Trailer Boats articles from April 2004

Trailer Boats archives from April 2004

X-factor.(On Plane)
April 1, 2004... Back in 1980, I bought my first outboard. It was a slightly used 40 hp Merc, and I paid less than $1000 for it. I struggled to scrape together enough money, but struggled harder to justify the purchase to my wife. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Trial & error.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... I am vice president for Aluminum Chambered Boats (ACB). I read with interest your February story, entitled "Goal Line Defense," which focused on the U.S. Border Patrol's boat trials in Bellingham, Washington. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I...

Splashboard safety.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... I really enjoyed "Superior Thinking" by Jeff Janacek in the February issue. No matter what size your boat is, you always wonder if it's up to the conditions you'll face on the water. I noticed that Janacek's 19-foot Alumacraft has a...

River resident.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... I have been a subscriber to Trailer Boats for four years now, and I have learned much of what I know about boating from the pages of your magazine. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] However, I just purchased a house on Rock River, Wisconsin. I...

Get real.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... I am a woman, and I write the check each time my family renews our subscription to Trailer Boats magazine. We are currently signed up for two years, but I have a complaint. The demographics of your readership may appear to be primarily men,...

Tow vehicle market share up for 10th year.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... Trailer boaters know why light trucks (pickups, vans and sport-utility vehicles) are such hot sellers--they can tow big boats. And it seems that these prime-choice tow vehicles continue to be big hits with American consumers in general. Light...

Hendricks wins editorial excellence award.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... Trailer Boats Editor Jim Hendricks has been honored by BoatU.S. with the 2003 Moulton H. "Monk" Farnham Award for Excellence in Editorial Commentary. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Established in 1996 by BoatU.S. in memory of Monk Farnham,...

Free tow guides available to boating instructors.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... Do you teach U.S. Power Squadron or Coast Guard Auxiliary classes? If you do, copies of our towing guide booklet are available free of charge. Produced in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, Trailer Boats' "Your Guide to Towing" is...

Your boat could qualify as a second home.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... April is tax month, and if your boat has a galley, a head and a place to sleep, it may qualify as a second home, no matter what size it is. And if it does, the interest you're paying on it--unless you're already claiming a second home--may be...

Something's fishy Cobia 210 WA.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... The Cobia 210 WA is not only the newest walkaround from this Panama City, Florida-based boatbuilder, it is the smallest of its WA models. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Yet, its size doesn't make it any less serious...

Watertoy profile HO Sports' Barrel Roll.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... The Barrel Roll from HO Sports of Redmond, Washington, doesn't just follow the boat. A pair of sponsons, one on each side, allows you to steer it. The half-barrel design is key to steering the Barrel Roll. When you keep your weight...

Who ordered the fish?(Barbs & Gaffes)
April 1, 2004... The decomposing remains of a 56-foot sperm whale exploded while being transported along a busy street in Taiwan, spewing blubber and vicera all over cars and shops, and bringing traffic to a halt for hours, local newspapers reported. ...

Vegas odds.(Barbs & Gaffes)
April 1, 2004... Still trying to scrape up the down payment for that 26-foot cruiser you've had your eye on? You might want to consider a trip to fabulous Las Vegas. Fifty-six-year-old Jon Proctor of Jamesville, New York, already retired, was given a trip...

Unarmed security.(Barbs & Gaffes)
April 1, 2004... At the request of the Harbor Commission in Salisbury, Massachusetts, Harbormaster James Riley and his staff will no longer be permitted to carry firearms while patrolling the waters this summer, according to harbormasters.org. The idea is to...

Fish on Prozac.(Barbs & Gaffes)
April 1, 2004... The main ingredient in the drug Prozac has made its way into a lake in the Dallas area, and has been detected in the meat of resident fish, reports by-the-sea.com. Experts speculate Prozac is getting into the water from the sewer treatment...

In tow infinity QX56.(Barbs & Gaffes)
April 1, 2004... Infiniti, the luxury arm of Nissan, recently debuted its first-ever full-size sport-utility vehicle--the QX56. The new-for-2004 sport-ute is built off the same platform as Nissan's new Armada SUV and Titan pickup--the latter named our "2004 Tow...

