High Tech Tender – Suzuki DF20A

Suzuki Outboard

For a lot of cruising families, the “little boat” offers almost as much pleasure as the big boat, taking you to shore, around the marina, out for supplies or off to visit friends.

But a cantankerous old outboard can be a real spoiler.

So, we’re delighted to report that there’s a great new high-tech tender solution from Suzuki. It’s their DF20A and it has groundbreaking “little boat” technology. The short shaft manual start version [also available in a 15 horse!] does not require a battery and yet it has computerized electronic fuel injection!

We were anxious to drive one of these and we went to Marsh’s Marine on Georgian Bay where the crew mounted a brand-new Suzuki DF20A on a heavy old fishing boat and said, “Try that”.

The boat was rated for a 40 and yet this 20 hp started easily, was remarkably quiet and yet planed the big boat off with surprising ease.

Suzuki OutboardThe EFI worked perfectly with the manual start, firing up with one tug of the cord. Electric start is a 10 lb option for this 97 lb engine. The DF20A and DF15A are quickly becoming big favourites with anglers for the smooth trolling speeds and unique in their class optional power tilt and trim. Suzuki’s Lean Burn technology promises excellent fuel economy for greater range too.

www.suzukimarine.com


Neptunus 650F Review

Neptunus 650F 400

By Andy Adams

Over the years Canadian Yachting has had the pleasure of doing several boat review articles on new Neptunus models and we are familiar with the qualities that Neptunus is famous for. They have all been exceptional yachts, but this is the one I would most want to own myself. It’s a personal choice and a matter of taste as to whether you would prefer to have a sedan express model or a flybridge but in my opinion, the flybridge layout offers some wonderful attributes.

We met with Neptunus Managing Director Jan Willem De Jong this past fall to take the new Neptunus 650F out in Lake Ontario. 

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Destinations

The Other Virgin Islands

Sunset off St John

By Mark Stevens

I was first seduced by the United States Virgin Islands during a ferry ride from St. Thomas to Tortola to begin one of our earliest British Virgin Islands charters nearly twenty years ago.

A perfect sunset off St. John with St. Thomas views for backdrop.

Clearing Pillsbury Sound, surrounded by voluptuous emerald mountains as the ferry sliced through royal blue waters, I was struck by the unspoiled ambiance of St. John, the island gliding past our starboard beam and the irresistible charm of a village called Cruz Bay visible from our quarter stern.

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