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BO A T AN D EN GIN E B UYERS GUIDE DONZI 39 VRZ GRADY WHITE 281 CE WELLCRAFT BOATS 355 CHARGED UP! ELECTRIC BOATS GO MAINSTREAM BOATING LOUISIANA’S BAYOUS RADAR PROVIDES BIRD’S-EYE VIEW POWER POLE TROLLING MOTOR volume 4 number 2 | 2023$5.99 www.centerconsolelifemag.com 40+ BOATS INSIDE TM MUST-HAVE FISHING GADGETS 10 NEW SHARROW PROP FOR BIG HP NEW OUTBOARDS FOR 2023 CCL Cover 4-2.indd 1CCL Cover 4-2.indd 12023-09-19 4:45 PM2023-09-19 4:45 PM2200 West Monroe St. • PO Box 1003 Decatur, IN 46733 • 260-724-9111 w w w .f ormul aboats. c om The Formula 387 CCF — It’s What Moves You! FO RMULA PRE SEN T S T HE B E S T I N PERFO RMAN CE , styling and features for the ultimate center console experience! Announced at the 2022 Miami International Boat Show and debuting at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show this fall, now is the time to plan for your Formula 387 CCF! The new 38’7” Formula with 12’ beam is powered by triple Mercury Verados, triple Mercury Racing 450Rs or twin Mercury Verado 600 outboards. The Formula 387 Center Console series builds on Formula’s rich offshore heritage and gives you the flexibility from all-out Fish to all-out Sport and all points in between! Look for the 387 CCS Debut! Untitled-5 2Untitled-5 22023-01-25 8:41 AM2023-01-25 8:41 AM2200 West Monroe St. • PO Box 1003 Decatur, IN 46733 • 260-724-9111 w w w .f ormul aboats. c om The Formula 387 CCF — It’s What Moves You! FO RMULA PRE SENT S T HE B E S T I N PERFO RMAN CE , styling and features for the ultimate center console experience! Announced at the 2022 Miami International Boat Show and debuting at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show this fall, now is the time to plan for your Formula 387 CCF! The new 38’7” Formula with 12’ beam is powered by triple Mercury Verados, triple Mercury Racing 450Rs or twin Mercury Verado 600 outboards. The Formula 387 Center Console series builds on Formula’s rich offshore heritage and gives you the flexibility from all-out Fish to all-out Sport and all points in between! Look for the 387 CCS Debut! Untitled-5 3Untitled-5 32023-01-25 8:41 AM2023-01-25 8:41 AM4 Center Console Life | Volume 4 Number 2 BILL TAYLOR Center Console Life is a magazine concentrating on the most popular boats on the water today, the engines that power them to glory, and the accessories that make your days on the water the most enjoyable time of your life. CCL is designed to provide readers with all of the information they need to choose the ideal boat, and how to use it. Whether you are a Pro fisherman, a family fisherman, or just enjoy the exhilaration of big horsepow- er in a boat designed for family recreation, you will find a world of information in these pages, on our website at www.centerconsolelifemag.com and on our social media sites. Our mission is to help you choose a center console boat, and to give you the insights you need to get the greatest enjoyment and satisfaction of fishing, cruising, watersports, and family fun on the water. CCL’s expert writers are passionate about this style of boat, and they live their lives on the cutting edge of technology, from hull design to engines, com- ponents, and accessories. In each issue we will be providing readers with up-to-the-minute boat tests and engine reviews, as well as in-depth articles on maintenance and upgrading your boat, cruising and fishing, destinations, waterfront dining, fishing tourna- ments for pros and beginners, and much more. We will be bringing you the latest on center console boats from the compact 20’ models to the super monster 65’ hull with six engines hanging off the transom. But we don’t stop there – with features from a team of top anglers and award-winning writers, if you need help setting up your center console we will be there to show you how the pros do it all… Thinking about getting into a brand-new boat? Then read on, as CCL Magazine brings the excitement of boating right into your home, with print and digital editions, our YouTube video channel, and so much more! We sincerely hope you enjoy the magazine, and we look forward to seeing you soon with our next issue. Bill Taylor Barry Gibson Co-Publishers Come aboard! © 2023 CENTER CONSOLE LIFE POSTMASTER Send all returns to Center Console Life 777 East Park Drive, Tonawanda, NY 14150 Center Console Life is published four times a year. Material in this magazine may not be reproduced in any form without permission. Editorial contributions must be accompanied by return postage and will be handled with reasonable care. