Trailer Boats articles from December 2002

Trailer Boats archives from December 2002

Main attraction. (On Plane).
December 1, 2002... Some prominent members of the marine industry believe that boating magazines have a responsibility to attract new consumers to recreational boating. One executive who is not shy about making his feelings known is Irwin L. Jacobs. He is the...

Curvaceous cover. (Letters to the Editors).
December 1, 2002... Geez, do you think the woman on your September cover could possibly push her, urn, "curved parts" any more toward the camera? Looked sort of like the cover for a biker magazine. Why stoop to using shapely, fawning models to get our attention?...

Bayliner shopping. (Letters to the Editors).
December 1, 2002... After reading your September story about Bayliner's 2003 model 175 ("New Entry"), I jumped on the Bayliner website and then started calling dealers in the Carolinas. Not one Bayliner dealer had this boat. In fact, most did not have any 2003...

One blast or two? (Letters to the Editors).
December 1, 2002... Gentlemen, I am sure many others have brought this to your attention, but I should point out some misleading statements in the September "Back to Basics" regarding sound signals to be used when in restricted visibility. The author, Dan...

No blow boats. (Letters to the Editors).
December 1, 2002... There are a few of us who buy your magazine who are trailer-sailors. I trail and sail a 12-foot AMF Alcott Puffer. However, I just picked up your magazine and found zero coverage for the poor ragmen. Armand Boucher North Kingstown,...

Chevy's Avalanche sheds its armor. (Dock Talk).
December 1, 2002... If you like the pickup/SUV hybrid concept behind the Chevy Avalanche, but hate the Terminator-style exterior cladding, here is some good news. You will soon be able to get these tow vehicles sans body armor. This new-for-2003 version of...

Coast Guard should not be part of Homeland Security, says Boat/U.S. (Dock Talk).
December 1, 2002... President George W. Bush and his administration are taking serious heat from Boat/U.S. The Alexandria, Virginia-based boating organization, emergency towing provider and national retailer believes the Bush Administration is jeopardizing the...

Briggs & Stratton mows its way into outboards. (Dock Talk).
December 1, 2002... Head honchos at Bombardier, Honda, Mercury, Suzuki and Yamaha must be shaking in their boots since Briggs & Stratton announced it is introducing a 5 hp four-stroke outboard that will sell for $729. The Milwaukee-based small-engine company is...

Anglers spend $35 billion annually in U.S. (Dock Talk).
December 1, 2002... Preliminary numbers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicate that American anglers spend $35 billion on equipment each year. The report, based on activity in 2001, makes clear that fishing is more than just a leisurely sport; it is a...

Term of the month: flemishing. (Dock Talk).
December 1, 2002... No, it's not a sailor's cough. Flemishing means to coil a mooring line flat on a dock or deck in a spiral with the bitter end in the center. The idea is to neaten things up and help prevent crew from tripping over lines.

Skipper's Challenge. (Dock Talk).
December 1, 2002... If an outboard engine falls overboard and is retrieved, it should be stored in which of the following for several hours before attempting to repair it: (a) alcohol, (b) a zero-humidity environment, (c) underwater, (d) linseed oil For the...

On a roll. (Boat Improvement).
December 1, 2002... The striped bass is a favorite gamefish in the rivers and inlets of the Northeast. Strict conservation efforts and increasingly cleaner water have made them more plentiful lately, so the minimum legal length for a "keeper" has been dropping --...

Finding bottom. (Back to Basics).
December 1, 2002... 'By the way, there may be a nick in the prop," I overheard the sunburned man say a little too nonchalantly as he handed the dock attendant the keys to the rental boat he had just returned. "Might have gone through some mud a ways back." ...

Electronics Q&A.
December 1, 2002... LOOSE NUT I have an old, but good marine VHF haudheld radio. Ijust bought several new battery packs, and the unit runs strong unless I wiggle the little antenna. The antenna jack is loose, and I can't figure out how to tighten it. Any...

Power on power. (Propulsion).
December 1, 2002... California-based J.D. Power and Associates has released its 2002 Marine Engine Competitive Information study, and some findings are rather surprising. For example, owners of new boats powered by inboards reported less than half the number of...

Dear Santa. (Ski Locker).
December 1, 2002... Dear Santa: I know you are busy this time of year, but can you bring me and my waterskiing friends a few things for next summer's ski season? Here's what we want... TUBES GALORE We'd all have tons of laughs riding a new tube next...

Sea-Doo GTX DI. (Launch Ramp).
December 1, 2002... Like the proverbial battle between Ford and Chevy fans, personal watercraft (PWC) riders draw a hard line between four-stroke aficionados and those that favor two-strokes. We first showed you Sea-Doo's new four-stroke GTX ($9499) in Launch...

Kayot Z211. (Launch Ramp).
December 1, 2002... Venerable pontoon and deck boat builder HarrisKayot turns over a new leaf in 2003 with the launch of its first-ever sportboats. Available in 19-, 20- and 21-foot lengths, the Kayot Z-Series features composite construction using fiberglass...

Wellcraft 240 Coastal. (Launch Ramp).
December 1, 2002... There's something fishy going on at Wellcraft, and when you dredge deep it turns out that its 2003 lineup will be strictly fishing boats. Parent company Genmar has reorganized its holdings for the coming model-year, and Wellcraft's huge,...

