Trailer Boats articles from February 2004

Trailer Boats archives from February 2004

Power & influence.(On Plane)
February 1, 2004... Shortly after J.D. Power and Associates released its first Boat Competitive Information Study, a distressed boat dealer called me aside. He was perturbed that our magazine had published the top-line results. He argued that this kind of...

Idle chat.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I just finished reading "Slim Twins"--your test of the new Yamaha F150 four-stroke outboard--in the December issue. As a Lund\Yamaha dealer, I find such articles to be indispensable sales tools, and I encourage you to keep up the good work. One...

Up-front solution.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... In response to the December On Plane entitled "Ramp Tricks," I have a ramp trick of my own. I own a Ford F-350 diesel truck, and tow a 21-foot Mako center console. I installed a receiver hitch on the front of my truck. Whenever I don't get...

More Ramp Tricks.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I just finished reading Jim Hendricks' On Plane entitled "Ramp Tricks," about boat ramp problems and ways to get out of them. Of particular interest to me was the advice to lock a vehicle in four-wheel-drive (4WD) before launching or...

Vinyl letter.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I enjoyed reading "Positive I.D." in the October issue. Here's a tip given to me by Chuck Cortier of Cortier Signs on Washington state's Bainbrige Island: Make up a solution of 1/3 rubbing alchohol, 2/3 water and a drop or two of dish...

Shark attack.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... In the October On Plane entitled "Fish Story," Jim Hendricks describes fishing for sharks off the California coast as a weekend activity and the focus of tournaments to see who can catch the biggest shark. According to many credible scientific...

Boating fatalities increase.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2004... U.S. boating fatalities and injuries rose in 2002, ending a four-year downward trend that began in 1997, according to a study released this year by the U.S. Coast Guard. A total of 750 fatalities and 4062 serious injuries were reported in 2002,...

High inventories mean good deals.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2004... Looking for a good deal on a new or used boat? There may never be a better time to buy, as dealer inventories were up an average of 14.6 percent in 2003, despite a respectable growth in sales during the same period. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Power trip: Honda BF30 outboard.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2004... Most of our project boats tend to lean toward the larger side--22 feet or more. Yet occasionally, we like to skew downward. After all, a good number of our readers own second, smaller boats. This is the thinking behind our Gregor CHW-45L--a...

In tow: introducing TBM's Titan project truck.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2004... Trailer Boats' official project truck for 2004 is Nissan's new Titan crew cab pickup. This US-built 1/2-ton boasts a 9500-pound tow rating, and is powered by a 5.6L Endurance V-8 that delivers 300 hp and 375 lb.-ft. of torque, 90 percent of...

Watertoy profile: Connelly Skis' Pilot.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2004... For 2004, Connelly Skis unveils the Pilot, a new-shaped slalom ski for recreational water skiers. Taking a cue from snow skis, Connelly started adding a shaped profile to water skis in 1996. The idea is to boost the ski's surface area, allowing...

Workin' for a living: Sisu Lobster Boat.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2004... Mike Stetson and his father, David, own and operate a 22-foot Sisu Lobster Boat out of Rye, New Hampshire, from about April until the middle of November. In the off-season, the boat is stored on its transport trailer. The two are commercial...

Just cruisin': Stingray 195LR.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2004... When I climb aboard a run-about powered by a V-6 sterndrive, I don't expect much. After all, what kind of speed would you expect from a 4.3L in a boat such as Stingray's new 195LR? Fifty, maybe 55 mph? How does 60 mph sound? That's...

Who really owns that used boat?(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2004... Thinking about buying a used boat? Before you do, it is a good idea to find out who actually holds the title, and whether it has any outstanding liens attached to it. Now you can do a quick and easy title search, thanks to a new online service....

Getting personal: Yamaha WaveRunner FX High Output.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2004... Yamaha's newest WaveRunner has the one thing that the FX 140 lacked--power and speed to keep up with the frontrunners in the class. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rated at 160 hp, the larger 1052cc FX High Output engine has 15 percent more...

