Date: 12 July 2024. A New Age in Boating Series.

© janice142

Attending the St. Pete Boat Show earlier this year solidified some ideas I have been pondering of late. This page, A New Age in Boating Series, contains all four articles posted on the topic. Links to the individual articles are provided in the next box. Enjoy.
 

Date: 30 June 2024. A New Age in Boating (part 1)

© janice142

Walking into the venue for a boat show is always exciting.

In January my friend Shelley and I were able to spend time at the St. Pete Boat Show here on the Gulf coast of Florida. Shelley is a detail oriented neighbor who has recently moved to the region. We had a great time seeing what is new and improved. Today I will both reminisce and share with you what I consider a major evolution in the boating world.
 

Held on the waterfront in ST. PETERSBURG ↓, the St. Pete Boat Show is a good place to explore new boating trends.

 

Over the decades I have seen boats change so much as to become nearly unrecognizable from those long-gone days of yesteryear. When growing up there were many of the older ladies cruising the waters of the world.
 

This beautiful yacht ↑ was photographed in Monaco by M/V Lutin. She is a gem.
 

As I recall it, the wealthiest retired folks back then had mega yachts. In those days that would be defined loosely as above 60' in length. Many of our friends living and cruising on their boats had much smaller vessels. Most couples living aboard had boats in the 28-35' range. Our own at 40', was considered large by contrast.

Photographed just more than 50 years ago, this is M/V Lutin. She was Cap'n Oliver's family boat.

Pictured above:  Oliver's Mom, sister Helene, Oliver and his Dad. Circa 1971, Lutin ↑ is a Grand Banks motor yacht.
 

Memory Lane: I remember the boats of my youth being primarily gasoline powered. Our boat was built in the 1950s. She originally had a diesel tractor engine that Daddy marinized. I wrote about my earliest home in The Fishing Boat article. Later though, in the 1960s and 1970s, diesel became the prevalent engines installed in live aboard boats.

Daddy's boat...

 

Now however, I am seeing more outboard powered boats than ever before. I am not referring to the small runabouts and go-fast sport boats. Instead, I am seeing vessels 40-plus feet long with multiple outboard engines aligned on the transom.
 

The February 2024 issue of BoatUS Magazine showcased a variety of new boats with outboard propulsion.

Indeed, I have read about larger motor yachts utilizing outboards instead of inboard diesels. There is quite frankly a lot of good to be said about a *4-bolt repair.

*4-bolt repair: Unscrew four bolts, and have the outboard taken to a mechanic for repair or replacement. Spending time waiting for the busy diesel mechanic to arrive, source parts, then fix the problem is irritating. It is far easier to simply replace the ding dang broken motor. Being able to continue immediately is wonderful for cruising boats.

Ryan ↑ with a new Suzuki for another boater.

I do understand the costs involved with outboard replacement. For folks with the means, not having to spend the time awaiting a repair is indeed wonderful. For Seaweed I am considering the purchase of an outboard as an interim means of propulsion should my diesel have an issue.
 

Once primarily used in dinghies and runabouts, it is my belief that the age of outboards is dawning.

Part Two will be uploaded in a day or three... Thank you for reading.
 

That's it from the water. Have a great week.

Date: 6 July 2024. A New Age in Boating (part 2)

© janice142

In A New Age in Boating (part 1) I described what I see as a pivotal trend in the boating world. Over the years we have evolved from sail to steam, then onward in the 20th century to gasoline and diesel powered cruising vessels. Now I believe the latest propulsion method may be here.  The new, updated version of the outboard motor with *EFI has arrived.

*EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection is a revolutionary improvement of outboard motors, eliminating the troublesome carburetor. This change has brought about a more stable, less likely to breakdown motor.

The Suzuki 9.9 long-shaft is one of the outboard motors I am pondering for my own Seaweed. A 25hp is also under consideration.

At this point my uncertainty is regarding where next to put my money. I still want a tuna door. That item has been on my list for more than ten years. Other needs and desires have taken priority in the interim. Big decisions need to be made however there is no real urgency either.
 

I am happy where I am and life continues, albeit at a slower pace than in previous years.

Underway is the very best place to be. Heading north, John's Pass ↑ is on my port side.
 

Memory Lane: Back in 1962 for my birthday I was gifted a used Seagull outboard. The prop fell off (in 35' of fast moving water) when I sheared a cotter pin. The motor would stall and was hard to pull start too. It was noisy and smoky. Now, all these decades later I do look back on those adventures involving my Seagull with a larger degree of affection than when they were taking place.

