Trailer Boats articles from August 2006

Trailer Boats archives from August 2006

Sweet summer.(On Plane)
August 1, 2006... Maybe it's my Leo mindset, but I've always considered August as the height of summer. Forget June and July, this is absolutely prime time for boating. Warm water and pleasant evenings are perfect for enjoying late days on the water--and to help...

Watta drag revisited.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... I recently read "Watta Drag" [in the May issue], which highlighted the innovative sport of tubing. Having worked in the recreational marine industry and living on the water for most of my life, your article enlightened me on the enormity of...

Repeat business.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... Regarding your March editorial on marine dealer certification, if dealers would actually improve service, quality, cost, reliability and customer satisfaction, this certification business would not be necessary. I don't return to a restaurant...

Troubleshooting lights.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... We are a towing and performance company and do considerable boat trailer work. One of the lessons we have learned is that, in wiring, it's the little things that can cause a lot of wasted time. While reading your very helpful Trailer Tune-Up...

Likes content mix.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... Thanks for a great magazine. I have had all of the magazines, and yours is by far the best. You guys really have an awesome mix of content to fit my needs. Roger Hayes Milford, Michigan

All products, all the time.(NUNS THE WORD)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... I have noted the comments about the use of females in bathing suits being displayed in your magazine. I am curious. Why is it that only women complain about the fit attractive women pictured on boats? You never hear guys complain about the...

Get real.(NUNS THE WORD)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... Congrats on a great magazine! I have been a trailer boater for many years and still learn something every time I get my new magazine. But one thing that really gets my goat is the Over the Transom photo contest. What happened to the great real...

Two states sign boat bans into law.(Dock Talk)
August 1, 2006... In a move that could be a wake-up call for boaters nationwide, Alabama and Georgia have signed into law bans on boats longer than 30 feet, 6 inches on certain impoundments. Alabama's House Bill 756 originally was designed to apply to nine...

New Laguna line makes a splash.(Dock Talk)
August 1, 2006... There's a new line of boats hitting the water this summer. As we went to press, marine manufacturing giant Brunswick introduced its Laguna line of fishing boats. Sold as turnkey boat/engine/trailer packages, the series is loaded with standards...

High cost of gas not a boating deterrent.(Dock Talk)
August 1, 2006... With skyrocketing fuel prices, it would seem that fewer boaters would be hitting the water this summer. But that doesn't appear to be the case. According to a national study conducted by the Recreational Marine Research Center (RMRC), the...

Just cruisin': Ebbtide launches sporty new 180 SE.(Dock Talk)
August 1, 2006... Ebbtide's redesigned 180 SE is a sporty package at a reasonable price. And despite the red color of our test boat, the smallest boat in the Ebbtide fleet is no redheaded stepchild. A host of improvements mark this 2006 model. [ILLUSTRATION...

Overwides only: Regulator's 29 defies dependence.(Dock Talk)
August 1, 2006... If you browse through Regulator's website or brochures, you'll notice the term "independent" often being used to describe the company's boats: fiercely independent, independent spirit, independent attitude. So what makes Regulator so...

Power trip: Michigan Wheel launches Apollo series.(Dock Talk)
August 1, 2006... Expanding on the success of its Vortex XHS (Exchangeable Hub System) aluminum propellers, Michigan Wheel (616/452-6941: miwheel.com) keeps the momentum going with the launch of its Apollo XHS stainless wheels. Based on what we've heard from the...

Wake tools: foot control is where it's at.(Dock Talk)
August 1, 2006... While fans of auto racing head to the brickyard in Indianapolis every Memorial Day weekend, fanatics of waterskiing and wake-boarding journey to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, to watch the world's best water-skiers and riders...

Skipper's challenge.(Dock Talk)
August 1, 2006... After duct tape, WD-40 is second on the list for a well-stocked tool kit. But what does WD-40 stand for? a) Well done past 40 b) Water displacement--40th try c) Well dried up to 40 d) Watered down under 40 Paraphrased...

Getting personal: towing with PWC.(Dock Talk)
August 1, 2006... The poor guy had been bitten so many times that he looked like he had chicken pox. It was just before dusk when Bob Dimena's 23-footer broke down and drifted deep into a shallow, insect-infested marsh. He shouted for help for some time, but...

We love you just the way you are.(READER SURVEY RESULTS)
August 1, 2006... Well, the results are in and it's a landslide. Our June Question of the Month survey on TrailerBoats.com begged readers to spill their guts on whether the uncertainty of fuel costs would impact their decisions to purchase new boats, upgrade...

