Trailer Boats articles from October 2005

Trailer Boats archives from October 2005

Ramps we love.(On Plane)
October 1, 2005... Launch ramps bookend every trailer boating trip. And though no one talks about it, the overall experience while launching and loading our craft plays a significant role in the day's success. The best ramp experiences are a simple, unsung joy....

E-Tec fan.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... After having read all of your articles on [Evinrude's] E-Tec outboards and having previously owned a Ficht, I would like to buy one from the States. Would you have any contacts for an Evinrude dealer that would ship to the United Kingdom? ...

Forget the crybabies.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... Please don't listen to the crybabies about showing too many women in swimsuits. Keep 'em coming! I'd also like to see you sometimes go into the larger (9-foot-plus beam) boats. You know, there are some of us who would love to pull a Sea...

Right on target.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... Thank you for the Grady-White photo on page 30 in your August issue. Jim Barron's comments about engines in that story [Propulsion Report] are very astute and "on target." Eddie Smith Owner and Chairman Grady-White Boats ...

Pontoon boats.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... I am a new subscriber. Great magazine--it's just what I have been looking for. I am interested in pontoon boats, specifically, in 18- to 20-foot fishing-type 'toons with a 50 to 70 hp outboard, a trolling motor and fishing chairs in front and...

For the record.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... Solas propellers (813/238-1985; solas.com) has revised its pricing and application listings from what appeared in the prop buyer's guide ("Planet Propeller") in our July issue. The new information is available by logging onto TrailerBoat.com,...

Trailer trawlers.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... We've just sold our Nordic Tug and we're looking to replace it with something we can tow. We like the trawler look but we want a planing hull or semidisplacement design that can get up on plane. We have looked at Rosborough, Silver Streak and...

A chance to win a Pro-Line of your own.(Dock Talk)
October 1, 2005... Who wouldn't want a shot at winning this new Pro-Line 21 Sport center console, with a Mercury 150 OptiMax and Rocket International custom trailer? West Marine will make someone's dream come true with its Hitch Up and Get Away Sweepstakes, run...

Marine innovations recognized.(Dock Talk)
October 1, 2005... The Las Vegas sun may have been heating up sidewalks outside this year's Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS), but inside, several hot, new products were burning up showroom floors. In July, the National Marine Manufacturers...

Yamaha ceases model-year designations.(Dock Talk)
October 1, 2005... Effective in July, Yamaha officials said the company is discontinuing model-year designations for its outboards, and instead will identify models only by name (for example, the F250 or VMax 200 HPDI). For technical questions or service...

Ski locker: Correct Craft celebrates 80 years of boatbuilding.(Dock Talk)
October 1, 2005... A company that lasts 80 years--during a time of mergers, acquisitions, buyouts and fluctuating trends--is rare. It's perhaps even more unusual that a company stays family owned and remains in the same town for those eight decades. But Correct...

Something's fishy: Contender 36 delivers knockout punch.(BIG-BOAT BONANZA)
October 1, 2005... At 36 feet and weighing in at over 11,000 pounds when it hits the water full of fuel, the Contender 36 is destined to take the bluewater crown when it comes to heavyweight center consoles. This is the bad girl of big water, and with a trio of...

Just cruisin': Baja's new rocket offers performance plus.(BIG-BOAT BONANZA)
October 1, 2005... If you appreciate the speed of a performance craft but are drawn to the comforts and space normally found on larger boats, Baja's new 405 is right up your alley. Considered the flagship of the company's performance series, the 405 offers room...

Launch ramp: Albin debuts 26 Tournament Express.(Dock Talk)
October 1, 2005... Here's one salty sister that's hot off the designer's table. Featuring Down East styling and room to spare, the new Albin 26 Tournament Express is built tough. From the large, flush-deck cockpit to the helm, this boat is made to make your...

Getting personal: the ultimate cruiser.(Dock Talk)
October 1, 2005... Yamaha's FX Cruiser High Output is a work in progress, and the new 2006 version reflects a change in focus for this builder, which has redesigned the boat with couples and families in mind. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Among the improvements...

Overwides only: Sea Ray's smooth-shifting big bowrider.(BIG-BOAT BONANZA)
October 1, 2005... No mistake, the Sea Ray 290 Select EX is one big bowrider. With its 9-foot, 8-inch beam and a listed base weight of 7700 pounds (dry), the boat we tested in the Florida Keys--carrying twin V-8s and 130 gallons of fuel--could easily push the...

Canvasing the neighborhood.(READER SURVEY RESULTS)
October 1, 2005... In the August issue's Question of the Month, we asked readers whether they had a Bimini (or convertible top) or full canvas package. Forty-two percent of those canvased report only having a shade top--which is about what we expected. "The...

Question of the month.(READER SURVEY RESULTS)
October 1, 2005... Has your boat ever suffered significant electrical problems? * Nope. Knock on wood * We've had a few gremlins, but no major problems * Yes, but fortunately I was able to fix it myself * Aye, troublesome enough I took it to a...

