Trailer Boats articles from July 2004

Trailer Boats archives from July 2004

Embracing the future.(On Plane)
July 1, 2004... You expect boating magazine staffs to know their afts from their bowsprits, but even by those standards I believe we have a keenly talented and insightful crew. OK, I'm biased--but our book's strong technical slant demands that our team has...

Missing the boat.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... I'm going to speak for those among your readership who, like myself, don't have a boat currently or prefer small craft. You need to include more entry-level boats of all varieties--perhaps even [consider publishing] a segment devoted to this...

Moving heaven and earth.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... I just read your April issue. I know the month starts with April Fools Day, but I cannot resist commenting on the map in your. "America's Venice" story that shows [Florida's] Fort Lauderdale right there along the Pacific Ocean. ...

Years of happy trails.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... In 1993, I started reading your magazine and planning my purchase of a 23-foot runabout and tow vehicle. I eventually bought a 1996 Cobalt 233 and a '96 Ford Econoline van. From acquisition to maintenance, it's been 10 great years that I...

Everyone out of the pool.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... I was surprised to see your article "Step Aboard" (January) about the do-it-yourself installation of a swim platform. It is such equipment that kills people... due to the inhalation of carbon monoxide. A caution should have stated that...

Oceans and coastlands reportedly in danger.(Dock Talk)
July 1, 2004... "Our oceans and coasts are in trouble, and we as a nation have a historic opportunity to make a positive and lasting change in the way we manage them before it is too late," retired U.S. Navy Admiral James D. Watkins of the U.S. Commission on...

Ehlert publishing presents annual awards.(Dock Talk)
July 1, 2004... Trailer Boats' parent company, Maple Grove, Minnesota-based Ehlert Publishing, recently handed out awards at its annual Powersports Media Awards and Appreciation Dinner, held in Newport Beach, California, for best motor sports products. Among...

Nadaguides and trailer boats team up.(Dock Talk)
July 1, 2004... The next time you find yourself on the NADA site looking up information on a used boat or truck, check out the recently launched Towing Information Center, where you'll find the best information available on all things towing, courtesy the...

New DVD makes it easy to discover boating.(Dock Talk)
July 1, 2004... So many boats, so little time. Purchasing a boat can be both exhilarating and confusing for first-time buyers. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) wants to make the process easier. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In an effort...

Mercury rearranges organization.(Dock Talk)
July 1, 2004... There's a new skipper at the helm of Mercury Marine's outboard business unit. In April, Mark Schwabero assumed the role as president of the division. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Schwabero brings to the job 28 years of experience as a senior...

Two pending resolutions affect boaters.(Dock Talk)
July 1, 2004... The National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) recently passed two resolutions that will directly affect recreational boaters if signed into law. The council, composed of 21 members appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security,...

National Ocean Sciences Bowl puts the nation's brightest high-school students to the test.
July 1, 2004... Do you know where tectonic plates are found? It's a good bet the kids who competed in this year's National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) do. After wins in 24 regional competitions, more than 2200 students from 400 of the nation's high schools went...

Getting personal: tips for buying a used PWC.
July 1, 2004... Tired of the work and expense of an offshore fishing boat, I tried to give up boating, but could only go cold turkey for a single day at the beach. By week's end, a pair of used personal watercraft (PWC) found a new home on a doublewide Load...

Overwides only: scout 280 Vintage goes the distance.(Dock Talk)
July 1, 2004... If range is paramount to your boating needs, then check out Scout's new 280 Vintage. You might expect this 7500-pound boat to host twin outboards, but look again: Scout provides a turbocharged, inline, six-cylinder, 4.2L Cummins MerCruiser...

Launch ramp.(Dock Talk)
July 1, 2004... WHITTLEY CRUISER 550 If you are attracted to the idea of spending the weekend living aboard, this boat might be up your alley. Australia-based Whittley recently unleashed its newest model, the Cruiser 550, a sporty little fiberglass number...

Watertoy profile: SportsStuff's Acrobat Solo is a blast.(Dock Talk)
July 1, 2004... For a barrel of fun and a quick way to cool off from the midsummer heat, take a wild ride on the new Acrobat Solo from SportsStuff of Omaha, Nebraska. At 54 inches in diameter, the Acrobat Solo fits one person with plenty of room to spare....

Workin' for a living: Arancia to the rescue.(Dock Talk)
July 1, 2004... 'Our work here is based on need, not want," says Greg Reimer of the Ocean Rescue Department that services Jackson Beach, Florida. A longtime rescue swimmer for the department, Reimer knows what's needed when it comes to saving a life in the...

