Trailer Boats articles from January 2001

Trailer Boats archives from January 2001

WASH AND LEARN.
January 1, 2001... Never having worked at another boating magazine, I'm not sure how an editor is supposed to behave. For example, I sometimes get strange looks around the office when I abandon my desk to go outside and wash a test boat. We're not...

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS.
January 1, 2001... MORE CHANGES I agree with your suggestion to American boatbuilders in the October 2000 On Plane ("Small Changes"), but want to add one more: Install audio CD players instead of cassette players. I am not sure where to get cassettes...

RETAIL BOAT SALES DIP.
January 1, 2001... Boat sales hiccupped in the first half of 2000, and that does not augur well, since most retail activity takes place in spring. Sales figures for the balance of 2000 were not available as of presstime. According to Statistical Surveys, Inc....

CARBON-FIBER CONCEPT CRAFT.
January 1, 2001... In automotive circles, carbonfiber body parts and components are all the rage. Well, now the trend seems to have hit boating as South Carolina-based Stratos Boats has unveiled a concept bassboat with a Kevlar-reinforced carbon-fiber hull. They...

FLORIDA ABOUNDS WITH DEALERS.
January 1, 2001... If you are looking for the best boating services, go to Florida because it has far more dealers -- 2007 -- than any other state, according to the Chicago, Illinois-based National Marine Manufacturers Association. The No. 2 state for dealers,...

KEEP UP ON LIFE JACKET REGS.
January 1, 2001... Requirements for personal flotation devices (PFDs) or life jackets aboard boats are changing frequently as new PFD technologies emerge. What's more, the requirements -- particularly for children -- vary from state to state, creating potential...

EXPENSIVE CHEAP GEAR.
January 1, 2001... There are some pieces of boating equipment on which you can ill-afford to cheap out. When it comes to tools, for example, make sure you spend the bucks to get the best. With boat fenders, however, sometimes cheaper is better. Here's why on both...

BED CHECK.
January 1, 2001... During the off-season, it can be easy to forget about your vessel -- especially one that's tucked away for winter, snoozing on a trailer in a storage facility, garage or beside the house. Yet, this is a great time to inspect your boat's engine...

ELECTRONICS Q&A.
January 1, 2001... GORDON WEST RADIO TRACKING I have a Standard Spectrum VHF in my cabin at Lake Tahoe. I can stay in touch with my kids out on the skiboat almost anywhere on the lake. But I want to go one step further. Can the VHF in the skiboat...

ISO WHAT?
January 1, 2001... The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) based in Geneva, Switzerland, recently created ISO 9000, a series of five standards (9000 through 9004) that can be applied to manufacturing or service businesses anywhere in the world....

STARS OF DECEPTION.
January 1, 2001... As a boating journalist who believes in objective reporting, I don't think political commentary should be a regular part of this column. But since government regulation and politics currently are driving the bulk of new engine technology, I...

GEAR UP.
January 1, 2001... Here's a thought for those of you who are snowed in and contemplating the fireplace: Equipment doesn't make the skier; it just helps. Think back to last summer, when we saw Jaret Llewellyn flying an incredible 299 feet behind a Ski Nautique...

2001 Boat Buyer's Guide.
January 1, 2001... This year's new bowrider, cruiser and cuddy models reflect buyers' wishes for boats that are easy to use and well equipped With the winter boat shows now here and the summer boating season soon to follow, it's time to start seeing what...

Second Home.
January 1, 2001... For those looking for extended cruising range and liveaboard capabilities in an easy-to-tow boat, See Ray's 225 Weekender may be the perfect home away from home Among many runabout owners, there comes a time to move up. A bigger boat is...

DUELING DFIs. (direct fuel-injected outboard motors) (Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2001... Who makes the best 150 hp direct fuel-injected outboard? We test the three major brands to find out When it comes to performance and fuel economy, are direct-fuel-injected (DFI) two-stroke outboards all the same? Or do the various DFI...

KEEPIN' IT COOLER.
January 1, 2001... We show how to install an auxiliary automatic transmission cooler Although automobile manufacturers are beginning to provide popular tow vehicles with trailering packages as standard equipment, many vehicles are sold without these...

On Board.
January 1, 2001... Catching Cachuma at Its Finest Driving on U.S. Highway 101 north of Santa Barbara, I felt a touch of old California. We were surrounded by hills of undulating wild grass dotted with gigantic, sprawling live oaks -- a pristine landscape not...

