The latest boat reviews highlight models built for fishing, cruising, and high-performance sailing. This roundup looks at three notable boats and the features that make each one stand out. The Alumacraft Trophy 175 offers fishing-focused versatility, the Lagoon 630 Motor Yacht combines expansive space with powerful cruising capability, and the Diam 24 One Design delivers an exciting sailing experience. Keeping your boat clean also matters between outings. Removing algae, black streaks, oxidation, mold mildew stains, and buildup early can help keep your vessel looking its best.
Oh, the 2017 boating season is so close, we can practically smell the sea air! In the scant few weeks until spring arrives, we can always get our boating fix by checking out some of the hottest new boats on the market. Those same few weeks are also the right time to clear the algae stains on boat bottoms that build up over winter storage. We scoured our favorite sites for their reviewers’ takes on the 2017 models and compiled three of our favorites just for you. Enjoy!
Alumacraft Trophy 175 (Boating magazine)
Boating ‘s Jim Hendricks calls the 2017 Alumacraft Trophy 175 a perfect fit for fishing in the Minnesota lakes. Makes sense, as the North Star State is also home to Alumacraft’s headquarters. Hendricks likes the smoothness of the 17-foot-8-inch hull’s ride, powered by Suzuki’s new DF140A four-stroke outboard with Lean Burn Control technology. The Trophy 175 also features a fully carpeted deck and three pedestal seats, with four mounting bases in the cockpit and one each on the bow and stern platforms. Aluminum hulls like this one pick up black streaks and oxidation over a season in the water, and both are easier to remove before they set.
“Though built for fishing,” Hendricks concludes, “this rugged aluminum boat can double as a family water-sports fun machine on a warm day at the lake.”
Read the full review
Lagoon 630 Motor Yacht (Boats.com)
French builder Lagoon is earning rave reviews for the 630 Motor Yacht, the flagship of its power catamaran line. For a quick preview, check out Boats.com’s First Look Video:
Reviewer Zuzana Prochazka calls the Lagoon 630 “a big cat,” and with good reason: her aft deck is nearly 250 square feet, and the interior is an impressive 900 square feet. Deck and cabin space on that scale also gives mold and mildew stains far more room to take hold on a boat that lives in the water. The designers aimed to reinforce the highly successful Lagoon 620 in order to handle different kinds of forces, and it looks like they succeeded. “Now two feet longer with reinforced compartments to hold larger engines,” writes Prochazka, “this Lagoon 630 cruises at 10 knots and there are very few places she can’t go.”
Read the full review
Diam 24 One Design (Sailing World)
2017 Boat of the Year Overall Winner: Diam 24… by sailingworld
Sailing fans will discover a complete package with the Diam 24 One Design, equipped with essential rigging, an anchor, a Torqeedo 3HP electric outboard motor, three sails, and a launching trolley. A launching trolley also means road miles to the ramp, and bug splatter and spider droppings tend to arrive with them. Setup has been streamlined for convenience, making preparation straightforward and efficient. According to Ross, the boat can be assembled from a fully disassembled state to ready-to-sail in under an hour. This quick turnaround allows more time on the water and less time handling equipment.
“An absolute thrill to sail,” is how Boat of the Year judge Chuck Allen describes the Diam 24 One Design. He explains that the long cockpit in the center hull allows you to sit comfortably in the middle when needed, giving it a feel similar to a sportboat. At the same time, once the wind picks up, the experience changes completely. You’ll find yourself out on the float, enjoying every moment of the ride.
If there’s a boat show in your area where you can lay eyes on one of these gems live and in person, be sure to check it out. If you are shopping for smaller items, our roundup of gadgets every boater needs is a good place to start. And, if you’re already working on this year’s Christmas list …
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The article reviews the Alumacraft Trophy 175, Lagoon 630 Motor Yacht, and Diam 24 One Design, highlighting their features and reviewer impressions.
The Alumacraft Trophy 175 is designed primarily for fishing, with features such as a carpeted deck, pedestal seats, and a fishing-friendly aluminum hull.
The Lagoon 630 Motor Yacht stands out for its large deck and interior spaces, reinforced construction, powerful engines, and cruising capabilities.
The Diam 24 One Design is a sport-oriented sailing catamaran equipped with sails, rigging, an electric outboard, and a launching trolley.
Regularly rinse your boat after use and address algae stains, black streaks, oxidation, mold and mildew stains, bug splatter, and other buildup before they become difficult to remove. Use cleaning products appropriate for each surface.
I LEFT THE BOAT in the water for a week of scalloping & Fishing and got the nice stain line on the boat. My neighbor had some Slimy Grimy in a spray bottle & sprayed it on the line along with a rust stain from the dive ladder screws and it was amazing how Slimy Grimy cleaned the boat.
I recently discovered Slimy Grimy for getting rid of rust in tanks. It works great and won’t hurt the paint.
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slimygrimy@slimygrimy.com
(281) 468-5217
1-800-922-3097