Trailer Boats articles from March 2000

Trailer Boats archives from March 2000

COST OF COMMITMENT.
March 1, 2000... "Is boating expensive?" This was the question posed to me by Stacey, wife of my long-time boating buddy, Vince Serino. A pair of cracked exhaust manifolds on a recently purchased used boat precipitated the query. Vince had convinced Stacey that...

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS.
March 1, 2000... CHALLENGING THE CHALLENGE This letter is in reference to the "Skipper's Challenge" on page 26 of the January 2000 issue of Trailer Boats showing a waterskier patting his head. The answer given on page 117 states that the signal means "Back...

BATBOAT RACING.
March 1, 2000... The American Power Boat Association (APBA) has created a new racing class for the 2000 season -- and it's dedicated to the "batboat." More accurately, the APBXs new offshore "D" class will be devoted to the V-24 V-bottom sportboat built by...

FUTURE TRUCKS.
March 1, 2000... Want to know what tow vehicles will look like in the future? Check out GMC's Terradyne, a concept truck unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Looking like something from a "Terminator" movie, GMC's truck of tomorrow incorporates...

SKIPPER'S CHALLENGE.
March 1, 2000... When cruising with another vessel, trailing a fender from a line behind the lead boat can be quite useful in _____. For the answer, turn to page 133 of this issue. Skipper's Challenge questions and answers are reproduced exclusively in...

COMPREHENSWE CARE.
March 1, 2000... Donzi Marine and Pro-Line Boats -- both owned by American Marine Holdings of Sarasota, Florida -- have introduced groundbreaking five-year warranties. The Donzi program is called "Z-Care," while Pro-Line's s is named "Pro-Care." What sets...

TERM OF THE MONTH.
March 1, 2000... "Abaft" Abaft means toward the rear or stern of the boat. It can be substituted for "behind," as in, "Abaft the cockpit is the transom."

GETTING A LEG UP.
March 1, 2000... Moving up is a way of life for boaters. The urge begins as soon as we acquire our first boat; almost immediately, we begin thinking about having more power, performance and space. Most of these come with a bigger boat, but even then it seems...

TEN PRE-SEASON TASKS.
March 1, 2000... About this time each year, boaters across much of the country begin casting wistful looks at their trailerboats, which have sat idle since last autumn. Even if you live in snow country and an actual launch date is still a month or more away,...

ELECTRONICS Q&A.
March 1, 2000... ANTENNA SWITCHING I have a VHF radio down at my lower steering station, and a second rig in the fishing tower. Does anyone make an automatic antenna selector switch that will automatically sense which radio is on transmit, and send the...

JET-DRIVE HULL REQUIREMENTS.
March 1, 2000... Jet power has recently become common on a wide variety of hull types, from small personal watercraft to huge ferries of several hundred feet in length. Yet not every boat is suitable for jet power. For best performance, certain hull design...

BOOK LEARNING.
March 1, 2000... There is a never-ending stream of requests crossing my desk for information on how to get more performance from an engine or boat. The street rodders tricks are not always effective in a marine engine because increasing top-end horsepower often...

KIDS OF SUMMER.
March 1, 2000... Treat your kids to a great summer this year by equipping them for a full season of boating and skiing. Of course, proper equipment that fits and works for youngsters is vital if the kids are to have fun. To get your kids on the right track,...

LARSON ESCAPE 213.
March 1, 2000... Available in sterndrive or outboard flavors, Larson's Escape 213 serves up adventure and versatility in a 21-foot, 3-inch by 81/2-foot deck boat with a flair for fun. Watersports enthusiasts are sure to approve of its integral swimstep and...

SEA-DOO ISLANDIA DECK BOAT.
March 1, 2000... In designing the new jet-powered SeaDoo Islandia, the engineering team at parent company Bombardier worked closely with Mercury to offer a hull and engine match that delivers reliability and performance. Available with the base 210 hp Mercury...