HEWESCRAFT 179 SEA RUNNER.
January 1, 2001... Whatever your choice of waterway, be it ocean, lake or river, Hewescraft of Colville, Washington, has a model for you. The company produces high-quality craft at a reasonable price, and can still offer the prospective buyer enough options to...

ALUMAWELD STRYKER SPORT SE.
January 1, 2001... For 2001, Alumaweld's Stryker Sport will feature as standard equipment a heavy-duty all-welded windshield assembly with welded supports for strength, a large welded fishbox in the bow, a welded-aluminum bow deck and a higher horsepower rating....

ADVANTAGE VICTORY 30.
January 1, 2001... While longer than most boats we report on, the Victory 30 from Advantage Boats in Lake Havasu, Arizona, is so gorgeous we just had to show it to you. And even though the boat is 30 feet, 6 inches from stem to stern and weighs approximately...

Desert Glacier.
January 1, 2001... We take Glacier Bay's new 2260 center-console cat to Utah's massive Lake Powell for a through test 'Few will deny that speed on the water is one of the more important aspects of boating. With powerboats, going fast generally means a...

Alberta Adventure.
January 1, 2001... A trailerboat trip to Alberta's mile-high Kananaskis Lakes is an unforgettable Western experience We stopped to watch an ungainly moose cow and her equally homely calf munch plants in a bog. Moments later, a flock of bighorn sheep swarmed...

ADVANTAGE BOATS HARNESSES POTENT NEW V-12 ENGINES.
January 1, 2001... One of the West's premier "California custom" builders, Advantage Boats of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, is redefining performance by offering a potent V-12 engine developed by Torque Engineering. According to Ray Wedel, president of the Elkhart,...

NEW CALIFORNIA LAW REQUIRES PFD USE BY CHILDREN UNDER 12.
January 1, 2001... Effective January 1, 2001, two new California laws raise the state's minimum age for required lifejacket use, and make boating education mandatory for anyone convicted of a moving violation aboard a vessel. Late last year, Gov. Gray Davis...

OREGON MANDATES BOATER ED.
January 1, 2001... As mandated by the 1999 Oregon Legislature, compulsory boater education is in the works and state boating officials are busy hammering out the details. The new law applies to operators of any boat greater than 10 hp, and 12- to 15-year-old...

ALUMINUM BOATBUILDERS WELDCRAFT AND DUCKWORTH ANNOUNCE MERGER.
January 1, 2001... According to a report in Inter/port, the newsletter of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, Duckworth Boats and Weldcraft Marine have signed a letter of intent to merge into a company known as Renaissance Marine Group (RMG). The...

LOS ANGELES DEVELOPERS MAY SPARE MARINA DEL REV RAMP.
January 1, 2001... The uproar from trailer boaters over plans to move Los Angeles' Marina del Rey (MDR) launch ramp to a smaller, adjacent site in order to commercially develop the existing property has apparently saved the popular ramp. What form it will take...

NEW LAUNCH RAMP DEDICATED IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.
January 1, 2001... While Southern California's oceangoing trailer boaters fight to maintain adequate launching facilities in Marina del Rey, boaters a little farther down the coast are enjoying a new ramp that was dedicated in mid-November. The South Shore Launch...

BOATS OF ALASKA CAPTURES THE SPIRIT OF OFFBEAT BOATERS.
January 1, 2001... They say you can't tell a book by its cover... but that doesn't apply to Harry M. Walker's latest work, Boats of Alaska. At 64 pages, this slim little tome offers humorous insight into life afloat in the 49th State, where waterways serve as the...

GOING LOONEY WITH ROONEY.
January 1, 2001... Scheduled January 12-21 at the Cow Palace, the 2001 edition of the San Francisco Sports & Boat Show is a must-attend event for most Bay-area boaters. Aisle after aisle of gleaming fiberglass craft wow legions of showgoers, who never stop to...

CLEAN WATER GRANT APPS DUE.
January 1, 2001... As previously reported in "Western Currents" (Trailer Boats, September 2000), the grant application deadline is fast approaching for groups seeking funds for community-based projects that encourage environmentally friendly boating and fishing....

PRO-LINE 26 WALK.
January 1, 2001... If you sometimes feel like Goldilocks -- every boat you look at is too big or too little -- then try Pro-Line's 26 Walk on for size. We'll bet it's the perfect fit. Boasting a comfortable cabin for cruising, and plenty of "bottom" for offshore...

TALON F-16.
January 1, 2001... Fish beware! Lurking beneath the F-16's traditional deck layout is a cutting edge, modified tunnel hull that lets this 16 1/2-foot flats boat run super shallow, yet delivers a soft ride when crossing bumpy bays. Built with a full-length middle...

