Trailer Boats articles from January 2000

Trailer Boats archives from January 2000

Y2 CHANGES.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Normally I avoid using my column to talk about what's inside this issue. After all, that's a job for the table of contents. Still, there are a number of changes taking place in the magazine during this auspicious month, and I feel compelled to...

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS.
January 1, 2000... FIXER-UPPERS While I find all of your articles interesting and useful, I would like to see more stuff on older boats such as restoration tips, updating electrical systems, rejuvenating outdrives and installing new steering systems. I...

GM HAS A NEW DIESEL.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... A new Duramax Diesel 6600 engine will debut in heavy-duty 2001 General Motors (GM) pickups, including the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500 trucks. The new 6.6L 32-valve, turbocharged V-8 diesel is a joint venture between GM and...

BOAT REGISTRATIONS INCREASE.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... According to the U.S. Coast Guard's recent Recreational Boat Registrations report, 12.6 million pleasure boats were registered in 1998, representing an increase of 256,000 from the previous year. Not all segments of recreational boating...

TERM OF THE MONTH.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... "Pennant" No, it is not a boating championship flag. A pennant -- also called a "pendant" -- is the line by which a boat is made fast to a mooring buoy.

AVOID BOAT SHOW BURNOUT.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Here are a few steps for making the most of the upcoming boat show season: * Go early before the hordes hit, and try to avoid weekends and evenings when non-boaters use the show as a playground for their kids. You'll find salespeople who...

SLIP NOT.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Those of us who trailer our boats often find ourselves walking or standing on the tongue or rails of the trailer during launching or retrieval to hook onto the bow eye or winch the boat into place. It's a potentially dangerous situation -- the...

CURRENT EVENTS.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... When I worked in the Florida Keys as a newspaper reporter, I was called upon to cover a variety of boating related incidents. One of my favorites involved a middle-aged angler who anchored his boat in a broad, deep channel and was busy fishing...

ELECTRONICS Q&A.
January 1, 2000... DIAGNOSING GPS ROLLOVER How can I determine whether or not my fixed-mount GPS survived the August 22 GPS rollover or the millennium brownout? George Haddad Coral Gables, Florida Just turn it on and look. If your GPS...

V-DRIVE ANATOMY.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... V-drive inboard-powered, boats have been around for generations, and are currently regaining popularity. Yet many trailerboaters raised on a diet of sterndrives and outboard engines seem unfamiliar with the concept. Back in the '60s and...

GOOD WINTER DAY.
January 1, 2000... It's midwinter. Unless you live in Florida, California or Hawaii, it's also freezing outside. Your ice-coated lake and the wind chill factor likely have driven you indoors, where you can fantasize about the next warm breeze. You don't need to...

Beats of the Future.
January 1, 2000... Our marine design expert tells us what kind of boats to expect in the new millennium What will boats be like in the new millennium? While I'm no clairvoyant, the following is leavened by more than 35 years making a living in the boat...

Time Machine.
January 1, 2000... Incorporating innovative features born in concept boats, Cobalt's new 262 bowrider offers a rare glimpse into the future of trailerable craft Major innovations on trailerable boats are hard to find. That's because many boatbuilders are...

Falling for Larry.
January 1, 2000... We take two Dorals on a weeklong, 350-mile cruise on the St. Lawrence and Saguenay rivers A bit cold at first, old Larry he was -- and standoffish -- at least until a warm autumn sun melted some of the dampness from his drizzled brow....

Power Trip.
January 1, 2000... Join our senior technical editor as he explores the exciting future of marine power To see where marine power is headed in the 21st century, it may be best to look at where it has come from in the last 100 years. As with the automobile,...

2000 Boat Buyer's Guide.(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2000... To help usher in the 21st century, we spotilight 21 of the year's hottest bowrider, cruiser and cuddy cabin models The 2000-model-year is going to be remarkable and not just because it marks the beginning of a new millennium. Boat-builders...

QUICK CHANGE.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... The Triton 21 SFB fish 'n ski can quickly change from a devastatingly effective bassboat to a fun-loving skiboat; and it gives up little to either side in the process The Triton 21 SFB has managed to strike a remarkable balance between a...

On Board.
January 1, 2000... Millennium Warning Some years back, when I was totally enraptured with the capabilities of my first computer and my nephew played computer basketball compulsively, the substitution of keyboard exercise for physical activities in the great...

ADVANTAGE PARTY CAT.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... If you're looking for a custom boat with loads of room for family and friends, it's hard to beat the Party Cats from Advantage. Available in three lengths, the Party Cat showcases a wide-open interior design built upon a beam of 8 feet, 3...

ELIMINATOR 22 DAYTONA.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Some of the hottest looking boats on the water are the pickle-fork hull designs of Eliminator, and the frisky 22-foot Daytona is no exception. According to Eliminator, when MerCruiser was looking for boats to test its then super-secret...

HALLETT 250 STEP-V.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Sleek and spirited, this step-hull design from Hallett offers the fast action of a custom-built boat with comfortable seating in the cockpit, and a spacious cuddy cabin with twin bench seats and a V-berth. The hand-laid fiberglass hull measures...

Balancing Act.
January 1, 2000... Parker's 23-foot walkaround squeezes big-boat fishability into an easily trailered package Parker, an Eastern brand that has become remarkably popular on the West Coast, achieves near-perfect balance with its impressive 2310 Walkaround,...

Fowl Play.
January 1, 2000... The jet-powered Duckworth Pro 302 Limited Edition takes on raging rivers like a duck to, uh... water Ever notice how much more graceful ducks look when they're floating on a pond than when they're waddling on dry land? Considering their...

