Trailer Boats articles from July 2001

Trailer Boats archives from July 2001

A CRUISE THROUGH TIME.
July 1, 2001... With most anniversary editions, there is a tendency to dwell exclusively on the past, rehashing the history of the magazine throughout the entire issue. It's a good excuse to pat ourselves on the back and take an ego trip through time. As...

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS.
July 1, 2001... COMMON MAN I must congratulate you on your success. Your magazine is now a showplace for $25,000 to $90,000 boats and $50,000 tow vehicles. Trailer Boats is a must for anyone looking for a new trailerable boat or tow vehicle. However,...

HONDA GETS PERSONAL.
July 1, 2001... American Honda is getting into the personal watercraft (PWC) business, but not through its power products division, under which the outboard engines fall. Rather, Honda's motorcycle division is launching the PWCs. Naturally, these PWCs...

BOATING'S SAFER.
July 1, 2001... Boating-related fatalities are steadily declining, according to a report from the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety. Though final data was not in at presstime, the agency is projecting 709 boating deaths for 2000, a 3 percent drop...

NEW JEEP LIBERTY CAN TOW 5000 POUNDS.
July 1, 2001... Jeep is dropping the Cherokee and adding the Liberty to its line-up of sport-utility vehicles. With about the same wheelbase as the Ford Escape and Toyota Highlander (see page 60), the Liberty boasts a surprisingly high tow rating of 5000...

CARBON MONOXIDE CHECKLIST.
July 1, 2001... With the spate of publicity concerning carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings aboard boats due to engine exhaust, the National Marine Manufacturers Association has published the following CO safety checklist. EACH TRIP * Make sure all...

CHOCK TALK.
July 1, 2001... This was the year for my biannual pilgrimage to the boat show. As usual, I was impressed by the sheer variety of craft on the market, but even more amazed by their shapes. Looking around, it was hard to find a straight line, except on a Maine...

EVOLUTION OF BASICS.
July 1, 2001... This is going to date me, but my dad first handed me the keys to the family boat the same year Ralph and Carlotta Poole published the first issue of Trailer Boats magazine. That was 1971, and I was 16 years old at the time, the legal minimum...

ELECTRONICS Q&A.
July 1, 2001... ANTENNA CONNECTION Does anyone make a gizmo that would allow me to attach a longer, more flexible antenna to my new marine VHF handheld transceiver? The handheld takes a screw-on connection, which the factory calls "SMA," and the factory...

HANGING HARDWARE.
July 1, 2001... Before you mount a cleat, grabrail, downrigger, or similar piece of hardware subjected to loads, you need to know how to do it right. Because fiberglass is neither especially stiff nor fatigue resistant, it requires special consideration and...

ALL-TIME FAVORITES.
July 1, 2001... Picking my all-time favorite marine engines is a risky proposition. There is plenty of room for disagreement, and the process leaves me wide open for criticism and a bruised ego. Nonetheless, my editor asked me to narrow down my faves for this...

WHERE WERE YOU?
July 1, 2001... When Trailer Boats first hit the newsstand in 1971, slalom king Kris LaPoint was skiing on a wooden waterski. Not even trick specialist Ricky McCormick could do a flip at the time, and anyone getting into 35-off on the slalom course would have...

AIR NAUTIQUE 196.
July 1, 2001... It's incredibly easy to please the average water-sports-loving family. They want a boat that does it all, and one that won't break the bank in the process. Is that asking too much? Correct Craft doesn't think so, and has debuted its...

FORMULA 292 [FAS.sup.3]TECH.
July 1, 2001... If you've got a deep-seated need to blow the doors off every other boat you see, then the cure may be as close as the nearest Formula 292 [Fas.sup.3]Tech. In the watery "beat or be beaten" jungle, the 292's new [Fas.sup.3]Tech hull provides the...

SUN TRACKER REGENCY PARTY BARGE 27.
July 1, 2001... Luxury afloat describes Sun Tracker's latest tubular mansion, as the Regency Party Barge 27 makes lakefront entertaining as easy as untying the lines and cruising off into the sunset. You and 15 of your closest friends can dance the night away...

Technical Knockout.
July 1, 2001... Yamaha's F225 is the vanguard of a new breed -- the first four-stroke V-6 outboard We have been talking about it for several years now, and we first revealed one in the December 2000 issue. Finally, we got our hands on one -- the new...

Vapor Trail.
July 1, 2001... Sportjet manufacturers are zooming in new directions to attract traditional boaters to the virtues of propeller-less power Hey, sportjet manufacturers, what can you do for me? To answer this question, asked by a lot of traditional boaters,...