Electronics: look ma: no hands! Cruise carefree with new Simrad autopilot.(Dock Talk)
July 1, 2004... Boaters who have been around the pond a lap or two realize the advantages of an autopilot. Whether you're an accomplished cruiser or salty offshore fisherman, the ability to set a course and have the boat hold it automatically greatly enhances...

Quips & quotes.(Dock Talk)
July 1, 2004... Things you're not likely to hear at the boat show: "It's free!" "How the hell should I know how it turns? I only sell'em, you'd never actually catch me on the back of one of these suicide sleds." "Why don't you have your four kids...

Sad truth about mangled props.(Reader Survey Results)
July 1, 2004... Our most recent Web survey at TrailerBoats.com asked readers if they had "ever bashed--I mean, really mangled--a propeller?" Sadly, most of you have. Our count at presstime indicates that 62 percent of those polled had wreaked havoc on at least...

Resealing boat hatches.(Boat Improvement)
July 1, 2004... Sun, rain, dirt and spray take their toll on all things boat related, and hatches are no exception. Eventually, the caulking dries out and hatches begin to leak. But don't despair. Resealing hatches is not a difficult job. It just takes...

Wake courtesy.(Boating Basics)
July 1, 2004... If you've ever been pitched violently against the gunwale, thrown to the deck or had an ice-cold cola spilled in your lap, then you know firsthand what it's like to be on the receiving end of a monster wake left by a careless--or...

Embracing technology.(Propulsion Report)
July 1, 2004... A techno geek, I'm not. I like to keep abreast of current trends, mind you, but I seldom buy the latest technology the instant it hits the market. I prefer to let someone else get the bugs out. Although I don't need to have the latest and...

Boat Envy: the uncontrollable urge to trade up dogs every boater. Fortunately, there's no cure.
July 1, 2004... I have a secret that I've been hiding for many years. It's more like a problem than a secret, actually--but it's comforting to me that the same problem affects countless men and women. I am talking about Boat Envy, otherwise known as BE. ...

Extreme machine: if money is no object Zodiac's exciting CZ7 may well be the ultimate adventure boat.(Test)
July 1, 2004... Although military technology commonly filters down to the civilian sector, this is not typically the case with military vehicles and boats. The Jeep is probably the best-known exception. The Hummer is another civilian vehicle that has taken its...

Sleigh ride: classic lines and new-age performance define Boston Whaler's 190 Nantucket.(Test)
July 1, 2004... Boston Whalers are known for their unsinkable hulls, solid construction and price tags that can soar higher than a breaching white whale. And while the 190 Nantucket is a chip off the old block in terms of legendary invincibility, at the same...

Chi town cruising: best known for da bears and cubbies, Chicago ranks as an all-star cruising destination. Here's the lowdown on the Windy City.(TBM Destination)
July 1, 2004... By lunchtime of my first day cruising the Windy City by boat, I felt a stiff neck coming on. But not from the brisk breeze the city is so famously not nicknamed for (the moniker actually refers to all the "hot air" from local politicians in...

Distressing out: you've sent a distress call ... here's what to do while waiting for help to arrive.
July 1, 2004... With a sense of relief, I changed course to round the tip of the island. I knew that once we got into its lee, we would be protected from the sea that had been tossing us around for the last hour. But as I completed the turn, engine revs...

Hemi hauler: Dodge unleashes a 345-horse, hot-rod engine in its king-sized, 1/2-ton Quad Cab.(Test)
July 1, 2004... The new Dodge loomed large in the parking lot. Evan models with 17-inch wheels seem to stand taller than the rest of the row, but with our rig's 20-inch wheels, the four-wheel drive (4WD) Ram 1500 Quad Cab seemed to be towering, Or was the...

Crowd pleaser: with its solid ride and room for 10, Sea Ray's 220 Sundeck takes big water and big crowds in stride.(Test)
July 1, 2004... Sea Ray has established itself as a builder of premium boats with matching price tags. So the question becomes: Do models such as its 220 Sundeck offer true value, or are you simply paying more for the name? Follow us as we examine this deck...

Flying colors: refinishing your boat with linear polyurethane can give new life to faded gelcoat or aging aluminum.(TBM How-To)
July 1, 2004... Linear polyurethane (LP) paint is a wondrous thing--especially for older boats that suffer from chalky gelcoats or dingy aluminum finishes. When you paint with LP, you're actually applying a thin layer of high-strength plastic over fiberglass,...

Oily mess.(Tech Letters)
July 1, 2004... I have a 2003 Bayliner 175, and it's a great boat--but I have two concerns: First, the breather atop the rocker box vents into the engine compartment and causes a mess. The breather is nothing more than a plastic hose that comes off a 90-degree...

Hard starting.(Tech Letters)
July 1, 2004... I have a 1989 Sea Ray 250DA Sundancer with a 330 hp 7.4L MerCruiser and Bravo 1 drive--all with 220 hours of use. The engine starts quickly when cold and runs smooth and strong. But after running it at operating temperature (160 to 170 degrees...

