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DDDD DDDDVOLUME 38 NUMBER 4 MANITOUMANITOU EXPLORE 22 STARCRAFTSTARCRAFT SVX IO 230 268-44 Crawford Cres., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 2nd Class Registration Number #43638025 BenningtonBennington S SERIESS SERIES MERCURY RACING CELEBRATES 50 YEARS $9.95 www .po w erboa ting .c om 15 TOP PICKS FOR PONTOONS & DECK BOATS EDITOR’S CHOICE HONDA RELEASES THEIR FIRST 350 HP V8 OUTBOARD Cover 38-4 - fish.indd 1Cover 38-4 - fish.indd 12023-11-13 10:09 AM2023-11-13 10:09 AMTHE FORMULA 457 CENTER CONSOLE WILL BE YOUR OFFSHORE ADVENTURE DES TINATION! Announcing at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show and debuting at the Miami International Boat Show, the 457 Center Console Sport and Fish models will push the boundaries of design, engineering and construction in the offshore center console world, celebrating the finish and amenities of Formula’s renewed entry into the CC market. The center console world – media, builders, and consumers alike – were stunned and impressed by Formula’s recent introduction of the 387 Center Console Sport and Fish models, executing the ultimate in performance, ergonomics and amenities in the center console market. At 45’7” with a 13’9” beam, and powered by triple Mercury 600 Verados, the Formula 457 will impress all comers. Built to your preference, from upscale sport cruising to hard- core fish, or a little of both, the 457 will match your boating style. Opt for a sculpted aft lounge and spacious swim platform for sporting adventures or foldaway aft seating and pressurized baitwells for a fishing battlewagon – we will build a boat to suit your wants and needs. You will love the triple 22” monitor dash and air-conditioned three-position helm. You can add AC to the second row and aft-facing seat- ing for total crew comfort. Choose the entertainment-ready cockpit galley or bait station/wetbar to your needs. And all will enjoy the highly styled bow seating with elevated sun lounge and wraparound seating with power-adjust table. Below, the cabin brings you 6’6” of headroom with a full aircraft galley with microwave, fridge, sink and abundant counter and cabinet space, as well as U-lounge seating with a table for dining or entertaining, convertible to a two-person berth. A well-appointed, spacious head features a separate, stand-up shower. Join us at FLIBS to learn more about this elite game-changer. Then, make plans to climb aboard the first 457 in Miami. You will love what you see – we can’t wait to impress you. THE ALL-NEW 457 CENTER CONSOLE – Make it Your Destiny! 2200 West Monroe St. • PO Box 1003 Decatur, IN 46733 • 800.736.7685 www.formulaboats.com The Formula 457 will join the 387 CCS & CCF! Formula.indd 1Formula.indd 12023-10-13 3:54 PM2023-10-13 3:54 PM4 www.powerboating.com On The Cover: Bennington S Series DDDD DDDD VOLUME 38 NUMBER 4 MANITOUMANITOU EXPLORE 22 STARCRAFTSTARCRAFT SVX IO 230 268-44 Crawford Cres., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 2nd Class Registration Number #43638025 BenningtonBennington S SERIESS SERIES MERCURY RACING CELEBRATES 50 YEARS $9.95 www .po w erboa ting .c om 15 TOP PICKS FOR PONTOONS & DECK BOATS EDITOR’S CHOICE HONDA RELEASES THEIR FIRST 350 HP V8 OUTBOARD Cover 38-4 - fish.indd 1Cover 38-4 - fish.indd 12023-11-13 10:09 AM2023-11-13 10:09 AM features 8 LIFELINE Cold Case. The science behind surviving freezing waters. 12 FISHING TALK Fishing is Canada’s number one consumer activity. In this country, there are more anglers than hockey players and golfers combined. 32 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Mercury Racing’s 500R Outboard. 36 15 NEW PONTOON AND DECK BOAT A look into some of the best new family boats for 2024. 42 HONDA V8 OUTBOARD At 350 HP, the BF350 is now Honda’s highest horsepower offering. 44 TIME OUT Catching up with Princecraft Boats’ CEO. 2024 28 we test 20 BENNINGTON’S S SERIES A sleek new look from bow to stern with a complete redesign. contents44 Power Boating Canada | Volume 38 Number 4 24 2024 MANTIOU EXPLORE 22 A Day of Adventure and Luxury: Testing the 2024 Manitou Explore in Melbourne, Florida. 28 STARCRAFT SVX IO 230 Affordable fun on the water with Mercury’s 300 HP. Contents 38-4indd.indd 4Contents 38-4indd.indd 42023-11-13 10:14 AM2023-11-13 10:14 AMTHE ALL-NEW SVX OB. MORE AFFORDABLE FUN. SEE OUR 2023 PRODUCT LINE-UP AT STARCRAFTMARINE.COM The all-new SVX series proves that fun on the water doesn’t have to come with a big price tag. Available in models from 17’ to 23’, all offer sporty performance with an all-new deck and hull design that features higher sides for greater comfort and a V-pad running surface for better performance and fuel economy. Untitled-3 1Untitled-3 12023-01-19 5:58 PM2023-01-19 5:58 PM6 Volume 38 Number 4 PUBLISHERS PAGE Bill Taylor PBC Publisher William E. Taylor bill@powerboating.com Group Publisher Melanie Taylor-Wallis melanie@powerboating.com Editorial Director Norm Rosen nrosen@taylorpublishinggroup.com