Let the Games Begin
Our first challenge, navigating the no-wake channel off the Galati docks, was simple. Pushing the joystick forward propelled us through the water; pushing it farther increased our speed. When we wanted to slow down and stop, we simply let the stick return to the neutral position before pulling it back to give a little bump in reverse and cease our momentum. Spinning the boat through a 180-degree turn was also pretty much a draw. A simple twist of the joystick resulted in the boat spinning within its own length. We both also steered the boat through a turn with a combination of forward push and subtle twist before doing likewise in reverse. Each time, the IPS pods adjusted their thrust and direction to transfer our input into intuitive movement. We both even held the boat in position despite wind and current using Volvo Penta's Dynamic Positioning System (DPS). We simply pushed a button. The pod drives and linked GPS did the rest, keeping us within feet of our mark. Open water, however, was tailor-made for the kid. The scenarios ahead would put us in close proximity to Galati's floating concrete docks. I nonchalantly asked Kramer the price of the Prestige, then made a few subtle comments about the sickening sound of crunching fiberglass before finally turning over the helm.