Question of the month.(READER SURVEY RESULTS)
August 1, 2006... How far do you regularly trailer your boat to the water? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * 0-10 miles * 11-50 miles * 51-100 miles * More than 100 miles Besides voting online, also visit our message boards and share your...

Night running.(Boat Improvement)
August 1, 2006... The U.S. Coast Guard's Navigation Rule 23 is clear (if somewhat complex) about the need for power vessels to display navigation lights while operating or anchored at night. Fortunately, trailerable boats aren't saddled with some of the more...

Evasive action.(Boating Basics)
August 1, 2006... One minute my fishing rod's tip was throbbing with a rhythmic beat set by my lure wobbling 15 feet below; the next, the graphite stick whipped upright in its holder, the line trailing limply in our wake. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Told...

Beyond repair.(Propulsion Report)
August 1, 2006... When it's time to replace the engine in that aging boat you love so much, there's a couple of ways to go about it. If you have the cash, you can take the boat to a dealer and have them replace the engine. Or you may choose to do it yourself. In...

Now playing: hot new entertainment systems are coming to a boat near you. We showcase the latest trends in music systems, LCD TVs and onboard gaming.(Buyer's Guide)
August 1, 2006... Want to listen to your favorite CDs on your center console? Watch DVDs on your deck boat? Get satellite radio or TV on your fish 'n ski? With the amazing array of electronics now available for boats in the 17- to 26-foot class, you can turn...

Cheap thrills: today's midrange machines are raising the performance bar while keeping prices in check.(FOUR-WAY SHOOT-OUT)
August 1, 2006... The world of personal watercraft (PWC) has taken a surprising--and hopefully sustainable--new twist with the launch of budget-priced, midrange craft that are helping to redefine affordable riding, while at the same time attracting both new...

Social animal: featuring an innovative and hip new layout, Sea Ray's 240 Sundancer is made for entertaining.(TEST)(Cover story)
August 1, 2006... Sometimes boats can be predictable. Let's take 24-foot cruisers, for example. This is generally the smallest of the cruisers, and, when coupled with an 8 1/2-foot beam, it gives boat-builders just enough space to craft a comfortable cabin where...

!El Veradito! Mercury unleashes its spunky new 115 four-stroke Verado spin-off--and it's a powerhouse.(TEST)
August 1, 2006... When Mercury sent its hot-off-the-press 115 four-stroke out to play, it was no game of hide-and-seek. We saw the new engine coming a mile away, and said so last year ("Sizzling Sister," June 2005). This third iteration of Mercury's Verado-based...

Rollin' on the river: the mighty Ohio offers pleasant scenery, great anchorages, boat clubs and marinas, and fascinating river cities.(TBM DESTINATION)
August 1, 2006... The Ohio River has long been a pivotal part of North American history, serving as an artery for transportation, as well as a territorial border separating free and slave ideologies of the 18th century. Formed by the joining of the Allegheny and...

Locomotive: Ford's F-250 Crew Cab 4WD with the Power Stroke 6.0L turbodiesel can really haul freight.(TEST)
August 1, 2006... Diesel pickups are a big hit with those who tow large boats and want lots of reserve power, and today's crop of turbocharged diesels available in the light-truck category is particularly attractive. Their characteristically hearty low-end...

12-volt tune-up: here's a six-step checkup that will keep your boat's electrical system in top shape.
August 1, 2006... Nothing can ruin a day of boating fun faster than electrical problems. Batteries that won't start the engine, marine electronics and stereos that work intermittently, or bilge pumps and blowers that won't turn on can be more than a nuisance--in...

Winch stand.(Tech Letters)
August 1, 2006... Do you have any leads on where I can purchase a winch stand that is designed like a "Y," with carpeted blocks mounted where the bow of the boat is intended to rest, instead of the typical rubber V mount? Scott Sube Windber,...

Vacuum gauges.(Tech Letters)
August 1, 2006... I've earned my living as an auto mechanic for over 30 years, and every time the cost of gas goes up I scan your magazine for a mention of vacuum gauges, but the closest I've found has to do with fuel flow meters. In my experience, the...

Rocking horse.(Tech Letters)
August 1, 2006... I own a 19-foot bowrider with 220 hp Volvo Penta sterndrive. Trimmed and on plane, this boat cycles up and down even on glass-smooth water. I don't know what to do to stabilize this hull. My local West Marine sells the Nauticus Smart Trim Tabs...

Time lost forever.(Tech Letters)
August 1, 2006... I have a 2001 Baja Islander that was purchased new. The boat has a MerCruiser 5.7L EFI with a digital hourmeter that's built into the Faria tachometer. The tachometer works fine, but the hourmeter has not worked since I bought the boat. I took...

