Trailer Boats articles from January 2007

Trailer Boats archives from January 2007

Sea change.(On Plane)
January 1, 2007... Survival of the fittest applies as much to publishing as it does to sharks. And like a shark that must keep swimming to force water through its gills, magazines, too, must continually move forward to stay alive. If you're not adapting and...

Our little secret.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2007... Your December article on "Cruiser Camping" was the first time I have seen those words put together in a magazine. My wife and I and several other couples with boats have been "cruiser camping" for years. We even call it that, but have always...

Calling all cars.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2007... Here's a weird one. After pulling out of the launch ramp, my friend stopped at a traffic light, and, as he did, the water in his boat's bilge triggered the automatic bilge pump, which promptly shot water into the open window of an adjacent...

One size fits all ... not!(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2007... In his September 2006 On Plane, Ron Eldridge espouses the adoption of mandatory boating education over boating drivers' licenses. I recently took a boating education course and passed. However, I drive boats exclusively on lakes. Do I really...

Over-square design.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2007... In "Bragging Rights" (October, 2006), we erroneously described an "over-square" engine as one having a stroke longer than the diameter of the bore. The opposite is true. Over-square designs are usually associated with high-revving engines,...

Rookie team claims top slot.(Dock Talk)
January 1, 2007... One of two unlimited hydroplane teams sponsored by Formula Boats, Team U-7 Formulaboats.com claimed the National Team High Point title for the American Boat Racing Association's (ABRA) 2006 season. Earning a U-1 designation for the upcoming...

Alliance formed to protect water access.(Dock Talk)
January 1, 2007... In an effort to stave off increasing restrictions to public access to the nation's waterways, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. Many waterfront sites...

One-stop shopping.(Dock Talk)
January 1, 2007... Looking for a particular type of fishing boat with good rod storage? Hankering for a Yamaha to power it? Check out Nautic Expo's new "Virtual Nautical Library" at NauticExpo.com. Comprising nearly 600 product brochures from the world's major...

Getting personal: PWC profiling.(Dock Talk)
January 1, 2007... Now I know how it might feel to be a victim of racial profiling. Last summer, a young girl was involved in a fatal accident while operating a PWC illegally just outside of my canal in Ocean City, New Jersey. While I have great empathy for the...

Pro-Line's extra-tall 29 GS.(overwides only)
January 1, 2007... There are two words to keep in mind when it comes to security in an offshore boat: "freeboard good." And when it comes to freeboard, Pro-Line's 29 Grand Sport has it in spades. With more than 4 feet of clearance at the bow, this rig can take on...

TBM goes to the movies.(wake tools)
January 1, 2007... For most of us, the season for waterskiing, riding and footing is long over. Yes, you can still put on a dry-suit or head to warmer southern climes. But there's another way you can get your fix on the water at the end of the line--without...

Middleweight melee.(power trip)
January 1, 2007... When we journeyed to the Land of the Rising Sun to test Honda's new BF90 four-stroke on its home turf (page 36), we were fortunate to run it on three different boats--including a Scout 175 Sportfish. This proved a stroke of luck, as we had...

Boston whaler 190 Montauk.(launch ramp)
January 1, 2007... The largest sibling in a family of three, Boston Whaler's new 190 Montauk offers great fishing angles from every part of the boat. Function is key on this rig, and the 19-footer comes with standards that include a Mercury 115 four-stroke,...

O/B and I/O fans evenly split.(reader survey results)
January 1, 2007... As revealed in our October survey on Trailer Boats.com, readers are fairly evenly split when it comes to choosing between outboards and sterndrives. When asked if they would like to see more boats offered with optional outboard power,...

Question of the month.(reader survey results)
January 1, 2007... What is the primary reason you go boating? * Spend quality time with family and friends * Increase the quality of my life * See new places and do new things * Participate in an active out-door sport * All of the above ...

Too much digital?(Propulsion Report)
January 1, 2007... With digital electronics racing through our industry, there isn't much in the way of engine, boat or accessory functions that can't be measured and displayed. But just because something can be displayed, does it mean it should be? ...

Lick moisture problems.(Boat Improvement)
January 1, 2007... Boats are notorious for collecting condensation in enclosed spaces. This is partly due to the humid air where boats are used, but it also stems from the simple physics of airborne moisture finding a new home inside your boat. It's all wrapped...

Closing the gap: Rinker's exciting R1 blurs the lines between a family runabout and a hardcore tow boat.(Boat Test)
January 1, 2007... Rinker Boats is making sure the performance gap between sterndrives and inboard wakeboard boats continues to narrow. In the past, when it came to water-sports prowess, the two categories were not worth comparing. The staid but reliable...

Fit for a king: based on its fit subcompact, Honda's new 90 and 75 hp four-strokes are tailor-made for anglers.(Engine Test)
January 1, 2007... Honda has a new four-stroke that's fit for a king... a king salmon fisherman, that is. Or a walleye "a-fish-ionado," or anyone else hankering for a smooth-running and punchy midsize mill that's as good at the top end as it is poking along at...

Power play: technological advances and more efficient power define the current state of outboards and sterndrives.(Buyer's Guide)
January 1, 2007... As has been the case in recent years, the major advances in marine power continue to resonate in the outboard field, and 2007 is no exception. Another trend is the gradual slowing of new model introductions. Compared to the furious release of...