Overwides only: MasterCraft X80.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2004... When MasterCraft made its debut in 1968, its direct-drive inboard ski boat featured modest dimensions--just 18 feet in length and 7 feet wide. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The newest MasterCraft--the X80--contrasts sharply with the...

Boat gear is on most wish lists.(Reader Survey Results)
February 1, 2004... Two out of every three readers asked Santa for boat gear in 2003. That's the finding of a recent survey on the Trailer Boats website. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We asked, "Are you putting any boating-related items on your holiday-gift wish...

Did you know?(Reader Survey Results)
February 1, 2004... * Eighty-eight percent of all boat operators are men, according to Responsive Management, a marine industry public-opinion and attitude-research firm. * Drink for drink, a boat operator is more likely to become impaired than the driver of...

Skipper's challenge.(Reader Survey Results)
February 1, 2004... Small craft warnings are issued when wind speed is between: a) 15-30 knots b) 18-33 knots c) 20-35 knots d) 25-38 knots [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Term of the month: gunkholing.(Reader Survey Results)
February 1, 2004... No, it's not what you do with old copies of Trailer Boats. Gunkholing is the act of exploring backwaters by boat. Paraphrased from Skipper's Challenge ($19.95), a book by Dale L. Lydigsen Jr. For more information, contact Penchant...

Eco-friendly maintenance.(Boat Improvement)
February 1, 2004... We should all be concerned with the quality of the waters in which we boat. After all, for many of us, it is the water and wildlife that lives in and around aquatic environments that attracted us to boating in the first place. ...

Tide savvy.(Boating Basics)
February 1, 2004... One of the joys of owning a trailer boat is having the opportunity to take your craft with you when you travel. However, when the trip involves boating in coastal waters, you will face an element as inevitable as time itself--the ocean tides....

Four-stroke oil.(Propulsion Report)
February 1, 2004... Spurred in part by the proliferation of new four-stroke outboards, the marine industry is currently taking a close look at oils designed for these powerplants, as well as for inboards and sterndrives. Leading the charge is the Chicago-based...

Family resemblance: Robalo's R265 walkaround blurs the distinction between sportfisher and luxury cruiser.(Test)
February 1, 2004... Robalo has been building fiberglass saltwater fishing boats since 1969. Yet today, this brand is undergoing a rebirth, and emerging with major changes throughout the line. The impetus behind this renaissance: Georgia-based Marine Products...

Screen test: today's marine fuel filters do a good job of screening contaminants. But which one works best?
February 1, 2004... There's an old adage about oil and water not mixing, but it is even more true of gasoline and water. Water in a boat's fuel tank can cause a world of problems. It will almost certainly hurt performance, and can strand you with a dead engine...

E-ticket: Evinrude's new E-Tec outboards use advanced technology to maximize power and minimize maintenance.(Test)
February 1, 2004... There's new direct-fuel-injection (DFI) two-stroke technology hitting the boating market, and it's called E-Tec. Though the name may be new, it comes with a familiar label--Evinrude. It would be easy to think of E-Tec as simply the next...

Plastic Power: can a plastic DuoProp perform as well as a stainless version costing twice as much? Get ready to save some bucks.(Test)
February 1, 2004... When it comes to saltwater corrosion, you may be able to slow it down, but it is hard to stop. And this has been one of the major deterrents to the use of sterndrives in ocean waters, particularly among boaters who keep their craft in the...

Goal line defense: we join the U.S. Border Patrol as the agency evaluates boats to beef up homeland security.
February 1, 2004... With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Border Patrol now has big funding for a new fleet of customized, high-speed boats--these to serve as the last line of defense against terrorist elements entering the United...

Superior thinking: challenging the big lake with a small boat requires strong preparation and a different attutude.(TBM Destination)
February 1, 2004... Some of us who want bigger boats are limited by lack of income due to a career choice, kids in college, or another not-so-worthy cause. I am one of these people, and so my family and I have cruised with my 19-foot bowrider on Lake Superior for...

Tow vehicles: how to choose your tow vehicle.(Chapter 1)
February 1, 2004... Whether you're an old pro or a novice, towing can be tricky. The first step in any case is to have the right equipment, and that begins with having the appropriate tow vehicle. However, there's one thing to keep in mind when choosing a tow...

