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DDDD DDDDVOLUME 40 NUMBER 4 HUSTLERHUSTLER POWERBOATS POWERBOATS 340 CC 268-44 Crawford Cres., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 2nd Class Registration Number #43638025 NORTH TONORTH TO ALASKAALASKA SEVEN TRUTHS ABOUT BOATING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST PrincecraftPrincecraft 27 VOGUE RL27 VOGUE RL BOAT SHOW TIME! VANCOUVER AND TORONTO $9.95 www.powerboating.com AGAPI BOAT CLUBAGAPI BOAT CLUB WORLD-CLASS BOATINGWORLD-CLASS BOATING THE WORLD’S THE WORLD’S HIGHEST HIGHEST Lift LockLift Lock VOLTIUM’SVOLTIUM’S SAFECHARGE SAFECHARGE TM The Unseen RevolutionThe Unseen Revolution Cover 40-4.indd 1Cover 40-4.indd 12026-01-14 4:03 PM2026-01-14 4:03 PMLife®Nautic Aviva Lifestyle® Insurance CS_24_12397-L_NauticLife-2026_Toronto_Boat_Show-Full_Page_Ad-in_Show_Guide_outline.indd 1CS_24_12397-L_NauticLife-2026_Toronto_Boat_Show-Full_Page_Ad-in_Show_Guide_outline.indd 12025-12-01 4:48 PM2025-12-01 4:48 PMTHE 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: Princecraft 27 Vogue RL VOLUME 40 NUMBER 4 HUSTLERHUSTLER POWERBOATS POWERBOATS 340 CC 268-44 Crawford Cres., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 2nd Class Registration Number #43638025 NORTH TONORTH TO ALASKAALASKA SEVEN TRUTHS ABOUT BOATING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST PrincecraftPrincecraft 27 VOGUE RL27 VOGUE RL BOAT SHOW TIME! VANCOUVER AND TORONTO $9.95 www.powerboating.com AGAPI BOAT CLUB WORLD-CLASS BOATING THE WORLD’S THE WORLD’S HIGHEST HIGHEST Lift LockLift Lock features 10 LIFELINE Propeller Safety: Tips to avoid injury and damage. 30 MONTRÉAL BOAT AFLOAT SHOW A wrap-up of the new boats displayed at this years in-water show. 34 LIFT LOCK Few People Know: How the World’s Highest Lift Lock Really Works? 38 AGAPI BOAT CLUB A Premium Yacht Membership to World-Class Boating. 42 THE UNSEEN REVOLUTION: How Volthium’s SafeCharge™ is Quietly Redefining the Modern Horizon. 44 NORTH TO ALASKA PBC’s Bill Jennings’ discovers the Seven Truths about Boating in the Pacific Northwest. 2026 we test 20 PRINCECRAFT 27 VOGUE RL A seamless blend of luxury, performance, and versatility. contents30 Power Boating Canada | Volume 40 Number 4 26 HUSTLER POWERBOATS 344 CC Hustler Powerboats launched its first true center console, the 344 CC. columns 6 PUB PAGE 8 LIFELINE 10 HANDLE WITH CARE 12 FISHING TALK 16 GEAR GALLERY 52 MAINSTREAM 44 Opening of the Montréal Boat Show Contents 40-4.indd 4Contents 40-4.indd 42026-01-14 3:56 PM2026-01-14 3:56 PMSTART SOMETHING INCREDIBLE MercuryMarine.com IMAGINE THRILLING STARRING YOU ADVENTURE EVERY There’s a world of unforgettable moments waiting for you on the water. Make your story one to remember with Mercury. MER-6710 Advertising | MM | Marine Max Lifestyle Magazine SUM25_v2.indd 1MER-6710 Advertising | MM | Marine Max Lifestyle Magazine SUM25_v2.indd 15/1/25 3:37 PM5/1/25 3:37 PM6 Volume 40 Number 4 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 Slow down, bow down… Is here forever. PUB PAGE Remember when you bought your first boat? Like so many other first-time owners, we felt that we knew how to drive the boat fairly well, but it seemed like every time we pulled into our slip our neighbors would experience sudden anxiety attacks. Of course, over the years we managed to learn all the ins and outs of proper boat handling - and we’re still learning TODAY – but it would have been a big help if there had been a place to go to get hands-on instruction from an expert in boat handling and safety. Today, some 40 years later, thanks to veteran instructor Dusty Miller and his special features “Handle with Care”, which have been running in Power Boating Canada for many years, and are available on the PBC website, there is a body of knowledge available to all boaters. Over the years, more instructors joined the program and one of my favourites was Craig Hamilton and his course “Better Boat Handling”. Both of these gentlemen tested hundreds and hundreds of boats for Power Boating Canada magazine and provided safety articles to help our readers sharpen their skills for boat handling, turning and maneuvering like a pro, and best of all - using their your boat. Whether you are a new boater, a seasoned owner who feels you ought to know more, or an enthusiastic boater moving up from a 30-foot boat to a 60-foot boat, it is imperative to take a safety course on boat handling. After learning how to leave the dock, you get to practice maneuvering - from quarter to half turns, to coming to a complete stop without deviation. You learn docking approaches using winds and currents to your advantage, stern first, bow first. You learn how to tie lines and secure fenders for maximum safety and protection. The cost for a full course on your own boat is very reasonable - instruction can also be tailored to suit the specific needs of each individual and the waters you navigate. At this point you’re probably asking yourself “why me? I know everything there is to know about boating”. You may just be right. Then again, if your dock mates start running the other way whenever you’re in port, you might just find there are a lot of benefits to be gained by calling in the experts. Power Boating Canada heartily endorses boating safety, and we encourage all boat operators to take a training course – it is a guaranteed investment in safety and confidence on the water. You never stop learning how to be a better boater! Power Boating Canada | Volume 40 Number 4 Pub Page 40-4.indd 6Pub Page 40-4.indd 62026-01-08 4:10 PM2026-01-08 4:10 