Brute force: we're the first to tow test Ford's 2008 Super Duty pickup with the new 6.4L Power Stroke diesel ... and man, what a brute.(EXCLUSIVE!)
January 1, 2007... The 2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty that is the subject of this report is scheduled to hit showrooms in early 2007. No firm release dates have been announced as of presstime, but when we were able to arrange an exclusive, weeklong test of a...

Pump 'em out: fish lockers a pain to drain? Solve the problem by installing a waste pump. Here's how.(TBM How-To)
January 1, 2007... Draining the fish lockers on my saltwater fishing boat has always been a problem. Because they are designed to drain via gravity with the boat on the trailer, the bow has to be tilted up substantially for the lockers to drain effectively. This...

Radar power.(Tech Letters)
January 1, 2007... I want to put a radar unit on my boat primarily for night fishing. My budget calls for a 1.5 kW unit from one of the major manufacturers. My dealer tells me that 1.5 kW units are worthless, and that I should opt for nothing less than 3 kW or...

Mercruiser 4.3L upgrade.(Tech Letters)
January 1, 2007... I have a 1998, 21-foot boat that weighs about 2900 pounds with a 4.3L MerCruiser rated at 190 hp. It is propped with an oversize 14 1/2x21-inch wheel. I am considering an upgrade to a four-barrel carburetor to boost horsepower to 215. The...

Winterizing and ethanol.(Tech Letters)
January 1, 2007... I've been winterizing my MasterCraft inboard ski boat the same way for the past 23 years by always filling the fuel tank and using a fuel stabilizer. I'm hearing that since our fuel now contains up to 10 percent ethanol, the entire fuel system...

Engine priming.(Tech Letters)
January 1, 2007... We are experiencing difficulty with the primer pump bulb on our Johnson 200 Ocean Pro. It does not seem to hold pressure, and it takes forever for the engine to start. We have replaced the bulb, but it seems to make little difference. ...

Lists to port.(Tech Letters)
January 1, 2007... I have a 20-foot Century bay boat powered by a Yamaha 115 four-stroke. At about 2500 to 3000 rpm, the boat lists to port. It doesn't steer or pull to port, it just leans. Moving the passengers to the starboard doesn't help. I don't have trim...

Name that drive.(Tech Letters)
January 1, 2007... Perhaps you can help me with identifying the sterndrive on my recently purchased 1984 Murray Chris-Craft 215 Scorpion. It has a MerCruiser 488 engine (such as discussed in Tech Letters, September 2006) coupled to a sterndrive which has all of...

Straighten the wheel.(Tech Letters)
January 1, 2007... After every sterndrive service it seems my steering wheel has to be turned more and more off center to steer straight. The dealer says he can't make the steering wheel straight with the sterndrive. You can with a car, why not with a boat?...

Gear choices.(Truck & Trailer)
January 1, 2007... I am in the process of searching for a replacement for my 1998 Ford Expedition. After seeing the new Chrysler Aspen, I think the search has ended. My trailered load is about 4500 pounds, so either of the axle gear choices (3.55:1 or 3.92:1)...

Leaky seals.(Truck & Trailer)
January 1, 2007... Recently I installed new bearings, double lip seals with stainless steel tension springs and bearing protectors on my 10-year-old boat trailer. After a few short runs, I noticed grease spattered on the insides of the wheels. What could be...

Oldie but goodie.(Truck & Trailer)
January 1, 2007... A year ago I got a 1991 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Station Wagon and it is going to be my tow vehicle for hauling a 1972 Wellcraft 18-footer. Including trailer, the boat weighs about 3000 pounds. The wagon has 80,000 miles on it, but runs like a...

Tire inflation.(BOURDON'S TOW TIP)
January 1, 2007... Proper tire inflation is more critical than many think, especially when it comes to the rubber on your boat trailer. Keeping a tire's inflation level at its maximum cold-pressure rating is necessary to achieve the tire's maximum load capacity....

Torsion axle trailer.(Truck & Trailer)
January 1, 2007... I don't recall having read recently any articles on the different types of boat trailers and running gear (leaf spring vs. torsion axle, and grease-packed bearings vs. oil-bath hubs). What really is the true dream trailer if money is no object?...

Sensible stainless.(Gotta Have It)
January 1, 2007... Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a sicko when it comes to stainless steel. So when I heard SeaSense (941/594-7997; seasense.com) had introduced an all-stainless swing-away trailer jack, I was on the phone immediately to get one for testing. ...

Boating brainteasers.(Gotta Have It)
January 1, 2007... Quick, do you know the horn signal to abandon ship? Do you know how to make an Ashley's stopper knot? Boaters can learn these facts and many others in the 2007 edition of the Nauti-Benders Boater's Calendar. The calendar, now in its 13th...

Tow truck power.(Gotta Have It)
January 1, 2007... Squeeze every last ounce of power--and fuel--out of your diesel truck with the new Banks PowerPDA ($370) from Gale Banks Engineering (800/601-8072; bankspower.com). The PowerPDA software turns any normal Palm PDA into a powerful command center...