Boating
2Pages

©e left the pass at Key Biscayne and stared in the direction of Long Island, Bahamas, across 450 miles of five-foot seas, and asked, "Are these out-of-the-box engines and boats up to the trip?" Our Mako 284, already a veteran of many sea trials, was broken-in and the engines had been proven over time. But a day before departure, our SeaCraft 32 engines were uncrated, mounted and then run just long enough to prove the We were going out of sight of land, out of radio range and to a spot in the Bahamas that was out-of-this-world remote. To get the feel for both of our boats we alternated from cockpit to cockpit. The Mako was fully equipped with Raymarine radar, GPS and bottom machine plus the best buddy an offshore traveler can have — an autopilot. On board the SeaCraft we took turns clutching the wheel through the 50 miles of ocean to our first waypoint, Gun Key Light House, 10 miles south of Bimini. An autopilot did the white-knuckle work This Mako has a solid hull built to our choice for outboard power will make it first to the fish. for us aboard the Mako. It held a steady course in the chop while all hands kept a lookout for pilot whales from the shade and comfort of the T-top and com- fortable leaning post. The best way for passengers to cross

Length Overall: Seating/Weight Capacity: Fuel Capacity: NMMA Certified: MSRP (test boat): Test Engine: Twin Evinnide E-TEC 250 hp outboards Test Prop: Test Load: Minimum Plane: open water is to throw bean-bag chairs in the back and flop down. To rest our bones from the overseas gallop, we donned headsets and listened to iPods. keeping up with the longer SeaCraft proved this boat was up to the challenge of the crossing. It takes a strong craft to handle water this rough at speeds that high. Still, in port we weren't surprised at having to tighten a few screws while we refueled. Our fuel burn...