WELLCRAFT 26 EXCALIBUR/SCS.
March 1, 2000... Quick: What sleeps two, jumps on plane in 41/2 seconds, and rockets to a top speed of 62.4 mph? If your answer is the new 26 Excalibur/SCS, you move to the head of the class. Wellcraft's "family performance boat" sleeps two comfortably in the...

Grand Horizon.
March 1, 2000... With an innovative layout and performance-minded Stable-Vee 3 hull, Four Winn's Horizon 210 LT pushes the boundaries of conventional bowrider thinking Let's get something straight: We really like this boat. Not because we're big bowrider...

Take Charge of Your Lakes.
March 1, 2000... Boaters must accept responsibility for maintaining healthy waterways[ldots] or risk losing them forever Cool water blasts past my ski binding, battering my leg as I carve my last turn. My arms scream in protest as I tense for the encore. A...

Ficht Force.
March 1, 2000... Trailer Boats is the first to test Evinrude's new 75 hp and 135 hp outboards with Ficht Ram direct-injection. We offer this exclusive report A blustery cold front was stirring up the waters around Stuart, Florida, when Trailer Boats...

Pomme de Terre Lake.
March 1, 2000... The adage, "You can tell the character of a lake by the company it keeps," perfectly describes 7820-acre Pomme de Terre Lake in southwest Missouri. For instance, Nemo Landing Marina owner Hugh Vaughan installed a hoist to swing octogenarian...

Ark de Triumph.
March 1, 2000... SeaArk's compact houseboat raises cruising comfort to monumental levels The concept for this mini-houseboat came about because SeaArk Chairman Zack McClendon wanted a comfortable little cruiser for vacation living. He also wanted a boat...

Rolling with the River.
March 1, 2000... Rivers present special challenges to boaters. Here are 10 basic tips to help you cope It was a sweltering August afternoon in New England, the time of year when you can only rely on the weather that you can see and feel, and even that can...

Ten for the Road.
March 1, 2000... Looking for a better way to haul your boat to and from the water? These 10 terrific trailering accessories will make life easier As a kid, I had a full-time job as a trailer-watcher[ldots] at least whenever Dad was towing the family boat...

Salt Fever.
March 1, 2000... Got a bad case of angling-itis? Cure it by hooking up with 10 of this year's slickest walkarounds, cuddies, center consoles and bay boats Saltwater fishing boats are a rugged lot, designed to meet harsh seas and challenging conditions...

Here's the Rub.
March 1, 2000... A step-by-step guide to replacing your boat's old, worn-out rub rail There is not a more aptly named structure than the rub rail. Encircling the boat, it guards not only against rubbing but also against scratching and gouging. It's a...

Mountain Mover.
March 1, 2000... When towing a mountain of a boat, you need a mountain of a truck. The 16,000-pound-rated Ford Everest is such a vehicle Veteran mechanics live by a time-honored adage: Always use the right tool for the job. Veteran trailerboaters live by a...

SEAARK BAYFISHER.
March 1, 2000... A brand new 20-foot bay boat has joined the 60-model SeaArk line-up for 2000. The all-welded aluminum BayFisher features a center console with windshield, grab-rail and built-in cushioned seating covering storage forward of the console....

POWERQUEST STRYKER 237SX.
March 1, 2000... New for 2000 from Holland, Michigan, is an upgraded version of the nimble 23-footer from Powerquest, the Stryker 237SX. Measuring 23 feet, 7 inches in length with a beam of 8 1/2 feet, the Stryker can handle Great Lakes waters yet is not...

RANGER REATA FISH & SKI.
March 1, 2000... The improved-for-2000 R97 fish and ski model from Flippin, Arkansas-based Ranger Boats offers the best of both worlds for fishermen who want to enjoy more than mere angling when on the water this season. From separate, full size waterski and...

Walleye Wonder.
March 1, 2000... With the wild popularity of walleye fishing in the Midwest, Tennessee-based Triton Boats bets it has a winner in the species-specific Model 205 for 2000. Owner/designer Earl Bentz studied the top features from each of the best walleye...

