Trailer Boats articles from September 2006

Trailer Boats archives from September 2006

Back to school.(On Plane)
September 1, 2006... As this issue was going to press, California boating officials were once again giving serious thought to establishing boating drivers' licenses--in other words, ordering mandatory education. Although 48 states and territories currently have...

Transplanted Yankee.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... I enjoyed your article by Lynn Seldon about cruising North Carolina's southeastern coast (June). I am a transplanted Yankee with much experience on Long Island Sound and would like to tow our 24-foot Sea Ray to the coast and run the...

Too many to handle.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... I e-mailed you people about a prop problem, thinking that as a subscriber you would have answered me. But you guys didn't. What's the deal? Maybe next time, huh? Steven Lumpkin Victorville, California We regret to say that...

Misguided advice.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... Ron Eldridge's chronicle (On Plane, June) of his adventure to Catalina Island from Dana Point on his 19-foot Marquis cuddy sends the wrong message to the novice boater. The little Marquis does not have an offshore hull. Any boater with...

Headlight cleaner.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... A few issues back, there was an article about a product that cleaned and restored auto headlight covers. My son took my issue and now can't find it, and therefore I can't order the product. Please help. Les Bevil Austin, Texas ...

Great deal.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... In your June issue you listed the price of an Albin Marine 26 Center Console as $8299. Is this correct? Darrel Willey Lancaster, Ohio Unfortunately not. A last-minute glitch resulted in an embarrassing typo for the Albin 26...

Cure for spots.(Letters to the Editors)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... We love our new four-stroke Yamaha WaveRunners. In the hot sun of Lake Havasu, Arizona, however, the crafts' dark topside color quickly shows hard water spots as the spray evaporates. We were told to try vinegar to remove the spots. Just to let...

Keep the tradition alive.(Dock Talk)
September 1, 2006... According to a study by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), out of 67 percent of respondents who said their dad introduced them to fishing, a whopping 88 percent are now age 35 and over. Concerned that there are too many...

Fun in the sun.(Dock Talk)
September 1, 2006... It was a day of thrilling boat rides and a great way to cool off in the hot Southern California weather. As many as 350 physically challenged children from Los Angeles and Orange counties converged on the sand at Long Beach's Marine Stadium...

Heavy metal.(Dock Talk)
September 1, 2006... Baja's duo of the PokerFace International CXT 21-foot truck and matching 35 Outlaw Poker Run Edition hit the road a few months ago, making stops at various performance boat events across the country during its PokerFace Poker Run Tour. The...

In tow: do your know your tongue weight?(Dock Talk)
September 1, 2006... According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, each year there are as many as 59,000 accidents involving passenger vehicles that are towing trailers, boats included. One way you can avoid becoming a statistic is to ensure...

Making a splash: rock on with Yamaha's GP1300R.(Dock Talk)
September 1, 2006... We've long touted the rough-water capabilities of Yamaha's GP1300R hull. Though it has been around long enough to be considered an oldie (if the GP1300R were a song it'd definitely be classic rock), there's still no other PWC that can compare...

Ski locker: Supra's Launch 20 SSV--a jack of all trades.(Dock Talk)
September 1, 2006... Supra's new Launch 20 SSV does two things well. First, this 20 1/2-footer impersonates a larger rig by providing more passenger space than most boats of its size. Second, with its inboard V-drive engine, standard tower and ballast system, the...

Ounce of prevention: keep your Yamaha contamination-free.(Dock Talk)
September 1, 2006... As energy companies begin switching from MTBE to ethanol as the additive of choice to oxygenate gasoline, boaters may start to discover that their fuel is becoming contaminated. Although ethanol is more environmentally friendly, it's a solvent...

Power trip: get shorty!--Snap-on's diminutive spark plug socket.(Dock Talk)
September 1, 2006... Once in a while a unique tool comes along that makes you say, "Darn. Why didn't I think of that?" Snap-on Tools (262/656-5200; snapon.com) recently introduced an ingenious "shorty" spark plug socket that will make things easier for those who...

Electronics: C-Map debuts Max Lakes electronic charts.(Dock Talk)
September 1, 2006... Want the ability to choose from more than 13,000 top fishing lakes and rivers in high-quality detail? C-Map's (800/424-2627; c-map.com) new Max Lakes electronic charts have so much lake detail and information, you can almost see yourself...