Assistant Editor Jarrett Matthews media@taylorpublishinggroup.com Art/Production Manager Giselle Bansal gbansal@taylorpublishinggroup.com Design Tamara Taylor ads@powerboating.com Web Design Moe Basha mbasha@taylorpublishinggroup.com Contributing Writers Tim Banse Zenon Bilas / Boat Testers Mike Burns Tom Dillion Garth Cane Gordon Cruise John Gullick Kenny Hohwiesner Bill Jennings Walt Jennings Mark King Chris Kourtakis Gregg Mansfield Timmy McNamee Mark Rotharmel Todd Taylor ADVERTISING SALES Todd Taylor todd@powerboating.com Eric Spath spatheric@gmail.com Kevin Peterson klpetersonmarketing@gmail.com Subscription circulation@taylorpublishinggroup.com Lifestyle Coordinator Todd Taylor todd@powerboating.com Events Co-ordinator Melanie Taylor-Wallis mtaylor@taylorpublishinggroup.com ADMINISTRATION President /CEO William E. Taylor Group Publisher Melanie Taylor-Wallis VP/Special Projects Norm Rosen Accounting Nancy Mueller nmueller@taylorpublishinggroup.com EXECUTIVE AND EDITORIAL OFFICES Toronto: 268-44 Crawford Crescent, Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Tel: 905-844-8218 Fax: 905-844-5032 Montreal: Tel: 514-856-0788 Fax: 514-856-0790 Vancouver: Carole Taylor, 1745 Rufus Drive North Vancouver, BC V7J 3L8 New York: 777 East Park Drive, Tonawanda, NY 14150 Florida: PO Box 530584, Debary, FL 32753 Subscription Inquiries Call: 1-800-354-9145 Power Boating Canada is published seven times a year by Power Boating Canada, Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sep/Oct, Nov/Dec, including Annual New Boat Buyers Guide with a subscription price of $35.00 + HST included for one year and $50.00 + HST including for two years. US $45.00 + HST for one year. Other $75.00 + HST . 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. Power Boating Canada 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. PRINTED IN CANADA CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS MAIL SALES PRODUCT AGREEMENT NUMBER 43638025 MONTREAL, QUEBEC © 2023 POWER BOATING CANADA Attention Post Office: Return all undeliverables to Toronto office only ® RVDealer NEWS CANADA’S INDUSTRY MAGAZINERVDealer NEWS CANADA’S INDUSTRY MAGAZINE ® ® ® RVDealer NEWS CANADA’S INDUSTRY MAGAZINE BOATCANADA Pontoon & Deck The season is coming to an end. William E. Taylor Publisher bill@powerboating.com ere we are again, only a few weeks before the white stuff arrives. Which reminds me, I’d better get onto our Power Boating Canada pace boat and winterize those engines before I end up with a frozen block. As the 2023 boating season comes to a halt across Canada, I can safely say it has been another banner year for our boat builders and engine manufacturers, especially the ones in the high-performance market. This year Mercury introduced their 500R outboards and it’s amazing to see how these new cruiser buyers are running outboards. It’s great to see Honda moving forward with big outboard power. They just introduced their very first V-8 outboard at 350 horsepower, and I can see it being beefed up into the 400+ range. The boat builders have been busy from the 17-footer right up to 40-plus footers as they catch up with the backlog from the crazy days of the pandemic and moving into the future. We just got back from the Ft Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) visiting manufacturers and testing some of the latest models which you will be seeing through the year in our various issues of PBC, in our newsletters and all over our social media. It is exciting to see new companies like American Marine Performance (AMPS Boats) building their new v-bottom center consoles and I couldn’t believe the buzz they had around their exhibit all week. While in Ft. Lauderdale I visited Latham Marine’s factory and spend some time with Bob Latham himself who manufactures some of the most high-end parts and accessories in the industry. They’re known for some of the best steering in the industry today. Earlier this summer Bob Latham, himself a former World Champion, got back into the cockpit at over 70 years of age and ran with Canada’s famous offshore racer, Lorne Leibel from Canada Homes. The trio of Lorne Leibel, Bob Latham, and offshore racer Ryan Beckley attempted to set another record with one of the world’s most famous race boats, a 47’ Apache hull number one, now owned by Leibel and previously owned by the well-known racer Ben Kramer. The v-bottom, having a few years on it, was completely refreshed by Leibel and the engines were done by Michigan’s Sterling Performance. The team had an impressive performance finishing second with a time of one hour, 37 minutes and 13 seconds for the 128-mile journey. In the Ocean Cup Gateway Marathon, a physically challenging race from West Palm Beach, Florida to the west end of the Bahamas and back to the mainland. For Bob Latham it was the first time he had been in the cockpit as a racer/throttleman since 1989. After speaking with him he admitted he was a bit nervous at first, but it was amazing how