Trailer Boats articles from January 2002

Trailer Boats archives from January 2002

Endless Season. (On Plane).
January 1, 2002... The waters of the Pacific were as flat as a tabletop, and by 8 a.m., the morning sun had already warmed us to the point that we no longer needed our jackets. My sons and I were fishing for halibut along the coast of Malibu, California, and it...

Not Snug. (Letters to the Editors).
January 1, 2002... Having lived in Northwest Washington all my life, it was with great interest that I read the article about Snug Harbor ("San Juan Winter," December 2001). I have been there many times and found the article to be very accurate. However, I must...

Unbelievable Braking. (Letters to the Editors).
January 1, 2002... I love your magazine, and read it from cover to cover. I especially like the trailer/truck tow tests and other towing articles. I am writing to ask a question about your test of the Isuzu Axiom XS ("New Kid" by Stuart Bourdon, October 2001)....

Jet Fan. (Letters to the Editors).
January 1, 2002... I pull my Sea-Doo Challenger 1800 sportjet on a trailer, but you never talk about these very exciting and fun boats. I think part of your magazine should be devoted to this type of boat. Gary Hartwell Krugerville, Texas Never say...

Dollars and Sense. (Letters to the Editors).
January 1, 2002... I am a long-time reader of Trailer Boats. Maybe I missed something in your two articles about updating the 1990 Sea Ray Seville runabout ("As Good as New" and "As Good as New, Part II," September and October 2001, respectively). Why would...

Mercury Breaks 100 MPH with Stock Sterndrive V-8s. (Dock Talk).
January 1, 2002... A twin MerCruiser-equipped Eliminator 30 Daytona has become the first boat to break the 100 mph barrier with stock sterndrive engines, according to Mercury Marine. The speed run was conducted on Nevada's Lake Mead, near Las Vegas, last summer....

Boaters are Less than Satisfied with Dealer Service, Says J.D. Power Study. (Dock Talk).
January 1, 2002... Of all the boat-dealer service attributes measured in the inaugural study of hew-boat buyers by the famed consumer research firm, J.D. Power and Associates, boaters are least satisfied by the time it takes to complete repairs and service. ...

Beware of Cold Water. (Dock Talk).
January 1, 2002... As chilling temperatures descend across many parts of the country, knowledge of cold-water survival techniques becomes more important than ever. According to Alexandria, Virginia-based Boat/U.S., many drowning deaths are actually caused by...

Space Quest. (Boat Improvement).
January 1, 2002... The problem came to my attention when I discovered that the compartment where I keep my toolbox and spare parts was stuffed with a pair of jeans, several bottles of sunblock, a wad of beach towels and a pair of flip-flops. My space had been...

Show Business. (Back to Basics).
January 1, 2002... January marks the kick off of the traditional winter boat show season, a three-month period that, especially in colder climes, offers a welcome opportunity to be around boats and fellow skippers in the off-season. Growing up in the Midwest, I...

Electronics Q&A.
January 1, 2002... LONG-LASTING LIGHTS I read about those white LED flashlights that might run "hundreds of hours" on just a couple of AA batteries. Have you ever tested their claims? Gina Maugher Louisville, Kentucky I recently tested the LED...

Staying Trim. (Designer's Viewpoint).
January 1, 2002... Simple boat terms such as "trim," "freeboard," "draft" and "self-bailing" can be more complex and interconnected than you think. Consider trim. A boat floating level has zero trim. If sufficient weight is shifted to the bow or stem, the boat...

Troubleshooting. (Propulsion).
January 1, 2002... Keep a marine engine long enough -- whether it's an outboard, sterndrive or inboard -- and you will have a problem. It is not a matter of if, but rather when this will occur. Fortunately, most gasoline-engine problems -- even those occuring...

Hot Stuff. (Ski Locker).
January 1, 2002... For the past few months, I have been busy visiting the builders of waterski and wakeboard boats across America--from the steamy interior of Florida to the dry and dusty San Joaquin Valley of California. From what I have seen, builders...

Scout 220 Bay Scout. (Launch Ramp).
January 1, 2002... Ready and willing to chase redfish across tidal flats or striped bass on a large lake, Scout's new 220 Bay Scout delivers a solid ride and plenty of fishability in a 21-foot, 10-inch-long by 8 1/2 foot-wide bay boat. Boasting features and...

Honda Aquatrax F-12X. (Launch Ramp).
January 1, 2002... We told you about it in December's Launch Ramp, and now we have details on the late-spring debut of Honda's first personal watercraft (PWC). Like the Yamaha Wave-Runner FX 140 and Sea-Doo GTX 4-Tec models, it will be a three-seater powered by a...

Ebbtide 210 Campione Fun Cruiser. (Launch Ramp).
January 1, 2002... Ebbtide has taken the wraps off a new outboard-powered 21x8 1/2-foot deck boat that's sure to be a hit with families who want the flexibility to spend their mornings skiing, their afternoons fishing, and the sunset hours on a leisurely cruise....

