Trailer Boats articles from May 2003

Trailer Boats archives from May 2003

Propeller performance primer: don't pitch a fit, fit your pitch. (Advertisement).
May 1, 2003... First in a series of propeller performance articles It's true, size matters. But bigger is not always better in boat propellers. Do you know what size propeller you have? Do you know what you need? The answer to the first question is...

Student for life. (On Plane).
May 1, 2003... Shortly after I graduated from high school, an older fishing buddy offered advice that I have since applied to every aspect of my life. I had driven with him, my brother and a couple of other friends to Mulege on the east coast of Mexico's...

Trim tab fan. (Prop Wash: Letters to the Editor).
May 1, 2003... There was no "change in attitude" on my part after reading your March article about trim tabs ("Changes in Attitude"). Your speed test proved what I found out about tabs after installing them: They work even when retracted. I would like to...

Downsea vs. upsea. (Prop Wash: Letters to the Editor).
May 1, 2003... The staffer who edited my March Boat Improvement column (Hard Felt Solution) made a change in my text that may cost me a couple of points with more experienced boaters. In the third paragraph I had written, "I...headed the boat up into the...

Regal challenge. (Prop Wash: Letters to the Editor).
May 1, 2003... I am a former professional wakeboarder and I run a pro shop. This gives me a unique insight to wakeboarding. The March comparison test between the Regal Session and the Correct Craft Nautique 226 ("Making Waves") by Zenon L. Bilas is laughable....

One Award--two outboard brands. (Dock Talk).
May 1, 2003... Evinrude and Suzuki outboards will have to share the spotlight this year. That's because they tied for top honors in the Engines and Propulsion category of the 2003 Innovation Awards by the National Marine Manufacturers Association. ...

U.S. Coast Guard will continue to handle search and rescue. (Dock Talk).
May 1, 2003... Defending ports and sea lanes has always been crucial to domestic security. Yet, since the events of September 11, the task has become paramount, and so the U.S. Coast Guard, formerly under the Department of Transportation, is now officially...

Jet Ski turns 30. (Dock Talk).
May 1, 2003... It's hard to believe, but It;s been three decades since Kawaski, introduced the first stand-up Jet Ski. Back in 1974, there were two models -- the WSAA flat-bottom version and WSAB V-hull. Both Jet Ski models were powered by water-cooled,...

HarrisKayot V220 deck boat. (Launch Ramp: Hot New Boats).
May 1, 2003... Indiana-based HarrisKayot, which threw its hat into the runabout arena last year, has more than doubled its number of fiberglass offerings by adding a trio of bowriders, as well as a triocha of deck boats for 2003. The smallest of the new...

Rinker 262 Captiva Bow Rider. (Launch Ramp: Hot New Boats).
May 1, 2003... Introduced in late spring, Rinker's brand-spanking-new 262 Captiva Bow Rider is actually a 2004 model. The Syracuse, Indiana, boatbuilder says it modeled the 262 Captiva off its hotselling 232 version -- same 8 1/2 foot beam, same walkthrough...

In tow: SeaSense's cool new LED trailer lights. (Dock Talk).
May 1, 2003... You've seen them all over town, and may not have realized it. LED (light-emitting diodes) lighting is taking over. LEDs have replaced conventional bulbs in most stoplights, and many semi-tractor trailers now feature LED lighting. A growing...

Chevy will offer a five-banger. (Dock Talk).
May 1, 2003... The all-new 2004 Chevy Colorado midsize pickup -- scheduled to replace the aging S-10 -- will be available with a 3.5L five-cylinder engine reported to produce 220 hp and 225 lb.-ft. of torque. A 2.8L four-cylinder engine will be offered as...

Skipper's challenge. (Dock Talk).
May 1, 2003... Which of the following does not help prevent seasickness: 1) avoiding alcoholic beverages, 2) avoiding greasy foods, 3) avoiding exhaust fumes, 4) keeping warm and dry, 5) staying on deck, amidships, 6) sitting down, 7) drinking ginger ale,...

Workin' for a living: Stealth Cat 6.5 rigid-hull inflatable. (Dock Talk).
May 1, 2003... In the middle of the I night, the Ventura County Sheriff Harbor Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard both receive an emergency radio broadcast. An inebriated woman has fallen overboard, just outside the harbor, and the skipper can't locate her. ...

