The Boatiest Multitasker: BoatPack

Source: BoatPack

Despite the rumors, I did not get lost on a shroom trip at Cochella; I’ve never even been to California.  Let’s just skip all the excuses as to why I haven’t posted in the last month and get on to the boats.

How many times have you looked at that random inanimate object and thought to yourself, “I bet that thing would float.”  It turns out you’re not the only one; some clever New Zealanders have taken a standard car top carrier and made it awesome by turning it into a boat.  Now you can haul all you camping gear on top of your Honda Civic and then boat it all out to that remote camping spot you’ve been eyeing for years.  Click past the jump for some more specs and pictures of the BoatPack.

2013 Sunnyland Antique and Classic Boat Show

Chris Craft at the 2013 Sunnyland Antique and Classic Boat Show

Now this is what I call a boat show.  I can only imagine the amount of blood, sweat, tears, and curse words necessary for the level of detailed present on this year’s boats on display.  And not only are these antique and classics on display, these guys have no problem casting off.  There seemed to be almost as many boats motoring about as there were docked.  

The Sunnyland Antique and Classic Boat Show’s 26th showing last weekend was my first time attending the event and it was impressive.  Tavares, Florida is the perfect location for this show; plus the surrounding area has plenty to keep you entertained off the water.  The show is held on Lake Dora which is part of the Harris Chain of Lakes, a chain that covers approximately 50,000 acres of water in Lake County Florida.  Hit the jump to see what we all hope our boats will grow up to be some day.

Spring Boat Shows w/video

With the official start of Spring today, I’d say it’s time we all get back on the water.  If you still haven’t “de-winterized” your boat and are looking for something boatie to do this weekend, there are a couple boat shows that are sure to motivate you out of hibernation.  

The first boat show is the Palm Beach International Boat Show.  March 21 - 24, If you purchase tickets online you can save a couple dollars, admission at the gate is $16 for adults and $7 for kids.  The Palm Beach Boat Show is one of this country's top five boat shows and features boats ranging from 8 foot inflatables to 150 foot plus mega yachts.  I’m sure you’ll have no problem scoping out your next dream boat.  Not to mention you’ll be in beautiful West Palm Beach.

The other show this weekend, the one Boatieblog will be attending, is the Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival in Tavares, FL.  The Sunnyland Antique and Classic Boat Society has been organizing this show for 26 years now.  This will be our first year at the show, but we are no stranger to Wooten Park in Tavares, FL where the show is located.  Right along Lake Dora, the park and surrounding areas are a boater’s paradise with plenty of fun for the whole family.  Wooten Park has a great playground and splash pad for the little ones.  The local steam train rides on the Cannonball Train are fun for the young and young at heart.  And we like to unwind right along the lake with a cocktail and the live band at AL’s Landing after a long day on the water.

Click past the jump for a great video from last year’s Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival.

Flashing Boaters Cause Distracted Driving w/video

Source: Doug Wertman via Wikimedia Commons

A different type of distracted driving has I-77 along North Carolina's Lake Norma all backed up.  It seems that due to some flashing boaters, traffic along the Interstate becomes quite congested along the adjacent lake.  The problem has become enough of a distraction that the state DOT has installed buoys in an attempt to keep boats from mooring together along the interstate.

To the North Carolina boaters: Really? You Bible Belt Boaties can keep your tops on, really?  If you are that starved for attention, I am pretty sure there are places you can go where dirty, old, desperate men will pay you money to give your “tater-tots” all the attention you are looking for, really!

To the North Carolina Drivers: What would Pope Francis say to all your rubbernecking?  If you have to squint so hard to get a glimpse you crash into the 1993 Ford Bronco in front of you, was it really worth it, Really?  How do you keep a Baptist from looking at a flasher?  Put another Baptist in the car. Really!

To the North Carolina DOT: Buoy’s?  Really?  Did a tall fence along the interstate, or a patrol boat writing tickets really never come up in the conversation?   How is a buoy going to keep a bathing suit top, up top?  You’re still going to have to have someone on the lake to enforce the buoys; but now people legitimately wanting to anchor have to find elsewhere to do it. Really?

And no, sorry, the video after the jump it’s not that kind of video.  Hit the jump break to see Charlotte’s NBC news coverage of the distraction.

Another Jet Boat Friday w/video

Source: SoCal Jet Boats

It’s Friday and I’m pretty sure our boatie friends to the north would trade just about anything for a day off of work out on the water.  Hopefully this footage from SolCal Jet Boats is enough to get you through the last little bit of winter and into some spring boating.  I love the way these guys boat; big motors, big rooster tails, flashy paint jobs, and plenty of family and friends to enjoy the water with.

So jump past the break for some Jet Boat Friday!

Old Fashioned Fridays w/video

Source: DODOcase

There is something about the phrase “Old Fashioned Fridays” that makes me think of Don Draper pouring an afternoon drink getting ready to light up a Lucky Strike.  Maybe I’m just ready for season 6 of Mad Men to start already.  As appealing as a Friday afternoon drink may seem, I would certainly enjoy it better if it were following an old fashioned row to the riverside pub.  Click past the jump to see what I mean.

