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DDDD DDDDFORMULAFORMULA 360 CBR 268-44 Crawford Cres., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 2nd Class Registration Number #43638025 BenningtonBennington M SERIESM SERIES A NEW 425-HP V10 VERADO AND ENHANCED 350 $9.95 www.powerboating.com LE BOAT A FIRST CLASS HOLIDAY SURPRISE DOMETIC’S NEW GYROSTABILIZER WELLCRAFTWELLCRAFT 38 T-TOP 23 TOP PICKS FOR PONTOONS & FISHBOATS EDITOR’S CHOICE VOLUME 40 NUMBER 3 Cover 40-3.indd 1Cover 40-3.indd 12025-10-02 4:44 PM2025-10-02 4:44 PMUntitled-2 1Untitled-2 12025-09-16 11:00 AM2025-09-16 11:00 AMTHE ALL-NEW FORMULA 360 CROSSOVER BOWRIDER is your move forward to the Formula lifestyle! An exciting new generation of Formula dayboats has arrived with the 360 CBR. From the stepped FAS3Tech hull to the stylish hardtop with glass sunroof, this leap in day venture offerings is a refreshing, innovative choice for dayboaters. 36 feet in length with a generous 10' 9" beam, the 360 CBR heralds the arrival of the new generation of open-bow dayboats, the first driven by Formula Designer Michael Young, a John Adams-mentored new crea- tive force in luxury-boating architecture. Young states, “The 360 CBR is a true blend of entertainment-ready comfort and the exhilarating agility that is rooted in our performance heritage.” True to its Formula CBR lineage, the 360 boasts an open bow with a single-level, flush cockpit and a true stand-up cabin with overnight accommodations. Introduced with twin sterndrive – triple outboard power in the fall – this perfectly balanced combination will take the experience farther than ever before! The Formula 360’s Crossover SmartZone™ concept creates separate areas for a variety of activities while encouraging connections among guests, from the expansive bow to triple helm seating, a roomy port- side lounge, outdoor kitchen, aft companion seat and wraparound seating aft. The aft-facing sun lounge with multi-position backrests cleverly converts to an extended layout, perfect to oversee on-water activities at anchor. The available Extended Water Sport swim platform for sterndrive with motorized under-mount swim seat gives plenty of space to lounge, play and interact. The cabin is perfect for overnight trips or taking a break from the sun with stand-up headroom, high-end private aircraft galley styling, double settee, permanent, full-size memory foam bed aft and a reimagined transverse head compartment for full, stand-up capability, expansive countertop and cleverly integrated storage. The Formula 360 CBR is the next-generation Crossover Bowrider choice for the discerning boater desiring upscale dayboating with overnight accommodations! 2200 West Monroe St. • PO Box 1003 Decatur, IN 46733 • 800.736.7685 www.formulaboats.com MOVE FORWARD TO THE FORMULA LIFESTYLE – in the All-New 360 Crossover Bow rider! 360CBRrunningad.PBcanada 1360CBRrunningad.PBcanada 12025-06-03 1:41 PM2025-06-03 1:41 PM4 www.powerboating.com On The Cover: Bennington Marine M Series DDDD DDDD FORMULAFORMULA 360 CBR 268-44 Crawford Cres., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 2nd Class Registration Number #43638025 BenningtonBennington M SERIESM SERIES A NEW 425-HP V10 VERADO AND ENHANCED 350 $9.95 www.powerboating.com LE BOAT A FIRST CLASS HOLIDAY SURPRISE DOMETIC’S NEW GYROSTABILIZER WELLCRAFTWELLCRAFT 38 T-TOP 23 TOP PICKS FOR PONTOONS & FISHBOATS EDITOR’S CHOICE VOLUME 40 NUMBER 3 Cover 40-3.indd 1Cover 40-3.indd 12025-10-02 4:44 PM2025-10-02 4:44 PM features 14 GEAR GALLERY From binoculars to new electronics, here are seven smart upgrades for anglers. 18 MERCURY UPS POWER GAME A new 425-hp V10 Verado and enhanced 350 join the lineup. 34 FISHBOATS - EDITOR’S CHOICE 11 fantastic fishing vessels that are sure to make a splash on the lakes and impress your fellow boaters. 38 PONTOONS - EDITOR’S CHOICE We take a look at 12 NEW 2025 pontoon models that will serve as a great escape for your family and friends. 42 LE BOAT A first class holiday surprise. 46 DOMETIC’S NEW GYROSTABILIZER Dometic joins the growing market of gyrostabilizers for improving the ride. 222630 we test 22 WELLCRAFT 38 T-TOP Bold and aggressive. contents18 Power Boating Canada | Volume 40 Number 3 26 FORMULA 360 CBR Stylish, powerful and beautifully crafted. 30 BENNINGTON M SERIES Bennington Marine elevates the mid-range pontoon market with the new M Series. 