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On Powerboats

Taking a lesson from a behemoth

Naval architect Eric Sponberg took some cues from the Romsdal trawlers of Norway in designing the Moloka'i Strait 65. Even if your boat isn’t an oceangoing passagemaker, a look at the Moloka’i Strait 65 is instructive.

Helm design: a blend of form and function

A helm station that gives the operator an unobstructed view will enhance situational awareness

This Grady-White has a flat (non-glossy) cream-colored gelcoat surface below the glass, a fine formula for glare reduction. The horizon, when viewed from the wheel, neatly bisects the tall glass sections on or off plane.

Walking the docks at a boat show, the first thing that grabs most people’s attention is looks — the color, curves and proportions that define any boat. The degree to which styling drives decision making for buyers depends on the class of boat we’re talking about, as well as the experience and priority of the shopper.

A conversation between powerboaters

Some back-and-forth with a reader on semidisplacements and the perennial gas vs. diesel discussion

This column has gotten a steady stream of letters and e-mails from readers that I’ll be sharing with you periodically. My articles on semidisplacement and planing hull design in particular have provoked reader feedback. Being real-world based, these letters have a lot of brand- and model-level content, which makes them that much more interesting.

Power options, from sterndrives to pods

Diesel or gas, inboard or outboard, choose a setup that’ll get the job done the way you want it to

It may well be the case that you’ve found the boat that best suits your needs, but the propulsion package is not what you really want. If you look at the most common propulsion drivetrains — outboard, conventional prop and shaft, sterndrive and waterjet — then add the possibility of gas or diesel engines, you suddenly have lots of options. Let’s look at their relative merits, expressed in general terms.

Is the displacement hull form for you?

There are some important features to consider when you’re choosing efficiency over breakneck speed

While planing hulls, with their speed and sizzle, have dominated the boating scene since the 1960s, things are slowly changing as boaters are more and more concerned about the volatility of fuel prices, and many are gaining a more acute sense of stewardship for the environment.

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