Trailer Boats articles from February 2006

Trailer Boats archives from February 2006

Sea of sameness.(On Plane)
February 1, 2006... Hardly a month goes by that our editors don't comment on what a challenge it is to point to some innovation that makes one boat stand out from the competition. How sad that so many boat-builders are drowning in a sea of sameness. ...

Tin pilothouses.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2006... Thanks for the website listings of pilothouse boats in the October [2005] issue's Prop Wash. I also am interested in such a rig--but are there any such boats available in aluminum construction with outboard power? I plan to use the boat on the...

Urgent need.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2006... In the June [2005] issue's Boat Improvement column ("Happy Trails"), you asked: Have you ever found yourself miles from home, yet facing an urgent need for something back in the garage? Well, yes, I have. Several years ago, I had a tire...

Towing bible.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2006... I have been a subscriber for many years and have received much information on towing. In fact, I consider your magazine the "towing bible" because of your no-nonsense testing and reporting on tow vehicles. Thanks for a great publication....

Towering question.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2006... I have read your magazine for years and have found it truly rewarding and informative. I have been hoping for story on installing an aftermarket wake-board tower. With the proliferation of towers today, and having an 18-foot Four Winns Horizon...

Mon remembered.(MEMORIES OF THE MONONGAHELA)
February 1, 2006... Your recent article on "The Mon" ("Hey Mon," October, 2005) brought back a lot of memories. I grew up in the City of Monongahela and watched the Monongahela River change from a sewer pit to the river it is today. With the exception of my...

Killer sundaes.(MEMORIES OF THE MONONGAHELA)
February 1, 2006... Loved the "Hey Mon!" story by Ron and Eva Stob. My husband and I have made this trip in reverse order starting near Elizabeth, Pennsylvania. Just wanted to let everyone know of a marina at Mile Marker 27.5 RDB, called the Carousal, in Bunola,...

Rinker and Godfrey merge into giant.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2006... In a major development in the boatbuilding sector, Godfrey Marine and Rinker Boat Co. announced in November that they have merged. The joining of the two longtime, Indiana-based builders will result in the creation of the fourth largest...

No second-hand woes.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2006... According to a new study, used boats are a hot commodity. The 30-page 2004 Pre-Owned Boat Market Study, published by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), concludes that in 2004, 71 percent of boats sold were pre-owned. That...

Rent before you buy.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2006... In between boats? Or are you looking for a boat to buy, but would like to try out a few first before laying down cash? Check out Boat Renting.com. This site features online bookings of discounted short-term boat rentals, with locations...

Better than fiction.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2006... If this were not a true story, it probably wouldn't be believable. Tracy Kruzona of Suisun City, California, had endured years of dialysis when he finally received a kidney transplant. Two weeks later, Kruzona was ready to go fishing, and...

Overwides only: Monterey serves up stylish new 290 cruiser.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2006... American-made cruisers traditionally have featured a conservative design intended to appeal to family boaters and mature adults. And while this "U.S. cruiser" look may have offered less in style than some European craft, the boats have made up...

Waketools; Wego Kite tube: cleared for takeoff.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2006... Instead of carving through the wakes, or doing rolls and wake jumps, the new Wego Kite tube by SportsStuff (888/814-8833; sportsstuff.com) is giving new meaning to "flying the friendly skies." But the idea of a flying tube is not new for...

Chapter one, tow vehicles: how to choose your tow vehicle.(TOW GUIDE)
February 1, 2006... 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...

Chapter two, towing equipment: how to equip your vehicle for towing.(TOW GUIDE)
February 1, 2006... Most vehicles require additional equipment for towing. The optional towing equipment package offered on most vehicles often includes various cooling systems, heavy-duty suspension components, the appropriate axle (ring and pinion) gear ratio...

Chapter three, leveling, loading and driving: how to set up and drive with a trailer behind your tow vehicle.(TOW GUIDE)
February 1, 2006... A trailer tows best when level, so do your level best to get it that way by adjusting the hitchball height. This can be done using a dropped or raised drawbar, or with an adjustable hitch. Weight distribution can affect trailer handling,...

Chapter four, trailer wiring: how the wiring on your trailer should work.(TOW GUIDE)
February 1, 2006... To be highway legal, a trailer must have running lights (taillights and/or marker lights), turn signals and brake lights. Some trailers even have backup lights. Of course, this means you must tap into the tow vehicle's electrical system. ...

Chapter five, trailer hitches: what you should know about hitches.(TOW GUIDE)
February 1, 2006... 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...

Chapter six, launching and retrieving: how to launch and retrieve your boat.(TOW GUIDE)
February 1, 2006... 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...

Chapter seven, safety checklist: checklist for safe towing, launching and loading.(TOW GUIDE)
February 1, 2006... 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...

Chapter eight, state towing laws: road rules for all 50 states.(TOW GUIDE)
February 1, 2006... Although some are content to boat or camp close to home and never trailer across state lines, others are more adventurous and love to take their craft to new locations. The beauty of trailer boating is, after all, being able to go where our...

