Trailer Boats articles from March 2001

Trailer Boats archives from March 2001

MEANINGFUL MENTORS.
March 1, 2001... He was a tough old guy -- lean and hard-bitten from decades of farming the Nebraska soil. With stoic determination, he had guided the family farm through good times and bad, surviving bone-chilling winters, drought, whirling farm machinery,...

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS.
March 1, 2001... PRAISE AND PUNISHMENT First the praise. I am an avid reader of your magazine. In fact, when I get one, my wife claims that I am lost in it until I come out on the other end. Now the punishment. This is in reference to John Tiger Jr.'s...

BOATS DOWN, BUCKS UP.
March 1, 2001... The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) recently disclosed that unit sales of new pleasure boats declined by 1 percent in 2000 compared to the year before, but retail marine recreational sales posted a healthy increase of 15...

BOAT/U.S. AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE DSC NUMBERS.
March 1, 2001... In an agreement with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and U.S. Coast Guard, Boat/U.S. has become the first non-government organization authorized to issue identification numbers for marine VHF radios with digital selective calling...

IT'S A RADICAL CONCEPT, D.U.D.E.
March 1, 2001... If you regularly read these pages, you know that Cobalt Boats has a penchant for creating scale-model concept boats. Well, the Neodesha, Kansas, builder has debuted yet another concept craft, but this one is a full-scale working prototype. ...

TERM OF THE MONTH.
March 1, 2001... "Lazarette" Lazarette is derived from the Italian word, lazaretto, which referred to ships used as quarantine stations. Lazarette now means a storage space belowdecks, particularly in the stern of a boat.

PREVENTING FUEL FIRES.
March 1, 2001... The thought of being trapped aboard a burning boat is at the top of my "worst nightmare" list. As such, I go overboard when it comes to fire prevention afloat. Most boat fires and explosions are caused by fuel and fuel vapors, so I pay...

ELECTRONICS Q&A.
March 1, 2001... WATCH YOUR VOLTS My new boat came with plenty of instruments, but not a voltmeter. One electrical expert told me to get a digital meter so that I can check my battery. Another expert told me to go with a simple needle-style voltmeter...

METAL AND WOOD.
March 1, 2001... As you may recall from the December 2000 column ("Glass vs. Composites"), I compared the merits of fiberglass in its various permutations, and discussed why it is the overwhelming choice for mass production of trailerable boats. But, it's not...

OMC'S LONG SLIDE.
March 1, 2001... How could a stalwart marine company -- a virtual icon of boating -- slide into such desperate financial shape that it ends up in bankruptcy court? That's what many boaters are asking in the wake of the much-publicized financial troubles at...

FOILED AGAIN.
March 1, 2001... It was in the 1950s when a hydrofoil was first attached to a pair of skis, lifting a waterskier high above the water. The concept never caught on back then, though in the '80s a few skiers did novel stunts with these foil skis. Then, in 1989,...

ADD-A-HATCH.
March 1, 2001... We realized we had a ventilation problem right off the bat. On our first overnight stay on our new boat, we discovered that the ports on either side of the V-berth did nothing but allow rain to pour in. Any air that moved came in one port and...

Great Escape.
March 1, 2001... Crownline's new 230BR is built for getting away from it all with a boatload of family and friends We had dodged a bullet. Or more accurately, the bullet -- in the form of Tropical Storm Chris -- had dodged us. Projected to collide with St....

Staying Afloat.
March 1, 2001... When it comes to life jackets, there are more choices than ever, thanks to new technology and recent U.S. Coast Guard approvals Yes, I know it's politically incorrect to call them "life jackets." But I grew up thinking of them as life...

Isle of Dreams.
March 1, 2001... Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys is the kind of place trailerboaters dream about When snow banks are bunk-high beneath the trailer in my Midwest driveway, and I daydream of sun-drenched days behind my boat's helm, the image in my...

Dos Tomates.
March 1, 2001... Melinda and I bought a boat. In Mexico. Without consulting our husbands. In our small Baja community, like anywhere else, if you don't grab a good deal fast, it's gone. So, while the spouses discussed and fretted, afraid of the old advice, "the...

Western Trailerables.
March 1, 2001... OSPREY 26 LONG CABIN This is the flagship of the Osprey small-boat line, and it offers more living space and a larger galley than the company's 26-foot Fisherman model, due to the extended cabin design. The Osprey 26 Long Cabin sleeps four...

