Powerboat Reports is the independent product test report for powerboats.

Volume 20
Number 5
May 2007

Many of the charts & tables found on this site are PDFs.

May 2007

Boat Review: Camano 31
The Camano 31 is a rugged semi-displacement trawler with more than a little Western-rig influence in its deckhouse and a good deal of commercial fisherman influence below the waterline. A well-built, limited production cruiser, the 31 is designed for a couple to spend extended time aboard. It makes no attempt to provide sleeping accommodations for the extended family. As most owners cruise by themselves, a pull-out berth in the saloon takes care of the very occasional overnight guests.

Satellite Weather: Sirius Battles XM
You could listen to the VHF radio weather reports all day long and still come away with far less information than you’d get by glancing at a graphic weather presentation—in color—on the display screen of a chartplotter. Marine electronics companies have joined forces with the two nationally known satellite radio providers, Sirius and XM, to supply this kind of weather information for moderate monthly fees. Here, we take a hard look at who provides the best weather service at the best overall price.

Elliot SOLAS Raft Rises to the Top
New design and construction standards for recreational life rafts are prompting us to look at these devices in a new light. In our last test ("Life Rafts Revisited," January 2003), the Winslow Ocean Rescue was our favorite, and the Viking RescYou Pro earned Best Buy honors. However, in March 2005, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) released its specifications for two types of recreational life rafts—coastal and offshore—including minimum fabric breaking strength and tear strength. These are the manufacturing standards that life-raft makers are strongly encouraged to meet.

Binocular Update
The 7x50 binocular market is packed with models that cost less than $300. Power Boat Reports tested 10 different binoculars from several makers in August 2006 and came away with two winners— the Nikon Ocean Pro and West Marine Tahiti. Unable to participate last time due to a revamping of their binocular lineup, Bushnell recently sent us its new Marine model 13-7501 binocular for review.

Bustin’ Barnacles Without Resorting to Harsh Chemicals
You’d think that people who spend so much time testing bottom paint wouldn’t have a barnacle problem, but we do … a big one. Our home waters of Sarasota, Fla., are paradise for barnacles. After 18 months (seven of them in Rhode Island), the Interlux Micron Extra on the hull of one of our test boats, a 21-foot Parker, finally surrendered to the little buggers along the waterline.