Side Note: Seagull outboards back in the day (decades ago) required a 10 to 1 mixture of gasoline to oil. That oil lubricates the internal components of the engine. It is also the reason why Seagulls were so smoky. Modern outboards are generally run on a 50 to 1 ratio.
 

The Seagull does have a cult following. They are well regarded and simple to fix motors according to my friend Tom in Apalachicola who has a collection of them. Even some of the dock fellows here remember Seagulls fondly from their youth.
 

But I digress...
With the outboards of my childhood it was only a matter of time before the carburetor gums up and the engine won't work. That is a thing of the past.

 

At the St. Pete Boat Show there were boats sold with multiple large outboards across the transom. Nowadays the outboards have a new internal system that has made a world of difference in reliability and performance. The EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection) has 100% solved the carburetor problem. I am impressed.
	Denison Yacht Sales offered this beauty: Justin Nystedt 954-654-5783 or Joe Lazzara 813-313-7512 Denison Yacht Sales: 786-482-5000

There were a lot of boats offered at the St. Pete Boat Show.

 

As Shelley and I scoped out the boat show we were amazed by the beautiful boats offered. It was a pleasure to share this world with another. Still, it was those large outboards that made the biggest impression.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate that. Part 3 should be uploaded by Wednesday.
 

Date: 9 July 2024. A New Age in Boating (part 3)

© janice142

The Beneteau Swift Trawler 35 ↓ is beautiful. She was one of the of the boats offered at the St. Pete Boat Show.

The interior of the Swift Trawler is gorgeous. Plus she is fast, topping out at 23 knots with a cruising speed of between 15-17 knots.
 

Modern boats are beamier (wider) than those of decades ago. They are more spacious than ever before. Boat owners today expect all the amenities of life ashore and new boats deliver. They are far faster than those of my youth. For many new boats, that speed is accomplished by turbo powered engines. The newest iteration of power for faster boats is the improved version of the outboard motor with *EFI.

*EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection eliminates the need for a carburetor. That translates in the simplest of terms to a more reliable product less prone to breakdowns.
 

Mystique Boatworks showcased a go-fast fishing boat, the Mystique 48:
Owner Keith and salesman Daniel → Exclusive sales representative: Ron Jones 864-303-3502	Mystique Boatworks 423-503-2949
All photos on my website enlarge. Click on the picture to make that happen. The back button returns you to this page.

The fastest motor yachts seen are often powered with turbo diesels. In the old days boat builders would utilize a larger engine. Later however the form factor (size) of the engine became paramount. A smaller engine could be turned into a turbo, thus gaining horsepower without needing to enlarge the engine room. One problem is that this is a one-way street. You cannot return the engine to what it once was before becoming a turbo. The new, spiffy, greater speed of a turbo powered diesel engine does have appeal, until it breaks.
 

Turbo diesels have their own set of problems. It is not a question IF your turbo is going to quit. The question is WHEN. Alas, the answer is always far sooner than one hopes...
 

Going to a boat show means being able to look at and admire a great variety of vessels.

 

Boat show etiquette dictates removing your shoes before boarding any of the boats.

Shelley went aboard the Ranger Tug on display at the St. Pete Boat Show.

This 31' Ranger Tug draws just 2'4" -- less than my own Seaweed with her 3' draft. She is laid out similarly to my Seaweed though lots fancier. With a turbo Volvo, she will get up and go fast...
Offered by Lorenzo Castro 845-232-8633 of Edgewater Yacht Sales aka Modern Tugs 850-341-1105
All pictures on my website enlarge. Click to make that happen.

When weather is getting worse, having extra speed to get to a
safe spot is an important factor to consider when selecting your boat.

Being able to retreat to a protected harbor is crucial. That is one thing my Seaweed cannot do rapidly. With her small engine, an 18hp Kubota diesel, I am seriously pondering a way to increase her *SOG. An outboard may be the answer to that conundrum. After all, I have two fuel tanks so I could conceivably switch one to gasoline and keep one as diesel. This might be an answer though at this point I have a ways to go before I can afford a spiffy new outboard. They run $3k, before installation for the white Suzuki 9.9, long-shaft beauty I have my eyes on. A 25hp Suzuki with all the goodies costs just better than $4,000 and it might just be perfect for my Seaweed.

*SOG: speed over ground, basically how fast the boat is moving. 
 

As always I do thank you for reading. The final installment will be posted in a day or three. Thanks for your patience too.