Enjoy your Friday!

It's a Boat in a Box

Source: Better-Outdoors.com

Boating is a completely different beast for those of us living in the city.  Any sort of navigable waterway can be a long drive.  I seriously doubt the condo association in your highrise allows you to park your boat in their parking garage; that’s if it even fits below the height clearance.  And let’s face it, your Toyota Prius isn’t going to tow much anyway.  Thankfully you have another option when it comes to collapsable, stowable boatage.

Unlike the folding, origami, or erector set models we have seen in the past, the Transporter Boat is a boat in a box.  It comes in two configurations; the Transporter 1 can hold a maximum of four people, while the Transporter 2 can hold a max of 7 people.  That’s right, a nine foot boat has a, Coast Guard approved, seven passenger rating.  I am pretty sure your Prius won’t hold nine people.

The base model Transporter 1 will set you back $2,295 (plus shipping).  While an optioned out Transporter 2 including trolling motor, 5lb lithium deep cycle battery, and hitch carrier will set you back $3,895.90 (plus shipping).  

Click past the jump for a few videos of the Transporter Boat in action.

Seven Marine 557 Motors Released into the Wild w/video

Something important happened very quietly at this year’s Miami Boat Show.  Amongst all the new models, new engines, all electric concepts, and our own test rides, a few of the first production run motors from Seven Marine made their way into the show.  That’s right, a lucky few of you will actually begin to see these monster 557 HP engines out in the wild.  A lucky fewer of you will have the pleasure of being passed by these motors.  And an even still fewer of you will have the pleasure of sleepless nights knowing you have one, or any multiple, of these hanging off your boat transom just waiting to be fired to life.

Check out a video posted by Midnight Express of what 1,671 HP looks and sounds like, don’t ack like you’re not impressed.

If you find yourself unfamiliar with the awesomeness of the 557, click here to read more.

Boaties Do The Harlem Shake w/video

Source: YouTube

Show of hands, who even knows what the “Harlem Shake” is?  If you don’t know, go ahead and click the jump below to satisfy your curiosity.  If you do know, go ahead and click too; don’t act like you haven’t watched all the other editions bombarding the internet and your facebook news feed.

Miami Boat Show: Our First Ride in the Belzona 325 Center Console [w/photos and video]

Visiting the Belzona Marine booth was by far my favorite Miami Boat Show experience.  It wasn’t just the fact that they build a great looking, innovative center console, or the fact that they offered us a test ride, or the fact that they gave us free stuff for our readers; they were my favorite because they recognized us before we could even say hello.

When we last met Belzona in Ft. Lauderdale they were quite busy introducing their new 325 model.  For this boat show we made sure to try and carve out a bit more time to get to know the Belzona 325 in better detail.  There is no lack of excitement around the unique features of the 325; the port and starboard sliding doors, the reverse raked windshield, the bow seating even stows away like nothing we’ve ever seen before.  Not only did we get more intimate with Belzona’s static display model, we were invited along for a demo run through Miami’s Government Cut and out offshore on a shakedown cruise.  To say the least we were impressed.  Click through the jump break to see what we learned about the Belzona 325.

Miami Boat Show: Insetta 45 - a Different Breed of Cat [w/photos and video]

While not all boaties are fishermen, the two breeds are very closely related.  All I’m saying is that sometimes it is hard to cut through the piles of BS while you are trying to get down to the facts.  A boats weigh, top speed, range, etc. they all tend to get embellished a bit.  That was not true of the straight talkers we met from American Marine Design and their Insetta 45.

The Insetta 45 was born from the hull of an offshore racing catamaran (does the name Skater Powerboats ring a bell) but has all the features of a hardcore pelagic fish hunter.  The aggressive tunnel hull has been narrowed slightly to easier accommodate trailering, but the running surfaces and stepped hull design have remained unchanged; ready for high speed offshore duty.  All the fiberglass parts are vacuum-infused using vinylester resin to make a strong, isotropic structure ready to battle the elements or any sea monster you may have had in mind.

Click the jump for more about the Insetta 45, our pictures from the boat show, and a quick video of her prowling offshore in 4'-5' swells.

Miami Boat Show: Ilmor’s New MV8-570 [w/photos]

My ears were suddenly shocked with a thunderous crack!  Growing up in the lightning capital of the United States my first instinct was a nearby lightning strike, only the rumble and pop didn’t stop.  After the initial crack, the noise settled into the bark and snarl of, not one, but two naturally aspirated V8 engines.  After my ears were filled with that noise, I am convinced that Zeus himself must have come to the future and copied the sound from Ilmor’s new MV8-570 engines when he created his thunder.

Ilmor released a brand new engine at this year’s Miami Boat Show, the MV8-570 (marine V8, 570 horsepower).  And thank goodness it wasn’t enough for Ilmor to just bring a silent engine to sit on a polished pedestal, they partnered with Formula Boats to bring two of the 570’s ready to thunder to life in a Formula 353 FAS3Tech.  We were fortunate enough to catch a demo ride, click past the jump to learn more about the 570’s and our ride into the danger zone.