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return or safety of artwork, photographs, or manuscripts. Center Console Life reserves the right to refuse any and all advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statement of facts made by its advertisers or independent columnists. LIFE Center Console Volume 4 Number 2 Co-Publishers William E. Taylor btaylor@taylorpublishinggoup.com Barry Gibson barrygibson6@aol.com Editor Gregg Mansfield greggmansfield@gmail.com Art/Production Manager Giselle Bansal gbansal@taylorpublishinggroup.com Design Tamara Taylor tmtaylor@taylorpublishinggroup.com Contributing Writers Barry Gibson Gregg Mansfield Chris Kourtakis Walt Jennings Zenon Bilas Tim Banse Jarrett Matthews Gordon McBride Contributing Photographers Randy Nuzzo Jeff Gerardi Duane Adams ADVERTISING SALES Todd Taylor ttaylor@taylorpublishinggroup.com Kevin Peterson k7peterson@msn.com Jimmy Loirmer jlorimer@aol.com ADMINISTRATION President /CEO William E. Taylor Group Publisher Melanie Taylor-Wallis VP/Marketing Sales Todd Taylor VP/Special Projects Norm Rosen Accounting Nancy Mueller EXECUTIVE AND EDITORIAL OFFICES New York: 777 East Park Drive, Tonawanda, NY 14150 Tel: 1-800-354-9145 Florida: 131 Brandiwood Court, Debary, FL, 32713 Tel: 407-402-0300 Toll Free: 1-800-354-9145 Toronto: 268-44 Crawford Crescent, Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Tel: 905-844-8218 Fax: 905-844-5032 Subscription Inquiries Call: 1-800-354-9145 BARRY GIBSON www.centerconsolelifemag.com pub page new.indd 4pub page new.indd 42023-09-15 10:59 AM2023-09-15 10:59 AM5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2022 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. All rights reserved. SUZUKI’S SELECTIVE ROTATION YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY Suzuki has achieved what no other outboard manufacturer has done and provided a simple way to setup dual, triple, and even quad engine applications (150HP and up). This cutting-edge Selective Rotation technology provides the ability for the consumer to select regular or counter rotation into a single outboard model. This technology adds ease of use and overall resale value for the life of the motor. SUZUKI’S SELECTIVE ROTATION TECHNOLOGY THE CHOICE IS YOURS BE SELECTIVE SZ Q2 SLCT RTN 1PG CNTR CNSL LF MG 3-17-22.indd 1SZ Q2 SLCT RTN 1PG CNTR CNSL LF MG 3-17-22.indd 13/17/2022 12:30:30 PM3/17/2022 12:30:30 PM6 Center Console Life | Volume 4 Number 2 www.centerconsolelifemag.com t’s impossible to follow the news lately without coming across a story about artificial intelligence. Whether it’s ChatGPT, Google’s Bard or the dozens of AI programs that seemingly appeared overnight, the emerging technology is at peak hype. Recently, I attended an event at the University of Southern California examining how AI will transform public relations and communications. Since I make my living as a writer and editor, I figured it would be smart to see if or when a computer might take my writing job. The good news is AI won’t be taking writ- ing jobs immediately, according to the pan- elists and founders of three AI companies. AI-generated content is still too pedestrian and can have errors, requiring a human to fact check the final product. But AI is continually improving and no doubt there will be a day when there are more AI content creators than human content creators. To see how the computer overlords are coming along, I asked ChatGPT to create a five-day fishing trip to Florida. Here’s the trip it suggested. “If you’re looking for an unforgettable fish- ing adventure in Florida, you might want to consider a five-day fishing trip that covers some of the best spots in the Sunshine State. Here’s a possible itinerary that will give you a taste of what Florida has to offer to anglers of all levels. Day 1: Start your trip in Fort Lauderdale, where you can join a deep-sea fishing charter and target Sailfish, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Tuna, and more. You’ll enjoy the thrill of fighting these powerful fish in the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the stunning views of the coastline. Day 2: Drive south to Islamorada, known as the “Sportfishing Capital of the World.” Here you can hop on another charter and explore the rich waters of the Florida Keys. You’ll have a chance to catch Marlin, Swordfish, Snapper, Grouper, Tarpon, and more. Day 3: Continue your journey to Marathon, where you can enjoy some of the best reef and wreck fishing in Florida. You’ll find a variety of fish species around the coral formations and sunken ships, such as Yellowtail Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Kingfish, Cobia, Amberjack, and more. You’ll also have a chance to see some amazing marine life, such as dolphins, turtles, and sharks. Day 4: Head back to the mainland and drive to Naples, where you can join a near- shore fishing charter and target Redfish, Trout, Snook, Pompano, and more. You’ll fish in the calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, using