FISHER HAWK 186 FISH 'N SKI.
January 1, 2001... Ideally sized for family fun and easy trailerability, Fisher's new, all-aluminum 18 1/2-foot Hawk 186 I/O is an affordable fish 'n ski package that's powered by a scrappy 3.0L MerCruiser sterndrive. Loaded with the right stuff to please...

DIESEL DEBATE.
January 1, 2001... Is diesel power a viable option in a 20-foot saltwater fishing boat? We test a 125 hp Yanmar to find out As an enthusiastic owner of a saltwater fishing boat, I have always liked the economy and cruising range of diesel power. Yet I...

FOGGED IN.
January 1, 2001... The U.S. Power Squadron offers boaters these tips for dealing with dense fog Boaters who routinely cruise offshore on the East Coast are accustomed to operating in fog. But when you encounter fog for the first time, the experience can be...

TIPS ON SNEAKING INTO THE NEW YORK BOAT SHOW.
January 1, 2001... Just for kicks, why not sneak into this month's New York National Boat Show? Go ahead... it's all for a good cause. Howzat? By attending the show's first annual Preview Benefit on January 5, you not only get to see the show before the general...

WATER CLEAN-UP GRANTS FUND GRASSROOTS EFFORTS.
January 1, 2001... Six grassroots efforts organized by Eastern boaters rank among 11 projects nationally to receive funding from the Boat/U.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. Grants totaling $11,163 were awarded to help community groups improve...

ASSOCIATION SEEKS BETTER MAINTENANCE OF IGW.
January 1, 2001... Citing a lack of maintenance and chronic shoaling problems along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWA) has been formed to foster better care of this important recreational and commercial...

NEW YORK GETS TOUGH ON PWCs.
January 1, 2001... Things are heating up for personal watercraft (PWC) enthusiasts in New York, where last fall Gov. George Pataki signed two critical pieces of legislation affecting the state's 50,000-plus PWCs. The first of these new laws grants local...

LUND MR. PIKE 16.
January 1, 2001... One of the most popular fishing boat brands in the Upper Midwest, Lund has upgraded the classic Mr. Pike in a 16-foot model that boasts features previously found only on Lund's larger fishing craft. The new 16-footer comes with an Integrated...

SEAARK EXTREME 176.
January 1, 2001... SeaArk's Extreme 176 was a finalist in the Innovations Awards when the new bassboat was introduced at Boating Week last autumn in Orlando, Florida -- and for good reason. The boat's hull incorporates a unique extruded aluminum pad, pressed-in,...

MANITOU 24 TRIPLE LEGACY.
January 1, 2001... A brand new "triple-logger" from Manitou Pontoon Boats, the 24 Legacy is the Lansing, Michigan-based boat manufacturer's first model incorporating three pontoons, rather than the traditional two. The Legacy accommodates up to a dozen passengers...

CraftyCompromise.
January 1, 2001... Want a boat for comfortable cruising, day-tripping, watersports and fishing? Starcraft's Aurora 2005 is a clever solution When plans began to come together for our first boating vacation as a family -- including my wife and infant son Ethan...

NEW CUYAHOGA RIVER GUIDE AVAILABLE TO BOATERS.
January 1, 2001... Detailed guides to one of the busiest recreational boating areas on the Great Lakes, the "Flats" section of the lower Cuyahoga River in downtown Cleveland, are now available from the flats Oxbow Association. The organization collaborated with...

LAKE HURON'S THUNDER BAY TO BECOME MARINE SANCTUARY.
January 1, 2001... A cemetery of marine calamity for more than 200 years in northern Lake Huron, 448 square miles of Thunder Bay have been declared the nation's 13th marine sanctuary. Named the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary by the National Oceanic and...

ZEBRA MUSSELS DISCOVERED IN DULUTH HARBOR.
January 1, 2001... A major infestation of zebra mussels in Minnesota's Duluth-Superior harbor has been confirmed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources biologists. The extent of the heavy zebra mussel infestation was discovered while biologists were...

BOATING BASICS COURSE OFFERED TO NORTH DAKOTA YOUTH.
January 1, 2001... North Dakota youngsters between the ages of 12 to 15 are required to pass a Boating Basics course in order to operate a boat powered by more than 10 hp, or a personal watercraft by themselves. The course is free and available in a home study...

