2016 Axis Wake A20 Boat Test

Riding the wake from the back of a boat is what fun on the water is all about, but getting on board can be expensive. The goal of Axis Wake Research has always been to get more people in a watersports boat at an affordable price. An excellent example of that is the Axis A20.

The A20 is all-new for 2016, redesigned from the hull up. Built with a budget in mind, the A20 may not have all of the flash and high-end technology found in a Malibu, but it delivers where it counts. Axis keeps it simple with the use of old style switches for ballast and cruise settings versus an all out expensive touch screen command centre.

It can still load up to 800 pounds (363 kg) of ballast with the Wake Box three-tank system, plus an additional 1,300 pounds with the optional Plug N Play ballast plumbing and soft tanks. Opt for the Axis Auto-Set Wedge with position indicator if you want to skip the extra tanks. If wake surfing is your thing surf gates can be ordered as well.

Our tester was sporting a black tower with optional racks, quick release latch and Wet Sound Icon 8 Speakers driven by an upgraded Kicker sound system. 

Only 20 feet, there is plenty of interior space for up to 11. The optional Rear Slide SkyBox seating at the transom can be pulled forward to function as an ottoman or a rear-facing seat to catch the action.

The 350 horsepower Indmar 5.7 L V-8 demonstrated awesome pulling power hitting 20 miles per hour in 3.68 seconds. The new hull with tracking fin ensured that the A20 tracked true.

While designed for generating big wakes, pumped dry the A20 threw a small wake, so you can use the low mounted ski pylon. For beginners the boat stayed on plane as slow as 19 mph.

Small and agile, easily towed and stored on the standard trailer, the Axis A20 performs well on the water and on the road.

Test Boat Engine

Indmar Monsoon 350 Cat, 5.7 L (350 ci), 350 hp, Overhead Cam, inboard V8 with V-Drive

ACCELERATION (mph/sec)

0-20 / 3.7; 0-30 / 5.5

TOP SPEED (rpm/mph)

5,400/ 45.1

CRUISING SPEED (rpm/mph)

3,500/ 25.5

SPECS

Model year: 2016

Make: Axis

Model: Wake A20

Category: Wakeboard Boat

Length: 20ft / 6.10 m

Beam: 8ft 2in / 2.49 m

Draft: 2ft 3in / 0.69 m

Pricing Notes: Boat, Motor, Trailer

Hull Type: Fiberglass

Engine Type: Inboard

Fuel Capacity: 42

According: Boattest.com

2016 Sea Ray 470 Sundancer Boat Test

As a Sundancer owner I’m always keen to get on board another model to see how it compares. When I first saw the 470 I was surprised at the limited exterior cockpit size, but once on board I appreciated the change.

Unlike my 15-year old model where the huge exterior cockpit is protected from the elements only by canvas, the new approach is the SkyFlow design. It means enclosed areas that are as wide open as possible. 

Almost entirely windows, the full glass doors slide out of the way to open up the appropriately named sunroom to the exterior cockpit that features a grill and wet bar. Add to that the massive sunroof that glides open with the push of a button and the luxurious interior accommodations are open and airy.

The helm fits nicely without being a massive interruption of the entertaining area or sacrificing anything the captain needs. There are excellent sightlines, both for docking, and running at speed. There’s a combination of analog switches, dual Raymarine displays and SmartCarftVesselView. A small window opens beside the captain’s chair to help with communication while docking, though the joystick controls make it simple enough.

In front of the helm, the windshield is pushed forward, allowing natural light to open up the lower salon. It’s the equivalent of cathedral ceilings in a condo and it’s a clever touch, only sacrificing a few feet of exterior bow space which, to be honest, is rarely utilized as much as the rest of the boat. 

Down below is a full-beam master, mid-ship with private head and shower and lots of storage and hanging lockers. At the bow is the expertly appointed, forward stateroom. Flanking the entrance to it are the guest head, to port, and the guest shower, to starboard.

The 470 Sundancer is like a floating condo, but it handles like a sport boat. Cutting through chop on our test day as if it wasn’t there and cruising very nicely around 30 miles per hour. 

