Trailer Boats articles from April 2005

Trailer Boats archives from April 2005

Serious legwork.(On Plane)
April 1, 2005... After six years of faithful service from our old computer, I finally broke down and bought the family a new desktop. When it comes to computers, I'm no geek boy with a motherboard complex--but I'm not clueless, either. Even so, shopping quickly...

Angler management.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... As always, I enjoyed your latest issue. I was especially interested in Dan Armitage's Boating Basics column ("Angler Management," February), but it is biased from a fisherman's point of view. The only fish that's ever been in my boat was a...

Clued in.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I enjoy your magazine. Good stuff. Your people know what they are talking about. Brian Bost Polo, Missouri

Tastes great, less filling.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I have a small quibble. Your February cover blurb, "Free Tow Guide: 52 Pages of Expert Tips," looked great. However, the tow guide's 52 pages include the cover, table of contents and 12 full-page advertisements. That leaves 38 pages, and two of...

Lose the "g".(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I have two Hummingbird handheld VHF radios and the rechargeable battery pack is dead in one. I cannot find a website to contact Humming-bird to replace the pack. By the way, if you ever need a place to stay during a test, I have a rental...

Whoa, Nellie!(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... Oops... a typo crept into the 55-to-0 mph nontowing braking distance reported in our February issue's Ford F-350 dually tow test ("Monster Muscle"). Our "Test Results" box indicates the nonloaded Super Duty stopped in 92 feet, when the actual...

Different strokes.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... Focus on boats, not fishing or salt-water topics. I'm confident that your audience is folks with pleasure-craft [who are] boating on lakes and rivers, not the ocean. Boaters and fishermen are two different breeds. Jason Gephart ...

Dealer certification program picks up steam.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2005... The auto industry has had dealer certification programs for several years, and now, as part of the boating industry's Grow Boating Initiative, support for a national marine dealer certification program is gaining momentum. According to a report...

Decision made in anti-dumping case.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2005... At presstime, the International Trade Commission (ITC) handed down a negative decision in the final phase of the anti-dumping lawsuit brought by Mercury Marine against Japanese outboard manufacturers, which include Yamaha. Although the...

Life jacket loaner program keeps kids covered.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2005... Most states now require children under the age of 13 to wear United States Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices (PFD) while on boats that are under way. In an effort to promote safety and PFD use, each year the BoatU.S. Foundation...

Getting personal: jumping waves safely and legally.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2005... Few watercraft stunts can match the wide-eyed thrills that wave jumping offers. The problem is that the high-spirited sensation of free flying often lures PWC riders into jumping boat wakes, which is illegal, dangerous and utterly unnerving for...

Wake tools: sportstuff's new towables create their own flight patterns.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2005... In the fun department, no one can accuse Sportsstuff (888/814-8833; sportstuff.com) of lacking creativity. Each of the PVC towables produced by this Omaha, Nebraska, company offers a different kind of ride behind the towboat. For example, the...

Working for a living: preserving the past.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2005... Entering Larry Carpenter's New Hampshire workshop is akin to entering a time warp. You are instantly transported back in time to the days of Orville and Wilbur Wright's Dayton, Ohio, bicycle shop. Attached to a 200-year-old white-frame...

Electronics: new 'ducer keeps a low-profile.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2005... Most trailer boats equipped with depthfinders use either of two types of transducers: a transom-mount or an in-hull style that shoots sound waves through the hull. Few trailered craft have actual through-hull 'ducers because this style can...

Overwides only: Everglades debuts offshore 290 Pilot.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2005... Known for its flats and bay boats, Everglades Boats, based in Edgewater, Florida, is branching into the offshore market with a trick 290 Pilot model that brings all-weather practicality to the center console genre. Described as a high-end...

Power trip: Mercury Racing debuts 600 hp supercharged sterndrive.(Dock Talk)
April 1, 2005... In its first-ever product launch at the Los Angeles Boat Show, in late January, Mercury Racing debuted its HP600 SCi sterndrive--a supercharged, 502-cid power-house that develops a blistering 600 hp. Due to the abundance of high-performance,...

Towering issue.(READER SURVEY RESULTS)
April 1, 2005... Judging from the results of the February issue's survey question, wakeboard towers are not as popular as we might have guessed. Four out of every five readers who voted, or 80 percent, said they did not have a wakeboard tower and had no plans...

Where do you buy your trailer parts?(Question of the Month)
April 1, 2005... Where do you buy your trailer parts? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Auto parts store * Boat dealership * Trailer manufacturer or specialty supply * Big-box marine supply chain * Internet To register your answer, go to...

