Trailer Boats articles from March 2003

Trailer Boats archives from March 2003

Noble traits. (On Plane).
March 1, 2003... As I pumped fuel into my 22-footer at the gas dock, another boater tied up and cast an admiring look my way. "Nice boat," he said. "'What does she bum?" "Money," I said. "Amen to that, brother," he chuckled. He shared that his boat...

Submarine duty. (Letters to the Editor).
March 1, 2003... I was not surprised to see that Sperry Topsiders fared well in your January test of deck shoes ("Sole Search"). I was a U.S. Navy submariner from 1963 to 1987. Domed submarine decks can be very slippery during surface operations. Consequently...

Sipe hunt. (Letters to the Editor).
March 1, 2003... In the January "Sole Search" article, you wrote that the slits in the soles of deck shoes are called "siping," and you credited Paul Sperry for this invention. However, I believe proper credit should be given to John Sipe, who pioneered,...

California dreamin'. (Letters to the Editor).
March 1, 2003... Your magazine seems quick to assume that the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is likely to follow the lead of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) by imposing similar emissions restriction on new marine engines across the...

Cover guys. (Letters to the Editor).
March 1, 2003... Fair is fair! You fellas like to look at barely clad blondes on the cover of the magazine. So why not give us female readers the same courtesy. When has a beautiful woman ever been accompanied in the photo by a man of equal caliber -- some buff...

Spare location. (Letters to the Editor).
March 1, 2003... A few issues back, Ray Bernard of Lincoln, Rhode Island, inquired about an alternate location for the spare tire on a Jeep Liberty while towing his boat. Why not mount the Liberty's spare tire on a spare tire mount on one of the side rails of...

Satisfaction growing among boat buyers. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2003... There's good news and bad news for boatbuilders in the latest J.D. Power and Associates study among new-boat buyers. The good news: Satisfaction with boat warranties is growing. Among buyers of coastal fishing boats, for example, the customer...

In tow: defining light trucks.
March 1, 2003... The U.S. government's nearly 25; year-old Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program waside-signed to slowly and painlessly nudge automobile manufacturers toward building learn and cleaner vehicles. A fuel economy figure is set by the Feds...

TV antennas hurt GPS reception. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2003... If you're having trouble navigating with GPS, particularly in the harbor, marine TV antennas from other boats could be jamming your reception. In a recent advisory, the U.S. Coast Guard warns of GPS interference caused by certain marine TV...

Launch ramp: hot new boats. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2003... CAMPION ALLANTE LS 7051 BR The new Allante LS 705i BR from Campion incorporates a sleek design into a bowrider configuration with a mid-cabin, making it a versatile family sport boat. The cabin features a 6-foot quarter berth with plenty...

Water toy profile: Roxy wetsuits for women.
March 1, 2003... For decades, waterskiers have used neoprene in various thicknesses to keep warm and to stretch the season. Sure, neoprene is highly functional, but what about its appearance? Roxy has not one, but two answers. Besides offering a stylish...

GM's new small trucks are back on schedule. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2003... The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, set to replace the aging S-10/Sonoma pickups in 2004, hit a bump in the road recently, but General Motors stepped in and got the new trucks back on track. GM partner Isuzu Motors Ltd. was developing...

Skipper's challenge. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2003... Typical marine fire extinguishers have a discharge time of: a) 8 to 20 seconds b) 25 to 40 seconds c) 45 to 60 seconds d) none of the above Paraphrased from Skipper's Challenge ($19.95), a book by Dale L. Lydigsen Jr. For...

Just cruisin': Crownline 239 DB. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2003... Debuted as a 2002 model, Crownline's 239 DB is the epitome of the modern deck boat. It's roomy, sporty and replete with amenities, including a full windshield and walk-through door to keep the crew from getting chilled. We found this...

Getting personal: Kawasaki Jet Ski STX-12F. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2003... In its 30hj year of Jet Ski production, Kawasaki continues to pioneer new products that break away from the industry norm. While other manufacturers recently introduced large, powerful four-stroke models designed principally with cushy touring...

Fishing ban draws legal fire from California Anglers. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2003... A coalition of fishing groups have tiled a lawsuit against the California Fish and Game Commission over its controversial angling ban in waters around the Channel Islands off the state's southern coast. The coalition seeks a court order...

