OUTBOARD EVOLUTION

If you take a look at the history of watercraft—be it tall ships, dugout canoes, rugged fishing dories or any other sort of boat—it’s easy to pick out certain moments in time when an innovation changed the way we work and play on the water. Whether it was the first time someone harnessed the wind to propel a boat through the water or used steam engines for propulsion, watercraft have greatly improved over time. Today, a different revolution in watercraft is underway—the liberal use of four-stroke outboard power in an array of boat designs—especially those near 30 feet in length.

Modern, four-stroke outboards are reliable, quiet, fuel-efficient, fast and reasonably easy to maintain. They also don’t require the vast mechanical systems most inboard engines require, and that provides boatbuilders with exciting opportunities when it comes to designing new models near 30 feet, where inboard power is not the most efficient way to get things done. Some builders are embracing this outboard revolution with gusto, designing everything from dual consoles to cruisers. Here’s a look at a few of the exciting new four-stroke-powered models on the water.

Dual Console: Cobia 330 DC

Based in Fort Pierce, Florida, Maverick Boat Group