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FISHING for Tuna in BAHA MEXICO DDDD DDDDVOLUME 39 NUMBER 3 FOUNTAINFOUNTAIN 39DX NEPTUNUS YACHTSNEPTUNUS YACHTS 750SL 268-44 Crawford Cres., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 2nd Class Registration Number #43638025 $9.95 www.powerboating.com SMOKER CRAFTSMOKER CRAFT ADVENTURER ADVENTURER 188 PRO DC188 PRO DC A Canadian Angler’s Dream LIFE-SAVING MARINE TECHNOLOGY AND TIPS IMPRESSIVE FISHBOATS FOR 20242024 1111 Cover 39-3 smokercraft.indd 1Cover 39-3 smokercraft.indd 12024-08-15 1:36 PM2024-08-15 1:36 PMYour boat, your coverage Visit aviva.ca/nauticlife or talk to your broker to learn more. Sail | Jet | Sport | Fishing | Cruiser and cuddy | Houseboat Pontoon and deck | Runabout | Personal watercraft Insurance products are subject to terms, conditions, restrictions and exclusions, which are outlined in our final policy wording. Please speak with your Aviva insurance broker to learn more. Insurance products are underwritten by Elite Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Aviva Canada Inc. Product availability varies by province. Aviva and the Aviva logo are trademarks used under license by the licensor. CS-23-10937 11/23 © AvivaTHE 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 CENTER CONSOLE WILL BE YOUR OFFSHORE AD VENTURE DES TINATION! Announced at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show and debuting at the Miami International Boat Show, the 457 Center Console Fish and Sport 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 Fish and Sport 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 hard-core fish to upscale sport cruising, or a little of both, the 457 will match your boating style. Opt for foldaway aft seating and pressurized bait- wells for a fishing battlewagon or a sculpted aft lounge and spacious swim platform for sporting adventures – we will build a boat to suit your wants and needs. You will love the tri- ple 22” monitor dash and air-conditioned three-position helm. You can add AC to the second row and aft-facing seating for total crew comfort. Choose the bait station/wetbar or the entertainment-ready cockpit galley 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. Learn more about this elite game-changer at formulaboats.com, then make plans to climb aboard the first 457 in Miami. You will love what you see – we can’t wait to impress you. 457CCbothPokerRuns.MY24.indd 1457CCbothPokerRuns.MY24.indd 12023-12-14 12:03 PM2023-12-14 12:03 PM4 Power Boating Canada | Volume 39 Number 3www.powerboating.com On The Cover: Smoker Craft Adventurer 188 Pro DC FISHING for Tuna in BAHA MEXICO DDDD DDDD VOLUME 39 NUMBER 3 FOUNTAINFOUNTAIN 39DX NEPTUNUS YACHTSNEPTUNUS YACHTS 750SL 268-44 Crawford Cres., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 2nd Class Registration Number #43638025 $9.95 www.powerboating.com SMOKER CRAFTSMOKER CRAFT ADVENTURER ADVENTURER 188 PRO DC188 PRO DC A Canadian Angler’s Dream LIFE-SAVING MARINE TECHNOLOGY AND TIPS IMPRESSIVE FISHBOATS FOR 20242024 1111 Cover 39-3 smokercraft.indd 1Cover 39-3 smokercraft.indd 12024-08-15 1:36 PM2024-08-15 1:36 PM features 38 2024 FISHBOAT BUYER’S GUIDE 44 RELEASE THE KRAKEN Garmin’s trolling motor is a game-changer for anglers. 46 BAD WEATHER BOATING TIPS Unpredictable weather during summer months can quickly turn a pleasant outing into a perilous situation. 50 TUNA STRIKE IN BAHA Often overlooked, below the border offers great deep- sea fishing. 2226 32 we test 22 SMOKER CRAFT ADVENTURER 188 PRO DC A Northern Angler’s Dream. 38 26 NEPTUNUS YACHTS UNVEILS THE 750 SL A Canadian Masterpiece of Custom Luxury. 32 ANOTHER FOUNTAIN FIRST: DUAL CONSOLE The 39DX is the First Dual Console Model for Fountain Powerboats. contentscolumns 6 PUB PAGE 8 LIFELINE 10 HANDLE WITH CARE 12 FISHING TALK 16 GEAR GALLERY 57 MAINSTREAM Contents 39-3.indd 4Contents 39-3.indd 42024-08-15 4:29 PM2024-08-15 4:29 PMMeticulously Designed with Boaters in Mind Scan the code to start building the perfect Starcraft for you starcraftmarine.com smokercraftincorporated.com6 Volume 39 Number 3 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 McBride John Gullick Kenny Hohwiesner Bill Jennings Walt Jennings Mark King Chris Kourtakis Gregg Mansfield Timmy McNamee Hasan Nasir 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 six 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 © 2024 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 William E. Taylor Publisher bill@powerboating.com Follow us on Facebook! @PowerBoatingCanada Follow us on Instagram! @powerboatingcanada Saying Goodbye to the summer... AND HELLO TO THE FALL BOATING SEASON! PUB PAGE As you leaf through the pages of this issue, the Summer of ’24 is drawing to a close. Some may wonder “what summer?” as the weather more resembled Fall than Summer, in terms of heat and humidity through June, July, and August. The Fall forecast looks great for boating, and our editorial teams says “don’t put your boat away just yet…” Our Test Team is in the field for early reports on the 2025 models. “Foot-itis” has always been a boater’s syndrome, whether you crave a runabout, a cruiser, or a luxury yacht. In this issue, we feature a genuine dream boat – the 75-foot Neptunus Yacht, a magnificent Canadian beauty that is a masterpiece of custom luxury, setting a new standard with spectacular features and quality craftsmanship. If you are not quite ready for a 75-foot yacht, Editor Jarrett Matthews has compiled a detailed array of fish boats from 17’ to 25’, priced from $19,000 to over $90,000 – one of these “Editor’s Choice” beauties is certain to match your needs and budget. We round out this issue with a special feature on the 2024 Smoker Craft 188 Pro DC – from a manufacturer with a rich history that spans more than 100 years. Mark King’s column focuses on the “rules of the water”, and who has the right- of-way in a variety of boating situations. With the heat and humidity comes the potential for rough water conditions. Our editorial team provides tips for bad weather boating, to keep you and your family safe and secure on the water. From all of us at Power Boating Canada, we hope you will agree that the enthusiasm for our favourite sport is building as we greet the introduction of the 2025 model year boats, motors, and related technology. 