SKI-IN THE NEW YEAR.
January 1, 2001... Members of the Illinois-based Alton Waterski Club welcome fellow waterskiers and frigid digit boaters to help them ring-in the New Year by skiing on the mighty Mississippi River in front of Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis. The fun will...

SMOKY MOUTAINS TOUR.
January 1, 2001... For quality time with family and friends, try hopscotching the Great Smoky Mountains' waterways with a RV and boat Today the tourism industry tempts vacationers with a variety of escapes, and while my family has always enjoyed the thrill of...

Your turn to Vote.
January 1, 2001... TRAILER BOATS "Over The Transom" 2000 Photo Finalists The weird and wild Trailer Boats' "Over The Transom" (OTT) pictures have been delighting readers for 25 years. This year's OTT winners are no exceptions, and now it is your turn to...

Euro Hauler.
January 1, 2001... BMW's new X5 combines European luxury and driving performance with a 6000-pound tow rating Today, a true "tow car" is hard to find. Pickups, sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and vans have taken over the towing spotlight, while cars have been...

New Economy.
January 1, 2001... These 10 tips can help trailerboaters maximize towing fuel economy Having survived two Middle East oil embargoes in the 1970s, I know what it is like to contend with a serious fuel crisis. While we have not had great shortages or gas...

Tech Letters.
January 1, 2001... BEARING PROTECTION What's with bearing protectors? I have heard several opinions around the lake and in the shop concerning when to grease, and when not to grease the bearing savers. Advice ranges from totally replacing and repacking them...

TOW CAR.
January 1, 2001... SUBURBAN BRAKING This is about electric/hydraulic brakes on a two-wheel-drive (2WD) 3/4-ton Suburban that replaced a four-wheel-drive (4WD) Ford F-350 Crew Cab as a tow vehicle. I tow a 1984 Sea Ray Sundancer that weighs 8000 pounds....

GET MORE GPS MEMORY WITH MAGELLAN.
January 1, 2001... If you can't find your way with this Magellan GPS, then you really are lost. According to the manufacturer, the new Magellan MAP 330 offers the most memory of any GPS on the market. With 16 MB of built-in memory, the database provides worldwide...

CHARGE IT WITH XANTREX.
January 1, 2001... This petite charger from Xantrex Technology can save you time and worry. The TRUEcharge l0TB 10-amp, multistage battery charger measures only 7 1/2 x 6 3/4 x 2 3/4 inches and weighs 3 1/2 pounds. A built-in microprocessor eliminates the need...

STAY CLEAR WITH MARYKATE VINYL CLEANER.
January 1, 2001... Specifically designed for the marine environment, Marykate Clear Vinyl Cleaner and Polish can help protect vinyl surfaces from the harmful effects of moisture, salt and sunlight; it leaves them soft and looking new. Marykate Clear Vinyl Cleaner...

LIGHT UP YOUR BOAT WITH INTERCON.
January 1, 2001... Two new catalogs from InterCon Marketing can help you narrow down the lighting and cooktop options for your boat. Lighting can make below-deck areas more inviting and safe, and cooking on a new cooktop can certainly make mealtime less of a...

STYLISH FREESTYLE WATCH STANDS UP TO HARSH CONDITIONS.
January 1, 2001... Set to military standards for durability under severe conditions, the new Shark X watch for men from FreeStyle offers state-of-the-art performance. The Shark X provides analog movement combined with digital timing functions, and is...

ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY SYNTHETIC TWO-STROKE OIL.
January 1, 2001... New from Pennzoil Marine is a 100 percent synthetic product line that includes TC-W3 biodegradable two-stroke oil. According to Pennzoil, the oil has been tested extensively and meets recommendations set by the federal Environmental Protection...

MAINTAIN GOOD VISIBILDY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER.
January 1, 2001... If you're one of those skippers who occasionally get caught boating in the rain, here's some help from Imtra Corp. The company recently added the Exalto line of windshield wipers to its marine products. Exalto windshield wipers were...

SQUELCH THOSE SQUEAKS.
January 1, 2001... New from Super Lube is this handy little container of oil to plunk into your onboard toolbox. Super Lube oil is nontoxic and safe to use on metal, rubber, plastic, wood, leather, fabric and painted surfaces. It's a lightweight synthetic oil...

BOAT MORE COMFORTABLY WITH A THIGH RISE SEAT.
January 1, 2001... If your standard captain's chair is giving you a pain in the back, try a new banquette from Springfield Marine Co. The new Thigh Rise Flip Up Seat features three seating positions. In the "thigh rise" configuration, the seat surface is raised...