SAN DIEGO TUNA FISHERMEN RESCUED AFTER THEIR 20-FOOT BOAT FLIPS.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... After spending nearly three days clinging to their overturned 20-foot Wellcraft, San Clemente, California, residents Jeff Stoner and Peter Eller were saved by a passing fishing boat. The rescue took place Sept. 30, approximately 41 miles...

NEW 'TOURIST TAX' IRKS BAJA-BOUND BOATERS.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Officially in effect since July 1, a fee of 153 pesos (approximately $16) imposed on tourists traveling to Mexico has many Baja-bound boaters boiling mad. Although the fee itself is irksome, even more bothersome is the manner in which it's...

FISHY POSTERS FROM WASHINGTON.
January 1, 2000... FISHY POSTERS FROM WASHINGTON are available for $8 each (Washington residents add 8.6 percent sales tax), plus $3.50 shipping and handling from the Washington Sea Grant Program, 3716 Brooklyn Ave. N.E., Seattle, WA.

EXOTIC FERN INVADES LOWER COLORADO RIVER.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials are warning about the potential threat to boating posed by an exotic and rapid-growing aquatic fern that has been discovered along the Colorado River. Native to the Amazon Basin, giant salvinia is...

Trailers of Tomorrow.
January 1, 2000... Legislation and technology will shape the trailer that carries your boat in the new millennium This is our first new millennium, so we can only guess at how it must have affected our ancestors 1000 years ago. We do know that bizarre,...

Keep Your Cool.
January 1, 2000... Replacing your lower unit's water pump will help keep your outboard or MerCruiser sterndrive running cool. Here's how Hot heads have no place on a boat -- and that applies to both humans and the boats they own. Fortunately, while some...

Bolting into the Future.
January 1, 2000... For the past seven years, Ford has taken aim at high-performance auto buyers with its Special Vehicle Team (SVT) of cars. It began in 1993 with the introduction the SVT Mustang Cobra, equipped with a highly tuned 4.6L V-8. Then, in 1998 Ford...

Marinco Plugs and Sockets.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... All of us have used 12-volt accessories of the type that plug into the cigarette lighter socket (now more commonly called a "power port") on our boats and cars. If so, you have probably seen the inexpensive adapters that can be purchased at...

Your Vote may win you A New Boat!(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... "Over The Transom" 1999 Photo Finalists 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...

Tech Letters.
January 1, 2000... POWER STEERING FOR OUTBOARDS I recently purchased a new fish 'n ski with an optional 200 hp engine. During its first use, I was surprised at the amount of effort it took to turn the steering wheel. I suppose some of the effort can be...

TOW CAR.
January 1, 2000... SUBURBAN OVERDRIVE We just got a 1999 Suburban. The owner's manual says to tow in overdrive (OD) unless under heavy loads or hilly conditions. I have always used third for towing, but thought I would try OD. In 300 miles, it shifted...

SPORTFISHING BOATS MAGAZINE HITS NEWSSTANDS IN FEBRUARY.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... If you're one of those Trailer Boats readers whose passion for boating revolves around saltwater fishing, you are going to love our new sister publication -- Sportfishing Boats. It hits newsstands in February. Sportfishing Boats will be the...

SAVE YOUR NIGHT VISION WITH LED FLASHLIGHTS.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... FlashLED is the latest product from LEDtronics and it's perfect for boaters or anyone who needs to illuminate instruments, charts or equipment under darkened conditions while night vision must be maintained. FlashLED integrates solid-state...

BINOCULARS FROM NIKON ARE LIGHTWEIGHT, YEF FULL OF FEATURES.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... The Travelite V series binoculars from Nikon offer several new features designed to make them more user-friendly and enhance optical performance. The best of all these new features, however, is the reduced pricing. Nikon has lowered prices of...

CRC MARINE PROVIDES THREE NEW WAYS TO CLEAN UP.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Three new marine cleaning products are now available from CRC Industries: Marine Clean For Glass, Marine Clean 365 Everyday Cleaning Formula and Marine Clean H.D. Cleaning Formula. Marine Clean for Glass ($5.75 for a 22-ounce spray bottle) has...

BLUE SEA FUSE BOX IS PROTECTED WITH AN INSULATING COVER.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Fuse boxes that lack proper covers and protection can make fuse connections vulnerable to corrosion and accidental electric grounding. The new 3AG Fuse Block System from Blue Sea features a clear Lexan cover to allow easy fuse inspection. It...

MERCURY'S COLOR-CODED PROP WRENCHES ALSO FLOAT.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... If you've ever had to change a propeller on the water then you know that sinking feeling when your wrench slips off the nut and disappears into the depths. Not so with the floating prop wrenches from Mercury Marine. This new line of colorful...

CHILDREN'S PFD FROM STEARNS IS FUN TO WEAR.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... If you have trouble getting the kids to wear their PFDs because the safety devices are not attractive to them, then check out Stearn's LEGO Personal Flotation Devices. The line of playful PFDs includes two styles of U.S. Coast Guard-approved...

CURE YOUR TRAILER THEFT FEARS WITH SOLID BRASS.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Anyone with a wrench can steal your boat trailer. If you use these three products from B.C. Cure, however, you'll never have to worry about taking your eyes off the trailer again. All B.C. Cure lock products can be purchased as a set that is...

DOCKHOOK MAKES A HANDY INSTANT CLEAT.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... We have all been at a dock where there just weren't enough cleats or where they seemed to be in all the wrong places. The new Dockhook con solve this dilemma, if the dock in question is made of wood planks. This handy little device can easily...

SECOND SKIN FROM DANALCO KEEPS HANDS AND FEET DRY.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... SealSkinz Waterproof MVT Socks and Gloves are high-performance products designed to keep hands and feet dry from the inside and out. They are great for out-door-oriented people who boot, ski or fish. SealSkinz patented design features three...