Supporting organizations and towing resourses.(SOURCES)(Directory)
February 1, 2006... The following assisted in the development of this booklet. Copies of Your Guide to Towing can be downloaded from Trailerboats.com or obtained at select boat and RV shows around the country. Trailer Boats 20700 Belshaw Ave. Carson,...

Working for a living: fishing with shorty.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2006... Shorty Groggins has been a fishing guide for 20 years on Flathead Lake in northwest Montana. As the owner/operator of A Able Fishing (800/231-5214; aablefishing.com), based in Big Fork, Shorty has earned a reputation as a true character. Anyone...

Getting personal: big city touring.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2006... What would you say if you were invited to go on a watercraft outing through Philadelphia in April? The answers that we get range from "You're nuts!" to "I left my wetsuit at the shore," but every couple who joins us can't wait to go again. The...

Eye on electronics: hold course with Simrad's "no feedback" autopilot.(Dock Talk)
February 1, 2006... Thanks to the sophisticated "Virtual Feedback" technology on new Simrad (425/778-8821; simradusa.com) AP25 and AP16 autopilots, owners of hydraulically steered outboard and sterndrive boats up to 40 feet now have access to a true "no-feedback"...

Boat brand commands the most loyalty.(READER SURVEY RESULTS)
February 1, 2006... Our December issue's Question of the Month queried whether readers' allegiances in boat purchases were driven primarily by boat brand, engine brand or if they had no real loyalties either way. Seems that nearly half of those who took our survey...

Skipper's challenge.(READER SURVEY RESULTS)
February 1, 2006... You are cruising offshore on a clear, sunny day and the sea state is calm, but there are large swells. This foreshadows ______. a) An afternoon of clear skies b) A distant storm c) An imminent storm d) Cloudy skies, but no...

Question of the month.(READER SURVEY RESULTS)
February 1, 2006... Have you ever run a four-blade prop on your boat? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Yes, I was primarily interested in holeshot and better lift * Yeah, I liked both of the above attributes, but my main goals were superior holding in turns...

Like HDTV for [H.sub.2]O: the 700 series with 640 vertical pixels and exclusive hemispherical viewing.(Advertisement)
February 1, 2006... You've never seen a high-definition color LCD display like those in the new Humminbird 700 Series[TM] Fishing Systems. We start with 640 vertical pixels for outstanding definition. You'll not only see fish, baitfish and structure, you'll be...

Bring back the color.(Boat Improvement)
February 1, 2006... Time is the enemy--not only for us humans, but for our boats, as well. While we're busy feeling the effects of time (mainly in our bones and hair, or lack of hair), our boats are suffering the same kind of thing. The gelcoat oxidizes, gets...

Maximum view.(Boating Basics)
February 1, 2006... My first towing incident occurred within hours of hitting the highway with my first trailered boat behind me. It taught me a lesson I still call on. I had worked all summer rebuilding a 16-foot plywood runabout and was headed home to the...

Who makes what for whom?(Propulsion Report)
February 1, 2006... Although the myth persisted for years that OMC's Johnson and Evinrude outboards were not identical from the powerhead down, it's a fact that, with very few exceptions, the only differences were the cowls and paint color. Today, brand...

Brine time: you can turn any craft into a saltwater fishing machine with these 16 essential accessories.
February 1, 2006... As part of my work for this publication, at least once each year I temporarily rig a boat for saltwater fishing. It may be a pleasure craft designed primarily for fresh water use, or a watercraft intended for use in the salt, but a stock model...

Big Bull: boasting 1000 miles of uncrowded shoreline, Bull Shoals Lake may be the ideal Ozark getaway.(TBM DESTINATION)
February 1, 2006... Looking for a new boating experience? A place where you can lose the crowds but still enjoy wonderful cruising, skiing and fishing? Try an Ozark escape to Bull Shoals Lake. Eighty miles long, the big Bull, which straddles the Arkansas/Missouri...

House rules: Everglades' stylish 290 Pilot wheelhouse offers unmatched weather protection in a big, offshore center console.(TEST)(Cover Story)
February 1, 2006... Every casino-gambler knows it's tough to beat the house. It just has too much going for it. And this kind of thinking explains the award-winning Everglades 290 Pilot that we tested off Stuart, Florida. The design philosophy behind this big,...

Turn up the Juice: here's a little white-glove hot-rodding that will add pulling power to older Ford 7.3L turbodiesels.(TEST)
February 1, 2006... Circling around uphill onramps to merge into freeway traffic isn't much of a challenge for a Ford F-250 or F-350 equipped with the 7.3L turbodiesel. And though this engine was recently replaced by the 6.0L PowerStroke, the big 7.3Ls that many...

Stepping up: Ebbtide hits the mark with an exciting, new, vented-chine 26 deck boat.(TEST)
February 1, 2006... Growing up, I spent summers getting towed aboard a tube behind a deck boat. That chocolate-brown barge was heavy and slow, and it handled like a brick with an outboard strapped to the back. But it threw up a massive wake--perfect for teenage...

