by Gabrielle DeSantis

The concept of an unsinkable boat has been met with both skepticism and fascination from people for generations. The most (in)famous boat thought to be unsinkable and then sink in rather dramatic fashion, was the RMS Titanic after hitting an iceberg. And while the Titanic was made from steel and iron, guaranteed to sink if given the chance, boat manufacturer Boston Whaler has taken a different approach to boat building, and their boats are actually unsinkable. In fact, it is part of the reason they are such popular boats. Plus, they are just super cool.

The history of the Boston Whaler

Created by three friends, Ray Hunt, Dick Fisher, and Bob Pierce, the first Boston Whaler debuted in 1958. According to Professional Boatbuilder, Fisher wanted to improve on Albert Hickman’s boat, the Sea Sled, which had several design flaws.

The first Boston Whaler was a 13-foot boat manufactured at the Fisher-Pierce company (not to be confused with the toymaker Fisher-Price) in Braintree, MA, and used Fisher’s foam-injected hull design.

The company continued to expand its production facilities, and in 1961 started producing government and military workboats, which continued to expand, eventually becoming a dedicated branch of the company.

In 1961, Boston Whaler also introduced the Nauset, which was the first-ever center console model boat. Boston Whaler was acquired by their parent company, Brunswick Corporation in 1996, and it has continued to innovate new boat designs, as well as perfecting some of their classic boats.

A boat that is actually unsinkable

RELATED: The Most Common Reasons to Not Buy a Pontoon Boat

Fisher developed foam-filled fiberglass skins that render the boat unsinkable. Additionally, he spent a bunch of time coming up with ways to prevent the foam from fracturing. Which he did, producing boats that are truly unsinkable.

And in 1961, Fisher stood by this claim by using a lumberjack saw to cut the 13-foot boat in half, then proceeded to use the stern section to tow the bow section back to shore. All while sitting very stoically and wearing a sport coat, fedora, and bow tie.

The pictures ran as an ad in Life magazine and modern Whaler ads use a chainsaw. Boston Whaler has continued to innovate Fisher’s original design and modifying the hull design. It also doesn’t limit its unsinkable techniques, nor testing, to recreational boats.

In 2007, Boston Whaler used 7.62mm rounds from an M60 machine gun to shoot holes in a 19-foot Guardian, a commercial boat commonly used for search and rescue. And it stayed afloat even with dozens of bullet holes.

Options for an unsinkable Boston Whaler

Today, Boston Whaler has seven different models of boats that range from smaller, sporty boats to huge, cruising boats. The 240 Vantage, for example, is a great boat for families and has been called the “Swiss Army Knife of boating” due to the wide range of activities you can use this boat for.

There are three different Vantage models that range from 24 feet to 32 feet and have a dual console design with Mercury Verado outboard engines. One of the boatmaker’s most popular models is the classic Montauk, which was introduced in 1974. There are four different models that range from 15 feet to 21 feet, and all have their classic center console layout.

If you are looking for a hardcore fishing boat, the Outrage is perfect. Seven different models range from 23 feet to 42 feet. With in-floor fish boxes and huge live wells, this boat is built for fishers. It is also an ideal yacht tender, particularly if you have a mega-yacht.

Other boat brands have boats that are unsinkable, such as Livingston Boats, although its boats are considerably smaller.

So if you want an unsinkable boat that you can use to fish, cruise, and water ski, and you also want all the luxury, Boston Whaler is a good choice. Normally, we might add a disclaimer about not actually sawing your boat in half, but if you buy a Boston Whaler and then saw it in half, well that is probably just a good life lesson.

The post You Can Saw Your Boston Whaler Boat in Half Without Sinking It appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS is reminiscent of concept cars seen in visually striking Sci-Fi films of future civilizations. Due to COVID-19, the German automaker chose to do the big reveal in a digital world premiere on its dedicated media platform. While it would have been preferable to see such a gorgeous machine in person, a few significant characteristics stood out about the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS — most notably its massive touchscreens as well as the ultra-modern technology inside.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS should rattle Tesla’s nerves

Remember way back when Tesla ruled the automotive scene with its 17-inch touchscreens? Well, the auto industry is not an industry to take lightly. Being the wonder child only gets one so far; until they look up and see that their competitors have surpassed them.

It’s no secret that the Mercedes-Benz EQS is meant to be a direct competitor of not only Tesla but the Porsche Taycan as well (though mostly Tesla in all likelihood).

What perfect timing with Tesla recently forced to recall thousands of its vehicles due to its touchscreens, adding that they weren’t designed to last more than five or six years—a trick out of Apple’s playbook perhaps?

It was only after regulators applied pressure on Tesla did the automaker finally recall nearly 135,000 vehicles including the 2012-2018 Model S and 2016-2018 Model X.

To sum it up in short: even beyond the screen envy, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS is an example of the turtle and the hare, particularly in terms of luxury, as well as convenience and EV technology.

The 2022 EQS is touted as providing EV essentials while prioritizing luxury

RELATED: When Does the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS Go on Sale?

According to MotorTrend, The EQS is “… an electric sedan [that] promises to nail the EV basics while spoiling occupants with luxury.”

Mercedes-Benz gave the EQS a fresh look to represent its new sub-brand — unlike traditional combustion engine models that have long front hoods and setback windshields, this luxury EV is more capable of sporting a “cab-forward” design.

In the auto industry, a cab-forward design denotes a vehicle with a “… short, stubby hood and a windshield that nearly reaches the front wheel.”

The thing that has everyone abuzz, nonetheless, is the EQS’s 56-inch wide “Hyperscreen” dashboard. This show-stopping dashboard is composed of three screens made of integrated organic light-emitting diodes (OLED or organic LED).

If that’s too fancy for you, Mercedes-Benz offers a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver, a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the passenger, and a massive 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen in the center console.

Other important specs to know about the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS

Per the Mercedes-Benz website, the 2022 EQS provides “electricity as luxury.” Mercedes dealers are obliged to install a new-generation wall box in your garage or home. But if you’re looking for a price tag, you’ll have to settle for clicking the “I’m Interested” button and wait for additional information at some point in the future.

Nevertheless, rumors have it that the base model EQS450+ will have an estimated MSRP of around $96,000 — a predictable price for a luxury EV like this. The EQS580 4Matic will likely be priced around $116,000, according to Car and Driver. Fairly competitive to Tesla’s Model S Plaid priced at $119,990.

The EQS450+ will be powered by a rear-mounted permanently synchronous electric motor (PMSM). It’s supposed to have a rating of 329 hp, producing 406 lb-ft of torque.

The possible deal-breaker is that while the EQS580 model is approximately 516 hp with 611 lb-ft of torque, MotorTrend claims that its top speed is subdued at 130 mph to preserve its range. The EQS’s estimated range is nearly 480 miles according to a charitable Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) test.

As can be seen in photos of the 2022 EQS, it has an aerodynamic exterior, looking as if it needs vertical thrusters rather than wheels. Mercedes claims its 19-inch wheels and power retracting door handles allow it to achieve a 0.20 coefficient of drag.

“Mercedes is claiming beats both the Lucid Air and Tesla Model S for slipperiest in the world,” the MotorTrend review points out. However, if you’re more interested in looking cool, you can trade the “coefficient of drag” for either 20-inch or 22-inch wheels.

The post Massive Touchscreens Characterize the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS Interior appeared first on MotorBiscuit.