Peek 2003: we got the scoop on what's new in bowriders, deck boats, cruisers and cuddies for next year.
December 1, 2002... Smack dab in the middle of the summer boat-dealer meeting season, there we were, pressing builders for pricing, specs and photos of their 2003 models, months before they would be shown to consumers. Yet, our persistance paid off, as we are now...

Hot Pursuit: our newest project boat is a Pursuit 2460 Denali powered by Volvo Penta's Ocean Series 5.7L V-8 with a composite sterndrive. Let's see how she runs. (Boat Test).
December 1, 2002... When it came time to pick our newest project boat, nearly everyone at the magazine weighed in. Half of our staff wanted a hard-core fishing boat. The other half wanted a comfortable cruiser. All wanted a boat that could handle ocean waters, as...

Tuna town: it's the end of the road in Louisiana, but Venice is also home to some of the country's best winter tuna fishing. (TBM Destination).
December 1, 2002... After a 2 1/2-hour battle on 30pound spinning tackle, Scott Alvarez and brothers Jon and Joe Sissel finally brought the 135-pound yellowfin to gaff. According to their GPS, they'd fought the big tuna across more than five miles of the Gulf of...

Sag stopper: adding air-bag springs can help make your vehicle safer and more stable while towing. (TBM How-To).
December 1, 2002... Does your tow vehicle get that old, sagging feeling in the rear when you hook up the boat? Don't feel bad. There is a solution: Add air-bag springs to your tow vehicle. When the rear of the tow vehicle squats because of tongue weight, it...

Cross trainer: Lund's 1850 Tyee is a great dual-purpose platform for families that enjoy freshwater fishing and watersports. (Trial Run).
December 1, 2002... The dog days of summer were upon us, and by noon I was grateful for at least one of the amenities aboard the Lund 1850 Tyee GS OB/LE "fish 'n ski" being tested. After hoisting the convertible top into place to block out the sun's rays that were...

2003 tow ratings: here are the maximum ratings for trucks and SUVs. For even more detail, visit trailerboats.com. (Special Section: Towing Guide).
December 1, 2002... The most dramatic news about 2003 vehicles is that towing capacities for many were reduced from 2002 models. Some capacities were dropped only a couple hundred pounds, while other models saw reductions of as much as 2000 pounds. This means that...

2003 state-by-state towing laws. (Special Section: Towing Guide).
December 1, 2002... Most state towing laws are designed around rules that pertain to big-rig commercial trucking. Therefore, some of the rules do not translate well to boat trailers. It is always best to contact your state's motor vehicle department for any...

Blazing saddles: Chevy's 7200-pound-rated, V-8-powered TrailBlazer EXT heats up competition in the midsize SUV category. (TBM Tow Test).
December 1, 2002... While the GMC Envoy XL was made available to consumers in early 2002, the Chevrolet rendition of the General Motors long-wheelbase, midsize sport-utility vehicle (SUV) wasn't available in dealer showrooms until just a couple of months ago....

Tech letters.
December 1, 2002... BALKY BAYLINER I have a 1998 Bayliner with a MerCruiser 5.7L carbureted V-8 engine. Sometimes the engine will hesitate for a split second. It feels almost like I've hit a sandbar. Revs will drop by about 500, then immediately climb back to...

Tow car.
December 1, 2002... BUNKS vs. ROLLERS We are looking at a 23-foot Sea Craft and would appreciate your advice on what type and size of trailer to get for our new boat. The boat weighs 3070 pounds dry. The 135-gallon fuel tank and 225 hp Honda four-stroke bring...

Look for a new look. (Back at the Ramp).
December 1, 2002... Come January, expect to see a few changes in the pages of Trailer Boats. We're sticking to our primary mission, but also redesigning some graphics for easier reading. A few of the departments will also be adjusted -- and this is based largely...

Gasoline is the fuel of choice among Trailer Boats readers. (Back at the Ramp).
December 1, 2002... Despite the rising cost of gasoline, most Trailer Boats readers still prefer gas-powered tow vehicles. That was the indication from the results of a survey on trailer boats.com, based on the question posed in the September issue. It asked, "Do...

Bottle-Mate offers a new way to secure fire extinguishers. (TBM Tested).
December 1, 2002... We're not big fans of the conventional plastic brackets used for securing onboard fire extinguishers. Though U.S. Coast Guard-approved, these holders seem cheesy and weak for marine applications. There are sturdy metal versions, but the back...

Shoreland'r rolls out a new aluminum saltwater trailer line. (Gotta Have It).
December 1, 2002... ShoreLand'r Trailers recently introduced a beefy series of aluminum trailers designed to fight the corrosive properties of salt water. Capacities range from 2300 to 15,000 pounds. These new trailers sport fully adjustable axles on heavy-duty...

Nauti-Benders Boater's Calendar enters cyberspace. (Gotta Have It).
December 1, 2002... Penchant Publishing, the parent company of the Skipper's Challenge that we draw from each month for Dock Talk, will offer an e-mail edition of its page-a-day Nauti-Benders Boater's Calendar for 2003. Each day the subscriber will receive an...

Shakespeare's cellular antenna improves reception. (Gotta Have It).
December 1, 2002... Shakespeare has recently introduced a dual-band antenna for marine cellular use, the 5412-P, which boasts 3dB gain and features collinear elements and brass choking sleeves. This white fiberglass antenna measures 2 feet in length and is...