Bunks or rollers?(Tech Letters)
July 1, 2004... My new boat arrives soon and I have to decide what kind of trailer I should put under it. What's better, bunks or rollers? Seth Everett Cincinnati, Ohio I would make my decision based on the areas in which I would be launching. On...

Life's the pits.(Tech Letters)
July 1, 2004... Last summer, for the first time, I kept my 1995 22-foot Mariah with a 7.4L MerCruiser Magnum and Bravo 1 drive at a marina on the Ohio River near Huntington, West Virginia. I expected the hull to be a mess, and it was--but a few hours with a...

Thirsty for knowledge.(Tech Letters)
July 1, 2004... I own a 2000 Yamaha 200 HPDI outboard with approximately 200 hours. I am interested in doing my own maintenance, specifically, replacing the water pump impeller. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Short of purchasing expensive shop manuals, can...

AeroStar prop.(Tech Letters)
July 1, 2004... I have an AeroStar variable-pitch prop that I used for five years without a problem on a 260 hp MerCruiser 350 with an Alpha sterndrive. My new boat has a Merc 350 Mag/Bravo 1. Am I risking damage to my sterndrive or affecting my warranty if I...

Maxed out tow rating.(Tow Car)
July 1, 2004... I hear from some boaters that they tow much more weight than their vehicles are rated for, claiming that the manufacturers set the ratings far below the real maximum weight a vehicle can handle. But they have never been able to provide any hard...

Bourdon's tow tip.(Tow Car)
July 1, 2004... Towing places enormous stress on any vehicle. As a result, you need to pay closer attention to the routine maintenance of a tow vehicle than you do to the family car. Your vehicle's owner's manual lists maintenance schedule recommendations for...

Cruise control quandary.(Tow Car)
July 1, 2004... I have a 2000 Ford Expedition with the factory towing package. It does a great job of towing my Sea Ray 180 Bowrider, but the owner's manual says that I should always keep the cruise control off when towing. I can understand that for hills, but...

Keep the Dodge.(Tow Car)
July 1, 2004... Please don't answer my letter by saying, "get a new truck," because that's just not in the cards this year, and maybe not next year, either. I have a 1989 Dodge Dakota 4x4 with the 3.9L V-6 and automatic transmission. The little red truck has...

Soggy Tahoe rear end.(Tow Car)
July 1, 2004... After towing with my 2003 Chevy Tahoe for the first time, I was surprised at how long the rear suspension kept bouncing after a bump, at least when compared to my old Suburban. It doesn't slump under the tongue weight--it just bounces a lot....

Racing shades are ideal for active boaters.(TBM Tested)
July 1, 2004... Far out, dude. Take one look at the new Floatable Racing Sunglasses ($70 from Gill NA, 800/822-6504; gillna.com) and it's obvious that they're too edgy to appeal to everyone. And that's fine. To suit those with more conservative tastes, Gill...

How's it hanging?(TBM Tested)
July 1, 2004... There are times that you need to deploy or reposition fenders quickly to protect your boat from decrepit docks, encrusted pilings or other obstructions. Why not eliminate the hassle of dealing with knots by using Taylor Made's (518/773-9400;...

Add towing range to your Ford pickup.(TBM Tested)
July 1, 2004... When you're headed to or from the water, having to stop to fuel up the tow vehicle is never any fun. Fortunately, you can avoid this time-consuming hassle by replacing your Ford Heavy Duty F250's or F350's stock fuel tank with a larger,...

Stay in touch.(TBM Tested)
July 1, 2004... Unless you plan on staying tied to the dock, a VHF can come in handy. For those venturing far from shore it is a must-have item. The new FM3000 VHF ($425) from Furuno (360/834-9300; furuno.com) is compact, with a waterproof construction. It...

See the light.(TBM Tested)
July 1, 2004... Your boat is the envy of the lake, but it still needs a finishing touch that is both practical and attractive. The new 3800 Series Vertical Mount Side Lights from Attwood (616/897-2290; attwoodmarine.com) might be just what you're looking for....

Keep it cool.(TBM Tested)
July 1, 2004... When you're out on the water, there's nothing as refreshing as reaching for a frosty beverage. With that in mind, a good cooler is a necessity. While there are numerous good hard-sided coolers on the market today, we thought we'd give a...

You could win a Four Winns boat.(Photo Contest)
July 1, 2004... OVER THE TRANSOM CONTEST RULES Do you have a kooky, weird or hilarious picture involving a boat, launch ramp, marina or anything else around the water? Send it in. If your photo is chosen as one of Trailer Boats' "Over the Transom"...