You gotta shop around.(READER SURVEY RESULTS)
September 1, 2006... In our July issue's Question of the Month, we asked readers if, when buying their next boats, they'd be sticking with the same brands or switching gears. Apparently, brand loyalty is not an issue for most when a good deal is involved. Of the...

Question of the month.(READER SURVEY RESULTS)
September 1, 2006... Will your next boat be larger than the one you have now? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Much larger * Slightly larger * Same size, more or less * No way. I'm downsizing Besides voting online, also visit our message boards...

Don't screw around.(Boat Improvement)
September 1, 2006... Everyone has had problems with stripped screws in their boats at one time or another. It's often because the surface didn't provide a strong enough backing for the screw. For this reason it's sometimes difficult to securely attach accessories....

Portable fuel tanks.(Boating Basics)
September 1, 2006... My season on the water had gone flawlessly... that is, up until my outboard stopped running. One minute I was zipping along, and the next I was barely able to keep the outboard at idle as it labored to turn an erratic 500 rpm. By pumping...

Scratching the surface.(Propulsion Report)
September 1, 2006... For those who prefer inboard power, there is an interesting product that has been around for several years, but hasn't received as much attention as it probably deserves. Pompano Beach, Florida-based Ocean Technologies (954/968-7585;...

Squeeze play: tired of high fuel prices? These gas-saving tips will help you stretch the most from every gallon.
September 1, 2006... To combat rising gas prices, marine do-it-yourself author Don Casey teamed up with West Marine to devise boating strategies that will help boaters reduce fuel consumption and save money. With these easy-to-follow, gas-stretching tips, boaters...

Fantasy island: designed as a custom mothership, this tricked-out double-decker may be the world's largest pontoon boat.
September 1, 2006... One of the things a couple hundred grand can buy is a 41-foot-long custom tritoon boat that's 12 feet wide and loaded with a 24-foot upper deck, galley and a gelcoated head that's large enough to dance in. And it can pull skiers. Throw in...

Fun zone: Bayliner is suddenly big on deck boats--and we check out the new 197 to see what the fuss is about.(TEST)
September 1, 2006... For some, going out on the boat means a respite from the workaday world and a few precious hours of serene relaxation. Others view their boats as centers of social activity and thrive on spending time on the water with as many friends and...

Northwoods nirvana: once a hideout for 1920s gangsters, Wisconsin's Eagle River is now a haven for boaters and fishermen.(TBM DESTINATION)
September 1, 2006... Wisconsin is much more than farms, fields and "America's Dairyland." The Badger State actually has more than 15,000 lakes, the majority of them in its heavily forested Northwoods area. Comprising roughly the northern third of the state, this...

Different drummer: in true Boston Whaler fashion, the 255 Conquest marches to its own beat.(TEST)
September 1, 2006... No one can argue that Boston Whaler hasn't marched to its own drummer when it comes to unique boat designs. From the initial 13-foot "soap dish," introduced in 1958, the company has expanded its line from 11-foot tenders to 32-foot offshore...

Half 'n half: Ford's 2007 Explorer Sport Trac offers improved performance, SUV comfort and pickup-like utility.(TEST)
September 1, 2006... When we heard that Ford was redesigning the Explorer Sport Trac for 2007 we were intrigued, to say the least. This vehicle sports a dual personality, and has always been one of our favorites in the midsize category of light trucks. It offers...

Four-stroke tune-up: high-tech four-strokes still require a little low-tech maintenance.(Step-by-Step)
September 1, 2006... When it comes to maintaining the tow vehicles we rely on to get our rigs to the water, technological advances have made life much easier than it was just a decade ago. Batteries are maintenance-free, fan belts are good for 100,000 miles and are...

Old MerC 488.(Tech Letters)
September 1, 2006... I recently purchased a 1984 Chris-Craft 22-foot walkaround. It has a MerCruiser 488 sterndrive that's rated at 188 hp. Someone had replaced the original carburetor, which I'm told was a Rochester 4MC (cfm unknown). The current carburetor is an...

Front motor mount.(Tech Letters)
September 1, 2006... I want to cut out and replace the front mounting block on my 1989 Baretta Success 200 with a MerCruiser 470 because the original engine support block is rotted and will not hold the mounting bolts. The original block was oak and fiberglassed to...

