What is a “good handling” boat?

You hear it so often you probably don’t even think about it: “That Ronco 290 BelchFire, now there’s a good handling boat.” You nod your head sagely and then, if you’re honest, ask yourself, Just what does good handling mean? You see it all the time in magazines and hear it bantered about as if you should instinctively know what it is. But good handling is any elusive quality that’s hard to put your finger on. When pressed for a short answer, we usually say it refers to a boat that’s predictable. One that does what you expect it to do. But that’s a pretty broad statement. To get more specific, here’s a list of some traits we look for before giving a boat our “Good Handling Seal of Approval.” Let’s see how that new boat you’re planning to test drive measures up.

HOLDS ITS COURSE AT NO-WAKE SPEEDS. It doesn’t wander back and forth, requiring constant steering corrections. Such boats may [Read more...]