Trailer Boats articles from September 2001

Trailer Boats archives from September 2001

CARPE DIEM.
September 1, 2001... Many of my friends claim they could not live without a boat - a philosophy shared by me and most readers of this magazine. However, I am enough of a realist to know that a recreational craft is indeed a luxury item - one with a high price...

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS.
September 1, 2001... LIKE FAMILY PHOTOS Reading the 30th anniversary issue and special section was like looking through family photos. Many pictures and notes brought back the boats and engines that I remembered and loved. Others gave me a chuckle, like...

COBALT, GRADY-WHITE AND RANGER RANK HIGHEST IN J.D. POWER STUDY.
September 1, 2001... In the October 2000 issue, we reported that J.D. Power and Associates -- the Agoura Hills, California-based research firm best known for its consumer satisfaction studies in the automotive field -- was launching a similar program for...

AUTOMAKERS SURRENDER ON CAFE STANDARDS.
September 1, 2001... The auto industry has given up its lobbying effort to maintain a congressional freeze on the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for cars and light trucks. The freeze, which forbids the U.S. Department of Transportation from...

SKIPPER'S CHALLENGE.
September 1, 2001... The effective range of 15-pound [CO.sub.2] fire extinguisher is: (a) 2 to 4 feet, (b) 3 to 8 feet, or (c) 9 to 12 feet. For the answer, turn to page 85. Excerpted from Skipper's Challenge ($19.95), a book by Dale R. Lydigsen, Jr. For more...

SUZUKI INTRODUCES THE FIRST 140 HF FOUR-STROKE OUTBOARD.
September 1, 2001... When it comes to new four-stroke outboards, most manufacturers seem to be shooting for high-end horsepower, la the new V-6 models from Honda and Yamaha. Brea, California-based Suzuki Marine, however, has decided to aim a little lower for 2002...

MASTERCRAFT REVEALS ITS IMAGE OF THE FUTURE.
September 1, 2001... What will wakeboard boats of the future look like? Vonore, Tennessee-based MasterCraft is taking a stab at answering this question with its X-Trek concept boat project. Shown here in an artist's rendering, the far-out X-Trek features a single...

SCREEN ROUTINE.
September 1, 2001... Anyone who has spent more than a few minutes in the cabin of a boat would agree that the inventor of the opening hatch did boaters a great service. A hatch provides cooling air and helps to illuminate the cabin, and the larger ones provide an...

RUNNING TABS.
September 1, 2001... Everything about my new (to me, anyway) Sea Ray was great... except the ride. At speed, the boat listed just far enough to port to be annoying. I had seen the boat on the roadside with its "For Sale" sign during an out-of-state hunting trip the...

ELECTRONICS Q&A.
September 1, 2001... GORDON WEST CONSTANT TRANSMIT I was out fishing when one of my kids who had come along told me that the VHF radio smelled. When I touched it, it was hot. I immediately turned it off, and after it cooled down, I turned it back on, and...

QUESTIONS FROM READERS.
September 1, 2001... KEN HANKINSON For this issue, I'm going to catch up on some reader questions on issues that seem to be of interest to many boaters. WHAT A DRAG After deciding to leave his 24-foot aluminum boat in the water all of last season,...

COST OF CLEANER POWER.
September 1, 2001... As we go to press, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is proposing emissions standards for gasoline inboard and sterndrive engines. As proposed, the standards will begin with the 2003 model-year; more stringent standards kick in with the...

Launch Ramp.
September 1, 2001... WORLD CAT 266 TE Here's the scenario: You're a seasoned angler who's been around the dock a time or two, and you know exactly what you're looking for. You want an efficient and stable fishing platform that will take you comfortably, safely...

JET TOWER.
September 1, 2001... Here come the towers! Born on Correct Craft's Super Air Nautique, towers are now crossing over from hardcore, inboard-powered wake-board boats to the general boating market. Why? One reason is that a high towing position makes wakeboarding...

Looking Cool.
September 1, 2001... Sea Ray's new 270 Sundeck combines the cool, racy image of a big sportboat with the down-to-earth practicality of a deck boat There is a TV commercial currently airing that pokes fun at men who drive minivans. Minivans are not "macho"...

Jet Volution.
September 1, 2001... Personal watercraft are becoming larger, safer, quieter and more attractive to mature enthusiasts Times sure have changed for personal watercraft (PWCs). Since the introduction of three- and four-passenger craft, sales of sprightly one-...

Hot Stuff.
September 1, 2001... Here's a close look at 12 of the hottest new boating accessories for 2002 The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) drew a full house in Las Vegas, Nevada, recently, as it hosted the first-ever Marine Aftermarket Accessories...

