Trailer Boats articles from January 2005

Trailer Boats archives from January 2005

Pump it up.(On Plane)
January 1, 2005... Boating requires three things: water, boats and boaters. Recognizing the only way to grow was to reach beyond traditional audiences and cultivate mainstream consumers, about 10 years ago, the industry began to look at how it might attract new...

In shock.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Once again I cannot believe some of the letters you receive. But I will have to agree 100 percent with Lyle Ware [Prop Wash, September 2004]. It is because of people like him, who know nothing about boats or boating that [some feel] all of us...

Considering a repower.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Your August 2004 article on the new Evinrude V-6 E-Tecs ("The E-Factor") was very good. I am thinking of repowering my 20-foot Grady-White walk-around, and am partial to a two-stroke. It will be a single engine in the 200 hp range. ...

Clarifications.(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2005... Our independent laboratory comparison of four-stroke marine oils ("Duke of Oil," October, 2004) failed to include Nissan Marine Four-Cycle Oil and Tohatsu Outboard Four-Cycle Oil. We apologize for the omission. For more information on these...

Seeking tin versatility.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I would like to see more coverage of boats that are good for a combination of things, such as water-sports and fishing. I would also like to see more aluminum boats in your magazine. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Brent Deffinbaugh ...

Bottom trawling legislation signed into law in California.(Dock Talk)
January 1, 2005... In California, the drive to put an end to bottom trawling, a destructive practice used by commercial fishing outfits, has finally paid off. In September, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill that limits bottom trawling. ...

Skipper's Challenge.(Dock Talk)
January 1, 2005... If your trailer lights are burning out too often, try ________ before backing down the ramp next time. a. Turning on your high beams. b. Flashing your lights on and off three times. c. Unplugging the lights. d. Getting a...

Innovators honored at international event.(Dock Talk)
January 1, 2005... Eight companies were honored for the development of cutting-edge products at the International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) Innovation Awards, held in Miami Beach, Florida. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Judged by members of...

Watertoy profile: new shapes in HO competition slaloms.(Dock Talk)
January 1, 2005... We sure have come a long way from the wooden Dick Pope Jr. skis of yesteryear, when slalom skiing consisted of speeding up and then slowing down dramatically, buoy after buoy. In contrast, today's skier needs to move through the course without...

Getting personal: bone-dry secrets.(Dock Talk)
January 1, 2005... When my wife, Terry, received her boater's safety course certification in 1999, she was ready to ride a personal watercraft (PWC), but still had much to learn in order to get the most out of the experience. On our first few long-distance trips...

Overwides only: Larson's comfortable Cabrio.(Dock Talk)
January 1, 2005... When we see a 26 1/2-foot cruiser, our first thought is that she must have an 8 1/2-foot beam, the maximum trailering width in most states without needing a special permit. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That's why the Larson Cabrio 260 fooled...

Electronics: Magellan's capable little eXplorist.(Dock Talk)
January 1, 2005... Handheld GPS navigators, like all types of consumer electronics, continue to get smaller and less expensive. The new Magellan (909/394-5000; magellangps) eXplorist Series is a prime example. Not much bigger than a cellphone at 4.6X2.1X1.3...

Dinosaurs rule.(READER SURVEY RESULTS)
January 1, 2005... October's Question of the Month asked whether our readers use synthetic, synthetic blend or fossil-based ("dinosaur") oil in their boats' engines. Although we expected fossil-based lubricants to sweep the poll, we were mildly surprised to learn...

Question of the month.(Dock Talk)
January 1, 2005... Have you ever repowered your boat? And if so, would you do it the same, or would you choose differently next time around? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Definitely. I love my repower experience * Yes, but I'd make different choices next...

Installing cleats.(Boat Improvement)
January 1, 2005... Nothing lasts forever--including the cleats on your boat. Over time, chrome or zinc plating wears off, plastic disintegrates from ultraviolet rays or the cleats pull loose from the decks or railings. So, rather than see your boat float off...

Off-season upgrades.(Boating Basics)
January 1, 2005... For many boaters across North America, the closest we can get to enjoying our favorite sport this time of year is to attend boat shows and live the boating lifestyle vicariously through the exhibits of new boats, accessories and destinations...

Standard of satisfaction.(Propulsion Report)
January 1, 2005... Headquartered in Chicago, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is a trade organization dedicated to improving the boating experience--both for the boatbuyer and manufacturer. The association is active in many areas, including in...

Hard body: with chiseled lines and plenty of pizzazz, Monterey's new 214 FS gives family boating a new look.(TEST)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2005... Q: What do the 2005 Cadillac V Series, the Ford GT and Land Rover's Range Stormer have in common with Monterey's new 21-foot bowrider? A: Hard, chiseled lines. Boats have featured plenty of curves in recent years--this is sometimes...