Golden Opportunity.
July 1, 2001... San Francisco Bay offers world-class fishing and boating in the midst of the big city Every Summer, tourists from all over flock to San Francisco to visit some of the world's most famous attractions: Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz, Ghiradelli...

Back on Course.
July 1, 2001... With solid new ownership and three new sportboat models, Four Winns is back to cruising speed. We profile its latest 20-foot bowrider -- that Horizon 200 This is hardly a normal boat test. Fact is, we delayed publication of this test...

Flare for Safety.
July 1, 2001... Though you carry the required number of visual distress signaling devices for your boat, they may not be the right kind... and you might not have enough for a real emergency Of all the U.S. Coast Guard-required safety equipment on your...

Wheel of Fortune.
July 1, 2001... Selecting the best propeller can be a time-consuming process of trial and error. Here are 10 tips that may save you time... and perhaps some money There are few changes you can make to your boat that will have a greater overall effect than...

Little Big Tow.
July 1, 2001... There's a new breed of small sport-utility vehicle, boasting more power and respectable tow ratings. We test three of the latest Why have smaller sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) garnered so much attention lately? With relatively low sticker...

Little Things.
July 1, 2001... As in the Florida elections, it's the details, like hanging chads, that count... or at least should be counted on. I'm talking about little things, such as when our friends, Bill and Betty, go weekending on their boat, and Betty won't swim...

Triple.
July 1, 2001... BlueWater says its 20-foot Mirage can serve equally well as a runabout, skiboat or wakeboarding platform. We put these claims to the test 'Hold on. I'm going to make a hard turn ahead," I cautioned the BlueWater rep sitting across from me...

Western Currents.
July 1, 2001... GENERATOR EXHAUST CAN KILL ON ANY BOAT Recently, stories about carbon monoxide poisoning, especially aboard houseboats, have peppered the news. Earlier this year the Coast Guard began issuing recalls for houseboats with rear exhaust vents...

Western Trailerables.
July 1, 2001... DAVIS BAHIA 25 Here's a no-nonsense boat for the hardcore offshore angler. The Bahia 25 from Davis Boats offers closed-cell polyurethane flotation chambers and an all-fiberglass, full-length stringer system in its handlaid hull. Although...

Trailer Boaters Win Dana Point Battle.
July 1, 2001... Southern California trailer boaters scored a victory in May when the Orange County Harbors, Parks and Recreation Commission (HPRC) voted to reduce fees for using the launch ramp facilities at Dana Point Harbor. Escalating charges to use...

Tight Lines.
July 1, 2001... Boasting a smooth ride and spacious deck World Cat's new 22-foot center console is designed for chasing offshore fish The ever-increasing popularity of the catamaran-style hull has been due to two main factors. The first is the riding...

Eastern Currents.
July 1, 2001... NEW GUIDE TO HELP BOATERS FIND THEIR WAY AROUND LONG ISLAND SOUND Maptech, Inc. recently announced the release of its new and updated Embassy Guides: Long Island Sound, which covers both shores of Long Island Sound -- from New York Harbor...

Eastern Trailerables.
July 1, 2001... SEA FOX 257 CENTER CONSOLE Making a name for itself as one of the country's fastest-growing boat companies, Sea Fox's tremendous growth can be traced to models such as the new 257 Center Console. Aimed at first-time buyers, family boaters...

Fine 'Tooning.
July 1, 2001... Who needs speed when you're cradled in the lap of pontoon luxury? Here is a quartet of the newest 'toons for 2001 Fast? What's the hurry when you're surrounded by the kind of luxury offered on many of these seemingly non-aerodynamic boats?...

Head of the Class.
July 1, 2001... With an innovative layout, impeccable construction and a sterling ride, Coblt's new 263 cuddy passes every test with flying colors Classy and sassy, Cobalt's latest sweetheart is a 26 1/2-footer that defines upscale performance with all the...

Halting Experience.
July 1, 2001... Ausco's Trail'r Brak'r offers a high level of control in bringing your trailer to a smooth halt Not too long ago, we examined the Carlisle electric/hydraulic-brake system and found it to offer some advantages over the typical boat/trailer...

Anniversary Gift.
July 1, 2001... To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Capri series, Bayliner has redesigned the entire line. We test the new 215 Sport LX What I thought would be a leisurely run up the Intracoastal Waterway in a new 20th Anniversary Capri 215 Sport LX...