light tackle and live bait. You’ll also enjoy the scenic views of the mangroves and beaches, as well as the wildlife that inhabits them. Day 5: End your trip with a bang and go for a deep-sea fishing charter in Panama City Beach. You’ll venture out to the offshore waters and target some of the biggest fish in Florida, such as Red Snapper, Grouper, Amberjack, Kingfish, Wahoo, Tuna, and more. You’ll use heavy tackle and artificial lures to entice these monsters to bite.” While I’m not ready to hire ChatGPT as my travel agent anytime soon, the five-day trip devised by artificial intelligence is a solid start. ChatGPT got it right by suggesting fish- ing trips to Islamorada and Marathon in the Florida Keys, but any angler worth their salt would start in the Florida Keys and probably just stay there. Where the ChatGPT got a little strange was the last two days of the trip. After two days in the Florida Keys, AI was sending me to Naples on Florida’s West Coast. Naples wouldn’t be my first choice for offshore fishing. I’d rather fish out of Sarasota or Fort Myers. ChatGPT suggested jumping in the car and driving 540 miles north to the Panama City Beach in the Florida Panhandle. Panama City Beach not only has great fishing, the area is known for its crystal-blue water and white sand beaches. Another good location, but even artificial intelligence should be smart enough to know an 8-hour drive after a day of deep-sea fishing is inhumane. It’s fun to play with the AI tools to plan trips to areas you already know well. You can quickly see AI’s strengths and weak- nesses, and the potential to greatly change the workforce and our lives. While tech has hyped its share of innovations (looking at you Metaverse), this feels different. I use AI to transcribe interviews, why can’t it write a story about fishing in Florida? Turns out it did. About 400 words of this column was written by AI. Now it’s your turn to plan your next fishing trip. AI is at your service. Gregg Mansfield Editor AI at Your Service Let artificial intelligence plan your next fishing trip. I EDI T OR ’S P A GE GREGG MANSFIELD pub page new.indd 6pub page new.indd 62023-08-17 9:47 AM2023-08-17 9:47 AMGO ANYWHERE. DO ANYTHING. Whether it’s equipped for high-performance excitement, family fun, or bluewater tournament fishing, the Fountain 32NX is something special. Fast. Efficient. Optional 6-color interiors. Custom hull graphics. Unmatched quality. Engineered with Fountain’s race-proven Positive Lift bottom design, the 32NX is the only Center Console in this size range with engine options ranging from twin Mercury 300s up to triple 450Rs. WWW.FOUNTAINPOWERBOATS.COM8 Center Console Life | Volume 4 Number 2www.centerconsolelifemag.com Contents COLUMNS: 10 IN THE NEWS 14 NEW ACCESSORIES FEATURES: 18 QUIET TIME Power-Pole launches its near-silent MOVE Brushless Trolling Motor. 24 BEST OF THE MIAMI BOAT SHOW The 2023 Miami Boat Show was sizzling with new boats and new technology. 30 GET YOUR OUTBOARD RUNNING Pick the best outboard with this Buyers Guide. 38 2023 NEW BOAT BUYERS GUIDE When it comes to new center-console models, consumers have never had more choices. 56 SOUTHERN COOKING Louisiana’s Livingston Parish is a place like no other for boating and fishing. 60 ALL ABOARD Visit these waterfront restaurants in Florida and North Carolina. 38 18 @centerconsolelifemag @cclifemag www.centerconsolelifemag.com FOLLOW CENTER CONSOLE LIFE: 30 14 contents new.indd 8contents new.indd 82023-09-19 4:46 PM2023-09-19 4:46 PMREPOWER There is a Reason More Professionals Choose Suzuki RePower – It Simply Makes Sense When you purchase a new Suzuki outboard from an authorized Mastry RePower Center you qualify to become a member of the Mastry Suzuki Owner’s Edge. 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With 13 Locations Across Florida There is a Mastry Suzuki RePower Center Near You • With a Mastry Suzuki RePower, owners gain improved performance, less Why are More Professional Mariners Choosing Mastry Suzuki RePower - Power, Reliable, Durable & Best Value When Considering A Repower, Consider These Factors: • Mastry Suzuki RePower Centers have decades of repower experience • With a Mastry Suzuki RePower, owners gain improved performance, less • Options that will fi t most any budget, fi nancing available • Mastry Suzuki RePower’s exclusive Owner’s Edge Program* • All Suzuki RePowers come with Suzuki’s 5-years of protection With 13 Locations Across Florida There is a Mastry Suzuki RePower Center Near You Why are More Professional Mariners Choosing Mastry Suzuki RePower - Power, Reliable, Durable & Best Value With 13 Locations Across Florida There is a Mastry Suzuki RePower Center Near You Why are More Professional Mariners Choosing Mastry Pro Choice Ad for CCL 221201.indd 112/1/22 9:43 AMNext >