Test Boat Engine

Twin Zeus-Cummins QSB 6.7 L (408 ci), in-line six-cylinder 480 HO diesel

ACCELERATION (mph/sec)

0-20 / N/A 

TOP SPEED (rpm/mph)

37 mph

CRUISING SPEED (rpm/mph)

31 mph

PHOTO

SPECS

Model year: 2016

Make: Sea Ray

Model: 470 Sundancer

Category: Express

Length: 47ft 3in / 14.40 m

Beam: 14ft / 4.27 m

Hull Type: Fiberglass

Engine Type: Pod drive

Fuel Capacity: 350

Engines: 2

According: Boattest.com

2016 Crownline E4 Boat Review

For dedicated day-cruisers - who want the kind of luxury and space offered by big pontoon boats, but with more convenience and better performance - deckboats are a great alternative. The Crownline E4, part of the Illinois company’s Eclipse lineup, has many of the attributes needed for deckboat success.

At 24 feet six inches long, with an eight-feet six-inch beam, the E4 has size on its side. It uses it well, with three distinct gathering zones: the bow compartment, main cockpit and aft swim deck. There are boarding ladders at the bow and stern. While both can be used for access to the water, the bow ladder is especially helpful when the boat is pulled up to a beach or sandbar. 

Both the small, forward swim deck and the larger one aft are covered with soft-touch rubberized mat material for barefoot comfort.

The E4’s capacity is listed as 13 persons, but six or seven could best take advantage of the space and luxury the boat has to offer.

The broad bow compartment, any deckboat’s main selling feature, includes two curvy body-fitting full-length lounges on the E4. They come complete with armrests. There’s plenty of room for more than two to sit in less than total comfort and there’s also plenty of space for picnic supplies or water toys in the lockers below.

The swiveling helm and companion seats are comfortable and can be turned to face the J-shaped lounge aft and to port. Its aft section can be converted to seats that face back over the swim deck, or folded down to create a full sun lounge. There’s a small jump seat to starboard. A spacious enclosed head, in the companion console, is a convenience appreciated by committed day-cruisers.

With all that comfort on board, the E4 is also a capable performer, powered by a MerCruiser 350 MAG twin-prop Bravo III sterndrive. The 300hp engine combines well with the ventilated FastTab hull for relatively speedy acceleration, a top speed approaching 50 miles per hour and easy cruising speeds in the 30- to 35-mph zone.

Under way or at rest, comfort comes first on the Crownline E4. 

Test Boat Engine

MerCruiser 350 MAG, 300hp, 5.7L (350 ci), gasoline V-8, multi-point EFI, pushing twin propellers through a Bravo III drive

ACCELERATION (mph/sec)

0-20 / 5.4; 0-30 / 7.2

TOP SPEED (rpm/mph)

5,500 / 48.9

CRUISING SPEED (rpm/mph)

3,000 / 23; 3,500 / 30.4; 4,000 / 36.3

SPECS

Model year: 2016

Make: Crownline

Model: E4

Category: Bowrider

Length: 24ft 6in / 7.47 m

Beam: 8ft 6in / 2.59 m

Hull Type: Fiberglass

Engine Type: I/O Sterndrive

Fuel Capacity: 55

According: Boattest.com

2016 Grand S420 NL Boat Test

A mid-sized rigid inflatable (RIB) can serve as a tender for a large yacht, an all-round cottage runabout or a versatile compact day-cruiser. Whatever role it plays, it has to be light, with a comfortable and practical cockpit layout and a fuel-efficient, reliable mid-range outboard on the transom.

The Grand S420 NLF test boat, one of the European boatbuilder’s Silver Line models, fits the bill on all counts and adds some unique and handy options.

About 14 feet long, it’s got a bench seat at the helm, an adult-size jump seat ahead of the central helm console and a small bow seat atop a locker right forward. Its High Step Hull, with wide chines, well-placed strakes and fine bow entry, is comfortable at cruising speeds, even in sizeable, steep-sided waves on test day. 

Powered by a 40-hp Honda BF40 four-stroke outboard, the S420 accelerates quickly, reaching 20 miles per hour in four-point-one seconds and 30 mph in under eight seconds. Top speed is 31.8 mph, a number that could be improved in calmer conditions. The engine is quiet, fuel-injected and economical.

At all speeds, the boat’s inflatable collar provides stability in lumpy waves and plenty of buoyancy. Lake conditions made it difficult to operate long at top speeds, but at cruising speeds and slower the boat is comfortable and always feels safe. There are plenty of handholds on the tubes plus a stainless-steel grab-bar around the top of the console. 

For a 14-foot RIB, storage is adequate, with room for gear in bow console and helm seat lockers. The portable fuel tank on the test boat is behind the helm seat. There is some bow rise while accelerating to plane, but it’s short-lived.