14 Contents 40-3.indd 4Contents 40-3.indd 42025-10-06 9:58 AM2025-10-06 9:58 AM6 Volume 40 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 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 Jarrett Matthews Timmy McNamee Dusty Miller 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 © 2025 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 A Year of Challenges and Opportunities PUB PAGE While 2025 can be best described as a challenging year for the boating industry throughout North America, there are many aspects of the marketplace that make this year an exceptional opportunity for boating enthusiasts to select and purchase the boat of their dreams, while the industry deals with economic trade and tariff situations that make raw materials and boating components unusually challenging to obtain and price appropriately for their businesses and the marketplace at large. This economic climate contributes to a unique opportunity for buyers to find the boat of their dreams at exceptionally affordable prices, as dealers across North America market their new and used inventory to keep their customers on the water. We have just enjoyed one of the finest boating seasons in recent memory, with excellent weather throughout North America for boating enthusiasts. Our Power Boating Canada in-water Poker Run events brought the thrill of performance boating to tens of thousands of fans at our 1000 Islands Poker Run in Kingston mid summer. This event, the grand daddy of in-water boating extravaganzas in North America, marked our 39th annual performance boating extravaganza, coupled with waterfront displays of the latest in boating technology as well as our unique Electric Avenue displays of the latest in EV technology spanning the boating and automotive sectors. The publishing industry is evolving rapidly, with print magazines, digital magazines, websites, and social media platforms encompassing a wide range of expert content and rapid availability of information on all aspects of the boating lifestyle. Our print magazine, which is now the only major national publication serving the power boating community, continues to provide informative, entertaining, and inspiring content catering specifically to the modern boating enthusiast family. Each issue of Power Boating Canada magazine is available for all subscribers to enjoy as a “flipping book” digital edition in the “magazines” section of the website at www.powerboating.com . The website includes an archive of dozens of issues of the magazine, which readers can access at no charge online. Subscribers receive a newsletter including a link to the digital edition, and newsstand readers may access these digital edition archives by emailing editor@powerboating.com and requesting a link to access the magazines. The first time you visit our www.powerboating.com website you will be invited to sign up for our newsletter, free of charge, which enables you to stay up to date with the latest developments in the boating lifestyle throughout North America. As we transition from the 2025 to the 2026 boating model year, the print, digital, and online information available from the expert team at Power Boating Canada magazine continues to provide all the information you need to enjoy the family boating lifestyle of your dreams. With boating shows and exhibitions scheduled throughout the coming months, our team is preparing to bring the thrill of family boating to events across North America. Please stay in touch through the website and feel free to e-mail our team to find answers to all of your boating related questions. Reach the PBC editorial team through nrosen@powerboating.com Enjoy the family values of our boating lifestyle, stay safe on the water, and we will look forward to seeing you at the coming boating events. Power Boating Canada | Volume 40 Number 3 Pub Page 40-3.indd 6Pub Page 40-3.indd 62025-09-18 11:26 AM2025-09-18 11:26 AMM A K E A L L Y O U R M O V E S SM O OT H Look to our signature V-Toon hull design to experience tighter turns, quick acceleration and better handling all summer long. Learn more at manitoupontoonboats.com ©2024 BRP Marine US Inc. and Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its a iliates. †All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. BRP reserves the right to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring obligation. Some models shown may include optional equipment. Products performance may vary depending on external factors. Read the operator's guide and safety instructions. Observe applicable laws and regulations. Children 12 and under must wear a personal flotation device (PFD) at all times. Always carry a personal flotation device for each person on board. Navigation