Going LED.(Boat Improvement)
April 1, 2005... Confession time: I have had a less than perfect relationship with standard "submersible" incandescent trailer lights. My experience has been that they don't always live long and happy lives after they are subjected to a dunking. Once, I even...

Going backward.(Boating Basics)
April 1, 2005... 'Reverse challenged" is the PC way to refer to a condition that my wife, along with thousands of other drivers, suffers from. Those afflicted with the malady just can't seem to get a handle on steering any direction but forward. Early in our...

Rounding out the field.(Propulsion Report)
April 1, 2005... As has been the case in recent years, the primary advances in marine propulsion for trailerable boats are occurring in outboards. Of course, sterndrives continue to be refined--as evidenced by the launch of Mercury Racing's new supercharged...

Driving force: Sealegs' amphibious rigid-hull inflatable may make launch ramps, tow vehicles and trailers obsolete.(TEST)
April 1, 2005... If you've ever been fed up with crowds at the launch ramp--and, frankly, who hasn't?--a small New Zealand company offers an innovative solution to this vexing dilemma: an amphibious, rigid-hull inflatable boat (RIB) called Sealegs. To our...

Building on the future: driven by competition and emissions regulations, boatbuilders are responding with slick, new closed-molding processes.(EXCLUSIVE!)
April 1, 2005... 'Call me Rimfire," cried the towering orange robot, and with that it raised a mighty fist and began spewing a deadly accurate stream of fire and 'glass. In short order, it laid down a uniform web of spidery fiberglass inside a spotless mold...

Jet set: Sea-Doo is hoping to convert sterndrive enthusiasts to jetsetters with its new supercharged Challenger 180.(TEST)
April 1, 2005... Sea-Doo wants you... to switch from a sterndrive to jet power, that is. And to help convince you to make the jump, the company is offering its new Challenger 180 with Sea-Doo's top-of-the-line, supercharged Rotax four-stroke. Developing 215...

Less is more: if helm space for electronics is tight, try one of these 12 GPS/chartplotter or plotter/sounder "combo" units.(Buyer's Guide)
April 1, 2005... Today more than ever, boaters depend on marine electronics to navigate safely and fish more effectively. As we grow accustomed to the advantages these sophisticated electronics provide, we find ourselves wanting more. More technology. More...

Matchmaker: Glastron's new 26-foot cruiser marries Continental flair with down-home American value.(TEST)(Cover Story)
April 1, 2005... They say you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy. With just a slight spin, this applies to Glastron. A big builder based in a small Minnesota town nestled near the headwaters of the Mississippi...

Get lost! Hidden along Northern California's Lost Coast, picturesque Shelter Cove offers boaters high adventure.(TBM DESTINATION)
April 1, 2005... Many boating enthusiasts dream of finding an out-of-the-way spot that offers lonesome but spectacularly beautiful ocean vistas and unspoiled fishing and diving. In crowded California, such a location may seem like a thing of the past--but...

Funnus Maximus: with room for 12 and a 20-degree V-hull that slices through waves, Maxum's 24-foot deckie knows how to party.(TEST)
April 1, 2005... Watching the development of the deck boat has been interesting. I like to think of pontoon boats as the original sport decks, especially when someone decided they could bolt on large outboards and make 'em go fast. Mixing speed with versatility...

Green Machine: we test the first hybrid vehicle with a substantial tow rating--GM's 1/2-ton pickup.(TEST)
April 1, 2005... When most trailer boaters hear the words "hybrid vehicle," they imagine dull cars with puny powerplants and lackluster, if any, towing performance. Now you can dust those cobwebs and misconceptions from your mind. A truly powerful and capable...

Keeping tabs: once you install a trim tab gauge, you'll always know where your tabs are.(TBM How-To)
April 1, 2005... Whether they're hydraulic or electric, trim tabs are among the more useful accessories you can have on a boat. They help get the boat on plane, allow it to stay on plane at lower speeds, let you "balance" the craft by adjusting for weight...

Sticky throttle cable.(Tech Letters)
April 1, 2005... I have a 2001 Chaparral SSi 260 with a Volvo Penta 8.1L Duo-Prop. I use it in both lakes and salt water, and recently had to have the throttle cable replaced. Stuff was growing on it and causing it to stick. The dealer showed me how to remove...

Water starved.(Tech Letters)
April 1, 2005... I own a 1988 Starcraft Islander V with a four-cylinder, 130 hp OMC Cobra sterndrive. Every few years, I change the impeller in the lower unit. I bought a complete impeller kit but, after installation, the engine promptly overheated. I went back...

Too high or too low?(Tech Letters)
April 1, 2005... I own a Glastron 17 bowrider powered by a Mercury 150 EFI. Both are 2001 models. When turning left or right, the outboard loses contact with the water. Also, when pulling up skiers to 34-mph skiing speed, a mound of water comes up from around...

