Trailer Boats articles from February 2000

Trailer Boats archives from February 2000

UNITING FOR SAFETY.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... Late last year, Trailer Boats Magazine staged a towing industry first, bringing together for an entire day 77 leading executives and engineers to discuss the trailering challenges of the 21st century. Sponsored in large part by Ford and held in...

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS.
February 1, 2000... PROJECT POTENTIAL I was glad to see the Sea Ray 260 Sundancer is your current project boat. I am considering purchasing this boat and will be interested in reading your how-to articles about the 260. Keep up the great work. Your...

YAMAHA SETS FUEL ECONOMY RECORD.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... What kind of outboard-powered boat gets more than 67 mpg? According to the New Zealand boating magazine Propeller, a 66-pound carbon fiber trimaran powered by a Yamaha 4 hp four-stroke outboard achieved this astounding fuel economy record...

C. G. AUXILIARY REVAMPS SAFETY EXAM PROGRAM.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's 53-year-old Courtesy Marine Examination (CME) program for recreational boats has been upgraded and renamed for 2000. It will now be called the Vessel Safety Check (VSC) program. The changes are designed to...

SKIPPER'S CHALLENGE.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... When backing into a slip with a single sterndrive or outboard (right handed propeller) with no wind or current, which approach is better -- A or B? For the answer, turn to page 125 of this issue. Skipper's Challenge questions and...

FORDS DEBUTS A NEW SUPERCREW PICKUP.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... Ford recently unveiled its F-150 SuperCrew for 2001, featuring four full doors (with pillars) and a 5 1/2-foot pickup bed. The SuperCrew is available in both 4WD and 2WD, with two power options: a 220 hp 4.6L Triton V-8, or a 260 lip 5.4L...

KEEPING IT TOGETHER.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... Lowell's Boat Shop on the Merrimack River in Amesbury, Massachusetts, is a few miles from my home. Founded in 1793 and recently added to the National Historic Register, Lowell's is the oldest continuously operating boat shop in the country....

BATTERY BASICS.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... If your boat's battery is going to fail, this is the time of year when its spark is most apt to die. If you live in the North and your battery is exposed to the season's lowest temperatures, and it is vulnerable due to age or improper care, now...

ELECTRONICS Q&A.
February 1, 2000... MYSTERIOUS BROWN OUT I am having a problem with my flybridge 25-watt Uniden VHF that no one is able to figure out. On receive, it works fine. On high-power transmit, it browns out and cycles off. The tech pulled it off and took it into the...

TRIM PROBLEMS.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... While a level-running boat may seem ideal, it's preferable, and more efficient, for most planing boats to run "bow-up" a degree or two. With adjustable trim tabs and power-trim capabilities of outboards and I/O units, trimming most boats to an...

ALTERNATIVE STERNDRIVES.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... AS much as Volvo Penta and MerCruiser would like you to believe that they are the only sterndrives in town, there are alternatives on the market. Stern Powr and Konrad also manufacture sterndrive units. These brands have a major advantage:...

A BOARDER'S SHOPPING LIST.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... In its young life, wakeboarding has caught the attention of a large group of fans who enjoy expressive sports. Wakeboarding is popular because it is accessible. You can use virtually any on-water vehicle for towing duties, from an I/O runabout...

TOYOTA EPIC X22 and EPIC S22.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... Launched last year and refined for 2000 so 'boarders can nail even bigger air, the Epic X22 is a premier choice among wake-boarding luminaries such as Darin Shapiro (shown riding). Toyota's latest board-bender features a high-performance tower...

PREMIER 250 MAJESTIC RE BT I/O.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... Figuring if two are good, three must be better, Premier Marine added a third pontoon to its sterndrive-powered Majestic 250 RE BT I/O -- achieving marked improvements in speed and handling. The "pad planing surface" of the big, 36-inch-diameter...