Just cruisin': Monterey 228 Sun Island Cuddy.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... From cruising to overnighting, Monterey's new 228 Sun Island Cuddy combines the shelter of a cabin with the looks of a stylish runabout. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In the cuddy, 45 inches of headroom accommodate four seated passengers or...

OTT photo determined to be fake.(TBM Exclusive!)
April 1, 2004... It seems like some people will stop at nothing to win a free boat. Recently, we received a submission for the Over the Transom photo contest that was so spectacular, so unbelievable and yet so familiar, that we decided to do a little...

Power trip: Raylar Bigpower V-8 heads.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... Raylar Engine Development has introduced high-output aluminum cylinder heads for GM 8.1L (496-cubic-inch) V-8s. The company has dubbed these "Bigpower" heads, and claims a pair of these bolted to a big-block will boost horsepower by 35 to 40...

Experience the effects of trim tabs from your computer.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... You can tell some people about the benefits of trim tabs until you're blue in the face and they'll still never get it. Such was the case when I offered to install a set on a friend's boat. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I don't believe in...

Rules of the road.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... * The two most dangerous words in boating are: "Watch this!" * In any boat repair, the part most likely to break is either the most expensive, or the most difficult to replace, or both. * No boat is ever impressed by your experience....

Boatswain's Mates.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... I think there is nothing quite so great, Or salty as a Boatswain's Mate. A Boatswain's Mate with hairy chest, Who never gives his yap a rest. Upon whose forearm is tattooed, A dancing lady in the nude. A Boatswain's Mate who yells all...

Reader survey results.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... MOST SKIPPERS TALK UP SAFETY In our most recent Web survey regarding a safety talk for first-time passengers, a whopping 74 percent of the readers said they make it a point to give at least a basic orientation to inexperienced boaters,...

Question of the Month.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... Do you carry a rainsuit on your boat? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [square] Yes [square] No To register your answer, go to our website--Trailer-Boats.com--and click on Question of the Month. Also, visit our message boards, and give...

Skipper's Challenge.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... Nylon line will stretch up to ____ percent when under load? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] a) 10 b) 15 c) 25 d) 40 Answer to Skippers Challenge: c) 25 percent Paraphrased from Skipper's Challenge ($19.95), a book by Dale...

Business owners: now's the time to buy a tow vehicle.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... If you're a business owner and a boater, there may never again be a better time to buy a new--or used--tow vehicle. Business owners can now expense the entire cost of a vehicle for up to $100,000 just as long as it has a gross vehicle weight...

Term of the month: lubberly.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... No, it's not a compliment you might pay after several drinks. Lubberly refers to doing a task on a boat in a slipshod or sloppy manner.

Ski locker: Correct Craft Sport Nautique 216.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... Correct Craft is known for designing boats that appeal to waterski and wakeboard enthusiasts. Yet, the Orlando-based builder is also becoming known for designing shades of differences into its line of boats. Small differences can add up to...

Getting personal: Honda AquaTrax R-12.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2004... Hot on the heels of last year's turbocharged R-12X introduction, Honda unveiled a less-expensive, naturally aspirated version of the nimble tandem. The just-released AquaTrax R-12 features the same quiet and reliable 1.2L four-cylinder,...

Cavitation & Ventilation.(Boat Improvement)
April 1, 2004... Cavitation is a common subject of discussion among boaters. However, most of us don't really understand what cavitation is--and what it isn't. We often make the mistake of referring to cavitation when talking about "ventilation." So, for the...

Spring break-out.(Boating Basics)
April 1, 2004... With the warming weather of spring, many boaters will be launching their craft for the first time in many months. Sure, if you performed a textbook winterizing job last autumn you have less to fear from the "breakout" ride than if you had...

