Trailer Boats articles from March 2002

Trailer Boats archives from March 2002

Warships. (On Plane).
March 1, 2002... To characterize war in positive terms seems inappropriate. Yet, armed conflict has spawned some of the world's greatest technological advances. We hardly give a second thought to conveniences such as jet airplanes, four-wheel-drive vehicles and...

That's entertainment? (Letters to the Editors).
March 1, 2002... The article on the Chevy Express van was nice ("Entertainment Center, January 2002), but I have one big problem with all of that onboard audio and video entertainment gear. More and more these days, I see parents trying different things to keep...

Blinding behavior. (Letters to the Editors).
March 1, 2002... When I read "Nocturnal Behavior" (January 2002) about running at night, I thought you had matters well in hand when you stated that "even a brief flash of light can destroy your night vision for as much as 15 minutes." However, you then go on...

Quick-connectors. (Letters to the Editors).
March 1, 2002... In Jim Barron's January 2002 Propulsion column ("Troubleshooting"), he mentions quick-connectors in recommending the use of a portable gas tank as part of the troubleshooting sequence for outboards. However, my 1997 Johnson 175 outboard is...

Satisfied customer. (Letters to the Editors).
March 1, 2002... In the January 2002 Dock Talk, you ran an item that indicated that boaters are less than satisfied with boat dealer service, based on a J.D. Power & Associates study. You should have checked with me. I am still amazed with the great service on...

Heating things up. (Letters to the Editors).
March 1, 2002... Your On Plane editorial entitled "Endless Season" (January 2002) was great. We live in New England, so suggestion No. 5 -- install a boat heater -- is very interesting. You had mentioned Heater Craft, but I can't find anything on them. Might...

Designated skipper efforts are off-target, conclude researchers after 2-year study. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2002... Unlike a designated driver in an automobile, a sober skipper offers little protection to passengers who have been imbibing. This is one conclusion of a complex study published in the December 19 edition of the Journal of the American...

Four-strokes will dominate, industry survey indicates. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2002... Four-stroke outboards will push aside two-strokes in the future, according to an informal survey by Boating Industry International Online -- an Internet newsletter directed to members of the recreational boating industry. Of the 1149...

New-boat sales decline. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2002... The number of new recreational boats sold in 2001 dipped by approximately 6 percent, compared to units sold the year before, according to a report from the Chicago-based National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). Last year, 541,300...

Term of the month: Heave to. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2002... No, it's not what you do when you're seasick. "Heave to" means to bring a vessel to a position where it will maintain little or no headway, usually with the bow into the wind.

Skipper's challenge. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2002... "Small craft" advisories and warnings refer to vessels under (a) 15 meters in length, (b) 20 meters in length, or (c) 25 meters in length?

Sound investment. (Boat Improvement).
March 1, 2002... The latest technologies seem to trickle down to boatowners last. Fuel injection for gas engines is a good example. CD audio is another. The standard audio systems in many new boats are still cassette tapes, but you don't have to live with 1980s...

Brake laws. (Back to Basics).
March 1, 2002... Does your boat trailer have brakes? That sounds like a simple question, but I'll bet more than a few readers will have to look at their rig to get the answer right. Before getting serious about boats, I have to admit that I trailered a few...

Electronics Q&A.
March 1, 2002... FOG ALERT I have a Standard Horizon Spectrum VHF radio. When it's in the automatic foghorn mode, even with the channel display showing a channel number such as 16 or 13, the radio appears to be non-operational. Am I doing something wrong,...

Strong future. (Propulsion).
March 1, 2002... Having recently returned from a press meeting at the Ralph Evinrude Test Center in Stuart, Florida, I want to give you a rundown on the reintroduction of the Evinrude and Johnson outboard lines, which were purchase by Bombardier from bankrupt...

Vertical moves. (Ski Locker).
March 1, 2002... To get more air and to learn wakeboarding, waterskiing or barefooting faster, you need a higher towing position. To get that, you need either an extended pylon or a tower. A few years ago, these options were exclusive to inboard skiboats and...

Pro Sports 2050 ProBay. (Launch Ramp).
March 1, 2002... Face it. You're not a plain-vanilla guy. You've got a zest for all 31 flavors -- and that makes Pro Sports' new 2050 ProBay a sweet treat that should satisfy any angler's cravings. One day you might feel like working the tidal flats (Rocky...

Larson 210 SEi O/B. (Launch Ramp).
March 1, 2002... Featuring the exacting tolerances of Virtual Engineered Composite (VEC), close-molded construction, Larson's 20 1/2-foot-long 210 SEi bowrider is designed to harness the power-to-weight advantages of today's high-tech outboards. Besides...

Alumacraft Trophy 195. (Lauch Ramp).
March 1, 2002... Hankering for a rugged, yet lightweight craft with a "can-do" attitude... a boat that pulls easily behind downsized tow vehicles, but offers a layout that will handle everything from family skiing to serious tournament fishing? The new Trophy...