WATCH THOSE WALLEYE BOATS.
March 1, 2000... Lake Erie boaters cruising the Western Basin in late April will want to be on the watch for walleye boats participating in a major tournament based in Port Clinton, Ohio. An estimated 120 boats operated by professional walleye tournament...

OHIO BOOSTS BOATING ENFORCEMENT.
March 1, 2000... An additional 25 watercraft officers will be patrolling lakes and rivers across the Buckeye state this boating season to "ensure a safer, more enjoyable boating season on Ohio waterways in the coming year," according the Ohio Department of...

MISSISSIPPI RIVER FOUNDATION FORMED.
March 1, 2000... To help fund habitat restoration along one of the nation's premier pleasureboating waterways, the Executive Committee of the Lower Mississippi River Conservation Committee (LMRCC) has formed the Mississippi River Foundation (MRF). The...

BERKLEY HOME WILL BECOME FISHING TACKLE MUSEUM.
March 1, 2000... A home near the shore of one of the most popular pleasureboating lakes in Iowa is being transformed into a museum honoring one of the most successful fishing tackle manufacturers in America. The home of the Berkley Company's founder,...

Going Coastal.
March 1, 2000... Wellcraft's 23-foot Tournament Edition Coastal blends the needs of sportfishing with family cruising Barry Brady lives and breathes saltwater fishing, which is a great outlet for anyone who wants to relieve tensions from the daily grind....

On Board.
March 1, 2000... In the Name of Silence According to sales reports, the five top-selling boats last year were less than 20 feet long. So, let's picture a new boat owner in his or her 18-foot runabout. On the average trip, they'll bring the spouse and...

Save the Ramp.
March 1, 2000... Forces are conspiring to pull the Marina del Rey launch ramp out from under trailerboaters. Here is how you can fight back Southern California's Marina del Rey, billed as the world's largest manmade pleasure craft harbor, boasts one of the...

SUB Commander.
March 1, 2000... In the automotive world, if you need a vehicle that can do double duty as both a passenger sedan and a utility vehicle, you buy a sport-utility vehicle (SUV). Over the past decade, SUVs have become so popular that they now comprise the fastest...

OSPREY 30.
March 1, 2000... The Osprey 30 features the smooth, quiet ride that Osprey is famous for; and the craft offers 360-degree visibility in its pilothouse-style cabin, full walkaround decks and a 64-square-foot aft deck. The Osprey 30 can sleep up to six persons...

HARBERCRAFT NAHANNI 1925.
March 1, 2000... The Nahanni line of boats from Harberoraft includes hulls ranging from 16 to 211/2 feet in length, but one of the hottest movers in the four-boat line is the Model 1925. The 1925 measures 19 feet from stem to stern and has a beam of 6 feet, 10...

COLE 280-S.
March 1, 2000... One of the pioneers of the California custom-boat biz, Cole offers the 280-S for model year 2000. The 28-footer rides on a hull made with four full-length, micro-lam-beam stringers recessed into the transom; and all composite materials are...

Quick Fix.
March 1, 2000... If the engine breaks, stay cool. With some ingenuity and a few simple tools you can get yourself and your crew home It's been one of those pleasant afternoons on the water, a little fishing, or an afternoon cruise with your family, when...

Keel Hauled.
March 1, 2000... Protecting your boat's keel from beaching damage is easy and affordable No matter how careful you are, sooner or later you are going to put a few scrapes, scratches and nicks in your boat's keel. Running your boat up on cement ramps,...

Tech Letters.
March 1, 2000... WELCOME BACK I have recently returned to the world of trailerboating. I have purchased a 1986 Carver Santa Cruz with a 350 MerCruiser. I had forgotten about the lack of displacement speed and directional stability that some deep-V bottom...

TOW CAR.
March 1, 2000... OLD TOW RATINGS Where can one find towing capacities for older vehicles? I have noticed Trailer Boats providing this information occasionally, but can't seem to locate it myself. I own a 1984 GMC truck, and have been unable to...

