Power Boating

* prices and specifications subject to change without notice Avalon has been refining pontoon construction for over half a century, and the Catalina Platinum 2585 anchors the brand’s premium tier. Mercury 300 Cold Fusion power, electric steering, His-and-Hers Admiral captain’s chairs, custom Riptide Dune flooring, and a high-performance sound package are all part of the standard build. Waveglider Performance Tubes at 25 inches sit under diamond-stitched upholstery and fiberglass nose cones.

* prices and specifications subject to change without notice Atrue “boat for all seasons”, Alumacraft’s Competitor 185 Sport is a dual-console fishing platform in the 18-foot class, offering versatility across all seasons alongside flexible seating and plenty of storage space for gear. The 185 a professional-level performance boat with a spacious deck in a very comfortable ride for an 18-foot boat, pushed with 185 hp.

By Mike Burns Most people don’t really decide how good a boat is when it’s running at 50 mph across open water. They decide it when they’re trying to get into a slip with a crosswind, a few boats waiting, and an audience they didn’t ask for. That’s where the Yamaha 255X makes its case, and it’s also where its Docking Assist system quietly changes the experience.

* prices and specifications subject to change without notice The Four Winns H2e is the first all-electric, series-production bowrider on the market. Developed jointly with Vision Marine Technologies, the H2e pairs a 22-foot H-Series hull with the E-Motion 180E electric outboard. It’s the first fully electric purpose-built outboard powertrain, joining battery pack, inverter, and motor with a proprietary union assembly.

* prices and specifications subject to change without notice The 29 XC Cross Cabin replaces the popular Axopar 28. It’s not just a refresh, but a true European-built boat. Six inches longer, two inches wider on the beam, and running a more hydrodynamic twin-stepped hull for better top speed and improved fuel numbers. It’s an all-weather commuter boat, at 30 feet and 7 inches overall, with a 10-inch beam.

* prices and specifications subject to change without notice The new 62 Navetta was one of Absolute’s headline launches this year, expanding the Italian builder’s long-range cruising lineup with a platform focused on volume, efficiency, and extended time aboard. The Navetta’s semi-displacement hull is designed for efficient passagemaking and comfortable cruising rather than outright speed, making it well-suited to owners planning multi-day voyages or Great Lakes coasting.

* prices and specifications subject to change without notice The D22 replaces the outgoing DX2050 as the “workhorse” of Bayliner’s deck-boat line. Hull sculpting and stylish shear lines carry the exterior. Inside, plush upholstery wraps a U-shaped bow lounge with reversible seatbacks for forward or aft viewing. A transitional companion seat converts to a sun pad.

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* prices and specifications subject to change without notice Airsolid stands alone among competitors. Every hull leaves its factory with a warranty structure few competitors match: 10 full years on the welded aluminum hull, and 10 full years on the welded polyurethane composite float. That’s not an inflatable tube in the usual sense. It’s a welded fabric composite float, built for institutional service with police, firefighters, and coast guard operators.

By Mike Burns There are aluminum boats, and then there are aluminum boats that make you forget you’re in an aluminum boat. The Stanley Lighthouse 264 CC falls squarely into the second category. Built by Connor Industries, the company behind the Stanley line, the Lighthouse combines the ruggedness you expect from a serious aluminum boat with a surprisingly refined level of finish and equipment.