Trailer Boats articles from August 2001

Trailer Boats archives from August 2001

Praying for daylight. (On Plane).
August 1, 2001... Boating and fishing are considered by many to be relaxing pastimes. But those of us who take these activities seriously know better. For example, boating at night is hardly relaxing. In fact, aside from navigating in the fog, it is the most...

Routing the Straps. (Letters to the Editors).
August 1, 2001... The article on the Smart Tabs in the June 2001 issue ("Tab, Please") was interesting, and I'd like to install a set on my 1997 Maxum 1900 SR (the same model as in your test). But one thing concerns me. It appears from the photo on page 42 that...

Back Up a Minute. (Letters to the Editors).
August 1, 2001... I just finished Jim Hendricks' article in the June 2001 issue on the Smart Tabs ("Tab, Please"). They sound like something I need. I have a Sea Ray 190 BR with a MerCruiser 5.0L and an Alpha drive. I was wondering, though, if you noticed any...

'Dacks Fan. (Letters to the Editors).
August 1, 2001... I have just finished reading the Dan Armitage article in the June 2001 issue about boating in the Adirondacks ("Doin' the 'Dacks"). As a long-time summer resident of the area, I can understand your appreciation of the beauty of the region. ...

More to see. (Letters to the Editors).
August 1, 2001... My wife's family and I have been visiting the Adirondacks together for nearly 18 years. So I could not wait to dive into the your story in the June 2001 issue ("Doin' the 'Dacks"). I was a little surprised that author Dan Armitage visited so...

Alarming Concerns. (Letters to the Editors).
August 1, 2001... I read with great interest David S. Yetman's Boat Improvement column in the May 2001 issue ("Pleasure Power"). Recognizing the recent congressional hearings on carbon monoxide (CO) and the houseboat industry, Yetman's column on generators and...

Prepare for Hurricane season. (Dock Talk).
August 1, 2001... Colorado State University hurricane-guru Dr. William Gray has upped his forecast to 12 named storms during the 2001 hurricane season. Gray had earlier predicted 10. In 2000, there were 14. If you boat in hurricane country, you should have a...

Evinrude & Johnson production set to resume. (Dock Talk).
August 1, 2001... Bombardier Motor Corp. of America has announced it is gearing up to resume production this fall of Evinrude and Johnson outboards, including the Ficht Ram injection systems, at a new 32-acre facility in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. As you may...

Mercury's Smartcraft System will conform to NMEA 2000 Protocol. (Dock Talk).
August 1, 2001... Mercury Marine has changed strategy slightly for its SmartCraft electronics system. It will now feature a NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) 2000 data interface that will make it more compatible with other systems. The NMEA digital...

Used Boats Galore. (Dock Talk).
August 1, 2001... If you are interested in buying a used boat, boat traderonline.com looks like a good place to start. The Virginia Beach, Virginia-based website now contains nearly 82,000 used boats for sale. You can visit free of charge, and sellers can list a...

Term of the Month. (Dock Talk).
August 1, 2001... "Hawse Pipe" Usually chromed bronze or stainless steel, it is a 2- to 6-inch-diameter chute, through which a line or chain is passed. These are commonly used to pass anchor lines between the rode locker and foredeck. They also are known as...

Wire it right. (Boat Improvement).
August 1, 2001... Fred walked across the marina parking lot with a confused look. He was staring in the direction of his slip, but he couldn't see his boat. It couldn't be gone, he thought. Anyone who was going to steal a boat wouldn't bother with that scow. But...

Maximum MPG. (Back to Basics).
August 1, 2001... The price of a weekend on the water is at a premium I this season. As we went to press, fuel prices were still climbing across much of the nation. Trailer boaters have an advantage in being able to tow their craft to automobile-accessible gas...

Electronics Q&A.
August 1, 2001... SCRAMBLED VOICES A few weeks ago I was out on a lake that was hosting a local fishing tournament. As I was talking on my VHF to my buddy about a mile away, something broke into our conversation that was absolutely unintelligible. I...

Inboard Variations. (Designer's Viewpoint).
August 1, 2001... An inboard engine represents a major portion of a boat's weight, and so the location of the powerplant can substantially affect the boat's balance. Because it is the underwater hull volume that provides the buoyancy to support the engine...