RITCHIE IMPROVES ITS POPULAR NAVIGATOR COMPASS, COMBI-DAMP DIRECT-READ DIAL IS EASIER TO SEE.
March 1, 2000... Ritchie has added two features to its Navigator compass that makes it easier to use. Its 4-inch Combi-Damp direct-read dial is the largest available, and is easily seen while sitting or standing at the helm. The Navigator's Nite-Vu green...

CLYMER NOW OFFERS MANUAL FOR HONDA FOUR-STROKE OUTBOARDS.
March 1, 2000... Clymer's Honda Outboard Shop Manual (No. B757) includes all the information you need to repair or perform routine maintenance on 1976 to 1999 Honda outboards from 2 to 130 hp. The manual includes information about tools, test equipment,...

SAVE YOUR OLD BATTERIES WITH THE BATTERYMINDER KIT FROM VDC.
March 1, 2000... VDC Electronics offers a new battery care kit highlighted by the BatteryMINDer conditioner/charger/maintainer. The manufacturer claims the unit is capable of automatically "cleaning" the storage plates of any 12-volt battery -- and can do so...

MUTH WIDE ANGLE SIGNAL MIRRORS INCREASE TOWING SAFETY BY ALERTING DROVERS TO LANE CHANGES.
March 1, 2000... Wide-angle signal mirrors from Muth provide the utility of a fully functional signal mirror, plus the expanded visibility of a spot-convex mirror. The system uses high-intensity lights to create a turn signal that's visible in your side mirror;...

EVERGREEN'S FASTHITCH EASES THE CHORE OF SINGLE-HANDED TRAILER COUPLING.
March 1, 2000... Thanks to FastHitch from Evergreen Solutions, solo operators can hook up their tow vehicle to a trailer quickly and easily. No longer will you need a spotter to coil out directions. The FostHitch is a convex mirror that mounts on the bock of...

CABELA'S 20-GALLON LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM PAMPERS ALL TYPES OF LIVE BAIT.
March 1, 2000... If you know anything about fishing, you know that the condition of your bait can make the difference between catching your limit and catching a cold. Lively baitfish are what works best, and Cabela's Minnow Life Support System can give you the...

SHAKESPEARE'S NEW ELIMINATOR SERIES VHF ANTENNAS SUPRESS PAGER INTERFERENCE.
March 1, 2000... Trailerboaters operating a VHF radio near busy ports or large cities often are bothered by the shrill interference noise from pagers, land-based mobile radios and other signals that are near the VHF marine band. Shakespeare has introduced a...

TIME CAPSULE HOLDS CENTURY'S EPIC SEA-RELATED EVENTS.
March 1, 2000... Somewhere on the ocean bottom off Florida lies the S.S. 20th Century, a time capsule containing items representing the most memorable sea-related events of the past 100 years. The items were determined by a nationwide survey of 640...

TAMPA ANGLER GIVES HUGE CHECKS TO TOURNMENT CHARITY.
March 1, 2000... Who says big game tournament anglers care only about winning? Tampa angler Steve Yerrid proved that idea wrong with two donations -- $100,000 and $75,000 -- to the Chuck LaMar's Mercury Outboards Grand Slam for its charity, the Pediatric Cancer...

STAINLESS ANCHORING ACCESSORIES FROM IMTRA MAKE BOATING SIMPLER.
March 1, 2000... Five new accessories that make anchoring safer and easier have been introduced by Imtra. Marketed under the So-Pac Anchoring Accessories brand, these products include a stainless anchor swivel, chain stopper, combined line/chain anchor rode,...

SPRAY-ON PRIMER FROM SEYMOUR OF SYCAMORE MAKES SPOT REPAIRS MUCH EASIER.
March 1, 2000... Repairing damaged metal surface coatings is now quick and easy, thanks to Seymour of Sycamore's new, spray-on water-resistant primers: Yellow Zinc Phosphate Primer and Green Zinc Phosphate Primer. Especially recommended for use on aluminum,...