Spotlight: Boston Whaler 350 Realm
An adventurous new Whaler genre of side-console crossover for fishers, family, fun times and overnight staysBoston Whaler has launched an exciting new 350 Realm, the first boat in an entirely new family of bluewater side-consoles designed for active pursuits including fishing, diving, entertaining and zooming to far-off destinations. At the same time, the 350 Realm packs more comforts and seating aboard than an Outrage centre console, creating a dual-purpose boat for socialising and overnighting.
Whaler says its new family of Realm boats — clearly other models are on the way — delivers all the open-cockpit versatility of a centre console with the comfort-minded amenities of a cabin cruiser. In other words, the new Realm has crossed Whaler further into social boating territory, while pushing the centre console to one side to create more room.
Offering seaworthiness and comfort, the 350 Realm is a triple outboard rig with state-of-the-art navigation and the latest propulsion technology for ease of operation. A rack of three 250-350hp Mercury outboards, which are also part of parent company Brunswick Marine's portfolio, should propel the all-new 23-degree deep-vee hull, with 1457lt of fuel, to mid-40 knots and 30-35 knots cruise if you want. Of course Joystick Piloting with Skyhook is an option for ease of docking and virtual anchoring while reef fishing.
AUSTRALIAN ORDER TAKEN
Andrew Bennett from Queensland Marine Centre, the local Boston Whaler importer, says he ordered a 350 Realm as quickly as he could get one, which is probably arriving here in early 2018. The pre-production model has been released to dealers and the media and is now being tested in the U.S.
"We think it will suit our market perfectly. We get a lot of people who want a smaller sleeper cabin on our centre consoles. This is a bit bigger and the boat is a bit more of an all rounder… a perfect tender to a big mothership, and a great dive, fish and barbecue boat.
"I have clients that have triple and twin rigs now who would love something like this, with a small sleeper for the skipper. The full-width hardtop and shade all the way to the back, with the Sureshade top, and the one full side walkaround, make this a great entertainer. It also has all the performance benefits of the Outrage," Bennett told boatsales.com.au and BoatPoint.com.au.
FISHING FEATURES
The integrated hardtop and easy-up weather curtains provide protection from the elements at the helm, while a cockpit dive door, serious fishing features and an optional upper station in a half tower encourage action-packed recreation.
Fishing features include a pressurised aft livewell, two insulated in-floor fish boxes, a full spread of rod holders, padded coamings, optional outriggers, electronics, the upper station, and more.
Back up top, the cockpit amenities’ centre has a fridge, sink and grill, plus a party-sized built-in cooler to sate a summer crowd. With a 3.30m or 10ft 10in beam, there's a lot of floor space. But the seating is a real highlight.
Every seat on the helm deck includes a footrest. The helm bench, with armrests and flip-up bolsters, has been designed for ergonomic positioning for captain and passengers, and swivels to face aft. Aft of the helm seat, a clever new mezzanine seat converts to face forward or aft, making this a natural gathering space when at anchor.
The mezzanine seat also houses a massive built-in insulated cooler (also available refrigerated) with capacity for days’ worth of drinks and snacks. All the way aft, a convertible bench seat folds out from the transom, and tucks neatly away to provide extra room to manoeuvre.
OFFSHORE PERFORMANCE
With the one portside walkthrough and much bigger bow-to-stern
seating, the 350 Realm is as much about reeling in the bluewater sea
miles as it smiles on dials.
The 350 Realm is rate to carry up to 14 people and is, of course, built with a foam-filled Whaler hull and self-draining cockpit.
Boston Whaler is promoting the Realm's Variable Running Surface and what it says is a remarkably soft, safe, dry ride, no matter the conditions.
We look forward to a ride in 2017, meantime, the terrific new Whaler is sure to further the reach of Brunswick's banner brand and shape the new multifunction boating market. A new realm indeed.
At-a-Glance: Boston Whaler 350 Realm
LOA: 10.82m
Beam: 3.30m
Draft: 0.62m
Weight: 6169kg
Persons: 14
Max/Min HP: 1050/750
Deadrise: 23 at transom
Fuel: 1457lt
Water: 170lt
More from the Boston Whaler importers Queensland Marine Centre.
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