Betty and I have just returned after spending 20 days on our new Marinaut, the "betty Ann." We want to share with you the performance characteristics of this boat that we observed.
1) We took a 20 knot, 180-degree turn to test the Marinaut's stability in a tight turn. The boat leaned only slightly, demonstrating what we think is a very low center of gravity. That's why it is a misconception to think the Marinaut is top heavy, which is a false perception the result of the inability of a photograph to properly reveal its true nature that would otherwise be apparent if one viewed the boat in person.
2) On our first trip, Les Lampman was on board while we tested the boat for the first time. We went right through Deception Pass and headed into the Rosario Straight near Lopez Island. The seas were 2 to 3 feet and growing larger as the winds whipped up, when we got broadsided by a 4 to 5 foot wave that came out of nowhere. Well, this was our introduction to the Pacific Northwest: current driven waves, wind driven waves and reflective waves. The Marinaut rolled about 1' to 1.5' to port and quickly snapped to vertical. She can really take a beating.
3) The Honda BF115 engine, from what we understand, generates over 120 HP when B.L.A.S.T. is activated. In a test, I set the throttle to wide-open, and the engine has so much power, that we LEAPED out of the hole, coming to plane quickly. At WOT, approx. 5,000 RPM, we got the boat up to 31 knots!
4) And speaking of planing, the Marinaut planes at 8 knots.
5) Even in a 1.5 to 2 foot chop, we can still go 10 knots, because the bow really cuts into the on-coming waves, smoothing out the ride.
6) We found that Les was correct that the Marinaut benefits from the heavier Honda BF115 in making the boat properly trimmed. And for anyone considering to buy a new Marinaut, Betty and I would highly recommend the Honda BF115, because it will save you money in the long run, is quiet, has the largest displacement in its class, and does not have to "work that hard."
7) We confirm Les Lampman's comments of several month's ago in that the Marinaut has a tendency that wherever you point the boat, it seems to stay on course requiring little course correction.
8) We had the MBC install Lenco Trim Tabs. They are necessary in our opinion as they take the bow down lower than the engine trim (without hydrofoil) alone. We had situations in following seas on a slow and steady turn that required the boat to be brought back to level using the tabs.
9) The gas gauge is innovative: one gauge is shared by two tanks by using a toggle switch. We confirm that on our boat, it is highly accurate.
10) Docking in the wind. I never operated a larger boat before, but I remembered two things that Les instructed me: use the engine as a rudder after setting the throttle to neutral, and never approach a dock faster than you are willing to strike it. Once I got the hang of it, docking was quite easy. On the last day we used the boat, we attempted to make a starboard dock to a portable toilet dumping dock at Anacortes, but the current was ripping, taking us away from the dock. I simply put the Marinaut and reverse, steered to the other side, and let the current take us into the dock. The point we would like to make is that the Marinaut steers quite well in reverse. Lastly, we learned after an ugly docking maneuver in La Conner -- a place known for impossible to predict, screwy currents, that having three fenders on one side is highly encouraged: one protecting the bow, one for the middle, and one for the stern.
11) Those bigger cleats were really appreciated. We could use heavy docking ropes and fender cords with plenty of room on the cleats.
12) Boat roll when at rest: very little roll. The Marinaut feels like a much larger boat.
13) Windshield washers. We had MBC install washers, and had occasion to use them. It clears out the dry salt from the windshield. In our CD 16 Cruiser, we used to stick a spray bottle out the cabin window. It may seem like a luxury, but unlike the PNW, Long Island Sound is so shallow, that it has a much higher concentration of salt due to evaporation in these shallow waters. Salt cakes onto the boat and windshield on our many sunny days, so having windshield washers is highly desired.
14) Not really related to performance -- what a great idea it was for MBC to install the gas fuel fill cap/vents outside of the camperback. For the entire time, the only time we smelled gasoline was when we were at the fuel dock filling our tanks.
Rich and Betty
1) We took a 20 knot, 180-degree turn to test the Marinaut's stability in a tight turn. The boat leaned only slightly, demonstrating what we think is a very low center of gravity. That's why it is a misconception to think the Marinaut is top heavy, which is a false perception the result of the inability of a photograph to properly reveal its true nature that would otherwise be apparent if one viewed the boat in person.
2) On our first trip, Les Lampman was on board while we tested the boat for the first time. We went right through Deception Pass and headed into the Rosario Straight near Lopez Island. The seas were 2 to 3 feet and growing larger as the winds whipped up, when we got broadsided by a 4 to 5 foot wave that came out of nowhere. Well, this was our introduction to the Pacific Northwest: current driven waves, wind driven waves and reflective waves. The Marinaut rolled about 1' to 1.5' to port and quickly snapped to vertical. She can really take a beating.
3) The Honda BF115 engine, from what we understand, generates over 120 HP when B.L.A.S.T. is activated. In a test, I set the throttle to wide-open, and the engine has so much power, that we LEAPED out of the hole, coming to plane quickly. At WOT, approx. 5,000 RPM, we got the boat up to 31 knots!
4) And speaking of planing, the Marinaut planes at 8 knots.
5) Even in a 1.5 to 2 foot chop, we can still go 10 knots, because the bow really cuts into the on-coming waves, smoothing out the ride.
6) We found that Les was correct that the Marinaut benefits from the heavier Honda BF115 in making the boat properly trimmed. And for anyone considering to buy a new Marinaut, Betty and I would highly recommend the Honda BF115, because it will save you money in the long run, is quiet, has the largest displacement in its class, and does not have to "work that hard."
7) We confirm Les Lampman's comments of several month's ago in that the Marinaut has a tendency that wherever you point the boat, it seems to stay on course requiring little course correction.
8) We had the MBC install Lenco Trim Tabs. They are necessary in our opinion as they take the bow down lower than the engine trim (without hydrofoil) alone. We had situations in following seas on a slow and steady turn that required the boat to be brought back to level using the tabs.
9) The gas gauge is innovative: one gauge is shared by two tanks by using a toggle switch. We confirm that on our boat, it is highly accurate.
10) Docking in the wind. I never operated a larger boat before, but I remembered two things that Les instructed me: use the engine as a rudder after setting the throttle to neutral, and never approach a dock faster than you are willing to strike it. Once I got the hang of it, docking was quite easy. On the last day we used the boat, we attempted to make a starboard dock to a portable toilet dumping dock at Anacortes, but the current was ripping, taking us away from the dock. I simply put the Marinaut and reverse, steered to the other side, and let the current take us into the dock. The point we would like to make is that the Marinaut steers quite well in reverse. Lastly, we learned after an ugly docking maneuver in La Conner -- a place known for impossible to predict, screwy currents, that having three fenders on one side is highly encouraged: one protecting the bow, one for the middle, and one for the stern.
11) Those bigger cleats were really appreciated. We could use heavy docking ropes and fender cords with plenty of room on the cleats.
12) Boat roll when at rest: very little roll. The Marinaut feels like a much larger boat.
13) Windshield washers. We had MBC install washers, and had occasion to use them. It clears out the dry salt from the windshield. In our CD 16 Cruiser, we used to stick a spray bottle out the cabin window. It may seem like a luxury, but unlike the PNW, Long Island Sound is so shallow, that it has a much higher concentration of salt due to evaporation in these shallow waters. Salt cakes onto the boat and windshield on our many sunny days, so having windshield washers is highly desired.
14) Not really related to performance -- what a great idea it was for MBC to install the gas fuel fill cap/vents outside of the camperback. For the entire time, the only time we smelled gasoline was when we were at the fuel dock filling our tanks.
Rich and Betty
