Trailer Boats articles from July 2003

Trailer Boats archives from July 2003

Defining boat shows. (On Plane).
July 1, 2003... We all know the purpose of a major boat show -- to bring a variety of brands and models together under one roof so you can more easily find a craft that suits your needs at a price that suits your budget. Oh, sure, you might also find...

Fire Port. (Letters to the Editor).
July 1, 2003... I found the article entitled "Fire!" in the May issue to be very informative. It should be a good tickler to remind all boaters of the need for operational fire extinguishers and a fire plan. I have a 21-foot bowrider with a V-8 sterndrive. The...

Power vs. Agility. (Letters to the Editor).
July 1, 2003... Regarding the Yukon XL 2500 tow test in the May issue, too bad you can't order the Quadrasteer feature with the optional Vortec 8100 (8.1L) V-S engine. This means you have to forego Quadrasteer to get the maximum 12,000-pound towing rating. ...

Gee-Whiz graphs. (Letters to the Editor).
July 1, 2003... Your magazine is my favorite of the many boating magazines I receive each month. However, one thing bugs me: your use of "Gee-Whiz" graphs (a term from Darrell Huff's excellent 1954 book, How to Lie with Statistics). For example, on page 44 of...

No title. (Letters to the Editor).
July 1, 2003... I think your answer in the May Tech Letters to John Palmer's question ("Why Not 10?") about 9.9 hp outboards is incomplete. I believe the reason outboards are rated at 9.9 hp, instead of 10, is mainly because of titling requirements. Outboards...

Merc outboards get battle-ready. (Dock Talk).
July 1, 2003... Mercury Marine, a longtime U.S. government contractor, will soon be supplying alternative-fuel marine engines for U.S. military forces. This is in response to a recent directive from the Department of Defense to cease the transportation of...

Rendezvous with Regal. (Dock Talk).
July 1, 2003... Regal owners will have the opportunity to meet other Regal owners and mingle with the Regal staff at two corporate-sponsored events this summer. The first is set for June 26-29 (about the time this issue hits the newsstands) at Florida's South...

'Toon tops 80 on Lake X. (Dock Talk).
July 1, 2003... We were surprised to learn that a new official pontoon-boat speed record of 81.0 mph had been set at Lake X recently, and quite frankly, even more surprised that such a class even existed in the record books. Yet, the novelty wore off when we...

Getting personal: Polaris MSX Series. (Dock Talk).
July 1, 2003... Since Polaris entered the personal watercraft (PWC) market in 1992, t has introduced numerous new models, yet the styling lines have not changed much since the birth of its original SL650. While there was little variance in last year's lineup,...

Did you know?
July 1, 2003... The term "starboard" comes from the Old English word steorbord, which meant rudder side, because early Teutonic sailing vessels were steered with a paddle over the right side. The term "wake," which refers to a trail of disturbed water,...

Watertoy profile: Overton's Neo Vest with Sleeves. (Dock Talk).
July 1, 2003... Neoprene ski vests and neoprene wetsuits for waterskiing are not new, but the combination of the two is. Overton's of Greenville, North Carolina, has come up with a hybrid product for waterskiers and wakeboarders who want extra warmth while...

Workin' for a living: Alumaweld Mirage fish-tracking jet boat. (Dock Talk).
July 1, 2003... Natural Resource Scientists Inc. (NRS) of Red Bluff, California, uses two trailerable highspeed jet boats to study the migratory behavior of radiotagged juvenile Chinook salmon in the California Delta. The boats are fitted with sophisticated...

Launch ramp: hot new boats. (Dock Talk).
July 1, 2003... Chinook 21 Pilot John Jay Marine, a Portland, Maine, boatbuilder specializing in unique powerboats, partnered with Sam Devlin of Olympia, Washington-based Devlin Design Boatbuilders to launch the Chinook 21 Pilot. At 21 feet, 5 inches in...

In tow: GM to debut first hybrid tow vehicles. (Dock Talk).
July 1, 2003... Chevrolet and GMC will introduce the first of General Motors' hybrid vehicles as "Flex Power" models in the 2004-model year. Based on the 1500 Series Chevy Silverado Fleetside and GMC Sierra Wideside trucks, the new Flex Power models offer...

Just cruisin': Godfrey Hurricane 218 RE. (Dock Talk).
July 1, 2003... Some boat tests are brutal. Others are cakewalks. I don't recall ever sitting at a table on thick foam-padded seats while recording fuel and speed numbers, but such was the case when we tested Godfrey's Fun Deck Hurricane 218 RE under calm...

Ounce of prevention: stretch your fuel dollars. (Dock Talk).
July 1, 2003... Considering the price of fuel, along with the fact that one of the most common reasons boaters get towed in is from running out of gas, Vessel Assist (800/367-8222; vesselassist.com) offers 10 tips for maximizing fuel efficiency and range: ...

Overwides Only: Glacier Bay Renegade 2640 SX. (Dock Talk).
July 1, 2003... If you're looking for a ton of cockpit and storage space, along with a hull that handles nasty water, Glacier Bay's Renegade 2640 SX power catamaran may be your cup of tea. At 26 feet, 4 inches in length, this family cat offers a large L-shaped...