PM8 www.powerboating.comPower Boating Canada | Volume 40 Number 4 Mark King nless you are trying to increase the speed of your boat, or you hit something and damage it, you probably pay little attention to your propeller. It is only a small part of your boating enjoyment but it is a part that can cause significant injury and damage if it isn’t treated with respect. Archimedes is credited with inventing the first “screw propeller” when he used a screw shaped device with large blades in a shaft to lift and move water. But it wasn’t until Czech-Austrian inventor Josef Ressel used a screw propeller with multiple blades fastened around a coneshaped base on a small ship in 1826, that inventors and engineers began to realize how the application could be used to move boats and ships. His experiments came to an end when a boiler blew up and the government banned further study, but not before Ressel had the first patent. In 1833, John Patch from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia also demonstrated the usefulness of the screw propeller on a ship but his patent was rejected in the United States because he was not an American citizen. By the early 1840’s the screw propeller had become the propulsion of choice as various inventors had proven it was more efficient than the paddlewheel. It was adopted by navies for use in their steam ships and was in use commercially as well. Today’s propellers are as efficient as possible and designed to fit your boat and engine. While tucked away out of sight, they can cause significant damage. Here are some sobering statistics. A three bladed propeller spinning at 3,200 rpm can make 160 impacts in one second and can move the length of head to toe on an average person in one-tenth of a second. That force is how a propeller can damage itself so quickly when it hits something solid. It is easy to ensure that your propeller doesn’t hurt someone, including yourself, if you happen to fall overboard. There are a few simple safety rules to follow. The first step is for the boat operator to be aware of what is going on around him at all times. Not only is this common sense, it is your duty as the skipper to be ensure the safety of your boat and your guests. Before you start your boat, take a look around and ensure there is no one in the water near your propeller. Between the time you load the boat and the time you are ready to move, a swimmer or an animal could have approached in the water. Most boats today have a safety switch attached to a lanyard. The lanyard needs to be connected to the skipper at all times so that if the skipper moves away from the helm, the lanyard will release the switch and it will turn the engine off. Especially in a high speed open boat, this is a safety rule that must be practiced at all times. If the skipper is thrown from the wheel, or slips and falls, the engine stops and most importantly, the propeller stops spinning immediately. When you are underway, make sure that passengers are safely seated in the boat. Allowing people to ride on the bow or sit on the seat backs places them in danger of being thrown, or slipping overboard. You can’t react fast enough to prevent a propeller strike if someone slips off the bow. It should go without saying that when people are in the water near the boat the engine must be turned off. Not idling, turned off. Putting people in the water to go water skiing or tubing, and recovering people from the water after skiing or tubing, is usually done over the transom. An idling boat in these circumstances is asking for trouble. One steep wave or a slip and fall into a throttle or gear shift lever and the propeller could be spinning where people are boarding or disembarking. Likewise, when you have swimmers near the boat, the engine should be off for the same reason. You, as the skipper, or someone you assign, should keep a constant look out for people near the propeller. When operating through a crowded area, around docks, in marinas, or at an anchorage, you must be alert for people in the water. If you have to recover someone who is in the water, drive slowly forward to their location. Never reverse toward them. If you miss them, go around again, do not back up. And, you should never use the fins on your outboard or outdrive as steps to board your boat. Even if the propeller isn’t turning, a slip that slams your foot into a blade can be dangerous on its own. Boats come with safety instructions and manuals and you should follow all the recommendations. They will have warnings about propellers. Finally, there are safety devices that can be purchased to protect people from propellers if it is appropriate in your boating circumstances. If there is a great deal of activity around the stern of your boat, such as diving, tubing and skiing, they may be useful as added protection. Propeller strikes can be avoided as long as you follow some safety precautions. U PROPELLER SAFETY TIPS TO AVOID INJURY AND DAMAGE LIFELINE Lifeline 40-4.indd 8Lifeline 40-4.indd 82025-12-29 4:33 PM2025-12-29 4:33 PMOWN THE OFFSHORE BUILT TO PUSH YOUR LIMITS Built for extended journeys and all-season confidence, the Wellcraft 28 Explorer delivers enclosed comfort, offshore capability, and the freedom to go farther. Designed for serious exploration, it sets a new benchmark in versatile 28-foot performance. The Wellcraft 28 T-Top, will make its North American debut at the Miami International Boat Show, February 11–15, 2026—ready to redefine the way you explore. WELLCRAFT 28 EXPLORER NEW Untitled-1 1Untitled-1 12026-01-13 2:49 PM2026-01-13 2:49 PMNext >