Date: 11 July 2024. A New Age in Boating (part 4)

© janice142

Visiting the St. Pete Boat Show is fun. As always the show featured a wide range of vessels, from larger motor yachts to high performance fishing boats, sailboats and lots of family fun center console boats. The variety was outstanding. Being able to introduce my neighbor Shelley to the boating world made the event particularly interesting. There is nothing quite like stepping aboard a boat to get a feel for what life afloat can be.
 

Shelley was able to tour a Cutwater at the St. Pete Boat Show. She's a gem.
I have admired the Cutwaters for a few years now. They are beautiful inside. One thing they have that I yearn for is a tuna door. This one, the Cutwater 32, has two 300hp Yamaha outboards mounted on the reinforced swim platform. Be still my heart!! Cutwater Boats ←website (for more information call 253-839-5213)

What I did see at the boat show was a plethora of larger power boats with outboard engines. The inboard turbo charged diesels so prevalent of late in the go-fast "trawlers" appear to be being in part replaced by large outboards. This was eye-opening to me.

Shelley and I stopped for lunch over at the Dockside Bar in Goslings.

This is a great place to cool off in the shade while have refreshing beverages and food.

I have an affinity for the sausage subs sold by one of the vendors inside the boat show. Shelley opted for a sausage sub too.

While relaxing Shelley and I chatted about boats. I absolutely LOVE my Seaweed.
 

Prior to getting underway I always determine safe places along my route should I need a refuge. This preparation involves studying my charts. I look for protected harbors to stop if the weather turns foul.

Algae is secured to both the davit and a cleat.

This older photo has my Skipper on the swim platform. She did love her outings in Algae, my dinghy.

At the St. Pete Boat Show my heart skipped a beat...

More information on Skipper Powerboats can be found on their http://skipper-bsk.com website.
 

More information on my Skipper ↓ First Mate extraordinaire can be found in the First Mate article.

 

I was impressed by the number of large outboards on boats of all sizes at the St. Pete Boat Show.

The last time I was at the boatyard I had a motor mount attached to my transom. I'm ready!

While at Salt Creek Boatyard in 2020, this MOTOR MOUNT ↑ was fit to the transom of
Seaweed. The photo was taken while that process was ongoing. The hole is once again covered.

The observant may realize that my motor mount is off center. This is deliberate. As described in the Tyranny of the Tiller (pre-purchase advice) article, Seaweed does not *track. I have had the best luck in getting her to steer relatively straight by towing my dinghy Algae off the port or starboard aft corner of the boat. The dink acts as an out-rigger of sorts, allowing me to maintain a relatively straight path. Sometimes.

*Track: stay on course. When I put my rudder straight one would think that the boat would go straight. That does not occur. Seaweed wanders, which means I have to steer.
 

For the record, I do realize that complaining about "having to
steer" my own boat while living in Florida is totally ridiculous.
 

Fortunately a new age for outboards has arrived. Reliability has increased dramatically over the old-style outboards of yesteryear such as the Mercury shown above. Now, outboards have *EFI, and that is the most important improvement to come along in years.

*EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection basically means that there are no more carburetors.

There is one caveat: it is often recommended that an inline Racor filter be installed between the fuel tank and outboard.

I wondered if a person could simply swap an inboard diesel for an outboard of the same horsepower or larger to propel their boat. Specifically, I am talking coastal cruisers versus those planning on crossing oceans. Having my heart almost set on adding a white long shaft Suzuki 9.9hp or 25hp, I called Brent of Suzuki Repower. When I save up enough to add an outboard to Seaweed, I will buy from him. Usually at boat shows there are special pricing deals, so timing is also in the plans I am making.

Brent Magsig is the Regional Sales Manager of Suzuki Repower in
Clearwater. He knows his engines. Brent's phone number is 727-639-1065.
 

Brent did caution that swapping out an inboard diesel for an outboard or two is not quite as straightforward as I had hoped. Due to the propeller and rudder placement he suggested a marine architect be consulted. For a boat such as Seaweed however, adding an outboard seems like a no-brainer PRESUMING the mount is installed properly. That means that the backing plate and structure is sufficiently strong to support not just the outboard but also the thrust from said motor.

With the introduction of Electronic Fuel Injection, outboards became much more reliable. No longer did owners of gasoline powered outboards wonder when the carburetor would become gummed up and fail.  That simply could not occur because EFI eliminated the carb. The dependability factor has definitely piqued my interest. I want one.
 

Sailboats such as Gypsy ↓ have two means of propulsion: sail and the internal engine.

Jesse's Gypsy has an inboard diesel and sails. If the motor quits he can raise the sails and continue on his journey.
 

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