Bold Intruder.
March 1, 2001... Aluminum boats are often viewed as the pickup trucks of the boating industry. They are solid, durable, capable of handling a measure of abuse without falling apart, and generally place more emphasis on utility than aesthetics. In my opinion,...

ONLINE PWC SAFETY COURSE SHOULD REDUCE ACCIDENTS.
March 1, 2001... The Northwest PWC Safety Project and Kawasaki Motors Corp. have teamed up to offer a unique educational opportunity to personal watercraft (PWC) operators. Pwcsafetyschool.com is a free, online PWC certification course, which will make ts debut...

EDITOR ELECTED TO SO. CAL. MARINE ASSOCIATION BOARD.
March 1, 2001... Trailer Boats Editor Jim Hendricks was recently elected to the 15-member Board of Directors of the Southern California Marine Association (SCMA). Hendricks, 47, has been active in Southern California boating since he was a youngster. His...

EMISSIONS REGULATIONS EXPANDING IN CALIFORNIA.
March 1, 2001... Following up on last year's regulations directed at reducing marine engine emissions from outboards, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is pushing to expand discussions to include gasoline sterndrive engines, as well as onroad and...

ALASKA TO PUT EMPHASIS ON BOATING SAFETY.
March 1, 2001... According to a report from Boat/U.S., Alaska recently enacted a U.S. Coast Guard-recognized boating safety program and registration system. The state, considered to have the highest per capita boating fatality rate in the country, is the last...

ALL ABOUT LOBSTERS.
March 1, 2001... When Kristine and Steve Barsky go diving, they pay special attention to the Panulirus interruptus, otherwise known as the California spiny lobster. According to Kristine, a marine biologist for the California Department of Fish and Game, and...

SEATTLE LIVEABOARDS CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR RIGHTS.
March 1, 2001... Under threat of eviction from Seattle marinas due to demands by the Department of Natural Resources, the Liveaboard Association of Puget Sound (LAPOS) has fostered new legislation that would protect people's rights to live on their boats. The...

RECREATIONAL BOAT USE CONTINUES TO CLIMB.
March 1, 2001... According to figures recently released by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), an estimated 72.3 million people participated in recreational boating during the year 2000. That's down slightly from 1999 figures of 73.2 million....

Fast Response.
March 1, 2001... Would a sterndrive-powered bassboat be accepted in today's market? History indicates that it might not. Approximately 23 years ago, Ranger offered its 375 and 395 models with V-6 and V-8 sterndrives, respectively. They had a certain appeal,...

Center of Attention.
March 1, 2001... When it comes to saltwater fishing, center consoles reign supreme. Here's a sample of 16 models you'll see at dealers this year If you're into saltwater fishing, you gotta love center consoles. With a basic layout that puts the helm in the...

2001 Tow Vehicle of the Year.
March 1, 2001... For our 19th Tow Vehicle of the Year competition we compare a trio of 2001 "fullsize," four-wheel-drive (4WD) sport-utility vehicles (SUVs): the popular Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition, as well as the new Toyota Sequoia. All have three rows of...

TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED 4WD 4.7L V-8.
March 1, 2001... There is no recount necessary. The Toyota Sequoia Limited 4WD is the hands down winner in the Trailer Boats' 19th Tow Vehicle of the Year competition. This was the second such win for Toyota. The first time was in 1985 when the Toyota 1-Ton...

Family Value.
March 1, 2001... With a base price of $16,200 -- including an outboard -- the versatile 20-foot SeaArk Sun Star represents one of boating's best buys What will carry nine persons in comfort, pull skiers with ease, allow you and your fishing partner to work...

WIRE WARNING.
March 1, 2001... Wiring a modern vehicle for towing is a job fraught with the potential for disaster. Here's how to avoid an expensive mistake Years ago, the toughest part of preparing a vehicle for towing duty was the hitch installation. Connecting the...

Tech Letters.
March 1, 2001... ALARMING SITUATION I hope you can help me with an intermittent problem that developed in my boat last summer. I have a 1996 175 hp Johnson outboard with the oil tank in a well-protected area of my boat. At the dashboard there is a...

TOW CAR.
March 1, 2001... AFTERMARKET LOCKER My tow truck is a 1995 Ford F-250 two-wheel-drive (2WD) with a 7.3L turbo diesel. My boat is a 1995 Cobia 22B walkthrough with a 454 Yamaha sterndrive. Ford does not offer a dually version of this truck. On steep...