Once specialty items, wakeboard towers are now mainstream. (Riding Tall).
March 1, 2002... Five years ago, when the wakeboard tower made its debut on a Correct Craft Air Nautique, the aluminum structure looked odd to many. Only wakeboarders recognized the benefits of a tower's high, stable towing position for watersports. ...

Flair. (Boat Test).
March 1, 2002... Crownline's 202 LPX sets the water ablaze with racy lines and a Corsa exhaust system. Yet, does it have the performance to back up its looks? There's only one word for eastern Tennessee in late June -- hot! Yet there we were on Norris...

Fine Print: Outboard engine warranties look good at a glance, but will they look as thorough when you really need them?
March 1, 2002... In the excitement of buying a new boat, the typical owner-to-be is enamored of the anticipated pleasures. Thoughts of endless days of skiing, great fishing trips with friends, and boating vacations with the family bring a smile to his face....

Social Comet: With seating for 13 and power to spare, Harris Kayot's S 228 is ideal for taking a spin around the lake with family and friends. (Trial Run).
March 1, 2002... If you want a living room with lots of fresh air and sunshine, you don't have to renovate your house. Just take a test drive of the Harris Kayot S 228. This hybrid runabout/deck boat seats 13. And like most living rooms, the S 228 has two...

Flat side of Key West. (TBM Destination).
March 1, 2002... To experience the real magic of Key West, head into the shallow backcountry of the Conch Republic One moment we were idling along in the darkness, using the lights from Key West's Old Havana Docks Bar as our beacons, and the next we were...

Twins vs. Single. (Engine Test).
March 1, 2002... We stage the first-ever shoot-out between a single 225 four-stroke and twin 115 four-strokes, and the results catch us by surprise Which is better -- a single large engine or two smaller ones? This argument has raged for years. Despite...

Comp time.
March 1, 2002... Composite plastic propellers continue to improve, but do they measure up to stainless props? We test three brands to find out So-called "composite" propellers have been around for more than two decades. These 'glass-reinforced plastic...

Evolutionary example: Incomparable maneuverability and stability are hallmarks of the 2002 GMC Sierra Denali with Quadraster. (TBM Tow Test).
March 1, 2002... It's not often that a tow vehicle stands head and shoulders above most, if not all, of the field. GMC's new Sierra Denali, formerly known as the Sierra [C.sup.3] ("Soft Approach," April 2001), now equipped with the new Quadrasteer system, is...

Tech letters.
March 1, 2002... DON'T LET IT FREEZE I have a Lowe 22-foot Silhouette with a 135 hp Cobra sterndrive. Nearly everyone here on Kentucky Lake leaves their boats in slips year-round. Those who have outboards make certain that the outboard engine is in a...

Tow car.
March 1, 2002... SEQUOIA vs. TAHOE I have a 22-foot Larson sterndrive boat that, along with it its tandem trailer weighs in at 4400 pounds, often reaching 5000 pounds with liquids and equipment. I have been towing with a V-6-powered Ford Explorer which,...

Back at the ramp.
March 1, 2002... Next Month MARINE BATTERIES Pick the best "juice buckets" for your boat NEWEST CENTER CONSOLES Our 2002 guide to these popular fishing platforms CRUISING TIPS Tricks for turning a good cruise into a one Trailer...

Waterproof sound control. (Gotta have it).
March 1, 2002... If you'd like to control your on-the-water tunes with a remote, but without the worry of it ending up in the water, you might consider the new MRR-1 Wireless Remote from Poly-Planar. The credit-card-sized remote operates your stereo system by...

Have fun in the sun with the Paddlebuoy longboard. (Gotta have it).
March 1, 2002... When you just feel like playing around in the water, what could be better than the Pro? This new paddleboard from Paddlebuoy will give you hours of maintenance-free, unsinkable fun astride its colorful high-density polystyrene surface. The 9...

Fish can run, but can't hide from Humminbird's legend series. (Gotta have it).
March 1, 2002... Whether you fish on lakes or oceans, you will appreciate Humminbird's new Legend Series of performance fishfinders. A winning combination of operational ease and sonar technology in all six of the series' models will help you pursue your quarry...

Do the tuna two-step with Aka Thongs. (Editor's Field Test).
March 1, 2002... Have you ever thought that touting footwear as a "boat shoe" is merely a clever way for manufacturers to mark up the price without providing significant benefits over street footwear? Uh-huh. We've thought so, too -- which is why it's so...

Roadwing mudflaps help protect your boat and trailer. (Editor's Field Test).
March 1, 2002... Unless you live in a place where the roads are vacuumed regularly, the more you haul your boat around, the greater the chance it will be damaged by rocks, gravel and debris being kicked up by the tow vehicle's tires. The new Roadwing removable...

Keep it clean with Centek. (Editor's Field Test).
March 1, 2002... Most boaters know how important it is to protect our waters from pollution. But accidents happen. If your boat somehow leaks oil, gas or diesel fuel into the water, and that rainbow-colored sheen attracts the attention of authorities, it can...