Getting personal: LoadRite staggered-bunk PWC trailer. (Dock Talk).
May 1, 2003... Until now, four-passenger personal watercraft (PWCs) were too wide to fit side-by-side with a three- or even a two-seater on a trailer. However, the new LoadRite WV2000WE staggered-bunk trailer solves this problem by elevating one set of bunks...

Power trip: Indmar HP3 Vortec 8100 V-8. (Dock Talk).
May 1, 2003... GM Powertrain -- a division of General Motors -- recently unveiled a powerful new addition to the Vortec 8100 (8.1L) lineup, the HP3. Likened to a big-block V-8 on steroids, this engine packs a whopping 525 ponies -- 105 more than the HP2...

Electronics: Navman GPS 3420 PDA interface. (Dock Talk).
May 1, 2003... Until recently, boaters had few choices in charting software once they purchased a GPS chartplotter. They were handcuffed by proprietary chart programs and cartridges that fit that particular model. Now, however, New Hampshire-based Navman...

Boat-related sales increased in 2002. (Industry News).
May 1, 2003... Troubled economy or not, Americans spent more money on boating-related purchases in 2002 than they did in 2001, according to Chicago-based National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). At retail, dollar sales in 2002 surpassed those of 2001...

Power Squadron partners with Vessel Assist. (Dock Talk).
May 1, 2003... The U.S. Power Squadron (USPS) has agreed to partner with Vessel Assist in the promotion of recreational boating safety courses and educational programs. These will include reduced towing service rates to USPS members, as well as the sharing of...

Overwides only: Triton 2895 center console. (Dock Talk).
May 1, 2003... Triton is on a mission to rule the fishing-boat market. To reflect this ambition, the saltwater line has been renamed with large numbers instead of small ones to reflect overall lengths. For example, the largest Triton, last year named 27cc,...

Keep it clean. (Dock Talk).
May 1, 2003... From MPS Products -- the folks in Florida that offer the Swobbit System of poles, brushes and squeegees -- come these three tips for keeping your boat clean and looking good. 1. Establish a routine of washing your boat alter every trip....

Most readers wax their boats at least twice each year. (Survey Results).
May 1, 2003... Trailer Boats readers are fastidious and invest a lot of "sweat equity" in keeping their boats looking good. At least, this is the indication of a recent survey on TrailerBoats.com. We asked, "How often do you wax your boat?" Two-thirds of...

Stress-reduction gauges. (Boat Improvement).
May 1, 2003... Once, I had to charter a plane to bring a friend back from Nova Scotia during a medical emergency. As we were preparing for the flight, the pilot and copilot were peering at the fuel gauge and arguing about whether to add some fuel before...

Cradle care. (Boating Basies).
May 1, 2003... Getting the boat water-ready for the season ahead is only half of the task for trailer boaters. The other half is the rolling stock that cradles your boat -- your trailer. It's easy to overlook trailer maintenance -- until the annual...

E-generation. (Propulsion Report).
May 1, 2003... Each year, many marine manufacturers use the Miami International Boat Show to debut and showcase their newest and most interesting products, and the 2003 show (in mid-February) was no exception. I have hinted about most of the exciting new...

Ruling class: three of today's most powerful outboards battle for saltwater supremacy. (250 DFI Shoot-Out).
May 1, 2003... We are witnessing another outboard power battle between manufacturers -- and this time the engines are not only strong but also more fuel efficient and cleaner running than ever. It is a battle developing or two fronts. One is on the four-...

Fire! Extinguishers are one of the last items most boaters think about...until someone yells, "fire!".
May 1, 2003... There are few events more frightening than afire aboard a boat. In a flash, the experience can scar you for life, both literally and emotionally. Mississippi angler Chuck Harrelton discovered this the hard way while fishing with two...

Cool jet: Polaris' new EX 2100 sportjet offers runabout comfort at an attractive price.
May 1, 2003... The latest news in the world of sportjets is the addition of a major player. Minnesota-based Polaris has unveiled the EX 2100 -- a 21-foot jet with an 8 1/2-foot beam. Clearly, Polaris is getting aggressive on the marine side. Last fall,...

'Boji bound: known as Iowa's Great Lakes, the Okoboji chain is a prairie oasis for Midwestern boaters. (Destination).
May 1, 2003... They built it up and boaters came. And they keep on coming every summer to a chain of lakes set like gemstones in the fiat landscape of northwest Iowa. So proud are area Hawkeyes of these rare and wonderful waterways that they refer to them as...