Plexiglas windscreens.(Tech Letters)
August 1, 2006... Can you provide any leads to getting replacement windscreens for a Bayliner fish 'n ski boat? I think they are standard "bubble" bass boat windscreens. Unfortunately, both cracked when the boat cover became overloaded with water. Mike Dial...

Time to plane.(Tech Letters)
August 1, 2006... Time to plane is a performance metric that is often mentioned in boat tests, and I am curious exactly what this metric means and how it is measured. My assumption is that the time to plane would be the time it takes to go from idle to the...

Hard to start.(Tech Letters)
August 1, 2006... I recently purchased a used pontoon boat with a 1989 Johnson 110 with Variable Ratio Oiling (VRO). The previous owner had disconnected the VRO. I can only get the engine running by spraying gas into carburetors. The fuel pump does not seem to...

Gear game.(Tow Car)
August 1, 2006... Help! I am a first-time trailer boat owner, having just purchased a used 25-foot cuddy. The boat is in great shape and so is the trailer; together, they weigh in at about 6000 pounds. My question is about axle gears in my tow vehicle. I have a...

Reverse thinking.(Tow Car)
August 1, 2006... I usually tow our 2004 Sea Ray 220 Select with a Toyota Sequoia. The Toyota works great and I have no problems with it. I also have a Ford F-150. The problem is that when I hook the boat up to the F-150 and try to back up the trailer, the surge...

Launch ramp degrees.(Tow Car)
August 1, 2006... My tow rig's traction ability can be overpowered by the high weight of my trailer boat on extremely steep boat launch ramps, so we typically avoid these in favor of shallower-degree ramps when planning vacations. But exactly what do these...

Used trailers.(Tow Car)
August 1, 2006... I am shopping for a used, or as my wife likes to call it, "previously owned" trailer for our boat. The old trailer is a rust bucket and not worth fixing. I need to keeps costs low, so I am looking at a handful of used trailers. But how do I...

Auto vs. manual.(Tow Car)
August 1, 2006... When reading through your tow ratings charts, I notice that maximum tow ratings are lower in almost all cases for the identical truck with a manual transmission than with an automatic transmission. I have always thought manual transmissions to...

Bourdon's tow tip.(Tow Car)
August 1, 2006... Before each trip this summer you should perform a quick trailer checkup: * Begin with the brake fluid level. If the reservoir is dry or low, check the system for leaks, then top off. * Make sure the breakaway cable is fully released....

Lookin' good.(Gotta Have It)
August 1, 2006... As the official technical apparel supplier to the U.S. National Sailing Teams, Gill NA (770/945-0564; gillna.com) definitely knows its clothes. And this summer, you can take advantage of the boater-friendly features of its Technical...

When you're short on room.(Gotta Have It)
August 1, 2006... When you need to store your boat in tight quarters, let the bolt-on Swing Tongue Kit ($140) from Laser Trailers (313/272-0152; lasertrailers.com) assist you. Installing the Swing Tongue quickly helps reduce the overall length of your rig,...

Steer with style.(Gotta Have It)
August 1, 2006... Outboard owners who already have a SeaStar hydraulic steering system can add pizzazz to their rigs with Teleflex Marine's (217/324-9400; teleflex.com) Colored Hydraulic Steering Cylinder ($680). An ideal upgrade, the steering cylinder comes in...

Sounds of the times.(Gotta Have It)
August 1, 2006... True, the electronics options available for your rig are ever expanding. From state-of-the-art CD players to the fancy Xbox, the sounds of the times scream loud and clear... from those unsightly white speakers. However, Livorsi Marine...

Outboard protection.(Gotta Have It)
August 1, 2006... If you own a four-stroke outboard, then you understand that any ol' marine motor oil won't do. Shell Lubricants (800/BEST-OIL; pennzoil.com) also understands, and has created the Pennzoil Marine Premium Outboard four-cycle 10W-30 ($3 for 1...

Ready! Set! Grill!(Gotta Have It)
August 1, 2006... As Magma Products (562/627-0500; magmaproducts.com) celebrates its 30-year anniversary, the company has redesigned its original Marine Kettle grill, renaming it Marine Kettle 2-or MK2 for short. The MK2 line of gas grills is available in two...

You've got a hold on me.(Gotta Have It)
August 1, 2006... Now that it's high summer, it's time to test to your skiing or boarding skills. New from Proline (425/775-5416; connellyskis.com) is the NS (No Seam) EVA series handle, which provides a superior grip that you can really hold onto. The 15-inch...