Boatguide Canada

Trailer Essentials

As Canada's boating season winds into high gear, take a moment and prepare an emergency kit that you can keep in your vehicle to deal with those little problems that occasionally arise on the way to, or home from, your favorite lake, river or sea. A small plastic bin works well to hold handy items, such as:

Duct tape
Electrical tape
Locking pliers
Needle-nose pliers
Screwdriver set
Socket set
Spare bulbs for trailer lights
Spare fuses for trailer lights
50 feet of spare insulated wire
Shrink tubing
Hammer
Adjustable wrench
Flashlight
Lighter
50 feet of half-inch nylon rope
20 foot tie-down strap
Small box with assorted stainless screws, nuts and bolts
Work gloves

In addition, you should also ensure you have a properly inflated spare tire for your trailer, along with the appropriate size of wheel nut wrench. Further, check to see if your truck jack is the correct height to work with the trailer. If it’s too low or too high, pack along a trailer jack as well. Having a spare tire means nothing if you can’t put it on!

Mercury Propellers Extends Fury Line

By Steve Fennell
Apr 29, 2009

Mercury Propellers, Fond du Lac, WI, has recently extended its line of Fury Propellers to include a 27-pitch model, providing boaters (including performance enthusiasts and owners of bass boats) with 250 hp-plus engines improved top-end speeds and holeshots.

 The 27-pitch model is constructed from the company’s patented X7 alloy that is 30 percent stronger and four times more durable than conventional stainless steel, says Mercury. The design also enables Mercury to manufacture a prop with thinner blades and higher rake angles to offer optimum durability.

“From the moment word got out about the performance of the Fury, customers have been asking us to extend the product line into new pitch ranges,” said Dirk Bjornstad, brand manager for Mercury Propellers. “The new 27-pitch Fury will allow the go-fast crowd with 250 hp-plus engines and lighter boats to experience the top-end and holeshot.”

The Fury is also available in 24-, 25-, and 26-inch pitches.

Backing Up with a Trailer

Towing a boat is easy – the tricky part comes when you have to back up. If you’ve never tried backing up with a trailer in tow, it can seem a little intimidating, especially if your first few attempts don’t work out very well. It’s even worse at a busy launch ramp, when you’re eager to get out on the water and you’re holding up other boaters waiting in line.

Modern vehicles are pretty easy to drive. You turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the truck to go, and the truck follows along. Turn the wheel to the right, and the vehicle moves to the right. Turn the wheel to the left, and the vehicle moves to the left. It works the same whether you’re moving forward or traveling in reverse.

Fuel Saving Tips

Few things in life are certain, except death, taxes, and that the cost of boat gas will continue to rise. While pump prices are way below the levels we saw across Canada last summer, it still makes sense to do what you can to improve your boat’s fuel economy.

The best way to reduce fuel consumption is to slow down a little bit. Not too many boaters realize it, but by simply reducing the speed of your boat from full to two-thirds throttle, you can save up to 50 per cent in gas costs. Over a full season of fishing, that’s an awful lot of money.

New PORTS Cruising Guide to Ontario's Trent-Severn Hot Off The Press!

The fully updated PORTS Cruising Guide to The Trent-Severn & Lake Simcoe is hot off the press! With more than 200 new, fully-labelled aerial photos and completely updated marina, restaurant and accommodations listings, it's the most up-to-date and complete guide to Ontario's historic Trent-Severn Waterway available. At just $37.95, the spiral-bound, 216-page guide is a superb value and an even better gift. Look for it at your favourite marine dealer shortly.

PORTS Cruising Guides provide recreational boaters with extensive information on every major marina, lock and landmark in each area they cover. They also offer details on services, shopping and places to eat along the way.  

The new Trent-Severn edition is one of four PORTS titles covering navigable systems in Ontario including Lake Ontario & The Thousand Islands, Georgian Bay, The North Channel & Lake Huron and Rideau Canal and the Lower Ottawa River. The previous Trent-Severn edition was published in 2006.

For more information visit your local dealer or surf to portsbooks.com.

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