Given the S420’s solid performance, the options on the test boat “ including a folding navigation arch with lights, an electrical package that includes lights and a battery switch, plus fibreglass entry step units built into the back of each inflatable tube “ are all bonuses. 

Test Boat Engine

Honda BF40 4-stroke, 808 cc/ 49.4 cid, 40-hp inline three-cylinder, four-stroke gasoline outboard with electronic fuel injection, driving a three-blade aluminum propeller 

ACCELERATION (mph/sec)

0-20/ 4.2; 0-30/ 7.9

TOP SPEED (rpm/mph)

6,000 / 31.8

CRUISING SPEED (rpm/mph)

3,500 /17.6 ; 4,000/ 21.7; 4,500/23.1; 5,000/25.6

SPECS

Model year: 2016

Make: Grand

Model: S420 NL

Category: Inflatable

Length: 13ft 9in / 4.19 m

Beam: 6ft 4in / 1.93 m

Hull Type: Fiberglass

Engine Type: Outboard

Fuel Capacity: 9.5

According: Boattest.com

2016 Stanley Mink 18 DC Boat Review

Manufactured by Connor Industries, Stanley welded aluminum boats are tough and built to withstand rough treatment. The Mink is offered in centre or dual console layouts of 16 or 18 feet, with both models having a seven-foot beam. The deep V hull ismade from 3/16-inch aluminum and incorporates a keel guard, lifting strakes and welded motor mount bracket. The self-bailing cockpit is rugged with non-slip diamond plate aluminum flooring.

The dual console has a tall aluminum framed windshield with an opening centre section that provides excellent protection.The helm is as basic as it gets with a stainless steel wheel, Yamaha Multi-function gauge, four circuit breaker panel and a 12-volt outlet. Seating consists of a pair of adjustable pedestal seats with optional Sunbrella cushions.

Although it’s a bowrider, seating is essentially a jump seat, with an optional cushion and the base is a watertight locker. Welded cleats flank the anchor locker and this model featured a pair of optional handrails on the gunnels. 

The only other enclosed storage is in the base of the transom seat where you will also find the battery and portable fuel tank. A nice touch is the water separator fuel filter mounted here.

There are several options available for the Mink “ from cooler seats to canvas options. Our test 18DC had the optional canvas top and bow cover package. If you feel the need to personalize or dress it up, you can have the Mink painted.

Powering this model was a Yamaha F90, the maximum horsepower for the 18. The F90 is a powerful, yet quiet engine, registering just 84 dB at cruise. The noise was generated more from wind and water. Time to plane was five-point-nine seconds and lightly loaded the Mink stayed on plane at 16.5 miles per hour.

Whether you commute to an island cottage, haul tons of supplies, need a boat that the kids can’t scratch or just like a boat that requires virtually zero maintenance (outboard motor excluded) a Stanley Mink fits the bill.

Test Boat Engine

Yamaha F90, 1,596 cc (97 ci), 90 hp in-line four-cyliner, four-stroke with EFI 

ACCELERATION (mph/sec)

0-20 / 6.3; 0-30 / 8.6

TOP SPEED (rpm/mph)

6,000/ 38.3

CRUISING SPEED (rpm/mph)

4,000/ 23.1

SPECS

Model year: 2016

Make: Stanley

Model: Mink 18 DC

Category: Bowrider

Length: 18ft 2in / 5.54 m

Beam: 7ft / 2.13 m

Pricing Notes: With Trailer

Hull Type: Aluminum

Engine Type: Outboard

Fuel Capacity: 10

According: Boattest.com

2016 Zodiac Yachtline 380 DL Boat Review

To do proper duty as a yacht tender, a mid-sized rigid inflatable (RIB) must be comfortable in all weather conditions and easy to board. But if you’re like most yacht owners - and boat owners in general - it has to look great and perform well.

While carrying the most recognizable name in inflatable boats, the 12-foot, six-inch Zodiac Yachtline 380 DL test boat does all that, in high style.

Weather on test day is great for testing the mettle of any RIB; the lake was lumpy and windy. The Zodiac, with an 18-degree deadrise hull, takes it all in stride. Its fibreglass hull ensures soft landings and the inflatable Hypalon collar delivers the ultimate in stability and safety.

The 380’s built-in fuel tank, installed well forward, helps to balance the boat for improved handling and performance.

Powered by a Yamaha 50 four-stroke, the 380 DL tops out at 38.7 miles per hour at 6,000 rpm. It accelerates to 20 mph in four-point-seven seconds and 30 mph in seven-point-four seconds. The Yamaha is quiet, fuel-injected and will deliver excellent fuel economy.

