BOAT-DEMO TIPS
How to make the most of a pre-purchase sea trial.
If you are serious about buying a particular new boat, ask the sales rep if you can demo that model before making a buying decision. It is the only way to determine how the boat feels and handles on the water. Your sea trial may take place at a boat show, a special demo day staged by the dealer or factory, or by appointment. Here’s how to maximize your sea trial once you push away from the dock.
OH SAY, CAN YOU SEE? Make sure you see well from behind the wheel. A dash, hardtop crossbar or windshield that impairs vision is a safety concern and disconcerting for the helmsman. If you can’t see well, move on to another boat.
HOLE-SHOT APPRAISAL The boat should jump onto plane when you punch the throttles. If it struggles, it might not have sufficient power or the right propellers. Point out your concerns, and schedule a new sea trial when the problem is fixed.
EFFICIENCY EVALUATION Run the boat at various rpm to determine the best fuel efficiency. Digital gauges display miles per gallon. Knowing this provides an idea of fuel costs going forward as well as range, and a basis for comparison with other boats.
RIDE RECON Try to get the boat in some rough water to judge the ride. It should slice smoothly through choppy water at speed. If it pounds, try trimming down or deploying trim tabs to smooth it out. If nothing helps, move on.
ROLL CALL To see if the boat rolls excessively, put it in a beam sea and pull back to idle speed. There may be some roll; however, it shouldn’t be excessive. If the roll feels comfortable, the platform is stable.
POWER PROGNOSIS While cruising in the mid-rpm range, hammer the throttle. The boat should accelerate quickly in the event a menacing wave threatens from abeam or astern. With extra midrange oomph, you can escape trouble quickly. Compare this response to that of other boats you sea-trial.
SPEED ASSESSMENT Few boaters consistently run at wide-open throttle (WOT). Yet knowing the top speed is helpful; for example, in case you need to outrun an approaching squall. Also, check rpm at WOT, and compare that to the engine-maker’s max rpm rating. This will tell you if the propping is correct. Under-revving indicates the need for less prop pitch; overrevving means it needs more pitch.
SLOW PLANE How slow can you go and stay on plane? This is a big deal in rough seas, when you need to slow down for comfort, but want to stay on plane to maintain control and decent fuel economy. Try to find the boat’s lowest planing speed—usually around 12 to 17 mph. If it fails to plane at such speeds, you might start looking at other boats.
HANDLING ANALYSIS Put the boat through some hard turns. There should be minimal sliding or tripping (catching the edge of a chine). Push the boat through big wakes to ensure the bow does not stuff into waves. Check low-speed handling to ensure it docks with ease and offers strong response in reverse.
DRY RUN Any powerboat will take spray on the windward beam in gusty conditions, but if it takes a lot of spray while running into or with the breeze, that’s an issue and may be grounds for continuing your search.
FOLLOW-UP This is a lot to ask if your sea trial takes place at a boat show or demo day. If you are still interested, ask to schedule a private sea trial a few weeks later, when there’s more time to thoroughly wring out the boat.