Towing equipment: how to equip your vehicle for towing.(Chapter 2)
February 1, 2004... 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 and usually a more powerful engine....

Leveling, loading and driving: how to set up and drive with a trailer behind your tow vehicle.(Chapter 3)(Cover Story)
February 1, 2004... A trailer tows best when level, so do your level best to get it that way when attached to your tow vehicle by adjusting the hitch ball height. This can be done using a dropped or raised drawbar, or with an adjustable hitch. Weight...

Trailer wiring: how the wiring on your trailer should work.(Chapter 4)
February 1, 2004... To be highway legal, a trailer must have running lights (taillights and/or marker lights), turn signals and brake lights. Some trailers even have back-up lights. Of course, this means you must tap into the tow vehicle's electrical system. ...

Trailer hitches: what you should know about hitches.(Chapter 5)
February 1, 2004... Hitches come in many configurations for a variety of uses. Some very large boat and camping trailers (35-plus feet) use fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitches that mount in the bed of a pickup. Here, however, we will focus on those used for the...

Launching and retrieving: how to launch and retrieve your boat.(Chapter 6)
February 1, 2004... Before you launch your boat, be sure to use the checklist at the back of this booklet so you don't forget something important--such as installing the drain plug. You should spend several minutes preparing your boat for launching before you even...

Safety checklist: checklist for safe towing, launching and loading.(Chapter 7)
February 1, 2004... You 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 is a checklist of important items you need to address...

2004 state towing laws: road rules for all 50 states.(Chapter 8)
February 1, 2004... Towing laws across the United States vary from state to state. Most were designed around rules that pertain to big-rig commercial trucking. Therefore, it is difficult to transfer some of the rules to recreational towing. It is always best to...

Boat of confidence: Regal's wide-bow 2400 is designed to carry a full crew in comfort, even when the water gets rough.(Test)
February 1, 2004... The waters of Tampa Bay were whipped to a wicked froth by a stiff north wind the morning we decided to test Regal's 2400 bowrider from a harbor in St. Petersburg, Florida. I wasn't in the mood for getting banged around or soaked to the bone, so...

Twisted sister: Toyota's Tundra Double Cab 1/2-ton pickup with a supercharged V-8 offers ample room and more power than ever.(Trailer Boats Test)
February 1, 2004... New to the Toyota truck lineup is an exciting alternative for trailer boaters looking for a full-size 1/2-ton pickup. The 2004 Toyota Tundra Double Cab comes with a bonus--a truly roomy back seat and full-size rear doors. As a result, the cab...

2004 Boat Show calendar; for February.
February 1, 2004... ALABAMA Birmingham Sport and Boat Show, Jan. 28-Feb. 1, Jefferson Civic Center, Birmingham; 361/749-4436; boatus.com Mobile Boat Show, Feb. 5-8, Mobile Convention Center, Mobile; 334/478-7469; boatus.com ARIZONA International...

Battery switch.(Tech Letters)
February 1, 2004... I have a 23-foot runabout with an A/B battery switch. The Aside is for the starting battery and runs everything except the stereo system. The B-side is wired to everything, including the stereo. I run the B-side off of a deep-cycle when...

Sloppy throttle.(Tech Letters)
February 1, 2004... I am a long-time subscriber to Trailer Boats, and have learned a lot from reading the articles. I own a Hydrodyne outboard competition ski boat, and I recently repowered it with a 2002 Yamaha 200 HPDI. The old outboard was a conventional Yamaha...

Going bra-less.(Tech Letters)
February 1, 2004... For years I have used Bearing Buddy bearing protectors on my trailer wheel-hubs. On the outside of the Bearing Buddy is a large rubber cap--aka bra--that I have religiously kept in place year round. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The last few...

More on battery switches.(Tech Letters)
February 1, 2004... The June issue included a letter from a reader who was considering a second battery for his 22-foot Campion walkaround. The reader wanted to add a second battery without a complicated switching arrangement. You advised that a straightforward...