Electronics: Fireboy-Xintex gasoline fume detector. (Dock Talk).
July 1, 2003... After installing a set of new engine gauges on my boat, I was left with a surplus 2 1/16-inch hole in the helm. Rather than plugging it, I called Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Fireboy-Xintex (616/735-9390; fireboyxinfex.com), and the company...

Boat trailer parking restrictions are becoming pervasive. (TBM Survey Results).
July 1, 2003... The majority of readers must contend with restrictions when parking trailer boats at their homes, according to our recent Web survey. In the May issue, we asked, "Are there parking restrictions for trailer boats where you live?" We asked...

New gauges. (Boat Improvement).
July 1, 2003... Running out of gas is just not cool. It's especially embarrassing if you do it 100 yards from the launch ramp, as one of our locals did recently. We could hear his engine cutting out as he approached, trying to make those last few yards on...

Keep it cool. (Boating Basics).
July 1, 2003... More than the tide was turning against us as my wife and I raced a wall of rain that dropped like a curtain from towering thunderheads. As we threaded our way up narrow channels laced with floating sea grass, the 35 hp Johnson outboard began to...

Evolving power. (Propulsion Report).
July 1, 2003... In last month's issue, we took a look at the helm of the future. In doing the research for that story, it became abundantly clear that the digital age is here, and it is bringing changes and improvements in how we use and monitor onboard...

Muscle machine: powered by an optional Corvette engine, Malibu's Response LXi is the most exciting new skiboat of the year. (Trial Run).
July 1, 2003... Like so many new models these days Malibuls new Response LX is a hybrid in this case it takes features from two other malibu models. The hull is based on the 20-foot Response Malibuls flagship tournament-stvle inboard ski boat The interior...

Redheaded friends: when stranded on the water without power, marine flares are your best friends.
July 1, 2003... Stranded boaters commonly rely on marine VHF radios or cell phones to call for help -- but what happens when the radio doesn't work or there is no signal? At this point, you begin to appreciate why U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) regulations require...

Pony express: we pit outboard against sterndrive in a pair of Sea Ray 18-foot runabouts. (Boat Test).
July 1, 2003... An 18-foot runabout is an entry-level classic - the craft that introduces many first timers to boating. These first-timers are also faced with a classic choice. Should they buy an out board or sterndrive powered runabout? When Sea Bay...

Golden Triangle: join us for a fascinating Canadian cruise from Kingston to Ottawa...and back. (TBM Destination).
July 1, 2003... We followed a string of boats from Kings ton into the St. Lawrence River where a brisk 15-knot wind created rough chop -- not enough to get the adrenaline pumping, but enough to keep us alert and out of the way of a flotilla of sailboats. ...

Arresting corrosion: here are an expert's secrets for removing unsightly rust stains and repairing aluminum corrosion. (TBM How-To).
July 1, 2003... While there is no stopping corrosion -- particularly on boats used in salt water -- there are steps you can take to clean it up, cover it over and slow it down, using basic, time-proven methods. Let's tackle the problem of rust stains first....

Covering your liquid assets: finding the best value and coverage means asking your agent the right questions.
July 1, 2003... Buying insurance for your boat should be about as complicated as enjoying a coastal breeze or the summer sun on your favorite lake. It can be that easy. Whether you're buying your first insurance policy or reviewing your current coverage,...

Limo service: The 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV provides luxurious accommodations and robust towing power to get you to the water on time and in comfort. (TBM Tow Test).
July 1, 2003... The Cadillac sport-utility vehicle (SUV) is a major hit. Fact is, dealers can't keep Escalades on the lot long enough for them to cast a shad ow. In 2003, the already smiling dealers were made even happier: That's because, the Escalade ESV...

Point of contact: A keel protector will help prevent scrapes and scratches. Putting one on your boat is easy. (TBM How-To).
July 1, 2003... Most trailer boaters want to pull up on a beach, at least occasionally. Yet, even the sandiest of shorelines can mar and scratch a boat's bow keel -- the part that usually rests on the beach. And we won't even talk about gravel or rocky...

Tech Letters.
July 1, 2003... WITH JIM BARRON CUT THE STATIC I have an electronics problem on my 18-foot center console fishing boat, which I purchased bare bones, without any electronics. I have added a Clarion AM/FM/CD stereo (for my wife) and a Garmin GPS...

Tow Car.
July 1, 2003... WITH STUART BOURDON 'BURB RATING My vehicle is a 2001 Suburban 1500 with the 5.3L V-8. I tow a 2002 Four Winns 234 Funship. The factory-hitch label states a rating of 600 pounds tongue/5000 pounds of line-pull deadweight, and with a...

There's never a dull moment with Model L Pak diamond sharpeners. (TBM Tested).
July 1, 2003... Every boating angler is looking for an edge, if you'll pardon the pun. A razor-sharp hook, a well-tied knot, a properly adjusted drag and a sharp, pointy gaff are all essential for landing the big one. The battle begins at the hook and ends at...

HydraStar Gen 5 brake actuator offers faster response time. (TBM Tested).
July 1, 2003... Trailer boaters can now upgrade their surge actuators to Carlisle's new Gen 5 HydraStar electric! hydraulic brake actuator for better control and superior stopping power. This upgrade eliminates many of the problems common to surge brakes, such...