Cloudy Judgement.
September 1, 2001... Keeping an eye on the weather is critical to boating safety. Clouds and other natural signs can often tell you what's in store That morning, the meteorologist on the local TV station assured us that the Labor Day weekend would hay perfect...

Living Legend.
September 1, 2001... For 42 years the Ski Nautique has been a dominant force in competition waterskiing. Can the 2002 version live up to the legend? The Ski Nautique name possessed the longest and richest history in waterskiing. Introduced in 1959, it was the...

Long-Playing 'Toon.
September 1, 2001... In the right kind of water and with a fuel efficient engine, a pontoon boat is great for cruising, as we find out on a trans-FIorida trip Cruising boats come in many shapes and sizes - everything from fast express cruisers to slow...

Premier Legend 210.
September 1, 2001... Our Premier Legend 210 proved to be one of the nicer pontoon boats I have been aboard. I was particularly impressed with its stout construction and finish detail. Although two-tube models are available, our Legend 210 was equipped with three...

Small Horses, Big Heart.
September 1, 2001... The new Honda 9.9 hp outboard cam e through this endurance test with flying colors. The engine was operated at wide-open throttle from start to finish, slowing only for waits at locks and bridges, and while docking. Even at wide-open throttle,...

As Good.
September 1, 2001... Don't have the budge for a new boat? Why not refurbish an older one? Here's how one boater did it Every season, boat owners across the nation ask themselves the same question: Should we buy a new boat or hope old Backwater II will make it...

Take It Easy.
September 1, 2001... A few months after my neighbor, Carol, moved in next door, she said I should write a book entitled Patti's Tips of the Day, since I seemed to give her a tidbit of Baja advice almost daily. These have included everything from "freeze your fish...

Western Trailerables.
September 1, 2001... VALCO WESTCOASTER WB 172 This sturdy little craft, with its heavy-duty, all-welded aluminum hull, is built to take on the task of everyday work on the water. The model pictured is the Guide Special WB 172, and it features a...

Western Currents.
September 1, 2001... YOUNG GIRLS TOP WORLD FISHING RECORD When Deniece Lee Nave, 12, of National City, California, hooked a 5-pound, 4-ounce rainbow trout while fishing on Huck-Finn Lake in San Diego, she also secured her place among the International Game Fish...

TRIAL RUN: Silver Streak 25 Volvo Penta KAD 44 EDC DuoProp.
September 1, 2001... The salty, seaworthy Silver Streak 25 will let you relax in a warm, cozy cabin, even when the weather turns chilly Living and boating conditions in the Pacific Northwest are so unique that boatbuilders have adapted by Producing a different...

Brave New Truck.
September 1, 2001... This futuristic head turner, with looks right out of a sci-fi film, offers a utilitarian design and an 8100-pound tow rating You know you're driving something really exciting when the busy, whirling action of a metropolitan gas station...

Tech Letters.
September 1, 2001... Jim Barron STUCK STARTER I have a 1996 150 Johnson OceanRunner. When I run it open at about 5000 rpm, and then shut it down, the engine will not restart for approximately 15 minutes. The starter will spin fast, but will not engage the...

TOW CAR.
September 1, 2001... Bob Kovacik TOWING TOO MUCH? I have a 1999 Toyota Sienna with a V-6 engine, rated to tow 3500 pounds, with a hitch for the same. I own a boat with a partner who has a tow vehicle. The boat and trailer weigh 3600 pounds. Am I in for...

'CLASSIC RED' FENDER MAKES THE SCENE.
September 1, 2001... For those boaters who like a little spice in their lives, Polyform has added a new shade to its colorful lineup of fenders. The "Classic Red," available in three sizes, has more of a blue tone than the more common orange-red. Part of the...

PROPULSE COMPOSITE PROPS LET YOU CHANGE PITCH EASILY.
September 1, 2001... If you want to enhance speed, handling and engine performance, InterCon Marketing may be able to help you out with its ProPulse propeller. Featuring an adjustable pitch that allows for quick improvement in performance, the prop's four blades...

NIKON'S NIGHTSEARCH SCOPE WON'T LEAVE YOU IN THE DARK.
September 1, 2001... You don't have to be a member of a special ops team to make use of night vision equipment. Any boater knows it's no fun to fumble around in total darkness. Whether it's spotting hazards in the water, working on your engine or navigating in the...

PETTIT TRINIDAD SR FIGHTS SLIME.
September 1, 2001... It's a pain... For boaters whose vessels see a lot of water time -- or are stored in the water -- bottom painting is a messy, work-intensive ritual, but a necessary one. When you do it, you want to do it right and use the best antifouling paint...