Family jet: Sugar Sand's Oasis delivers family fun in an upscale sportjet.(TEST)
February 1, 2006... These days, sportjet design seems to be going two ways: On one hand, we have small and low-to-the-water models with limited seating that offer a fast-and-fun driving sensation. On the other, we're seeing new family models that resemble...

Humming along: the new H3 may be the smallest of the line, but it proudly carries on the Hummer legacy.(TEST)
February 1, 2006... 'Hey, look: It's a baby Hummer," a neighbor called out as I drove into my driveway. I had become used to this response during the week I spent testing the new downsized Hummer, but this was my neighbor and I felt I had to defend my position as...

Towering success: installing a wakeboard tower is easier than you think.(TBM Do-It-Yourself)
February 1, 2006... Go to any boat show or dealer showroom, and you're bound to notice the growing number of craft equipped with wakeboard towers. Originally developed for direct-drive and V-drive towboats, wakeboard towers have now migrated to all sorts of boats,...

Yet to make it.(Tech Letters)
February 1, 2006... I have a 2002 Stingray 220XL with a 270 hp Volvo GXi sterndrive. With a 21-inch-pitch Lightspeed prop, I presently get around 60 mph at 4950 rpm (at least, according to the speedometer). With a 23-inch Laser II, she'll do just over 60 mph at...

Ball drive wear.(Tech Letters)
February 1, 2006... I have an 800 series OMC sterndrive that has given me years of trouble-free service. Two years ago, during routine maintenance, the mechanic pointed out that the knuckle couplers between the engine and drive were badly worn and needed...

Ditch the VRO?(Tech Letters)
February 1, 2006... I have a 1988 Evinrude 40 outboard that has a problem with the direct lube system. Knowing that a repaired system may fail again, I have opted to mix the oil and gas manually (50:1) and not use the oil tank system. Can I achieve the same...

Engine dies.(Tech Letters)
February 1, 2006... My boat is powered by a 190 hp V-6 MerCruiser. Before taking it to the water I always run the engine on a garden hose to make sure it will start. The last time I tried this, the engine occasionally died when I put it in reverse. I figured the...

Engine alarm.(Tech Letters)
February 1, 2006... I have a houseboat with twin 2000 model-year Mercury 60 two-strokes. Recently, after running them for two hours, stopping for a short period, and then restarting, the alarm buzzer sounded on the starboard engine. I immediately stopped the...

Counter-rotation.(Tech Letters)
February 1, 2006... I have a Yamaha 50 on my 18-foot Lund aluminum boat. The package performs fine, but I would like to have more power. The engine is one year old and looks and runs like new. I'm thinking of buying a second 50 hp Yamaha and running twins. I would...

Greasy concern.(Tow Car)
February 1, 2006... How often should my trailer bearings be serviced? And is there a certain type of grease that should be used? My trailer has had a set of bearing protectors for a couple of years now... however, I have burned up two spindles and bearing sets,...

Low-ratio gears.(Tow Car)
February 1, 2006... I read in Trailer Boats' Your Guide To Towing booklet that high-ratio axle gears (such as 3.73:1 and 4.10:1) are not only best for towing but, in many cases, also greatly affect a vehicle's tow rating. Can't this be compensated for by shifting...

ADD a supercharger.(Tow Car)
February 1, 2006... Can I get more engine power and, thus, a better tow vehicle if I add a supercharger to my truck? I have a 1999 Ford F-150, but the new boat I am looking at buying weighs more than the truck is [tow-] rated for. Randy Gull Austin,...

Where's the cooler?(Tow Car)
February 1, 2006... I am looking at used trucks to replace my current tow vehicle because I am moving up to a much larger boat. Without a window sticker on the vehicle (like you would find on a new truck), how do I know if it has a transmission cooler? Sam...

Free Marquis.(Tow Car)
February 1, 2006... My Dad has an old 1977 Mercury Marquis that runs like a champ. It's never been driven far or hard, always been maintained in top form, and now Pops is too old to drive. He is willing to give me the car if I want it. The car has a 400-cubic-inch...

Bourdon's tow tip.(Tow Car)
February 1, 2006... A fair number of Trailer Boats readers own slide-in truck campers. If you are considering hauling your camper and towing a boat at the same time, here are two important considerations: First, unless your camper is short and has no overhang...

Know where you're going, day or night.(Gotta Have It)
February 1, 2006... These days, radar isn't just for big boats. Furuno's (360/834-9300; furuno.com) new 1623 LCD radar ($1495) is made for smaller recreational craft. Compact and waterproof, the unit offers a high-definition 6-inch screen that displays echoes in...

Multisensor offers wireless simplicity.(Gotta Have It)
February 1, 2006... The power of three is conveniently compacted into one, thanks to Ascend Marine's (865/671-1000; ascendmarine.com) wireless BlueNet SDT System. This handy, single through-hull sensor ($875) measures a boat's speed over water, water depth and...

Controls with attitude.(Gotta Have It)
February 1, 2006... Why not hit the water in style this year with an arched throttle base (prices range from $149 to $449, depending on configuration) from Livorsi (877/548-5900; livorsi.com)? These bases will add an updated look to your helm station and will...