Something's fishy: Dusky 256 Open Fisherman. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2003... The Dusky 256 Open Fisherman is my type of boat -- solid and basic, yet with lots of room to add accessories and gear. This 25 1/2-footer is available in two open models. Our test boat had a center console with a flush forward deck and a cuddy...

Survey results. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2003... Readers Believe in Test Drives Well over half of you took your boats for test drives before buying them. At least that's the indication of a recent survey on our website, TrailerBoats.com. Fifty-six percent said yes, while the rest...

More news on Ford's 2004 F-150. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2003... The completely redesigned 2004 Ford F-150 that we've been hearing so much about is going to be powered by a new 5.4L Triton engine. It will be the only three-valve-per-cylinder (two intake, one exhaust) V-8 truck engine on the market, and...

Electronics: Maptech digital chart kit. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2003... There's a better way to spend evenings than watching reruns of Seinfeld. Maptech, a Massachusetts-based company, has digitize the information from its pape charts, and now offers easy-to-use electronic charts that are compatible with most...

West Marine and BoatU.S. become one.
March 1, 2003... As we went to press, two marine retail giants and erstwhile competitors -- BoatU.S. and West Marine -- announced formation of a "strategic alliance." Translation: California-based West Marine has acquired retail operations of BoatU.S.,...

Did you know?
March 1, 2003... A statute mile refers to distance traveled on land and measures 5280 feet. It is also used for navigation on inland waters. A nautical mile is the equivalent of 1 minute of latitude and measures 6076 feet. It is the standard on ocean waters.

Ski locker: MasterCraft X Star. (Dock Talk).
March 1, 2003... Did it come from Star Wars Episode 3? No. Despite the futuristic new lines, it's a family boat. in fact, compared to last year's model, the 2003 MasterCraft X Star has far more passenger space and storage. What's more, it promises better...

Hard felt solution. (Boat Improvement).
March 1, 2003... We were heading back to port after spending a pleasant Sunday at one of our favorite picnic spots. There was just the hint of a breeze, and we were planing comfortably through a light chop when -- typical for New England -- the breeze died for...

Tow mode. (Boating Basics).
March 1, 2003... Having a trailer attached to the rear of your vehicle changes everything. Not only is the rig you are commanding longer and heavier, it's jointed, which throws a reverse curve into the equation. You'll feel a difference the moment you put...

Warranties vs. rebates. (Propulsion Report).
March 1, 2003... As we outlined in the February engine roundup ("Marine Power 2003"), prices for outboards seem to have finally stabilized after years of spiraling upward. Much of the upward trend was due to developmental costs associated with meeting federal...

Nautique 226 vs. Regal Session making waves: it's the new kid against the veteran in a crosstown V-drive shoot-out.
March 1, 2003... Only a couple of miles separate two leading Orlando, Florida, boat-builders -- Correct Craft and Regal. Yet, for many years, these two companies have coexisted peacefully, partly because they pursued different markets. Correct Craft has...

Space Coast: home of the Space Shuttle, Florida's Brevard County has all the right stuff for boating families. (TBM Destination).
March 1, 2003... Watching my first Space Shuttle launch a year ago ranks as one of those rare experiences that surpassed al expectations. Our rental car was wegged in among hundreds of ther cars that had pulled of to the side along the causeway to Cape...

Return to sender: here's how to replace a fuel-gauge-sending unit on an aging gas tank. (TBM How-To).
March 1, 2003... A fuel gauge is one of the most important instruments on the helm. When indicating full, it is as reassuring as a large bank account. When it creeps toward "E," we know it's time to chart a course toward the fuel dock. From time to time,...

Sea battle: both Volvo Penta and Yamaha build engines for ocean use. Yet, which is better -- the saltwater sterndrive or the saltwater outboard?
March 1, 2003... A mong trailer boaters, there is an age-old question: "Should I buy an outboard or sterndrive?" We have answered this question in the past with numerous head-to-head tests between outboards and sterndrives. Yet, with recent major advances in...

Macho machine; the new H2 is the product of machismo marketing. Yet, the real question is: Can it tow a boat? (TBM Tow Test).
March 1, 2003... You've seen it on TV, bill boards and magazines - a media blitz of images of the boxy, bright Hummer H2, racing through surreal landscapes. The vehicle's predecessors, the military Humvee and subsequent civilian-release Hummers built by AM...

