The Intrepid 41 Valor is three boats in one: a cabin cruiser, a dayboat entertainer, and a competent fishing boat. It is also the result of increasing the length of the 409 Valor, introduced in 2020, by about 2 feet and the beam by 7 inches to accommodate larger outboards. At the same time, the design was tweaked based on customer input.
The most noticeable improvement? The wraparound swim platform. It is unobstructed by hoses or cables and features a new transom door. There's more space in the aft cockpit, boosting fishability. The new center console is larger to accommodate larger electronic displays, such as the 22-inch Garmin MFD on our test boat. Owners also wanted a better companionway, so Intrepid borrowed the cabin door design from the 438 Evolution.
Our test boat featured every fishing option, including aquarium window upgrades to the standard pair of 25-gallon transom live wells. These also boasted the extra pump option, good insurance for steady flow. The Hooker sea-chest option prevents air from getting in the lines on rough runs. We counted 15 Gemlux rod holders, many of which double as cup holders.
This story is from the April 2023 edition of Boating.
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This story is from the April 2023 edition of Boating.
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AFFORDABLE SATCOM
Communications devices using satellite technology are more abundant today than any time in the past. What's more, many are portable, ultra-compact, affordable relatively and designed for boating, dispelling any perceptions that you need a big, expensive dome antenna aloft to access satellite communications.
IN THE BEGINNING
REPOWERING FOUNTAIN HULL NO.1
NAVICO GROUP FATHOM 2.0
Engine charging at 48 volts could be a game-changer.
PROPS FOR INNOVATION
Sharrow MX3 propellers live up to most of the company's performance-improvement claims.
MERCURY RACING 500R
Supercharged power for a variety of boats.
FLIPPING THE SWITCH
Much reporting focuses on reasons why one might choose electric marine power. The issues of range, speed, noise levels, winterizing and ethanol challenges, lake restrictions, environmental concerns and more all must be resolved on an individual basis. Little gets said about how a boater choosing to repower with electric actually gets that accomplished. Is it DIY? And if not, how does it get done?
TOW-VEHICLE TECH
If it's been a while since you bought new tow vehicle, you might be surprised by the many built-in advancements in trailering technology. New tow tech ranges from integrated weight scales and adaptive suspensions to systems that automatically back up your truck to hitch up your trailer. Here are a few examples to look for. -Jim Hendricks
MONUMENTAL TIPS FOR BACKING A TRAILER
Three Boating greats offer advice for a perennial reader query.
STICKING POINTS - Anchoring alternatives, and why you will always need a traditional anchor.
My brother-in-law likes to fish offshore reefs, and the process once entailed navigating to a mark, dropping a float, and idling upwind or up-current to drop the anchor in hopes the set would drop us back to the float.
FOR WANT OF A CLAMP
When 100 miles from shore, home and help, this boater’s preparedness prevented potential catastrophe.