Major Haul.
July 1, 2001... Stable and powerful, Fontaine's Classic Traveler is designed to haul major loads in comfort and style You may remember our story on the four-door Everest ("Mountain Mover," March 2000), a 16,600 pound-rated Ford F-450 Super Duty diesel...

Dim THE Lights.
July 1, 2001... Omega Two's new rocker-style marine dimmer-switch can help preserve your night vision by reducing the glare from instrument lights Back in the October 2000 issue, I took boatbuilders to task for not installing dimmer-switches for instrument...

Tech Letters.
July 1, 2001... WATER IN NO. 4 I own a 29-foot Magic Wizard with a 7.4LX MPI engine. I am experiencing a water problem, which is showing up in the No. 4 cylinder. After careful analysis by a MerCruiser technician, the following was discovered: 1. No....

TOW CAR.
July 1, 2001... CHANGING AXLE RATIOS We are considering the purchase of a larger boat that's towed weight exceeds the rating of our current tow vehicle. Our 1999 Chevy Tahoe four-wheel drive (4WD) is rated for 5500 pounds. However, by changing to the...

TOOT YOUR OWN HORN FOR SAFETY.
July 1, 2001... When you're out on the water, you should be seen and heard. Unfortunately, poor visibility is often a fact of life in the boating world. That's where a good, loud horn could literally save your life by letting others know of your presence and...

SPACE-AGE METAL PROTECTOR IS NOW ODORLESS.
July 1, 2001... Boeshield's T-9 is well known by boaters for its rust-inhibiting properties. But now, it's also odorless, so you can use it in the cabin without the unpleasant odor chasing you out. Designed by the Boeing Co. for aircraft, PMS Products'...

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE WITH MOORING WHIPS.
July 1, 2001... Tired of worrying about dings and marks that result from dock contact? Now you can better protect your boat from dock wear. Mooring Whips, from Mooring Products, can stand up to wakes, weather and changing tides that can inflict damage to a...

SEAT YOURSELF IN COMFORT.
July 1, 2001... Have you been feeling lonely at the helm lately? Could be that solitary seating configuration that plagues many a skipper, Feel like a social outcast no more. With Springfield Marine's Double Bucket Seat, which accommodates two people, you...

BEAUTIFY AND PROTECT BRIGHTWORK.
July 1, 2001... For many boaters, "West" has become part of everyday lingo. When you want to keep the natural wood showing through on your brightwork, but protect it at the same time, West System's 105 Resin and 207 Special Coating Hardener might be your best...

GAIN CONTROL IN DOCKING SITUATIONS.
July 1, 2001... You love boating, but does leaving and returning to the dock seem to you like a feat fit for Houdini? Short of springing for a pricey bow thruster, you may be able to solve your docking dilemma with Pull-Oar Waterhook, an innovative, new boat...

KEEP THE RULES HANDY WITH SKIPPER'S HANDBOOK.
July 1, 2001... New from Bristol Fashion Publications is Robert Grossman's handy reference book, Skipper's Handbook. Designed as a quick reference for boaters, the spiral-bound, illustrated book provides information on such necessities as rules of the road,...

FISHING VIDEO SERIES OFFERS ARMCHAIR ADVENTURE.
July 1, 2001... Can't get away long enough for a fishing trip to Papua New Guinea or the Great Barrier Reef? Now a set of new videos can hook you up, at least visually and may even help you plan that dream trip. Join some of the country's top sportfishermen...

Time is a River.
July 1, 2001... No one knows when the first rowboat was loaded on a horse-drawn wagon and hauled to a river, but trailer boating as we know it got underway about 15 to 20 years before this magazine was founded. Back in the 1950s, trailers were crude and tow...

Beyond.
July 1, 2001... For example, new technology is not cheap, and the price of boats, engines and gear continues to climb, as does fuel. Will boating continue to be affordable? What's more, increasingly stringent government regulations on emissions and fuel...

BOURDON BECOMES TOWING EDITOR, AS VETERAN KOVACIK RETIRES.
July 1, 2001... After more than 25 years of conducting tow tests, Bob Kovacik is retiring as the towing editor for Trailer Boats magazine. His farewell tow test appears in this issue ("Little Big Tow," page 60). We will miss Kovacik's trademark feature writing...

Trailer Boats Survey Results.
July 1, 2001... READERS LIKE TO STAY IN TOUCH Do you carry a cell phone when boating? That was the question we asked readers in our May '01 issue, and by cell phones, we meant any kind of wireless phone. Readers logged onto the Trailer Boats website,...