Trailer Boats articles from June 2003

Trailer Boats archives from June 2003

Living in a material world: more than metal! (Advertisement: Technology).
June 1, 2003... Second in a series of propeller technology articles Last month I addressed propeller performance as a function of diameter and pitch. This month, let's take a look at both the physical and financial performance (and pit-falls) of the most...

New vision. (On Plane).
June 1, 2003... About 15 years ago, I had eye surgery to correct nearsightedness. Almost instantly, I gained 20/20 vision. The improvement was nothing less than miraculous. For the first time in 25 years, I could see clearly without corrective lenses. ...

Yankee kudos. (Letters to the Editor).
June 1, 2003... Your "Nor' Easters" story in the April issue was one of the best articles I ever read in your magazine--a giant literary step above your usual babes and bowriders. Congratulations. P.J. Andressen Portland, Maine

Its no picnic. (Letters to the Editor).
June 1, 2003... In the your April "Nor' Easters" story, two of the photo captions contain errors. The Hinckley T29R is a runabout; not a picnic boat. The latter almost always has a hard top or permanently erected soft-top. And no self-respecting Yankee would...

BMC fires back. (Letters to the Editor).
June 1, 2003... April's On Plane ("'Rude Contradiction") on Bombardier Motor Corp. (BMC) and its support of Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society generated a hailstorm of e-mails and letters -- nearly all protesting BMC's association with the group...

Evinrudue/Johnson for sale...again. (Dock Talk).
June 1, 2003... It's deja vu all over again. Bombardier Corp. plans to sell its Recreational Products Division, which includes Evin rude and Johnson outboards, as well as Sea-Doo personal watercraft and sportjets. The announcement was made by Paul Tellier,...

Sea Ray helps fight cystic fibrosis. (Dock Talk).
June 1, 2003... To help support medical research for cystic fibrasis (CF), SE Ray Boats will auction off a customized Sea Ray 200 bowrider on eBay, June 11 to 21, as part of the second annual "Crusin' for a Cure" in the Company's hometown of Knoxville on...

Over the Transom voting goes to the dogs. (Dock Talk).
June 1, 2003... The Grand Prize winner of the 2002 Over the Transom photo contest is Arthur J. Johnson, whose picture of three boat-loving Dalmatians won 1st place by a wet nose. A resident of Salisbury, Maryland, Johnson's photo skills have earned him a...

Regal 2200 bowrider. (Launch Ramp: Hot New Boats).
June 1, 2003... Regal's all-new 2200 bowrider brings a classy, new look to a proven performance hull and offers an impressive list of standard features for less than 35K. Or, opt for the maximum power package -- a 320 hp Volvo Penta 5.7 GXi SX, and you're...

Scout 242 Abaco. (Launch Ramp: Hot New Boats).
June 1, 2003... The newest addition to Scout's family of fishing boats is its 242 Abaco, a true offshore boat designed to fill the niche between the 235 Sportfish and 280 Abaco. It features a comfortable cuddy cabin -- with overnight accommodations for two --...

In tow: extreme stainless trailers. (Dock Talk).
June 1, 2003... We couldn't take our eyes off of the gleaming example of custom boat trailer construction -- a stainless steel boat trailer. It came from Extreme Custom Trailers (909/682-5522; extremetrailers.com) of Riverside, California. Though it is...

Workin' for a living: Diamond Back/NASA security boat. (Dock Talk).
June 1, 2003... Security is paramount at Florida's John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), and a massive job it is. Since its establishment, Kennedy has been the site of every manned space flight in the United States. All manned launches prior to that took place...

Getting personal: Yamaha WaveRunner 1200 Series. (Dock Talk).
June 1, 2003... Since making the switch from long-time boater to personal watercraft (PWC) owner, social gatherings at the Cacciutti household almost always end up with wide-eyed adults and children adorning the WaveRunners in the garage. As friends saddle up,...

Watertoy profile: Hyperlite Spin binding. (Dock Talk).
June 1, 2003... Sacrificing support for adjustability in wakeboard bindings is not a tradeoff option anymore. The Spin binding by Hyperlite of Redmond, Washington, offers added support needed for tricks while providing flexibility for feet of various sizes....