quickly the muscle memory came back as the Apache averaged 79 MPH. Whether it is an off-shore endurance run, or in-shore racing, it is great to see the legends of the sport back on the water, even if it’s only for a day… Follow us on Facebook! @PowerBoatingCanada Follow us on Instagram! @powerboatingcanada H Power Boating Canada | Volume 38 Number 4 Pub Page 38-4_converted.indd 6Pub Page 38-4_converted.indd 62023-11-07 3:11 PM2023-11-07 3:11 PMFULL BEAM MASTER SUITE 46 CANTIUS46 CANTIUS For more information on the 46 Cantius, please visit CRUISERSYACHTS.COM 338BR | 338OB | 35EX | 38GLS | 39EC | 42C | 50C | 54C | 54F | 60C | 60F 46C cruisers.indd 1cruisers.indd 12022-06-02 2:31 PM2022-06-02 2:31 PM8 www.powerboating.comPower Boating Canada | Volume 38 Number 4 LIFELINE Mark King PBC inding yourself unexpectedly immersed in frigid water can be a frightening experience. As boaters, we are taught that if this occurs we should stay with the boat to increase the chance of being rescued. The theory is that a boat is easier to see by search and res- cue teams scanning the water from the air and affords a convenient platform to get out of the water – at least partially - in an effort to retain body heat. We have learned that swimming in cold water, even with a PFD, is extremely risky. However, according to Canadian research- ers, Dr. Michel B. Ducharme of Defence R&D Canada and David S. Lounsbury of the University of Toronto, if land is reasonably close and rescue seems unlikely due to time or location, self-rescue by swimming is clearly an option. In its 2006 drowning report, the Canadian Red Cross states self-rescue may be an option in certain circumstances. The report notes that more than 60 percent of survivors of cold water immersions swam for shore, as opposed to only 30 percent who stayed with the researchers, the change in thinking is overdue. Following ten years of research and three cold water immersion studies they have conducted, self-rescue – especially on many of Canada’s isolated lakes and rivers – is a “viable and sometimes necessary,” option. “We did a series of three studies in cold water – one in a lake, one in a river and another in a flume - because I questioned the original recommendations given about swimming in cold water. I knew the scien- tific evidence was weak or non-existent,” explains Ducharme. He wanted to develop a more scientifically based approach to cold water immersion recommendations. During the course of their research, the pair categorized crucial elements in the process - about how people react to cold water and what they are thinking upon immersion - and developed an alternate regime for cold water immersion. Their advice is easy to follow. The first essential rule is to remain calm. Unless you are wearing an immersion suit, you will experience cold shock when you first hit the water due to the rapid cooling of your skin. You won’t be able to control your breathing and you won’t get far if you try to swim at this point. Your breathing will return to normal in two to three minutes. The second step is to make a plan. While waiting for the cold shock to subside, con- sider your situation and decide whether to swim or stay. “Over time, the onset of hypothermia impairs the capacity to make a rational deci- sion,” says Ducharme. “There is always the stress factor that will play a role in decision- making.” If you decide to swim, look for the shore and determine if you can make it. Most peo- ple who participated in the studies could swim between 800 and 1,500 metres in cold water, or for 45 minutes, before the muscles in their arms and legs started to cool to the point that they could no longer swim. “According to our studies, people tend to over-estimate the distance to shore but they are much better at estimating the time to reach shore,” says Ducharme. On the other hand, if you decide to stay with the boat, try to get out of the water as much as possible. Also complete any tasks that require the use of your hands, such as tying knots or preparing flares as soon as pos- sible. As your hands cool, they lose dexterity. If you are in the wilderness or it’s the middle of the night, and rescue seems unlikely by traditional means in a reasonable time frame and if the shore is about 45 min- utes or less in the distance, swimming may be a viable option. He notes there is more research that needs to be completed. “We need more data on swimming in very cold water – below 10 degrees Celsius. We need to develop recom- mendations on how to best save energy and body heat while swimming in cold water. We also need a better understanding of the decision-making process under stress.” For boaters – they are still being advised to stay with the boat. But this recent research information offers an option in cer- tain circumstances. F Cold Case The science behind surviving freezing waters. Lifeline 38-4.indd 8Lifeline 38-4.indd 82023-11-07 2:18 PM2023-11-07 2:18 PMMD.indd 1MD.indd 12022-03-30 3:11 PM2022-03-30 3:11 PMNext >