2025 is going to be a great year for boating – so sit back, relax, and enjoy leafing through the pages of this issue – and our website www.powerboating.com See you out on the water! Power Boating Canada | Volume 39 Number 3 Pub Page 39-3_converted.indd 6Pub Page 39-3_converted.indd 62024-08-22 12:08 PM2024-08-22 12:08 PMFIND YOUR FISHING FREEDOM No matter how you fish, we know that fishing is more than the satisfaction of a great catch, it’s a way of life. At Alumacraft, we build our boats to refine the experience, making it smoother on and off the water. And with Alumacraft advantages like our exclusive 2XB hull and Aquadynamic design, you can enjoy hassle-free days on the water. Start your adventure today at Alumacraft.com ©2024 BRP Marine US Inc. and Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., its affiliates and subsidiaries (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP Marine US Inc. or BRP or its affiliates. WFP-692455_ALU-Endemic-H1-FP-Print-9.25x11.125-EN.indd 1WFP-692455_ALU-Endemic-H1-FP-Print-9.25x11.125-EN.indd 12024-04-09 11:082024-04-09 11:08 Alumacraft.indd 1Alumacraft.indd 12024-05-07 4:56 PM2024-05-07 4:56 PM8 www.powerboating.comPower Boating Canada | Volume 39 Number 3 Mark King ithout Rules of the Road in the water there would be chaos. Rules of the Road have been established to ensure there is minimum risk of collision among all vessels on the water. They have been developed and written for special circumstances that exist with different types of vessels on the rivers, lakes, and oceans. Unlike roadways, it is difficult to govern every action on the water. There are no lines to mark where we may and may not travel. There are no street lights to help us navigate intersections to ensure we are all doing the same thing in the same direction at the same time. On a busy summer weekend on most Canadian and international waterways the prudent skipper realizes he has to pay particular attention to the rules of the road. On a hot summer day not too long ago we witnessed a group of boaters in a small open boat playing chicken in a busy waterway with cruisers and other boats that were not as agile. On other occasions we have witnessed boats passing others in narrow and tricky channels when they could not possibly have been able to see what was ahead. Disaster didn’t happen in either of those cases or some others I haven’t mentioned only because more experienced skippers took actions appropriate to the circumstances. A combination of understanding of the Rules of the Road and superior handling skills saved the day. Knowledgeable and skilled boaters will continue to save lives on the water but knowing what to do and when to do it. The ultimate goal of any rule or right- of-way on the water is to avoid a collision. And the bottom line for every skipper is that you must do whatever you have to do to avoid any risk of collision. Beyond the Rules of the Road there are techniques that can be applied to ensure your boat doesn’t run into another vessel. One of the earliest methods to use and remember is Collision Bearing. Essentially, if a vessel is drawing closer to you and its relative bearing to your vessel is not changing, you will collide. How does this work? Let’s say you are travelling along the waterways and spot a vessel off your starboard bow. From your helm seat you notice that it lines up with the second bow rail stanchion. Minutes pass and you note that your vessel and the other vessel are getting closer together. If another quick check shows the other vessel is still in the same line of position, lined up with your second bow rail stanchion, you are on a collision course! If one of you does not change course or speed substantially you will eventually collide. If is important not to be fooled in these circumstances by changes in the apparent position caused by pitching and yawing of the vessel as it moves through the water. Coming down the back of a wave will move your bow stanchion enough that you may think you are not on a collision bearing with the other vessel. Keep watching. On the water, unless the day is dead calm, it can be relatively difficult to make sure you are not on a collision course. The rules state that the give-way vessel, the one that does not have the right-of- way, must take early and substantial action to avoid a collision. The keys here are “early” and “substantial.” You must take early action so that the other skipper is sure that you know your responsibility. If you hesitate, he may move instead and accidentally make the situation worse. Your action must be substantial so the other skipper can clearly see that you are making the effort to avoid a collision and he can continue in his course and speed. Without early and substantial action, the other skipper, who recognizes that it is important to do everything possible to avoid a collision, may make a manoeuvre at the same time as you. That only worsens the situation. Having written all this it is important to remember that not everyone on the water knows or understands the Rules of the Road. And then there are the folks who know the rules but refuse to obey them, because they think it is funny to play chicken with a boat that could sink them instantly or because they are in such a hurry that they just have to pass you in the narrow winding channel. It is imperative that we always maintain a look-out by sight and sound while we are boating. And it is imperative that we do everything we can to avoid a potential collision. Sometimes it will mean not demanding your right-of-way. It adds a small degree of stress to our time on the water but in the end it could save the day and the season. W AVOIDING COLLISIONS LET’S NOT MEET BY ACCIDENT LIFELINE Lifeline 39-3.indd 8Lifeline 39-3.indd 82024-08-15 1:48 PM2024-08-15 1:48 PMMD Insurance.indd 1MD Insurance.indd 12024-01-15 10:48 AM2024-01-15 10:48 AMNext >