Stand Out.
February 1, 2000... In the popular 19-foot bowrider category, most models look alike, but Chaparral's 196 SSi is one that distinguishes itself If there is a more common boat than a 19-foot bowrider, I don't know what it is. Many companies build such a model,...

Cruising for Romance.
February 1, 2000... Here are some classic cruising waters for couples -- just in time for Valentine's Day When it comes time to leave the fishing rods and waterskis at the dock in favor of a romantic weekend afloat, the options are endless. Here are five...

Cats of the Klondike.
February 1, 2000... Join the adventure as two trailerable catamarans challenge the daunting Gulf of Alaska on a 1400-mile voyage of discovery Twenty years of trailerboating has taken me on waters throughout the United States and Canada and provided some...

Stick Man.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... Here is how to rig your craft to hold more rods than you will ever need When I go fishing I generally take a dozen rods and try to cram them into a corner of the boat, resulting in a nightmare of twisted lines, lures, leaders and rod tips...

Smoking Room.
February 1, 2000... Donzi's new 23ZF is built especially for catching trophy-size king mackerel -- the kind of fish that tournament anglers call 'smokers' Donzi's 23ZF center console fishing boat was designed and built to capitalize on a remarkable phenomenon...

2000 Tow Vehicle of the year.
February 1, 2000... We pit a trio of 3/4-ton pickups against one another in our 18th annual vehicle shootout This year's Tow Vehicle of the Year competition brings together three heavy-duty extended-cab pickups in the 3/4-ton category -- all with maximum tow...

On Track.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... Wheel spacers from CorrecTrack put a wider stance on your GM truck's rear axle Nearly 15 years of experience in the automotive and boating world will teach you many things. One of these "nuggets" of experience is that wheel spacers (at...

MARINE POWER 2000.
February 1, 2000... Here is what's new in sterndrives and outboards, plus a complete listing of I/O and outboard products OUTBOARDS Important developments continue to emerge in the outboard field. Most of the break-throughs are taking place in...

Face Lift.
February 1, 2000... Go high-tech on your gauges and hit the water - the same day Changing the look or function of a boat's instrument console is not brain surgery. If you are one of those who think a retrofit will take days and be ridiculously expensive,...

Your Vote may win you A New Boat!(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... Weird, wild and crazy, Trailer Boats' "Over The Transom" (OTT) pictures have been delighting readers for years. The 1999 OTT winners are no exception, and now it is your turn to vote on which of the 11 finalists (one from each 1999 issue) will...

Gelcoat Repairs.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... When it comes to scratching the gelcoat finish, there are boaters who have and boaters who will. Here are 12 easy steps to professional-grade repairs Now you've done it. You bumped against a barnacle-studded piling at low tide and put a...

Bad Rap.
February 1, 2000... Own an Evinrude or Johnson with variable ratio oiling (VRO)? Here is the real story and some easy fixes for this much-maligned system Whenever boaters gather, the conversation usually turns to engines, then gravitates to stories about...

Tech Letters.
February 1, 2000... SPARK PLUGS I had my 1995 Mercury 90 hp engine serviced a while back. When the service tech replaced the spark plugs, he recommended a slightly different plug. It was either hotter or colder; I don't remember. I picked up a Mercury service...

TOW CAR.
February 1, 2000... NEW LOOK AT CAMPER HITCHES Some of our customers have contacted us, concerned with your question and answer article about extended camper hitches ("Tow Car," July 1999). In your answer, you stated the extension bar needed to be solid. ...

WALLER BAGS PROVIDE WATERPROOF PROTECTION FOR YOUR VALUABLES.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... The Waller Mariner Bag is water repellent and features dual padded and zippered compartments and a reflective band across the top to increase visibility in low light or nighttime conditions. The company claims the Mariner Bag will float...

HEATER CRAFT OFFERS HOT IDEAS FOR WINTER BOATING.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... The staff of Trailer Boats would hove loved to have had some of these Heater Craft heaters aboard the boots during our recent and chilly autumn navigation of the St. Lawrence River (January '00 Trailer Boats). We could hove stayed warm and let...