Guiding light.(Boat Improvement)
October 1, 2005... Some folks are just lucky. Take Mark Lawson, for example. His dad, Peter, owns Pioneer Marine in Sequim, Washington, so naturally when Mark came up with a problem on his boat, he turned to dear ol' dad. The problem was that the wide fenders of...

Creating the ultimate tow package.(Boating Basics)
October 1, 2005... We knew something was amiss the moment we saw an outboard and transom protruding from the mangroves. The possibility that a fisherman was simply nosing his boat deep into the growth to fight a fish or free a lure was nil, for the craft was...

Better mousetraps.(Propulsion Report)
October 1, 2005... Volvo Penta has introduced a new way to trim your boat. Called the QL Boat Trim System, the unit bolts to the transom and electrically pushes down a blade vertically to provide transom lift or side-to-side trim. The system would appear to act...

Big catch: Angler's 2900CC offers more fishing room than you can shake a rod at.(BIG-BOAT BONANZA)
October 1, 2005... When you're in a bumpy sea, a long hull is your friend. A few more feet at the waterline really helps smooth out the ride. And while fishing, a little extra beam not only means more room to swing a rod, it also spells added stability. If these...

Sweet little Suzy: Suzuki debuts a large-displacement, four-cylinder four-stroke rated at 150 and 175 hp, and, boy, does it run.
October 1, 2005... Suzuki's new inline, four-cylinder four-stroke is an engine we knew was coming for quite some time. First shown at the Miami International Boat Show in February, we finally got to test some of the late-version, preproduction models. It seems...

Over the long haul: bigger boats and better ramps, or less access with more crowding ... what's in the cards for trailer boaters over the next 10 years?(SPECIAL REPORT)
October 1, 2005... It seems there are more trailer boaters on U.S. roads than ever before. But what kinds of developments are we now seeing that may lead to changes in trailer boating over the next 10 years? Issues involving waterfront access are sure to carry...

Breaking records: dedicated towboats have reached new levels of excellence. But how do they provide such an exact pull? Our watersports expert explains.
October 1, 2005... Never before has a single watersports competition season seen so many records fall. As of this writing midway through the summer of '05, we have seen eight performances that tied or broke the world record in all three competitive waterski...

Easy slider: Maxum's new 2600 cruiser is a study in thoughtful design and imagination run wild.(EXCLUSIVE!)(Cover Story)
October 1, 2005... The white cruiser with the red stripe sat glittering like a jewel atop her custom, swivel-bunked trailer. In many of our boat tests, the adventure starts with the ride. In this case, it started at U.S. Marine's prototype facility in Everett,...

Dream big: thinking of stepping up? For many trailer boaters, Regal's 3060 Window Express cruiser is the stuff of dreams.(BIG-BOAT BONANZA)
October 1, 2005... If you were to fall asleep at night and dream of yachts, you might find yourself in the berth of a Regal 3060 Window Express cruiser. But repeat after me: The 3060 is not a yacht--no matter what you might think. This boat does, however,...

Hey Mon! Deep and still, the scenic Monongahela River winds through uncrowded portions of West Virginia and Pennsylvania.(TBM DESTINATION)
October 1, 2005... After a long tow from our place in Tennessee, we finally arrived at Wood's Boat House in Fairmont, West Virginia, and looked the place over. Quimby's Cruising Guide indicated there was a ramp, but all we found was a beach along the river....

Prime time: here's a fast and easy way to swap out primer bulb fuel lines.(TBM How-To)
October 1, 2005... Despite the whirlwind of advances in outboards in recent years, virtually every outboard installation shares one throwback to simpler times--a fuel-line primer bulb. Although some of the newer engines don't require the manual priming that used...

High Sierra: GMC packages a special 1/2-ton pickup with a 6.0L V-8 and other goodies that make towing easy.
October 1, 2005... We finally got our hands on a truck we'd been waiting to test for a long time--the GMC Sierra 1500 pickup. "What took so long?" you might ask. "After all, it's a fairly normal truck, nothing out of the ordinary." However, this Plain Jane...

Shamrock 260 Mariner.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2005... The Ultimate in Underwater Protection. The New Shamrock 260 Mariner provides full underwater protection to all of your underwater running components. Whether you operate in shallow waters or run at night around floating debris, nothing protects...

Defiance 260.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2005... GO FAST, STAY DRY. The 260 Defiance is designed for the serious angler who wants the offshore capability and speed of twin outboard power, with the comfort and protection of a fully enclosed cabin. The 260 Defiance is built using the highest...

Overheating dilemma.(Tech Letters)
October 1, 2005... I bought a 1988 19-foot Cobalt Classic bowrider a few years ago. The problem I am having is that it overheats while idling through no-wake zones. The engine temperature quickly returns to normal when power is applied and the boat is back on...