Outside the Lines. (Propulsion).
August 1, 2001... An interesting brochure passed across my desk few weeks ago. It came from a company in Ormand Beach, Florida. The company is OPS, an acronym for Outboard Propulsion Systems. The name is accurate, but this is not an outboard engine story....

Chaparral 220 SSi. (Launch Ramp).
August 1, 2001... If sporty lines and crisp handling are what you're looking for in your next bowrider, then Chaparral's handsome new 220 551 should earn a spot on your short list. This 21 1/2 x 8 1/2 footer has the looks and features that will appeal to both...

Trophy 2352. (Launch Ramp).
August 1, 2001... Boasting improved fit and finish, and more robust construction than earlier generations, the latest Trophies are a force to be reckoned with -- and nowhere is this more evident than in Trophy's new, sterndrive-powered 2352 model. This 23-foot,...

Ebbtide Mystique 2300 Sport Cuddy. (Launch Ramp).
August 1, 2001... There's nothing quite as enjoyable as waking up in your favorite anchorage and enjoying a morning cup of tea or java... unless, of course, it's taking that first, crack o'dawn ski run Heck, why not do both? Ebbtide's Mystique 2300 Sport Cuddy...

Remember the basics. (Ski Locker).
August 1, 2001... Has your slalom or wakeboarding progress reached a plateau? If so, maybe you have forgotten the basics. Learn the basics well and your progress will never stop. This month, I have picked the brain of Chet Raley, one of the top coaches in...

Riding High: Monterey's new, high-sided 24-foot bowrider offers a roomy interior, slick styling and a smooth ride. (Boat Test).
August 1, 2001... As you step aboard Monterey's new 248LS Montura, you are struck by the amount of interior space aboard this 24-footer. We kept thinking that the company had somehow mislabeled this model. It is not unusual for builders to exaggerate the size of...

New Contender: Less than a month after Yamaha claims bragging rights in the four-stroke outboard race, Honda challenges with its own four-stroke V-6. We bring you the first test. (Propulsion Test).
August 1, 2001... The previous issue of Trailer Boats (July 2001) contained our test of Yamaha's new 225 hp four-stroke V-6 ("Technical Knockout"), the first four-stroke V-6 outboard. Well, now, just a month later, Yamaha faces a contender for the four-stroke...

Fun zone: With a host of new skis, wakeboards and tubes, there are more ways to have fun on the water than ever before.
August 1, 2001... What's new in Watersports gear for 2001? Lots of great stuff! Quick-rebounding carbon graphite is spreading. Lace-up bindings are moving from wakeboards to slaloms. Shaped skis are mutating into skill-specific hybrids. Wakeboards are growing...

Replacing the weakest link: Amrad's Aluminum wheel cylinders promise to cure a trailer boater's biggest headache. (TBM How-To).
August 1, 2001... Hydraulic drum brakes are among the most problematic systems on today's boat trailers -- particularly trailers dipped in salt water. Even if galvanized, the shoes, springs, adjusters and other hardware are subject to corrosion damage. None is...

Redundant Backups: Having multiple sets of navigation and communication equipment is a great backup plan.
August 1, 2001... A beautiful autumn afternoon off the coast of Maine went downhill in a hurry when a wall of fog descended upon us. A moment of mild panic was dispelled by the clear image of our surroundings displayed on the GPS/chartplotter. Panic returned...

Sweet Sixteen: If you are looking for a sweet deal on a new boat, here are 16 appealing packages -- all priced under $16K. (Buyer's Guide).
August 1, 2001... We searched high and low -- but mostly low -- and found 16 boat/engine/trailer packages for under $16,000. Most of the boats in this price category are sterndrive-powered bowriders. But, we also found a deck boat, and a couple of outboard...

Pea soup: Dense fog can steal the fun from any trip. Yet it is a fact of life, so boaters must learn to deal with it.
August 1, 2001... Fog may creep in on little cat's feet, as poet Carl Sandburg wrote, but it also has sharp little claws. Finding yourself caught in billowing clouds of fog as thick as pea soup can rattle any skipper -- particularly one who has not taken the...

Stock Options: One key to saving money on a boat purchase is to choose your options carefully.
August 1, 2001... You don't have to be Alan Greenspan to figure out that a car dealer makes more profit on the optional equipment it installs than it does on the basic car. This is why you'll always be pressured to buy the fancy wheels, the upgraded stereo...