Mo' power.(Propulsion Report)
April 1, 2004... One of the most common questions we receive is, "What can I do to improve the power and performance of my boat?" The answers are fairly straightforward, and I would like to take a moment to review them. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Reflex action: get behind the wheel of the Sea-Doo Speedster 200 and let your instincts for fun take over.(Test)(Cover Story)
April 1, 2004... New for 2004, the Speedster 200 is the first Sea-Doo sportjet to feature twin four-stroke engines. And at 19 feet, 9 inches and capable of seating seven people, the 200 is also the first Sea-Doo four-stroke-powered boat that fits a family. ...

Building a budget skiff: you don't have to mortgage the house to create a versatile fishing boat, as one avid reader demonstrates.(TBM How-To)
April 1, 2004... Kris Trasborg spends his weekdays as a technician at a transmission shop in New Jersey, but his real love is fishing. Despite being an avid reader of Trailer Boats, for years he fished from the Jersey shore. Yet, after one too many days with...

America's Venice: Fort Lauderdale's 300 miles of canals and international aura make it a boating paradise.(TBM Destination)
April 1, 2004... My first visit to Fort Lauderdale was in 1970. It was the first of many trips as a high-schooler and later as a college student. Every year on spring break, my buddies and I would flock to the beaches of Fort Lauderdale--a rite of spring made...

Tower of Power: already a legend, Mercury's Project X is worth the long wait.(Test)
April 1, 2004... You are probably tired of hearing this, because we've said it for each big four-stroke outboard that has come down the line. But it is true once again: The much-anticipated new four-stroke outboard series from Mercury Marine is the most...

Cool lights: light-emitting diode technology is changing the look of boat trailers.
April 1, 2004... What would you say if I told you there were products for your trailer that would save you time and money, and make it look more attractive? And the best part is you can install these products yourself in a matter of minutes with simple hand...

Sea Ray's 200 Select, with a tower and red gelcoat, catches your eye, even in a crowded marina.(Show Stopper)
April 1, 2004... Originally, I had shown up at Tennessee's Tellico Lake to test Sea Ray's new outboard-powered 185 bowrider ("Pony Express," July 2003). Yet, even as I hooked up the test equipment on the 185, my eyes were drawn toward another boat tied up at...

Super sized: the new Dodge Durango now competes pound-for-pound with the big boys in the full-size sport-utility class.(Test)
April 1, 2004... When introduced in 1998 as a mid-sized sport-utility vehicle (SUV), the Dodge Durango carried the same boldly carved architecture that had helped the Dodge Ram stand out from the rest of the pack in the full-size pickup class. Dodge advertised...

Squeeze play: Flow-Rite's Qwik-Fill system simplifies battery maintenance.(TBM How-To)
April 1, 2004... If you are like many Trailer Boats readers, keeping an eye on your boat's batteries can be a pain in the neck--literally. Improper water levels in the cells are one of the most common causes of battery failure in marine, RV and commercial...

Tough brakes: we retrofit a trailer with a pair of Kodiak disc brakes and Demco actuator, and find the effort worthwhile.(TBM How-To)
April 1, 2004... When you're growing up in Louisiana, getting to the water is not a big deal. There's water just about everywhere you look. Once you're on the water, it's a different story--particularly when negotiating cypress-studded and weed-choked bayous....

2004 Boat Show calendar.(Calendar)
April 1, 2004... FOR APRIL AND BEYOND ARIZONA 2nd Annual Scottsdale Boat & RV Sale-A-Thon, Apr. 22-25, WestWorld, Scottsdale; 888/696-5606; greenband.com CALIFORNIA 12th Annual Orange County Boat Show, Apr. 1-4, Anaheim Convention Center.,...

Broken skeg.(Tech Letters)
April 1, 2004... I have a 135 hp MerCruiser 3.0L that has about 3 inches missing from the bottom of the skeg. Considering the cost, I don't have much interest in buying a new gearcase, and I'm wondering if there is any practical way to get this repaired. Is...

Boot hill.(Tech Letters)
April 1, 2004... My boat is a 1978 Wellcraft with an 800 series OMC sterndrive. When the boat was 21 years old, I succumbed to advice of some boat dealers and replaced the transom boot. The old one showed no evidence of any problem, but I was advised that it...

