The Sea Ray 210 Shootout – Outboard Versus Sterndrive
With the rise of the big outboard, has the venerable petrol sterndrive had its day? Greg Copp explores this emergent dilemma and is surprised by his findings … Rarely do we get the chance to test two identical boats with two different engines, in this case outboard and sterndrive. With outboards now taking a bigger slice of the sports boat market, how they stack up against sterndrives of similar output is something we were keen to find out. Luckily, Solent-based Marina Marbella just happened to have two of Sea Ray’s latest sports boats in stock: the outboard-powered 210 SPOe
The Dual Alternative – Volvo NC37 Hybrid Prototype
PBR’s Mark Featherstone gains access to Volvo’s secret development centre in Sweden to trial what could foreseeably represent a game-changer in propulsion technology for the larger cruiser market. One of the more memorable experiences I had during my time with the adventurer Steve Fossett was a visit to Lockheed Martin’s experimental establishment in the highly classified Area 51. It was quite a privilege to gain access to this top-secret aircraft design facility known as the ‘Skunk Works’, a remote enclave in the Nevada desert. It was with a certain sense of déjà vu, therefore, that I found myself waiting
ICOM IC-U20SR
Tough and pocket sized, this radio keeps all crew members in the loop. This new compact radio from Icom has a broader remit than just maritime communications. The IC-U20SR is what is termed a PMR446 - a personal mobile UHF radio that transmits within the band of 446 MHz. It has sixteen predesignated channels and requires no license to use, so handing one out to every crew member poses no practical or legal problems. It can’t transmit on any marine frequency like channel 16, so has no use in a mayday situation, but considering most skippers rely on a
First-Time Boat Charter – Croatia
Tom Davies and his family relate their experiences of chartering a vessel abroad for the very first time. How did they do it, what was it like and what were the highlights of their week-long Dalmatian cruising adventure? I confess, Croatia has been on my wish list for years. An experienced motorboat owner with 10 years’ experience cruising the Solent and South West of England, I’ve always looked on enviously whenever my nautically inclined friends sought to regale me with their sun-filled salty tales of cruising the Mediterranean – that is, until my family and I finally decided to
The Price Of Power – Lithium-Ion Batteries
Is the use of lithium-ion batteries plain sailing? PBR’s Jeremy Webb investigates the pros, the cons and the technology behind the power and in the process uncovers a host of sobering, timely facts relative to everyone putting to sea. You can’t go anywhere now without using some form of battery-powered technology as governments push the use of electric-powered transport. From electric bicycles to electric aircraft, they all use lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged hundreds, if not thousands, of times. The marine industry has seen a massive increase in the use of lithium batteries in all sectors, but are