Inherited treasure.(Tech Letters)
October 1, 2005... I have a 1963 110 hp Mercury inline six-cylinder outboard. It is mounted on a homemade boat that I inherited from my father. The boat used to run 36 mph. The last time I tried it, it wouldn't get on plane. The engine has spark and compression,...

Won't go into gear.(Tech Letters)
October 1, 2005... I have a 1986 MerCruiser 350 Mag/Alpha sterndrive in my 20-foot Apache cuddy cabin. It has fairly low hours for its age. I replaced a worn lower shift cable a few months ago and the boat worked flawlessly until just recently. I was about to...

It used to work.(Tech Letters)
October 1, 2005... I'm the original owner of a 1995 Four Winns 205 Sundowner with VP SX Cobra 5.0L EFI power. I've always meticulously maintained the boat and engine. The boat came with an aluminum 14 1/4X21-inch prop, and my current and backup props are Michigan...

1/2 or 3/4 ton?(Tow Car)
October 1, 2005... I already know what boat I want to buy, that was the easy part. My new Regal cruiser with its trailer is estimated to weigh right around 8500 pounds. My old 1/2-ton pickup is just not going to do, though, so I am also looking to invest in a new...

Why four-wheel drive?(Tow Car)
October 1, 2005... I have been reading Trailer Boats for a couple of years now and love the magazine. A buddy of mine said that you recommend four-wheel drive (4WD) for tow vehicles. If I am not trailering on dirt roads, such as down in Baja California, why...

Tongue weight troubles.(Tow Car)
October 1, 2005... I have a 2005 Toyota Sequoia 4WD with a tow rating of 6200 pounds. I just purchased a 22-foot Robalo R225 offshore fishing boat, with a dry weight (no fuel) of 4050 pounds. The trailer weighs another 1400 pounds, so I should be within my...

Flying bearing caps.(Tow Car)
October 1, 2005... I tow a 23-foot Sea Ray, mostly on short hauls, but this winter I want to plan a trip out to the West Coast. I had a complete trailer overhaul, and part of that was installing a set of Bearing Buddies. Since the trailer rebuild, though, I have...

Bourdon's tow tip.(Tow Car)
October 1, 2005... Towing heavy loads can create excessive engine heat--and heat is your engine's worst enemy. Keep things cool by making sure your tow vehicle's cooling system is in tip-top shape. That means regular coolant level inspections, and an annual...

Albin Marine 26 Center Console: what's missing on this boat?(MARINE DEALERS)
October 1, 2005... Girls In Bikinis! Aside from that... the most astute observers will note the lack of outboard power on the all-new Albin Marine 26 Center Console. The 26 CC gets its punch from a powerful and efficient inboard Diesel. Why an inboard?...

Clear and deep.(Gotta Have It)
October 1, 2005... New from Humminbird (800/633-1468; humminbird.com) is the 987c SI Combo ($1750), a wide-angle color GPS/chart-plotter and triple-frequency depthsounder. The company has refined its 3-D, side-imaging sonar technology to the point that bottom...

Not your father's map.(Gotta Have It)
October 1, 2005... Lewis and Clark would be envious. Navionics' (800/848-5896; navionics.com) new Platinum multidimensional series cartography ($500) has taken the customary down view of a chart to another level. Turn the knob and the chart morphs into an aerial...

Brush your cares away.(Gotta Have It)
October 1, 2005... Take a bite out of grime with the Hammerhead brush ($35) from Shurhold Industries (800/962-6241; shurhold.com). Ergonomically contoured to comfortably fit in your hand, this marine brush features a nonslip grip and special multi-angled PVX...

Keep your boat secure.(Gotta Have It)
October 1, 2005... Prevent unwanted "launchings" with Pirate's Choice trailer tiedowns from Epco (509/786-2936; gatortuff.com). Strong and durable, these 2-inch-wide polypropylene tiedowns help ensure safe transport of your boat while you're trailering. The...

Lighting the way.(Gotta Have It)
October 1, 2005... When you're out on the water, visibility is key to safety. The NaviLED Pro ($125 each to $147) by Hella Marine (800/631-7575; hellamarine.com) is a new product offered in the marine-lighting field. Utilizing light-emitting diode (LED)...

That's a switch.(Gotta Have It)
October 1, 2005... Having a bilge pump on board is basic to safe boating. Having one with no moving parts to break or jam is even better. The new Ultima Combo Pumps ($53 to $86) from Johnson Pump (847/671-7867; Johnson-pump.com) are designed with integrated...

Cool item.(Gotta Have It)
October 1, 2005... Here's a great addition to your hatch for keeping sun and bugs at bay. Bomar's (603/826-5791; pompanette.com) new Seabreeze hatch blind (starting at $139) is a double-action blind that, when pulled in one direction, will provide shade from the...