Something's fishy: Paimer Tiderunner 195 walkaround. (Dock Talk).
June 1, 2003... If you've been shopping for an affordably I priced walkaround that offers a dry, stable ride and plenty cockpit space, Palmer Marine's Tiderunner 195 could be your next boat. This fiberglass/composite 20-footer offers the feel and ride of a...

Electronics: Simrad CE33 GPS charplotter/fishfinder. (Dock Talk).
June 1, 2003... Simrad's compact new CE33 is an ideal chartplotter/fishfinder combo for trailerable offshore fishing boats, incorporating a 14-channel GPS with a 600-watt, high-definition, color fishfinder that searches down to 2400 feet. Measuring 6 3/6 x 9...

Ski locker: Correct Craft Ski 206. (Dock Talk).
June 1, 2003... Staying close to the hearts of waterski purists while being considerate of families, I Correct Craft has created the Ski 206 -- a completely new model for 2003, Its beauty is in its origins. The Ski 206 is based on the precisely engineered...

Just cruisin': Hallett 260 AC limited. (Dock Talk).
June 1, 2003... When Art Carlson designs a boat, you can expect something advanced. When Hallett builds a boat, you can expect something exceptional. When the two team up, the results are going to be something outstanding. And that's exactly what we found...

Most readers run stainless props. (Dock Talk).
June 1, 2003... The vast majority of Trailer Boats readers run stainless steel propellers. according to a recent Web survey. In our April issue we asked. "What kind of propeller do you have on your boat?" We offered two choices -- aluminum or stainless...

Seeing clearly. (Boat Improvement).
June 1, 2003... Up here in New England, spring and autumn mornings can be quite cool. Decks are slippery with dew and engines start reluctantly. And normally flexible clearvinyl enclosures become stiff and brittle. So those of us who take advantage of every...

Rig for fishing. (Boating Basics).
June 1, 2003... Each year, recreational fishermen and associated state and national agencies across the country celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week. This year, it spans June 1 through 8, and to encourage Americans to try fishing, more than 40 states...

Used engines. (Propulsion Report).
June 1, 2003... Warm, sunny weather is setting in across the country, and for many, this rekindles the irrepressible urge to buy a boat. Whether buying for the first time or upgrading to a larger model, there are two ways to go: new or used. Of course, a...

Stand-up routine: Kawasaki celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Jet Ski by introducing a blistering new model. We test it against the original stand-up.
June 1, 2003... When Kawasaki show-cased the sleek new Jet Ski SX-R 800 stand-up model beside a 30year-old Jet Ski at the Miami International Boat Show early this year, it inspired us to organize a an off-beat comparison. We convinced company officials to...

Helm of the future: what will it be like to drive the boat of the future? Our senior tech editor offers this intriguing glimpse.
June 1, 2003... In many ways. the helm of the future is here today. A look at the control console of a modern mega-yacht provides a glimpse of what is in store for trailer boaters. Digital instrumentation, flat-panel monitors, fly-by-wire controls, integration...

Killer instincts: killer whales in the Pacific Northwest are threatened by a variety of factors. Here's how boaters can help. (TBM Destination).
June 1, 2003... Over the past few years, the number of orcas (aka killer whales) in Washington state's San Juan Islands has been declining, and it has scientists alarmed. The populations of the three resident pods have been in precipitous decline since 1995,...

Raising the bar: Rinker's Xtreme boats set new standards in the burgeoning sterndrive wakeboard boat category. (Boat Test).
June 1, 2003... Not so long ago a Mississippi-sized gap separated inboard ski-boats from stemdrive run-abouts. Today however the gap narrowing as sk boat builders develop bigger, run-about-like V-drives and run-about builders incorporate more wakeboarding and...

Grab bag: grabbing a "ditch bag" can be your salvation when things go wrong in a hurry.
June 1, 2003... When Michael Fleder set out from California's Marina Del Rey harbor last February 22, he had little more on his mind than spending some time fishing with friends along the scenic coast of Malibu. After waiting three months for his twin-outboard...

Late Bloomer: Toyota's redesigned and repowered 4Runner makes the A-list of capable tow vehicles. (TBM Tow Test).
June 1, 2003... When we last tested the 4Runner, we were relatively pleased with its overall performance, but commented that it was time for Toyota to step up with more power to keep the vehicle from being eclipsed by the competitors in its category. Toyota...