PORTABLE POWER SAVES THE DAY IN AN ELECTRICAL EMERGENCY.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... Here's a rechargeable AC and DC power source that's handy, and can be a lifesaver, for both your boot and tow vehicle. Developed by Statpower Technologies, the Portawatzz PowerPac combines a 300-watt inverter, an 18 amp-hour battery and a...

ACCON'S SELF-DRAINING PULL-UP CLEATS KEEP YOUR BOAT'S LINES SLEEK.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... Three sizes of pull-up cleats, 4 1/2, 6 and 8 inch, are available in the 209 Series from Accon Marine. These hand polished, 100 percent stainless steel cleats are said to be extremely durable, with stainless steel hardware below the deck...

SI-TEX DGPS/TRACKPLOTTER HELPS YOU NAVIGATE WITH PINPOINT ACCURACY AT AN ENTRY LEVEL PRICE.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... The new Si-Tex GPS-90D, a combination DGPS and trackplotter with a full keypad for easy use, offers a roster of features usually found in more expensive models. Top-of-the-line features include a differential beacon receiver, built-in...

AIRMAR'S ULTRASONIC SENSOR READS SPEEDS FOR BOATS.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... Airmar recently introduced its new CS4500 speed sensor, claimed to be the first truly affordable ultrasonic speed sensor for use in vessels of all types. Using echo correlation, the CS4500 instantaneously provides data on changes in boat speed...

SNAP-STICK KEEPS ZIPPERS AND SNAPS WORKING SMOOTHLY.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... Unlike gels, oily liquids or sprays, Snap-Stick lubricant from Shurhold can be applied directly to the head of a snap, along a zipper or even on the barrel of a hinge without creating a mess. One application of the wax-like substance from the...

FOG-FREE GAUGES ARE EASY TO SEE IN ALL CONDITIONS.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... The last thing in the world you want to worry about when speeding along in your boat is whether or not you're going to be able to read your gauges because they might be fogged up. Featuring a proprietary lens coating, Teleflex Fog-Free Gauges...

Tow Vehicles.
February 1, 2000... How To Choose Your Tow Vehicle Boat and RV shows are superstores for buyers. They offer a unique opportunity to see hundreds of boats and camping trailers all in one location. So it's easy to get carried away in a shopping spree, whether...

Towing Equipment.
February 1, 2000... How To Equip Your Vehicle For Towing Most vehicles require additional equipment for towing. The equipment package often includes various cooling systems, heavy-duty suspension components, the appropriate axle (ring and pinion) gear ratio...

Trailer Hitches.
February 1, 2000... What You Should Know About Hitches Hitches come in many configurations for a variety of uses. Some very large boat and camping trailers (35+ feet) use fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitches that mount in the bed of a pickup truck. Here, however,...

Wiring.
February 1, 2000... How The Wiring On Your Trailer Should Work A trailer must have running lights (taillights and/or marker lights), turn signals and brake lights. Some trailers even have back-up lights. It is illegal not to have these lights. To activate the...

Loading, Leveling and Driving.
February 1, 2000... How to Set Up and Drive With a Trailer Behind Your Tow Vehicle Many owners don't set up or load their trailers properly, which often results in trailer sway or poor handling from the tow vehicle. One of the most common mistakes is...

Launch and Retrieve.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... How To Launch And Retrieve Your Boat Before you launch your boat, but sure to use the checklist at the back of this booklet so you don't forget something important -- such as installing the drain plug on the boat. You should spend several...

Safety Checklist.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... Checklist For Safe Towing, Launching, And Loading We can never be too safe when trailering, and just as any good pilot goes over his safety checklist before taking off, it's a good idea to approach towing in the same manner. The following...

Over The Transom Contest Rules.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2000... Do you have a kooky, weird or hilarious picture involving a boat, launch ramp, marina or anything else around the water? Send it to us and you may win a new Four Winns 170 Horizon runabout. If your photo is chosen as one of Trailer Boats'...