Power injection.(Tech Letters)
April 1, 2004... I have a 260 hp MerCruiser 5.7L V-8 with a four-barrel carburetor. The carburetor has been giving me trouble, and I would like to replace it with a fuel-injection system. I am considering the Holley Pro-jection system. Is this an alteration you...

Drop-down seats.(Tech Letters)
April 1, 2004... Many of the new performance boats I have seen have bolstered seats, where the bottom drops down, making it possible to stand behind the wheel while operating the boat. I have an older Wellcraft Scarab and would like to add this feature to my...

Electric trailer brakes.(Tech Letters)
April 1, 2004... I'm thinking of buying a new EZ-Loader trailer for my 24-foot Trophy. The company offers electric brakes as an option. The dealer is trying to talk me out of them, but the maintenance problems I have had with surge brakes makes me wonder if...

Smelly bilge.(Tech Letters)
April 1, 2004... We have a '78 Sea Ray 21 with a 228 hp MerCruiser 898 and Model 1 drive. It is not an R model. Everything is in good shape, as most usage is in fresh water. However, there is a strong oil smell in the bilge and engine compartment. Our...

Too close to gross.(Tow Car)
April 1, 2004... Can you tell me the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of my 1989 Chevy Suburban? I know that its maximum trailer weight rating, as equipped, is 5500 pounds, and I am comfortable towing my boat with it. There's no sway or sagging, but I am...

Trouble with cars.(Tow Car)
April 1, 2004... It seems lately as if every other Trailer Boats issue includes a reader's letter about the trouble finding a good car to tow a boat with. The typical response is that very few cars are built with enough substance to tow heavy loads anymore. You...

Chevy S-10 rating.(Tow Car)
April 1, 2004... We're looking for our first boat, and will probably look at something in the 20-foot range for fishing and skiing, but the boat isn't what my question is about. I already have a 1997 Chevy S-10 Blazer that's in great shape. The budget doesn't...

New rig upgrades.(Tow Car)
April 1, 2004... I just picked up a new 2003 Dodge Durango 4X4 (I like the old look better than the new model) with the auto tranny and 3.92 gears. It's equipped with the smaller of the available V-8s (4.7L), because it doesn't need to tow much weight (4380...

Powermovers' newest trailer Dolly can move 30 tons with ease.(Gotta Have It)
April 1, 2004... As you may recall from our April 2003 issue, we pitted Powermovers' AC6 against Power Caster's PC-3 in a battle of the heavy-duty electric trailer dollies ("Hello Dolly"), and the result was pretty much a dead heat. Both units used the same...

C.E. Smith's adjustable rod holders are corrosion-resistant and look cool.(Tbm Tested)
April 1, 2004... The new stainless steel railmount rod holders from C.E. Smith Company Inc., feature a highly polished finish, flared mouth and tapered tube. They look like they should be on a megayacht, but we wanted some for a 22-footer, and so we asked the...

Granatelli's Mass Air flow sensors boost ponies on new Fords and Chevys.(Gotta Have It)
April 1, 2004... Want to add a few more ponies to your new Ford or Chevy truck? Granatelli Motor Sports now offers a high-performance Mass Airflow (MAF) sensor for 2004 Ford trucks and SUVs, as well as 1999 to 2004 GM trucks and SUVs and 2000 to 2001 Duramax...

Bunkaps are easy to install, and protect hulls better than carpet.(Gotta Have It)
April 1, 2004... Evansville, Indiana-based Harley Corporation recently rolled out an extruded, nonmarking, channel-type vinyl cap for trailer bunks called Bunkaps. This patented, new product is designed to protect your hull and cushion it during trailering. ...

Star brite's Chrome and Stainless Polish breathes life back into precious metal.(Tbm Tested)
April 1, 2004... I had been putting off a couple of restoration projects for my boat before I finally ordered some of Star brite's Chrome and Stainless Polish. The first order of business--and the easiest--was my fixed gaff, which in two years of permanent...