and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. See your authorized Manitou dealer for details and visit www.manitoupontoonboats.com. ai174645866012_Manitou fixed.pdf 1 2025-05-05 11:24 AMManitou fixed HR.indd 1Manitou fixed HR.indd 12025-05-05 11:26 AM2025-05-05 11:26 AM8 www.powerboating.comPower Boating Canada | Volume 40 Number 3 very year, I seem to run across somebody who has had some lightning damage to their property. In the last few years, my neighbours at the cottage have been struck at least twice, thus disproving the old adage. How common an occurrence is being struck by lightning? Well, while a good percentage of lightning bolts never connect with the ground, your chances of being hit by lightning are better than your chances of winning the lottery. How serious is the risk? It depends on where you are. If you are sitting at home during a thunderstorm, you can relax and enjoy the light show because the likelihood of being electrocuted is quite low. But if you are out in your boat on the open water, it’s a completely different story there, you are a sitting target. Before going any further into addressing the danger, here’s a quick science lesson. Lightning bolts that hit the ground may pack as much as 100,000,000 volts just enough power to light up a small town. Lightning occurs when the atmosphere is filled with droplets of water. This creates particles with a positive charge called protons. At the base of the clouds, particles carry a negative charge. Now with all this conflict, something has to happen. The invisible streamers of negatively charged particles shoot down from the clouds and the protons from earth shoot up toward the clouds. When the two connect– bang! Lightning! So what do you do when you are out in your boat and a storm whips out of nowhere? Well, obviously, you try to protect yourself, your passengers and your property by doing as much as you can to reduce your risk of being hit. It goes without saying that when a storm approaches, if you can, head for the nearest harbour - any port in a storm, as the saying goes. If you can’t get to a harbour, move to as safe as a spot as you can. If I’m stuck out in the middle of the water, I always feel more comfortable riding out the storm surrounded by a bunch of sailboats since the tall masts reduce my risk of being hit. Everything that I’ve said so far speaks to being reactive when a storm hits but there are some pro-active things that you can do. First, ensure that your vessel is grounded properly since this is likely your best protection. You do this by making sure that all your electrical equipment is wired to a common ground and onto a through-hull fitting. Next, make sure that you have a grounding plane. This is a metal plate mounted on the underside of the hull connected to a through-hull fitting and again connected to your electrical components. Of course, the wire that you use to connect all this together should be of a sufficiently heavy gauge. If the wire is too thin, it will create resistance as the electricity surges through it and the charge will find its own path, sometimes right through the boat. An alternative is to install a lightning rod mounted on the highest position on your vessel. This creates a good route for the electricity to follow especially if it is connected securely to a grounding plane. There is one other method that I have heard about, but have not personally worked with. It concerns the use of a static dissipater. This particular piece of equipment is turned on during a lightning storm and omits low amperage ions that help prevent static build-up. Theoretically, the dissipater would help any of the positive streamers rising from your boat. Now, if an electric bolt does hit you, make sure that you check all of your electrical components even if it is not obvious that they have been directly damaged. Also check for damage if your neighbour is the unfortunate victim of lightning. Depending on how close your two vessels are, the positive charge in the area can damage some or all of your components. So, here are some parting tips: keep an eye on the weather and watch for those “nuts” on the water and the bolts from the sky. If you can so this, your chances of getting into trouble will be significantly reduced. E Dusty Miller LIGHTNING - THE SHOCKING FACTS HERE’S HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK… HANDLE WITH CARE handle with care 40-3.indd 8handle with care 40-3.indd 82025-09-23 11:56 AM2025-09-23 11:56 AMYour 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 © AvivaNext >