T-S, I love you: storybook towns, friendly folks and all manner of locks highlight a cruise through Canada's picturesque Trent-Severn Waterway.(TBM DESTINATION)
January 1, 2005... For those with a hankering to explore, few boating adventures can match cruising America's Great Loop. Otherwise known as the Great Circle Route, it involves the circumnavigation of eastern North America via the Atlantic seaboard, Great Lakes,...

Sticker shock: every so often, a boat's price tag really shocks you ... but in a good way. Bayliner's value-leading 185 is one such craft.(TEST)
January 1, 2005... The entry-level boat has been a staple of the marine industry for years and few would deny the value of such offerings. They allow folks to get into boating who might not otherwise have the opportunity. In the past, however, such craft often...

Marine power 2005: here's the lowdown on more than 360 new outboards and sterndrives, with complete specs and pricing.(BUYER'S GUIDE)
January 1, 2005... In the world of marine power, some years bring a slew of new engines, while others--such as 2005--are best characterized not so much by debuts, but by trends. Certainly, there are plenty of exciting new outboards and sterndrives to talk...

Extreme makeover: all new except in name, the Hemi-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee packs more towing power than ever before.(TEST)
January 1, 2005... Now in its third generation, Jeep's Grand Cherokee has really gone through some changes. Redesigned for 2005, the new body gives this rig a bigger and more aggressive look, and its completely re-engineered suspension, steering and transfer case...

Vote and win! 2004 Over the Transom photo contest finalists.
January 1, 2005... The 11 monthly winners in our 2004 rendition of Trailer Boats' long-standing Over the Transom photo contest tickled the funny bones of boaters everywhere. As always, the winning images capture boating's lighter side in a fresh and wacky new...

Tight spot: here's an easy fix for stripped boltholes.(TBM How-To)
January 1, 2005... Oh boy! Now you've done it. You tightened that bolt a quarter turn too much and stripped the bolthole in your engine's aluminum block. Bummer. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What are you going to do? Cheer up partner. There's an easy...

What's in store?(Tech Letters)
January 1, 2005... I cannot get a definitive answer as to how the 2006 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations will affect traditional two-stroke carbureted outboards. For example, let's take the Mercury 125 Classic. Will that engine still be available...

Stripped threads.(Tech Letters)
January 1, 2005... While installing new spark plugs in my 115 hp outboard, I overtightened the plug and stripped the threads. I removed the rear cover plate with the intention of buying a new head and discovered that the plate is just a water jacket cover and...

Testing, testing.(Tech Letters)
January 1, 2005... Before launching, I routinely fire the engine while my boat is on the trailer to make sure it will start. I have done this for years and never had a problem until now. The last time out, the engine overheated before I even got out of the...

Shift stalling.(Tech Letters)
January 1, 2005... I have a 1986 20-foot Apache cuddy cabin with a MerCruiser 350 Mag and Alpha outdrive. It has low hours and is stock as far as I can tell. I'm having a problem with it stalling when I go from neutral into gear (either forward or reverse). It...

Hummer hopeful.(Tow Car)
January 1, 2005... One of the choices I am considering for my next tow vehicle is the Hummer H2. I was surprised to see that your tow ratings charts in the December issue list the 2005 Hummer H2 as having a relatively low (in my way of thinking) tow rating for a...

Brake power.(Tow Car)
January 1, 2005... You did a wonderful job of providing readers with tow ratings for all the new vehicles in your December issue, but you didn't list any information on braking capacities. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] My Suburban pulls like an ox, but doesn't...

Less clanging.(Tow Car)
January 1, 2005... Reading Evan Contos' letter ("Schucks, It Works," December) about his hitch clanging and banging when trailering reminded me that my trailer was behaving in the same unruly manner. That is, until the trailer's brake system received a thorough...

Bourdon's tow tip.(Tow Car)
January 1, 2005... We were shocked when an informal survey we took at our local launch ramp turned up more questions than answers when we asked boaters what condition their trailer brakes were in. Many who spend thousands of dollars and dozens of hours upgrading...

Suck it up.(TBM Tested)
January 1, 2005... With winter's rain and snow, keeping your boat outdoors can be risky business. Even with a boat cover, there's a good chance that you'll end up with water pooling somewhere. It's nice to know that a pump such as the WaterBuster ($40.50)...

Buoyant baby.(Gotta Have It)
January 1, 2005... Young children riding in moving watercraft must wear life vests--it's the law. If you take your toddler or baby along on boat trips, you might want to check out Bart's Babysafe Infant Life Vest ($30) from Bart's WaterSports (800/348-5016;...

The art of quick change.(Gotta Have It)
January 1, 2005... For the nonexhibitionists among us, the prospect of changing in and out of swimwear while on a cabinless boat can be a bit daunting. Now you can keep your dignity intact by bringing along the Porta-Popper (800/657-5577). No, it's not a portable...