The 380’s hull has many practical features, including storage in a forward cushioned locker and in a jump-seat style locker ahead of the console. There’s more storage space behind the helm seat. The moulded fibreglass unit aft of the seat also has a streamlined design and adds to the boat’s appearance. 

Teak boarding pads, located forward on the stainless-steel bow raid and atop the deck on two “pods” just aft of the helm seat, are a practical touch. They also contribute to a warm, classy appearance.

Despite its size, the 380 has plenty of seating, with the double-side helm seat, a small seat to port of the helm console above the fuel tank, plus cushioned seats on top of lockers in front of the console and right in the bow.

Some of the seats may serve children best, if it’s a long passage. But they will all arrive safely and stylishly.

Test Boat Engine

Yamaha F50 4-stroke, 996 cc/ 60.8 cid, 50-hp inline four-cylinder, four-stroke gasoline outboard with EFI, driving a 13-inch pitch three-blade aluminum propeller 

ACCELERATION (mph/sec)

0-20/ 4.7; 0-25/ 7.4

TOP SPEED (rpm/mph)

6,000 / 38.7

CRUISING SPEED (rpm/mph)

3,500 /19.4 ; 4,000/ 23; 4,500/26; 5,000/29.4

SPECS

Model year: 2016

Make: Zodiac

Model: Yachtline 380 DL

Category: Inflatable

Length: 12ft 6in / 3.81 m

Beam: 5ft 10in / 1.78 m

Hull Type: Fiberglass

Engine Type: Outboard

Fuel Capacity: 9.2

According: Boattest.com

2016 MirroCraft Dual Impact 1766 Boat Test

Many runabouts are designed to please both fishing and watersports enthusiasts, but not all succeed. On the water, it’s not easy being a two-way player.

The aluminum Mirrocraft Dual Impact 1766 test boat, however, uses both unique and well-proven solutions. 

In full fishing mode, the 17-foot Wisconsin-built Mirrocraft test boat has carpeted casting platforms in the bow and stern, complete with high bicycle-style casting seats. In the floor forward, there’s a dedicated battery locker and wiring ready for an electric trolling motor. Aft, there’s a 16.7 gallon (53.4 L) aerated livewell. There are dedicated rod-holders in coaming lockers and optional vinyl flooring in the cockpit area, for easy cleanups. 

The walk-through windshield provides good protection, but is not as tall as those on many dedicated multi-species fishing boats.

Converting the boat to watersports mode is easy. In the bow area, the fitted drop-in lids on forward storage lockers flip over to reveal attached cushions. They easily install on the opposite sides to create a comfortable bow seating area. A small portion of the platform flips forward to complete the bow seating conversion. Aft, the switch is even easier. The casting platform flips back and a seat-back folds up to form a comfortable bench seat. 

A high, solid aluminum watersports pylon “ high enough to please skiers, tubers and budding wakeboarders “ completes the changeover. The small swim deck and boarding ladder are ready any time.

The test boat’s black hull colour and white and grey graphics “ like the comfortable, high-back seats “ will appeal to boaters of any stripe. Performance with the Yamaha 150 four-stroke outboard also has broad appeal.

Wavy test-day weather cut top speed by a few miles per hour, but the 1766 still reaches a top speed of 50.2 mph at 6,000 rpm in GPS-measured testing. Acceleration is fine: 0-20 mph in 3.9 seconds and 0-30 mph in 5.4 seconds. 

Test day shows the boat can handle waves and weather easily. That’s something else all kinds of boaters appreciate.

Test Boat Engine

Yamaha 150 4-stroke, 2,670 cc (163 ci), four-stroke in-line four-cylinder outboard with EFI, pushing a three-blade 19-inch pitch aluminum propeller

ACCELERATION (mph/sec)

0-20 / 3.9; 0-30 / 4.8; 0-40 / 6.3

TOP SPEED (rpm / mph)

6,000 / 50.2

CRUISING SPEEDS (rpm / mph)

3,000 /22.4; 3,500 /28.0; 4,000 /32.1; 4,500 /38.4

SPECS

Model year: 2016

Make: MirroCraft

Model: Dual Impact 1766

Category: Fish and Ski

Length: 17ft 3in / 5.26 m

Beam: 7ft 3in / 2.21 m

Hull Type: Aluminum

Engine Type: Outboard

Fuel Capacity: 29

According: Boattest.com