Trailer Boats articles from October 2000

Trailer Boats archives from October 2000

SMALL CHANGES.
October 1, 2000... Most American boatbuilders do a good job of designing and building trailerable boats. Yet, as in any endeavor, there is always room for improvement. Indeed, this is what drives the free enterprise system. As they say, build a better mousetrap,...

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS.
October 1, 2000... COVER CONCEPT Mind you, I have nothing against good-looking women. It seems, however, that your front covers are looking more like Playboy magazine than a boating magazine. The cover has more emphasis on sexy women than on boats! Between...

REPRIEVE FOR TOWING POWER?
October 1, 2000... Both houses of Congress have voted to freeze the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for another year, and that's good news for trailerboaters. New standards would likely mean trucks (pickups, sport-utility vehicles and vans) that...

BOAT SALES GROWING.
October 1, 2000... While the U.S. economic boom appears to be slowing, retail sales of trailerable boats remains strong, according to a report from Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Statistical Surveys, Inc. The number of fiberglass and aluminum boats sold in this...

J.D. POWER TO RANK BOAT OWNER SATISFACTION.
October 1, 2000... J.D. Power and Associates, the Agoura Hills, California-based firm known for its car owner satisfaction surveys, is launching a similar study for the marine industry, using the same research techniques it has applied to the automobile industry....

KIDS DRAW THE DARNDEST BOATS.
October 1, 2000... Winners in the 3rd annual "Draw Kids into Boating" contest were announced recently by the Marine Design Resource Alliance, the St. Johnsbury, Vermont-based consortium of boat and accessory manufacturers, which sponsors the contest. ...

SURVIVING A MECHANICAL EMERGENCY.
October 1, 2000... We were rafted up about 50 feet off the beach with several other boats when we noticed a boater in much shallower water who was having trouble starting his boat. When we asked if he needed a hand, he waded out toward us and said he thought he...

READY FOR WINTER.
October 1, 2000... For the majority of trailerboaters across North America, cool weather forces an end to the boating season about the time the first Christmas decorations appear in department stores. For those thick-blooded pleasure boaters who push the comfort...

ELECTRONICS Q&A.
October 1, 2000... SLEEPING COMPUTER I recently purchased a new IBM-compatible laptop computer, and it is doing crazy things with my GPS/charting programs as well as weather facsimile printouts. It works for a couple of minutes, and then becomes erratic...

MEANING OF ISO.
October 1, 2000... In September's "Designer's 'Viewpoint," I discussed how boats sold in Europe now require certification (known as CE) based on new manufacturing guidelines formulated by the International Standards Organization (ISO). Most of these...

'RUDE AWAKENING.
October 1, 2000... Back in the July 2000 issue, I told you about the new 3.3L V-6 outboard from Evinrude. As indicated, the new Ficht-injected block is a bored and stroked version of the 3.OL V-6 powerhead currently in production. For those who prefer to talk...

GEOGRAPHY LESSON.
October 1, 2000... At one time, I believed that waterskiing evolved in a straight line -- in the same way that pop music divas get prettier every year. What recently struck me like a wall of water thrown by Andy Mapple's slalom ski was the real truth -- namely,...

CHRIS-CRAFT LAUNCH 25.
October 1, 2000... "Elegance never goes out of the style," is the underscoring philosopy behind ChrisCraft's new-for-2001 Launch 25. Destined to become an instant classic, this 25 x 8 1/2-footer captures the soulful lines of ChrisCraft's historic wooden...

Preview 2001.
October 1, 2000... Join us for a sneak peek at some of next season's newest bowriders, cuddy cabins and cruisers With the cunning of a burglar and the talents of James Bond, we managed to sneak a long-before-release peek at some of the new bowriders, cuddy...

Flights of Fancy.
October 1, 2000... Ever dreamed of flying? Live your fantasy with this wild new hovercraft that whisks across land or sea with equal ease Everyone has dreams about personal flight... where you soar on outstretched arms, your mind as tranquil and free as a...

Season Stretch.
October 1, 2000... Don't put the boat away just because it's after Labor Day. Stretch your season with these seven great fall boating destinations Fall offers some outrageously good boating opportunities, as crisp weather and uncrowded waters beckon...

Robo Craft.
October 1, 2000... Born of computerized robotic manufacturing, the Stingray 220LX bowrider may reflect how boats are built in the future Robotic manufacturing techniques are hardly new. In fact, such technology is fairly common, computerized robots are in use...

SAFETY GLASS.
October 1, 2000... Knowing how to select and use binoculars is essential to boating. Here's how to focus your efforts For most boaters, binoculars are a major investment not just because they can be expensive, but because they are so important to safe...