Music machine: we install a stereo system designed exclusively for the marine environment. (How-To).
May 1, 2003... After 25 years of owning boats, I finally succumbed, and decided to install a marine stereo system on my 21 1/2-footer. To get started, I talked to Todd Allen, marine stereo specialist with ProSpec Electronics (800/394-1914;...

Sleek cleats: pull-up cleats are a great way to preserve a boat's curvaceous lines. Here's how to install them. (How-To).
May 1, 2003... A boat without cleats is like a car without door handles. It may look cool, but it's impractical. So when my son bought a 25-year-old, 17-foot Witchcraft, I was amazed to find no cleats. How the previous owner tied up to a dock is a mystery to...

Dot. components: the Internet can save you money on boat and engine components, but there are downsides, too.
May 1, 2003... The family was gathered around the dock, eager to set Out for a day cruise to Ship Island -- a small isle with white, sandy beaches washed by the clear, green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It lays just 10 miles offshore and is a popular...

Panel discussion: big holes in the dash? Here's how to cover them in clean, useful ways. (How-To).
May 1, 2003... The original switch panel on my 17-year-old boat had seen better days. Salt spray and corrosion were exacting a toll, and as a result, some of the switches no longer worked. I had been gradually moving functions to a new distribution/switch...

Nimble giant: GMC's Yukon XL 2500 with Quadrasteer is a big SUV with small-car maneuverability. (Tow Test).
May 1, 2003... We were the first boating publication to bring -you a full tow test ("Evolutionary Example," May 2002) of the four wheel-steering Quadrasteer system engineered by Delphi Automotive Systems for GMC full size trucks. That year, the Quadrasteer...

Heres how to put "eyes" on the back of your boat trailer. (How-To).
May 1, 2003... I'm not sure which is more disconcerting -- the sudden shudder of the tow vehicle or the crunching sound emitting from the transom of the boat. Either one makes your stomach flip-flop as you become aware you've just backed into something...

Boom stick: here are the latest tricks for installing a new, 8-foot VHF radio antenna on your boat. (How-To).
May 1, 2003... Needing to change the aging VHF antenna on my 21 1/2-footer, I also decided to upgrade some of the related components. Sunrise, Florida-based Digital Antenna, Inc. (954/747-7022; digitalantenna.com) provided me with one of its state-of-the-art...

Tech letters.
May 1, 2003... LONG-DISTANCE DEALERS I have found a good price on a boat at a dealership that is several hundred miles away. A local dealer wants considerably more money for the same boat, and says that if I buy somewhere else and the boat breaks down,...

Tow Car.
May 1, 2003... WEIGHT OFF THE ROLLERS I recently purchased a 1990 Carver 523 Montego that came on a 1993 Continental tandem-axle, V-frame tilt-bunk trailer. Not having any experience launching or loading with this style of boat trailer, I am concerned...

Keep dirt and water out of the tank with a Racor Filter Funnel. (Gotta Have it).
May 1, 2003... Seldom do we test a product that exceeds our expectations, but such was the case with the Racor Fuel Filter Funnel made by Modesto, California-based Parker Hannifin Corp. The company claims this filter-in-a-funnel will separate water and other...

Versatile marine mount keeps handhelds secure and handy. (Gotta Have it).
May 1, 2003... Anytime one of the editors is on the water, you can be sure he's packing a handheld GPS and cell phone in case of a major power shortage. When you test a lot of boats, the recurring problem is where to stow them. If kept inside the...

New Responder flashlight doesn't blink in the drink. (Tested).
May 1, 2003... A good flashlight is worth its weight in gold on a boat at night, and the new Responder 2C is even more valuable. You can jump overboard with it to clear a line that tangled around the prop. That's because it's submersible to depths of 35...

Leave it spotless with Swobbit. (Tested).
May 1, 2003... Perhaps you've used the squeegee-like water blades to help dry and eliminate water spots on your car after a wash and rinse. Now, you can use the same kind of soft, silicon blade on an extension pole to quickly dry hard-to-reach places on your...

Just bead it with Eagle One spray wax. (Gotta Have it).
May 1, 2003... In our March reader survey, we asked readers how often they wax their boats. Surprisingly, most indicated that they do so only twice a year, the most common reason being because it's a major hassle. Yet, it doesn't have to be. Eagle One...

You could win a Four Winns boat. (Over the Transom).
May 1, 2003... 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 Trailer Boats' "Over the Transom"...