Wants maximum range.(Tech Letters)
April 1, 2005... I have a 1998 Correct Craft Ski Nautique. It's a 19 1/2-foot closed-bow model with a carbureted PCM Ford 5.8L HO. I'm interested in fuel consumption figures throughout the boat's operating range. I frequent Lake Powell and want to be sure that...

Tilt and flush.(Tech Letters)
April 1, 2005... I've been trailering my 1993 Trophy WA 2002 to and from the ocean. As always, after every trip I flush the Force 150 outboard with fresh water. This year, I have a chance to keep it in a marina. How would I go about flushing the engine with...

Hard-starting blues.(Tech Letters)
April 1, 2005... I have a 1987 Sea Ray SRV 230CC on a 1996 Eagle tandem-axle trailer. It has a 260 MerCruiser with an Alpha 1 sterndrive. Late last season, it became difficult to start. I would turn the key, only to hear a "click" from somewhere under the...

Double-barrel change.(Tech Letters)
April 1, 2005... I was looking for information on converting a two-barrel carburetor to a four-barrel setup. I am looking to upgrade a 1991 MerCruiser 4.3L to the equivalent of a 4.3LX. Christopher Lord Walkerton, Indiana We performed a similar...

Watered-down lower unit.(Tech Letters)
April 1, 2005... Conventional wisdom (and instructions in the 1995 Mercury manual) holds that when draining the lower unit at year-end, a "milky" color means that there is water in the oil. For several years now, the oil that has drained from my unit has not...

Manual labor.(Tow Car)
April 1, 2005... For years, I have towed my boat with a 1997 Jeep Wrangler with the six-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission. I plan to purchase a new boat and, soon afterward, upgrade to a 2005 Jeep Wrangler, also with the six-cylinder engine. I...

Trailer corrosion.(Tow Car)
April 1, 2005... Back in 2001, I bought a new Four Winns 248 Vista on a galvanized, tandem-axle trailer. Although both were well cared for, the trailer has severe rust damage. It's become unusable because the brakes and springs are clogged with corrosion, and...

Avalanche Q & A.(Tow Car)
April 1, 2005... I have a question about my 2002 Chevy Avalanche 1500 and a new (used, but new to me) boat I am considering. The accompanying photo shows my current boat, a Regal 1800. With trailer, the new boat--a 1986 Wellcraft Nova XL with a MerCruiser...

Bourdon's tow tip.(Tow Car)
April 1, 2005... The only way to get an accurate weight on your rig is to take it to a public truck scale. When you're at the scale, be sure to record its tongue weight, too. Most vehicle manufacturers state that tongue weight should not exceed 10 to 15 percent...

Sleek stainless washdown fitting offers safety shut off.(TBM Tested)
April 1, 2005... Washdown fittings come in an array of configurations, ranging from faucet-like spigots with gate valves to simple hose bibs with no valve at all. Flat, simple fittings help keep snagged lines and bruised shins to a minimum, but we also like the...

Wobble light keeps things bright.(Gotta Have It)
April 1, 2005... If you're looking for a sturdy, indoor/outdoor lighting source for those times when you're working in dark areas like your sterndrive engine bay, this durable, self-righting $150 light from Wobble Light (312/527-0955; wobblelight.com) may be...

A new spin on things.(Gotta Have It)
April 1, 2005... Getting in and out of tight spots--especially around docks--is an inescapable part of boating. The Sportsman Series Power-Knob ($45) from Edson International (508/995-9711; edsonintl.com) can make those tight maneuvers more manageable....

Fending for yourself.(Gotta Have It)
April 1, 2005... It's a good bet that many of us have deployed fenders to guard against dock rash, only to have the fenders roll to the side or pop up, leaving our boats unprotected. With Fit-A-Fender ($40 to $70) from L.E.A.D. Group (888/693-4546;...

Kick the bucket.(Gotta Have It)
April 1, 2005... Better, faster, easier--no, we're not talking about the 6 Million Dollar Man, but about how Eagle One (800/432-4531; eagleone.com) refers to the wash you'll get using its new Bucket-Free Car Wash ($5). The spray-on car soap is designed let you...

Positioning for success.(Gotta Have It)
April 1, 2005... If you're an angler, you know how important it is to be able to maneuver your boat into the strike zone quickly and quietly. New from Lenco (772/288-2662; lencomarine.com) is the Drive 164 ($1545), a transom-mounted trolling-motor system that...

Go on, have a fit.(Gotta Have It)
April 1, 2005... You have a garage--but it's just not quite big enough to accommodate your trailer. For too many trailer boaters, that scenario spells outside storage or spending money on rental space. If only you could shave a few inches off the length of your...