Family Feline.
October 1, 2000... Incorporating both family-oriented amenities and offshore fishing features, the new World Cat 246 DC is an equal opportunity boat If you're a fisherman with a family, you're caught in a quandary. Too often, a good fishing machine just isn't...

Ski America Wrap-Up.
October 1, 2000... Our watersports expert tells how it feels to spend the summer traveling the U.S. on behalf of Trailer Boats to share the joy of waterskiing with others Nothing characterizes adventure in America like traveling to new horizons. Since I'm a...

Pulling Away.
October 1, 2000... With extra power and improved handling, the new 7350-pound-tow-rated 4WD Dodge Durango R/T is born to tow Power galore. That's what we will continue to see on upcoming trucks for the next several months. The latest of these high-performance...

Ultimate Cool.
October 1, 2000... Do high-performance exhaust manifolds offer measurable improvements to an otherwise stock engine? We rig a 5.7L MerCruiser with Stainless Marine's Hi-Torque system to find out You can run, but you can't hide. No matter where you live, or...

Tech Letters.
October 1, 2000... WHY DOES IT CHINE WALK? I am curious what lake condition and boat design deficiency causes chine walking. I have a Godfrey Hurricane 201 deck boat that I modified with a 1999 Mercury 250 hp EFI engine, jackplate and reworked heads. The...

TRAILER BOATS TOW CAR.
October 1, 2000... LOOKING FOR LONGEVITY I have a 1996 Chevy 2500 long-bed extra cab with the 7.4L V-8. I just purchased a Four Winns Vista 248 and plan on towing relatively long distances, including a trip to Lake Tahoe where I will probably leave the boat...

UPGRADE YOUR GPS DATABASE WITH CDs FROM MAGELLAN.
October 1, 2000... Users of Magellan's GPS 315 and 320 can now upgrade the units' databases with CD-ROMs covering the Americas and Europe. Each contains thousands of new points of interest, as well as a new way point and route management function, allowing...

AQUALEASH MAKES EASY WORK OF TYING UP.
October 1, 2000... Now you don't even have to know how to tie your shoes to tie up a boat securely at the dock. All you need is AquaLeash from Cheetah Recreational Equipment, Inc. The AquaLeash pieces and parts are already familiar to the public and they're as...

ILLUMINATE THE NIGHT WITH COMPACT LIGHTS FROM TAYLORBRITE.
October 1, 2000... Taylorbrite has introduced a new series of energy efficient cold cathode fluorescent (CCF) lights that offer true flush mounting capabilities. Each of the lights is a slender 0.8-inch in depth, eliminating the need for relief space. Designed...

SILICONE WATER HOSES INCREASE BOATERS' PEACE OF MIND.
October 1, 2000... Standard rubber hoses often wear out, split, crack and fail at the most inopportune times, and many boaters feel compelled to carry spares. That won't be necessary if you start using its 100 percent silicone hoses, says Boca Raton,...

KEEP PLASTIC WINDOWS CLEAR WITH 3M MARINE.
October 1, 2000... The marine environment is not plastic friendly. Help is on the way, however, with a new pair of products from 3M Marine that can restore clarity and shine to marine plastics. 3M Marine Clear Plastic Restorer's mild abrasives remove...

CREATE SECURE STORAGE AREAS WITH LEER TONNEAU COVERS FOR PICKUPS.
October 1, 2000... Leer recently announced the introduction of the world's first low profile, high technology Telene RIM polymer truck cap. According to Leer, the new LT2000 tonneau weighs less than 90 pounds and has an outer skin that is impact resistant across...

GET ACCURATE SPEEDOMEFER READINGS WITH NORDSKOG INSTRUMENTS.
October 1, 2000... Nordskog claims its pitot tube speedometer is the most accurate on the market. Famous for offshore racing and precision products, Nordskog has introduced a new line of speedometers made with premium quality bronze bourdon tubes that provide a...

NEW SHAKESPEARE CELL PHONE ANTENNA DOES DOUBLE DUTY FOR MARINERS.
October 1, 2000... Antennas have been available to help boaters communicate by cell phone, but you had to choose between antennas designed for either analog or digital phones. Now, Shakespeare has introduced an antenna that will handle both. The Shakespeare...

CAROLINA SKIFF SEA CHASER 220.
October 1, 2000... Here's a bay boat with the mettle to sneak outside the pass to see what the big boys are up to. Carolina Skiff's new Sea Chaser 220 is a fishable, functional center console that won't break the bank. Measuring 21 feet, 7 inches in length by 7...

NOVURANIA EQUATOR 430.
October 1, 2000... The perfect marriage of performance and utility, the new Equator 430 from Novurania rings in a new definition of a rigid inflatable sportboat (RIB). Able to carry 7 passengers, but equally adept at pulling a water-skier, this 14-footer relies...