Restoring woodwork: nothing enhances the look of a boat like well-groomed woodwork. Here's how to do it right. (TBM How-To).
June 1, 2003... One of the most important steps in making an older boat look good is giving the woodwork a quality, lasting finish. Wood with a high-gloss, mirror-smooth finish can earn the owner the respect and admiration of fellow boaters. Even non-boaters...

Sabre-toothed Tiger: there's now an optional high-performance lower unit for Honda V-6s, and it runs like a Tiger. (Engine Test).
June 1, 2003... Honda's 200 and 225 V-6 four-strokes are among the smoothest running, most fuel-efficient outboards on the market today. However, as we mentioned in our 225 four-stroke shoot-out ("Grudge Match," June 2002), the stock lower unit could be more...

Walking tall: a wave-taming hull leads the charge for Century's 2600 Walkaround. (Trial Run).
June 1, 2003... Buford T. Justice she ain't.., but Century's 2600 Walkaround still swings a mean bat, as this big walkaround lets anglers go mano a mano with the toughest hombres and come home a winner. Hooks may fly and the water might boil.., but when the...

Just hatched: replacing a worn-out teak door or hatch is easy if you think plastic. (TBM How-To).
June 1, 2003... When it comes to teakwood on a boat, I have mixed emotions. Love the warmth and class. Hate the maintenance. After 17 years of sanding and oiling a pair of teak hatches in the seat console of my boat, I decided to replace them, primarily...

Magana force: a free-flowing MagnaFlow exhaust system boosts the power of our Ford Super Duty project truck. (TBM Tested).
June 1, 2003... One of the easiest ways to increase the power in your tow vehicle is to open up the exhaust system with an aftermarket "cat-back" product. A catback system replaces the stock exhaust pipes and muffler from the catalytic converter aft -- hence...

Tech letters with Jim Barron.
June 1, 2003... ADDING A BATTERY I have a 22-foot Campion walkaround cuddy fishing boat with a Suzuki 225 EFI outboard and a 9.9 hp electric-start Suzuki four-stroke kicker, electronics (VHF, fishfinder, GPS) and two electric downriggers. Currently I have...

Tow car with Stuart Bourdon.
June 1, 2003... TOWING 20,000 POUNDS Most trucks I see tested in your magazine are pulling less than 10,000 pounds. I want to buy a 30- to 35-foot center console boat with a weight somewhere in the 15,000- to 20,000-pound range. Can the 1-ton Ford, Dodge...

Kelysus O Beach Chair is perfect for shore camps. (TBM Tested).
June 1, 2003... You're boat camping on a remote lakeshore. As twilight approaches, it's time to take a load off, tip back a cold one and enjoy the moment from the comfort of a Kelsyus 0 Backpack Beach Chair Special Edition. Life is good. We tested this...

Stay clean with West System's skin and clothing protectants. (Gotta Have It).
June 1, 2003... Messy fiberglass and epoxy projects don't have to ruin clothes or cause skin irritations, thanks to West System's disposable coveralls, sleeves and gloves for protecting do-it-yourselfers. The coveralls are made of a tough, patented,...

Koehler-Bright Star's Nite Guard outshines other spotlights. (Gotta Have It).
June 1, 2003... It's more powerful than aircraft landing lights. Twenty times brighter than automobile headlights. More rugged than Private First Class Jessica Lynch. It's Koehler-Bright Star's new Nite Guard NG-112G spotlight. This spotlight packs a...

West Marine's drill kit is ideal for on-water projects. (Gotta Have It).
June 1, 2003... West Marine recently introduced an 18-volt cordless drill kit that's light, portable and designed to tackle tough jobs on the water. The variable-speed drill motor weighs about 4 pounds and features 60 lb.-ft. of torque, 15 torque settings, a...

Magellan's SporTrak Pro is waterproof and floats. (Gotta Have It).
June 1, 2003... Magellan's SporTrak Pro Marine handheld GPS made a huge splash when introduced at the Miami Boat Show earlier this year. This lightweight unit is accurate to within 3 meters, and features a large, high-resolution display packed into a...

Rugged Shark's Marlin Plus boat shoes pamper your feet. (TBM Tested).
June 1, 2003... The older I get, the more I appreciate a good pair of shoes -- especially when pounding in rough seas in a small boat. That's why I was anxious to test the new Marlin Plus boat shoes from Rugged Shark. Rugged Shark claims its ICS...