Subscribe
Author Articles
Vicem 63 Sportfish
By Capt. Grant Rafter | Posted May 2008 | Add a CommentVicem 63 SportfishShe may not have been sporting her optional Bausch-American tuna tower at her Miami boat show debut, but what the Turkish-built Vicem 63 Sportfish lacked in aluminum, she more than made up for in woodwork. Besides teak—found throughout the cockpit and in some motifs in the interior—Ducia and Kyaha
Read Article
The Big Sleeper
By Capt. Grant Rafter | Posted April 2008 | Add a CommentHatteras 72 MYHatteras Yachts placed ease of operation near the top of its list of design criteria for its 72 Motor Yacht, attempting to make life simpler for both owners and crew. Instead of expanding the deckhouse to fill the 20'2" beam, designers left room for full-length side decks. They allow the crew to stay clear of the
Read Article
Caulk the Line
By Capt. Grant Rafter | Posted March 2008 | Add a CommentThere are four chief types of boat adhesive sealants: polyurethane, polyether, polysulfide, and silicone. Knowing which sealant is best for each project and its proper application procedure can be the difference between a seal that lasts and a seal that fails. Choosing the Right SealantPolyurethane is the strongest
Read Article
XF = Xtra Fish?
By Capt. Grant Rafter | Posted March 2008 | Add a CommentAlbemarle 290 XFWhen your testing ground is off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina—the infamously stormy sand spit that has earned the nickname "The Graveyard of the Atlantic"—you had better build a strong boat. Through-bolted every six inches with 316L stainless steel rivets, the Albemarle 290XF is just that, featuring a
Read Article
Fishing by Satellite
By Capt. Grant Rafter | Posted February 2008 | Add a CommentThis chart from Offshore Satellite Services shows a break's predicted path.Sea Surface Temperature (SST) charts seem to be exactly what the name implies. But when it comes to the ones tuned for anglers, there's a lot more to them. A variety of companies offer an assortment of SST charts, and the cost ranges from free to more than
Read Article
Wayachts 46
By Capt. Grant Rafter | Posted January 2008 | Add a CommentWayachts 46From the sky, she looks like a giant horseshoe. But with a purported top speed of 36 knots, Wayachts' Italian-built Wave 46 Quarantasei can gallop right along.Beginning on two steps that serve as a swim platformAt the centerline helm, which features a standard Raymarine chartplotter and VHF and a
Read Article
Mixing Business With Pleasure
By Capt. Grant Rafterphotos by Klaus... | Posted January 2008 | Add a CommentLürssen's KismetI nibbled on a pineapple skewer as the rain fell in a hush against the gray hull of Kismet. At 223 feet LOA with a beam of 42 feet and towering 66 feet to the top of her radars, she turned heads from the 17th Street Causeway during last year's Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. At the behest of
Read Article
Troubleshooting 101
By Capt. Grant Rafterillustrations b... | Posted December 2007 | Add a CommentYou've heard the mantra before, but it bears repeating. A diesel engine basically needs just two things: clean fuel and air. If it's missing either, it's dead. That's why troubleshooting a diesel usually involves tracing the air and fuel systems from start to finish, always beginning with the simplest and least-invasive potential cause and ending whenever your
Read Article
Sharply Dressed
By Capt. Grant Rafter | Posted December 2007 | Add a CommentMarquis 40 SCWisconsin-based Marquis Yachts prides itself on its American-built boats with European style, and the 40 SC seems the epitome of what the company has set out to achieve.The styling is sharp, if a bit futuristic, with everything from the backrest of the bench-style helm chair to the corner moldings on the
Read Article
Grady-White Canyon 336
By Capt. Grant Rafter | Posted December 2007 | Add a CommentGrady-White Canyon 336Less Barebones, More Fish BonesThe striped bass in Albemarle Sound have a new enemy in North Carolina builder Grady-White's new Canyon 336. Built as a fish chaser, the 33-footer has an optional T-top that includes radial outriggers, net stowage, and molded-in fore and aft spreader lights. Aft
Read Article
Brokerage Listings Powered by BoatQuest.com