DONZI 28 ZXO.
March 1, 2001... If "living large" is your motto, then you belong behind the wheel of Donzi's latest screamer, the 28 ZXO. Available with twin, balanced-and-blueprinted Scorpion MerCruiser sterndrives that develop a combined 754 hp, this 27-foot, 7-inch-long...

WHEN IT COMES TO FUELING UP, TRAILERBOATERS ARE LANDLUBBERS.
March 1, 2001... Where do you fuel your boat most of time: at a land-based filling station or a gas dock? That was the question we asked readers in our January 2001 issue. The survey on our website -- trailerboats.com -- took place from December 20, 2000...

REBECCA STONE JOINS TRAILER BOATS CREW AS MANAGING EDITOR.
March 1, 2001... We are delighted to announce the addition of Rebecca Stone as managing editor for Trailer Boats magazine. Stone joins our staff with two pertinent qualifications. First, she has a strong journalism background. Having been raised by two...

KEEP DECKS CLUTTER FREE.
March 1, 2001... Cleanliness and order on deck not only make your boat look slick, but can mean safety, which is why Accon Marine is offering its new Pull-Up Chock. The 4 5/8-inch-long and 1 1/2-inch-wide marine-grade stainless steel chock can stand at...

KEEP THE SHINE ON YOUR METAL WITH BRITE GALV.
March 1, 2001... Life around the water is tough on metal surfaces. Now, stepping up to the never-ending challenge to keep metal rust-free is Seymour of Sycamore with its new Brite Galv spray paint. This spray-on, sag-free paint is formulated to prevent rust,...

ANCOR KEEPS CONNECTIONS DRY.
March 1, 2001... If you've been boating more than a few years, you know that few electrical connections are truly waterproof. Twelve-volt electrical plugs are notorious for getting damp, becoming hopelessly corroded, and demanding constant attention. But Ancor...

PAMPER YOUR BAIT WITH NETS FROM AFTCO.
March 1, 2001... New from the American Fishing Tackle Company (AFTCO) are the Gold Series bait nets. The nets feature gold-anodized aluminum handles with black vinyl grips and come in lengths of 12, 18 and 24 inches. These are available in both monofilament...

GIVE YOUR LINES THE PERSONAL TOUCH.
March 1, 2001... Now, you can be the envy of your boating buddies with personalized dock lines from MyRope.com. This recently launched e-commerce storefront will professionally embroider dock lines with your name, your boat's name -- or whatever your heart...

SHED LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT AT HAND.
March 1, 2001... Why suffer from eyestrain when you can light up your life -- and your boat -- with three different types of lighting from InterCon Marketing, Inc.? Each new 10-watt halogen fixture serves a specific purpose. The 6 3/8-inch-long by 2-inch-wide...

PROTECT YOUR SHINS.
March 1, 2001... How many times have you walked into the drawbar of your trailer hitch? Save yourself and your shins with Beckson Marine's new HitchMate trailer hitch safety cover, designed to ward-off those nasty bumps and bruises. The cover, made of soft,...

AURORA MARINE CLEANS UP WATRLINE STAINS.
March 1, 2001... Are you embarrassed to leave the dock because of unsightly waterline stains? Now you can restore your pride and your hull at the same time. Aurora Marine Waterline Stain Remover is designed to help you get rid of that stubborn, greenish-brown...

GET A GRIP ON YOUR COOLER.
March 1, 2001... When you're at the helm, especially in heavy seas, the last thing you want to worry about is the fact that your cooler has decided to take a little turn around the deck. This can not only be annoying, but can be downright dangerous. Fastening...

TAHOE Q3 SKI FISH.
March 1, 2001... It's an age-old dilemma: You want to fish, your wife wants to cruise, and the kids want to ski, What's a skipper to do? Get a Tahoe Q3 Ski Fish, of course. Equipped with an 11-gallon aerated livewell, pedestal-style fishing seats, and a...

MANITOU 24 LEGACY TRIPLE TUBE.
March 1, 2001... When you're talking pontoon boats, the advantages of a triple-tube design are a faster, better performing hull, and greater load-carrying capacity. The new 24 Legacy Triple Tube is the first three-logger from Manitou and -- as you might expect...