Allegheny Getaway: So close, and yet so far away, Maryland's Deep Creek Lake offers a wonderful escape amid the Allegheny Mountains. (Tam Destination).
August 1, 2001... 'Where the heck is Deep' Creek Lake?" is a common response' when I tell friends about my recent visit to a boating' destination located high atop the Allegheny Plateau in Maryland's western pan-handle. That was my initial reaction, as well....

Gentle Glant: Ford's powerful F-350 Super Duty Super Cab dually offers a 10,000-pound conventional tow rating and a pleasurable driving experience. (TBM Tow Test).
August 1, 2001... What's new and exciting about the 2001 Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup? The modestly updated truck may have been overshadowed by GM's introduction of the DuraMax diesel in its Heavy-Duty line, but Ford's burly 1-ton doesn't suffer from a lack of...

Tech Letters.
August 1, 2001... JETBOATS FOR SKIING Two years ago we moved to a house on the river. The river leads to a nice lake, but the best skiing is on the river. My 1990 Bayliner has taken quite a beating. I have replaced the prop several times and the skeg has...

Tow Car.
August 1, 2001... CROWN VICTORIA RATING I own a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria with the handling and performance package. The owner's manual says this vehicle is not equipped to tow. But I would like to tow a small boat in the future, such as a 13-foot Boston...

Over the transom winner picks up her boat. (Back at the Ramp).
August 1, 2001... Phil Dill, Jr., of Phil Dill Boats in Lewisville, Texas, congratulates Teresa Men Mentzer of Grapevine, Texas, who won a Four Winns 170 Horizon in Trailer Boats' Over the Transom photo contest. Mentzer proudly displays the picture she submitted...

Readers fuel before, not after, a trip. (Back at the Ramp).
August 1, 2001... Do you fuel up the boat just before or right after a day of boating? That was the question we asked readers in our June 2001 issue. The survey on our website -- trailerboats.com -- took place from May 20 to June 15. Most of you--80...

Brush up on boat handling. (Gotta Have It).
August 1, 2001... How many boaters suffer embarrassment, or worse, due to lack of boat-handling experience? Anyone hanging around a marina or public dock for very long knows this is an all too common problem. Now from Bristol Fashion Publications comes...

Keep your boat's bottom up. (Gotta Have It).
August 1, 2001... You love your boat. So why would you not want to protect her hull? Even a soft, sandy beach can scratch gelcoat. Imagine what rocks and a little wave action can do to a pristine boat bottom. Enter Shore Slip from Cynosure. This portable...

Support your trailer with confidence. (Gotta Have It).
August 1, 2001... Tired of messing around with your trailer tongue jack? With Eclipse jacks by HammerBlow, you can forget about the hassel. Touted as the "Fastest Jack Under the Sun," Eclipse is reported to extend and retract 40 percent faster than the industry...

Put a new spin on underwater fun. (Gotta Have It).
August 1, 2001... Your boat provides loads of fun on the water. But once you take the plunge and are actually in the water, then what? One way you can maximize your [H.sub.2]O enjoyment is in a rousing game of catch with two new watersport toys from Aquatoy. The...

Fishfinding made easy. (Gotta Have It).
August 1, 2001... You don't need ESP to amaze your friends with your fish-locating abilities when you've got Si-Tex's CVS-832. The 600-watt fishfinder features 50/200 kHz dual frequencies and eight selectable range scales from 10 to 2000 feet. Its unique Mix...

Play it loud with space-saving speakers. (Gotta Have It).
August 1, 2001... As any boater knows, extra space is a rarity on boats. It's hard enough to make room for necessary electronics. Finding room for boat speakers can present an even greater challenge. But Poly-Planar may have a solution. The Platinum Series MA905...

Keep your drinks icy. (Gotta Have It).
August 1, 2001... There's nothing like reaching for a cold one at the end of a long day on the water. With a Fridge Freeze portable refrigerator/freezer, you'll never have to endure the agony of tepid refreshments again. Fish, food and drinks can be kept cold,...

Cover your assets. (Gotta Have It).
August 1, 2001... Does it seem like you're constantly struggling with tarps and other uncooperative types of boat covers? The WalkWinn Co. may have just what you've been looking for. Its newest line of boat covers, Sea Breeze, utilizes a synthetic material that...