Nocturnal Behavior: With the right preparation and coordination, running a boat at night can be a jitter-free experience. Here are 12 tips for a smooth passage.
January 1, 2002... For some boaters, watching the sun dip below the horizon puts a cannonball of dread in their stomachs, causes their hands to turn damp with nervous anxiety and a sheen of sweat to form on their brows. It may have been a perfect day on the...

Hot Tickets Part Deux: Here are 15 more of the hottest new runabouts and cruisers for 2002 -- now premiering at a boat show near you. (Boat Show Buyer's Guide).
January 1, 2002... Just when you think you've seen everything, you can count on Trailer Boats to relentlessly pursue its quest to bring you more. Our October issue's sneak peek (Hot Tickets") at 2002's newest boats was merely a tease. By now, many of the models...

New York Canal Cruise. (TBM Destination).
January 1, 2002... The last leaves of autumn still hung on the trees There was frost on the towlines And the bitter dawn's breeze Sun tinted snow clouds And the team's steaming breath We had potatoes for the city And a long winter's rest. With these lyrics...

Cool, Calm Collected: Cobalt's new midsize bowrider, with its luxurious creature comforts, reservoir of power and velvety ride, offers a transcendent experience. (Boat Test).
January 1, 2002... Our-test of the newest Cobalt to hit the water was performed on Table Rock Lake, Missouri, not far from the boat's birthplace, Neodesha, Kansas. Table Rock is a perfect location for boat testing. The lake is huge, with innumerable miles of open...

Family Friendly: Whaler's new 180 Ventura bowrider is the compact SUV of this legendary line of boats. (Trial Run).
January 1, 2002... Most people probably don't equate boats with trucks, but if they did, Boston Whaler's 2002 Ventura would be the equivalent of a compact, luxury sport-utility vehicle (SUV) such as the GMC Envoy or Toyota 4Runner. Like the popular SUVs,...

Entertainment Center: You'll never hear "Are we there yet?" While towing your boat with the Chevy Express LT Van. (TBM Tow Test).
January 1, 2002... With the flashflood of sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) into the marketplace over the last decade, the full-size van has all but disappeared from the consciousness of the American trailer boater. It just seems that these vehicles aren't cool...

Holy Batstat! Here's a handy gauge that monitors alternator output and battery performance. We show how to install it in 10 easy steps. (TBM How-To).
January 1, 2002... Holy jumper cables, Batman! Frying the Batboat's electrical system and ruining its bat-batteries has left us dead in the water. Now we'll be at the mercy of any old Joker for a tow back to the Batcave." Too bad Batman and Robin didn't have...

Your Turn to Vote.
January 1, 2002... This year's "Over the Transom" photos are weird, wild, wacky and, uh, over the top. Yet the question remains: Which one is the best? We can't decide, so we're leaving it up to you, the readers, to pick a winner. Cast your vote from one of...

Tech Letters.
January 1, 2002... OVERHEATS AT IDLE I have a 1991 Stingray with a MerCruiser 350 Mag MPI engine and Alpha outdrive. The boat is operated on a river. The boat has been "winterized" each year since being purchased new in April 1992. The boat is stored on its...

Tow Car.
January 1, 2002... MORE CUBES, BETTER MPG I am in the process of buying a new heavy-duty Chevy or GMC 2500 pickup, and am using your magazine to do some engine research. In the October 1999 "Stump Puller" article, non-towing fuel economy for the Vortec 6000...

Readers Divided on VHF Radios. (Trailer Boats Survey Results).
January 1, 2002... Do you have a VHF radio installed on your boat? That was the question we asked readers in our December 2001 issue. The survey on our website -- trailerboats.com took place from September 20 to November 15. Half of you have a...

Boat Financing Rates Continue to Drop. (Trailer Boats Survey Results).
January 1, 2002... As we went to press, the Federal Reserve Board was continuing to cut the prime interest rate, and finance rates on new and used boats were dropping like lead sinkers -- a phenomenon that could result in some great deals at the 2002 boat shows....

Nautical Solutions Lets you Stuff it Anywhere. (Gotta have it).
January 1, 2002... When there's a whole lot of fishin' goin' on, a cockpit can get messy in a hurry. The Cockpit Organizer from BoatMates' Nautical Storage Solutions can help you keep things tidy. The handy organizer can safely store baits, pliers, fillet knives,...

Surefire Lights up the Nighttime Boating Experience. (Gotta have it).
January 1, 2002... If you believe that a good flashlight is an important tool to have when you're out on the water, you may want to consider the E1 or E2 Saltwater from Surefire, a company known for quality military and law enforcement equipment. Machined from...

Seymour Offers Metal Protection in a can. (Gotta have it).
January 1, 2002... As a color, rust can be a stunning shade for fall and winter fashions. But no matter what the time of year, it should never be seen adorning the metal parts on your boat. Tool Crib 5-Way Corrosion Inhibitor & Lube from Seymour of Sycamore is...

Log it in, Captain. (Gotta have it).
January 1, 2002... When you get to the point where scraps of paper, napkins and the backs of beverage coasters just won't cut it anymore for recording important boat data, you may be ready for the Captain's Log. After all, who hasn't secretly dreamed of repeating...