Bottom modifications.(Tech Letters)
February 1, 2004... A friend has a two-year-old MasterCraft 190. It is used primarily for waterskiing--not wakeboarding. He went to a boat show last year and asked MasterCraft what was new for this model. Company personnel told him that the boat is much the same,...

F-150 ratings.(Tow Car)
February 1, 2004... I heard that the 2004 Ford F-150 is rated at 9900 pounds, yet your tow ratings charts in the November/December 2003 issue state the highest rating as 9500 pounds. Has something changed? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mike Downey via e-mail ...

1/2-ton enough?(Tow Car)
February 1, 2004... I have a Baja 29 Outlaw with twin MerCruiser V-8s on a triple-axle Eagle trailer. The boat's specs call its weight out as 6800 pounds dry, and I estimate the trailer to be another 1500 pounds. I estimate the tongue weight at between 600 and 700...

Tire bias.(Tow Car)
February 1, 2004... This winter, I found it necessary to replace one of my trailer's tires. Two tire dealers told me that it would be unsafe to replace my old bias-ply tire with a new radial tire, but couldn't tell me why. What's up? Bruce Trudgen...

Two-trailer tango.(Tow Car)
February 1, 2004... While visiting Lake Powell in Arizona, I saw boat trailers being towed with jet ski trailers following behind. In which states is this legal? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Richard Well via e-mail State regulations in this case are so...

Bumper rating.(Tow Car)
February 1, 2004... My tow vehicle is a GMC 1500 Extended Cab pickup with a tow rating of 8200 pounds. However, according to the information stamped into the rear bumper, the truck's hitch can only tow 5000 pounds with a tongue weight of 500 pounds. My boat weighs...

Cruise control.(Tow Car)
February 1, 2004... Can I make my cruise control less aggressive? My truck is a 2001 Ford F-250 with the Triton 5.4L V-8, automatic transmission and 3.73:1 axle gears. I tow 7500 pounds, and don't want the cruise control to push the throttle so far when climbing...

Taking a beating.(Tow Car)
February 1, 2004... What should I do to limit the damage to my boat during trailering? I own a 16-foot Duracraft on an American trailer. I tow it 130 miles each way to the ocean, and understand that if the boat is not properly set on the trailer, it can take more...

Ramp ready?(Tow Car)
February 1, 2004... I love your magazine, but always get a queasy feeling in my stomach when I see tow ratings. Shouldn't you mention that these are for hauling on a flat road, and not for getting a boat out of the water? My brother-in-law and I share a boat and...

Shock-Pro Lighter performs under fire.(TBM Tested)
February 1, 2004... On the water, whether you're lighting a stogie or a BBQ, you want a lighter you can depend on--one that ignites quickly and stays lit. Windmill Corporation claims that its water-resistant, windproof Shock-Pro SP-3000 will light in blustery,...

VacuFlush toilet is designed for small boats.(TBM Tested)
February 1, 2004... We saw a lot of cool marine products at the 2003 IBEX Trade Show in Miami last fall. Yet, few got the staff as worked up as SeaLand's new 2500 Series Cassette VacuFlush toilet system. It is the company's most compact and efficient system to...

SnugTop's Super Sport cap is now available for '04 Ford F-150s.(TBM Tested)
February 1, 2004... Now you can keep all transom tie-downs, boat-cleaning supplies and that extra ice chest safe in the back of your 2004 Ford F-150 while you're out on the water. SnugTop's Super Sport cap features a rotary latch locking system and a drain channel...

Glacier Glove's hats and shades block harmful UV rays.(TBM Tested)
February 1, 2004... I've tried a multitude of hats to shield the back of my poor weather-beaten neck from the sun--everything from Australian outbacks and cowboy hats to fly fishermen hats and Chinese immigrant-style straw hats. Heck, I once modified a ballcap...

Sea-Fire's C-Series portable fire extinguishers protect boaters and their equipment.(TBM Tested)
February 1, 2004... Boaters often equip their vessels with the least expensive fire extinguisher that still meets code requirements. Yet, that's not necessarily the best criterion for selecting a piece of equipment so critical to boating safety. Sea-Fire's new...