Stern language: when it comes to sterndrive warranties, you -- the boatowner -- bear most of the responsibilities.
March 1, 2003... When it comes to a written warranty, it's the fine print that counts. This is especially true of warranties on sterndrives, because manufacturers' protection on these marine power packages are brief in duration and require more from you than...

Step safely: if your trailer-fenders also serve as steps, here's how to make them safer. (TBM How-To).
March 1, 2003... Many boaters use the wheel fenders on their trailers as steps to climb in and out of the boat. This is handy, but metal fenders can be slippery, especially when wet. To help make them safer, you can apply a nonskid surface to the tops of them....

Changes in attitude: in driver-adjustable trim tabs, you have two choices -- hydraulic or electric. Here's how to decide which is right for you.
March 1, 2003... A good set of trim tabs can do a lot. These driver- adjustable transom plates can change a running attitude (aka trim), correct a list, eliminate porpoising and reduce pounding. Tabs may also improve holeshot, increase fuel efficiency and boost...

Bug-free boating: here are proven tips -- and new tricks -- for keeping mosquitoes, deer flies and no-see-ums away from you and your boat.
March 1, 2003... The thought of spending a summer night anchored unexpectedly on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico didn't worry me. The troubling part was how close my wife, Maria, and I would be to that edge. When it became apparent that the outboard wasn't...

Waterfowl: Duckworth's jet-propelled Advantage 19 combines a tank-like hull with a comfortable interior.
March 1, 2003... The odds of sighting a scantily clad model on the bow of Duckworth's new Advantage 19 are about the same as finding a gold nugget in the Sahara Desert. Though the appearance and finish of this aluminum sport-boat are as smooth and shiny as its...

Tech letters.
March 1, 2003... LOST A BLADE I was running at idle speed, close to shore when my prop hit bottom. I gave it some throttle to "un-stick" the boat, then immediately returned to idle speed. The prop was performing fine at this point. Once I was back in...

Tow car.
March 1, 2003... HITCH DEFINITIONS I am shopping for a 24-foot deck boat. The trailer, boat, engine, full fuel tank and gear may weigh as much as 7000 pounds. My tow vehicle is a 2001 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 4x4 with a 5.4L Triton V-8 engine and a factory tow...

Stay on the hook with a Fortress FX-16 anchor. (TDM Tested).
March 1, 2003... Fortress' new FX-16 caught our eye when it was first introduced. It's a good-looking anchor designed for boats up to 38 feet. Made of a hardened aluminum-magnesium alloy and weighing in at just 10 pounds, it's about half the weight of a...

Sta-bil's new formula is for year-round protection. (Gotta Have It).
March 1, 2003... Gold Eagle, manufacturer of the well-known Sta-bil brand of fuel stabilizer, has introduced a new and improved formula. The old Sta-bil was designed for adding to fuel tanks prior to off-season storage, but the new Sta-bil has water removers --...

Protect your rig with Fulton's new coupler lock. (Gotta Have It).
March 1, 2003... Fulton Performance Products has introduced a new coupler lock that fits all 1 7/8-, 2-and 2 5/16-inch trailer couplers. The UTL 100 Universal Coupler Lock has a durable cast body that's corrosion-resistant. It's easy to install and remove:...

Teleflex Vision gauges are easier to read. (Gotta Have It).
March 1, 2003... Teleflex recently introduced a new line of marine instruments called Vision, which includes 2-inch individual gauges for fuel, water pressure, water temp, oil pressure and engine synchronization, There are also 3- and 5-inch gauges for speed...

Body Glove introduces swimwear for girls. (Gotta Have It).
March 1, 2003... Can you really use the words wakeboarding, boats and fashion in the same sentence? Yes, and Body Glove is making sure of it. Our March cover shot and the "Making Waves" feature story show knock-out women boaters adorning themselves in...

Nordskog's Plug-In Voltmeter won't leave you guessing. (Gotta Have It).
March 1, 2003... During a tournament last year, we had no idea that running the livewell pump continuously during a four-hour drift had completely drained the battery until our GPS started sputtering. At that time, we didn't have a voltmeter installed; good...

Over the Transom. (Photo Contest).
March 1, 2003... You Could Win a Four Winns Boat 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...

Torque correction. (Letters to the Editor).
March 1, 2003... On page 73 of your January issue, you state that the Ford 4.6L Triton V-8 engine produces 393 lb-ft. of torque. I think the correct figure is 293 lb-ft. Rex Cole Centralia, Washington Right you are, Rex. in the Toyota Tundra tow...