Alaska to Maryland, the two have shared the extra-close confines of a 40-foot powercat. We met up with the duo as they crossed Florida via the Okeechobee Waterway. How did this whole journey come about? DJ: My family took a cruise through Alaska several years ago, and it was great, but the whole time I kept wishing I could get off the boat so I could experience more. As I started researching boats, I really liked what Aspen and owner Larry Graf were doing. I reached out, and we started…

1. When preparing your boat to launch, it’s best to: A. Load all your gear into the boat away from the ramp, before lining up to launch. B. Attach retrieval lines and fenders before backing down the ramp. C. Start the engine and run it at home, just for a moment in the driveway (with a flush attachment, of course), to ensure a smooth start at the launch. D. None of the above E. All of the above 2. The last thing you should do before backing down the ramp is: A. Wave at all the people in line. B. Install the hull drain plug and secure it. C. Put beach towels aboard. D. Switch backing/driving chores with your spouse. E. None of the above 3. Backing a boat trailer…

S’WELL TEAKWOOD THE CHILL: Made of high-grade 18/8 stainless steel, the S’well definitely kept water cool inside even after the outer bottle baked in the summer sun for hours. S’well claims it keeps liquids cool for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. The teakwood design goes hand in hand with the boating life. THE NIL: One of the more expensive metal bottles; prone to dings and scratching. PRICE: $45 for 25-ounce bottle; swell.com GSI MICROLITE 1000 TWIST THE CHILL: The lightest of the three bottles, the GSI is also vacuum-insulated 18/8 stainless steel and makes the claim of keeping liquids cold for 32 hours. In personal use, it also kept water cool while exposed to summer sun for hours. The rubberized bottom keeps a decent grip on surfaces such…

Hinckley is joining the outboard-powered, luxury center-console market to great fanfare with its new Sport Boat CC. Like all new Hinckley power yachts, the 42-foot-7-inch hull was drawn by Ray Hunt Design. It’s built using epoxy-infused carbon from bow to stern with an inner layer of Kevlar for extra strength and durability. Every part is vacuum-infused to create the strongest boat possible while maintaining a relatively lighter weight. With triple outboards on the transom, the Sport Boat CC is expected to hit a top-end speed of 63 mph while maintaining a true course and the seakeeping capabilities expected of the legendary Hunt deep-V. Within the console, boaters will discover a well-appointed and air-conditioned cabin featuring a galley with a U-shaped settee, which converts to a queen-size berth, and a fully…

With seating for 19 and ample stowage, the 2019 25-foot ZX5 is Tigé’s flagship and will allow your whole crew to enjoy a day full of wakesurfing, wakeboarding or skiing. This big boat should generate the biggest of waves. Wakeboarders can expect the massive, rampy wakes for which the Convex V-Hull is notorious. On the other side of the coin, the ZX5 is said to be able to make the wake vanish when you are ready to ski and still performs with total agility when you take it into a turn. Done for the day? Stow your boards in the Surf Locker and keep your cockpit dry and tidy. Standard features include the TAPS 3 Surf System, patented Convex V-Hull, Tigé CLEAR User Experience, and the Alpha E2 Powered Tower.…