Better mileage.(Tech Letters)
September 1, 2006... Due to the increased cost of fuel and my desire to go "nowhere in a hurry," I would like to know if you can recommend a reliable method of determining my fuel burn rate in gallons per hour (gph). Please also discuss why traveling slowly doesn't...

Carburetor adjustment.(Tech Letters)
September 1, 2006... We have a 1973 Mercury 9.8 outboard that has two mechanical stops--one to adjust how far the carburetor will close (when idling), and another to adjust how far the carburetor will open (at full throttle). Adjusting these also affects the amount...

Won't come off.(Tech Letters)
September 1, 2006... The propeller on my Johnson 150 outboard is stuck to the propshaft. Do you have any suggestions on how to remove it without destroying the prop? John Alderman Rapid City, South Dakota [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I am assuming you...

The low down.(Tow Car)
September 1, 2006... I recently bought a 2006 Ford F-150 Super Crew Lariat with the 5.4L engine and 3.55:1 axle gears, and I plan on purchasing a boat in the 21- to 27-foot range. Here's my question: If I install an Eibach Pro Kit to lower the truck 2 inches in...

Weight for registration.(Tow Car)
September 1, 2006... The trailer under my boat (an 18-foot Lund) was manufactured by a company named Spartan, but I can't find any phone number or contact information on the ID plate placed on the trailer's frame. I have recently moved to Michigan and the state...

Re: Tired of Tires.(Tow Car)
September 1, 2006... This is in response to Mr. Valdez's letter "Tired of Tires" in the July issue. I have a 1984 tandem trailer with Goodyear bias-ply tires. The tires are about 20 years old and remain in good shape. Of course, the trailer and boat have always...

Mountain moving.(Tow Car)
September 1, 2006... We are moving to Wisconsin from Georgia, and are planning on towing our 21-foot Century center console to the new house. However, I am apprehensive about towing the boat through the mountainous terrain between the two places. The shortest route...

Cautionary launch tale.(Tow Car)
September 1, 2006... My 20-foot cuddy sits on a ShoreLand'r trailer equipped with roller guides. One day, while the boat was tied to the dock, I checked out the rollers and found they didn't spin due to corrosion on the roller spindles. So I bought some new...

Bourdon's tow tip.(Tow Car)
September 1, 2006... With all the new 2007 trucks, vans and SUVs arriving soon in showrooms, you may be thinking about your next tow vehicle. When shopping, keep in mind that a vehicle's maximum tow rating is usually for the base vehicle with only a driver aboard,...

Star brite, start right.(Gotta Have It)
September 1, 2006... As MTBE-based fuels are being phased out due to pollution factors, more and more fuel supplies are instead being blended with ethanol. The problem with ethanol, however, is that it binds with moisture, resulting in a gel-type deposit that...

Step on up.(Gotta Have It)
September 1, 2006... If there's nary a dock in sight, entering and exiting a beached boat can be a problem--especially with some of the larger rigs. Grabbing onto those slippery rails and hauling yourself aboard (without heaving yourself into the boat) often proves...

Suctioned down.(Gotta Have It)
September 1, 2006... Go ahead, race over those waves, make those sharp turns and cook dinner. If you have Stixx's (212/679-7702; dfl-designforliving.com) line of innovative kitchen tools, you won't have to worry about the bowl, cutting board or even paper towel...

Functional and fashionable.(Gotta Have It)
September 1, 2006... If you're a boater who studies charts or simply enjoys a good book while at sea but you're, shall we say, "optically challenged," switching from your reading glasses to your sunglasses is a nuisance. If you're looking for a pair of shades that...

Go long!(Gotta Have It)
September 1, 2006... Whether you're a long-haul cruiser or an offshore fisherman, the Australian-based company Turtle-Pac (866/310-2992; turtlepac.com) certainly has the right idea when it comes to extended voyages. Its collapsible Long Range Petrol Tanks are ideal...

High and dry 24/7.(Gotta Have It)
September 1, 2006... Anyone who fears a dockside sinking is sure to appreciate the WaterWitch (800/654-4783; waterwitchinc.com) 230 Electrical Bilge Pump Switch ($45). Many sinkings involve a bilge pump failure, but the WaterWitch 230 avoids the problems commonly...

Put some light on it.(Gotta Have It)
September 1, 2006... Settling down to read your favorite book while calmly drifting on the water at dusk is one of the great things about boating. That is, until you find yourself squinting at the words due to the lack of sufficient light. Perhaps the solution lies...