by Bing O’MearaFROM THE HELM
PUBLISHER
Walter “Bing” O’MearaEDITORIAL STAFF
Editorial director: Lindsey Johnson
Editor-at-large: Heather Steinberger
Associate editor: Kate BushCREATIVE STAFF
Art director/production manager: Christy Tuttle BauhsCONTRIBUTORS
Elizabeth Altick, Laura Watilo Blake, Mark Corke,
Capt. Frank Lanier, Mike Menne, Gary Odmark, Susan
R. Pollack, Craig Ritchie, Alan WendtBUSINESS STAFF
Advertising sales representative: Mark Conway
Regional/classified sales manager: Patti McCleery
Marketing director: Linda O’Meara
Accounting: Marguerite WristenEDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICE
727 South Dearborn | Suite 812 | Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: 312-276-0610 | Fax: 312-276-
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: lakelandboating.comCLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
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President: Walter B. O’Meara
Secretary: Timothy Murtaugh
Lakeland Boating (ISSN 0744-9194), copyright 2015, is
published eleven times per year (except December) by
O’Meara-Brown Publications, Inc. Editorial and advertising
offices are located at 727 S. Dearborn St., Suite 812,
Chicago, IL 60605; 312-276-0610. Annual subscription
rates: United States, $24.95 per year; International and
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$12 postage included. Single copies are $4.99 for U.S.
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correspondence should be addressed to Lakeland Boating,
P.O. Box 15396, North Hollywood, CA 91615-5396 (U.S.), or
call 800-827-0289. Known office of publication: 727 South
Dearborn Street, Suite 812, Chicago, IL 60605. Periodicals
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to Lakeland Boating, P.O. Box 15396, North Hollywood, CA
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of O’Meara-Brown Publications, Inc., Chicago, Illinois.
Published as Lakeland Yachting 1946-1955. Unsolicited
work may be submitted at the author’s, photographer’s
or artist’s own risk. Lakeland Boating assumes no
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submissions must be accompanied by a self-addressed
envelope with sufficient return postage.APRIL 2015 | VOLUME LXIX, NO. 4PRINTED IN THE U.S.AW
e’re just a few months into 2015, and
already there are many new boats,
products and technological advancements for
boaters to marvel at and hope to experience
sometime this spring and summer.
Many of these new boats, products and
technologies made their debut at the Progressive
Insurance Miami International Boat Show in
February, considered by many to be one of the
biggest and most prestigious consumer boat
shows in the world.
One boat making its world premier in
Miami this year is our cover boat and test,
the Four Winns TS222, which features the futuristic Volvo Penta Forward Drive system. Frequent
Lakeland Boating contributor Alan Wendt has done a formidable job explaining the intracacies of this
boat and the first-of-its-kind propulsion system Volvo developed that’s likely to become a must-have
for every tow sports enthusiast (p. 30).
In its simplest terms, Forward Drive has taken the traditional sterndrive and flipped it on its head, in
order to create an endless wake behind the boat for wakeboarders, wakesurfers and the like to enjoy. Listen
up, parents and grandparents: This is the next generation of on-water fun! Don’t be surprised if you start
getting inquiries from the kids about swapping out that bowrider for a Forward Drive early adopter.
Also this month, we spotlight several new boats making a first-time appearance in Miami. Models from
Scarab, Monterey, Rinker, Hurricane, Grady-White and Sea Ray all are discussed in intricate detail by
Lakeland regular Craig Ritchie (starting on p. 24). Truly, this collection of boats offers something for everyone.
Not only is this issue chock-full of new boats, we even discuss a whole new way to enjoy the
water. Lakeland editor-at-large Heather Steinberger penned an excellent piece on the latest craze in
boating: Boat clubs (page 40). If you are a boater looking for less hassle or would like to become a
boater, you need to read this article. Heather focuses on Freedom Boat Club, a company that has 15
corporate locations and 71 franchise locations in 13 states — including several in the Great Lakes.
Freedom currently has more than 800 available boats serving approximately 10,000 members. It’s
the largest boat club in the U.S. and offers a wonderful alternative to boat ownership, or provides
a means to enjoy boating when you travel and cannot take your boat with you.
Susan Pollack has taken on this month’s Port of Call, which centers on Toledo, Ohio. I’d always
considered Toledo more of an industrial city, but I was pleasantly surprised to see what they’ve
done with the waterfront. (Many Great Lakes cities have done the same.) If the changes in these
past 20 years have been dramatic, then the next 20 should be over the top.
Last, but not least, congratulations are in order for two regular Lakeland Boating contributing writers:
Capt. Tom Serio and Greg Proteau. Both received writing awards from Boating Writers International
for articles published in 2014 issues of the magazine. Keep up the good work, gentlemen!
We should see signs of spring shortly, if the weatherman gives us a break. Think positive thoughts...The Future of Boating
Boating’s latest and greatest debuts in Miami
NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS: You will ONLY receive renewal notices by mail directly from Lakeland
Boating; we will NEVER contact you by phone or via a third-party company! You can renew by calling
800-827-0289 or visit our website, LAKELANDBOATING.COM, and click on the “Subscribe” tab.
All renewals should be mailed back to: Lakeland Boating, PO Box 15396,
North Hollywood, CA 91615-9991.<—
Beware
of scams!Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive, featured here on the Four
Winns TS222, is creating a new revolution in watersports.4 APRIL 2015 | LAKELANDBOATING.COMPubNote_APR15.indd 4 3/3/15 9:46 AM